newbobooks Chapter 249: Foolish and Rich
Chapter 249: Foolish and Rich
"Nana, to be honest, this place isn't right for you. Really."
Zhou Yuan thought to himself, "Nana is still young and too naive. Once war breaks out, who knows what will happen to this country, and who knows what will happen to its people?"
Pan Na looked at Zhou Yuan, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Brother Zhou, maybe this is just a drill?"
Zhou Yuan gave a wry smile. Pan Na's parents were originally scheduled to fly back to China the day after tomorrow, but they suddenly became anxious to return. They must have heard something, otherwise they wouldn't have cared about staying an extra day. The situation was probably not good.
"Nana, I swear to you, I will come find you. Believe me, we will definitely meet again."
Panna didn't speak, she just stared blankly at her feet.
"Girl, let me pack your things. Your mother will come to pick you up around seven o'clock tonight." After saying that, Uncle Pan shook his head and left Pan Na's room.
“Brother Zhou, you have to keep your word,” Pan Na said, her voice choked with emotion.
"Nana, please believe me."
Pan Na looked up at Zhou Yuan and nodded.
Zhou Yuan got up, walked to the table, took out two tissues, and handed them to Pan Na, who wiped away her tears.
At this moment, Uncle Pan came in, carrying a red four-wheeled suitcase, and placed it on the table.
"Girl, everything's packed up."
"Okay, Dad. Brother Zhou, I want to rest for a while."
"Okay, Nana. Uncle Pan, I'm going back now." After Zhou Yuan finished speaking, he left the room with Uncle Pan, who then closed the door.
When Uncle Pan escorted Zhou Yuan to the courtyard gate, he took Zhou Yuan's hand and said, "Little Zhou, I believe in you. This girl is still young. You know the situation here is complicated. You must persuade her to go back to China."
"Uncle Pan, I know. I just told Nana too. Don't worry, none of us want her to get hurt."
"Ah."
Under the scorching sun, Zhou Yuan slowly walked home. The gate to the courtyard was ajar, and his mother wasn't home. Feeling somewhat tired, Zhou Yuan lay down on the bed and read for a while before falling asleep without realizing it.
Zhou Yuan was awakened by a commotion in the courtyard, not knowing how long he had slept.
Zhou Yuan rushed out. There were many people in the courtyard, including four soldiers carrying guns and several others wearing armbands. Zhou Yuan knew that those wearing armbands were members of the community committee. His mother was arguing with a middle-aged man.
When the middle-aged man saw Zhou Yuan come out, he quickly went up to him and said, "Hello, Little Zhou."
"Uncle, who are you?"
"Oh, I am the head of the armed forces department of the community committee in this district. You are an educated person, you will understand once you take a look at this."
After speaking, the minister handed Zhou Yuan a piece of paper. Zhou Yuan took it and saw that it was a war mobilization order stamped with a big red seal. Zhou Yuan quickly glanced through it. The theme was to defend the country's territorial sovereignty and national dignity. All healthy men aged 18 to 30 were required to participate in the war to defend the country. The grassroots armed organizations would conduct propaganda and centrally send out soldiers.
Zhou Yuan's mother staggered over and looked at Zhou Yuan.
"Mom, don't worry. The country needs us now; only with a country can there be a home," Zhou Yuan said calmly.
The minister hadn't expected Zhou Yuan to be so understanding and righteous. "Young Zhou, you truly are a cultured person, so sensible."
"Minister, my mother has probably already told you that I'm currently working at the National Astronomical Observatories, and I hope the organization can..."
"Xiao Zhou, don't worry, the organization has already taken this into consideration. Our superiors will contact the National Astronomical Observatories to transfer your personnel file to your unit."
"Oh, that's good. May I ask when we're leaving?"
"A car will come to pick you up at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. It's not far from the exit of your alley. I'll be there too."
"Okay," Zhou Yuan thought to himself, "that's fast enough."
"Sister Zhou, Little Zhou, then we won't bother you any longer. Little Zhou, remember to call us at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Minister, I understand. Don't worry."
Zhou Yuan suddenly remembered something. "Minister, please wait." The minister turned around and looked at Zhou Yuan with a puzzled expression. "Minister, I'd like to ask about Uncle Pan's daughter, her name is Pan Na. What will you do with her?"
"Oh, that girl, she doesn't belong here. We'll repatriate her, but she's flying back to the Western Kingdom tomorrow morning, which is fine."
"Oh, thank you, Minister."
"Xiao Zhou, you're too kind."
As the minister and his entourage left the courtyard, Zhou Yuan's mother grabbed his hand, saying, "Son, what are we going to do?"
"Mom, what's meant to happen will happen." Zhou Yuan's mother looked at him in surprise when she heard him say this, as if she didn't recognize him.
"Mom, don't worry, I'm lucky to be alive." Zhou Yuan took his mother's hand and led her into the main room.
Zhou Yuan's mother said softly, "Son, why don't you go to your uncle's house in the countryside..."
"Mom, please don't do that. This is happening all over the country, including in the countryside. Mom, deserting means you'll be shot."
When Zhou Yuan's mother heard that he was to be executed, she fell silent, tears streaming down her face.
Zhou Yuan wiped away his mother's tears. "Mom, don't be like this. I've studied for so many years, it's time for me to serve my country. Didn't General Chu tell me yesterday, 'We need you very much'? You should remember that, right?"
Zhou Yuan's mother nodded, "That's fine then, the country needs me now."
"But..."
"Mom, I know you're worried. I'll be fine."
Zhou Yuan felt a little heavy-hearted and quickly said, "Mom, I need to go to the supermarket to buy some things."
"what?"
"I promised to visit Xiaomei's parents this Sunday, but it seems I won't be able to go. I bought some things and went to Friendship Hospital to give them to Xiaomei so she can take them home."
“Okay.” Zhou Yuan’s mother noticed that Zhou Yuan’s behavior was very similar to his father’s.
Zhou Yuan suddenly remembered something. He ran into his room, dragged out several wooden boxes from under the bed, opened them one by one, looked at the papers, and flipped through the notes. Zhou Yuan carefully selected some papers, put them in a bag, and then looked at the papers tucked in the books on the bedside table. He memorized Xiao Mei's work phone number and home phone number.
"Mom, I'm not coming home for dinner. Don't wait for me."
"Come back soon."
"understood."
Zhou Yuan, carrying the bag, walked to Uncle Pan's door, hesitated for a moment, and then made up his mind to continue.
Zhou Yuan arrived at a payphone at the supermarket entrance, picked up the receiver, checked the time on the phone, and saw that it was about 5:30 pm. He quickly put in a coin and dialed the nurse's office where Xiao Mei was.
"Hello, who are you looking for?" A gentle female voice came from the phone.
"Hello, I'm looking for Ye Xiaomei, thank you."
"Wait a moment, I'll go call her." After saying that, the woman didn't speak, presumably she went to find Xiaomei. About two minutes later, Xiaomei's sweet voice came from the phone, "Hello."
"Xiaomei, it's me."
"Brother Zhou." Xiao Mei seemed very happy to hear Zhou Yuan's voice.
"Xiaomei, I'll come to the hospital to find you in about 40 minutes."
"Brother Zhou, what's wrong?"
"Xiaomei, let's talk when we meet."
"have you had your dinner?"
"not yet."
"Then I'll wait for you in the nurses' office. I get off work at six o'clock, let's have dinner together."
Okay. See you later.
"see you later."
Zhou Yuan thought the call was timely; otherwise, things would have been difficult if Xiao Mei had gone home after get off work.
Zhou Yuan hung up the phone and hurried into the supermarket. He asked the supermarket clerk where to find gifts or supplements for the elderly. Following the clerk's directions, Zhou Yuan went straight to the nutritional supplement section. He picked up two relatively expensive gift boxes and was about to go to the checkout when he suddenly remembered that he should buy something for Xiao Mei. He wandered around again and found the women's decorations section. He spotted a pretty hair clip. Hmm, this hair clip would match Xiao Mei's beautiful hair. Without thinking, Zhou Yuan took the hair clip.
Zhou Yuan grabbed his things and rushed to the cashier. After paying, he hurried to the supermarket entrance and anxiously waited for a taxi. About sixteen minutes later, a taxi finally arrived at the supermarket entrance, but the door didn't open. Zhou Yuan was very anxious. Carrying his things, he walked to the driver's side door and knocked on the window. The driver rolled down the window and asked, "Sir, is this car going?"
Zhou Yuan saw a young and beautiful girl sitting in the passenger seat. The girl was looking down, searching for something. When she heard Zhou Yuan's voice, she looked up and saw him. There was something strange in her eyes.
"Sorry, sir, I forgot to bring any money."
"How can that be? There's no such thing as a free ride!"
"Sir, really, I left the money on the table at home and forgot to take it."
"How much, sir?"
"Four dollars."
"Sir, let me pay for her. I need to get to Friendship Hospital in a hurry."
After saying that, Zhou Yuan took out a five-yuan bill from his pocket and handed it to the master through the window. The master hesitated for a moment, took the money, and gave Zhou Yuan a coin in change.
The girl looked at Zhou Yuan with a surprised expression. "Miss, this young man has already paid your fare. You can get off now."
The girl shifted her body, preparing to get up and get off the bus, but suddenly seemed to remember something and sat back down.
"Miss, what's wrong with you?" The driver was a little annoyed that the girl wouldn't get out of the car. Zhou Yuan also looked at the girl with a puzzled expression.
"Big...Big brother...my home is far from here, and I don't have money to go home."
Zhou Yuan said "Oh," thinking to himself, "That makes sense. Young lady, where do you live?"
"Over at the National Astronomical Observatories."
"The National Astronomical Observatory?" Zhou Yuan felt it was quite a coincidence, but the observatory was in the suburbs of the capital, which was quite far from here.
"Then what are you doing at this supermarket?"
"My grandma likes the boxed dumplings from this supermarket, and I wanted to buy her a few boxes, but..."
"Don't worry, girl." Zhou Yuan was also anxious, thinking that Xiao Mei would be getting off work soon.
"Sir, can you wait for me for ten minutes? I'll give you an extra dollar."
"it is good."
Zhou Yuan carried his things into the taxi and sat in the back seat. He then took out ten yuan and handed it to the girl in the passenger seat, saying, "Here's the money, miss. Go to the supermarket and buy some dumplings. I'll wait for you in the car."
"Brother, I can't accept that."
"It's okay, you go quickly, I still need to go to Friendship Hospital, I have something to do."
The girl hesitated for a moment, then took the money. "Brother, I'll pay you back later."
"Um"
The girl pushed open the car door and ran quickly towards the supermarket.
"Young man, shall we go?" the taxi driver asked, assuming that Zhou Yuan had simply coaxed the girl away.
To everyone's surprise, Zhou Yuan replied, "Master, let's wait for her to come back." The driver thought to himself that this handsome young man was a complete fool, rich but naive. Little did the taxi driver know that Zhou Yuan's money came from years of tutoring during summer and winter vacations. When Zhou Yuan offered the money to his mother, she refused, saying that it was money he had earned himself and that he could spend it however he wanted.
A short while later, only five or six minutes later, the girl came out of the supermarket carrying a plastic bag. She was overjoyed to see the taxi still on the roadside.
The girl quickly approached the taxi, but this time she didn't go to the front passenger seat. Instead, she opened the back door. Zhou Yuan was startled and had to move over to make room for her on the right. The girl smiled at Zhou Yuan and then sat down on the right side of the back seat.
"Master, brother, thank you both so much."
"Miss, you should thank this young man instead."
"Thank you, brother. I'll pay you back later."
"Okay. Driver, please hurry, we need to get to Friendship Hospital."
"Alright." The driver started the car, and with a whoosh, it accelerated and drove away.
The girl glanced at Zhou Yuan sideways. "Brother, may I ask your name?"
"Zhou Yuan".
Do you live near the supermarket?
"Hmm." Zhou Yuan simply looked out the window. "Master, what time is it?"
It's 6:20.
"How much longer until we arrive?"
"About twenty minutes."
Zhou Yuan remained silent for a while. If that were the case, he would be about half an hour late for the time he had agreed to meet Xiao Mei.
"Master, could you go faster?"
"Young man, that's fast enough."
Zhou Yuan fell silent again. He was just worried that if Xiao Mei saw that he hadn't gone, she might get angry and go home first.
The girl had been observing Zhou Yuan. Seeing his furrowed brows, she said, "Big brother, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for taking up your precious time."
"Girl, it's alright, don't worry about it."
Time seemed to pass slowly, and Zhou Yuan prayed in his heart that Xiao Mei would wait for him.