Ji Xiaodie deftly picked out a bright red apple from the fruit basket she had brought. Her movements were practiced and natural. She picked up a fruit knife and began to carefully peel the apple for Xia Liang.
Xia Liang felt a surge of warmth in her heart as she watched Ji Xiaodie's actions, but on the surface she pretended to be angry and half-jokingly scolded, "You're here now, why do you always bring things? We didn't finish these before." Her tone was tinged with a hint of doting and helplessness.
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaodie looked up, revealing a mischievous smile. Her eyes sparkled with lively light as she giggled, "I brought this because I missed you. Besides, the apples outside are much sweeter than before. Try one if you don't believe me." As she spoke, she handed the peeled apple to Xia Liang, her eyes full of anticipation and smiles.
Xia Liang took a small bite of the apple Ji Xiaodie handed her. The sweet juice soothed her throat and seemed to ease a slight worry in her heart. She turned her gaze to Ji Xiao and asked with concern, "How are Yanling and the others?" Behind this question was her concern for her friends who had gone through hardships together.
Ji Xiao sensed Xia Liang's concern and replied in a relaxed tone, trying to ease her burden: "Zhou Xiong is still recovering from his injuries, but don't worry, the other three are all better now." His tone was calm, trying to reassure Xia Liang.
Xia Liang knew that Zhou Xiong had suffered the most severe injuries in that unfortunate incident and would need a longer time to recover. Ji Xiao's words were like a warm spring breeze, dispelling Xia Liang's worries. Hearing about her friends' recovery, a relieved smile appeared on Xia Liang's face, and she felt a sense of ease from the inside out.
Gu Yanxiao stood at the door of the ward, preparing to return to his unit, his eyes filled with reluctance and concern. Before turning to leave, he repeatedly urged Xia Liang, "Rest more, don't rush to be discharged, wait until you're fully recovered before leaving." His tone revealed deep concern, every word carrying his love and worry for Xia Liang.
Xia Liang leaned against the hospital bed, listening to Gu Yanxiao's instructions. She felt both warm and somewhat helpless. She knew Gu Yanxiao's concern stemmed from his love for her, but her ears were indeed getting tired of his nagging. She smiled and replied with a hint of indulgence and a playful tone, "Okay, okay, I know. I'll definitely be fully recovered before I'm discharged. You can go and do your thing."
Looking at Xia Liang's smile, Gu Yanxiao's worries eased slightly. He knew Xia Liang was a strong and independent woman. He gently walked to the bedside, held her hand tightly again, looked at her deeply, and then reluctantly left.
Xia Liang watched Gu Yanxiao's retreating figure, her heart filled with gratitude and love. She knew that although Gu Yanxiao was far away, his heart was always with her, accompanying her through this difficult time of recovery.
After Gu Yanxiao left, as her physical condition gradually improved, she began to feel that she had fully recovered and was filled with the desire to be discharged from the hospital. However, Han Yulan insisted, "It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, let alone such a serious injury as yours. What if you don't rest properly and suffer long-term effects? You don't want the two children to worry, do you?"
Hearing the mention of her two children, Xia Liang's resolve began to waver. She recalled those difficult times; the children's tears and cries had almost become her motivation to persevere. Their safety and happiness were paramount to her, and she didn't want to cause them any worry by being too eager to be discharged. In the end, she stayed in the hospital for another month before being discharged.
After being discharged from the hospital, Xia Liang was filled with gratitude and wanted to thank her relatives and friends who had cared for and supported her during her hospitalization. She asked Aunt Wu and Aunt Liu to prepare a sumptuous feast and invite them to her home to share her joy and gratitude. Aunt Wu and Aunt Liu readily agreed, their faces beaming with smiles, and they happily went to the market to buy everything they needed. This feast might have several tables, so there was naturally a lot to prepare, from fresh vegetables to various meats, to all kinds of seasonings and drinks, everything had to be carefully selected.
Xia Liang originally wanted to go and help in person to express her goodwill, but Han Yulan gently but firmly stopped her: "You should rest well, I'll go with your dad." Her words revealed her care and protection for Xia Liang, not wanting her to overwork and affect her nascent recovery.
Since her injury, Xia Liang has felt like a precious and fragile porcelain doll in her family, who have showered her with care and protection. Although she has repeatedly emphasized that she has fully recovered, her family's protection of her has never seemed to ease; their concern is like an invisible barrier, constantly surrounding her.
At the factory, Xia Rong and Ji Xiao also adopted the same protective attitude towards her, not wanting Xia Liang to bear too much work pressure. Xia Liang's daily work was simplified to simply going to the factory to check the accounts, an arrangement that made her feel both helpless and touched.
Xia Liang calmed down and began to re-examine her life and values. She realized that while money was important, it was less crucial than good health and the time spent watching her children grow. She began to ponder the true meaning of life and developed new plans and expectations for the future.
She decided to slow down in the coming years, no longer pursuing rapid development or excessive work. Xia Liang wanted to enjoy life, to give herself more time to care for her family, and to witness every moment of her children's growth. She believed this was the most precious treasure in life.
Time flies, and it was now 1988. This year was of great significance to Xia Liang, as she had been waiting for it for a long time. The real estate market in H Province was brewing a storm of economic bubble, and Xia Liang firmly believed that as long as she seized the right opportunity, she could reap rich rewards in this storm.
Full of confidence, she approached Xia Rong and Ji Xiao, and the three of them sat down together to discuss this audacious plan. Ji Xiao said with a slightly mocking smile, "After all these years, I thought you were going to stay home and take care of the kids." Xia Liang smiled sheepishly and replied, "Why not seize an opportunity to make money?" Her words revealed her eagerness for opportunity and her determination for the future.
After some discussion, the three decided to take a bold step. They went to the bank, secured a large loan, and used the funds to buy several seemingly barren plots of land in H province. Standing on this land, Ji Xiao couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. He asked, "Will this work? Look at how desolate this place is..." Xia Liang, however, was full of confidence and smiled, "As long as we seize the right opportunity, nothing is impossible."
Ji Xiao had complete trust in Xia Liang's judgment. He knew that Xia Liang not only had a keen market sense but also an indomitable spirit. Thus, the three of them, burdened with huge bank loans, bought dozens of barren plots of land in H province, their hearts filled with boundless hope for the future.
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