117: Chapter 117 Elder Ye's Health Problems

"What 'golden girl' or not? I am just me."

Secretary General Cao Yun laughed heartily.

"Well said. Ye Xueying is Ye Xueying, it has nothing to do with her dad."

He made another chess move and looked up at Wang Yang.

"Little Yang, go back and spend time with your parents during the New Year. If anything comes up, call me anytime."

Wang Yang nodded.

"Thank you, Uncle Cao."

He glanced at the chessboard and made a move. The two of them played a few more turns, and Auntie Cao's voice came from the kitchen.

"Dinner is ready! Come over and eat!"

Secretary General Cao Yun stood up and patted Wang Yang on the shoulder.

"Let's go, eat. Try your Auntie Cao's cooking."

Wang Yang stood up and followed him to the dining table.

As he passed by Ye Xueying, she had her head lowered, her face flushed, and her fingers were clutching the hem of her clothes.

He smiled, said nothing, walked over, and sat down.

Outside the window, the sky had already darkened, and the city lights were lit, a dazzling sight.

Auntie Cao came out of the kitchen with the last soup, her apron still on.

Fine beads of sweat were on her forehead, but she had a smile on her face.

The soup was pork rib and lotus root soup. As the lid of the clay pot was lifted, steam rose, and the fragrance instantly filled the entire dining room.

The pork ribs were stewed until tender, the lotus root was soft and starchy, and the soup was milky white, sprinkled with a handful of chopped green onions.

It was bright green and looked appetizing.

The table was already full of dishes.

The braised fish lay on the plate, with a few cuts on its body, the sauce seeping in, shiny, and sprinkled with shredded red chili and cilantro.

The steamed pork ribs were arranged neatly, the fragrance of garlic and fermented black beans mixed together, making one drool just smelling it.

The garlic broccoli was bright green and refreshing, and the tomato egg soup was red and yellow.

There was also a plate of boiled shrimp, the shells bright red, curled up together.

Secretary General Cao Yun sat at the head of the table and waved at Wang Yang.

"Little Yang, come, sit next to me."

Wang Yang smiled and walked over to sit down.

Cao Yao and Ye Xueying sat opposite, and Auntie Cao sat next to Cao Yao, untying her apron and draping it over the back of the chair.

Secretary General Cao Yun picked up a piece of pork rib and put it in Wang Yang's bowl.

"Try your Auntie Cao's cooking. Her pork ribs are unparalleled."

Wang Yang took a bite; the ribs were soft and tender.

The flavor of garlic and fermented black beans seeped into the meat, savory and delicious, and the bones were flavorful too.

He nodded.

"Delicious. Auntie Cao, this cooking is much better than restaurants outside."

Auntie Cao smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothing out.

"If it's good, eat more. Look how thin you are; living alone outside, you must not be eating well."

Wang Yang smiled and agreed.

Cao Yao sat opposite.

She picked up a shrimp with her chopsticks, dipped it in vinegar, put it in her mouth, and chewed twice.

She looked at Wang Yang with bright eyes.

"Brother Wang, what do you usually eat?"

Wang Yang thought for a moment.

"Mostly takeout."

Cao Yao wrinkled her nose.

"Takeout is so unhealthy. My mom says the oil in takeout is bad, and eating too much is bad for your health."

Auntie Cao nodded beside her.

"Yao Yao is right. Come eat at our house whenever you have time; it's just adding an extra pair of chopsticks."

Wang Yang felt a warmth in his heart.

"Thank you, Auntie Cao."

Ye Xueying sat opposite, head lowered, poking at her bowl with her chopsticks, hardly picking up any food.

She picked up a piece of fish, put it in her mouth, chewed twice, then put down her chopsticks and picked up her glass to take a sip of water.

Secretary General Cao Yun glanced at her, said nothing, and put a piece of pork rib in her bowl.

"Xueying, eat more. You've lost a lot of weight recently."

Ye Xueying murmured, put the rib in her mouth.

She chewed twice, swallowed, and picked up her glass to drink water again.

Cao Yao tilted her head to look at her.

"Sister Xueying, are you not feeling well?"

Ye Xueying shook her head.

"I'm fine. Just have no appetite."

Secretary General Cao Yun put down his chopsticks and looked at her.

"Xueying, how is the Elder recently?"

Ye Xueying's hand paused, her chopsticks hanging in mid-air.

She was silent for a few seconds, put down her chopsticks, and her voice lowered.

"Not very good."

The dining room fell silent for a moment.

Auntie Cao put down her chopsticks and looked at Ye Xueying.

Cao Yao also stopped chewing, blinking as she looked at her.

Ye Xueying's voice was very soft.

"My dad used all the connections he could, found the best Western doctors in the country, and also found several old traditional Chinese medicine doctors, but none of them could do anything."

"The doctors say my grandfather's body is too weak. He was injured on the battlefield in his early years, which left behind chronic ailments. Now that he's old, all his organs are deteriorating..."

She didn't finish, her eyes reddened.

"They said my grandfather might not last much longer."

Secretary General Cao Yun's brows furrowed, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

Wang Yang watched him; his expression wasn't good, the corners of his mouth turned down, as if he were thinking about something.

Wang Yang understood.

Ye Xueying's grandfather was Ye Hongyuan's father.

Ye Hongyuan could become mayor not only because of his own ability but also because of the Elder's protection.

As long as the Elder was there, Ye Hongyuan's foundation was secure.

If the Elder fell, Ye Hongyuan would lose a pillar of support in official circles.

Secretary General Cao Yun was on Ye Hongyuan's side; if something happened to the Elder, it wouldn't be good for anyone.

Wang Yang's heart suddenly stirred.

longevity pill.

The longevity pill rewarded by the system, three of them, each could extend life by ten years.

He had been saving them, originally planning to give them to his parents and grandparents.

But now... his grandparents' health might indeed not be great.

But his parents' health was still quite robust.

Three longevity pills, he could take one out.

He could just farm more from the system later.

Wang Yang glanced at Ye Xueying.

She was sitting opposite, head lowered, eyes reddened, fingers clutching the hem of her clothes until her knuckles turned white.

The milky white sweater made her face look even paler; her lips were pursed, lower lip bitten white.

Wang Yang spoke up.

"Uncle Cao, what exactly is Elder Ye's illness?"

Secretary General Cao Yun sighed.

"The Elder is over eighty this year. He was injured on the battlefield in his early years; the shrapnel was removed, but it damaged his vitality. His health has been poor all these years, and it's gotten worse in the last two; he gets breathless just walking a few steps."

"He had a fall a while ago, was hospitalized for half a month, and has been bedridden ever since he came out. The doctors say it's natural organ failure, and there's no good solution."

Wang Yang nodded, not speaking.

Secretary General Cao Yun looked at him.

"Little Yang, why do you ask?"

Wang Yang picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and looked at Secretary General Cao Yun.

"Uncle Cao, I might have a way."

The dining room fell silent for a moment.

Cao Yao stopped her chopsticks, mouth open, looking at Wang Yang, then at Secretary General Cao Yun.

Auntie Cao also looked up, her chopsticks hanging in mid-air.

Ye Xueying suddenly looked up, eyes red, staring at Wang Yang.

Secretary General Cao Yun looked at him, not speaking.

Wang Yang's voice was very calm.

"I know someone whose ancestors passed down some prescriptions that are very effective for conditioning the body. An elder I know was also in poor health, used his prescription, and is much better now."

He didn't mention the longevity pill.

Such things couldn't be said in front of so many people.

Ye Xueying looked at him, lips trembling.

"Really?"

Wang Yang looked at her.

"I can't guarantee it will definitely work. But we can try."

Ye Xueying's tears fell.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back.