The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

It had only been twenty-odd days since Liu Jianming was injured, and he was still limping when he entered the house.

Upon seeing this, Li Kaixin immediately stepped forward to help him up.

"No need, Kaixin, I can walk by myself." Liu Jianming waved his hand, trying to decline.

Li Kaixin, however, did not let go:

"Jianming, you've injured a major artery. If the wound reopens, it'll be a serious matter. Let me help you."

As he spoke, he unconsciously increased the pressure on his hands.

Liu Jianming felt the force coming from his arm and knew he couldn't resist, so he stopped refusing.

Ye Wanning turned her head and saw this scene, and couldn't help but smile:

"I'm so glad you're so resourceful. After your brother Jianming was discharged from the hospital, he refused to let us help him, he was as stubborn as a mule."

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Liu Jianming's eyes at his mother's words.

"Aunt Ye, Brother Jianming just didn't want to trouble you two and felt sorry for you!" Li Kaixin quickly smoothed things over.

But these words, once spoken, were like lighting a powder keg.

Director Liu, who was walking in front, also turned around, looking somewhat annoyed:

"You feel sorry for us? We arranged a stable job for him at the General Administration, but he insisted on going to a local police station."

"Dad, what you're saying is, to put it bluntly, giving special treatment," Liu Jianming retorted, sticking his neck out.

Director Liu raised his voice slightly: "Wasn't I doing that for your own good?"

"I want to make my own way in the world, without relying on my family to pave the way, is that not allowed?" Liu Jianming's tone hardened.

The two of them talked back and forth, their voices gradually rising until they were about to lose control.

"alright!"

Ye Wanning's voice wasn't loud, but it carried undeniable weight: "This is someone else's house, not your own home. You two better behave yourselves."

The father and son then stopped talking, each turning their faces away from the other.

Ye Wanning turned to Li Kaixin with an apologetic look on her face: "Kaixin, I'm really sorry, the father and son forgot about the occasion once they started arguing."

"It's alright, Aunt Ye!" Li Kaixin quickly waved her hand, a knowing smile on her face.

However, he was still somewhat surprised to see Director Liu so out of control.

No one expected that their words would cause such a commotion.

After everyone stopped at the table in the main room, Li Kaixin quickly greeted them, "Uncle Liu, Aunt Ye, Secretary Liu, Brother Jianming, please have a seat."

As he spoke, he pulled out several long benches from the side of the table.

As soon as Director Liu and his entourage sat down, Qin Xiuli, the mother, and Li Mingde, the father, came over from the side door of the kitchen carrying thermos flasks.

Director Liu and the others immediately stood up again.

"Sit down, everyone," Father Li Mingde greeted with a smile.

He saw what was happening outside when Li Kaixin opened the door.

So while her son was still talking at the door, she quickly went to the kitchen to prepare.

Seeing this, Director Liu quickly waved his hand to dissuade them: "Brother Mingde, you and Sister Xiuli don't need to bother. Let's sit down and chat together."

"We didn't have a chance to entertain you when you came last time. This time, we absolutely have to treat you to some tea," said Father Li Mingde as he poured tea into a bowl.

Li Kaixin brought back this tea; there was only one pound of it, which was given to him by Director Xie earlier.

After Li Kaixin's parents poured hot tea into everyone's bowls, everyone sat down again.

After everyone was seated, Director Liu spoke first, a gentle smile on his face:

"Brother Mingde, Sister Xiuli, we've come today to express our gratitude and joy on behalf of Jianming."

"Secondly, it's my father's birthday in a month, and I'd like to invite your family for a casual meal."

"This...isn't this too much trouble for you?" Father Li Mingde looked troubled.

He was thinking that the other party's identity was extraordinary, and it would probably be inappropriate for his family to attend such a family banquet.

"Brother Mingde, it's just an ordinary family dinner."

Director Liu noticed his concerns and became even more earnest:

"To be honest, Jianming is the only son in our family. The old man has been saying he wanted to thank you in person ever since he heard about Jianming."

The father, Li Mingde, seemed a little more relaxed, but he was still undecided and subconsciously looked to his eldest son beside him.

Li Kaixin noticed her father's gaze and nodded slightly.

He thought that both Director Liu and Secretary Liu had helped him a lot, and since they had already said so much, it wouldn't be right to refuse.

Furthermore, being able to associate with such a family is not a bad thing for one's own family.

Seeing that his eldest son agreed, Li Mingde, the father, no longer hesitated: "Brother Liu, since you've said so, then we'll shamelessly bother you this once."

"That's more like it!" Director Liu's smile deepened, and his tone became more relaxed. "It's settled then. We'll have someone come pick you up."

After finishing their business, Father Li Mingde chatted with Director Liu and Secretary Liu about family matters.

Qin Xiuli, the mother, also started talking to Ye Wanning, mostly about the children.

Only Li Kaixin and Liu Jianming sat there, staring at each other.

It's not that I have nothing to say, it's just that with the elders around, I'm a little reserved.

During their casual conversation, Li Kaixin learned that Director Liu's name was Liu Hongyu and Secretary Liu's name was Liu Hongtao.

You could tell that Secretary Liu and Director Liu were both agreeing with his father when they spoke, and they weren't putting on airs at all.

As they spoke, the sky gradually darkened.

Director Liu glanced at his watch, then stood up: "Brother Mingde, it's getting late. Let's talk another day."

"Okay, Brother Hongyu, I'll see you off." Father Li Mingde also stood up with a smile.

Secretary Liu, Liu Jianming, and Ye Wanning also stood up and smiled as they said goodbye to Li Kaixin and her mother, Qin Xiuli.

They escorted Director Liu and his entourage to the gate of the compound.

Li Kaixin thought for a moment, then took out the bottle of wound medicine from his pocket and handed it to Liu Jianming:

"Brother Jianming, this is some wound medicine I prepared. You can try it; it might help with wound healing."

"I'm so happy, I can't accept this." Liu Jianming quickly declined.

Li Kaixin deliberately put on a stern face: "Jianming, you don't trust me anymore?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant!" Liu Jianming hurriedly waved his hand.

Seeing this, Secretary Liu smiled and took the medicine bottle, saying, "Thank you so much, Kaixin. We appreciate your kind gesture."

After attending the meeting at the transportation station last time, he learned about Li Kaixin and knew that he was indeed skilled in medicine; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to save Jianming and that comrade named Du Ziteng at the transportation station.

Just before getting into the jeep, Liu Hongtao turned around again, patted Li Kaixin on the shoulder, and said in a friendly tone:

"Kaixin, since you're calling Lao San Uncle Liu, from now on you can call me Uncle Hongtao!"

"Okay! Uncle Hongtao, please drive carefully and be safe." Li Kaixin didn't stand on ceremony and climbed up the pole.

Finally, after Li Kaixin and his parents watched the jeep disappear from sight, they returned to the courtyard.