Chapter 48: Hearing the bad news, Xiangyue is seriously ill and takes care of her sick body. Guyun chooses a good place
In the winter of 1957, several unfortunate news came from the country.
When Li Chunmei returned to Lizhuang from Anyang, she, following Luo Guyun's instructions, distributed all of her 10,000 acres of fertile land to her tenants free of charge, leaving only a few shops in the city to survive. After liberation, a vigorous campaign against local tyrants and landlords was launched. The owner of neighboring Chenjiazhuang was shaved into a yin-yang style head and paraded through the streets for daily struggle sessions. Over a hundred miles away, Liu Wenhao, a major landlord in Bayi County, was executed. Chunmei, having already distributed all her land, escaped this fate.
Unexpectedly, a few years later, the Anti-Rightist Movement, a campaign to criticize and denounce capitalist-roaders and cut off the tails of capitalism, was launched. Chunmei owned a pawnshop, a herbal medicine shop, a cloth shop, and a restaurant in the county town. She was singled out as the largest capitalist in Luling County and singled out as a typical reactionary. Bandeng's father was beaten to death, vomiting blood. Chunmei, a strong-willed woman, could not endure the humiliation of being spat on and forced to sit on a jet plane daily, so she committed suicide by jumping into the Qingyi River. A group of young, energetic, and politically fervent students stormed Lizhuang and burned it to ashes. Cheng Jin, the former captain of the village defense team, and several other young men were labeled leaders of a reactionary armed group of bullies and bandits and were arrested and imprisoned. Bandeng, along with his wife and children, fled overnight, enduring hardships to the banks of the Shenzhen River and risking their lives to cross to Hong Kong. Tragically, his wife and youngest son drowned while crossing the river. Bandeng finally arrived in Kowloon with his eldest son, and after contacting Yi Han, he was able to escape the disaster.
The day the news broke, Xiao Xiangyue was performing at the Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg was shrouded in snow and wind, with temperatures dropping to over ten degrees Celsius below zero. After the performance, hundreds of fans who hadn't bought tickets were still waiting in the snow, hoping to see their idol. Unable to bear the pain, Xiao Xiangyue braved the blizzard to sign autographs and take photos, standing for a long time in the snow. Even though Luo Guyun had wrapped a thick scarf and fur coat around him, his hands and feet were still freezing.
As soon as he returned to the Lion Palace where he was staying, he received a call from Ban Deng in Hong Kong. Ban Deng was crying loudly on the other end of the phone, and Xiao Xiangyue was also very sad and sobbing on the other end of the phone.
Ever since leaving Luling County at the age of sixteen, no matter where he went, Xiao Xiangyue had always dreamed of returning to Lizhuang with Luo Guyun. There, they would listen to the croaking frogs in the summer, play snowballs in the winter, catch fish and shrimp in the creeks, and roam the mountains and forests, spending their lives together like this... Lizhuang was where he and Luo Guyun had pledged their love, their first home, and held a special meaning in his heart. Now, it had been destroyed by fire, the tragic deaths of his loving Aunt Chun and the honest and simple Uncle Deng, the destruction of Bandeng's family, and the imprisonment of his childhood friend. How could he not be deeply devastated and heartbroken?
Xiao Xiangyue shed tears, as if asking Luo Guyun, or talking to herself, repeatedly saying: "Why? Why... Even Brother Erhu can't protect them?" Luo Guyun saw his sad expression, and his heart broke. He didn't know how to comfort him for a moment, so he just hugged him tightly and said repeatedly: "It's all my fault, brother... It's all my fault, brother. I should have taken them with me..."
After the peaceful liberation of Anyang in 1949, Li Erhu was initially entrusted with the important task of commanding the Anyang Military Region, wielding considerable military power. Later, domestic movements erupted in successive waves. Erhu, a skilled military commander, was less adept at political struggle, earning him the ire of some in power. Furthermore, Zhang Jianmei's father, Zhang Tingyun, had long served in the Nationalist government, accompanying Chiang Kai-shek to Taiwan in 1949, serving as mayor of Tainan and then Kaohsiung. This raised suspicions of Jianmei as a spy. Erhu's statements defending his wife on various occasions were harshly criticized in an era dominated by class struggle. Although the couple escaped armed struggle sessions, they were sent to a remote rural area for forced labor. Luo Guoyun and Yishui Yihan struggled to contact him, fearing they might accidentally implicate Erhu, like General Sun in Taiwan, and be accused of collaborating with the enemy or attempting treason. Under socialism, everything was publicly owned. After liberation, the Luo Mansion in Anyang and the adjacent guard barracks became temporary bases for the People's Liberation Army, and Qionghua and a group of elderly servants were dismissed and returned home. The mansions in Nanjing and Shanghai were also taken over by the government and nationalized.
These political factors were too complicated to explain clearly at once... Luo Guyun didn't know how to explain it to Xiao Xiangyue. He just kept kissing and licking the tears on his face, saying in a hoarse voice, "The dead cannot be resurrected, Yue'er, don't be too sad... I will find a way to rescue Ajin and the others! Li Zhuang's house burned down, so let it burn. Wherever we are, that's home..."
Xiao Xiangyue was heartbroken and exhausted, so she lay on top of Luo Guyun, speechless. In the magnificent presidential suite, the two of them cuddled together on the sofa, all around them in complete silence.
After an unknown amount of time, Luo Guyun felt the person in his arms breathing faster. He touched his forehead and it was frighteningly hot. He called out anxiously, "Yue'er! Yue'er!" Xiao Xiangyue's face was flushed, and he had developed a high fever.
The accompanying medical team consisted of doctors from the Conservatory of Music. Xiao Xiangyue was rushed to the largest local hospital, the State Pavlovskaya Hospital. He was diagnosed with acute pneumonia, accompanied by breathing difficulties, a very serious condition. Over the years, under Luo Guyun's meticulous care and companionship, he had maintained excellent health, rarely ill. This time, the combined effects of cold and stagnant qi worsened his condition.
Luo Guyun deeply regretted not stopping Yue'er and letting him stay in the wind and snow for so long. Yi Han also regretted letting Ban Bench call them directly. The doctors at Pavlov Hospital discovered that Xiao Xiangyue had a special physique and almost all antibiotics, including penicillin, could not be used. The limited drugs that could be used had little anti-inflammatory effect, and they were somewhat helpless. Luo Guyun was afraid that they would use the wrong medicine and cause more serious consequences. After discussing with Sun Mu, who was providing medical support in Mexico, he took the oxygen tank and sent the person on the IV drip to a special plane at dawn. He flew back to New York in the evening of the same day and was directly admitted to Dr. Jefferson's private hospital.
Sun Mu immediately returned to New York from Tijuana, Mexico. Together with the laboratory experts, he meticulously studied the integration of Chinese and Western medicine based on Xiao Xiangyue's constitution. After more than a month of treatment, the recurring fever finally subsided.
The luxury residence on the top floor of the Moen Building boasted state-of-the-art facilities and was not far from a private hospital. During the Spring Festival, Luo Guoyun took the patient home and carefully nursed him back to health. By the beginning of the following spring, the cough had persisted, and every cough brought on chest pain.
Originally, Xiao Xiangyue was scheduled to return to Sweden to teach the new class in March. Sun Mu believed that Stockholm, located in high altitude, was cold in the winter and had very short days. He thought it would be unsuitable for Xiao Xiangyue to stay there long-term and that she should go to a warmer, more humid climate and get more sunshine.
Not wanting to worry everyone, Xiao Xiangyue agreed to resign from the conservatory and would no longer teach, serving only as honorary dean. However, she couldn't delay the students' graduation season, so once she felt better, she insisted on returning to Stockholm to help the students prepare their graduation projects. After the graduation ceremony in September, she and Luo Guoyun traveled to the warm and sunny Florida.
The staff of Holm Castle also moved to the headquarters in Moen Building. The two ended their life in Sweden after more than nine years.
After hearing Sun Mu's advice about getting more sun, Luo Guoyun began searching for a warmer winter location. Florida's average winter temperature was around 18 or 19 degrees Celsius, perfect for Xiao Xiangyue's recovery.
Moon Lake Villa, located on the outskirts of Orlando, was originally owned by a wealthy Jewish man. It covers several square kilometers, stretching across several hills, and is home to more than a dozen beautiful Baroque-style villas. It has horse farms, golf courses, soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, and all kinds of sports and exercise facilities. There's also a natural crescent-shaped lake called Moon Lake, with a small round island in the center called Full Moon Island. When the subordinate in charge of searching the world for the ideal place presented the photos, both of them loved them. Luo Guyun spent a huge sum of money to buy it, had it completely renovated, and even built a small airport with two runways nearby, intending to come here every winter to escape the cold.
The winter in Orlando was very pleasant. Xiao Xiangyue was in good health now, and the two of them would drive dozens of kilometers to the warm seaside and lie on the beach to bask in the sun. Or they would ride horses together in the villa, and also hired professional coaches to play golf and tennis. Luo Guoyun was good at all kinds of outdoor extreme sports, diving, surfing, rock climbing... He was a master. Although Xiao Xiangyue could not participate in many sports due to physical reasons, it was fun to watch. She would drag Luo Guoyun to play outdoors every few days. Seeing him show off all kinds of beautiful and difficult moves, she often looked envious: "Yue'er can't do that in this life! But watching my brother play is no different from playing by myself! My brother is fulfilling Yue'er's wish!"
Houston has a nice climate, and Xiaoxue plays in the professional league there. Whenever there's a game, the two of them take Daxue and fly two hours to watch Xiaoxue play. Last month, when the season ended and the basketball team won the championship, Xiao Xiangyue was overjoyed and, along with Luo Guoyun, invited the entire team's coaches and athletes to a celebratory dinner.
Anthony, the head coach of the Houston women's basketball team, is an Italian who is nearly two meters tall. He fell in love with the tall and beautiful Daxue at first sight. Daxue has been serving him for many years and is in her early twenties. It is time for a girl to get married. The two of them thought that Anthony's figure and appearance were also a good match, so they tried to match them up. Daxue was reluctant to leave them, and Xiao Xiangyue smiled and advised her: "Daxue, don't worry, get married! Now it's not like when we were in the master's courtyard. The general and I have a large group of guards, housekeepers, secretaries, and chefs around us! Besides, you and Anthony are in Houston, and it's only two or three hours away from New York and Orlando by plane. If you miss us, you can meet us anytime. Do you want to be with us forever?"
Last year, Xiao Xiangyue was ill, so she spent the Spring Festival at her home on the top floor of the Moren Building. This year, she bought a new villa, Moon Lake Villa. With a month or so left before the Lunar New Year, she notified her friends and family from around the world to come and gather. The vast villa, including the staff, housed nearly two hundred people. Fortunately, the place was spacious and had plenty of room. The two of them lived alone in a small building near the lake, enjoying the lively and undisturbed environment. Xiao Xiangyue loved these days.
On the eve of the Liberation of 1949, Luo Guyun arranged for his sister Luo Gulan and her husband, Yi Han, to go to Hong Kong. Luo Gulan, desperate for a child, sought medical advice and treatment. Sun Mu connected her with a British laboratory researching in vitro fertilization. Despite the technology's still in its infancy, Luo Gulan became a pioneering experimenter and, at the age of 47, finally became pregnant. After ten months of pregnancy, they gave birth to a son, who took the Luo family surname and was given a name by Luo Guyun, who naturally chose it. Xiao Xiangyue, however, explained that the child was a gift from Heaven and named him Tianci. Luo Gulan, having endured countless hardships, finally had a son. Needless to say, she doted on this precious child, giving him everything she could ask for. Luo Guyun, naturally, was deeply devoted to his only nephew. During his time in Sweden, he and Xiao Xiangyue would travel to England during winter and summer vacations to visit his sister and nephew. Tianci called Luo Guyun "uncle" and Xiao Xiangyue "little uncle." Luo Gulan had long since put aside her prejudice against Xiao Xiangyue and became his devoted fan. She even founded the "Moon Fan Club" in the UK, serving as its president and frequently participating in activities organized by other Moon Fan Clubs around the world. Just after Laba Festival, Luo Gulan and her family visited Moon Lake Villa to reunite with her brothers.
Luo Tianci is seven years old this year. He has been spoiled by Luo Gulan and has become naughty and very active, almost never having a moment to rest. Sun Mu's daughter, Sun Xi, is eight years old. Her personality is neither like Sun Mu's nor Lady Wang's. She is strong-willed and stubborn, and never gives in. The two children often make a scene when they get together. Luo Gulan is very protective of her children, and her husband, Yang Rui, is even more henpecked and dares not say a word. Only Luo Guyun can discipline him. Tianci is a little afraid of his uncle, but he is very close to Xiao Xiangyue. If he gets into trouble, he will tell his uncle and he will be fine.
That day, little Tianci pestered Xiao Xiangyue to teach him how to ride. Luo Guyun was discussing a project with experts from New York. He sent Wu Fang and several guards with them to the stables. Moments later, Xiaoxi came running back, shouting in panic, "Oh no... Tianci's in trouble again! My uncle's leg is broken!" Wu Fang and several guards came trotting over, carrying a stretcher. Before he could even stand, he cried, "I failed to protect Xiangyue. Please punish me, General!"
Luo Guyun ignored Wu Fang and squatted down to check the situation. Xiao Xiangyue endured the pain, stood up and said: "Brother, don't worry, Yue'er just twisted her ankle..." A guard carrying a stretcher said: "Young Master Tianci stood behind the horse's butt and tried to grab its tail. The horse raised its hind legs and kicked. We were far away at the time, but the master was quick and hugged the young master. He rolled around and barely avoided it... The young master is fine, but the master was injured!" Wu Fang continued: "At that time, Xiangyue's face changed due to the pain. I took a quick look and it should be a sprained ankle. I don't know if the bones are broken! We didn't delay for a second and carried Xiangyue back!"
Sun Mu's family lived in a nearby villa and rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing the ankle was red, swollen and deformed, he anxiously asked, "Which is the largest hospital in Orlando? We need to go get an X-ray!"
The X-ray showed that fortunately it was only a torn ligament and the bone was fine.
Back at the villa, Sun Mu made a paste of herbs used to treat bruises and injuries, applied it to the red and swollen area, and wrapped it with gauze. He said with concern, "With a few weeks of rest and daily dressing changes, it shouldn't be a big deal. But this ligament tear is extremely painful. Yue'er has suffered..."
Luo Guyun's face darkened. "Tianci is too naughty, and I always indulge him. If I don't discipline him, he'll be lawless!" He frowned and said, "Yue'er was also raised in pampered condition. Why isn't she like him?"
Xiao Xiangyue's expression darkened: "Yue'er lost her mother when she was born, how can she compare with Tianci? Tianci is still young, and with his mother's care, he is naturally a little naughty. Brother, please don't be too harsh on him..." Luo Guyun was annoyed that he accidentally touched Yue'er's sore spot, and hurriedly coaxed her: "Okay, I won't punish him this time! If there is a next time, I will definitely not let him off easily..."
Wu Fang brought a pair of crutches, but Luo Guyun threw them aside: "Why do you need crutches when I'm here?"
In the following days, whenever he needed to move, he would carry her on his back, hug her, or hold her close. In short, Xiao Xiangyue's feet never had to touch the ground. Yi Shui teased him, "Maybe Yue'er's legs were redundant to my third brother. Now that she's unable to move, it's just what he wants! Finally, we can stick together all the time!" Luo Guyun still said, "The one who understands me is my eldest brother!"
Xiao Xiangyue gave concerts in Madrid and Paris a few years ago and fell in love with Spanish and French cuisine. This year's New Year's Eve dinner was a fusion of Chinese and Western cuisine. In addition to Huaiyang and Sichuan cuisine, they also invited a renowned Western chef to prepare a Western-style buffet on the large lawn. The children were delighted and ran wild on the grass.
Xiao Xiangyue had difficulty walking, so Luo Guyun diligently brought him all kinds of his favorite foods. He carefully peeled the shells of the French red wine baked snails and picked them out one by one to feed him.
Luo Gulan carefully observed the two people cuddling together and sighed, "Brother Yun and Xiangyue are already in their early forties, how come they seem like they haven't changed at all? They still look the same as when they were back home!"
Luo Guyun and Xiao Xiangyue looked much younger than their peers. Xiao Xiangyue was no more than thirty, and Luo Guyun was in his early thirties. Sun Mu whispered, "Did you continue to use the Jade Purity Liquid and the Intestine Purification Device?"
Back in Shanghai, Sun Mu developed Hehuanlu into a disposable dosage form. He also developed an electric bowel cleansing device specifically for use with Yuqing Liquid, which was very convenient to operate.
Luo Guyun said: "I have never forgotten my elder brother's instructions. Even if knives fall from the sky, Yue'er and I will use the intestinal cleansing instrument to clean before going to bed every night..." Sun Mu nodded: "Yes, that's right! The Jade Clear Liquid contains dozens of fungi that are beneficial to the human body, as well as extracts of traditional Chinese medicines such as musk, borneol, perilla, and ginseng. It can not only remove garbage and toxins from the body, but also has a fragrant aroma that can ward off filth and balance intestinal flora. It also has the miraculous effect of regulating metabolism, delaying aging, and strengthening the body and raising yang." Luo Guyun chuckled: "No wonder Yue'er and I feel more and more ecstatic when exercising in recent years..."
Holm Castle's fireworks display was once incredibly famous in Sweden. Every year, many Stockholmers would gather around the castle early, seeking a prime vantage point to watch the fireworks. This year, the display had already been set up on the spacious lawn of Moon Lake Villa. Guards brought a bench and positioned it in an ideal viewing spot. Luo Guoyun carefully placed Xiao Xiangyue's injured foot flat on the bench and sat down on it, allowing him to lean against him and watch the fireworks.
Wu Xiaoxin used her camera to capture the two of them leaning against each other, gazing up at the dazzling night sky. Xiao Xiangyue's eyes remained clear, her expression serene and distant. As they watched, Banben boasted to everyone, "This fireworks show! It started back in Lizhuang. Yue'er and I both loved setting off fireworks, so the young master simply bought a boatload of them from Liuyang for us to enjoy! It's become a year-round tradition..."
After the Spring Festival, Xiao Xiangyue's foot injury had healed, and the two of them were about to set off for Los Angeles.
As Ike expected, Xiao Xiangyue's soundtrack for the movie was nominated for this year's Academy Award for Best Film Arrangement. The theme song was named "Eternal Clouds and Moon" and was sung by the famous singer Elvis, and won the Best Film Song Award.
Xiao Xiangyue was reluctant to accept the award, but Lu Hankun advised her, "Strictly speaking, this is a film award, not a music award. If you refuse to accept the award, the entire film production team will be disappointed!" It just so happened that the first Grammy Awards to be presented in May was also in Los Angeles. The Yunyue Foundation was the sponsor, and Xiao Xiangyue was the main initiator and judge, and she had to personally participate in the organization and preparation work.
Thinking he might stay in Los Angeles for a few months, Luo Guyun had already purchased the Grove Estate in Beverly Hills. Previously, to allow him to frequently visit Texas to watch Xiaoxue play basketball, Luo Guyun had purchased a multi-acre lakefront mansion in Houston. Yi Han teased him about his habit of buying and selling properties wherever he went. Luo Guyun sighed, "Yue'er fell seriously ill because of the destruction of Li Zhuang. I simply wanted to offer him some comfort! But no amount of properties could replace the place Li Zhuang holds in his heart. I'm afraid this regret will be difficult to make up for in this lifetime..."
Grove Manor stands out among the lavish mansions of Beverly Hills. A few years ago, Xiao Xiangyue's concerts were held in Los Angeles, and many Hollywood movie stars are members of the Yue Fan Club. Yi Han, having recently opened a film company in Hong Kong, is eager to network with film industry insiders. As soon as the two of them moved into the manor, they hosted several cocktail parties, often attended by the wealthy and powerful. For a time, in Hollywood, access to Grove Manor and its cocktail parties was a status symbol.
Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue were both handsome and elegant men. In the world of fame and fortune like Hollywood, they naturally attracted the favor of many noble ladies and celebrities, and were often flirted with and flirted with. The two were accustomed to big occasions and handled them with ease.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
