Chapter 663: Diagnosis Report

The speaker spoke without intention, but the listener took it to heart. He Yuzhu didn't seem to take Xu Damao's words to heart on the surface, but lying in bed at night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep; the more he thought about it, the more he feared.

In this life, Chen Xueru had followed him, but that bastard Zhou Hao was still lurking in the shadows, watching like a tiger. What wouldn't that kid do? What if one day he took a knife to Chen Xueru...

He Yuzhu sat up abruptly and lit a cigarette.

Rather than waiting for trouble to come knocking, it was better to find a way for his wife to step down completely unscathed—for example, medical retirement.

Early the next morning, he went straight to his office, grabbed the phone, and dialed.

The line connected, and Huang Ying's loud voice nearly shattered the receiver: "He Yuzhu! I only took my family to eat at He Ji Restaurant twice this month, and you're already calling? We agreed back then that you'd let me eat there for a lifetime!"

He Yuzhu hurriedly apologized with a smile: "Director Huang, you saved my mother's life. My promise to you is as solid as a nail; it holds for a lifetime! I'm not calling for that today; I have something else to ask of you."

Huang Ying's tone softened: "Say what you have to say, don't pull this."

He Yuzhu lowered his voice: "I want to ask you for a favor—diagnose my wife with cancer, the kind that says she won't live for more than five years. I want her to retire from her unit."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, followed by Huang Ying's complaint: "I knew it, eating at your place wouldn't be that easy! You're making me commit a mistake!"

"You are the director; find a gynecological condition, the kind that's easy to misdiagnose, and later just say you made a mistake. Who could blame you?" He Yuzhu coaxed, "You keep eating, go every day if you want, put it all on my tab."

Huang Ying was silent for a few seconds on the other end, then suddenly chuckled: "Fine, for your mother's sake, I'll help you with this. But He Yuzhu, I'm bringing my family to eat from now on!"

"Deal!"

Returning home in the evening, He Yuzhu told Chen Xueru everything about the matter.

Chen Xueru refused at first: "I'm perfectly fine, why would I fake an illness? Besides, there's so much to do at the factory..."

"Xueru," He Yuzhu interrupted her, breaking down the situation with Zhou Hao and all the stakes involved, "Think about it, what if one day you're targeted? You won't even know how to cry when the time comes! Besides, our family isn't short of that money you make."

As Chen Xueru listened, her expression changed. When they got married, He Yuzhu had mentioned things about the future, and she hadn't taken it to heart, but seeing him serious now, her heart skipped a beat.

"Then... after I step down from the unit, I won't just be lying at home every day, will I?" she asked.

"You pretend to be sick in the courtyard for a while, the kind that has to lean against the wall to walk. Once everyone believes it, if you want to go out, just put on some makeup. Anyway, our place has a secret tunnel; no one will be any the wiser!"

Chen Xueru was silent for a long while, then sighed: "I really can't bear to leave the factory. Once I go, those foreign trade orders for Xueru Clothing..."

"Now is not the time to think about that." He Yuzhu held her hand, "Would I harm you? This method is the safest one I can think of."

Chen Xueru looked at her husband and finally nodded.

The next day, Beijing Hospital.

After an examination, Huang Ying scribbled down a diagnosis: Endometrial cancer, late stage, estimated survival time of about two years.

Chen Xueru took the diagnosis to her unit, cried like a fountain in front of the secretary, and submitted her resignation.

The secretary looked at the medical record, especially when seeing the words "two years," and sighed deeply: "Xueru, the factory really can't do without you. But since you have this illness... I can't force you to stay. How about this, you recommend someone."

Chen Xueru wiped away her tears: "If you trust me, let Xiaomei take over. She has the ability, she just sometimes lacks confidence. If there's something she can't solve, let her come find me; I can teach her even while lying in bed."

The secretary nodded: "That's fine. Xiaomei is from a poor peasant background, in that regard she is better than you... Sigh, let's not talk about that. Go home and rest well, if you need anything, just ask."

Chen Xueru left in tears.

The news spread like it had wings, and within half a day, it had reached the entire Siheyuan.

Chen Xueru deliberately made her complexion look sallow; she wasn't fat to begin with, and with this touch-up, she really looked like she was facing a terminal illness.

The He Family was shrouded in gloom.

He Zheng was already over ten years old and sensible, but five-year-old He Jia didn't quite understand what cancer was; she only knew her mother was sick, and she hugged her mother's leg and cried loudly.

He Yuzhu took two days off from his unit to stay with her at home.

Xu Damao got the news and hurried back from outside to watch the excitement.

He Yuzhu knew he was ill-intentioned, but he still let him into the living room.

"Xu Damao, it's not appropriate for you to come see a patient empty-handed, is it? Why don't you leave ten yuan, consider it as buying something!"

Xu Damao slapped a ten-yuan note on the table with a "pop" and chuckled: "Comrade He Yuzhu, human life changes so fast. A few days ago, I was still jealous of you, having an official position and a complete family, and in the blink of an eye..."

He Yuzhu sighed: "The moon has its waxing and waning, people have their joys and sorrows, this has been hard to perfect since ancient times. Take you, for instance, the matter of having a son, there might be variables!"

Xu Damao stood up with a "whoosh" and slapped the table: "He Yuzhu! I brought you a gift, and you're cursing me?"

He Yuzhu said slowly: "I'm saying, you don't know if it's a boy or a girl, maybe it's a daughter?"

Xu Damao was stunned, then giggled again: "That's more like it. I said, you're a big Factory Director, you wouldn't curse me over something like this."

"I won't keep you for a meal today." He Yuzhu stood up to see him out, "Go now that you've seen the show."

Xu Damao left cursing, but his heart was filled with joy—He Yuzhu finally had his day!

At the Qianmen Small Courtyard, Xu Damao hummed a tune from "Exploring the Clear Water River" and pushed the door open, swaying as he entered.

He felt great today; that kid He Yuzhu's wife had a terminal illness, let's see how he acts arrogant in front of him from now on.

Xie Xiaolan sat by the table, her face darker than the bottom of a pot.

"Yo, what's wrong?" Xu Damao leaned over, "Since we got our marriage certificate, your attitude has been getting worse by the day. Now at home, it's like you're the master and I'm the servant."

Xie Xiaolan lifted her eyelids, her voice heavy: "Damao, I've been thinking about this for a long time. Ever since I got pregnant, you've been less and less attentive to Dabao. You don't even know to let the child have some food; yesterday, that pork knuckle, you gnawed it clean all by yourself, and Dabao just watched from the side."

Xu Damao sat down with a thud and waved his hand dismissively: "How can you blame me? Why don't you just buy two knuckles next time?"

"I'm not talking about the knuckle." Xie Xiaolan stared at him, "I'm talking about your attitude toward him. He calls you Dad, and you don't even bother to respond. Dabao is my lifeblood; no matter how bad you treat me, I can endure it, but if you treat him badly, I can't."

The smile on Xu Damao's face stiffened bit by bit. He stood up abruptly, his voice rising: "Xie Xiaolan, what exactly do you want, you stinking woman? I got the certificate with you, I've already given you enough face. How else do you want me to treat him? Kowtow to him every day?"

Xie Xiaolan didn't take the bait, instead leaning forward, her tone softening: "Damao, how about this, transfer this small courtyard in Qianmen to me. You're not short of money, you can buy another one later, and we'll live there. Dabao isn't young anymore, in a few years he'll need to get married. I earn quite a bit now, even if you don't have a job in the future, I can support you."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's eyes nearly popped out: "Xie Xiaolan, I really misjudged you! I thought you were someone who knew how to be grateful, but it turns out you're greedy to the bone! This house? Not a chance! This is what I'm leaving for my son!"

Xie Xiaolan's tears fell instantly: "Xu Damao, only today do I see what kind of person you are. I don't want to endure this anymore, let's divorce!"

"Divorce then! Who's afraid of who?" Xu Damao's face turned red and his neck thick, "I can have children with you, I can have them with others too!"

Xie Xiaolan was trembling all over, and she swept all the food and dishes off the table onto the floor.

Xu Damao's anger flared up, and he raised his hand and pushed her hard.

Xie Xiaolan stumbled two steps, her body tilted and she fell to the ground, her eyes rolling back, and she fainted on the spot. Immediately after, a pool of blood seeped out from under her, bright red and stinging to the eyes.

Xu Damao was dumbfounded, his legs went soft and he knelt down, his voice cracking: "Xiaolan! Xiaolan! What's wrong with you?"