After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Qiao put on her straw hat and went to the kitchen. Although she wasn't in the mood to cook, she knew that while young people could go without food, older people couldn't, especially given Zhao Anbang's health.

She first brought in hot water so the old man could wash up, then went back and prepared a simple meal for Liu Kai and Sun Changlin, letting them eat and chat.

She realized that Liu Kai probably wasn't planning to leave anytime soon.

He carried some of the food to the people in the other room and said, "Uncle, don't talk too much. Drink this glass of milk first, and then we can talk after you've rested for a while."

Ye Qiufeng smiled and nodded, speaking with great enthusiasm, "It's nothing, Uncle knows what he's doing. Thank you for your hard work, Jiang Qiao. By the way, this is my sister, my own sister—"

Jiang Qiao smiled and nodded to them, "You guys drink this tea, don't give it to your uncle."

Then he brought food to Zhao Anbang. The old man was really hungry. After hearing the news, he told his son and daughter-in-law to hurry over. Fortunately, they made it in time.

"Jiang Qiao, do you know why I came here?"

Jiang Qiao smiled and said, "How would I know? Why don't you tell me?"

Zhao Anbang sighed, "Ye Qiufeng's father and I were brothers who went through thick and thin together. Later, his father sacrificed his life, and his mother took the children back to her hometown. Ye Qiufeng later joined the army. Who would have thought that his hometown would be bombed by the Japanese? Many people died in that bombing, but his sister was the only one who survived."

Later, after I learned the news, I had someone pick up her sister. At that time, there was fighting everywhere, and I didn't know where Ye Qiusheng was or how to contact him.

Who could have imagined that the Battle of Paotaishan would be their last?

Later, I did have people look for him, but unfortunately, no one knew who Ye Qiufeng was. I never expected that the child would change his name. I just thought that the child had sacrificed himself back then.

Later, Ye Qiusheng's sister married my son, and our two families became even closer. Even one of my grandsons took the surname Ye, hoping to continue the Ye family line.

I never expected you to run into Ye Qiufeng here. Luckily, your phone call allowed the siblings to see each other again. Jiang Qiao, to be honest, I owe you a huge favor.”

Jiang Qiao poured the old man a glass of water. "What's all this talk about personal relationships? It's what I should do. When something like this happens, I don't know who to turn to or who to talk to."

I had no other choice but to call Grandpa Song. I never expected that Ye Qiufeng and you still had this kind of relationship.

No wonder you always manage to come in person. As for my nephew, it's already very kind of him to come and see me. Grandpa Zhao, I'm truly sorry, I really can't do anything about my uncle's health."

Zhao Anbang sighed, "Jiang Qiao, you've done your best. Qiu Feng also told me that he knows his own body well."

Besides, the doctor in the county town has already made it clear that this isn't your fault; it's our fault. We came too late. If we had found him a year earlier, things wouldn't have turned out like this. This child is just blindly stubborn—”

Jiang Qiao said helplessly, "You really can't blame Uncle Ye for this. In his situation, who could he turn to? There are wars everywhere. If he turns to the wrong person, wouldn't he just become a burden?"

There's no one left at home, so what hope does he have? He might as well stay and just get by, no matter how badly he survives.

He probably doesn't even know where you are. You've seen how remote this place is. It's all fate's cruel joke. Even if I had arrived here a year earlier, things probably wouldn't be like this now.

Zhao Anbang was even more curious about how Jiang Qiao had found this place. After hearing Jiang Qiao's explanation, the old man had to admire Jiang Qiao. He had never been wrong about this child.

Jiang Qiao hesitated for a moment, wondering how to bring it up. If she missed this opportunity, she didn't know if she would have another chance to see Zhao Anbang, after all, he was a big leader and much busier than her, a person with nothing better to do.

"Grandpa Zhao, there must be many veterans like Uncle Ye and Uncle Sun who lost contact with the army for various reasons and stayed in their respective places."

They may be suffering from injuries right now. If possible, could you investigate and at least offer them some assistance?

Zhao Anbang sighed, "We have been working on this and implementing it little by little. As for when it will be fully covered, that will require time and funding."

I'm sure you understand the current situation without me having to explain it.

Jiang Qiao, I'm really happy that you have this thought. Our country needs the efforts of younger generations like you to become strong.

Seeing you like this, I can see the future of our country. My dear, study hard and work diligently. Grandpa has high hopes for you.

Jiang Qiao wanted to smile wryly. He thought she was a good candidate? She didn't even want to take the exam, so why did this old man think she was a good candidate? She didn't even know who he thought was a good candidate.

"Grandpa Zhao, why don't you take a rest first?"

Zhao Anbang shook his head. "I'll just sit for a while and catch my breath. It's just that I'm getting old. If I were younger, I could fall asleep while walking. In a little while, someone else will come and rest. Girl, you'll have to work a little harder tonight."

Jiang Qiao nodded, took the old man's pulse, and found that his health was not bad.

After resting for a while, Zhao Anbang called over two of his entourage to lie down for a bit. Jiang Qiao had seen those two people on the train, so she nodded to them and then went to the door.

Sun Changlin and Liu Kai clearly weren't planning on sleeping; they were eating peanuts and drinking tea.

Jiang Qiao came over and handed Sun Changlin a pill. "Uncle, take this first to help me out. I'll give you acupuncture later. I really have no strength left today."

Not only was she weak, Jiang Qiao was also lacking in energy. She was in a bad mood, and with the rain on top of that, she felt incredibly frustrated. However, she had nowhere to vent these inexplicable emotions and could only bottle them up.

Sun Changlin didn't even ask any questions. Jiang Qiao told him to eat it, and he just stuffed it into his mouth like candy. Actually, in his opinion, the medicine wasn't bitter at all; it was quite sweet.

Even Jiang Qiao couldn't help but sigh, "Uncle, you're really trusting. What if I gave you poison? You didn't even ask."

Sun Changlin turned to look at Jiang Qiao and asked, "What are you asking? You came all this way just to harm me? How could that be?"

Uncle didn't really have any other expectations. It would be good to go with Lao Sun to see our comrades-in-arms. At least the brothers would be together and not lonely.

"Someone like me used to be able to do some work, but now that I'm older, it's not as strenuous anymore, and I'm just a burden to my family. It's better to die sooner and be reborn; that way, everyone will have an easier time."

Liu Kai patted Sun Changlin on the back and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Who would complain about living one more day? You should be content. At least Jiang Qiao came to treat you. Some people can't even find anyone to treat them."