Chapter 351 Clarification
Gu Xiao stood alone outside the intensive care unit, his expression as still as a deep pool. He peered through the small window, his vision blurring until he could see nothing at all...
Upon receiving news that Gu Xiao had arrived at the hospital, Director Wang of the Political Department immediately led several key leaders from the Headquarters and Logistics Department to the hospital.
The group walked hurriedly, their expressions a mixture of respect and concern.
"Minister Gu, you're back! We are all deeply saddened by the sudden serious illness of our former commander, and we feel a great sense of responsibility! The entire military region is closely monitoring his condition. Please give us your direct instructions if we need anything!"
Gu Xiao shook hands with each of them, his expression calm. "Thank you, Director Wang, and thank you all for your concern. My father's illness has been taken care of by you all, and I am also very grateful for the full support provided by the military region."
The group briefly exchanged information about Commander Gu's condition and treatment progress, assuring him that the military region would continue to provide all necessary support. Seeing that Gu Xiao didn't intend to elaborate, they tactfully took their leave, not wanting to disturb him further.
After seeing the group off, Gu Xiao stood alone in the same spot, not knowing how long he had been standing there.
Until Aunt Wu came from the other end of the corridor carrying a thermos.
Seeing Gu Xiao's solitary figure standing there, her nose tingled, and her voice choked with emotion: "Minister Gu... you're back..."
Gu Xiao turned around and saw that Wu Ma's eyes were red, so he said gently, "Yes, Wu Ma, you've had a hard time these past few days."
Aunt Wu wiped her eyes with her sleeve: "What's so hard about it? I just run errands and cook. It's Zhiyi and Gu Yan who have been staying here day and night, barely closing their eyes. Zhiyi, that child, looks like she's lost a lot of weight, her chin is even more pointed..."
She rambled on, "Xiao Liu just came over, then they went back to get their luggage and took it directly to the train station, saying you had arranged everything."
Gu Xiao hummed in response, without saying anything more.
Knowing that he was cold and taciturn, Aunt Wu didn't say anything more. She opened the thermos in her hand and said, "It's almost noon. Hurry up and eat something while it's hot. Your health is important. You can't afford to collapse too."
Gu Xiao did not refuse. He took the bowl and chopsticks handed to him by Aunt Wu, sat on the bench, and began to eat.
Aunt Wu watched him from the side, carefully inquiring about Commander Gu's condition. She was slightly relieved to learn that he was in good spirits.
After Gu Xiao finished eating, Wu Ma cleared away the dishes and handed him the kettle, saying she would bring him more food in the afternoon. Only then did she leave the hospital, looking back every few steps.
The corridor fell silent again. Gu Xiao leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
In the afternoon, Dr. Zhao led the team on their routine ward rounds.
Dr. Zhao came out and said to Gu Xiao, "Minister Gu, the leader is more conscious than before, and his vital signs are stable. Visiting is now allowed, and the time limit has been extended to fifteen minutes, but we still need to be careful not to agitate him."
Gu Xiao nodded, carefully disinfected his hands, and then entered the intensive care unit.
Commander Gu, lying in his hospital bed, was a completely different person from the father Gu Xiao remembered, who always had a straight back.
He lay in the white bedding, thin, gray, and deeply wrinkled.
That towering mountain, which had stood forever, now seemed so fragile, as if it might collapse at any moment.
Hearing the noise, Commander Gu slightly turned his eyes. Seeing that it was Gu Xiao, a light shone in his cloudy eyes, and his lips trembled as he said, "...Fifth... Brother..."
Gu Xiao rushed to the bedside, bent down and held his father's withered hand. "Dad, it's me, I'm back. You just woke up, don't rush, tell me slowly, I'm listening."
He felt the slight movement of his father's fingers and gripped them even tighter.
Commander Gu breathed weakly for a few moments, his voice barely a whisper, "You... plan... how to deal with... him..."
Although he was physically weak, his mind was still quite clear. Gu Xiao was capable and resourceful, and during the few days he was hospitalized, he had enough time to thoroughly investigate the sordid affairs of his second son. He probably... had already taken action to clean up the mess.
"Dad, don't worry, he won't have another chance to make you angry."
His answer was evasive, but it was a tacit admission.
Commander Gu's fingers moved very lightly in his son's palm again, as if in a helpless sigh.
"The Gu family...cannot have... parasites...but..."
He coughed up phlegm, looking increasingly disheveled, and struggled to utter words that sounded almost pleading, "You... have mercy... he... after all..."
As people get older, their hearts soften, and their children become a burden... In the end, they can't bear to use those drastic measures on their own children.
Gu Xiao felt a pang of heartache as he looked at his father's flushed face.
He knew his father's principles, and he understood his father's vulnerability at this moment.
Standing at his father's bedside, Gu Xiao had no choice but to accept his father's pleading request.
He bent down and said solemnly, "I will arrange everything, Dad. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."
Hearing his son's promise, Commander Gu looked at Gu Xiao and said, "Gu Xiao... I... am proud of you... I would die without regret..."
"dad!"
Gu Xiao choked up, "Please don't say that! Xiaoman talks about Grandpa every day at home. Once you recover, I'll arrange for you to go to the capital to recuperate. It's close to us, and Xiaoman can see you often."
Upon hearing his grandson's name, Commander Gu's lips twitched, trying to force a smile, "Xiaoman..."
"Yes, Xiaoman." Gu Xiao seized the opportunity to recount some amusing stories about his son, "He's started kindergarten now, and his teachers all praise him for being well-behaved..."
He picked out a few minor things and talked about them in detail.
Commander Gu listened quietly with his eyes closed, his brows slightly relaxed.
Until the nurse gently reminded him, "Minister Gu, it's time. The leader needs to rest."
Gu Xiao stopped talking, put his father's hand back under the covers, and tucked the blanket around him.
"Dad, please get some rest. I'll handle everything else."
He made his assurances again and quietly left the ward.
In the corridor outside the ward, Xiao Liu and Xiao Li saw Gu Xiao come out and gave him a standard military salute.
Gu Xiao's gaze first fell on Xiao Liu.
Xiao Liu stepped forward and reported crisply: "Minister, as you instructed, I have safely put your wife on the express train back to Beijing. I contacted the duty room of the Beijing Military Region Command through the military line and asked them to coordinate arrangements so that after the train arrives, the Logistics Department of the Command will send a car to pick up your wife directly and take her back to the compound, ensuring a smooth journey."
Gu Xiao nodded slightly.
Xiao Liu continued, "As for Comrade Gu Yan... he said the train was too slow and insisted on flying back. I contacted the civil aviation ticket office, and luckily there were still tickets available for a flight to Guangzhou this afternoon. I provided him with a letter of introduction from the military as required, helped him with the ticket purchase, and took him to the airport."
Gu Xiao frowned slightly. "I understand."
He then turned to look at Xiao Li.
Xiao Li said that Gu Jianjun was sent to another hospital with three broken ribs, and Gu Weimin and Wang Juan are currently accompanying him at that hospital.
He whispered, "Comrade Zhang has a lot of objections..."
Gu Xiao didn't even flinch when he heard this.
After a brief pause, Xiao Li added, "When I left, I saw Commander Gu's car arrive at that hospital."
Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Gu Xiao's eyes.
When the eldest brother returned, the first thing he did was not to come to the father's intensive care unit, but to the bedside of that good-for-nothing Gu Jianjun.
How ridiculous.
He told Xiao Li, "Strengthen security at the hospital. No unauthorized personnel are allowed near the ward area without my permission. Especially the Gu Jianjun family."
"Yes, Minister!" Xiao Li replied sternly.
Gu Xiao said no more and strode out, with Xiao Liu following immediately.
Gu Xiao had a multitude of tasks to handle upon returning to Jian'an this time. He needed to stabilize the subtle fluctuations within the military region caused by his father's sudden illness, and also thoroughly clean up the mess left behind by Gu Jianjun.
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