Volume One, Chapter 20: Visiting Hu Yong

After finishing lunch, I watched my cousin’s wife washing the dishes and asked, “Sister-in-law! I’m planning to visit Brother Hu at the factory hospital. Would you like to come with me?”

She paused after putting the clean dishes into the cupboard and replied, “Alright! After seeing Hu Yong, I’ll stop by to buy some groceries.”

Hearing her agree, I felt a surge of happiness.

“Sister-in-law, let’s hurry then. We can take a stroll around the factory on the way…”

“Okay!” she answered with a smile, then went back to the bedroom to change. I also went to change my clothes and waited by the door, pushing my bicycle.

She soon came out dressed in a floral dress that accentuated her slender figure, leaving me momentarily distracted.

“Sister-in-law, you look beautiful.”

“You’re so annoying!” She blushed deeply, lowering her head and shyly scolding me.

I looked her over with a teasing grin. Seeing her blush, I joked, “Not only are you beautiful, but your figure is captivating. I wonder how many men would gladly be lost at your feet.”

“Yan Feng! You’re picking up bad habits, like a little rogue.”

She grew more embarrassed under my gaze and gave me a playful slap, reproaching me softly.

I patted the back seat of the bicycle, inviting her to hop on. Smiling, I said, “Sister-in-law, a man who isn’t a bit of a rogue hasn’t fully matured.”

“Let’s go! Stop bantering.”

She sat behind me, giving my back a light tap as she spoke coyly.

Grinning, I pedaled off, with her hands gently resting on my waist. Anyone seeing this might assume we were a couple, and I felt quite pleased about that.

The factory wasn’t far, but the road from the tenth team to the factory was unpaved, making cycling with a passenger quite exhausting.

Yet, with my cousin’s wife behind me, it felt as if I’d been injected with adrenaline—the bicycle wheels seemed to blaze like fire wheels as I sped forward.

After about ten minutes, we arrived at the factory. I glanced back and asked, “Sister-in-law, do you know where the hospital is?”

“Straight ahead, towards Monkey Mountain.”

She pointed to a low hill and continued, “Yan Feng, you can’t visit someone empty-handed. Things are expensive at the hospital, so let’s buy some fruit here first.”

I nodded. After she bought the fruit, we continued down a gentle slope and soon reached the hospital.

The factory hospital was small. After asking around, I quickly found Hu Yong’s room.

“Brother Hu!”

Seeing Hu Yong lying in bed, I entered and greeted him with a smile.

“Yan Feng! What brings you here?”

He looked surprised, clearly not expecting my visit, but warmly greeted me.

“Su Wan’s here too?”

Hu Yong greeted Su Wan, who had come with me, just as warmly.

“Brother Hu, how are you? Are you alright?”

I sat beside his bed and asked.

“The steel ball was removed last night. Aside from some pain, there’s nothing serious. I’ll be discharged in a few days,” he replied with a smile, then looked at me seriously. “Yan Feng, I want to thank you for what you did last night. If you hadn’t risked your life to save me, I wouldn’t be here now.”

“Brother Hu, don’t say that. Anyone would have done the same. If I had been hurt, I’m sure you would have saved me too.”

I quickly waved my hand to dismiss his gratitude.

At that moment, Hu Yong’s wife came in. Seeing me sitting by the bed, she smiled and said gratefully, “Yan Feng! Thank you for saving old Hu last night.”

“Sister-in-law, Hu and I are in the same team. Helping each other is only natural. You don’t need to thank me,” I said, feeling a bit uneasy under her warm gaze.

Noticing my discomfort, my cousin’s wife stood and kindly spoke up for me, “Sister-in-law, Yan Feng is right. He and Team Leader Hu are in the same group. Helping each other is only right.”

“That may be, but in that situation, Yan Feng risking his life to save old Hu—that’s not something just anyone would do.”

Hu Yong’s wife still looked deeply grateful. It was clear from her words and expression that she and Hu Yong shared a deep bond, and her gratitude was sincere.

“Sister-in-law, really, there’s no need to be so formal with me,” I smiled awkwardly.

I was truly at a loss in this situation, having no experience in handling such warm appreciation.

Hu Yong noticed my unease and smiled at his wife, saying, “Yan Feng is shy. Let’s drop the subject. When I’m discharged, you should cook some good meals to properly thank him.”

“Alright! I’ll do whatever you say, head of the household,” she replied with a smile.

She then invited my cousin’s wife and me to sit down. She sat beside us, chatting with me.

“Yan Feng, when Team Leader Han came this morning, I suggested that during my hospital stay, you temporarily take on the role of team leader to arrange work for Team One…”

I was stunned by this unexpected proposal and quickly declined, “Brother Hu, I’m not capable of acting as team leader. You should ask Team Leader Han to assign someone else.”

“Yan Feng, don’t worry. Since I recommended you, I have faith in your abilities. Just do your best and don’t be afraid.”

Hu Yong looked at me with firm conviction.

I privately smiled bitterly. I had no confidence in myself, so I wondered why he believed I could handle the role.

“Yan Feng, since Team Leader Hu said so, you shouldn’t hesitate.”

Just as I was about to refuse again, my cousin’s wife interrupted, urging me to accept.

I was puzzled—why did even she think I could temporarily lead the team?

Meeting her gaze, I thought it over and reluctantly nodded, deciding to ask her later why she wanted me to take on the role.

Seeing my agreement, Hu Yong smiled and nodded, saying, “Yan Feng, everyone has a first time. Don’t worry about doing it poorly. Just work hard and be bold.”

“All right, Brother Hu. I understand.”

With his words firmly spoken, I couldn’t help but nod in response.

After spending half an hour in Hu Yong’s room, my cousin’s wife and I said goodbye. Hu Yong’s wife accompanied us down the stairs before returning.

“Sister-in-law, you know I just arrived at the farm and don’t understand anything yet. Why did you have me accept the temporary team leader position?”

Riding away on my bicycle, I couldn’t help but ask the cousin’s wife sitting behind me.

She tapped my waist and smiled, explaining, “Yan Feng, you’re young and new to work. There’s still much you don’t understand. Hu Yong recommended you as temporary team leader because he wants to train you and eventually have you succeed him.”

“But sister-in-law, how could I be capable of leading a team?”

I wasn’t a fool. After thinking for a moment, I asked the most important question that worried me.

“Are you crazy? Hu Yong knows you just arrived, but he still dared to recommend you. That means everything is arranged behind the scenes. He wants you to take charge, and even if you mess up, he’ll cover for you.”

She tapped my waist again, patiently explaining.

I thought about her words and found them reasonable, but I still asked with some doubt, “Sister-in-law, if Brother Hu plans to have me succeed him, what about him? After what happened last night, does he want to quit or transfer?”

“You don’t know yet. There’s been a rumor that Han Feng will be transferred to the Forest Protection Team as deputy captain, and Hu Yong will become captain of the Second Team. It seems that rumor is true, so he’s preparing you to take over.”

My cousin’s wife explained patiently, then teased, “Yan Feng, I didn’t expect you to have the makings of a leader. When you become an important official, don’t forget your sister-in-law.”

“Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Even if I became your factory director, I’d never forget you.”

Though I knew she was joking, I answered seriously.