Zhaohong Sanatorium was a high-end facility under Zhaohong Group. Nestled against the mountains with beautiful scenery and an elegant environment, it offered premium facilities, personalized services, and professional medical care. Despite the exorbitant costs, its over 100 apartment-style rooms remained in high demand.
On the sanatorium’s side stood a sealed, independent building.
Early in the morning, the director had received word and waited in front of the building with an assistant.
Soon, a green military vehicle slowly drove in and parked before the structure.
The guard in the driver’s seat promptly got out and opened the rear door.
An elderly man of tall stature emerged, appearing to be in his eighties with graying hair yet still vigorous. A fierce scar slashed diagonally across his resolute face, adding to his imposing presence. Dressed in a crisp military uniform, the three gleaming stars on his epaulets and the heavy medals on his chest shone brilliantly under the sunlight.
The director immediately stepped forward respectfully. “Sir.”
The old man gave a slight nod and said calmly, “Same as before. I’m just here to look around. Don’t mind me.”
The director hurriedly assented, “Yes, sir.”
The old man glanced back at the guard following him. “I’ll be back shortly. Wait here.”
“Yes, sir,” the guard replied.
Alone, the old man entered the building with familiar ease.
Nurses stationed in the lobby stood up upon seeing him.
The old man nodded slightly to them without a word, proceeding directly up to the second floor and entering the only room on the right.
Inside the room, two hospital beds stood side by side. Lying on them were two frail, skeletal elderly patients, covered in age spots and appearing to be over a hundred years old. Their bodies were connected to numerous tubes of varying sizes, surrounded by expensive medical equipment that beeped steadily—still tenaciously, or forced to tenaciously, clinging to life.
Hearing the sound of someone entering, both elderly patients immediately opened their cloudy eyes.
Recognizing the old man, identical looks of terror dawned in their eyes.
They wanted to speak, but tracheal tubes in their throats rendered them silent. They could only gaze at him with pleading eyes, hoping he would grant them a quick release from this torment.
The old man paid them no mind, walking directly to a chair by the window and sitting down. Expressionless, he gazed at the beautiful scenery outside and slowly said, “Time flies. Another year is about to pass. Zhaozhao’s anniversary is approaching again.”
Hearing that name, the two elderly patients on the beds wept fearfully, their heartbeats growing frantic.
The old man turned to look at them. “Why be afraid? I won’t kill you the way you killed Zhaozhao. After all, you gave birth to me and raised me. I will ensure you live on, always…”
The two elderly patients trembled even more violently.
A faint smile touched the old man’s lips.
He stood up and said, “I’m relieved to see you’re still living well. I’ll return at this time next year. I hope you continue to live on.”
With that, he left directly.
Left behind in their beds, the two elderly patients, immobilized, could only weep silently.
The nurse came to change their IV drips. Meeting the pleading gazes of the two elderly patients, her hand trembled in fright, nearly missing the vein. She quickly lowered her head to avoid their eyes, finished her task, and left.
Returning to the nurse’s station in the lobby, she happened to see the elderly man departing. Unable to hold back her curiosity, she quietly asked the head nurse who had worked there for many years: “Their bodily functions have deteriorated to such an extent, yet they insist on keeping them barely alive. Isn’t that just prolonging their suffering? Even if it’s about filial piety, this isn’t the way to do it. Did they incur some great enmity?”
The head nurse gave her a meaningful look: “What do you think?”
The nurse felt a sudden chill: “So there really is deep hatred?”
“Back when this gentleman was trapped over there, his wife and two children were tormented to death. The only surviving son was left with a crippled leg. I heard his wife breathed her last just before he could return. Tell me, if it were you, wouldn’t you hold a grudge?” the head nurse asked.
Watching the elderly figure, the nurse couldn’t help but sigh: “No wonder he’s known as the formidable man who single-handedly turned the tide on the entire battlefield back in the day.”
Outside the building, Gao Yang arrived by car. Spotting the elderly man, he called out: “Grandfather.”
“Mm,” the old man nodded slightly. “Let’s go back.”
With that, the two got into the car and drove off together.
Meanwhile, Xing Zhaozhao was splurging with her newly earned money.
First, the thermal underwear she had her eye on earlier.
“One set for adults, three sets for children. Do you have any for infants?”
“We have them all. Check the sizes yourself. That’ll be 160.”
“Wait, did you miscalculate? Isn’t it 60 for the adult set and 30 for each children’s set? Shouldn’t it be 150?”
“Yes, the adult set is 60, but the three children’s sets are 100. Altogether 160, that’s correct.”
“…Count them one by one, or I might have to teach you a lesson.”
“…Alright, alright, 150 it is. I know better than to mess with you, okay?”
Next was a major supermarket haul.
Rice, flour, and cooking oil were all on the list.
Plus various fruits.
The steaming buns smelled delicious—she bought several.
She needed to get some formula for Xiao Hongling.
This baby bottle was pretty—she took one.
Milk was on major promotion—she grabbed two cartons.
She also bought some candies and snacks that children like.
When she pushed two fully loaded shopping carts to the checkout, the cashier was stunned and asked, “Are you alone? With this much stuff, can you manage to carry it all?”
“No problem, I’m strong,” Xing Zhaozhao said. She then gathered all the bagged items scattered on the floor, bundled them up, stuffed them into her hands, lifted them, and walked off.
The cashier watched her figure gradually receding into the distance, carrying the massive load, and was too astonished to regain her composure for a while.
Keep in mind, aside from the miscellaneous items, she was carrying two 50-pound bags of rice, a large bucket of oil, and two cartons of milk—all lifted and carried away just like that…
As Xing Zhaozhao emerged from the supermarket laden with numerous bags, she attracted astonished glances all along the way.
“Wow, this young lady is impressive, carrying so much all by herself.”
Several elderly men who seemed to live nearby and were playing chess by the roadside flower beds saw her and couldn’t help expressing their amazement.
Xing Zhaozhao turned her head and glanced inside, immediately spotting a familiar face—the elderly man she had encountered earlier at the supermarket who told her she could earn money at the construction site of Zhaohong Hotel. She promptly stopped and greeted him, “Oh, hello, sir! Fancy meeting you again.”