Chapter Fifty-Five: Harvest

Liu Xiping had just rushed back from the High-tech Zone, parking his car in the courtyard of the Municipal Bureau. He had barely stepped out of the vehicle when his phone rang. Glancing down, he was startled to see it was Director Han from the Provincial Department calling—this was a pleasant surprise indeed. Good news travels fast; could it really have reached the Provincial Department so soon?

“Old Liu, get to Ren'ai Hospital within twenty minutes and wait for me there.” Director Han’s words were brief and to the point. He hung up without another word, leaving Liu Xiping standing there, puzzled. If Director Han wanted to inquire about Li Chunyang’s case, he could have come straight to the Municipal Bureau or summoned Liu to the Provincial Department for a report—why insist on meeting at Ren'ai Hospital? Apart from a few police officers on duty and three injured civilians, there was nothing of value there.

But he dared not defy Director Han’s instructions. “Back to Ren'ai Hospital again! Had I known, I wouldn’t have come back at all,” Liu Xiping muttered, somewhat frustrated, as he climbed back into the car. He turned to his driver and said, “Quick, back to Ren'ai Hospital. Step on it, we have to get there in twenty minutes!”

Meanwhile, a Volkswagen Phaeton from the Provincial Department was speeding through the night. Director Han’s driver had never seen his superior sit in the front passenger seat, yet tonight, the back seat was reserved for two women he had never met. Both were strikingly beautiful, especially the older one, who appeared to be in her thirties—a woman of undeniable distinction.

Liu Xiping’s car arrived at Ren'ai Hospital first. He waited anxiously at the entrance of the main hall, and less than ten minutes later, Director Han’s vehicle appeared. Liu hurried forward to open the rear car door. Before he could see who was inside, he greeted them respectfully, “Director Han, I’m so sorry to trouble you at this late hour—”

He broke off, stunned. Seated inside were not Director Han, but two exceedingly beautiful women.

“Xiao Liu.” Director Han emerged from the front passenger seat and asked without preamble, “Was a young man named Zhang Wenhao brought to Ren'ai Hospital? Where is he now? Take us to him immediately!”

“Ah?” Liu Xiping’s mind was spinning. Who exactly was this Zhang Wenhao? Commander Lei from the Military District had already come to visit, and now his own superior, Director Han, had hurried over as well. Could this young man be some kind of royal or noble?

Without time to dwell on it, Liu replied quickly, “Director, I’ve arranged for Zhang Wenhao to be in the intensive care unit. Please, follow me.”

Only then did Director Han turn with great respect to address the elegant woman, “Madam Su, this way please.” The beautiful woman said nothing but entered with Qingwu, following Director Han and Liu Xiping directly to Zhang Wenhao’s room. At the door, Liu Xiping knocked, and upon hearing a voice from within inviting them in, he pushed the door open, stepped back, and said to Director Han, “Director, after you.”

Director Han also stepped aside, turning to the elegant woman with deference, “Madam Su, please.”

The lady, already anxious, hurried inside. She caught sight of her daughter standing by the bed and, seeing her unharmed, finally let go of the fear that had gripped her heart throughout the journey.

“Mom?” Su Ruoran gazed in astonishment at her mother, who had appeared so suddenly. She asked dazedly, “Why are you here?”

Her mother sighed. “After something like this happened, how could I possibly sit still?”

Only now did Zhang Wenhao realize that this elegant stranger was Su Ruoran’s mother.

At that moment, the most surprised person, however, was not Su Ruoran, but Lei Zhanjun, who had been standing quietly by.

Lei Zhanjun was utterly stunned. After a moment, he stepped forward, both astonished and respectful, and asked, “Madam Su, what brings you here?”

“Zhanjun?” Su Ruoran’s mother was equally surprised to see him, but she didn’t pause for questions. “Ruoran is my daughter. I’ve just rushed here from Yanjing.”

Suddenly enlightened, Lei Zhanjun understood. No wonder the name Su Ruoran had seemed so familiar—she was none other than the renowned daughter of the Su family in Yanjing. This was truly beyond his expectations.

Madam Su then approached the bedside, looked at Zhang Wenhao, and gave a slight bow. “You must be Zhang Wenhao? I am Su Ruoran’s mother, Nie Minhui. On behalf of my entire family, I thank you for what happened tonight. Are you all right? Any serious injuries?”

Zhang Wenhao shook his head. “I’m fine, Auntie. There’s no need to be so formal. It was my duty. Besides—” At this, Zhang Wenhao lowered his head with some embarrassment. “If it weren’t for me, Ruoran wouldn’t have been here and none of this would have happened.”

Nie Minhui shook her head. “Tonight you subdued Li Chunyang, a hardened criminal. His kidnapping of Ruoran was no accident, so you need not blame yourself. Fortunately, you were by her side. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

Lei Zhanjun stepped forward, introducing, “Madam Su, these are Zhang Wenhao’s parents.” He introduced Zhang Wenhao’s parents to Nie Minhui, then added, “Brother Zhang was my comrade in the Southwest—he once saved my life.”

Nie Minhui nodded. “I’ve heard Uncle Lei mention Mr. Zhang before.” She shook hands with Zhang Wenhao’s parents and bowed again. “I apologize to both of you. Because of my daughter, your son was put in danger.”

Song Huafang waved her hand. “The children are classmates. This is what Wenhao ought to do.”

Nie Minhui nodded slightly, hesitating for a moment as she considered taking out the check she had prepared on the plane, but she refrained. Instead, she spoke sincerely, “I’ll handle all the follow-up matters, including Zhang Wenhao’s treatment, so you need not worry. As for Li Chunyang and his accomplices, I can also guarantee they won’t have another chance to seek revenge on Zhang Wenhao. Please, don’t feel burdened.”

Then, she turned to Qingwu and said, “Qingwu, go check on Chen Feng and the other two. If their condition is critical, consult the doctors. If the local medical care is inadequate, arrange for them to be transferred to Yanjing immediately or bring in doctors from there.”

Qingwu nodded and left.

A subtle awkwardness and silence settled over the ward.

After a moment, Lei Zhanjun broke the silence. “Brother Zhang, Madam Su, I’ll step out for a smoke.”

After Lei Zhanjun left, Nie Minhui repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Zhang Wenhao and his parents. Although Zhang Wenhao could already tell from Lei Zhanjun’s respect that Nie Minhui was no ordinary person—and her appearance, demeanor, and conversation all marked her as exceptional—she gave no sense of arrogance or aloofness. Su Ruoran, too, had clearly inherited her mother’s qualities. The upbringing and depth revealed by both mother and daughter only made Zhang Wenhao all the more curious about the Su family’s hidden history.

At that moment, Nie Minhui looked at Su Ruoran with helpless affection and asked softly, “Were you scared?”

“No,” Su Ruoran replied quietly, a little embarrassed. For some reason, she didn’t dare look her mother in the eye. In her heart, she feared her mother would be furious about the phone call earlier. Yet, not only had her mother come so quickly, but she had not uttered a word of reproach.

“You frightened me badly,” Nie Minhui sighed deeply. “Thank goodness you and Zhang Wenhao are both safe. Otherwise, how could I ever be at peace?”

“Mom, I’m sorry,” Su Ruoran murmured.

Nie Minhui pulled her into an embrace, gently stroking her hair. She said nothing more, but the love and tenderness in her gesture were unmistakable.

The scene touched the Zhang family deeply. Yet, as a boy, and with a father who was a reserved military man, Zhang Wenhao had never experienced such displays of affection. In most Chinese families, daughters are coddled, while sons are raised with discipline.

As silence settled in the ward, a message from the system suddenly sounded in Zhang Wenhao’s mind:

“You have subdued eight armed criminals with practical combat skills. The system rewards the user with 200 points.”

“User Zhang Wenhao currently has 840 available points, with a cumulative total of 1,440 points.”

Elated by the two hundred points he had just earned, Zhang Wenhao was even more surprised when the system issued another message:

“You have used battlefield first aid to save a life. The system rewards the user with 500 points!”

“User Zhang Wenhao currently has 1,340 available points, with a cumulative total of 1,940 points.”

Zhang Wenhao was stunned. He hadn’t expected that saving Chen Feng’s life would earn him such a generous reward—five hundred points. Clearly, in the system’s eyes, saving lives was highly valued!

He couldn’t help but ask the system, “If Chen Feng doesn’t make it, will my points be deducted?”

The system immediately replied, “The rescued individual has already passed the critical stage. He was as good as dead, but with your first aid, as long as he survives the critical period, the system will count the rescue as successful. If he dies later from complications or malpractice, it won’t affect you. Once points are awarded, they will never be revoked.”

Zhang Wenhao asked again, “So does that mean every time I save someone, I’ll get five hundred points?”

The system replied, “Although your first aid was timely, the skills used were basic and of a lower level, so the reward was relatively modest. If you can use advanced medical skills to save or cure someone whom others cannot, you’ll receive even greater rewards.”

Zhang Wenhao was filled with emotion. First, he’d earned fifty points for preparing a special dinner for Su Ruoran. Then, he’d subdued Li Chunyang and his men for another two hundred points. Saving Chen Feng had earned him five hundred more. In just one night, he’d amassed seven hundred and fifty points—a bountiful harvest!

What thrilled him most was that, with 1,340 points now in hand, he could finally redeem the advanced physical strengthening technique he had long been waiting for.

———

Never did I expect that book friends [Ming・Lucifer] and [Leimien] would each cast five five-star ratings for this novel. Captain is truly moved and grateful for everyone’s support! Special thanks as well to Peng7∑, BXeroXB, and Wan Shi San Kuai San for their rewards! It’s the weekend, I went out for a drink with friends tonight, but tomorrow I promise three guaranteed chapters as thanks for your love for this book!