Chapter 19

After Zhao Zhiqiang finished talking about paying back the money and also mentioned the incident with Zhao Guangming, the village chief, Hua Xuemei was not very surprised, apart from feeling grateful and pitying Su Fengrong.

"Zhao Guangming was bound to have a problem sooner or later. I didn’t expect it to happen at this critical moment. It’s likely that the people from the two streets reported him," Hua Xuemei said after some thought.

Zhao Zhiqiang was taken aback.

He didn’t expect his mother to be so concerned about these big village affairs, and she seemed completely unsurprised.

Looking at his thin, yellow-faced mother, she wasn’t like this three years ago.

He couldn’t help but think of his grandfather, whom he had never met since birth.

A fire rose in his heart, and it took a long time to suppress it.

This breath of anger, he had to fight for it!

"Mom, I met Wu Bing and the others last night. We discussed it, and I decided to represent Guomugou Group in the election for the village chief of Chang’an Village. Our old Zhao family can’t keep living like this. I may not be very educated, but I believe I can do a good job as the village chief," Zhao Zhiqiang said, explaining his thoughts bit by bit.

For a long time, Hua Xuemei stared at her son’s handsome face and said, "Mom supports you."

Zhao Zhiqiang, who had expected no support, was somewhat surprised by his mother’s words.

"Mom supports you, also to fight for a breath of fresh air... These years, I haven’t competed with anyone. I thought living a simple and peaceful life, staying with your father for life, would be fine. But I didn’t expect that my illness would drag all three of you down. Sigh, the other day, you earned so much money for Mr. Chen, and yesterday, Wu Bing and the others came over and left some money. I think you’ve really grown up! You’re no longer the mischievous boys who climbed trees and walls to catch bird eggs and fought recklessly. The army has really trained you, and you’ve become more mature. Seeing you want to be the chief, your heart has grown bigger. Good. Mom supports you!"

"Brother, I support you too..."

Zhao Zhigang chuckled and handed over the two thousand yuan that Wu Bing and the others had left to Zhao Zhiqiang.

"Keep the money. Remember, this is a favor..." Zhao Zhiqiang patted his brother’s head and smiled.

"Okay, they treated us well, so we should treat them ten times better. Brother, your face looks much better today. Are you feeling better? You should still get a check-up," Zhao Zhigang said seriously, putting the money away.

"No need. I’ve already said that my condition is from my time in the army, it’s psychological, not physical. I just need to take some blood-nourishing supplements," Zhao Zhiqiang said, trying to hide his true feelings.

Hua Xuemei didn’t quite believe him. "Why don’t you ask Xiaorou to take you for a check-up?"

"Xiaorou?" Zhao Zhiqiang looked at his mother in confusion.

At that moment, the nurse brought in the schedule for the compatibility test.

"Perfect, we’ll get you checked too," Hua Xuemei thought that the routine tests during the compatibility check would cover everything, so she dropped the previous topic.

In the afternoon, the results of the compatibility test came back, and both brothers were suitable for the kidney transplant surgery for their mother.

The two brothers were overjoyed, but when they were told that only one was needed, they immediately argued in the doctor’s office.

"Doctor, use mine!" Zhao Zhigang’s stubborn face was raised high. "Brother, your body is so weak. If you lose a kidney, you might end up paralyzed!"

"Zhigang, why are you arguing? Listen to me, use mine. You still have to go to university; the Zhao family is counting on you!" Zhao Zhiqiang was rarely challenged by his brother, and seeing his stubbornness, he felt his authority was being challenged!

"No, your body is so weak. I’m healthier, I’ll be fine. You can’t do it," Zhao Zhigang, not backing down, stared back at his brother with big eyes!

Zhao Zhiqiang’s anger flared. "Dad’s not here, I’m in charge!"

He rushed to Director Jin’s desk. "Director, use mine, not his. He’s not an adult yet, he’s still growing!"

Zhao Zhigang, who was afraid of this argument, retorted, "Who said that? The age of adulthood is now sixteen, I’m grown up!"

"Zhigang!"

"Brother, use mine! I can’t let your body suffer any more—sniff, sniff..." Zhao Zhigang was also in a hurry, and when he got upset, he used his ultimate weapon against his brother’s "bullying"!

Crying...

"You’re so stubborn! I’ll beat you—"

"You can’t beat me, Doctor, use mine, sniff, sniff..." Zhao Zhigang’s tears flowed freely!

Zhao Zhiqiang shook his head in frustration. "You, you! You’re still crying at this age! You were always like this when you were little. What can I say to you!"

Director Jin shook his head and sighed. "Alright, boys, this is still early. Even if we decide to do the transplant, it won’t be until after the New Year. You should discuss it further and go see your mother. She’s crying in the ward, sigh."

Lin Xueqian, who was also in the department, had been following the situation. The two boys were really filial, both wanting to donate a kidney for their mother... Sigh, he shook his head and was about to leave when he remembered the old man’s words.

"Zhao Zhiqiang, Old Lin asked me to tell you that when you have time, go to the high-ranking officials’ building, room 001. He has prepared the prescription for your mother and has some things to discuss with you in person. Go when you have time."

Zhao Zhiqiang, hearing that his mother was crying, quickly left the doctor’s office with his brother and turned to Lin, the deputy director, with a forced smile. "Okay, thank you, Director Lin."

"No problem, no problem, go ahead." Lin Xueqian nodded politely.

Watching the two brothers run out, Jin shook his head. "These two boys are really filial."

"Yes..." Lin Xueqian nodded, shaking his head at the two boys.

Back in the high-end ward, Hua Xuemei, with tears on her face, shook her head and shouted, "Even if we’re a match, I won’t take your kidneys! Wah..."

She burst into tears, her emotions a mix of sorrow and joy. She was sad about their difficult life, but happy about the strong bond between her two sons. For her, the hardships of her life were like tears, and she couldn’t hold them back any longer. The filial piety of her two sons made her feel that even if she died now, it would be worth it.

Her two sons hadn’t married or had children yet, and as a mother, she couldn’t take their kidneys even if she died!

"No! Mom can’t use your kidneys!"

Zhao Zhiqiang was firm. "No, we’ll wait for Dad to come back and decide. The transplant is a must."

Zhao Zhiqiang’s heart raced with excitement, and tears streamed down his face. Although he had experienced a lot in the past three years, he understood what his mother was thinking. It was all for him and his brother, for the family...

His excitement made it hard to control his emotions.

In an instant, his eyes were filled with tears.

"Ah... Sister Zhao, you have two good sons," a familiar voice came from outside the door.