CHAPTER 296: CHAPTER 296: STOP MOVING AROUND

The next day, Song Yuan Yao took the Song Family elders to the nearby mall, where they also watched a popular movie and insisted on personally selecting two sets of clothes for them.

At first, after watching the movie and mentioning buying clothes, Father Song and Mrs. Song refused, as they were frugal and simple country folk unaccustomed to spending money lavishly. However, Song Yuan Yao persisted and mentioned it was a kind gesture from her son’s wife, Xiuxiu. Remembering all the items Xiuxiu had sent to the family back home, the elders eventually relented. Nevertheless, they insisted on choosing clothes that were inexpensive and durable, unlike those that Xiuxiu usually picked out for them, emphasizing both quality and style.

Xiuxiu had a lot on her plate, having taken time in the morning to discuss with Ye Hua the introduction of facilities for Soup City amusement park. She wanted to ensure that the park’s construction would continue, as, despite the initial build progress, post-disaster circumstances could lead to a change of site for the park. After confirming that work would soon resume, Xiuxiu felt a weight lifted off her shoulders.

She even managed to find time at noon to bring Song Yuanhuan a nutritious bone broth. Since she needed to find opportunities to add the pink fruit from the space into the broth, Xiuxiu had to prepare it personally. It was also a chance to check on Song Yuanhuan’s recovery and hastily inform him about the sudden arrival and upcoming quick return of the Song Family elders to Song Family Village.

"Then get them soft sleeper train tickets, don’t buy hard seat ones!" The train from the city to the county took seven or eight hours, and Song Yuanhuan worried about the elders’ comfort, hence he wanted Xiuxiu to arrange it as comfortably as possible.

"I bought soft sleeper tickets," Xiuxiu responded. Even without Song Yuanhuan’s reminder, she was aware of the situation. Given the elders’ advanced age and limited energy, and since she had the means, she didn’t want to subject them to discomfort just to save a bit of money on train tickets.

"Finish your soup," Xiuxiu urged as she sat beside Song Yuanhuan during his lunch. Seeing him dutifully finishing his meal but leaving the bone broth untouched, she began clearing the tableware and pressed him to drink up.

Truthfully, Song Yuanhuan did not like bone broth at all; he was someone who disliked brothy food. Besides, with his right leg injured and movement inconvenient—he endured a lot of hassle even for a trip to the bathroom—he tried to avoid drinking liquids to lessen the trouble, only begrudgingly sipping when he was really thirsty. Yet, Xiuxiu insisted on making him drink the broth.

"I’m too full, let me wait a bit," Song Yuanhuan said, lying through his teeth, really because he was tired and wary of the bone broth.

"Drink it while it’s warm," Xiuxiu persisted.

She needed to tend to Soup City soon and had to ensure Song Yuanhuan finished the bone broth before she left. She had already been made aware of his subtle resistance to drinking it, just like Song Chengguang’s past behavior of being picky and refusing vegetables. The father and son shared the same stubborn nature, and Xiuxiu was well aware of it.

"Xiuxiu, I really can’t drink any more," Song Yuanhuan pleaded as he gently rubbed his belly, attempting to look pitiful with his stern face trying hard to act cute.

Truly shameless!

"Song Yuanhuan, this bone broth is good for you. Stop resisting; do you want to end up a cripple with mobility issues?" Xiuxiu somewhat irritably lectured him.

"Okay, I’ll drink," Song Yuanhuan immediately surrendered, raising his hands, and then started drinking the pork bone soup. But unlike usual when he would finish it in one go, today he slammed on the brakes after only half: "Xiuxiu, I really can’t drink any more." Song Yuanhuan’s dark face even flushed a bit, though not obvious, it was still perceptible, with a somewhat eerie redness.

"Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?" Xu Xiuxiu asked in confusion as she reached out to touch Song Yuanhuan’s forehead, only to feel it somewhat hot. That’s strange, can drinking soup lead to a fever?

"No, no problem," Song Yuanhuan forced out a reluctant and embarrassed explanation.

But the more he acted like this, the more puzzled Xu Xiuxiu became. She stared at him for a while: "What is really going on with you?" her voice raising with a hint of threat and impatience. This man, ever since he got injured, had been full of annoying habits, probably aware of it and thus showing some resistant emotions.

...

There was a brief silence in the ward.

"I need to use the restroom," Song Yuanhuan finally spoke up, then eagerly threw off the quilt and got out of bed. It looked like he had been holding it for a while, and considering Xu Xiuxiu had just forced him to drink a large portion of the soup, it wasn’t hard to imagine how much Song Yuanhuan was struggling to hold it in.

So he needs to go to the bathroom?

Xu Xiuxiu couldn’t help but find it a bit funny, but she didn’t say anything because she saw Song Yuanhuan’s agitated and rough movements: "Don’t move around; what if you hurt your injured right leg? Let me help you," Xu Xiuxiu stopped Song Yuanhuan who was persisting in hopping on one foot and watched as he, without a word and disregarding the IV in the back of his hand, rudely pulled out the needle, making her catch her breath.

"Song Yuanhuan, are you crazy? Why take off the IV for going to the toilet?" Xu Xiuxiu’s voice took on a few sharper pitches, clearly agitated by Song Yuanhuan’s restless mood.

Song Yuanhuan stiffened, as if just remembering Xu Xiuxiu was there, and his reaction would undoubtedly make Xu Xiuxiu furious: "Having the IV in is inconvenient..." Song Yuanhuan tried to explain, paying no attention to the fact that the needle site had started to bleed.

"You really are..." Xu Xiuxiu wanted to curse but held back, grabbing a cotton swab to press on the back of his hand, then carefully assisted him towards the restroom in the ward.

Song Yuanhuan’s injury this time was a glorious one and not like the secret missions he often executed privately, so the military provided him with a decent ward thanks to his rank. After all, he was a lieutenant colonel, and the ward, boasting a free single room with a small private bathroom, was considered quite luxurious by the standards of the 1980s.

With Xu Xiuxiu’s assistance, Song Yuanhuan began to move towards the restroom: "Be careful, go slowly," Xu Xiuxiu couldn’t help but remind him.

Song Yuanhuan sighed in resignation. Lying on the hospital bed, he might have been able to bear the physiological urge for a bit, but as soon as he jumped out of bed, he suddenly felt the embarrassing sense that he was going to wet himself. That was an extreme physiological urge he just had to endure, and had it not been for a soldier’s strong self-control, Song Yuanhuan might have already wet his pants.

He absolutely, absolutely could not let it out in front of Xu Xiuxiu.