Chapter 125: The Elder Brother's Severed Leg

Let us return to Lin Xiaosu. As he drove home, a sense of unease gnawed at his heart. What was wrong with Mom? Why was she crying? She should be in a phase of life where tears had no place. With a young girl like Xiaoye by her side, she was the envy of many; surely, her heart must be filled with contentment. At a time like this, she should be smiling, not weeping. Could something have happened to Dad?

As soon as the car pulled to a stop, Lin Xiaosu hurried into the courtyard. His mother was sitting in the parlor, wiping away tears, while Xiaoye sat beside her, holding a cup of tea. His mother clutched Xiaoye’s hand, her eyes rimmed with red. As Lin Xiaosu entered, Xiaoye approached him. "Your mother just told me," she whispered, "that your brother has met with an accident."

"My brother?" Lin Xiaosu’s heart skipped a beat.

"He... someone from his unit called. They said his legs were shattered and that he needs an amputation. Both legs... both of them are gone." His mother’s voice broke, her tears flowing freely.

Lin Xiaosu felt a sudden, dizzying wave of shock. His brother, Lin Xiaoyang, was three years his senior and had been his pillar of support for as long as he could remember. Whenever he was bullied at school, two people would always come to his defense: Tiger Girl and his brother. His brother was never a scholar, but he was a fighter with a wild streak. Regardless of what others thought of his academic record, in Lin Xiaosu’s eyes, he was an exemplary brother.

He remembered clearly the day his brother left for the army. He had seen him off at the station. His brother had ruffled his hair and asked, "I’m leaving now. Do you know what you should do?"

Lin had replied, "I know. If anyone bullies me, I’ll write down their name, and when you get back, you can deal with them."

His brother had tapped him on the head. "Nonsense. I’m a soldier of the people now; my fists can no longer be raised against my own countrymen. You must study hard and stop looking for trouble. I will stand guard at the border, and you will make me proud with your studies."

That was seven years ago. How time had flown! His brother had returned only four times in those years, each time regaling him with stories of the barracks, showing him the discipline of a soldier, and bringing back local specialties from the border province. He would even inspect Lin’s homework—though his brother couldn't understand the subjects, he would diligently check for the teacher's checkmarks, crosses, and comments.

The words Lin had spoken when seeing him off were meant in jest, a lighthearted touch to ease the sorrow of parting. But his brother’s answer had been sincere. He had lived by those words. His fists had never again been turned against his own people; he had stood guard for the nation at the border. Yet today, he was to become a disabled man? Both legs gone?

"They said they are stabilizing him and preparing for surgery tomorrow," his mother sobbed. "I want to go see him."

"Which hospital is he in?"

"A hospital in the border region. I wrote it down, but I don't know how to get there..."

"Mom, let me go," Lin Xiaosu said. "You stay here."

"I... my mind is a mess right now. I wouldn't know which way to turn. Yes, you go," she said. "Remember, don't worry about the medical side of things. Follow the arrangements of his commanding officers. They promised that since Yang’er was wounded in the line of duty, we won't have to pay a cent. They will use the best doctors and the best medicine to treat him."

After a long series of instructions, Lin Xiaosu agreed to everything. He then returned to the county town, informed Ruolan and Zhou Xi about his brother, and told them he needed to leave.

Miao Ruolan and Zhou Xi drove him to the high-speed rail station. After he entered the station, the two women drove back. On the way, Miao Ruolan suggested, "Why don't we go to his house? His brother has been hurt, and his mother must be frantic. We can look after the old lady so he doesn't have to worry."

While the proposal was reasonable, Zhou Xi hesitated. "Maybe I should go, and you don't need to."

"Let’s go together. It’s just a short drive."

Zhou Xi scratched her head, and finally, at the intersection where they had to choose between heading into the county or toward Old Pagoda Mountain Village, she blurted out, "Ruolan, he... there is someone at his mother’s house."

"Who?"

"People in the village say... it’s his girlfriend."

Miao Ruolan’s car came to a silent stop. Her mind went blank, as if something had been forcibly injected into her thoughts.

"Ruolan, although that’s what the villagers say, I don't think it’s true," Zhou Xi said. "He has always been at the detective agency. That woman arrived, and he hasn't even gone home. And didn't you say the call he received today came from an unknown number? Think about it, who has a girlfriend whose phone number is saved as an unknown caller?"

Miao Ruolan slowly turned to the side, a faint smile appearing on her face. "Let’s go anyway. If his girlfriend is truly there taking care of his mother, we can at least be at ease."

They bought some gifts and went to Old Pagoda Mountain Village. Seeing Xiaoye moving about the house with the air of a hostess, her graceful figure and beautiful face, Miao Ruolan felt her heart drift away into some unknown corner.

In the quiet mountain village, amidst the sounds of roosters and dogs and the daily chatter of life, the heart of a young woman is a delicate thing.

Lin Xiaosu paid no heed to these matters. His mind was focused on one thing only: reaching his brother. The train sped from the heart of Daxia toward the southwest. Finally, as the sun began to set, he arrived for the first time in his life in the Great Southwest, in a border city named Taichong, in the province of Biannan.

Taichong bordered the Qingmian Kingdom and served as Daxia’s southwestern frontier. It was a region of diverse ethnic groups—Miao, Hui, Zhuang, Tu, Buyi, Dai, and others—who maintained their unique cultural identities, weaving their endless charm across the colorful landscape. The region was blessed by nature with unimaginable greenery. Its long history echoed with the ancient legacy of the "Caravan Routes to Tibet." It was also a critical milestone in the founding of Daxia, where millions of border troops fought life-and-death battles against invaders. As the history books record: "A million soldiers in a thousand miles of mountains; every tree and peak bears witness to loyal souls!"

As Lin Xiaosu exited the station, he felt the unique character of this border city. The first thing he noticed was the transportation. Unlike the big cities where efficiency prioritized subways and buses, here, individual freedom was paramount. A new type of transport, the "shared electric scooter," was ubiquitous.

Shared bicycles had appeared early in Daxia's history but were soon phased out. They were physically demanding, slow, and difficult to manage. Some citizens would thoughtlessly toss them into rivers or bushes, creating a headache for everyone. The new generation of shared electric scooters incorporated a multi-purpose, intelligent design. When in use, they were electric vehicles; when finished, they would retract into corners of streets or parks, serving as benches while automatically recharging. This solved the problem of indiscriminate parking while providing seating for the public—a double benefit.

Given the tourism-oriented nature of Taichong, the local tourism bureau had released a promotional video showing a couple riding these scooters through streets, alleys, and wetland parks, then parking them to transform into benches. The slogan read: "Freedom like the wind, never miss a single beautiful view."

Lin Xiaosu remembered that ad well, and today, he experienced it himself. Near the station’s small park, he tapped the back of a bench. It lit up green. He scanned a code on his phone, and the bench morphed into a scooter. He sat down, and a glass shield rose. He selected his destination, and the scooter drove itself.

Arriving at the Taichong Hospital, Lin Xiaosu stepped off, and the scooter automatically retracted to a nearby garden to become a bench. He entered the hospital and found his brother’s information at the front desk.

His brother had been severely wounded. He should have been in a field hospital, but due to the need for amputation, he had been transferred to the better-equipped Taichong Hospital. He was currently in the intensive care unit for observation and stabilization, with surgery scheduled for 8:00 AM the next morning.

At the entrance to the intensive care unit, a nurse blocked his path. "The patient’s condition is critical. No visitors allowed."

"I am his brother," Lin Xiaosu said. "I just arrived from Dongchu Province."

"All the more reason to consider the patient's well-being..."

Suddenly, a voice came from behind. "Are you Lin Xiaoyang’s brother?"

Lin Xiaosu turned to see a young man in military uniform. Though young, he possessed the calm, steady temperament of a soldier tempered by blood and fire.

"Yes."

"Lin Xiaoyang hasn't been home for over two years. Seeing a family member now will help stabilize his mood. Nurse, let him in."

"I'll have to ask the doctor." The nurse hurried to the duty station and returned shortly with a doctor. After Lin Xiaosu was fully disinfected, the doors to the intensive care unit opened. The soldier accompanied him inside.

The ward was silent, save for the faint hum of electrical equipment. On the bed lay a man covered by a crisp white sheet—it was Lin Xiaoyang. His eyes were closed, lying perfectly still. Although he appeared to be sleeping, he was not. No one could truly sleep in such a state. He was a young man in his prime; it was agonizing to accept that he would henceforth be a high-level paraplegic.

But what could he do? His legs were shattered, the nerves severed. Without amputation, the muscle tissue would necrotize, and he would lose his life. From the day he joined the army, he had known this day might come. He had accepted that he might one day give his life for his country, and he had no regrets. The duty was glorious. The sounds of the bloody battle from yesterday seemed to echo in his ears, yet the world today had changed entirely.

Lin Xiaoyang didn't fear death, but he didn't want to return home like this. He didn't want to be a burden to his father, his mother, or his brother.

Suddenly, a voice whispered in the dialect of his hometown: "Brother, I’m here!"

Lin Xiaoyang’s eyes snapped open, and he saw his brother. A faint flush of color touched his face. "Xiaosu..."

"Brother!" Lin Xiaosu gripped his hand.