"Alright, it's getting late. Everyone, go back to sleep." Aunt Wang looked relieved to see both children so sensible.
The few of them said goodbye to the elderly couple and returned to their rooms. Sun Chaoshu didn't try to chat with Ye Hao again today.
The next morning, Uncle Sun arrived at the station early as usual. After finishing his official duties, he went to the hospital to change his dressing.
The doctor unwrapped the bandage and was immediately startled. "Old Sun, what miracle medicine did you take at home? How did your wound heal so quickly? It's only been one day, and it's already scabbed over."
Seeing the doctor's shocked expression, Sun Youde was also puzzled. He knew best that he hadn't taken any medicine yesterday; he had only drunk two bowls of fish soup and eaten a few pieces of fish.
"Old Li, I didn't take any medicine. Yesterday morning and noon I ate at the station's cafeteria. Last night, my wife stewed some fish soup for me, and I ate a few pieces of fish. Besides that, I didn't eat anything else."
"It's a miracle, a medical miracle! A gunshot wound scabbing over in one day, it's truly amazing," Dr. Li exclaimed in astonishment.
Seeing Dr. Li still marveling and not changing the dressing, Sun Youde grew anxious. What did this mean? Was he going to be used as a guinea pig for experiments? He quickly said, "Old Li, that's enough. Hurry up and change my dressing. There are still things to do at the station. After changing the dressing, I need to go back and handle the case."
"Oh, oh, oh, I'm sorry, Old Sun. I've been practicing medicine for so many years and have never seen such a rapid recovery. I lost my composure. I'll change the dressing right away." With that, he began to change Sun Youde's dressing.
On his way back to the station, Sun Youde was still wondering what caused such a rapid recovery. He had suffered gunshot wounds before, but they had never healed this quickly. It was truly strange. Could it be yesterday's fish? No, that couldn't be right. The fish were caught by Chao Shu and Xiao Hao in the Hucheng River; they couldn't have such an effect. Then what was it? It was truly odd.
This matter became something Sun Youde never figured out in his entire life.
...
Meanwhile, Ye Hao woke up in the morning and saw that everyone else in the family had left, except Sun Chaoshu who was still sleeping. So, he prepared to go about his own business. As for waking Sun Chaoshu, that was impossible; being with him made many things inconvenient.
Ye Hao went to a slightly more distant Pigeon Market, and from his spatial dimension, he took out a good number of eggs and fish, as well as several grown roosters, selling them in batches for a total of 20 yuan.
Ye Hao wanted to sell more, but he didn't dare to sell too much in one place, fearing it would attract attention.
Ye Hao visited three Pigeon Markets that morning, selling only 20 yuan worth of goods at each, and leaving as soon as he was done.
The morning passed uneventfully.
Ye Hao returned home at noon and was again met with complaints from Sun Chaoshu for not taking him along. Ye Hao promised to take him out in the afternoon, which finally quieted him down.
In the afternoon, Ye Hao took Sun Chaoshu to catch fish in the Hucheng River again. Before, it was because they wanted to eat fish, but now it was to supplement Uncle Sun's nutrition.
Ye Hao, as before, took out two fish from his spatial dimension, pretending he had caught them himself.
After yesterday's practice, Sun Chaoshu's aim was significantly better today. In one afternoon, he caught five fish, each about a handspan long, and was as happy as a 200-month-old child.
The two returned joyfully, laden with their catch.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they were surrounded by a group of aunties, asking all sorts of questions. One auntie even wanted a big fish, but Ye Hao refused, citing the reason of supplementing Uncle Sun's nutrition.
The neighbors around knew that Sun Youde was injured while catching Enemy Spies, so they didn't press for the fish anymore.
Ye Hao found this neighbor a bit ridiculous; these were fish he had specially prepared for Uncle Sun, so how could he give them to a strange neighbor?
Aunt Wang saw the two returning with fish again and was about to nag a bit, but Sun Chaoshu's words cut her off.
"Mom, these are fish that Brother Hao and I specially caught for Dad! Look, the two big ones are Brother Hao's, and the small ones are all mine!" Sun Chaoshu still couldn't get rid of his love for showing off.
"Good, your dad will be overjoyed if he knows you're so filial. You two go play; give me the fish, I'll clean them." Saying this, she took the bucket from Sun Chaoshu's hand.
That evening at the dinner table.
"Youde, look at this fish, your son specially caught it for you," Aunt Wang said, not forgetting to give Sun Chaoshu credit during dinner.
"Chao Shu, you're not a child anymore. Before, you used to hang out with those unreliable people, and many times I wanted to break your legs. Your mother and I have always supported you. These past two days, you've been with your Brother Hao, and I can see you've changed a lot, but I hope you can continue to maintain it. Don't associate with those unreliable friends anymore. In a couple of days, I'll find you another job. Once you have a job and settle down, you can get a wife. Your mother and I would then be at ease…" Uncle Sun spoke many heartfelt words to Sun Chaoshu. It was evident that he was usually a strict father and didn't communicate much with Sun Chaoshu.
"Dad, my Brother Hao is going to the countryside, right? I want to go with him. I want to change myself; I don't want to be a good-for-nothing anymore." Sun Chaoshu's words startled both Aunt Wang and Uncle Sun.
"Chao Shu, no, I won't allow you to go to the countryside. If you go, what will your father and I do? Besides, the countryside is so tough; in many places, even getting drinking water is difficult, and no one will look after you there. No, you'll just stay home obediently," Aunt Wang quickly tried to dissuade him.
Uncle Sun didn't speak, and it was clear he also didn't want Sun Chaoshu to go to the countryside. However, as the head of a police station, there were some things he couldn't say. Aunt Wang glared at Uncle Sun, "The child wants to go to the countryside, why aren't you trying to persuade him?"
"Mom, don't try to persuade me. My mind is made up. Even if you don't let me go, I'll sneak off when the time comes. Instead of aimlessly drifting in the City, I'd rather go to the countryside to contribute to the nation's construction, and I can also stay away from those bad friends. Besides, Brother Hao and I will have each other if we go to the countryside together…"
Aunt Wang, seeing that she couldn't dissuade Sun Chaoshu, looked to Uncle Sun for help.
"Good, you are my son! A man must be responsible. When I was young, I went to the battlefield to defend our home and country. Later, I was transferred to the station, serving the common people wholeheartedly. As Sun Youde's son, Sun Chaoshu, you naturally cannot be a coward. I, your father, support you in going to the countryside for construction. Tell your mother to also submit an application for you tomorrow." Sun Youde's definitive statement decided Sun Chaoshu's future.
Ye Hao originally didn't want Sun Chaoshu to go to the countryside, but seeing the situation today, with Sun Chaoshu insistent on going, he felt a bit speechless. Why would he not enjoy the good life in the City and instead insist on going to the countryside to endure hardships?
Aunt Wang, seeing that nothing could be changed, had no choice but to agree. However, she still asked Ye Hao to keep an eye on Sun Chaoshu.
"Yue Yue, your brother will be going to the countryside in the future, so you must be obedient at home…" Sun Chaoshu continued to give Sun Chaoyue a series of instructions.
Ye Hao knew that Sun Chaoyue might also have to go to the countryside in a few years, and by then it would be mandatory, and he didn't even know where she would be assigned. She might be sent to the toughest places, but what good would knowing do? He couldn't change anything. In this era, Ye Hao could only ensure that he and those around him didn't have to worry about food and clothing. He would write to Uncle Sun then to see if Sun Chaoyue could be assigned to his area. But that was for later; thinking about it now was useless.
"Alright, alright, we don't even know when we'll be able to leave yet, so it's a bit early to be talking about all this. Let's just eat first."