Chapter 7: Director Fan

However, unforeseen circumstances can arise. No one could have anticipated that Fan Yimin, a man only in his mid-forties, who was in the prime of his career as an official, would suddenly suffer a stroke. After emergency treatment, Fan Yimin's life was saved, but he was left with the affliction of hemiplegia, unable to take care of himself. How could he possibly continue to oversee the work of the Planning Bureau?

Lin Yuanfang said with a smile: "Brother Wang, don't be unaware of your blessings; how virtuous your sister-in-law is, even when visiting, she doesn't forget to knit you a sweater"

After staying at home for one night, Lin Yuanfang was to return to the city the next day. Since he had promised to take care of the matters assigned by Zhu Yuejin, he needed to make the most of his time to get them done.

"Oh, those from afar are truly thoughtful people," Zhang Xiaojun said somewhat exaggeratedly. "No wonder Director Fan valued you so highly back then"

A thunderous voice came from upstairs: "Wang Hulin, don't run if you have the guts, let's finish this round together"

Director Fan, Lin Yuanfang came out holding a fruit platter, "My forehead has long been engraved with the three characters Fan Yimin. Even if I don't come, can others treat me well?"

After chatting for a while, Wang Hulin finally said, "Didn’t you go home yesterday? Why are you rushing back today? Is there something going on?"

Soon, the county committee issued an appointment, promoting Deputy Director Wang Tianfang, who had a strained relationship with Fan Yimin, to the head of the Planning Bureau, while Fan Yimin was assigned a non-leadership position as a director-level staff member. Originally, under normal circumstances, it was possible for Fan Yimin to be promoted to a deputy county-level position, or even to attain a full county-level position before retirement. However, a stroke transformed Fan Yimin into a mere director-level staff member. Everyone knows that what once seemed to be a brilliant political career for Fan Yimin came to an abrupt halt at the director-level position. Originally, under normal circumstances, it was possible for Fan Yimin to be promoted to a deputy county-level position, or even to attain a full county-level position before retirement. However, a stroke transformed Fan Yimin into a mere director-level staff member. Everyone knows that what once seemed to be a brilliant political career for Fan Yimin came to an abrupt halt at the director-level position.

"Look at this lazy daughter-in-law!" Wang Hulin shook his head and sighed, reaching for the thermos to pour himself a cup of water. He said to Lin Yuanfang, "Brother Yuanfang, in the future, when looking for a wife, you must find someone diligent. Never choose someone like Zhang Fang."

... ...

Lin Yuanfang arrived at the inpatient department and found Director Fan's hospital room. Director Fan was half-reclining against the headboard, wearing reading glasses, and reading a newspaper, with a cane placed beside him

"I can't be bothered with you!" Zhang Fang shot a glance at Wang Hulin, reached for the half-knitted sweater, and turned to Lin Yuanfang with a smile, saying, "Xiao Lin, you two take your time chatting. I'm just going to visit someone across the street." She laughed and went out.

I apologize, I have guests, you foul chess box! Wang Hulin has already entered, shouted something upstairs, then closed the door and laughed triumphantly.

Lin Yuanfang turned his head to take a look and saw Zhang Xiaojun from the same department, then nodded and said: "Yes, I am back"

Lin Yuanfang said openly: "Go see Director Fan"

Whenever he thought of Director Fan, Lin Yuanfang couldn't help but feel a wave of melancholy. How could such a fine person end up like this? He shook his head, trying hard to avoid overthinking.

Fan Yimin laughed heartily, his eyes filled with desolation, "Let those little bastards regret it then!"

As he was speaking, Fan Yimin's partner entered from outside. Lin Yuanfang quickly stood up: "Aunt Ding."

"Someone from afar has arrived?" Aunt Ding's face lit up with surprise as she turned to Fan Yimin and said, "See, I told you from the beginning that this child from afar is a thoughtful person."

Fan Yimin, wearing reading glasses, was half-reclining against the headboard while reading the newspaper. Upon seeing Lin Yuanfang enter, he put down the newspaper and struggled to get up. Lin Yuanfang quickly pressed his hand down on Fan Yimin, saying, "Please rest, your health is the priority." He reached for the cup on the bedside table, poured out half a cup of water, and filled a new cup with hot water from the thermos for Fan Yimin. Then he bent down to open the basket of apples and the books, took out several apples, placed them in a fruit bowl, and went to the bathroom to wash them.

Uncle Quan and Aunt Quan are both reasonable people. Although they are reluctant to part with their son, they do not say much when Lin Yuanfang mentions that he has matters to attend to back home. They simply pack two baskets of apples from their orchard for Lin Yuanfang and tie them to the back seat of his bicycle

"Guest? Can someone from afar still be considered a guest? Aren't we like brothers?" Wang Hulin walked over and sat down beside Lin Yuanfang, handed him a cigarette, and shouted to Zhang Fang, "Wife, could you make me a cup of tea too? I'm dying of thirst!"

Zhang Fang pinched Wang Hulin's thigh and reproached, "You really are a show-off! Can't you see there are guests here?"

Lin Yuanfang and Wang Hulin had a very close relationship, and he did not stand on ceremony with Wang Hulin, directly conveying the matter entrusted by Director Zhu.

"You rascal! When I was on stage, I never took a single apple from you, yet now that I have stepped down, I find myself eating your apple," Fan Yimin sighed as he looked at the apple in his hand

"Director Fan, weren't you not short of people to deliver apples back then?" As soon as the words left Lin Yuanfang's mouth, he suddenly realized that this statement was somewhat inappropriate, but it was already too late...

Zhang Fang poured a cup of tea for Lin Yuanfang and said, "Shall I find Hulin? He is playing chess at the neighbor's house; I will go call him over"

After chatting for a while with Fan Yimin and Aunt Ding, Lin Yuanfang took two thermoses to the hot water room to fill them up before taking his leave. As he was about to leave, Aunt Ding accompanied Lin Yuanfang out of the ward and quietly said in the corridor: "Yuanfang, in the future, when you have time, come and talk to Old Fan more often..." As she spoke, her eyes turned red.

Lin Yuanfang hurried back to the planning bureau dormitory, returned a basket of apples to the dormitory, and then pushed another basket of apples on his bicycle to the home of Wang Hulin, the deputy section chief of the construction planning department.

Is there any need for you to say this? Fan Yimin lowered his head and bit into the apple, which indeed was fragrant and sweet, far surpassing the taste of the Red Fuji variety

Director Fan," Lin Yuanfang called out, then walked into the ward and placed the basket of apples next to the bedside table

Indeed, indeed! Fan Yimin's eyes were filled with self-mockery: "Back then, everyone was eager to send me, Fan Yimin, gifts. Now, apart from you, who else can remember me, Fan Yimin?"

Aunt Ding, rest assured, I will do it, I will.

Lin Yuanfang smiled and said, "Brother Wang, I only agreed to this because of our good relationship. Otherwise, how would I dare to take on this matter"

Fan Yimin was initially the head of the Planning Bureau. In 1992, when Lin Yuanfang graduated from university, it was Fan Yimin who personally facilitated Lin Yuanfang's entry into the Planning Bureau. At the bureau, Fan Yimin placed great importance on Lin Yuanfang, intending to cultivate him as a key talent. Lin Yuanfang proved himself capable; shortly after joining the Planning Technology Division, he became a technical backbone of the department, adeptly solving many technical problems that others could not. People praised Fan Yimin for his keen insight, saying he had brought back a gem for the Planning Bureau. Although Fan Yimin did not say much, it was evident to everyone that if Lin Yuanfang continued to develop for another two years, Fan Yimin would surely entrust him with significant responsibilities.

"These are homegrown and not worth much." Lin Yuanfang changed into slippers as he entered the living room, placing the bamboo basket in the corner. He smiled and said, "Although these apples may not look as good as those sold in the market, their taste is quite excellent, unlike those superficial ones outside."

Zhang Xiaojun's gaze fell on the apple basket in the back seat of Lin Yuanfang's car, and he said: "What is this..."

Wang Hulin chuckled upon hearing this, patting his thigh and saying, "Brother, I thought it was a big deal regarding the - diagram - book, but it turns out to be this? You could have just mentioned it to me casually when you come to work tomorrow, no need to come all the way here. This matter is difficult for others, but is it really a matter for us? Am I not in charge of this area in our department? Given our relationship, isn't it?"

"Why are you saying all this? I know you were good to me back then, and that is enough. " Lin Yuanfang cut the peeled apple into small pieces, then skewered them with toothpicks and handed them to Fan Yimin, saying: "Here, these are apples grown at home. Although they are small, they taste better than Fuji apples!"

Upon knocking on the door, it was Zhang Fang, the partner of Section Chief Wang, who opened it. Seeing Lin Yuanfang carrying something, she smiled and said, "Oh, Xiao Lin, why are you being so polite? Just come in; there's no need to bring anything."

Leaving the hospital, Lin Yuanfang felt quite unsettled. In this world, how many people can truly predict the course of events?

He pulled up a chair and sat down beside Fan Yimin, took out a fruit knife, and while peeling an apple for Fan Yimin, casually said: "After all, I make a living with my skills. Although I am not well-liked, others cannot do anything to me. After all, some things still rely on me to fill the gaps, don’t they?"

Then we must agree in advance, no take-backs!" Lin Yuanfang also smiled as he sat down at the table

Behind him, Zhang Xiaojun curled his lips and muttered, "Hypocritical!"

When Fan Yimin was first hospitalized due to a stroke, visitors came in a steady stream, as if the entire planning bureau had come to work at the People's Hospital, nearly overwhelming the ward. Once it became known that Fan Yimin was destined to be paralyzed on one side, the flow of visitors suddenly decreased by half. When the county committee's personnel decision was announced, the ward became even more desolate, with no one seen throughout the day. This immense psychological contrast was far beyond what an ordinary person could bear. Even though Fan Yimin was inherently optimistic, it took him a long time to resolve this mental knot.

Upon reaching the ground floor, Lin Yuanfang pushed his bicycle out of the hallway and secured the apple basket with a rope. At that moment, a voice came from behind: "Yuanfang, are you back from home?"

Fan Yimin sighed, "Alas, it is I who have implicated you. If only I had not..."

Before long, Wang Hulin followed Zhang Fang down from upstairs. Before they even entered the door, a voice came in: "Yuanfang, quickly accompany me for a couple of games. That old Li is such a lousy player, he doesn't get anything done!"

Director Fan, why think about these things? Lin Yuanfang smiled and said: Taking care of your health is the most important matter. You are only forty-six this year; once you recover, the county committee will surely reinstate you. By then, those people will be eager to pay their respects at your door.

"Xiaolin, why are you not obedient?" Fan Yimin coughed twice and complained towards the direction of the bathroom, saying, "Did I not say that you should come here less often in the future? It is not good for you"

After finishing lunch at Wang Hulin's house, Lin Yuanfang returned to the dormitory to rest for a while. When he woke up, it was already 4 PM. Lin Yuanfang got up, washed his face, and took another basket of apples as he left the dormitory. He was going to the hospital to visit Director Fan.

"You little brat, don't get too cocky; just wait and see how you beg for mercy!" Wang Hulin set up the chess pieces and, without any hesitation, moved the red cannon to the center, saying: "Cannon moves from 2 to 5!"

Wang Hulin waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Just have them come directly to the department to find me later." He stood up and pulled out a chessboard from under the table, saying, "Come on, let's have a good match or two. By noon, let your sister-in-law prepare a few dishes for us, and we can enjoy a couple of drinks together!"

Lin Yuanfang smiled faintly and said, "Is that so?" Without saying more, he mounted his bicycle and left