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

Chapter 190, page 189: The illness spreads. The diagnosis is confirmed. Overwhelmed with excitement. Building bridges.
Pretending to be sick is not an easy task; it must be done convincingly, which truly tests Yang Guangyao's acting skills.

As Yang Guangyao lay in his hospital bed, he had to try his best to maintain the illusion that his left knee was uncomfortable, whenever there were outsiders present.

These performances, after the urgent and intensive cramming training the day before yesterday, and the continuous self-reinforcement over the past two days, have almost become Yang Guangyao's second instinct.

Every expression, every groan, every unconscious tension and relaxation of the muscles—Yang Guangyao had rehearsed countless times, striving to pinpoint the key points in the doctor's diagnosis with precision.

The changes in Yang Guangyao's "condition" quickly spread among the orthopedic medical staff. This small county hospital had no secrets to begin with.

During the morning rounds each day, Director Huo would bring in the interns. The procedure remained the same, but the focus was clearly different.

With the time allotted for examining the lower leg fracture, Director Huo focused more on the left knee joint, which had only minor abrasions and scabs.

Director Huo's cool fingers would press and tap carefully and methodically on different parts of his knee, asking about the specific location and nature of the pain.

The young interns following behind, their eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge, craned their necks, held their breath, and tried to memorize every typical sign of anterior cruciate ligament injury that the chief physician spoke of—"joint instability," "local tenderness," "quadriceps inhibition"...

Even when the nurses came to change dressings, give injections, and take temperatures, the way they looked at Yang Guangyao subtly changed.

It was no longer just routine concern for a fracture patient, but rather a layer of heavy, heartfelt sympathy and deep regret. Because of this sympathy, their movements seemed to become gentler.

"Sigh, what a spirited young man, suffering like this... A broken leg is bad enough, but how could his knee be so badly injured..." After changing his dressing, an older nurse couldn't help but sigh softly to her colleague.

"That's right! I overheard Dr. Lu and the others chatting, and they said it was the most important ligament inside that was torn. Director Huo personally determined the nature of it. This is really troublesome. I heard that even if this kind of injury heals, it won't be the same as a normal person's. I'm afraid it won't heal properly in the future." The younger nurse replied in a low voice, her eyes full of sighs.

"This is adding insult to injury... If he doesn't recover well, he might be unable to walk for the rest of his life. A slight limp would be the least of his worries; he'd be unable to do any heavy work, essentially becoming half a cripple... He's only so young; what will he do in the future..." Sighs seeped into the ward like the cold air outside the window.

Such whispers would occasionally drift into the ward like feathers, reaching Yang Guangyao and Yang Xiangmei's ears.

When Yang Xiangmei passed by the nurses' station, she would sometimes hear a few words of discussion. She would always immediately lower her head or pretend to turn around to pack her things, silently wiping away tears with the back of her hand or the corner of her clothes.

Yang Guangyao usually lowers his eyelids to avoid everyone's gaze, his fingers unconsciously tugging at the edge of the quilt covering him, revealing an expression that is a mixture of pain, frustration, helplessness, and resignation.

However, behind those lowered eyelids, his heart was like a lake with a boulder thrown in, its waves churning violently.

Every sympathetic glance, every regretful sigh, repeatedly reminded him of the enormous rewards that "serious diagnosis" might bring.

In order to ensure that his ultimate goal would not be in vain, his potential in acting was fully explored, and no one except Director Huo realized that he was faking it.

Two days passed slowly but steadily in this slightly oppressive, anxious atmosphere, where a certain atmosphere had to be deliberately maintained.

On the afternoon of the third day, Yang Guangming estimated that the time was almost right—his second brother's condition had spread throughout the hospital and was now common knowledge.

He mentally prepared his next words and went to Director Huo's office again.

Arriving at the door of the director's office, Yang Guangming took a deep breath, adjusting his expression to a perfectly measured look of worry, and then gently knocked on the door.

"Please come in." Director Huo's familiar, slightly tired voice came from inside.

Sunlight streamed in through the door. Director Huo was sitting behind his desk, writing something while facing the sunlight streaming in from the window.

Hearing someone come in, he stopped writing, looked up, and saw that it was Yang Guangming. He didn't seem too surprised, but simply gestured with his eyes to the chair opposite him.

Yang Guangming sat down in the chair and said, "Director Huo, I'm sorry to bother you."

"Is it about your second brother's diagnosis certificate?" Director Huo got straight to the point, his tone calm and even, revealing little emotion, as if he were simply stating a routine task he had anticipated.

He skipped the pleasantries, clearly understanding the other party's purpose.

Yang Guangming nodded and said frankly, "Yes, Director Huo. My parents are pressing me for answers. They are far away in the south and are very worried about my second brother's treatment and recovery. They are concerned about what the situation is."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious, "At the same time, we must also make plans and arrangements for my second brother's future as soon as possible."

His words were subtle and dignified, but in this context, both of them were well aware of the weight and possibility behind the phrase "making plans"—it concerned whether a young man could leave this land and return to his distant hometown.

After listening, Director Huo pondered for a moment, then unconsciously tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table.

He didn't respond immediately, but turned around and skillfully pulled out the medical record belonging to Yang Guangyao from a thick stack of medical records next to him.

On the kraft paper medical record folder, Yang Guangyao's name was written in pen. He turned to the blank pages at the back.

Then, he picked up the black fountain pen, unscrewed the cap, dipped it in the ink bottle next to him, and began to write the final diagnosis.

The pen tip glided across the slightly rough paper, making a soft, rustling sound that was particularly clear in the quiet office.

Yang Guangming held his breath, his body involuntarily leaning slightly forward, his gaze following Director Huo's steady and powerful wrist, landing on the tip of the pen, watching the black characters that concerned everything appear on the paper, line by line, sentence by sentence.

Director Huo wrote quickly and attentively, pausing occasionally as if considering whether a particular word was accurate or standard. His profile, outlined by the light from the window, appeared serious and focused.

After he finished writing it, he carefully read it through from beginning to end to confirm that there were no errors.

Then, he put down his pen, opened the drawer on the right side of his desk, and took out an official seal with a wooden handle engraved with the hospital and department names.

Next, open the small inkpad box and press the stamp firmly and evenly onto the bright red inkpad, making sure that every character is covered with ink.

He raised his hand and precisely pressed the seal under the newly written diagnosis, applying steady pressure, pausing for a moment, before slowly lifting it up.

A clear, bright red stamp was prominently imprinted on the paper!
That red, so striking, seemed to possess a certain magic, imbuing all of this—the actions, the words, and the performance—with a formal, authoritative, and unquestionable power.

"Take it." Director Huo handed over the thin but incredibly heavy piece of paper, his voice still steady. "Based on the patient's complaints and detailed clinical examination findings, this is the most accurate diagnosis at present."

Yang Guangming immediately stood up, took the paper with both hands, and his eyes quickly and greedily scanned the contents of the paper.

The diagnostic certificate was written in a very standardized and rigorous manner, with professional wording.

In addition to the previously confirmed "left tibial fracture", a new line has been added below, clearly marked: "combined with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee joint".

In the section below describing the patient's condition and offering suggestions, Director Huo used a very assertive tone and extremely strong wording:
"Physical examination revealed a positive anterior drawer test, significantly decreased joint stability, marked local tenderness, accompanied by significant swelling and functional impairment... This injury is a severe intra-articular injury with a poor prognosis, and is highly likely to lead to long-term mechanical instability of the knee joint and severely limited function..."

The area is currently immobilized with a plaster cast. It is strongly advised to absolutely avoid weight-bearing and any strenuous activity. In the long term, there is an extremely high risk of frequent walking difficulties, recurrent sprains, and secondary traumatic arthritis, which will severely impact daily life and the ability to perform heavy physical labor…

Every word, every phrase, is like a meticulously calculated drumbeat, striking with unparalleled precision the stringent medical standards required for returning to the city after medical retirement, even far exceeding the minimum requirements.

An overwhelming surge of excitement and ecstasy rushed to Yang Guangming's head, making him almost dizzy.

But with great self-control, he quickly suppressed it, and the expression on his face was one of worry befitting a family member.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice sounded hoarse and strained as he deliberately suppressed his emotions.

"Director Huo... this... this diagnosis... is it really that serious?" He appropriately expressed the helplessness and panic of the family members after hearing the bad news.

Director Huo's tone was calm yet profound, "Medical diagnosis must be based on objective clinical facts. We doctors can only make a judgment that best conforms to medical standards and objective facts by comprehensively analyzing the patient's statements and the conditions we personally examine. This certificate..."

He gently tapped the paper with his finger, saying, "No matter where you take it, it can withstand repeated examination and scrutiny."

He specifically emphasized "clinical facts" and "compliance with standards".

Yang Guangming immediately understood and nodded repeatedly, his face filled with lingering fear: "I understand, I understand! Thank you, Director Huo! We are so grateful to you! Our whole family... doesn't know how to thank you for this immense kindness!"

As he spoke, he bowed deeply and solemnly to Director Huo. This bow carried a great deal of meaning.

Director Huo waved his hand, his tone seemingly softening slightly, carrying a sense of relief mixed with a hint of admonition:
“Go back and take good care of the patient. Don’t miss the regular follow-up checkups; that’s very important. As for the rest…” He paused, giving Yang Guangming a deep look, “Take care of yourself.”

"Yes! Certainly! Certainly! We will always remember your kindness and your words of advice, and we will never forget them!"

Yang Guangming carefully folded the diagnosis certificate in half, then in half again, as if it were a priceless treasure, making sure the handwriting and seal were intact. Then he carefully placed it in his shirt pocket, close to his skin.

The coolness of the paper felt like a fire, soothing his chest.

After thanking him again, he left the office and gently closed the door behind him.

Once the door closed, isolating the indoor and outdoor spaces, Yang Guangming finally allowed himself to lean against the cold wall and let out a long sigh of relief as he walked in the empty and quiet corridor.

He finally got his hands on the most crucial and hardest stepping stone!

He didn't go back to the ward immediately, but stood by the window at the end of the corridor for a while.

He pushed open the window a crack, letting the dry, cold, and fresh winter air blow fiercely against his cheeks, helping him quickly calm the turbulent emotions churning within him like a tsunami.

He needs to calm down at this moment.

Once his heartbeat had stabilized and his eyes had regained their calm and serene state, showing no trace of abnormality, he turned around and walked steadily toward the ward.

As soon as he pushed open the wooden door to the ward, which had some peeling paint, Yang Guangyao and Yang Xiangmei's eyes were immediately drawn to him as if by a magnet. Their eyes were filled with urgency, inquiry, and undisguised tension and anxiety, like prisoners awaiting sentencing.

Yang Guangming turned the door shut behind him, cutting himself off from the outside world.

He didn't speak, nor did he show any extra expression on his face. He simply walked silently to the bedside, and then slowly and solemnly took out the neatly folded piece of paper from the pocket of his shirt and handed it over.

Yang Guangyao almost snatched it away. Overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation, his fingers trembled slightly uncontrollably, so much so that he couldn't unfold the paper smoothly the first time.

Yang Xiangmei immediately moved closer, and the two siblings pressed their heads together tightly, holding their breath as their eyes greedily and urgently scanned every word and punctuation mark on the paper.

When the words "ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in left knee" appeared in black letters, Yang Guangyao's breath hitched, as if someone had grabbed his throat.

Immediately afterward, his gaze quickly moved downward, sweeping over the descriptions of "poor prognosis," "severe functional limitation," "difficulty walking," "seriously affecting work capacity," and "extremely high risk." His eyes widened, his face flushed, and he became so excited that his lips trembled, unable to control himself.

"It really...it really is written down! Director Huo...he actually wrote it down! And he wrote it so seriously! He was so certain!"

He lowered his voice and called out hoarsely, almost incoherently, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

Yang Guangyao looked at it repeatedly until he was sure that the bright red official seal, which carried the power of authority, was clearly and unmistakably affixed there. Only then did his wildly beating heart finally settle down, and he was immediately overwhelmed by even greater joy.

Yang Xiangmei covered her mouth, her eyes instantly welling up with tears, shimmering with an extremely complex light. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and a tremendous joy and hope burst forth in her heart!
"Great! Brother! Great! We did it!"

Yang Guangyao finally raised his head and looked at Yang Guangming, his eyes red with emotion, his voice choked with sobs:

"This time...this time it's definitely going to work! It's a done deal! Even without Li Dongliang's incident, even without his transfer, just based on this diagnosis and its severity, those people in the county's educated youth office, as long as they still want to follow the rules, have absolutely no reason to hold me back!"

At most... at most, the review process will just take a little longer!
But I definitely qualify to return to the city! I definitely qualify!

He could almost see the notice to return to the city, the bustling streets of Shanghai, and the lights of his home. He was so excited that he could hardly contain himself. His hand holding the diagnosis certificate trembled uncontrollably, and he almost crushed the paper.

Yang Xiangmei nodded repeatedly, bursting into tears of joy, tears streaming down her face: "It's wonderful, Second Brother! It's wonderful! You can come home! It's truly... truly a blessing in disguise... a blessing in disguise!"

She wiped her tears haphazardly with the back of her hand, but couldn't help but grin, a smile that was a mixture of heartache and extreme relief.

Yang Guangming looked at his second brother, who was overjoyed and almost out of control, and his second sister, who was crying and laughing. He patiently waited for their emotions to subside a little before speaking.

His tone returned to its usual calm and methodical manner, like a stabilizing force, attempting to calm the overly agitated atmosphere.

"Second brother, second sister, don't be too happy yet. Listen to me." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a power that forced people to calm down. "We did get the diagnosis certificate, but this is only the first step in a long journey. We've only got the ticket."

His words were like a bucket of perfectly cooled water, slowly pouring down, quickly bringing the two of them down from their euphoric heights, their eyes refocusing on his face.

"With this, we have the qualifications and confidence to apply for medical retirement, and it's no longer wishful thinking. But if we want to get this done smoothly, there are still several hurdles to overcome, each more complicated than the last, and we can't afford to make any mistakes."

With a serious expression, Yang Guangming counted on his fingers clearly and slowly: "First, the most important step is the village."

A written certificate from the brigade headquarters, stamped with the official seal, is required to prove that Yang Guangyao was indeed framed and injured during his time as an educated youth in Kaoshantun, and that the situation is true. The brigade headquarters has approved his return to the city for treatment and recuperation due to illness. This is the first step, and also the most basic and crucial one.

Without the village's certificate, everything that follows is just a pipe dream.

“Then,” he held up his second finger, “you need to take the certificate issued by the village, along with this hospital diagnosis, to the commune’s educated youth office to apply.”

They need to review the materials, investigate and verify them, and then approve and stamp them. This step at the commune level, while usually not too difficult, is a necessary step.

"Finally," he held up his third finger, "all the materials stamped by the commune are sent to the county's educated youth office for final review, adjudication, and processing of all related procedures. Only when the county's seal is affixed can the matter be considered truly settled."

He looked at Yang Guangyao, his gaze sharp and serious: "Second Brother, if any link in this process, any person in charge, feels that something is not in compliance, has doubts, or simply wants to stall or delay, the matter may be put on hold indefinitely, or even be completely rejected! All our efforts will be in vain!"
Especially at the village level, although Secretary Sun and Captain Wang sympathized with our family because of Li Dongliang's incident and we even received some benefits, it still had to be done strictly by the book. All the necessary procedures and certificates had to be followed without exception. We had to get their willing approval and stamps! Absolutely no mistakes could be tolerated!

The ecstasy on Yang Guangshan's face gradually subsided, replaced by a tense anticipation and a hint of unease.

He swallowed hard, his voice regaining some composure: "Brother, so... so what should we do next? How do we bring this up with the village? What about Secretary Sun and Captain Wang..."

“Of course I’ll go talk to them.” Yang Guangming took the lead without hesitation, his tone resolute. “You must stay in the hospital and ‘rest and recover.’ You can’t go anywhere, and you can’t show anyone that you don’t care about your injury or that you’re in a hurry to go back to the city!”
In particular, you must not appear complacent or overconfident!

Everything had to appear logical and natural, a choice made out of desperation!

You are the victim; your injuries were too severe to leave, understand?

He emphasized this crucial point again, his gaze fixed on Yang Guangyao, until the other person nodded solemnly.

Yang Guangming hesitated for a moment, then walked to the window and looked at the sky outside. The afternoon sun in winter seemed weak and listless, and the sky was overcast.

“It’s getting late and the weather is cold today. It’s too much trouble for them to make a special trip from the village to the hospital.”

When Luo Xingbang visited you last time, he said he would come again after work today.

When he arrives, he'll spread the news, as if it were just casual conversation, about how your condition has worsened and you've received a serious diagnosis. This will give Secretary Sun and Captain Wang some time to prepare.

Then, tomorrow, I will formally invite the two leaders over to discuss our request in person.

After the three siblings made their plans, they waited for Luo Xingbang to come and visit them.

As dusk fell and the lights of the county town began to twinkle, the hospital was illuminated with a dim, yellow light.

There was a gentle knock on the ward door, and then Luo Xingbang's face, red from the cold wind and bearing a simple and honest smile, peeked in.

"Brother Guangyao, Xiangmei, and Guangming, are you all here?"

He carried a small net bag containing a few green pears whose skins were frozen stiff as he walked in, bringing with him the chill of the outside air. "I just finished work and stopped by to check on things. Guangyao, are you feeling any better today? Is your leg still hurting a lot?"

As Luo Xingbang spoke, he placed the pears on the bedside table and habitually rubbed his frozen hands.

"Xingbang's here! Come in and sit down, it must be cold outside, right?" Yang Xiangmei quickly got up to greet him and poured him a cup of hot water. "You've come all this way, why bring anything? You're too kind. You always have to spend money on me." She looked at the pears and felt a little guilty.

Yang Guangming smiled and stood up, pulling out a chair for him: "You've come at the perfect time. I was just talking about you. Sit down and warm up."

Yang Guangyao leaned against the headboard, his face showing just the right amount of weakness and lingering sorrow. He sighed heavily, his voice low and deep:

"Sigh, it's nothing special. My leg bone isn't hurting as badly anymore, I guess it's healing... but this knee..."

He shook his head, looking embarrassed, worried, and confused about the future, performing with even more skill and naturalness than before.

Luo Xingbang immediately leaned forward with concern, his brows furrowing: "What happened to your knee? Has it gotten worse again? What happened?"

Yang Guangyao glanced at Yang Guangming standing at the foot of the bed, and after receiving an almost imperceptible nod from the latter, he said in a voice tinged with despair:

"Director Huo... just gave a clear diagnosis today... saying it's not just a simple fracture... the most important ligament in the knee... called the anterior cruciate ligament, that's also broken."

They say this is the most troublesome place to get injured... In the future... I'm afraid I'll be left with a disability, even walking will be difficult, I'll be like a cripple, and I can forget about doing any heavy work... This life, well... sigh..."

As he spoke, his eyes dimmed, and he abruptly turned his head to look at the wall, as if he truly could not face this cruel future, his shoulders slumping.

Upon hearing this, Luo Xingbang was so shocked that his mouth gaped open for a long time, and he let out an unconscious "Ah...".

He stared blankly at Yang Guangyao's leg, which was in a heavy cast, and then at his dejected and pained profile. A deep and genuine sympathy and profound regret slowly surfaced on his face.

That is an emotional response based on the most basic cognition.

"How...how could this happen?"

He stammered, seemingly unable to accept or comprehend the fact, "It's just... just falling down a slope, right? How could it... how could it be so serious? A ligament... torn? A disability?"

In his simple and realistic understanding, a fracture is a serious injury, but with proper care, it can eventually be fully recovered.

However, words like "ligament rupture," "disability," "difficulty walking," and "inability to do heavy work" far exceeded his life experience and imagination, meaning that a young and strong man might have his life ruined and his future bleak.

This is so cruel!
Yang Guangming chimed in at the opportune moment: "Sigh, the doctor said that the angle of the fall was just right, a perfect moment, hitting a vital spot."

This disease is uncommon. When I first came to the hospital, my leg was in so much pain because of a broken tibia that it wasn't discovered in time.

My second brother felt something was wrong with his knee these past couple of days, and that's when he finally got it checked out.

His tone was heavy and helpless, as if he was also processing this bad news. "Nobody wanted to see this happen. It's too late to say anything now. A broken bone can be set, but ligaments... I've heard they're very troublesome."

We can only focus on active treatment first, and then observe the subsequent recovery process.

It's just that... after this, my second brother will probably have a hard time adapting to the labor life of being sent to the countryside in Northeast China.

Every job in the fields is physically demanding. His leg... it's practically useless..."

His last few words were spoken very softly, yet they struck Luo Xingbang's heart like a hammer blow.

The atmosphere in the ward instantly became oppressive and heavy, as if even the air had frozen.

Luo Xingbang rubbed his rough hands, clearly shocked by this "fact," and didn't know how to comfort him, only repeating:

"How could... how could... it's such a pity... Guangyao, you're so young... try to think positively... maybe... maybe the hospital has a way to cure you..."

But his words sounded so pale and weak at this moment, even he himself lacked confidence when he spoke.

He sat awkwardly for a while, asked about the treatment and medication, and chatted about some trivial matters in the team, such as whose pig had given birth and how the weather seemed to be getting colder. But he was clearly in a heavy mood and somewhat absent-minded, his eyes always wandering to Yang Guangyao's leg, which was covered by a quilt and was said to be "half-crippled".

About half an hour later, he got up to leave, his mood seemingly heavier than when he arrived.

"Xingbang, I really owe you a lot for what happened to my second brother. You've been busy taking care of him and visiting him often."

Yang Guangming saw him to the door, his tone incredibly sincere and filled with deep gratitude, "Logically speaking, I should at least treat you to a meal to thank you properly, but look at this..."

He pointed to the ward, indicating that his second brother was bedridden and his second sister needed constant care, and he was simply too busy to spare any time for her.

Upon hearing this, Luo Xingbang hurriedly waved his hands, his face turning red with anxiety: "Guangming, what you're saying is too inappropriate! Guangyao and I are like family! We're roommates. If Guangyao is in trouble, it's only natural and my duty to help him!"
"We can eat anytime! Guangyao's condition has worsened, so neither you nor I are in the mood."

Yang Guangming knew that Luo Xingbang was honest and straightforward. He bent down, took out a bag of two pounds of sausages that he had prepared in advance from the worn-out satchel at the foot of the bed, and stuffed it into Luo Xingbang's hand.

He added, "You can skip the meal, but you must take this!"

Yang Guangming's attitude was firm, and his tone even carried a hint of unquestionable toughness. "These two pounds of sausages are from home. They're homemade and taste pretty good. You can take them back and try them out, or add a dish for the elderly and children in your family. Cut a plate and steam it; it'll be a decent dish!"

You have to take it. If you don't, it means you're looking down on me and think I'm not a good friend!

When Luo Xingbang saw the solid sausage peeking out from the oil paper package, he pushed it away forcefully with both hands as if he had been burned:
"No! This is too valuable! Guangming, take it back quickly! This precious stuff should be left for Guangyao to nourish his body! He needs nutrition most right now! I... how can I take this! What kind of person would I be if I took it?"

Meat is so precious these days, such a large bag of high-quality sausages is truly a rare treat.

The two argued at the door of the ward, one insisting on giving it to the other, while the other refused no matter what.

Yang Guangming's attitude was unusually firm, and his voice involuntarily rose a little: "Xingbang! You must take it! This isn't just for you, it's for my uncle, aunt, and the children to try! It's a small token of my appreciation! If you don't take it, it means you think it's not enough, and I'll be too embarrassed to bother you again! My second brother is still lying in bed, do you expect me to chase him out of the hospital and force it on you?"

His voice startled Yang Guangyao and Yang Xiangmei in the ward.

Yang Guangyao struggled to half-raise himself, his voice hoarse as he pleaded, "Xingbang, take it... It's a token of my brother's goodwill... He'll feel bad if you don't take it..."

Yang Xiangmei also came over and advised, "Xingbang, just take it. We've been so grateful for your help these past few days. If you don't take it, we'll feel even worse."

The three of them tried to persuade him, but Luo Xingbang couldn't handle it alone. Looking at the heavy, fragrant bag of sausages in his hand, he felt both touched and embarrassed.

In the end, he had no choice but to accept it awkwardly and embarrassedly. He felt the weight in his hand was heavy, and his heart was filled with warmth and a heavy feeling of tightness.

"This...this...Guangming, you're too...too kind...I...I'm so embarrassed...how can I say this..." His dark face flushed red as he stammered, his vocabulary failing him, unsure how to express his complex emotions.

“Let’s not be so formal between us.” Yang Guangming patted his strong arm and said, his tone becoming more serious, “Xingbang, I need to trouble you with something else.”

"Guangming, just tell me! As long as it's within my power, I'll do it without hesitation!" Luo Xingbang immediately puffed out his chest and assured him.

Having received such a generous gift, he was worried about not having a chance to repay it.

"When you get back, if it's convenient, please let Secretary Sun or Captain Wang know if you run into them or go to them specifically."

Yang Guangming lowered his voice to make sure no one was passing by outside the ward, "Let me give the two leaders a detailed report on my second brother's latest diagnosis."

"The condition is much more complex and serious than we initially thought. The hospital has issued the official diagnosis, stating that a key ligament in the knee is torn, and in the future... his ability to work will likely be greatly affected, essentially... he will lose the ability to perform heavy physical labor."

He paused, observing Luo Xingbang's attentive expression, and continued clearly: "Then... could you pass on a message for me, asking if the two leaders are free tomorrow morning?"

If it's convenient, I'd like to ask them to come to the hospital again. There are some important matters concerning my second brother's follow-up treatment and arrangements, and I'd like to discuss them with them in person and hear their opinions and instructions.

Luo Xingbang listened intently, memorizing every word, then nodded emphatically, a reliable "I've got this covered" look on his face.

"Don't worry, Guangming! I will definitely pass on this message to you! Not a single word will be missed! I guarantee that it will be explained clearly! Secretary Sun and Captain Wang are both sensible and reasonable people. With such serious consequences arising from Guangyao's matter, they will definitely take it very seriously and care about it."

"Thank you so much, Xingbang! It's been a lot of trouble for you to make this trip!" Yang Guangming squeezed his arm tightly, his words conveying everything.

"It's alright, it's alright! It's my duty! I'll take care of it!" Luo Xingbang assured again, then peeked into the ward to say goodbye to Yang Guangyao and Yang Xiangmei, "Brother Guangyao, just rest and recover, don't worry! Xiangmei, I'm leaving now! Just let me know if anything happens!"

Clutching the heavy bag of sausages, Luo Xingbang left the hospital in a slightly hurried manner, his figure quickly disappearing at the end of the dimly lit corridor.

Yang Guangming stood at the door of the ward, watching until his sturdy back was completely out of sight before slowly turning his gaze away and gently closing the door.

The matter has been steadily progressing according to his predetermined steps and pace, and the bridge has been erected.

Next, we need to patiently wait for the village's reaction and carefully prepare for another important conversation with Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun tomorrow.

In the ward, Yang Guangyao and Yang Xiangmei looked at him with eyes full of complete dependence and expectation, as if he were their only pillar of support.

Yang Guangming gave them a reassuring and comforting smile, his tone calm and steady: "Alright, Xingbang has already delivered the message. He's an honest man, he'll definitely pass it on."

Let's wait and see what happens, and wait for news from the village.

Yang Guangming's calmness and composure greatly influenced the other two.

The slightly anxious and uncertain atmosphere in the ward gradually eased and was replaced by a positive waiting attitude.

(End of this chapter)