Chapter 623: Imagine the future of two people
The sunlight outside the window was still bright, but it seemed unable to shine into her heart, which was now shrouded in gloom. The ward fell into a slightly solemn silence for a moment.
Wang Jianguo frowned slightly, his eyes revealing a thoughtful look. He stood there quietly, thinking quickly in his mind.
Although I have helped Secretary Dong a lot during this time here and our friendship has become stronger, there are still a lot of things waiting to be done in the village.
Most of the five people who came out with them have now returned, leaving only him and Zhao Shuzhuo still stranded here.
The daily operation of the village supply and marketing cooperative needs someone to keep an eye on it. Which of the following can be done without manpower, including the allocation of various materials and the settlement of accounts?
Looking at the production team, preparations for spring plowing must have been carried out in full swing. As a backbone, Zhao Shuzhuo cannot be absent at the critical moment.
Thinking of this, Wang Jianguo had made up his mind. He would have to leave sooner or later anyway, and there was no point in hiding it from Yang Xiaohua. It might even cause her to have unnecessary suspicions.
So he cleared his throat, looked at Yang Xiaohua with concern, and slowly said:
"Xiaohua, you see, we have been here for quite some time. If you think about it carefully, we have indeed stayed here for a long time."
"There are five of us who came out with us. During this period, they have all started their journey back home. Now, only Brother Shuzhuo and I have not returned yet."
Wang Jianguo paused for a moment, raised his head and looked out the window, as if he was looking at his hometown in the distance through the window, and then said:
"There's a lot of work to do in our village supply and marketing cooperative. We have to keep a clear account of how much goods are going in and out every day. We can't do without someone to take care of it."
"Speaking of Brother Shuzhuo, the production team is waiting for him to return to preside over the spring ploughing. At this critical moment, time waits for no one."
At this point, Wang Jianguo turned his gaze back to Yang Xiaohua and explained earnestly:
"So, we have to leave tomorrow. You know, this train doesn't run every day."
"If we miss tomorrow's train, we will have to wait for the next one for many days, and then the affairs of the village will be in chaos."
Wang Jianguo's voice was steady and firm. Every word he said revealed his responsibility and commitment to the affairs of his hometown, and was also full of honesty towards Yang Xiaohua.
Yang Xiaohua listened to what Wang Jianguo said. Although she still felt disappointed, she also understood their difficulties and could only nod silently to show her understanding.
The atmosphere in the ward was a little solemn for a moment, and the sunlight outside the window sprinkled on the ground, as if adding a touch of sadness to the impending separation.
After Wang Jianguo finished telling the patient all the reasons why he had to leave, the air in the ward seemed to freeze in an instant, and fell into a heart-wrenching silence.
Yang Xiaohua stood there, as if she was under a spell, unable to move. Only the slight nod of her head was as slow and stiff as a machine.
Her gaze was fixed on a certain spot on the ground, her eyes were empty, as if her thoughts had drifted away into the sky.
It took her a while to come back to her senses. Her lips trembled slightly, and she wanted to say something several times but stopped herself. In the end, she pursed her lips tightly together and didn't utter a single word.
However, her eyes betrayed her emotions. At first, there was only a barely perceptible blush at the corners of her eyes, like the lightest clouds in the sky on a spring morning, with a hint of shyness.
As the emotions surged, the red gradually spread and became deeper and deeper, just like the sunset burning and spreading wantonly in the sky.
The crystal tears kept rolling in the eyes, as if held by an invisible film, struggling not to fall.
Wang Jianguo stared quietly at Yang Xiaohua's series of subtle changes, and his mind instantly became as clear as a mirror, and he understood the general idea.
He secretly thought that during this period of time, Zhao Shuzhuo had been almost inseparable from Yang Xiaohua, taking care of her in every detail.
Every morning, he was always the first one to arrive at the ward, fetching water for her to wash and preparing a delicious breakfast.
In his spare time, he would chat with her, share new things about the outside world, and make her laugh from time to time.
Even at night, he would make sure she was sleeping peacefully before leaving. This kind of meticulous care, day after day, must have been like warm seeds, quietly sown in Yang Xiaohua's heart, taking root, sprouting, and growing vigorously.
Now, she suddenly heard that Zhao Shuzhuo was about to go on a long journey. This news was like a heavy hammer, hitting her heart hard, making her dizzy and full of reluctance.
Wang Jianguo couldn't help but feel a little relieved. If it was true as he expected that Comrade Yang Xiaohua had feelings for Zhao Shuzhuo, then things for the two of them would probably be much easier to handle.
After all, mutual love is the most beautiful emotional foundation in the world, and this attachment serves as a foundation.
Considering the gentle look that Zhao Shuzhuo occasionally showed when he looked at Yang Xiaohua, and his special concern for Yang Xiaohua's condition, perhaps the future path for the two of them to walk hand in hand has been quietly paved without them noticing.
Thinking of this, Wang Jianguo's mouth corners slightly raised, revealing a barely perceptible smile, but when he saw Yang Xiaohua's pitiful appearance, the smile quickly disappeared.
Yang Xiaohua has had a rough life since childhood. When she was very young, her mother passed away due to a serious illness, and her brother died for his country, leaving her and her father to depend on each other in this world.
The vicissitudes of life have left deep marks on the father and daughter. In order to support the family, the father has been working hard outside all year round and has developed a number of illnesses.
Yang Xiaohua also grew up early and took care of the household chores, trying her best to share her father's pressure.
Over the years, they have come a long way with many bumps and bruises, and their relatives at home have gradually lost contact due to the long distance or their own difficulties.
Up to now, Yang Xiaohua has no other family members around her except her father who is lying on the sickbed.
During this period, Wang Jianguo saw how Zhao Shuzhuo took good care of Yang Xiaohua in the hospital.
He keenly noticed that there seemed to be a secret affection between the two of them, and the tacit understanding and care that was revealed inadvertently was definitely not something that could be encompassed by ordinary friendships.
If the relationship between Zhao Shuzhuo and Yang Xiaohua could develop steadily and both parties were willing to take another step forward, Wang Jianguo thought, this would not be a bad thing.
Right now, although Yang Xiaohua’s father’s condition is still worrying, fortunately there are signs of improvement. Every small sign of recovery is like a glimmer of light in the darkness, giving people hope.
Once the old man's body has fully recovered and he can move freely, Wang Jianguo thinks that he might as well let Yang Xiaohua take his father to the Great Northern Wilderness.