Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

Section 1: Heartwarming Moments at the Bedside

Inside the surgical ward of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the smell of disinfectant mingled with the faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms drifting in from outside. He Daqing leaned against the rocking hospital bed, his gunshot wound on his back, now surgically treated, was wrapped in thick bandages. His face was still pale from blood loss, but his eyes, so similar to Sha Zhu's, had regained their sparkle.

Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows on the pristine white sheets. The ward was quiet, save for the occasional beeping of the monitoring equipment. Sha Zhu sat on a small stool beside the bed, carefully peeling an apple with practiced ease, the peel remaining intact in a long, continuous strip. Yu Li sat on the other side, tucking He Daqing in. He Yushui and her parents stood at the foot of the bed, their faces filled with concern.

"Dad, the doctor said you're recovering well. The bullet was removed smoothly and didn't hit any vital organs." Sha Zhu cut a peeled apple into small pieces, placed them on a small plate, and handed them to his father. "You just lost a lot of blood, so you need to replenish it properly. I'll make you some angelica and black chicken soup tomorrow."

He Daqing took the plate, his fingers trembling slightly. Looking at his son's face, now angular and angular, devoid of childishness, he suddenly realized that this "foolish son" he had once both loved and hated had grown into a strong and capable man. The stubborn boy who had only shouted "Don't come back!" when he left home was now capable of standing on his own, the factory's canteen manager, and had even married such a virtuous wife.

"Zhu Zi..." He Daqing's throat tightened, his voice hoarse, "This time, thanks to you and Yu Shui..."

"Dad, why are you saying this!" Sha Zhu interrupted hastily, his eyes reddening. "If you hadn't blocked that, I'd be lying here soaked in the rain! I..." His voice choked, and he couldn't continue.

He Yushui, tears streaming down her face, rushed to her father's bedside: "Dad! You scared me to death! What would my brother and I do if anything happened to you!"

He Daqing gently stroked his daughter's hair with the hand that wasn't on the IV drip, just like he did when she was a child. This daughter, whom he had once cruelly abandoned, had now grown into a young woman, and one could still vaguely see her mother's shadow in her features.

"Silly girl, Dad's alright." He Daqing forced a smile, but it aggravated his wound, causing him to gasp in pain.

Yu Li quickly stepped forward to support him: "Dad, don't move around, the wound will reopen." Her natural way of calling him "Dad" startled He Daqing, and then tears welled up in his eyes.

"Oh, okay, okay..." He Daqing nodded repeatedly, his voice choked with emotion. He looked at Mr. and Mrs. Yu standing at the foot of the bed, struggling to sit up straight, "Father-in-law, I'm truly sorry this time, turning such a nice wedding into this..."

Yu's father quickly stepped forward and pressed him down: "Old He, what are you saying! Those enemy agents are ruthless and insane, how can you blame them? Blame those imperialist lackeys who can't stand to see our country prosper!"

"Yes," Yu's mother chimed in, "It's a blessing for our family that Lily can marry such a good boy as Zhuzi. The wedding is just a formality; what's important is that the two children truly love each other and live a good life together."

Looking at the understanding in-laws, and then at his son and daughter-in-law, He Daqing felt a long-lost warmth welling up in his heart. He suddenly realized how many such tender moments he had missed during his years of wandering.

"Zhu Zi," He Daqing took a deep breath and said with a determined look, "Dad wants to discuss something with you..."

Section 2: The Knot Finally Untied, Deep Father-Son Bond Remains

The ward fell silent, and everyone looked at He Daqing. The sunlight slanted across his face, outlining his profile, which bore a striking resemblance to Sha Zhu's.

"Dad, please speak." Sha Zhu put down the fruit knife in his hand and sat up straight.

He Daqing's gaze lingered on his son's face for a moment before turning to the window. There stood an osmanthus tree, its blossoms in full bloom, their fragrance wafting in on the breeze.

"Back then... I left you siblings to go to Baoding..." He Daqing's voice was low, as if it came from a great distance, "I'm sorry for what I did to you."

Sha Zhu was startled, not expecting his father to bring this up suddenly. Years of pent-up grievances and anger surged up, but when he saw his father's pale face and bandaged body, and recalled the scene of his father shielding Yu Shui from bullets, most of his resentment suddenly dissipated.

"Dad, things from the past..."

"Let me finish," He Daqing raised his hand to stop him, tears glistening in his eyes, "I was confused back then. Besides being afraid of being reported for cooking for the Japanese and implicating you and your brother, I was also bewitched by the White Widow. I thought she was still young and could give me a son..."

Upon hearing this, He Yushui's tears fell again. Yu Li quickly put her arm around her shoulder.

"But I was wrong," He Daqing's voice trembled, "My greatest blessing in this life is having you and Yushui, these two children. Zhuzi, you don't know, during those years in Baoding, I dreamed of your mother every night... dreamed that she scolded me for abandoning you..."

Sha Zhu's eyes reddened. He thought of his mother, that gentle and virtuous woman who had passed away so young. If his mother were still alive, how happy this family would be.

"When I came back this time, I saw how successful you've become, the cafeteria manager, and married such a wonderful wife," He Daqing wiped his face, "and Yushui has grown up too, she'll be going to university soon... I... I'm so ashamed to face you all..."

"Dad!" Sha Zhu couldn't hold back any longer and grabbed his father's hand. "Don't say anymore! You saved Yu Shui, which saved both my and Yu Shui's lives! If it weren't for you taking that bullet..." His voice choked, and he couldn't continue.

He Daqing grasped his son's hand in return. Both father and son had equally rough and strong hands, calluses from years of tossing ladles and wielding knives.

"Zhu Zi, Dad wants... Dad wants to come back." He Daqing finally spoke his heart, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible, "I don't know if you'd still be willing to acknowledge me as your father..."

Sha Zhu's tears finally fell. He remembered his father teaching him to cut potato shreds when he was a child, teaching him how to season them; he remembered the proud expression on his father's face when his father first let him cook on his own; he remembered the hardship his father endured raising him and his siblings alone after his mother passed away... All that resentment turned into heartache at this moment.

"Dad, what are you saying!" Sha Zhu choked out. "You're my dad, always will be! My home and Yu Shui's home are your home!"

He Yushui rushed to her father's bedside, crying, "Dad, please come back! My brother and I miss you so much!"

Yu Li and her parents watched, their eyes welling up with tears. Yu Li said softly, "Dad, Zhu Zi and I just got married, and we really need guidance from an elder like you. It's so good to have you back; it's wonderful to have our family reunited."

Tears streamed down He Daqing's face as he nodded repeatedly, "Good, good, Dad's back, Dad'll never leave again..."

A warm atmosphere filled the ward, and even the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms outside the window seemed stronger. Years of unresolved issues were finally resolved at this moment.

Section 3: The Deep Affection of Passing Down the Gold Ring

After calming down, He Daqing gestured for He Yushui to bring him his backpack. It was a faded canvas bag with worn edges, clearly indicating it had been used for many years.

He Yushui took a backpack from under the bed and handed it to her father. He Daqing's hands trembled as he opened a hidden pocket in the lining and pulled out a small cloth bag. The bag was yellowed, but it had been carefully preserved.

"Lily, come here." He Daqing beckoned to Yu Li.

Yu Li walked to the bedside with some doubt. He Daqing carefully opened the cloth bag, revealing a gold ring. The ring had an antique style, but was well-preserved, and gleamed warmly in the sunlight.

"This is..." Yu Li's eyes widened in surprise.

"This is the ring I got when I married Zhuzi's mother," He Daqing's voice was soft, as if she had returned to many years ago. "When she passed away, she told me to keep it and give it to Zhuzi's wife when he got married."

Sha Zhu and He Yushui were both startled; the image of their mother suddenly became clear in their memories. The woman who always smiled gently and would stay up all night to watch over them when they were sick.

"Mom..." He Yushui murmured softly, tears falling again.

Sha Zhu's Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes welled up with tears. He remembered his mother's dying words, holding his hand and asking him to take care of his younger sister, but she hadn't mentioned his father at all...

"Lily, this ring isn't worth much, but it's a token of Zhu Zi's mother's affection." He Daqing handed the ring to Yu Li. "Now, I'm giving it to you. I hope you and Zhu Zi will be happier than I was with his mother..."

Yu Li accepted the ring with both hands and solemnly placed it on her ring finger. The ring was the perfect size, as if it were ordained by fate.

"Dad, don't worry," Yu Li said, her voice choked with emotion but firm, "I will definitely live a good life with Zhu Zi, be filial to you, and take care of Yu Shui."

Sha Zhu looked at the ring on his wife's hand, then suddenly knelt down on one knee and hugged his father's shoulders tightly: "Dad, thank you... thank you for leaving Mom's ring for Lily..."

He Daqing patted his son's back, tears streaming down his face. At that moment, he felt as if he had unloaded a burden he had carried for many years, and his whole body felt relaxed.

"Oh, right, Dad," Sha Zhu said, wiping away his tears, as if remembering something, "If you come back, don't worry about your job. The Hongxing factory has expanded to several branch factories, and they're all short of cooks. I have a good relationship with Director Li; arranging a canteen supervisor position for you won't be a problem."

He Daqing's eyes lit up: "Really? An old man like me can still be a director?"

"Of course!" Sha Zhu puffed out his chest proudly. "Do you think I don't know your skills? Back in the steel mill, you were the number one chef!"

Father Yu laughed and said, "Old He, if you come back, we'll be in-laws! Come visit often, and we brothers can have a couple of drinks!"

The atmosphere in the ward immediately became lively. He Daqing seemed to have become ten years younger, and asked with great interest about the changes that Hongxing Factory had undergone over the years. Sha Zhu vividly described the new technologies developed under the leadership of Wang Huanbo, and how the factory had developed from a small steel rolling mill into the large enterprise it is today, which made He Daqing exclaim in amazement.

"This Engineer Wang is truly amazing!" He Daqing exclaimed. "I knew he was extraordinary back then, but I never imagined he was this incredible!"

"Of course," Sha Zhu said proudly, "Engineer Wang is now a national treasure; those enemy agents are after him. But don't worry, with me here, no one can harm him!"

As they were talking, the ward door was gently pushed open. Everyone turned around and saw Li Huaide standing in the doorway, carrying a thermos in his hand.

"Oh, it's so lively here?" Li Huaide walked in with a smile. "Old He, how are you feeling? I brought you some chicken soup, drink it while it's hot."

He Daqing was flattered and quickly tried to stand up: "Director Li! How could I possibly accept such an honor..."

"Lie still!" Li Huaide pressed him down. "You're a hero. You sheltered many workers to the backyard and even took bullets for them in the rain. It's only right that I, representing the factory, come to visit you."

He glanced around, his gaze lingering for a moment on the ring on Yu Li's hand. He seemed to understand something, and his smile deepened: "Looks like I've arrived just in time for your family reunion."

Sha Zhu quickly offered Li Huaide his seat and introduced Yu's parents. Li Huaide greeted them warmly and inquired about He Daqing's injuries, saying that the factory would cover all medical expenses.

"Old He," Li Huaide patted He Daqing on the shoulder, "once you've recovered, would you be interested in coming back to work at the factory? The newly opened electronics factory in the south is short of a canteen manager."

He Daqing looked at his son with surprise. Sha Zhu winked at him, clearly having already discussed it with Li Huaide.

"Director Li, I... I'm certainly willing!" He Daqing said excitedly, "It's just that I'm in Baoding..."

"The White Widow, right?" Li Huaide smiled knowingly. "That's easy. The factory can arrange a dormitory manager job for her. If she's willing to come back with you, she won't have any problems making a living."

He Daqing was so grateful that he didn't know what to say. He never expected that he, who had "abandoned his family," would receive such acceptance and respect.

"Director Li, I can't thank you enough..." He Daqing's voice choked with emotion.

"Hey, don't say that," Li Huaide waved his hand, "You've raised a good son. Zhu Zi is now a key member of the factory, and he has a good relationship with Engineer Wang. What's a little thing like this?"

He then turned to Sha Zhu: "By the way, Zhu Zi, Engineer Wang asked me to tell you that once Lou Xiao'e's condition stabilizes, he wants to personally come to thank your family. Especially your father, who saved Yu Shui and sheltered the old lady (the deaf old lady) back in the backyard. He will remember this kindness."

Sha Zhu waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Engineer Wang, you're too kind. It's all what I should do."

After chatting for a while longer, Li Huaide got up to take his leave. Before leaving, he glanced at the ring on Li's hand a few more times, and said thoughtfully, "This ring... looks familiar."

He Daqing explained, "This was left by Zhuzi's mother; she was beaten when they got married."

Li Huaide nodded, saying nothing more, but his eyes were somewhat deep. After he left, the warm family atmosphere returned to the ward.

He Daqing leaned against the headboard, looking at his son, daughter, daughter-in-law and in-laws surrounding him, and suddenly felt that this injury might be an opportunity given to him by God, an opportunity to make up for his mistakes and regain family affection.

The fragrance of osmanthus blossoms outside the window grew stronger, as if celebrating the family reunion. Years of estrangement finally melted away on this day. The road ahead is long, but at least they are no longer strangers despite being family; they are truly blood-related relatives.