Chapter 44: The Sickroom (Seeking Recommendation Tickets)

  After a while, Ye Qingli bought watermelon and apples. She skillfully cut open a melon and said to Nian Yue: "You get some watermelon juice for Little Ye to drink."

  Nian Yue saw her mother's attitude towards Ye Ziran and couldn't help but feel elated. She hastily lowered her head and eyes, responded with a "yes", took the watermelon from her mother's hand, sat down beside Ye Ziran's bed to feed him, looking exactly like a little housewife. Ye Qingli's mouth corners slightly curled up as she thought: This girl seems to really care about Little Ye, was it right or wrong to bring her along this time to visit Ye Ziran?

  Nian Yue slowly fed Ye Ziran watermelon, after eating a few mouthfuls, Ye Ziran's parents and sister arrived. As soon as they entered the hospital room door, they saw a bright and beautiful girl devotedly serving Ye Ziran, and upon closer inspection, wasn't this girl Zhang Nianyue whom they had met before? The old couple couldn't help but feel great joy.

  Nian Yue saw Secretary Qin accompanying Ye Zhen's parents to come in, stood up and smiled at Secretary Qin, then greeted Ye Zhen's parents: "Uncle, aunt you're here?"

  Ye's father and mother were frightened when they learned that the party committee of Ma Shi Township had sent a car to take them to Chang Jia, thinking that Ye Zhenran was in big trouble. The visitors quickly explained the situation, telling them that Ye Zhenran had been injured while leading the team to kill "Two Li", but there was no danger to his life. The county committee and township party committee sent a car to pick them up out of respect for the hero, so they could take care of Ye Zhenran as soon as possible. Ye's father and mother were still worried, so they notified Ye Zhenran's sister to come along. When they arrived at Chang Jia, Secretary Qin Daming of the township party committee met with them first and told them that Ye Zhenran had undergone surgery, the bullet in his arm had been removed, and he was now in good condition, without danger to his life or risk of disability. Only then did Ye's father and mother feel at ease. When they entered the ward, they saw Zhang Nianyue taking care of Ye Zhenran, their worries disappeared, and they felt more joyful. Seeing Nianyue smile and greet them, the two of them opened their mouths wide and said excitedly: "You're here! Just arrived, Xiaozhang worked hard!"

  "Mom, this is Ye Zhenran's father and mother." Then he turned to Ye's parents and said, "Uncle and aunt, this is my mom."

  Ye Bo and Ye Mu had already seen the middle-aged beautiful woman beside Zhang Nianyue, seeing her appearance, skin color, and demeanor were different from others, obviously born with a noble status, and they couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Ye Bo, after all, had seen the world, stabilized his mind and spoke first: "You are Little Zhang's mother, thank you for coming to visit."

  Ye Qing smiled and said, "Xiao Ye and my uncle are old friends, I treat him like one of my own, and I must thank you for giving birth to such a good son, it's an achievement for Chang Jia. It's only right that I come to visit him."

  Ye Mu and Ye Fu were delighted to hear their daughter praise her son, while Ye Zhi Hui, who had been waiting impatiently on the side, couldn't help but walk up. She first smiled and greeted Ye Qing Li, then turned to Nian Yue and said: "Sister Zhang, I'm Ye Zhi Hui, Zhi Ran's younger sister. You're really beautiful! I've heard so much about you before, Dad and Mom praised you to the skies when they came back last time, and I was daydreaming on the way here. Who knew that hearing about it wasn't as good as seeing you in person? The beauty Dad and Mom talked about is only a tenth of what you really are."

  Nian Yue's face involuntarily turned red, but she liked this generous and straightforward "little sister" very much. She hurriedly said: "Zhi Hui, you're also very pretty! I've heard Mu Tou mention you before, he praised you for being capable."

  Two people meet like old times, with a sense of cherishing each other.

  Ye Qingli was puzzled in her heart, thinking that her daughter had come to Changsha not long ago, how could she have already met Ye Zhenran's parents?

  Qin Daming came with Ye's father and mother, seeing them chatting enthusiastically after meeting, he stood aside for a while, then walked to Ye Zhenran's bedside and said: "Ye Chang, how do you feel about your body now? The accommodation of your family members has been arranged by the county party committee, don't worry."

  Ye Ziran hurriedly expressed his gratitude: "I'm fine, thank you Secretary Qin. You've had a busy day and still have work tomorrow, so go back and rest."

  Qin Daming knew his family had just arrived and must have a lot to say, so he said "alright, take care", greeted his relatives, and left.

  Ye Zhihui and others left Qin Daming, leaned forward in front of Ye Zhiran, and asked: "Brother, how is your body? Are you okay?"

  Ye Ziran smiled and said, "Zhi Hui, you're here? I'm fine, just need to rest for a few days. It's late, let Ye Auntie and Nian Yue go home first, tomorrow you can take Nian Yue to stroll around Chang Jia."

  Ye Zhihui nodded and said, "Okay." Turning around to Ye Qingli, she said, "Auntie, it's late, you and Zhang sister should head back, thank you." Then, holding Nianyue's hand warmly, she said, "Tomorrow we'll have a good chat and stroll around Changsha together, I haven't been there before."

  Zhang Nianyue applied a bit of force with his hand and said happily: "Alright then, let's meet tomorrow."

  The next morning, Zhang Nianyue was thinking about going to see Ye Zhiran after finishing breakfast. She walked back and forth several times in the living room on the first floor and Ye Qingli's bedroom on the second floor at home. Ye Lao found it strange and asked: "Nianyue, what's wrong? Is there anything that makes you anxious? If you want to go to the hospital, just go."

  Nian Yue shook her head and sighed, saying: "Mom said two days ago that she would take me back to Jiannan, but I wanted to stay for another two weeks."

  Ye Lao suddenly realized and said, "How could I have forgotten this?" Just then, Ye Qingli also arrived in the living room. Zhang Nianyue mustered up her courage and said to her mother, "Mom, I'm not going back to Jianan today. I'll stay here with Grandpa for two more weeks and come back at the end of the month."

  Ye Qingli looked at Nian Yue and then at Ye Lao, she certainly understood her daughter's concerns, and replied to her: "Your father is coming to pick us up today, wait for your father to come, you can talk to him yourself."

  Her father always spoiled her, so Nian Yue wasn't worried and said to Ye Lao: "Grandpa, when Dad comes, tell him that I still want to stay with you for two more weeks and won't go back today."

  The old man was delighted to have Nian Yue by his side, and he was also pleased with the development between her and Ye Zhen Ran. He nodded and said, "Good."

  Zhang Nianyue was delighted and said to Ye Qingli: "Mom, I'm going to the hospital now."

  Ye Qing nodded and said: "Come back early."

  When Nian Yue went out, Ye Qingli sat beside Ye Lao and said: "Uncle, nothing else, I'm worried that she and Ye Zhenran are developing too fast, after all, she's young and doesn't know what's important, who knows how it'll turn out in the future."

  Ye Lao said: "Qing Li, don't worry too much. Xiao Ye is a steady and reliable person, he won't harm Nian Yue. Besides, when school starts in September, Nian Yue will be studying in the provincial city, and Xiao Ye will be working here, they'll be far apart from each other, what could possibly happen?"

  Ye Qing nodded and said, "That's also true. To say that Xiao Ye is not bad, but he was born into an ordinary family, and it's unknown whether he'll achieve anything in the future. If Nian Yue really gets together with him, I'm worried that Nian Yue will suffer later on."

  Ye Lao said: "Nian Yue still has to attend university for a year, and it's not like she's going to marry him right away. We have time now, let's observe Xiao Ye, if he really has prospects and takes responsibility, Nian Yue won't be wronged by following him. Let's not rush into making decisions."

  This remark was very persuasive and Ye Qingli accepted his point of view.

  Zhang Nianyue walked into the ward, Ye Fu, Ye Mu and Ye Zhihui were all there. Nianyue greeted them, Ye Mu hastily offered her stool by the bed to Nianyue to sit on, but Nianyue shook his head saying: "Auntie, I won't sit down, Zhihui and I are going out for a walk."

  Ye Zhihui said: "Yes, I've already agreed with Zhang sister, we'll go out on the street later."

  Nianyue said to Zhihui: "Zhihui, don't call me like that, it's embarrassing. Just call me Nianyue."

  Ye Zhihui was a straightforward person and smiled saying: "Alright then, I'll call you Nian Yue."

  Zhang Nianyue happily let out an "ah" and walked to Ye Zhiran's bedside. Before she could even open her mouth, Ye Zhiran was already busy reporting: "Nianyue, I felt a lot more spirited today."

  "Alright then, you rest well. I'll go out with Zhi Hui for a walk. What do you want to eat? We'll bring it back."

  Yezhen smiled and said: "I eat everything, but you guys are going out to play, not shopping, so don't bring anything."

  Nian Yue thought for a moment and said: "Alright, I'll buy you some fruit and milk when I get back, just lie down quietly."

  "Alright."

  Yeh's wisdom heard and immediately put down the apple that had just been cut, handed it to her mother and said: "Mom, cut it into small pieces for brother to eat, we go out for a walk."

  Ye Mu waved her hand and said, "Go ahead, there are just the two of us here." Seeing Zhi Hui and Nian Yue's affectionate and intimate appearance, she secretly rejoiced that bringing Zhi Hui along this time was absolutely right.

  After Zhang Nianyue left, Ye Zhenran closed his eyes and dozed off for a while. Although the wounds on his chest and arms were well treated, he had lost a lot of blood and hadn't recovered his strength yet, leaving him with an inexplicable feeling of fatigue. Half asleep and half awake, a man in his forties came to his bedside, first nodding at Ye's parents beside the bed, then softly calling out: "Mayor Ye."

  Ye Ziran opened his eyes to take a look, the person who came was unfamiliar, seemed to have seen him yesterday, but couldn't remember who he was. While still thinking about it, he saw him pull out a business card and put it on Ye Ziran's pillow, smiling as he said: "I'm Miao Shujie, a reporter from the Provincial News, I'd like to do an interview with you."

  Miao Shu Jie? Ye Zhen Ran looked at him in surprise. Miao Shu Jie was the director of the news department of the provincial newspaper, a well-known journalist in the political and economic fields of Yangtze Province, often publishing articles with clear views in top domestic newspapers. Ye Zhen Ran had read many of them before, and his impression was that Journalist Miao had quite sharp and unique views on the country's political and economic reforms, but why would he come to interview him?

  "Director Miao, please take a seat. I've long admired your reputation and didn't expect to have the chance to meet you in person today," said Ye Zhenran with some excitement.

  "Ye Xiangchang, lie still and don't move, I just want to understand the process of you leading people to kill 'Two Lis'." He said apologetically: "Originally, you are still recovering from injury, hanging an IV drip, shouldn't be so anxious to conduct an interview, but I'm a bit anxious, can only disturb you."

  Ye Ziran smiled and said: "It's okay, I'm fine. However, Director Miao, I recall that you're only interested in political and financial news, why did you think of interviewing this kind of thing?"

  Miao Shu Jie smiled and said: "I'm also interested in major social news. Ye Xiang Zhang, let's get started?"