Chapter 51: Consecutive Visits

"Secretary Zhao, I am Lu Hao's fiancée, Fang Jing. My father is the Deputy Director of the Agriculture Bureau," Fang Jing proactively introduced herself, bringing up Fang Aiguo's name at the same time.

In Fang Jing's view, saying this would undoubtedly save face for Lu Hao, while also letting Zhao Gang know that Lu Hao had a decent prospective father-in-law. Perhaps Zhao Gang would speak up more forcefully for Lu Hao because of this.

Sure enough, Zhao Gang was momentarily stunned. Clearly, he hadn't expected that Lu Hao, given his current status as a low-ranking grassroots civil servant, could manage to secure a bureau director's daughter as a fiancée. At that moment, he patted Lu Hao on the shoulder and said with even greater enthusiasm, "Lu Hao, you're a lucky man! When you two get married, you must invite me to the wedding banquet."

While they were conversing, the ward door was suddenly pushed open.

Lu Hao thought it was a nurse, but when he looked toward the entrance, he froze in surprise.

It turned out to be Fang Aiguo and Jiang Lan!

Fang Jing was astonished for a moment and hurriedly stepped forward with a smile, saying, "Dad, Mom, why... why are you here? Perfect, let me introduce you. This is Secretary Zhao, the Party Secretary of Fangshui Township and Lu Hao's superior. He came to check on Lu Hao."

"Secretary Zhao, this is my father, Fang Aiguo."

Fang Jing made the mutual introductions while giving Fang Aiguo a meaningful look, implying that whatever they needed to discuss could wait until later.

Subconsciously, she assumed Fang Aiguo had come to Lu Hao's ward to force Lu Hao to break up with her and compel her to return home. Naturally, with Zhao Gang present, Fang Jing did not want her father to utter such words.

"Secretary Zhao, hello, hello."

"Director Fang is too polite. Having such an outstanding daughter and future son-in-law makes me green with envy."

The two leaders exchanged polite pleasantries and spoke in official jargon.

Meanwhile, Jiang Lan pulled Fang Jing aside and whispered, "This is chicken soup I just brewed. Make sure Lu Hao drinks plenty of it later. A hundred days are needed to recover from broken bones and injured tendons; he needs proper nourishment."

At this, Fang Jing became somewhat bewildered.

Her parents should have come to force her and Lu Hao to break up, so why on earth did they bring chicken soup for Lu Hao?

When she saw Fang Aiguo chatting amiably with Zhao Gang and praising Lu Hao from time to time, Fang Jing felt even more perplexed.

"It's getting late. I need to get back to work, so I won't disturb your family time." After exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Gang glanced at his watch, gave Deng Song a subtle cue, and left.

Before departing, he expressed his concern for Lu Hao once more, urging him to take good care of his injuries.

At that moment, Fang Aiguo stepped forward, just as he was about to speak to Lu Hao, when the ward door was pushed open yet again.

This time, the people entering were all dressed in white coats. Leading them was the orthopedic surgeon who had performed Lu Hao's surgery, followed by several others. After a round of introductions, it turned out they were the president and vice president of the hospital.

Upon arrival, these individuals also showered Lu Hao with all sorts of concerns and told him not to hesitate to make any requests of the hospital.

Lu Hao expressed his gratitude profusely, yet he felt completely baffled.

Watching this scene, Fang Aiguo and Jiang Lan whispered back and forth, clearly looking extremely satisfied with what was unfolding.

After the medical staff departed, Lu Hao still felt utterly bewildered. Why had so many people suddenly come to visit him?

Fang Jing exchanged a glance with Lu Hao, feeling that something wasn't quite right either, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.

Now that the others had left, Lu Hao quickly greeted them, "Uncle, Auntie, please have a seat and eat some fruit. I have no idea why so many people came today; I haven't even had a moment to properly talk with you both."

"It's fine, Lu Hao. Your aunt and I came this time because..."

Just as Fang Aiguo began speaking, Lu Hao felt a wave of nervousness. He guessed that Fang Aiguo was bound to say he and Fang Jing were unsuited for each other and express a desire for them to break up.

Before Fang Aiguo could finish his sentence, the ward door was pushed open once more, and a middle-aged woman rushed in anxiously, crying out, "Lu Hao, Lu Hao..."

"Mom, I'm fine. It's just a leg injury, you don't need to make such a fuss." Seeing that it was his mother, Su Hong, Lu Hao hurriedly tried to get out of bed.

"Don't move! You've got a fractured leg, and you're still saying you're fine? If I hadn't stumbled upon a video of you being carried out of a fire online, and then seen comments from locals saying you were hospitalized, I, your mother, would still be completely in the dark," Su Hong said with a look of heartache.

She knew Lu Hao hadn't told her immediately simply because he didn't want her to worry, but seeing her son's leg in a cast naturally made her anxious beyond measure.

Lu Hao smiled helplessly and could only let Su Hong fuss over him.

When he had browsed the local short-video app that morning, he had indeed come across the video of himself fighting the fire, and had even seen that the Fangshui Township fire had made the trending searches. Of course, he had also seen various words of praise regarding himself.

However, he hadn't had the time to look closely at the news before a continuous stream of visitors came to see him.

Now that even Su Hong had rushed to the hospital, it meant the incident was receiving a great deal of attention online, which left Lu Hao quite surprised.

"In-law, dear in-law, you've come as well," Su Hong greeted Jiang Lan and Fang Aiguo.

Her personality was generous and straightforward, and every time they met, she was extremely warm toward Fang Aiguo and his wife.

"Yes, Fang Jing has been taking care of Lu Hao for two days now, so we came to check on the young couple as well. After all, they are engaged," Fang Aiguo said with a smile.

As soon as those words left his mouth, not only did Fang Jing freeze, but even Lu Hao found it hard to believe.

Lu Hao had expected Fang Aiguo to declare right in front of Su Hong that he and Fang Jing were incompatible and to bring up breaking up. He had even been mentally preparing how to explain things to Su Hong. Never had he imagined that Fang Aiguo's attitude would do a complete one-eighty, seemingly no longer opposed to his marriage with Fang Jing.

What on earth was going on?

For a moment, Lu Hao was completely at a loss.

Fang Jing also shook her head at him, signaling that she was not the one who had persuaded Fang Aiguo.

Before Lu Hao was given much time to process his confusion, the ward door was pushed open yet again.

Led by the hospital president, a large group of leaders appeared in Lu Hao's ward, followed immediately by reporters and a camera crew from the Anxing County Television Station.

"County Magistrate Zhang, why did you personally come here?"

"Department Head Song, you've come too? Department Head Luo, why are you here as well... Welcome, welcome."

The first to react inside the ward was Fang Aiguo.

He recognized all these people from the county party committee, so he hurriedly stepped forward with a smile to greet them one by one. He then eagerly introduced their identities to Lu Hao, while also making sure to mention that Lu Hao was his prospective son-in-law.

Fang Aiguo was far too fond of showing off in front of leaders, completely forgetting that Lu Hao had previously worked in the county party committee and knew every single one of them.

Not only did he know them, but some of them—such as Song Shanyong, the Head of the Publicity Department—used to frequently invite Lu Hao to smoke and probe him for Liu Yuanda's views on various publicity tasks.

Yet ever since Liu Yuanda's downfall, these people had long since stopped paying Lu Hao any mind.

Some would offer a greeting upon crossing paths just to avoid awkwardness, while others would simply pretend not to see him, not even bothering to acknowledge him.

These leaders probably never dreamed that one day they would rush right back to Lu Hao's bedside to represent the county in offering their official condolences.