A week has passed in the blink of an eye.
Following the doctor's instructions, Gao Mingcheng diligently carried out rehabilitation every day, and his body recovered quite well. Although he was not as healthy as before the accident, he could now walk quite nimbly with crutches.
When Wen Sinan came to give him a routine check-up, she was very optimistic about his current recovery: "Good, at the current rate of recovery, you should be able to return to your previous physical condition soon."
Gao Mingcheng and Xing Zhaozhao exchanged a glance, both looking delighted.
"When can I be discharged from the hospital?" Gao Mingcheng asked.
“You can be discharged anytime you want,” Wen Sinan said.
Upon hearing this, Gao Mingcheng's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Really?"
Wen Sinan laughed and said, "Of course, why would I lie to you? But even if you don't go to the hospital, you still need to remember to do your daily rehabilitation training. Also, remember to come back for regular check-ups."
It was a matter of course, and Gao Mingcheng nodded in agreement without even thinking: "No problem."
Seeing how eager he was to be discharged, Wen Sinan chuckled and shook her head, deciding to grant his wish and immediately issuing him a discharge certificate.
Upon hearing this, Gao Hongfei immediately came to pick them up in person.
When he arrived at the ward, he saw that Xing Zhaozhao and Gao Mingcheng had already packed their things and were waiting for him.
"..." Gao Hongfei didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Why didn't you give us any advance notice? Why are you being discharged so suddenly?" he said, puzzled, as he walked over to help carry some things.
Xing Zhaozhao took them all. Both of them use crutches, so let's not cause any more trouble.
Gao Mingcheng, leaning on his crutches, followed Xing Zhaozhao out of the ward: "I want to be discharged. Your mother-in-law also said I can be discharged, so I'm leaving. Why are there so many questions?"
Gao Hongfei followed closely behind Gao Mingcheng and asked, "Dad, are you coming home with me to live?"
Gao Mingcheng glanced at Xing Zhaozhao walking ahead, thought for a moment, and said, "No need, take me to my little courtyard house."
Gao Hongfei frowned and said, "Has no one lived there for a long time? How can anyone live there now? Why don't you come home with me?"
“Who said it’s been uninhabited for a long time? There’s always someone looking after my place. We can easily set up two rooms for us to live in. It’s quiet, and besides, we’ll only be staying for two days at most before heading back to Lanyuan, so we don’t need to bother you,” Gao Mingcheng said.
Gao Hongfei was taken aback and said, "You're going back to Lanyuan? When did you decide that? How come I didn't know?"
“A week ago, you…” The word “Mom” rolled on Gao Mingcheng’s tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
One of them didn't plan to bring it up for the time being, and the other probably couldn't accept having a mother who looked younger than him for a while, so Gao Mingcheng decided not to provoke him for the time being.
“Zhao Zhao is going back, so of course I’m going back with her,” Gao Mingcheng said.
It was indeed because of her.
Gao Hongfei glared at Xing Zhaozhao, who was walking in front, with some dissatisfaction, and tried to persuade Gao Mingcheng: "Dad, you've just been discharged from the hospital. Why are you in such a hurry to go back to Lanyuan? You should stay in Beijing for now. Your body can't withstand any more stress. If something happens, the medical resources in Beijing are much better than in Lanyuan."
Gao Mingcheng grew impatient and said, "Your mother-in-law said I'm recovering well and will be discharged without any problem. Where did you get all this nonsense from? Besides, are you broke now? If something really happened to your father, you wouldn't even be able to get some medical resources?"
Gao Hongfei was speechless and unable to refute.
Xing Zhaozhao, listening from the front, chuckled. "As expected, your father is still your father. The son is clearly not very good."
In the end, Gao Hongfei couldn't persuade Gao Mingcheng otherwise and sent Gao Mingcheng and Xing Zhaozhao to the small courtyard house that Gao Mingcheng had mentioned.
It was quite a coincidence that Gao Mingcheng's small courtyard house was located on the street behind the one where Xing Zhaozhao and Lin Wan had lived before. Although it was smaller, it had everything you needed and looked more refined and quieter.
Gao Hongfei specially found a veteran who had retired from the army due to injury to look after the house. Although he hadn't lived there for a long time, all the rooms were kept clean and tidy, and even the quilts on the bed were folded into neat squares. There was no need to tidy up anymore, and you could move in immediately with just your bags.
Having not seen Gao Mingcheng for a long time, the veteran, Lao Jia, was a little excited. He raised his incomplete hand and saluted Gao Mingcheng: "Commander."
Gao Mingcheng returned the greeting solemnly: "Thank you for your hard work, Lao Jia."
"It's not hard work. The commander paid me such a high wage, this little thing isn't worth it," Old Jia said nonchalantly, then asked, "Is the commander coming back to stay?"
Gao Mingcheng nodded: "I'll probably stay here for two or three days before leaving."
As he spoke, he pointed to Xing Zhaozhao and introduced her to Lao Jia: "This is your sister-in-law."
What a young sister-in-law!
A hint of surprise flashed in Old Jia's eyes, but he didn't show it on his face. He respectfully called out, "Sister-in-law."
Xing Zhaozhao had served with Gao Mingcheng in the army before and was already used to this form of address, so she smiled and replied, "Sigh."
Old Jia took the things from Xing Zhaozhao's hands: "Sister-in-law, if you need anything, just tell me."
Xing Zhaozhao didn't stand on ceremony with him: "Okay."
Xing Zhaozhao helped Gao Mingcheng into the house.
Old Jia was busy helping out.
Gao Hongfei was left aside, ignored by everyone, feeling utterly dejected and heartbroken.
Xing Zhaozhao and Gao Mingcheng settled down in the small courtyard house.
The two had originally planned to go out together the next day to buy some things for Xing Zhaozhao to take back to their close uncles and aunts in their hometown.
Just as I was about to leave, I suddenly heard someone knocking on the door.
Xing Zhaozhao walked over and opened the car, but unexpectedly, she came across one familiar old face after another. They were all Gao Mingcheng's old comrades-in-arms, and Xing Zhaozhao knew many of them.
Upon seeing Xing Zhaozhao, the old faces all showed expressions of shock, and they blurted out, "Sister-in-law?"
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