Chapter 185: Has Big Brother Taken a Rocket?
In the hospital room, the others were worried, but Ning Qingzhi instead comforted them, extending his right hand to Ning Xiyue.
“It’s nothing. The pain from the facial wound… it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Ning Qingzhi waved his hand, then called back Song Jiayin, who was about to leave the room: “Jiayin, no need to call a doctor. My sister can take care of it.”
“That’s right, she can.” Ning Qingyuan nodded in agreement, adding, “Comrade Ji has already gone to find the doctor. He should be here soon.”
“Alright.” Song Jiayin returned to her seat, picked up two apples, and smiled at the group: “I’ll peel some for you. These apples are from our own orchard. They ripen late, but they’re crisp, sweet, and delicious.”
“Don’t bother. Let them peel it themselves.”
Seeing her hesitation, Ning Qingzhi pulled her closer to sit and said to his two younger siblings: “Let me introduce you. This is Song Jiayin, from Hu City, the star performer of our Military Arts Troupe. She dances ‘The White-Haired Girl’ beautifully and is admired by many. And… she’s my girlfriend. You can call her Sister Jiayin.”
Ning Xiyue’s hand froze mid-pulse, her mind exploding.
What? Did she hear that right? This stunningly beautiful woman was her big brother’s girlfriend? Future sister-in-law?
It wasn’t just her; her second brother was also shocked. The two exchanged a glance, silently confirming their mutual surprise.
Ning Qingzhi laughed, seeing their stunned expressions, and waved his hand: “Snap out of it.”
Then he raised his chin to indicate they should address her.
“Sister Jiayin!”
Ning Xiyue and Ning Qingyuan shouted simultaneously. Both, after their initial shock, stared at their big brother and his girlfriend with wide-eyed curiosity.
Two months ago, big brother was single like them, and now he had a girlfriend — without a hint of warning.
“Hi, nice to meet you.” Song Jiayin stood and replied confidently, a faint blush on her cheeks.
“Alright, keep your eyes in check,” Ning Qingzhi said irritably, glancing at his two younger siblings’ unabashedly eager stares.
“Okay.”
Ning Qingzhi then introduced them to Song Jiayin, who was still blushing: “Jiayin, these are my younger siblings. My second brother, Ning Qingyuan, and my third sister, Ning Xiyue. Both are working as educated youths in the countryside.”
After the introduction, Ning Xiyue offered a more formal greeting: “Hello, Sister Jiayin. I’m Ning Xiyue. You can call me Xiyue, or Yueyue.”
“Hello, Yueyue.” Song Jiayin smiled and nodded.
Seeing her sister greet Jiayin, Ning Qingyuan also stood: “Hello, Sister Jiayin. I’m Ning Qingyuan.”
“Hello, Qingyuan.”
With introductions complete, the atmosphere relaxed. Ning Xiyue made sure to include Song Jiayin in the conversation so she wouldn’t feel awkward.
Of course, most of the discussion still revolved around big brother and Song Jiayin.
The doctor hadn’t arrived yet, so Ning Xiyue didn’t administer medicine to her brother immediately, using the waiting time to learn about other matters.
She ate an apple and asked curiously: “Sister Jiayin, how did you and my big brother meet?”
Song Jiayin’s smile grew even sweeter.
“We met when I performed at their unit. I lost my hair ornament, and your brother picked it up. Over time, we got to know each other, and not long ago we confirmed our relationship.”
“That’s wonderful. You’re really meant to be.”
Ning Xiyue silently chewed her apple, treating it like dog food.
Hearing this, Ning Qingzhi, sitting by the bedside eating his apple, took Song Jiayin’s hand, pride all over his face: “Let me tell you, we’ve already reported our marriage intentions to the organization.”
Song Jiayin smiled shyly at Ning Qingzhi and added: “We’ve decided that once his health is fully recovered, we’ll get married.”
Ning Xiyue, biting her apple, felt utterly floored — completely shattered by this news.
Had her big brother taken a rocket?
He went twenty-one years without a girlfriend, and now, suddenly, he’s moving full speed to marriage.
She was still reeling from the shock.
Her second brother was no better — mouth agape, he even dropped his apple, unable to close his mouth for a long while.
Ning Xiyue recovered first, patted her brother’s shoulder, smiled, and clasped her hands: “Congratulations to big brother and Sister Jiayin. That leaves my second brother and me to look forward to your wedding banquet.”
Ning Qingyuan recovered and echoed: “Congratulations, big brother, congratulations, Sister Jiayin.”
“Thank you.”
Song Jiayin and Ning Qingzhi exchanged a smile, eyes only for each other.
Ning Xiyue, feeling overwhelmed, shook her shoulders and crouched beside her second brother, continuing to eat her apple.
The leave granted by the team leader was perfectly timed — she could witness her big brother’s life event.
She had to quickly make perfect medicine, so her brother could recover faster. Ninety-eight points wasn’t as good as a full score.
After finishing an apple, Ji Yanming arrived with the attending doctor.
Ning Xiyue discussed her brother’s condition with the doctor and carefully removed the gauze from his eyes for inspection.
Her big brother was lucky.
His eyes were not completely blind, but vision was severely impaired. Without proper medicine, he would eventually lose his sight.
Before leaving, the attending doctor gave Ning Xiyue a grim conclusion: “With current medical technology, full recovery of vision is difficult.”
Ning Qingyuan and Song Jiayin’s expressions turned serious as they walked toward the hospital room, no trace of a smile.
“It’s alright, I’m here too,” Ning Xiyue comforted them.
Ning Qingzhi, seeing the tense faces, optimistically said: “It’s okay. My eyes aren’t gone. Surviving this is already fortunate.”
His mood darkened slightly: “You don’t know… one teammate will never return. I’m already lucky to be alive and see you all again.”
Ning Xiyue patted Ning Qingzhi’s shoulder, reassuringly.
“Sister, do you know? I survived because of the three wolf teeth you gave me.”
Ning Qingzhi’s eyes held the relieved smile of someone who had escaped death, looking at Ning Xiyue.
She knew the wolf teeth were meant to protect him at critical moments. The energy liquid from the carp spirit’s essence, made into large meat buns, also improved her big brother’s fortune — saving him when it mattered most.
It seemed everything had worked.
Ning Qingzhi, with a faint smile, calmly recounted the dangerous moment:
“The bullet was aimed at my heart, but the wolf teeth in my chest pocket blocked it, letting me react in time to dodge another attack. My eyes were injured hitting the ground, but the heart only had minor scratches. I survived and simultaneously neutralized the threat.”
“Consider it revenge for our teammates.” Ning Qingzhi exhaled in relief, “So don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
Song Jiayin, tears in her eyes, hugged Ning Qingzhi, quietly crying into his shoulder.
“Big brother.”
Ning Qingyuan, sentimental, held the other side of Ning Qingzhi’s shoulder, relieved.
Ning Qingzhi patted them both, feigning annoyance, yet smiling indulgently: “You’re grown, yet you’re crying like little kids, not even as much as your little sister.”
“That’s because I know big brother will be alright.”
Ning Xiyue poured hot water from the kettle into an enamel cup, handed it over, and pulled out the ninety-eight point Vision Pills and Eye Drops from her bag, placing them in front of Ning Qingzhi:
“Brother, here you go.”
