Chapter Thirty-One Injured

  In the evening, Tang Yi was just about to cook instant noodles with an electric stove when Chen Ke came in, wearing a bright yellow sundress that radiated youthful vitality. Tang Yi's small black room seemed to brighten up instantly.

  "Comrade Secretary Tang, Old Comrade Chen has invited you!" Chen Ke smiled and made a welcoming gesture.

  "I'm not going! I still have to write something tonight." Tang Yi made an excuse, Chen Ke pouted in dissatisfaction: "You don't even ask me how my exam went? Tonight is to thank you for helping me with tutoring, if you don't go, then all the dishes I cooked will be wasted!"

  Tang Yidao said: "I really have something to rush."

  Chen Ke plopped down in the chair beside the desk and said, "Then I'll wait for you, let's go after you finish writing."

  Tang Yi had no choice but to sit down at his desk, pick up the draft and pen, thinking of writing something, but was stared at by Chen Ke's big eyes, feeling a bit annoyed, he threw the draft and pen aside and said, "Alright alright, can't I go?"

  The stars twinkled, the bright moon hung in the sky, and a refreshing breeze swept across people's faces. It was a rare cool day in midsummer. Chen Jiahe and the town government were at opposite ends of the street, with people sitting in twos and threes on the roadside, fanning themselves to enjoy the coolness. They all greeted Tang Yi, while Wang Ercheng, a worker from the canned food factory, enthusiastically invited Tang Yi to drink together. Before Tang Yi could respond, Chen Ke stared at him with wide eyes and said, "Uncle Wang, are you trying to steal the show? Secretary Tang eats instant noodles every day, why don't you invite him? You only come to compete with me after I've worked hard to bring him out!"

  Wang Ercheng smiled and said "next time then", but Tang Yi felt a wave of depression, what's the point of using so much effort to pull it out? Is he a donkey or a horse?

  Before long, they arrived at the Chen's house, but saw that the room was dark and gloomy. Chen Keqi said: "Huh? Has Old Comrade Chen gone to sleep?"

  Tang Yi patted her head and said, "Are you kidding me? You're waiting to ask yourself out for dinner but fell asleep first?"

  "It's probably the fuse that burned." Tang Yi said, lifting the bamboo curtain and entering the house. Chen Ke followed him in, shouting loudly: "Dad! Mom! Secretary Tang has arrived!" As Chen Ke spoke, he walked to the door of the east wing, just as he opened it, a black shadow suddenly darted out, and under the moonlight, a shiny sharp knife was thrust towards Chen Ke.

  Tang Yi's mind buzzed, and before he could think twice, he rushed forward, blocking Chen Ke in front of him. He felt a chill in his lower abdomen, followed by an excruciating pain that tore his heart apart. Tang Yi only remembered punching the black shadow in the face with all his might, and then lost consciousness...

  The familiar scent of soda filled his nostrils, and he slowly opened his eyes to a vast expanse of snow white. Tang Yi let out a low groan, and then felt a small hand tightly grasping his own. The scene before him gradually came into focus, revealing a delicate face streaked with tears staring at him. "Aunt... are you okay?" Tang Yi struggled to sit up, but a sharp pain in his lower abdomen left him unable to move.

  Tang Yi's voice was low, and Chen Ke didn't quite catch his greeting. He responded with a sound, but tears streamed down his face. "You... you're finally awake."

  Tang Yi smiled, but felt a wave of dizziness in his head and fell asleep again.

  When Tang Yi woke up again, it was already several days later. Chen Fangyuan thanked him profusely and wanted to kowtow to him. He told him about the whole thing: it turned out that the canned food factory was on fire, and a lazy person from a neighboring village had evil intentions. That night, he sneaked into Chen's house, tied up his wife, and was asking for money and bank account information when Tang Yi and Chen Ke arrived. Although Tang Yi was stabbed with a knife, he also punched the thief until he couldn't get up for half a day. The neighbors rushed over after hearing Chen Ke's loud cry and caught the thief. Tang Yi was sent to the county hospital and only escaped life-threatening danger today. Over the past few days, Liu Dazhong and the town leaders have come several times, and even Xiao Ri hurried over early this morning and stayed for a whole morning before leaving just now.

  Tang Yi couldn't bear others being grateful to him, so he smiled and said to Chen Fangyuan: "Alright, it's all fine now. You've been busy for several days too, go back and rest well. I'm a bit tired here..."

  Chen Fangyuan hastily put Tang Yi's bed flat and covered him with a white sheet before leaving the sickroom.

  Tang Yi fell into a deep sleep, but he didn't know that at the door of his hospital room, Chen Fangyuan and her family were anxiously surrounding the doctor in white to ask about his injuries.

  The doctor frowned and said, “……” After glancing at Chen Ke and her mother, he felt it wasn't convenient to discuss these matters with women, especially since they weren't Tang Yi's direct relatives. So, he pulled Chen Fangyuan aside and said, “He was stabbed, fortunately not too deeply, and should be fine after a few days of rest. However, urination might be a bit difficult for the next few days. You and him talk more, let him not worry.”

  On the other side, Chen Ke's mother sighed and her frown deepened: "Alas, heaven is really unfair to people. Tang Secretary is such a good person, how could this happen? Alas..."

  Chen Ke was greatly alarmed and asked: "Mom? What's wrong? Is anything wrong with Secretary Tang?"

  "Didn't you hear what the doctor said? Secretary Tang's... Alas, looking at how he secretly did it behind our backs, Secretary Tang is probably... probably can't be a man anymore..."

  Chen Ke was startled and at this time couldn't care less about being shy, saying: "No... it can't be..."

  Chen Ke's mother glared at her and said: "You've really learned something useless. This is a place where things are produced, even I know that from reading magazines..."

  "Mom, that... it seems to be testicles..." Chen Ke hadn't finished speaking when her mom slapped her on the back: "You little girl only knows some messy things..."

  At this time, Chen Fangyuan walked back, and Chen Ke's mother asked: "How is Secretary Tang?" Chen Fangyuan frowned and said: "Men's affairs, don't worry blindly!" Sighing, "I'll go talk to Secretary Tang, tell him to relax, this... sigh..." She sighed and entered the ward.

  "Ah, I knew it! Alas, what's going on? Secretary Tang was such a good person..."

  Chen Ke had learned physiology and hygiene in junior high school, but after all, he was still confused and believed it. His heart was racing and he couldn't help asking his mother: "Mom, is this disease curable?"

  It's rare for a daughter to ask herself questions, Chen Ke's mother thought for a long time, shook her head and said: "This disease is the hardest to cure, how can it be so easy?" As she spoke, she sighed again: "Poor Secretary Tang, he doesn't even have a wife, if people knew about his illness, who would still marry him?" As she spoke, she suddenly came to her senses and slapped Chen Ke's back again: "Why do you always ask about this, not like a big girl at all!"