Chapter 34: Take Lin Lin Back to Kyoto

“Ah?”  

Zhao Chunmei was taken aback by what Fang Mingyi said, her mind not immediately processing the request.  

Seeing her confusion, Fang Mingyi paused and added, “If it’s inconvenient to go to my house, you can just bring Lin Lin to mine.”  

“That’s not it. I’m just thinking… Is this really okay? After all, right now…”  

Zhao Chunmei hesitated, her voice tinged with uncertainty.  

“It’s fine, Auntie. We’ve found very reliable people. You and Uncle can rest assured,” Fang Mingyi reassured her, his tone firm. Then he continued, “But I do recommend you take Lin Lin to a military hospital for a check-up, then decide how to treat her.”  

Zhao Chunmei felt conflicted at the mention of the military hospital. After all, such hospitals were usually inaccessible to ordinary people like them.  

Noticing her discomfort, Fang Mingyi quickly added, “Don’t worry, Auntie. Once you’re back in Kyoto, I’ll have someone come to your house to pick you and Uncle up. I’ll make all the arrangements for Lin Lin to be treated. You won’t have to worry about anything.”  

Li Donghai, who had been listening, narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Fang Mingyi.  

Inside, he was thinking, *This young man’s family must be quite well-off. Otherwise, he wouldn’t speak so casually.*  

But no matter how well-off he was, Li Donghai didn’t think much of him—*He’s still the guy who’s trying to steal my cabbage, huh.*  

Zhao Chunmei, unaware of her husband’s displeasure, hurriedly said, “You’re really making things too difficult for yourself.”  

“Auntie, don’t say that. I’m Lin Lin’s boyfriend, and I’ll do anything for her. I don’t mind at all,” Fang Mingyi shook his head and said earnestly.  

Zhao Chunmei sighed after hearing that, saying with a bit of reluctance, “Young man, let me speak frankly. With Lin Lin’s condition, I’m not sure if you’ll still be willing once we go back to Kyoto.”  

“Auntie, I’m not worried about that,” Fang Mingyi said, his voice a bit flustered. “I’ll find a way to get back to Kyoto. I won’t let Lin Lin be alone there.”  

Hearing this, Li Donghai’s lips twitched, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “It’s easy to say, but you’re in the countryside now. How do you plan to just leave and head back to Kyoto?”  

“Uncle, the situation forced me to come here, but now I have someone I care about. Even if it’s complicated, I will find a way to return to Kyoto, to be by Lin Lin’s side,” Fang Mingyi said without hesitation, making sure to assert himself.  

“You…” Li Donghai was fuming, about to retort, but at that moment, Li Lin began to stir. She had been awake for a while and saw that her father was about to lose his temper. Trying to avoid the situation escalating, she yawned and said, “Dad, Mom, why are you up so early?”  

“We woke up early because we went to bed early. Are you hungry? I brought some millet porridge. Do you want to drink some?” Zhao Chunmei quickly moved toward her daughter, concern written on her face.  

“I’m hungry, but… Mom, could you help me to the bathroom?” Li Lin asked shyly.  

Zhao Chunmei immediately became worried. “Can you move now? Will you hurt your injury?”  

“It’s okay, I’ll go slowly,” Li Lin said as she gently lifted the blanket and sat up carefully.  

“Lin Lin, didn’t the doctor say you shouldn’t get out of bed? What if you hurt your wound?” Fang Mingyi saw Li Lin trying to get up and rushed over, his voice filled with worry and a hint of reprimand.  

“Quick, quick, you should lie back down. If you had said earlier that you couldn’t get up, I would have stopped you no matter what!” Zhao Chunmei panicked as she hurried to support her daughter, pushing her to lie back down.  

“But I really need to go to the bathroom…” Li Lin said with a pitiful look.  

Zhao Chunmei reluctantly let out a sigh and said, “You’ll use this.”  

Fang Mingyi handed her a bedpan, setting it down beside the bed. Then, he gestured for Li Donghai to help him cover the bed with a sheet to avoid anyone seeing what was going on.  

Li Lin, her face flushed with embarrassment, stayed in the bathroom for a while, covering herself with the blanket.  

“Sweetheart, you’re in a special situation right now. Once you’re better, it’ll be all right,” Zhao Chunmei said with a sigh, gently pulling back the blanket to comfort her daughter.  

“I know,” Li Lin replied, her tone resigned. She didn’t know how to handle the situation, but she could only wait until she recovered before dealing with Liu Lan.  

“I’ll have your dad get some water for you. After you rinse your mouth and wash your face, you can eat, and then rest,” Zhao Chunmei said, before calling her husband to fetch some water.  

Fang Mingyi, seeing the situation, quickly grabbed the enamel basin and went out to fetch the water.  

Li Donghai, noticing Fang Mingyi leaving, walked up to his daughter’s bed, his face conflicted. He seemed to be struggling with something to say.  

“Dad, if you want to say something, just say it. Why are we acting all reserved? You’re not starting to feel distant from me after just half a month, are you?” Li Lin asked, sensing her father’s hesitance.  

“No, no, how could I be distant from my own daughter?” Li Donghai quickly waved his hand, then lowered his voice and asked, “Lin Lin, that young man Fang, you really are seeing him?”  

“Yes, Dad. When I met him, I didn’t want to let him go,” Li Lin replied, nodding seriously.  

“But… but this is such a big thing! Why didn’t you send a letter home? If something hadn’t happened to you, your mother and I wouldn’t even know about this!” Li Donghai struggled to ask, clearly feeling caught off guard by the situation.  

“We only just got together a few days ago. I didn’t have time to send a letter before the incident happened,” Li Lin said helplessly. She hadn’t expected Liu Lan to be so crazy as to attack her in broad daylight.  

“By the way, last night, I heard from that young man that it was Liu Lan who hurt you?” Li Donghai’s face darkened as he asked.  

Li Lin let out a resigned sigh and nodded, “Yes, that day after I finished cutting the pigweed and was heading back to the pigpen, I ran into Liu Lan. I had no idea she would suddenly go crazy. I couldn’t even dodge in time.”  

“Did you report it to the police? Has Liu Lan been caught? We can’t let her get away,” Li Donghai asked, his voice urgent.  

“I don’t know. I came straight to the hospital after the incident, so I don’t know what happened to Liu Lan,” Li Lin said, shaking her head.  

“Then let your mom stay here with you. I’ll go to your commune,” Li Donghai said, before turning to Fang Mingyi, who had just entered with the water. “You come with me. I want to see if Liu Lan’s run off.”  

“Okay, I’ll go with you now,” Fang Mingyi immediately replied, putting the basin down and taking the money out of his pocket, placing it on the bed. “Auntie, keep this money for now. You can use it as you need. I’ll take it back when I return.”  

Before Zhao Chunmei and Li Lin could refuse, Fang Mingyi turned and left.  

Li Donghai watched him leave and immediately took the money, stuffing it into his pocket. He hurriedly followed behind.  

“Return your money. Our family has enough. We don’t need your charity,” Li Donghai called after Fang Mingyi, pulling the money from his pocket and offering it back to him.  

“Uncle, please keep it for now. There’s also some money left from the leftover cloth you and Auntie got. It’s not just mine,” Fang Mingyi said, keeping a calm face despite the awkwardness of the situation.  

Li Donghai took the money, still not allowing any refusal, and said, “Alright, keep it for now. Once Lin Lin is discharged, we’ll settle up.”