Chapter 232: Chapter 230: Renting a House and Hospital Admission

Geng Wei didn’t explain further, he got up and left after finishing speaking.

The next day was the basketball finals. Having just been advised by Captain Ling, none of the players dared to slack off and went back to rest.

On the contrary, Ling Chengyan put the matter aside after she returned.

Her reprimand was meant to prevent the players from becoming too complacent and making careless mistakes during the final battle. In reality, the Special Service Company basketball team was indeed superior to their opponents, both in terms of physical fitness and basketball strategies. As long as they didn’t make any major mistakes, they wouldn’t lose the final.

With the match in the afternoon, she didn’t bother with the basketball team’s training in the morning because Ling’s father was going to the provincial city for hospitalization and likely needed a surgery prep. Ling Chengyan had Liu San go ahead to the provincial city to rent a small courtyard near the provincial hospital for convenience.

Ling Chengyan discussed with Wang Liansheng about preparing hospital supplies for Ling’s father, including thermos bottles, lunch boxes, toiletries, and comfortable, convenient velvet clothes and slippers.

As for what was needed in the small courtyard, Ling Chengyan still prepared a diesel stove, some bedding, and for other items, they would purchase them as needed once there. Nowadays, buying things is much easier, not as stressful as it was a few years ago.

The afternoon basketball match was exciting. The Sea Defense Second Team played very tenaciously, fighting for every ball and surprisingly making several impressive attacks that made their score look even better than that of the Reconnaissance Company. The final score difference was only 22 points.

The Special Service Company won, taking the championship of this basketball competition.

The Sea Defense Second Team won the runner-up, but no one underestimated them. Even their own players and team leaders were all smiles, truly honored in defeat.

Off the podium, Ling Chengyan shook hands with Captain Qi of the Sea Defense Second Team: “After the New Year, we’re planning a beach training in the no-man’s land, we’ll need to trouble you then.”

Captain Qi replied kindly with a smile: “You’re too polite, Captain Ling. Just let us know when you’re coming, and I’ll treat you to crabs.”

After the basketball match ended, Ling Chengyan drove a jeep that had been applied for, taking her father and brothers to the provincial city.

They had planned to meet Professor Song on Monday for hospitalization, so they went a night early to let Ling’s father rest, making the morning more relaxed.

The weather warmed up a bit with no rain or snow, and the trip to the provincial city took just over three hours.

Liu San, who arrived earlier, had rented a place, which was not a small courtyard but rather two main rooms with an adjoining side room. The landlord was a grandmother in her sixties with her twelve-year-old grandson; she worked informally at a small printing factory on the street, earning only a few dozen yuan a month. Once the old house was resolved, grandmother and grandson lived in the side room, opting to rent out the main room for some supplementary income.

Ling Chengyan followed Liu San to the courtyard, which was small but tidily swept. There was a pomegranate tree and a grapevine in the yard, indicating a pleasant shaded area in summer.

The landlord lady had a round face, slightly plump, always smiling warmly, embodying kindness and optimism without showing signs of hardship.

However, although her clothes and shoes were clean and neat, they were evidently old, with pants and collar edges patched with similar-colored fabric.

The two rooms, one bright and the other dark, had a small interior bed that could sleep two or three people. The outer area had a single bed and a table and chairs, suitable for dining and receiving guests.

The side room opened outward with a single door, having a low cupboard and a long low table inside, where they placed the diesel stove, medicine pot, and small pot brought by Ling Chengyan, along with some utensils, completing a temporary kitchen.

Though simply furnished, it sufficed as a temporary resting place.

Liu San bought some wood and had already heated the kang bed, making it warm inside upon entering.

Ling’s father lay down on the kang, feeling beneath the mattress with a pleased smile: “This kang is well-made, thorough, even the ends are warm.”

Ling Chengyan laughed: “You like sleeping on the kang? Once you recover, we’ll make one in our house too.”

Saying this, Ling Chengyan looked at her older brothers: “I remember you two are quite handy, there’s no need to hire outsiders for such work, you two can manage it well.”

Liu San ran out to buy some meat, eggs, vegetables, finished cooked foods, and pastries, while Ling Chengyan took some snacks and candies she brought to visit the landlord in the side room.

The landlord’s grandson was skinny but quite tall, sitting awkwardly at a low table studying.

Ling Chengyan knocked on the door, and the landlord lady welcomed her in with a happy smile.

The side rooms weren’t large, with a big and small bed, just enough space for the grandson’s study table.

The old lady invited Ling Chengyan to sit by the bed, while Ling Chengyan placed the snacks and candies she brought on a nearby stool and joked with the lady: “I’ll be bothering you quite a bit in the future.”

The lady poured a cup of hot water for Ling Chengyan and said with a smile: “No need to say such things, you’re always welcome here.”

After some small talk, Ling Chengyan noticed a strong aroma wafting from the opposite side of the house.

Ling Chengyan laughed: “Auntie, is there a restaurant nearby? The smell is quite enticing.”

The lady smiled: “Oh, it’s not from a restaurant. I have some skills, and do some broth and porridge cooking jobs for the hospital.”

Ling Chengyan was delighted: “I didn’t expect your skills to be so good. Just smelling it, one knows it’s marvelous.”

After chatting a bit, Ling Chengyan returned to the main room, where Liu San had already bought meat, vegetables, rice, and noodles. Ling Er was in the side room preparing soft rice porridge for Ling’s father and also started making Chinese medicine…

While busy working, the old lady brought over a bowl of chicken soup, saying she made a lot and shared some with Ling’s father.

The soup was clear and fragrant, with golden chicken oil floating on the surface, clearly made from high-quality old hens.

Ling Chengyan tasted a little with a spoon and proceeded to order a portion of chicken soup and two servings of porridge from the old lady for her father; various congee varieties for morning and evening, with a chicken broth for lunch to replenish his health.

Renting a house and getting a subscription for many days of meals, the old lady was delighted, her face lively with joy.

The next morning, while it was still not fully bright, Ling Chengyan got up, ready to go out to buy breakfast, only to find that the old lady had already made porridge. Seeing her coming out, the lady smiled and greeted: “Today, it’s mung bean lily rice porridge, good for moisturizing lungs and relieving cough.”

Ling Chengyan thanked her with a smile and went out to buy a few fried cakes and steamed buns, pairing them with the porridge from the old lady for a satisfying breakfast.

After breakfast, they went to the hospital for a follow-up consultation with Professor Qi, who was pleased with Ling’s father’s health status and immediately arranged hospitalization.

Once hospitalized, leaving the brothers to accompany Ling’s father through the hospital checkup, Ling Chengyan took Liu San back to pick up supplies.

Unexpectedly, as she reached the parking lot and got into the car, even before starting it, she saw a vehicle driving in. It parked not far from them.

The car door opened and stepped out someone Ling Chengyan recognized—it was Zhang Yuanhong, whom she had met recently.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep