In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 189, Section 188: The Head of the Department Makes His Rounds. All Concerns Are Allayed. A Tacit Understanding Remains. Second Sister's Position.
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……

To avoid missing Director Huo's ward rounds the next morning, Yang Guangming didn't go to the guesthouse that night and stayed in the ward for the night.

The hospital bed was cold and uncomfortable, and the bedding had a faint smell of disinfectant, mixed with a faint smell of medicine and a long-dormant odor.

The corridor was dimly lit, casting long shadows. The light footsteps of the nurse on duty and the faint groans from afar echoed intermittently in the empty corridor like ghosts, making it difficult to fall asleep.

The occasional sound of a cart wheel scraping against the ground, or a sudden cough from a ward, intensified the uneasy atmosphere unique to hospitals.

Because of his worries and leg pain, Yang Guangyao tossed and turned, the dull rubbing sound of his cast-covered leg moving clearly audible in the quiet night.

He occasionally let out suppressed groans, which were both a genuine expression of pain and a mixture of worry about his fate tomorrow.

Yang Xiangmei was sleeping on another empty bed. Her breathing was also uneven, and she obviously didn't sleep well. Occasionally, she would let out a soft sigh, and the bed board would creak when she turned over.

With his eyes closed, Yang Ming repeatedly rehearsed in his mind all sorts of possible scenarios for tomorrow, and how to deal with the questions that Director Huo might raise.

He had to make sure that every detail was perfect, or at least that it looked plausible on the surface.

As dawn broke, Yang Xiangmei quietly got up. She first checked on her two younger brothers; Yang Guangming seemed to be sleeping restlessly, while Yang Guangyao, exhausted, had finally fallen into a light sleep. She sighed softly, picked up the thermos, and quietly left the ward.

The corridor was deserted, except for a small light on at the nurses' station.

Yang Xiangmei walked on the cold cement floor toward the water room at the end of the corridor.

The hot water tap hissed and emitted white steam, which condensed into mist in the cold air.

She filled the hot water container and then went to the hospital cafeteria to buy breakfast—a few steamed buns made from two kinds of flour and a plate of pickled vegetables.

Back in the ward, Yang Guangming was already awake and making the bed. Yang Guangyao was also startled awake by the noise, looking around blankly before realizing the importance of today, his expression immediately tensing up.

The three siblings ate their simple breakfast in silence, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.

Yang Guangyao ate absentmindedly, glancing at the door every now and then, his eyes filled with tension and anticipation. He squeezed the steamed bun in his hand again and again, but just couldn't bring himself to put it in his mouth.

Yang Xiangmei ate in small bites, her gaze shifting between her two younger brothers, filled with worry.

I had just finished breakfast when I heard familiar, slightly noisy footsteps in the corridor, mixed with the sound of a medical record cart being pushed.

Yang Guangming immediately gave Yang Guangyao a wink and whispered, "Here we are. Relax, don't panic, just like we practiced yesterday."

Yang Guangyao took a deep breath and nodded vigorously, trying his best to make his expression look weak and painful, rather than guilty.

He adjusted his lying position, placing his leg in a more conspicuous position, then frowned and made a pained expression.

The ward door was pushed open, and Director Huo walked in right on time with two young interns.

He was still wearing that worn-out white coat, his expression serious, his eyes sharp, as if he could see through any pretense. Two interns followed closely behind, one carrying a medical record folder, the other pushing a cart full of medical equipment.

"Director Huo, you've arrived." Yang Xiangmei quickly stood up and greeted him respectfully, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

Yang Guangming also stood up, his face showing just the right amount of worry and respect.

Director Huo nodded slightly and walked straight to Yang Guangyao's bedside. His gaze first fell on Yang Guangyao's leg, which was in a cast: "Yang Guangyao, how are you feeling today? Is your leg still very painful? Are you able to sleep tonight?" His voice was steady and powerful, with the unique authority of a doctor.

As expected, Yang Guangyao answered weakly, "It hurts...it still hurts, in waves. I haven't been sleeping well at night, I keep waking up..."

As he spoke, his brows were tightly furrowed, as if he were enduring immense pain, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead—the result of him secretly applying hot water earlier that morning.

Director Huo nodded, bent down to check the plaster cast's fixation and the blood circulation, temperature, and sensation of the exposed toes, and asked some routine questions. His fingers skillfully tapped and pressed on the plaster cast to check the firmness of the fixation.

Yang Guangyao answered all the questions and acted normally, but only he knew that a small patch of his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

At this moment, Yang Guangming interjected, his brows furrowed and his tone filled with obvious worry: "Director Huo, it's just in time that you've arrived. There's something I'd like to tell you; I'm quite worried about it."

Director Huo looked up at him and said, "Oh? What is it? Tell me." His gaze held a probing quality.

Yang Guangming walked to the bedside and pointed to Yang Guangyao's left knee—there were only some minor abrasions there, which had already scabbed over.

Yang Guangming paused for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts, then frowned and said, "Director Huo, my second brother has been telling me these past few days that something feels off about the knee area of ​​his injured leg."

Director Huo's gaze immediately focused on the knee, his eyes becoming intense: "What's wrong with it? Tell me in detail." He gestured for the intern to come closer, seemingly preparing for a live demonstration.

He said his knees felt weak and empty, and sometimes they even felt like they were about to buckle inwards, as if they couldn't support him.

Yang Guangming tried his best to describe the typical symptoms of anterior cruciate ligament rupture in layman's terms:

"Moreover, when he tried to move his thigh even slightly, he felt a sharp pain inside his knee. It wasn't a sharp pain like bone pain, but a deeper, pulling pain, especially when he tried to bend or straighten his leg, the pain was unbearable."

As he spoke, he observed Director Huo's expression, noticing that the other man's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly when he heard "empty" and "unable to hold on."

Yang Guangyao immediately followed the story they had agreed on yesterday, his voice tinged with grievance and belated realization:

"Director Huo, I... I felt something was off before, but... but mainly my shinbone was hurting so badly, it was excruciating, so I didn't pay much attention to the feeling in my knee. I thought it was just a scrape from a fall, and it would be fine in a couple of days..."

He took a breath and continued performing, his face showing increasing fear: "But in the past two days, the pain in my shinbone seems to have lessened a bit, but the problem with my knee is becoming more and more obvious. The feeling of instability, weakness, and lack of strength is particularly clear."

And it was a little swollen, and it hurt when I touched it... I... that's when I got scared, and I quickly told my younger brother.

"Director Huo, my knee... has it really caused a serious problem?"

His voice trembled, and his eyes were filled with genuine fear—though the source of his fear was not entirely his injuries.

After repeated practice the night before, the performance was so realistic that even Yang Xiangmei, watching from the side, almost believed it to be real.

Director Huo's expression turned serious.

He gestured for Yang Guangyao to relax, then extended his cool fingers and began to carefully and methodically examine Yang Guangyao's left knee joint. The two interns immediately moved closer to observe, their eyes filled with curiosity.

He first gently pressed different areas around the knee to ask about the points of pain.

Following his younger brother's instructions from yesterday, Yang Guangyao showed a clear tenderness reaction when Director Huo accurately pressed the location of the anterior cruciate ligament projection area. He gasped for breath, and his muscles involuntarily contracted—this was a reaction he had been practicing repeatedly since yesterday, which had to be realistic but not excessive.

Next, Director Huo asked Yang Guangyao to relax his thigh muscles as much as possible. He held the lower part of his thigh with one hand to stabilize it, and held the upper part of his calf with the other hand, and tried to gently pull his calf forward. This was the front drawer test in the physical examination.

Yang Xiangmei's heart was in her throat.

This is the most crucial step, requiring Yang Guangyao to exhibit an abnormal, beyond-normal range of forward relaxation, while also showing pain and subconscious muscle resistance, yet appearing weak.

Yang Guangyao was so nervous that his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat, but he remembered his brother's words and, based on the reaction he had practiced repeatedly yesterday, when Director Huo exerted force, his body suddenly stiffened, a look of pain appeared on his face, a suppressed groan came from his throat, and his thigh muscles subconsciously tensed up, but quickly relaxed as if powerless due to the pain.

"It hurts... Director Huo... It hurts so much... Don't move..." he groaned hoarsely, the pain in his voice sounding very real.

Director Huo's movements were very gentle and professional. He carefully felt the sensations under his hands, his brows furrowing more and more tightly.

He performed several other physical examinations, and Yang Guangyao gave the "correct" responses as much as possible—pain, abnormal looseness, and protective muscle spasms.

Throughout the entire examination, the ward was completely silent, except for the occasional gasps and groans from Yang Guangyao.

Yang Xiangmei nervously covered her mouth with both hands, barely daring to breathe. Yang Guangming appeared calm on the surface, but was also inevitably a little nervous inside. The two young interns watched Director Huo's operation intently, their faces filled with curiosity, clearly not noticing any flaws.

After the physical examination, Director Huo straightened up, his face calm and composed, revealing little emotion.

He paused for a moment, then instead of speaking immediately, he explained some key points and techniques for knee joint examinations to the two interns.

Yang Guangyao lay limp on the hospital bed, as if he had just been pulled out of the water. His whole body was soaked in cold sweat, his face was pale, and he was panting heavily. Half of it was an act, and the other half was genuine tension and exhaustion.

His performance had taken a lot of energy, and his current weakness made it all the more real.

"Director Huo, what's wrong with my second brother's knee? Is it serious?" Yang Guangming spoke up at the right moment, his tone full of anxiety and worry, his eyes shifting back and forth between Director Huo and Yang Guangyao.

Director Huo's gaze swept over Yang Guangming, then landed on Yang Guangyao's pale face, and finally turned to the two young doctors. He began his explanation in a calm tone, more like a lecture:

"Based on the patient's description of subjective symptoms such as knee instability, giving way, and severe pain during activity, combined with the positive anterior drawer sign and significant tenderness in the joint area found during the physical examination..."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "Our initial suspicion is that there may be damage to the anterior cruciate ligament in the left knee joint, or even... the possibility of a rupture cannot be ruled out."

"A ligament rupture?" Yang Guangming timely feigned shock and disbelief. "Director Huo, is this...is this serious? More troublesome than a bone fracture?"

"The nature of the fractures is different." Director Huo pushed up his glasses, his tone serious. "A simple tibial fracture, as long as the alignment is good and it is absolutely immobilized, will have no problem restoring walking function after healing. At most, it will leave some sequelae."

However, a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee joint can lead to mechanical instability and severely impair knee function.

He looked at Yang Guangyao and said in a more serious tone, "In the future, you may be prone to sprains and falls when walking, and you will be unable to run, jump, stop suddenly, or turn around. The pain will worsen on rainy days, and you will be unable to do many physical tasks, or even walk long distances. This is a serious injury that may cause functional impairment."

Upon hearing this, Yang Guangyao's face instantly lost all color. Although this was the result they wanted, hearing the serious consequences from the doctor's own ears still sent a chill down their spines.

For a moment, Yang Guangyao's fear even felt incredibly real—what if it became real, and he really ended up with such a severe disability...

Director Huo took in his reaction, a complex glint of light flashing deep in his eyes.

He has practiced medicine for many years and has a wealth of experience.

Although Yang Guangyao's condition during the examination was generally consistent with the signs of an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, some subtle details—such as the timing of the protective muscle spasms, the slight delay in the pain response, and the indescribable sense of "performance"—had already raised great doubts in his mind.

What is fake can never truly become real, especially when dealing with an old doctor like him.

However, he did not choose to expose it on the spot.

His gaze swept over the two young doctors who were clearly oblivious and still diligently absorbing the knowledge, and then looked at the "weak and painful" patient on the bed and the "extremely anxious" family members next to him.

He knew in his heart that many things were not as simple as they seemed on the surface. Especially during this special period, he had heard about the various methods the educated youth had come up with to return to the city.

The young man in front of him, from Shanghai, was sunny, composed, shrewd, and clearly possessed considerable "power." The generous gift he had received last time, especially the two bags of top-quality sea cucumbers, still weighed heavily on his mind.

After taking sea cucumber, my father's cough and shortness of breath did improve, and he seemed more energetic. This act of kindness was truly genuine.

If... if it were just a matter of going with the flow, adding a note to the diagnosis certificate, it would both repay the favor and give the other party a seemingly sufficient "reason" to make the matter "compliant," while also seemingly without taking on too much risk...

Various thoughts flashed through Director Huo's mind like lightning.

He ultimately neither investigated further nor exposed the truth.

He calmly said to Yang Guangming, "This situation needs to be taken seriously. After I finish my rounds, come to my office and we'll discuss the next steps in diagnosis and treatment."

Yang Guangming felt a sudden sense of relief, knowing that the most crucial hurdle had most likely been overcome. Director Huo's decision not to deny it on the spot, but to discuss it privately, was itself a clear stance.

He nodded immediately, his tone extremely sincere: "Okay, Director Huo, thank you so much! I'll come find you in a bit. Thank you for your help!"

Director Huo didn't say anything more, only giving Yang Guangyao a few more words of advice to rest and recuperate, before leaving the ward with two young doctors.

As soon as the ward door closed, Yang Guangyao immediately collapsed as if all his bones had been removed, panting heavily, his underwear completely soaked and clinging tightly to his body.

His fingers were still trembling slightly; the tension from the performance had not completely subsided.

"How...how is it, little brother? Did I...did I act well? Did Director Huo...do he see through it?" His voice was hoarse, trembling as if he had just survived a disaster, as he eagerly sought reassurance from his younger brother, his eyes fixed on Yang Guangming's face, afraid of seeing even a hint of denial.

Yang Xiangmei also came over, looking at Yang Guangming with a nervous expression.

Yang Guangming walked to the bedside, handed his second brother a glass of water, and smiled with relief: "You did very well, even better than you did in practice yesterday. Those two young doctors definitely didn't see anything wrong."

He paused, then his tone turned to a calm analysis: "As for Director Huo... he's too experienced. It's unlikely he didn't see through it, but it's more likely... he already knows."

Yang Guangyao's face turned pale again: "Then... what should we do? What if he..." His voice was filled with panic, as if he could already see the consequences of things being exposed.

"Don't panic," Yang Guangming interrupted him, his tone calm. "He didn't expose me on the spot, but instead asked me to come to his office to talk. That in itself is a clear attitude. It shows that there is room for negotiation. Now, it's up to me and him to talk. Just wait patiently."

His words were like a reassuring pill, calming Yang Guangyao and Yang Xiangmei's anxious mood a little, but the unease that was hanging in mid-air still strongly enveloped them.

Yang Guangming glanced at his watch, estimating that it would take some time before Director Huo made his rounds.

He asked his second sister to take care of his second brother, while he sat on a stool by the window, closing his eyes to rest and silently organizing his thoughts and bargaining chips for his upcoming conversation with Director Huo. He knew that the real game was about to begin.

Around 10:30 a.m., Yang Guangming estimated that Director Huo should have finished his ward rounds and returned to his office.

He stood up, nodded to his second brother and sister who were staring at him expectantly from their hospital beds, signaling them to relax, then took a deep breath and walked out of the ward.

In the hospital corridor, several patients' family members hurried by carrying thermos flasks, and the phone at the nurses' station rang incessantly.

Yang Guangming walked steadily to the door of Director Huo's office, which was ajar. He paused for a moment, then gently knocked.

"Please come in." A slightly tired voice came from inside.

Yang Guangming pushed open the door and entered. Director Huo was sitting behind his desk, writing something on a medical record. Seeing him come in, he put down his pen and pointed to the chair opposite him: "Sit down." His tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

Yang Guangming sat down as instructed.

Director Huo didn't speak immediately. He simply picked up the enamel mug on the table, blew on it to cool it, took a sip of water, and stared at Yang Guangming in silence for a long time, as if scrutinizing him or weighing his options. The atmosphere in the office was somewhat stagnant, with only the ticking of the old-fashioned wall clock standing out clearly.

Yang Guangming didn't rush to speak, but calmly returned his gaze, his eyes honest and steady. He knew that any hasty reaction at this moment could disrupt the delicate balance that had been painstakingly established.

Finally, Director Huo seemed to have made up his mind.

He put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, placed his hands crossed on the table, and spoke in a low, slow voice:
"Comrade Xiaoyang, those 'snacks' you brought last time were too valuable."

He paused, looking at Yang Guangming, "My family discussed it, and we really can't come up with any equivalent Northeastern specialties to exchange. So... I'll bring everything back to you tomorrow morning." His words were direct, even carrying a hint of keeping people at a distance.

Yang Guangming's heart sank slightly, but his face showed no panic. He had long expected such a test or repeated attempts.

He didn't pick up on the topic of "supplements," but instead changed the subject, his tone becoming serious and heartfelt: "Director Huo, thank you for remembering this. We can talk about the items later. I was just about to tell you about the cause and effect of my second brother's injury; I'm feeling really down and don't know who to talk to."

Director Huo seemed surprised that he suddenly brought this up. He paused for a moment but did not interrupt. He simply gestured for him to continue, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table.

Yang Guangming then briefly but clearly recounted the events that led to his second brother's feud with Li Dongliang over a private school teacher position, Li Dongliang's attempt to write a false accusation letter, the argument between the two, and his second brother being "pushed" down the hillside.

He emphasized Li Dongliang's "false accusation" and the potential threat it posed to village officials.

"After the incident, the village and the commune's educated youth office took it very seriously, and the investigation results determined that Li Dongliang bore full responsibility."

To avoid affecting the stability and reputation of the educated youth settlement, the matter was ultimately reported to the county's educated youth office, which decided to transfer Li Dongliang to Beiwazi Village, the most remote and difficult village in the county. This was considered an official confirmation of the matter.

He observed Director Huo's expression and saw that when the other party heard "Beiwazi Village," his eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, clearly indicating that he knew how harsh the place was.

"The county's educated youth office meant that this matter should be handled internally to avoid further impact and to prevent the case from being reported to the police."

My second brother, as a victim, suffered so much; they feel he deserves some compensation.

Yang Guangming's tone became even more sincere as he continued, "Although there's no official document stating this, the two village officials, acting as intermediaries, have already revealed the truth to me."

As long as my second brother's medical diagnosis meets the criteria for returning to the city due to illness, the county's educated youth office will not be as strict in its review process as before.

As long as the explicit materials are complete and meet the requirements, they will sign off on the application.

He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice, "Director Huo, to be honest, the village committee, the commune's educated youth office, and the county's educated youth office have reached a consensus on this matter."

Everything is ready; now I'm just waiting to submit my application materials for medical retirement and return to the city.

At this point, he revealed a hint of worry at just the right moment: "But unfortunately... if the diagnosis certificate only states that my second brother's injury is a 'fracture of the left tibia,' although he still needs to rest, it is not quite at the level of 'serious illness' or 'disability' on the surface."

If I just submit the materials like this, won't I be putting the leaders of the county's educated youth office in a difficult position?
Even if someone wants to help, they need a plausible reason, right? I've been worrying about this for the past few days!

He sighed and looked sincerely at Director Huo: "But just at this critical juncture, my second brother's leg has developed new symptoms, the knee problems I mentioned to you this morning."

This made me even more worried, fearing that the injury was more complicated and serious than I had imagined…

Yang Guangming's words were impeccable. He not only pointed out the "intention" of the higher-ups—the tacit understanding of the county's educated youth office regarding compensation—but also mentioned the "difficulties"—the inadequate diagnostic criteria. Finally, he naturally introduced the newly emerging "symptoms," perfectly connecting all the factors.

He never once asked Director Huo to help change the diagnosis, nor did he admit to any fraudulent behavior.

It's best if everyone keeps quiet and doesn't say anything.

His purpose was very clear: First, to tell Director Huo that there was no policy risk in carrying out this matter, and that the higher-ups tacitly approved or even welcomed it.
Second, the patient is now "indeed" showing more severe symptoms. You only need to make a diagnosis based on the "clinical symptoms" and go with the flow. Everything will be reasonable and compliant.

Third, I appreciate your kindness and remember your good deeds.

After listening, Director Huo fell into a long silence.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table unconsciously, his eyes lowered as he looked at the medical record folder on the table, clearly engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

Sunshine's words did indeed dispel his concerns to a large extent.

If the county's educated youth office really gives the green light, then the pressure on him to issue a more "serious" diagnosis certificate will be much less, and the risk will be controllable.

This is indeed more like a tacit "deal" among all parties, in order to settle a matter and give the victim an explanation.

Moreover, since the patient did indeed "manifest" the corresponding symptoms, even if he had some doubts, he couldn't insist that the other person was faking it without solid evidence.

Medical diagnosis relies heavily on the patient's subjective description and the doctor's experience and judgment.

Add to that the weighty sense of human kindness...

When Director Huo raised his head again, most of the hesitation and resistance in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a deep and knowing look.

He couldn't help but secretly admire the young man's competence and his accurate grasp of human nature and rules.

“Anterior cruciate ligament injury of the knee joint is indeed a rather troublesome injury.” Director Huo finally spoke, his tone regaining the calm and professionalism characteristic of a doctor. “Diagnosis mainly relies on a detailed physical examination, just like the one we did this morning. Imaging examinations such as X-rays, on the contrary, will not reveal much.”

He seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps explaining to Yang Guangming: "If the diagnosis is a fracture, then... as I said this morning, it is a serious injury that could lead to functional impairment. The subsequent treatment is complex, the prognosis is highly uncertain, and the impact on the ability to work is significant and long-term."

Yang Guangming listened attentively and asked at the right time, "Director Huo, in this situation, if... if I need to apply for medical retirement, can I meet the medical standards?"

Director Huo glanced at him and slowly nodded: "If the diagnosis is clear, the documents are complete, and the relevant policy provisions are met, then theoretically... you are eligible to apply." He specifically emphasized "clear diagnosis" and "meeting the requirements."

Yang Guangming felt relieved, knowing that things had succeeded.

His face showed gratitude and relief: "Thank you so much, Director Huo, for explaining it to me so patiently. I finally feel a little more at ease now, otherwise I would have been so panicked that I wouldn't have known what to do."

Then, he naturally steered the conversation back to "diversion," his tone relaxed and sincere:
"Director Huo, those things you just mentioned... you really don't need to bring them back."

My trip to Northeast China is short and I have a lot of tasks to do, so I probably won't have much time to shop for local specialties. I'm wondering what to bring back for my superiors and colleagues.

He smiled and waved his hand: "Just prepare some local mountain products, like wood ear mushrooms or something. It's the thought that counts, not the quantity or value."

Your willingness to help me is a huge help.

If I don't get any local specialties, I won't be able to explain it to my family when I go back. This is called reciprocity; friends exchange what they have.

These words completely dispelled the last bit of psychological burden on Director Huo. He understood what Yang Guangming meant—you can accept the things without worry, and give me anything you like, just to go through the motions.

A genuine smile of relaxation finally appeared on Director Huo's face, though it was very faint.

"Since you put it that way, Comrade Xiaoyang... alright then. I'll try my best to prepare some decent mountain produce; I can't possibly take advantage of you."

"You're too kind, Director Huo. You're being too polite." Yang Guangming stood up with a bright smile. "Well... I won't bother you any longer. I'll have to trouble you to take care of my second brother."

"It's my duty." Director Huo also stood up, his attitude much more amiable than before. "Regarding the diagnosis, I will issue the most clinically accurate certificate based on the patient's specific condition. Just let him focus on recovering."

"Okay, thank you, Director Huo! Thank you so much!" Yang Guangming thanked him repeatedly, his attitude respectful and enthusiastic.

He exchanged a few more polite words with Director Huo before taking his leave of the office.

Gently closing the door, Yang Guangming let out a long sigh of relief.

The cold air in the corridor filled his lungs, yet it brought him an unprecedented sense of ease and exhilaration. The most crucial and difficult step had finally been taken! And it went even more smoothly than he had anticipated.

Director Huo was clearly a shrewd man; he understood things immediately and was also cautious and intelligent enough. With his cooperation, the matter of my second brother retiring due to illness and returning to the city was about 70-80% settled.

He walked back to the ward with light steps, much easier than when he came, and even with a hint of joy.

As soon as the ward door was opened, Yang Guangyao and Yang Xiangmei's anxious eyes were simultaneously drawn to them. Almost in unison, they asked in low voices, "How did it go? How did the talk go?"

Yang Guangyao even tried to sit up, but he bumped his injured leg because he moved too quickly, and he grimaced in pain.

Yang Guangming closed the door behind him, walked to the bedside, and showed the first truly relaxed and joyful smile he had seen in days: "Don't worry, it's all settled. Director Huo's side... is fine."

"Really?" Yang Guangyao suddenly propped himself up, his voice trembling with excitement, his eyes wide as if he couldn't believe his ears, his fingers gripping the sheets tightly.

Yang Xiangmei immediately covered her mouth, her eyes shining brightly. She was too excited to speak, and could only nod vigorously, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Yes." Yang Guangming nodded affirmatively, lowered his voice and recounted the general content and outcome of his conversation with Director Huo, omitting the unspoken nuances. "Director Huo will issue the most 'realistic' diagnosis based on Second Brother's 'clinical symptoms.' With this certificate, he will have the strongest basis for returning to the city on medical retirement."

"Great! Great! God! I can really go back to the city!" Yang Guangyao was so excited that he was incoherent. He gripped the blanket tightly with both hands, his body trembled slightly with excitement, and his eyes instantly reddened as tears welled up.

Those were tears of ecstatic joy, a release of long-suppressed emotions, as they saw a glimmer of hope in despair.

He could almost see himself leaving this harsh, cold place and finally returning to the bustling, familiar metropolis.

Yang Xiangmei was also so excited that she kept wiping away tears. She was genuinely happy for her second brother: "That's wonderful, second brother! You can come home! Mother and father are so happy!" Her voice choked with emotion, but it was full of sincere joy.

The ward was filled with an almost euphoric atmosphere of joy, and even the smell of disinfectant in the air seemed less pungent.

Seeing his second brother's ecstatic expression, Yang Guangming glanced at his second sister, who was smiling through tears, but whose eyes revealed a hint of envy and loneliness. He couldn't help but sigh softly.

My second brother's unexpected stroke of luck in finding a way to retire due to illness and return to the city was entirely a matter of chance. He also longed for his second sister to escape the hardships of rural life and return to their parents' side as soon as possible.

But the reality is that such opportunities are rare. He can't create another "accident" out of thin air for his second sister's sake; the risk is too great and it's beyond his capabilities.

Although it's not feasible to get my second sister back to the city for the time being, we can still try to find a better way out for her and improve her current situation.

Now that there is hope for his second brother to return to the city, he also wants to make his beloved second sister truly happy.

So he cleared his throat and said, "Second brother, second sister, there's something else I'd like to discuss with you."

Immersed in joy, the two looked at him. Yang Guangyao's face was still streaked with tears, but he smiled and asked, "What is it? Tell me, little brother." His voice was still trembling with excitement.

Yang Guangming looked at Yang Xiangmei and said in a gentle tone, "Second brother, you gave Secretary Sun and Captain Wang a lot of gifts and favors to get that spot for a private school teacher. It's basically settled now, right?"

Yang Guangyao paused for a moment, his excited expression fading slightly. He nodded, his tone a little unnatural: "Well... it took a lot of effort... I originally thought..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear: he had originally fought for it for himself.

“Now that you can go back to the city, we definitely can’t waste this spot.” Yang Guangming took over the conversation, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “My idea is that we have to find a way to get my second sister to take this spot.”

He looked at Yang Xiangmei: "Second sister, you are steady and patient. You are also a high school graduate, which is more than enough for teaching elementary school."

"If I could become a private school teacher, I wouldn't have to do those heavy manual labor jobs in the fields anymore. I'd be sheltered from the wind and rain, and my work points would be guaranteed. It would be much better than what I'm doing now."

Yang Xiangmei was completely stunned, her eyes wide open, as if she hadn't heard her brother's words. A few seconds later, a huge wave of surprise washed over her, instantly flushing her cheeks.

"Me...me? A teacher?" She pointed to herself, her voice trembling slightly with excitement, her eyes filled with disbelief and longing. "This...can this be done? Can...can I do it?"

She never dared to imagine that such a good thing would fall into her lap! Although she was just a privately hired teacher at a rural primary school, it was a world of difference compared to working in the fields day after day!

“Why not?” Yang Guangming said confidently. “You’re a high school graduate, no worse than anyone else! Even if Second Brother can’t go for some reason, I’ll find a way to get this spot for you. At worst… Second Brother will have to wait for another opportunity.” He said the last sentence to Yang Guangyao with a smile, half-joking and half-serious.

The expression on Yang Guangyao's face instantly became extremely complicated.

After the initial euphoria subsided, a sense of embarrassment and shame quietly crept into my heart.

He had no idea he could return to the city. When he confessed to his younger brother, he only mentioned trying to get a spot for himself and made no mention of planning for his sister.

Now that his younger brother has given the spot directly to Xiangmei, although it is reasonable, he can't help but feel a little embarrassed when he thinks about his previous selfishness.

He knew that his younger brother had always been closest to Xiangmei, and might not approve of some of his actions.

Now that his younger brother had done him such a big favor and was even thinking of leaving the spot for his sister, his generosity and thoughtfulness filled him with mixed feelings and made him feel ashamed.

He chuckled sheepishly and quickly declared, "Yes, yes, yes! You're right! If I hadn't been able to return to the city, this spot would have gone to Xiangmei! Absolutely! Xiangmei is definitely more suited to be a teacher than me!"

I...I was also thinking of trying to get it first and then talking about it..."

His voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, the last few words almost muffled in his mouth.

Yang Guangming could easily see through his second brother's intentions, but he was too lazy to point it out, and even less willing to lecture him at this time.

That's just my second brother's temperament—a bit selfish and calculating. Some things are better left unsaid; saying them only makes them less meaningful. He prefers to show his care for those he wants to take care of through concrete actions.

He smiled at Yang Guangyao, acknowledging his acceptance, and then continued speaking to Yang Xiangmei:

"Second sister, don't worry. After what happened with Li Dongliang, I've had a few dealings with Secretary Sun and Captain Wang, and we've developed some rapport. The things I gave them last time were mainly to settle things, but the goodwill is still there."

He spoke with certainty and a convincing confidence: "I'll talk to them separately later and make some further efforts to secure this private school teacher position for you, Second Sister. I'm very confident I can get it."

Even without this spot, after my second brother passes away, you, second sister, will be all alone in the village and will need their help. This investment is worthwhile.

As Yang Xiangmei listened to her younger brother's arrangements, she felt a warm glow in her heart, her nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

But this time, the tears were tears of joy and gratitude.

She nodded vigorously, choking back tears as she said, "Little brother... thank you... I... I don't know what to say..."

She seemed to see a completely different and hopeful future, no longer toiling in the fields with her face covered in dirt, but standing in a classroom, holding chalk, poor but dignified and stable.

Outside the window, the early winter sun shone through the glass. Although the ward was still simple and cold, it seemed to be filled with a warm current called "hope".

Looking at the genuine, radiant smile on his sister's face, and then thinking about his own good fortune in returning to the city, Yang Guangyao felt a pang of shame gradually replaced by a complex and indescribable emotion.

He looked at his younger brother, Yang Guangming, again. The younger brother who had always seemed reckless and impulsive since childhood now appeared exceptionally tall and reliable in his eyes.

He knew that the future of this family might really depend on his younger brother to support and change it.

Yang Guangming walked to the window, gazing at the bleak yet bright winter scene outside. His mind was already racing, planning his next steps: how to communicate with the village officials, how to prepare the medical retirement application, and how to ensure everything went smoothly…

The road ahead still holds challenges, but the biggest obstacle has been overcome, and he now has a comprehensive plan in mind.

On this cold winter day in Northeast China, in this ward filled with the smell of disinfectant, the fates of two young people are quietly changing.

(End of this chapter)