Chapter 769 - 739: Awakening
Xu Chunliang thought, since you already guessed, there’s no need for me to say more.
Elder Qiao said, "It can’t be a trivial matter; it must be more than just a woman." He said to Xu Chunliang, "Chunliang, you should rest."
Xu Chunliang said, "How about I invite my uncle over?"
Elder Qiao shook his head, "No need, whether he comes or not makes no difference, you go ahead, I want to be alone for a while."
Xu Chunliang got up and left.
Elder Qiao sat alone in the empty living room, filled with helplessness. Fate had played a huge joke on him; the son he once had the highest hopes for, Qiao Yuanshan, stumbled emotionally, and now it was his grandson Qiao Rulong’s turn.
The father and son’s experiences were so similar. Ye Changyuan must be hiding this from his father; although he’s angry, he doesn’t yet have the courage to blow things up. The Ye and Qiao families have always supported each other, and if they fall out over this, it won’t just be the Qiao family that suffers.
Ye Changyuan intended to signal to the Qiao family the need for decency. What kind of decency? Elder Qiao knew very well what Ye Changyuan wanted. In this matter, the Qiao family indeed had the fault, but even Ye Changyuan had to pay a price for his so-called decency.
Elder Qiao walked alone into the courtyard outside, looking up at the bright moon in the sky, seeing no future for the Qiao family.
Even without the matter of Qi Shuang, his grandson’s health might not support his political career. Others already see his predicament, leaving him in a situation with no moves left.
When others see no hope in you, they will abandon you mercilessly.
Ye Changyuan probably wanted to sever ties with the Qiao family, whether for his own interests or to defend his daughter’s rights.
Elder Qiao could understand his actions, yet his heart was filled with the loneliness of a fallen hero. If only one of his children had lived up to expectations, he wouldn’t find himself in this situation now.
Decency is never given by others but earned by oneself. It seemed none of the Qiao descendants could grasp this principle.
Footsteps came from behind; Elder Qiao guessed it was Xu Changshan by the sound and turned around.
Xu Changshan was holding a coat, "Elder Qiao, the night is cold, put this on."
Elder Qiao took the coat, draped it over himself, and softly said, "My dear brother, do you think the purpose of living one’s life is just for face?"
Xu Changshan said, "I don’t think about it anymore; anyway, I can’t figure it out. The more a person understands life, the more painful it becomes."
Elder Qiao said, "That sentence of yours is clear enough."
Xu Changshan laughed, "People are different, so what they want is also different. I’m not like you, carrying so many responsibilities, nor do I have grand ambitions. You could say that I’m like countless ordinary people in this world; just having enough to eat and wear, with family together, is the greatest happiness. But you’re different; you consider others as well."
Elder Qiao said, "I envy you now."
Xu Changshan shook his head, "You envy me because you can’t choose a life like mine. Just like I envy you but can never reach your heights. In fact, you understand everything; people like me can rest whenever tired, but you can’t stop."
Elder Qiao asked with interest, "Why can’t I dare to stop?"
Xu Changshan said, "Some people are destined to ride the waves; I just feel you can’t stop."
Elder Qiao smiled bitterly, "According to what you’re saying, I deserve to toil my whole life."
Xu Changshan said, "Elder Qiao, there are no insurmountable obstacles in life. Take Chunliang, for instance; I had never pinned any hopes on him, but he struggled with himself. After failing three exams, unable to bear the psychological blow, he went to Peace Bridge intending to jump. It scared me, and guess what I thought at that moment? I just hoped he would live well, even if he never worked a day in his life, spending whatever I’ve earned in this lifetime could keep him fed and clothed."
Elder Qiao heard this for the first time; it didn’t seem like Xu Chunliang was so desperate.
Xu Changshan said, "I never thought after that incident, the child seemed enlightened and underwent a transformative change."
Elder Qiao realized Xu Changshan was trying to console him, and he nodded.
Xu Changshan continued, "Parents rearing children wish for them to be clever; with cleverness, I’ve been troubled all my life. I only hope my children are dull but safe, with no disasters, reaching high ranks."
Elder Qiao chuckled silently, "With a simple mind and well-developed limbs, one can never reach high ranks. Su Dongpo wrote his poem ’Bathing the Child’ filled with contradictions; despite his talents, he was never satisfied, demoted three times yet never resigned."
Xu Changshan said, "It seems I interpreted it too narrowly."
Elder Qiao said, "Different people will interpret it differently; neither of us is Master Dongpo. How can we know what he truly thought back then?"
Xu Changshan said, "Elder Qiao, it’s late, let’s rest."
Elder Qiao returned to the room prepared for him, turned off the lights, and sat on the bed, still unable to sleep.
The polarized comments reached their peak after the Dongzhou Mercedes Benz owners offered free rides. Online, some were singing praises for Dongzhou, while others persisted in exposing Dongzhou’s scandals.
However, these negative news did not affect the booming business of Dongzhou Barbecue. Even the people of Dongzhou themselves were puzzled as their usually empty barbecue joints were now packed with customers, with long lines forming at the entrance.
The Dongzhou Culture and Tourism Bureau wasn’t idle either. Through coordination of various departments by its leaders, Xu Chunliang also privately contacted Wuyu, the blogger who previously exposed the Dongzhou taxi overcharges through Three Two Three. They invited Wuyu to visit Dongzhou again to experience the true Dongzhou cuisine, and also addressed the involved taxis, publicly reporting the incident to society.
Wuyu, these past few days, had been scolded harshly by the overwhelming Dongzhou netizens, questioning his life. Humbly, he admitted that his last edited video was biased with too much personal emotion and promised to disclose the timely handling results by Dongzhou to help eliminate negative impacts. Although he agreed to visit Dongzhou again if possible, he currently dared not to, as he had evidently experienced the intimidating pride of Dongzhou’s citizens. Feeling like he was going against the current, he feared being recognized and becoming a target of public scorn.
Three Two Three laughed heartily when hearing Wuyu’s concerns, assuring him that while Dongzhou people were protective, they were hospitable too. Moreover, Wuyu’s exposure of taxi overcharges wasn’t baseless but true. In another sense, without his report, Dongzhou wouldn’t have resolved to reform the taxi market.
The spontaneous organization of a fleet by Dongzhou car owners to offer free rides to tourists was due to him, showing how Wuyu, through negative reporting, promoted reform and development in Dongzhou Culture and Tourism.
It seemed that due to the sudden influx of tourists into Dongzhou, the temperature in Dongzhou had risen significantly.
Qiao Rulong had basically passed the critical period. The heart originally belonging to Pei Lin was now beating strongly in his chest. Upon waking, the first person Qiao Rulong thought of was Qi Shuang, with the car accident replaying repeatedly in his mind. He only remembered a steel pipe piercing the front windshield, heading directly towards him.
Initially, he thought he was doomed, but seeing the surroundings clearly, he realized he must still be alive. However, Qi Shuang was not by his side, implying potential trouble.
Thinking about this, his chest area throbbed with a dull pain.
After he woke up, the nurse called Shu Yuanhang over.
Shu Yuanhang checked Qiao Rulong’s vital signs and said with a smile, "You don’t need to speak, just listen to me."
Qiao Rulong blinked his eyes.
Shu Yuanhang said, "You were in a car accident and were seriously injured. I am Shu Yuanhang, your attending physician. We met once before."
Qiao Rulong tried hard to recall, possibly at Zhou Renhe’s funeral in Jizhou.
Shu Yuanhang said, "You just need to cooperate with our treatment now, don’t think too much about other things. Your physical condition is good, and you will improve day by day."
Qiao Rulong’s eyes turned around. He always felt something was wrong, but he couldn’t specify what it was. His heart seemed to beat much faster, and with many tubes attached, apparently for drainage.
Qiao Rulong knew he must be seriously injured. He wanted to speak, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, drawing a wince.
Shu Yuanhang said, "You have multiple organ damage and can’t be moved right now."
Staring into Qiao Rulong’s eyes, he added, "If you can understand me, blink once."
Qiao Rulong blinked cooperatively.
After the examination, Shu Yuanhang left the isolation ward and returned to the doctor’s office, where he saw Dean Zhao Feiyang had already arrived.
Zhao Feiyang asked, "Has Qiao Rulong woken up?"
Shu Yuanhang was a bit surprised but quickly understood the situation—someone must have informed Zhao Feiyang immediately.
Shu Yuanhang nodded, "Yes, he has woken up and is in good condition. I estimate his prognosis to be very optimistic."
Zhao Feiyang breathed a sigh of relief, comforting Shu Yuanhang in his mind. Zhao Feiyang’s reaction wasn’t surprising, as, after all, his wife’s heart was transplanted into Qiao Rulong. In a sense, part of Pei Lin lived on in Qiao Rulong’s body.
Shu Yuanhang thought for a moment and still reminded Zhao Feiyang, "Dean Zhao, generally speaking, it’s best for donor families and recipients to have minimal interaction. You should understand, and Qiao Rulong currently does not know he has undergone a heart transplant."
Zhao Feiyang nodded, "I understand, and I won’t bring it up."
Looking at Zhao Feiyang, Shu Yuanhang wondered what need there was for mention.
Zhao Feiyang said, "Never mind, I’ll just look at him from outside."
In Shu Yuanhang’s view, Zhao Feiyang’s decision was undoubtedly wise. He accompanied Zhao Feiyang to the isolation room, watching Qiao Rulong through the glass. Qiao Rulong also looked outside. When his eyes met Zhao Feiyang’s, he suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity and closeness, even though he seemed never to have met this person before?