Chapter 1829: Engagement

I just wondered if the results might be wrong, since I didn't feel unwell anywhere…

Lin Lin Xiuqing also instinctively resisted—no one wants to be sick.

"By the time you feel unwell, it might already be too late; catching it early now means early treatment. The doctor said it's just a minor surgery, so just follow the plan. What you think doesn't matter—they're the doctor, and the report came from instruments, not idle speculation."

Ye Yaodong was quite convinced; the result was actually good—last life, when he went for a checkup, the outcome was terrible.

Everyone waits until they're in unbearable pain before going to the hospital, and by then, it's already too late.

Finding it so many years early means the polyps haven't had time to progress; the outcome certainly won't be too bad, and it's probably still benign.

He was quite pleased—it meant resolving an uncertain threat over a decade ahead of time, snuffing out the danger while it was still in its infancy.

Ye's father said, "Since the doctor said so, we'll follow the doctor's plan—get the surgery done if needed."

Ye's mother nodded in agreement, "Exactly, they said it's a minor issue, so just get it fixed. I'll delay my return home a few days to look after you."

Lin Lin Xiuqing's anxious heart was soothed: "Alright, then we'll follow the doctor's schedule—schedule the surgery in a few days, after Ah Ming's engagement is over. Don't tell my parents or anyone else, to avoid causing trouble—they're far away anyway."

"Your parents came here just a few days ago for Ah Ming's engagement—they'll find out anyway. How can you hide it? If you don't tell them now, they'll blame us for not saying anything later."

Ye Yaodong disagreed: if family wasn't here, fine, but since they were here, they definitely needed to know.

It wouldn't take them long, and they were already here anyway—there was no fear they'd make a special trip just because they found out.

Lin Lin Xiuqing sighed, "Fine, then set the surgery date with the doctor. Tomorrow we have to hurry to Zhou City."

"Alright."

After they settled it, Ye Yaodong went back to confirm the surgery time with the doctor, learned the precautions, and then they returned home.

On the way back, Lin Lin Xiuqing remained gloomy, while Ye's parents chattered nonstop—questioning whether the hospital was reliable, complaining the medicine was too expensive, and taking turns scolding each other.

"Don't eat things you shouldn't anymore, and stop drinking every damn day—you never listen, and now you have to take medicine like it's food."

"Aren't you the same? How dare you talk to me? You'll be swallowing medicine nonstop too—don't talk down to me."

"My medicine isn't as much as yours—you've got several bottles more than me."

"Then I'll share some with you."

Ye's mother gave him a withering look. "Are you eyeing my retirement savings? Hoping to inherit my estate?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing listened to the old couple bickering in the backseat and nearly cracked up—her previously heavy mood instantly lightened.

Ye Yaodong listened, torn between laughter and exasperation: "Do you two really have to go this far? Even your medicine's getting shared?"

"Your dad's nuts—ignore him, he's just babbling. Do you think I'd eat his medicine if I were sick?"

"Aren't you sick too? We're both sick—look at all this medicine: you've got a pile, I've got a pile."

Ye's mother shot him another irritated glance. "Stop whining—or I'll throw you out."

Lin Lin Xiuqing laughed: "It's a bit late to kick you out now—we're almost home."

Ye's mother peered out the window—it looked like they were almost there. "Going to the hospital took all day—I wonder if the kids are back yet."

"They should be back."

As soon as they got out of the car, they heard chaos inside—the house was in uproar. Ye Ye Huimei had brought the kids over; the two toddlers were about to tear the roof off, and she was busy cooking in the kitchen with no time to supervise them.

Ye Chenghu and Ye Ye Chengyang sat at the dining table doing homework.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi and Pei Yu squatted beside the coffee table, playing with small toys—probably from a lucky draw—and were laughing and playing enthusiastically.

The twins ran around the house kicking a small rubber ball back and forth, and most of the noise came from them—even the little ball made loud thumps when kicked against walls, not to mention their shouting as they ran.

The moment Ye's father opened the door, the ball flew straight at his waist. He reacted instantly, crouched down, caught it, and his face darkened.

"What are you two doing? Trying to wreck the house?"

"Grandpa~ You're back!"

"Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Auntie are back…"

Ye Ye Huimei heard their loud voices and thought they were up to something again—she stuck her head out and realized everyone had returned.

"Dinner's almost ready—go wash your hands, then you can eat."

Ye's father confiscated the ball and told the two to behave.

Everyone quickly sat down at the table, and Ye Ye Huimei asked about their checkup results.

They gave a full, honest account.

The three children immediately surrounded her, asking a barrage of concerned questions; when they heard a minor surgery would restore normal health, they finally relaxed.

Ye Ye Huimei looked at Lin Lin Xiuqing and asked gently, "Third sister-in-law, you really don't feel unwell anywhere?"

"Really not—I feel perfectly fine, but since it was found, I'll follow the doctor's plan. It's just a small thing, a minor issue—no big deal."

"Then you must pay more attention to your health from now on."

"Ah Dong is going to the train station this afternoon to pick up the goods and ship them directly to Zhou City. We thought we'd go with him and attend Ah Ming's engagement banquet. These three will stay with you for the next few days."

"Sure, leave them here with me. When you're away in Yangcheng, they're always well-behaved."

Ye Ye Huimei had no problem at all—she'd just cook three meals normally, no need to pick them up or drop them off, and maybe just make sure they went to bed early.

But the other three protested.

Ye Chenghu: "Mom, can't you take us too? It's our cousin's engagement—why can't we go?"

Ye Ye Chengyang: "Yeah, I want to go too."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi: "Mom, Big Brother is in senior high, Ye Erge is in junior high—they need to study, but I'm fine! I'm only in fourth grade—take me!"

The two brothers turned and glared at her.

"We didn't put you down—how dare you put us down?"

"Exactly—if we can't go, neither can you."

Lin Lin Xiuqing said: "You're all in school—I'm not taking any of you. Going there is just for the meal, and you've already met your future cousin-in-law. Besides, this is only an engagement—wait until the wedding to bring you."

"Studying comes first—don't keep asking for leave. Especially you two—you're at critical stages now."

The two brothers immediately slumped, defeated—they'd already expected they wouldn't be allowed to go.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi wanted to continue pleading for herself, but then Ye Yaodong said, "Your mother is sick now; you can't make her angry."

She instantly became like a deflated balloon.

"Alright, then when my cousin gets married, you must take me along; I want to see the bride."

"Okay."

"Then don't grant me leave now; when you have surgery, I will ask for leave. I want to go to the hospital to accompany you."

"You don't need to accompany me. Why would a child like you go along? Just study as usual; you can come to the hospital to see me after school."

"I want to accompany you..."

"You don't need to accompany me; you can't even accompany me. I'll be in the operating room having surgery, and you can't accompany me from outside. By the time you finish school, I'll have finished the surgery, so you'll see me as soon as you arrive."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi pouted, unhappy.

Ye Fu picked up a chicken leg for her. "Your lips are pouting so much they could hang a chicken leg; eat quickly. If your mother has surgery, we'll all be there. It's the same if you come after school; staying there is useless."

"Alright."

She lowered her head and ate the fragrant chicken leg, forgetting to speak.

After lunch, Lin Lin Xiuqing went first to pack two changes of clothes. They would stay in Zhoushan for three days; the surgery was also in three days. They wouldn't linger long and would return after the banquet.

So they didn't need to bring much; just two changes of clothes for washing and changing would suffice. After packing, they went first to the train station to pick up the goods, then headed straight for Zhoushan.

Recently, they had been constantly traveling back and forth, hardly resting at all.

Especially Ye's mother: from the beginning of the month to the end, from their hometown to Zhoushan, then to Shanghai, then to the Canton Fair. Upon returning, she went for a medical checkup, and now she had just received the report and had to go to Zhoushan again. If they finished the engagement banquet in Zhoushan, they would have to rush to Shanghai for the surgery.

Ye's mother felt like a spinning top, turning non-stop for a month without any pause.

Moreover, if the surgery was done, they would stay at most a few days. For this minimally invasive procedure, hospitalization might not even last a week before discharge, and after discharge, she would have to return to their hometown.

Just thinking about it made her feel tired.

As soon as they arrived in Zhoushan, without even eating, she lay down on the hard dormitory bed and couldn't get up.

"I'm truly busy; even the president isn't as busy as me. Running here and running there all day... my old waist..."

"Serves you right. Who told you to run all the way over here and even go to Guangzhou?"

"Can you speak some human words?"

"Then let me massage you. Where does it hurt?"

Ye's mother rolled her eyes at him and pointed to her lower back.

On the other side, Ye Yaodong and Lin Lin Xiuqing, the couple, were the same. They too had been constantly traveling. Back in the dormitory, both lay down together, lying side by side.

"Your parents came over a couple of days ago. I don't know which room they're in. Let's go find them tomorrow; it's too late now."

"No rush. Ask tomorrow; they aren't going anywhere."

"Lie down for a while. I'll go to the cafeteria to cook something for you to bring back. After eating, wash up and sleep quickly."

Ye Yaodong told her to lie down and rest, but he got up himself.

"Won't you rest for a while?"

"I'm not that tired. You all look very tired. My mother feels like half her energy and spirit have been drained."

"Naturally. How old is mother? She's in her early sixties. This month she's been running around with us, and she even made a special trip up from our hometown. Of course she's tired."

"So I'll go buy food up here, saving you from walking to the cafeteria again."

After saying that, he closed the door and went out.

It was only past seven o'clock, but the sky was already pitch black. No one was walking around the factory; some were only in the workshops.

However, when he arrived at the cafeteria, he unexpectedly saw Lin Fu.

"Dad, here you are. We were just talking about you earlier. Watching TV here? Which room are you staying in?"

"When did you arrive? I'm staying in the room next to the one next to yours. It's still early before sleep; I was bored, so I came to watch TV."

"Just arrived. I came straight down to the cafeteria to buy noodles for them. Everyone is exhausted from constantly traveling back and forth."

"That is exhausting. How difficult it was to take the bus all the way back from Guangzhou."

"Where's Mom? Why are you watching TV alone here?"

"She's afraid of seasickness, so she didn't come. It's a good time to watch the shop. I, your eldest brother, your eldest sister-in-law, and Guanggu and a few others came. They all went out to stroll around; they probably haven't returned yet."

"They came quite fully, which is rare. Since this is their first time here, in a couple of days when we go to Shanghai, let them go to Shanghai too for a few days. Since they're here, let them have a good time before returning."

"They would be delighted. You're busy too; don't worry about them then. Let them wander around on their own."

"I want to accompany them, but I can't. A-Qing has been doing medical checkups these past two days..."

Ye Yaodong thought that since the topic had come up, he might as well tell his father-in-law about it. They would find out eventually. In a couple of days, everyone would be going to Shanghai to play, so there would be no time to be busy anyway. It was better to say it in advance.

Lin Fu became nervous upon hearing this. Ye Yaodong had to comfort him first, then explain in detail what the doctor said, along with the surgery and post-operative precautions.

Only after listening did his heart settle halfway back into his stomach, but it was still surgery; hearing those two words was frightening.

"Then we must accompany her. This child, how could she hide it from us? Such a big matter, of course we must know."

"So after the banquet for A-Ming, everyone can just go to Shanghai for a few days. A-Qing's matter isn't big; it was mainly discovered early. If it had been discovered in ten or twenty years, that would have been terrible."

Lin Fu nodded repeatedly. "Yes, that's the logic. It's good that she went for a checkup. Early discovery leads to early treatment. Treat it quickly while it's not yet serious."

"When you go to Shanghai, get a checkup too..."

"I'm fine. Why would I get a checkup..."

Just moments ago he was speaking eloquently, but now that it was his turn to be called for an examination, he immediately changed his tune.

"It's safer to get checked. My parents both got checked, and they had a bunch of illnesses."

"I don't need to check. Check for what? If there's no illness, they'll find one. After checking, I can't eat this, I can't eat that. What's the point of living then?"

"You just said it was good that she was checked. Anyway, checking doesn't hurt. You have to go to the hospital to accompany A-Qing for surgery anyway. Since you'll be there, getting checked is just a side thing."

Lin Fu thought about it and realized it was true, so he stopped resisting.

"Then we'll talk about it later."

Ye Yaodong now truly wished he could drag everyone connected to him to the hospital for a checkup, hoping everyone would be safe and healthy.

If sick, treat it; if not, at least rest easy.

After greeting Lin Fu, the noodle soup was ready, so he carried it straight to the dormitory in a washbasin.

He also told Lin Xiuqing about meeting her father, and that nearly everyone in their family—except her mother—had come.

"When you have surgery, you'll probably need to book the whole ward—you've got so many relatives, you'll fill a whole room."

"That's overkill—it's just a minor surgery, why gather so many people…"

"Aren't we also celebrating Ming's engagement? After that, they'll all flock to Magu with us, keep you company during surgery, and get to hang out for a few days—killing two birds with one stone."

"So many people would be awkward. Never mind—go quickly call your parents over to eat the noodles before they get soggy."

"Mm."

More people accompanying you for surgery? Others will just say your family is thriving, full of warmth—even a minor surgery draws such a crowd.

It's far better than having no family around during surgery; even if it's minor, family presence brings greater comfort to the patient.

Lin Guang's engagement banquet was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, and they'd arranged it directly at Fatty's restaurant—keeping the profits in the family. Fatty running a restaurant here truly helped their group of kin and fellow villagers.

Locally, banquets were now customary in rural homes—setting up tents or using open spaces in front of houses with borrowed tables and chairs; few went to restaurants.

Lin Guang's group choosing a restaurant was unusual—they were outsiders, and the compound wasn't suitable for hosting, but holding it at a restaurant was now considered prestigious.

The two factory networking events' banners had given him inspiration; he'd even bought a red banner to hang at the restaurant entrance on the engagement day.

It looked proper and festive.

When Ye Yaodong attended the banquet, he even complimented him.

"You're the first in your generation to get engaged—maybe you'll also be the first to marry. You've got to make your family proud."

"I'm doing fine—I'm already the first engaged. But Yuan might skip straight to marriage and beat me to it. I'm planning to marry by year-end: have one ceremony here, then sail home and hold another there—either a few days before the New Year or after, as long as the date's lucky."

"That's a good plan. All relatives will be home for the New Year, making introductions easier, and you can throw a banquet to celebrate together."

Lin Lin Guangyuan had also taken the day off to bring his partner to the banquet.

He stood right behind them and overheard: "Same as my plan—we can hold our banquets together and introduce our families at once."

"Ah, we were just wondering if you could even get time off."

"Yuan's here…"

Lin Xiang Hui and his wife were delighted to see Lin Lin Guangyuan, and they turned to look at Zhong Lan beside him—they were meeting his partner, their future daughter-in-law, for the first time today.

"Mom, Dad, I had to come—how could I miss one of your meals?"

"So you're also planning to marry before the New Year?"

"Pretty much. We've met both sets of parents. We plan to pick a good day next month to submit our marriage application, then take photos and get the certificate—but the banquet might have to be held in the barracks cafeteria."

Lin Lin Guangyuan looked apologetically at his family, feeling guilty—he'd been away so long, and now, marrying a wife, he couldn't even invite them to the ceremony.

"Mom, Dad…"

"It's fine. You'll bring her home for the New Year anyway—we can hold the banquet there too."

Ps: This makes up for today's missed update. No more posts after midnight—will resume tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll sleep till I wake naturally, then take the high-speed train home, and write again after arriving.