Chapter 280: Family Members

Chapter 280 Family

Thanks to Ye Xiaoxiao's care, Wang Dazhi quickly recovered.

Due to Yang Juan's serious work error, Zhao Chunhua put him on suspension.

Li Zhen sensed something was wrong. "Just suspension? Isn’t that basically a paid vacation? And now all the work at the clinic falls to you?"

Li Zhen’s big eyes stared at Ye Xiaoxiao, like a curious owl.

"Suspension means no salary, and if it goes on his permanent record, it’ll cause trouble for future studies or job searches. This is a severe punishment."

Though salary wasn’t particularly important to Ye Xiaoxiao, Yang Juan clearly wasn’t well-off. His modest salary was essential for him.

Li Zhen: "Yang Juan usually works quite diligently. He’s never made a mistake here in all these years. What happened this time…"

Ye Xiaoxiao shook her head.

She didn’t care about the reasons behind it. As a doctor, no matter the circumstances, personal emotions should never interfere with work.

But soon, Li Zhen figured out what happened.

Yang Juan’s depression was related to Jiang Leyin.

On the third day of Yang Juan’s suspension, Jiang Leyin and Wu Tao became a couple.

News spread quickly in the base. Those unaware of the real story thought the couple was meant for each other.

Those who knew only found the news somewhat sudden.

There had been no warning at all—they just got together just like that.

Ye Xiaoxiao, however, thought Jiang Leyin was a smart woman. Clever as she was, she would naturally choose the best option for herself.

If Yang Juan hadn’t been suspended, she might have taken a few more days to consider.

But under these circumstances, it actually helped Jiang Leyin make a quick decision.

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t wrong. Jiang Leyin had considered her options before deciding to be with Wu Tao.

At that moment, Wu Tao held Jiang Leyin and told her, "Leyin, I want to file for marriage right now. Only then, after I’m transferred, can I have you come with me."

Jiang Leyin: "Isn't this too fast? What about your parents…"

Wu Tao: "My parents will definitely like you."

Though Wu Tao said so, Jiang Leyin had doubts. Neither side’s parents had met—wasn't this rushing things?

But that was just how things were in their environment. Due to limited communication options, many wouldn't visit their hometowns for years after marriage.

Wu Tao kissed Jiang Leyin, "If you’re worried, let’s call my family right now. They’ll be happy to hear.

What about your parents? Should we tell them in advance?"

Jiang Leyin nodded, "My parents are understanding. They won’t object."

In fact, over the past few years, her parents had been urging her to marry.

With her military job, finding someone from back home was next to impossible.

Jiang Leyin’s parents used to think that with so many young men in the military, their daughter wouldn’t have trouble getting married.

But once Jiang Leyin turned twenty-five, her family started pushing her harder.

Wu Tao: "Still, we should let them know. After we're married, I’ll accompany you home to meet your parents when we have the chance."

Even though he was planning so far ahead, it only made her more anxious instead of comforted.

...

Yang Juan was suspended for a month and had a month’s pay docked.

By the time he returned to work at the infirmary, it was already the end of December.

Ye Xiaoxiao finally resumed her regular shift schedule, though Yang Juan acted kinda awkward around her.

But Ye Xiaoxiao couldn’t be bothered with Yang Juan’s thoughts—Ye Changning had come to visit her.

Under normal circumstances, outsiders weren’t allowed into the base, but there were a few guesthouses outside where family members of staff could stay as long as they got clearance first.

Ye Xiaoxiao had received a letter in advance but didn’t know the exact date of his arrival.

When someone notified her that a family member had come to see her, she took off running—she had no time to spare for Yang Juan’s feelings.

Li Zhen looked on with envy. "She hasn’t even been away from home for long, and her family is already visiting her."

Zhao Chunhua told Li Zhen to wipe down the counter and hardly ever talked about Ye Xiaoxiao.

Because Zhao Chunhua knew that Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t one of them—she would leave this place sooner or later.

Ye Changning had come not only to see his younger sister but also to check out the local sheepskin market.

If the supply was stable, the factory could set up a dedicated cashmere production line.

However, Ye Changning also knew that since the area was near the desert, buying in bulk would require traveling farther—at least until they reached the grasslands.

"Third Brother! How did you get here?"

Ye Xiaoxiao saw Ye Changning and Jiangnan from a distance.

"This place is really hard to find. Let me see if you’ve lost weight!"

Ye Changning hugged his little sister and looked her over good.

Having just run over, Ye Xiaoxiao’s cheeks were rosy.

She hadn’t lost weight—if anything, she looked a little darker, though she still glowed like a pearl in a bucket of coal.

"Jiangnan and I took the train, then rented an ox cart to get here."

Ye Changning handed Ye Xiaoxiao a large bag. "Got you some treats and sodas. If we hadn’t come by train this time, I’d have brought you a truckful of bottled water."

Dragging them all the way out here would have surely shattered many.

"We’re short on water here, but we still have enough to drink."

Ye Xiaoxiao hung onto her brother’s arm. "Let’s go inside and talk."

The small guesthouses outside the base were pretty bare-bones, just having hot water and kang beds [footnote: Heated brick beds common in northern China] to offer.

Ye Changning didn’t mind the conditions—the place he lived in as a child was even more run-down than this.

"Third Bro, I have something special back at my place. Wait a bit, and I’ll get it over for you."

Though there was a heated bed platform here (traditional Chinese heated sleeping platform), the room had no stove, only a small brazier, and it was drafty everywhere. It would make for a rough night's sleep.

"No hurry, sit down and chat first."

Even though Ye Xiaoxiao had only been here for a few months, her family worried about her more now than when she was overseas.

Miao Cuifang and her husband still didn’t know Ye Xiaoxiao had come to such a dangerous place. All the food supplies were sent by Ye Changqing and Zhang Xue.

The elderly couple still thought Ye Xiaoxiao was just interning somewhere not far from the capital.

"You’ve already found Lu Hanchuan, right?"

Though Ye Xiaoxiao had mentioned it in her letters, Ye Changning wouldn’t believe it until he saw it with his own eyes.

Who knew if Lu Hanchuan had had a change of heart over the past two years?

If that guy dared, his fists would teach him a lesson.

"I found him. I’ll get him to come over soon."

Lu Hanchuan still didn’t know about Ye Changning’s arrival.

"Alright, come over here to eat later. There’s not much good food, but I bought a rotisserie chicken outside. We can warm it up in the mess hall later."