Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Xu Yuqing felt as if she had grasped something, yet at the same time, she felt like she hadn't caught hold of anything.

With a complex mix of emotions, she greeted Touka, who had been called away from her patient in a hurry, and took a moment to compose herself before standing up.

Back in the ward, Wu Qin was engrossed in a book, exuding an air of tranquility that seemed to defy the passage of time. On the bed lay... the Chief, gazing out the window.

Xu Yuqing sat beside Xie Junli as the sky gradually darkened, and he noticed the unusual expression on Xu Yuqing's face.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly.

His voice was so low that it was just audible, but Xu Yuqing, lost in her own thoughts, didn't notice.

It wasn't until her hand was gently tapped that Xu Yuqing snapped back to reality. "What's wrong?"

Xie Junli looked at Xu Yuqing with a hint of resentment; his wife hadn't even glanced at him upon entering and now she was throwing his question back at him.

Xu Yuqing finally acknowledged Xie Junli, offering him an apologetic smile. She then leaned close to Xie Junli's ear and whispered,

"This elderly gentleman is the Chief."

Xie Junli had excellent hearing. He furrowed his brows and quickly glanced over at their neighbor. He had guessed that the man held a position of power, but he never imagined that he was actually the Chief.

It made sense, though. The aura he exuded was one that only someone who had seen battle could possess, something beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Xie Junli nodded, acknowledging that he understood. With a single look, the couple silently agreed to keep their distance from them.

Just then, a middle-aged stranger suddenly entered the room. Xie Junli, facing the door, immediately spotted him.

The man respectfully bowed toward Xie Junli, who was lying on the bed, before moving past him to stand by Han Chuan's bedside.

"Chief, I have urgent matters to report."

Han Chuan, absorbed in his view of the window, seemed intent on avoiding the sight of the affectionate couple. He had not felt this calm in a long time.

Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts, causing him to turn around somewhat displeased. Even Wu Qin, engrossed in her book, did not appreciate being disturbed.

However, upon seeing the man, both their eyes lit up with surprise. They exchanged glances and spontaneously sprang into action.

Wu Qin wheeled over a chair, and together with the man, they helped Han Chuan onto it.

Xu Yuqing, who was giving Xie Junli some water, couldn't help but notice the sudden change in the two unpredictable elders' expressions, both now radiating joy.

Unable to resist her curiosity, she discreetly peeked over.

Xie Junli tugged on her, causing her to stick out her tongue sheepishly and refocus on her task of hydrating him.

Neither Han Chuan nor Wu Qin paid attention to this small distraction as they followed the middle-aged man to the hospital's backyard.

The man was an old subordinate of Han Chuan's, someone who had served under him. He could be considered a trusted confidant, known for his cautious nature and efficient work. Han Chuan had always been pleased with him.

The corners of Han Chuan's eyes betrayed his suppressed delight. If not for the crowded and noisy environment, he would have already asked about the matter on their way.

With evidence in hand, he could finally acknowledge the bloodline of the Han family once more. The thought of Xie Junli respectfully addressing him as 'Grandfather' brought a smile to his face.

This was, without a doubt, the best thing that had happened in days.

Even Wu Qin struggled to contain her excitement.

She wasn't doing this for Xie Junli's sake. He was clearly someone who wouldn't easily warm up to her. What she was eager for was the opportunity to have him bear a child for her.

In her hands, she would finally have a child carrying the Han family's bloodline.

Huang Cangying, the middle-aged man, observed the barely contained excitement of the Chief and his wife, feeling a pang of guilt. He quickened his pace.

Under the shade of a large tree, after ensuring no one was around, Huang Cangying released his grip on the wheelchair and stepped in front of Han Chuan, taking two steps back before kneeling down without waiting for a reaction.

"Chief! I failed to complete the mission!"

Han Chuan was startled, his expression darkening. "What happened?"

This was a task personally assigned by the Chief himself, and Huang Cangying was well aware of its gravity. For this reason, he had made a special trip.

But the harsh terrain and the ruthlessness of those involved had proven challenging. Huang Cangying, understanding Han Chuan's intentions, stood up and approached him, whispering the details of the situation.

"Chief, the village woman, He Xiuhua, did mention having an adopted child, but she insisted that the third son of the Xie family was not her biological child."

As Huang Cangying spoke, he felt as if a fly had lodged itself in his throat. The thought of that illiterate, crude, and heartless rural woman filled him with disgust.

Upon hearing this, Han Chuan angrily slapped the armrest of his wheelchair. "Ridiculous! Do I not know what the bloodline of my Han family looks like?!"

At eighty years old, if Han Chuan were thirty years younger, anyone would say that he and Xie Junli were father and son.

How could Huang Cangying not know the truth behind this matter? Unfortunately, the problem lay in the fact that the village woman refused to let go and had rallied the entire village.

"It seems this woman had been plotting this all along. The entire village knows that the third son of the Xies was adopted, and they claim that the young master is the biological child. They even produced an old jade ring belonging to the Chief."

The third son of the Xies and the village woman shared the same slanted triangular eyes, which would become identical when they aged. Huang Cangying's eyesight was perfectly fine.

If not for the fact that the young master still harbored feelings for this woman, fearing that he might harbor resentment,

Huang Cangying would have found any excuse to have them arrested and sent to labor reform.

There was no room for confusion regarding the Chief's bloodline.

"Commander, this matter can be trivial or grave. I fear that the young master has been deceived by this village woman for too long, causing a rift with the commander."

Huang Cangying spoke with complexity.

Han Chuan frowned, his face darkening, and Wu Qin was similarly affected.

With hope seemingly within reach, it was unexpectedly ruined by a mere village woman, which further agitated Han Chuan, who was already short on patience.

"After so many years on the battlefield, what devils and demons have I not seen? How dare a simple village woman dare to fool me?" "Cangying, you must swiftly return and inform this so-called third son of the Xie family that in Jing City, there is bloodline identification. Pretend to bring them over and tell them that if they are not genuine, the consequences of deceiving me, you know well."

Huang Cangying's eyes lit up as he saluted respectfully. "Yes!"

At this moment, Wu Qin spoke up. "Wait, this matter should not be blown out of proportion. Otherwise, when the child is recognized, they might think we forced it."

Han Chuan, upon hearing this, nodded repeatedly. "Right, caution in all things."

Huang Cangying responded solemnly, pushing Han Chuan back and leaving hastily to buy train tickets.

Wu Qin took over the wheelchair, slowly pushing it. Neither Han Chuan nor Wu Qin spoke, each lost in their own thoughts, returning to the ward.

Xie Junli had suffered severe injuries, but he recovered quickly. Initially unable to move, he could now do so freely except for his right hand, which remained immobilized.

As night fell, Xu Yuqing prepared to leave before darkness made her fearful.

Although this was the Military District and relatively safe, snakes and insects still roamed the paths, their rustling sounds frightening.

"Shall I go?"

Xie Junli was also reluctant; these past two nights were restless for him.

Despite sleeping similarly before and even holding her recently, it had become a habit. Without her in his arms and her familiar scent missing from his nose,

he knew his wife feared the dark.

"Yes."

One sat while the other stood, their reluctance evident, causing Han Chuan and Wu Qin, who entered, to frown.

"Hem hem."

Han Chuan coughed twice.

Xu Yuqing jumped, hurriedly releasing Xie Junli's hand, giving him a reassuring look before leaving with the food box.

Wu Qin wheeled Han Chuan to the bedside, where Han Chuan looked at the sitting Xie Junli, his heart stirring slightly.

"Cough cough, young comrade, how long have you been married?" Han Chuan, fearing Xie Junli would ignore him again, decided to approach through the woman.

Indeed, although Xie Junli wasn't enthusiastic, he responded calmly.

"More than a year."

"A year and more, your relationship seems quite strong." Han Chuan pressed on while the iron was hot.

Praising his relationship with his wife, the usually cold-faced Commander Xie couldn't help but feel sweet inside and began to miss the departed Xu Yuqing.

"Mm, my wife is good."

He said immediately.

Seeing this, Han Chuan couldn't help but turn away, unwilling to watch. In the Han family, who indulged in love? This calf was just like his father, stopping dead in his tracks at the sight of a woman.

If only this woman could bear children, he wouldn't care! Alas, she couldn't!

Han Chuan shook his head, finding the situation difficult.

At this moment, Wu Qin spoke. "Young comrade, let me say this: revolutionary sentiment isn't about such intimacy and clinginess. One must be mindful of appearances."

As she spoke, Han Chuan's gaze turned stern, silently ordering Wu Qin to stop. If his grandson stopped speaking to him because of her words, Han Chuan's eyes commanded silence.

Wu Qin, sensing this, stopped subconsciously. Her body trembled slightly, gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and massaged Han Chuan's calves, not daring to utter another word.

Xie Junli's expression also turned cold.

How dare she insinuate his wife was not a proper woman?

Just as Xie Junli was about to speak, Han Chuan interjected. "Young comrade, my old woman is confused. Please don't take offense!"

"No, my wife has been filial to my mother since marrying me. If not for my mother asking her to join the military with me, she wouldn't have been willing. My wife is rather straightforward. If she has offended Doctor Wu in any way, please come find me, Doctor Wu."

Xie Junli spoke solemnly, standing firmly by his wife.

Han Chuan, seeing his grandson indeed angry,

couldn't help but glare at Wu Qin. "No, no, young comrade, how are your parents' health?"

Han Chuan couldn't apologize outright and quickly changed the subject.

Seeing the situation, Xie Junli didn't press further. Had there been a fourth person in the room, he wouldn't have let it rest.

"My father passed away early, but my mother is in good health."

Xie Junli replied, thinking of He Xiuhua and recalling the circumstances of his last visit.

His eyes were dim, as if he was destined to have no children or grandchildren; it was for the best, this life of mutual support with his wife.

Reflecting on it, there was a certain happiness to be found.

Han Chuan looked at his grandson's affectionate expression and mistakenly thought he was thinking about that village woman. He inwardly feared the worst, could it be that his grandson harbored such deep feelings for this village woman?

If the woman was good, giving her something would suffice.

But to use his grandson as a stepping stone for her own son's future, Han Chuan's gaze turned cold, his murderous thoughts impossible to suppress.

At this moment, thousands of miles away, the Han family was in an uproar.

Of course, the commotion was confined to the third branch of the family.

In a small room, a young couple and an elderly, dark-skinned, thin woman were discussing some matter.

Their smiles could not be contained.