Chapter 653: He was lucky enough to survive.
Dr. Zhou and Ye Rufeng chatted for a while, and since it was getting late, they decided to go back to the hotel to rest.
Dr. Zhou said to Zhou Lin, "Girl, I'm going to the hotel to sleep now. You should all get some rest too. If you're busy tomorrow morning, you don't need to see me off. I'll go to the station with Mr. Lu and the others."
"Dad, please be careful on the road."
Zhou Lin knew that the clinic had just opened and needed to open on time in the morning. She had to go to work to get medicine, so she probably wouldn't have time to take her father there.
Besides, she didn't really want to see him off. It wasn't that she was cold-hearted; she just didn't want to face the tears at parting.
Just as Doctor Ye had told her along the way, he had been living a carefree life all by himself for many years and never let anyone see him off. The train station was the most melancholy place.
Tears of parting can affect a person's mood throughout the journey.
So even though she was very reluctant, she still didn't want to face that scene.
He was afraid that if he cried, her father would also feel bad.
Dr. Zhou was surprised that his daughter spoke so frankly.
The old father felt a little disappointed; his daughter had truly grown up.
They became calm and composed.
He no longer took her to school like before. When he left, she stood at the station crying, reluctant to see them go.
"Uncle Ye, I'll go and rest now."
Doctor Ye waved his hand, "Go on, it's getting late, you've had a long day, get some rest."
Bai Zhi and Zhou Lin escorted Dr. Zhou to the door. Bai Zhi offered to help Dr. Zhou take him to the hotel, but Dr. Zhou refused.
“It’s just a few steps. Do I, a grown man, really need two little girls to escort me? If you take me to the hotel, you’ll have to come back, won’t you? I’ll be even more worried then.”
He smiled and waved to them, "Go on in, I'll be there in a minute."
"Dad, please be careful."
Just as the three were about to say goodbye, Bai Zhi heard rustling footsteps coming from the alley.
She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but the footsteps sounded quite familiar.
Under the dim streetlights, he saw two tall figures.
It looked like there was another person following behind them.
Normally, seeing a dark figure at night would terrify her, and she would rush home and lock the door. But as she watched the figure getting closer, an indescribable joy rose in her heart.
"Lu Ye?" Bai Zhi called out tentatively.
The man spoke, "Yes, it's me."
A familiar voice came from inside, "I've come over to my uncle's house for a visit."
"Uncle." Bai Zhi rushed over and took Ye Tiandong's arm. Ye Tiandong seemed to have been drinking, as he smelled strongly of alcohol.
But he was walking steadily, so he probably didn't drink too much.
Cui Hua followed behind.
"Uncle, have you been drinking?" Bai Zhi asked.
Ye Tiandong replied, "I only had two drinks."
Just as Lu Ye was about to ask something, Bai Zhi explained to him, "Dr. Zhou is going back to the hotel to rest, so we came out to see him off."
Upon hearing this, Lu Ye spoke softly, "You all go inside with your uncle first, I'll see Doctor Zhou out."
"good."
Lu Ye saw Doctor Zhou out of the alley, while Bai Zhi, Cui Hua, and Zhou Lin escorted them into the courtyard.
The sound of several footsteps entered the main room. Ye Rufeng, who was about to rest, suddenly stood up, walked over and lifted the curtain.
Upon seeing several familiar figures, his gaze fell precisely on the tall figure in the very center.
Then I just stared at him, my heart churning with turbulent emotions.
Perhaps because he didn't know how to face the situation, he suddenly lowered the curtain, turned around, and went inside.
Bai Zhi stepped forward, quickly lifted the curtain, and said to Ye Tiandong, "Uncle, come in quickly."
Ye Tiandong walked in and plopped down in a chair.
Ye Rufeng remained silent, as did Ye Tiandong, while Bai Zhi and Cui Hua stood there, unsure how to break the silence.
It doesn't seem like it's their turn to speak at this point.
But the stubborn father and son remained silent, creating a very strange atmosphere.
Bai Zhi could only break the awkward atmosphere by saying, "Uncle, you've come to see Grandpa?"
Ye Tiandong hummed in response and then fell silent.
But Bai Zhi could tell that Ye Tiandong was no longer the same as before, and was full of defensiveness and resistance.
Reassured, she tugged at Cui Hua's sleeve and said, "Sister Cui, let's go sit in the side room for a while."
"good."
At this time, they should be given space to be alone, to talk and resolve their long-standing issues. Having them by their side only makes them more reserved.
She knew her uncle and maternal grandfather very well; they were both incredibly stubborn people.
Being too proud to admit defeat will only lead to suffering.
In front of others, they always act as tough as a rock.
Bai Zhi and Cui Hua went out, and then the room fell into a deathly silence. The father and son sat there, neither of them speaking, the atmosphere oppressive and awkward.
After a long while, Ye Rufeng, as the father, finally relented and spoke, but his tone was still harsh, "Would you like some tea to sober up?"
"No need, I'm not drunk." Ye Tiandong's tone was even more curt than his.
The fact that he was willing to speak already says it all.
Ye Rufeng scoffed, "Not drunk? Your face is as red as a monkey's bottom, and you're still not drunk? How old are you? Can't you be a little more mature? Is this how you usually treat your body?"
As soon as Ye Rufeng spoke, Ye Tiandong retorted impatiently, "Alright, can you stop lecturing me all the time? What gives you the right to lecture me?"
Ye Rufeng retorted with a dark face, "Because I'm your father."
"hehe."
Ye Tiandong chuckled, and Ye Rufeng's eyes darkened slightly; he said nothing more.
Yes, what right does he have to lecture him? Is he even a responsible father?
And so, the father and son fell into an eerie silence again, both with their heads down and neither speaking.
"sorry."
Suddenly, Ye Tiandong raised his eyes, looked at Ye Rufeng, and mustered up his courage to speak, "All these years... I've misunderstood you."
"I have always been paranoid that you were the one who caused my mother's death. You traded her life for freedom, which is why I have hated you for so many years."
Ye Tiandong lowered his eyes again as he spoke.
His voice trailed off, as if he were talking to himself, trying to convince himself, "Although Aunt Zhou's words may not be reliable, I am still willing to believe that you are innocent."
When his son suddenly apologized to him, Ye Rufeng's pent-up grievances from many years ago erupted instantly.
He roared, "What do you mean you're willing to believe I'm innocent? I am innocent!"
He truly did not trade his lover's life for freedom.
Back then, his wife was imprisoned next door. She was already in poor health, and because of her status as the daughter of a capitalist and the special nature of her work, she suffered greatly in the cowshed. When he found out, he risked being beaten to death and rushed out to fight those people.
In the end, he was also tortured half to death.
Later, his wife died before she could be exonerated...
He was lucky to survive.
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