Chapter 367: Chapter 358: Elder Nie is Critically Ill_1
The New Year’s Gala this year didn’t have many new elements. Ever since the first New Year’s Gala, the novelty has gradually decreased over the years. Language-based programs, dance programs, and main melody programs are always necessary.

In the living room, the curtains were drawn, and lights were on everywhere. According to custom, on New Year’s Eve, no lights could be extinguished. It’s all about keeping vigil.

The heating was turned up high. Four people were seated around the sofa. Li Lixue’s stomach has become quite protruded; it’s been almost two months, and a little form can be seen. Nie Zhenbang stood aside, peeling apples for the three women with a fruit knife in his hand.

Perhaps because of her pregnancy, Li Lixue’s energy was somewhat lacking. She went to bed before ten o’clock. Dong Wan, Yang Anna, and Nie Zhenbang stayed up until the end of the gala before they went to bed.

This night was naturally a night of sweet and passionate warmth. They all slept in the same bed until they got up one after the other around ten o’clock the next morning.

Because it was the first day of the New Year. The whole city of Liangxi City was very quiet. When the window was opened, a gust of cold air rushed in. The house had been closed all night and needed to be ventilated. At this moment, Nie Zhenbang was about to prepare breakfast in the kitchen. However, the phone beside the sofa suddenly rang.

This call made Nie Zhenbang pause a moment, then he picked up the phone. As soon as the call was connected, a voice very familiar to Nie Zhenbang sounded from the other end.

Nie Jialei, his elder brother, said in a low voice, “Thirdly, why couldn’t I get through to your phone yesterday? I had a hard time getting your number from the Ning family.”

Hearing Nie Jialei’s words, Nie Zhenbang also laughed and replied: “Big brother, I called home before and told them that I wouldn’t be coming back for New Year’s. To save trouble, I turned off all my cell phones.”

Regarding Nie Zhenbang’s words, Nie Jialei on the other end of the phone didn’t have any formality and continued: “Thirdly, something big has happened in Jingcheng. You should hurry up to Liangxi Airport. Military planes have been on standby since last night. You should come back as soon as possible. Elder Nie is critically ill.”

Upon hearing Nie Jialei’s words, Nie Zhenbang felt his heart twitch. Elder Nie was critically ill. It sounded so urgent. Nie Zhenbang nodded and replied, “Okay, I’ll be back right away.”

To Nie Zhenbang, in his current position, the importance of Elder Nie to the Nie family was very clear. In recent years, he had been preparing for Elder Nie’s declining health. However, when it finally came to this point, Nie Zhenbang found himself as if unprepared for everything.

“Zhenbang, what’s happened? Is there trouble in Jingcheng?” Hearing Nie Zhenbang’s phone conversation, Dong Wan, Yang Anna, and Li Lixue all came out of the bedroom.

Nie Zhenbang stood up and said solemnly, “It was my elder brother’s call. Elder Nie is critically ill.”

With that, Nie Zhenbang looked at the three women and said, “My elder brother has arranged a military plane waiting at Liangxi Airport. I’ll go first. You three should go to Jiangzhou Airport and take a flight there. A military plane is not very suitable for you.”

The difference between a military plane and a commercial plane is significant. The turbulence of a military flight is something a pregnant woman like Li Lixue can’t withstand. To avoid making Li Lixue feel bad about not going back to Jingcheng, it would be best for the three women to travel to Jingcheng via Jiangzhou.

Liangxi Airport is a military airport in Liangxi City. It used to operate some commercial flights in cooperation with the military, but these were later halted. Currently, the Liangxi City Municipal Party Committee and Government planned to reactivate it as a commercial airport. However, the specific work was still underway.

When Nie Zhenbang arrived at Liangxi Airport, as soon as he stepped inside, two military personnel came over and saluted, “Young master, the plane is ready and can take off at any time. Please follow me.”

The plane soared into the sky. After just a few hours of flying, the military transport plane landed slowly at Jingcheng City South Suburb Military Airport.

As soon as he got off the plane, a military, camouflage-colored Mitsubishi off-road vehicle was parked nearby. By the car, Nie Jiamin stood there with a somewhat solemn expression.

As soon as he got in the car, Nie Zhenbang asked, “Jiamin, how is Elder Nie?”

While driving, Nie Jiamin also turned on the siren of the military vehicle. The speed of the vehicle was immediately increased. Looking ahead, Nie Jiamin said, “The situation isn’t good. Elder Nie has been transferred to their hospital. He is in the intensive care unit for senior officials. At home, they have blocked the news. They’re just waiting for you to come back.”

When Nie Zhenbang arrived at the General Military Hospital, deep within the hospital, there was a section that was isolated. A sign was hung outside that read, “Military Senior Cadre Sanatorium of the General Military Hospital.” In reality, this was the place where the high-ranking cadres of the entire armed forces, as well as the party and national leaders were hospitalized.

Various vehicle passes allowed for smooth access to the area. The car was parked by Nie Jiamin next to a bungalow surrounded by a grove of lush trees.

Upon entering, the second generation of the Nie family, Nie Guodong, and his siblings were already gathered there. Eldest aunt Nie Guoping, uncle Deng Xianping, eldest uncle Nie Guodong, aunt Huang Yuerong, youngest aunt Nie Guorong, and uncle Xiao Zhenchang. Father Nie Guowei and mother Ye Shuxian were already standing there. On the side were older brother Nie Jialei and sister-in-law Chen Yuqing. Sitting on a long bench, younger sister Nie Ziyu seemed a bit gloomy.

Seeing Nie Zhenbang come in, Nie Ziyu already stood up and fell into Nie Zhenbang’s arms, sobbing quietly, “Big brother, uncle Deng said grandfather might not be able to hold on.”

At this moment, Nie Guowei came over and looking at Nie Zhenbang, his face appeared a bit serious as he asked in a solemn voice, “Didn’t Anna come with you?”

For a political family like the Nie family, traditional values such as ritual, righteousness, honesty, and filial piety are primary. Yang Anna was already the daughter-in-law of the Nie family. Given the old patriarch’s illness, it was a must for her to be there. At this moment, not seeing Yang Anna, Nie Guowei appeared somewhat displeased. Nie Guowei thought Anna seemed a bit presumptuous.

Nie Zhenbang immediately said, “Anna and Wan are flying back from Jiangzhou, they should be here soon.”

Then, Nie Zhenbang looked at Nie Guodong and asked, “Uncle, do other families in Jingcheng know about grandfather’s condition?”

As the one chosen by the elder to succeed the Nie family, Nie Zhenbang certainly had the right to discuss directly with Nie Guodong. In the second generation of the Nie family, none of them held a central position, not even a Politburo committee member, and that was a joke. Although the Nie family had a spokesperson in the Politburo, that was Zhuang Aiguo, the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. However, whether he could still be relied upon if the old patriarch left, that was hard to say.

Hearing Nie Zhenbang’s words, Nie Guodong’s face showed a trace of appreciation. Under the serious condition of the patriarch’s illness, even he was a bit flustered. Nie Zhenbang’s clear thinking and strong handling of the situation were indeed worthy of the title of the designated successor chosen by the patriarch.

Immediately after, Nie Guodong also nodded, “After the patriarch fell ill, I immediately dispatched my security force and sent the patriarch here overnight. Currently, aside from a few old leaders such as Elder Nan as well as Secretary-General Yuan and Premier Yun, even Secretary Zhuang knows nothing about the patriarch’s serious illness.”

Hearing this, Nie Zhenbang finally relieved his heart. The patriarch, for the Nie family, and even for the whole nation, was akin to a stabilizing needle. If something happened, it would undoubtedly shake the nation. Moreover, with the patriarch present, the Nie family would not be bullied. However, once the patriarch was gone, what the attitude of the other families would be like, whether they would seize the opportunity to squeeze the living space of the Nie family, suppress the factions of the Nie family in the military and local areas, these were issues that had to be considered.

For now, the secrecy of the news, and handling matters afterwards, making full preparations, even if one is suppressed, by having mental preparedness, this would be far better than knowing suddenly.

With these thoughts, Nie Zhenbang immediately nodded and said, “I’ll go in and see grandfather first.”

Walking into the adjacent ward, a large glass wall completely separated the ward from the observation area. At this moment, on the bed, the elder was lying on his back, without any consciousness or reaction. Only the electronic display of various equipment on the side proved that the patriarch was still alive.

At this moment, the elder’s body was emaciated, skin clinging to his bones. It was no longer humanoid, looking more like a skeleton. At this moment, various high-tech medical technologies were forcing the elder to continue living.

How could this be? The patriarch was just physically weak and somewhat thin. It hasn’t been even two months yet, how could he suddenly lose so much weight?

“Zhenbang, the patriarch’s body functions have all fully degenerated. After all, the elder is already in his nineties, and his war injuries have burst out now, consuming a lot of his body’s energy, and his various organs have all failed. If life-supporting medical equipment such as the ventilator is disconnected now, the patriarch will immediately pass away.” A voice sounded from behind.

When Nie Zhenbang turned around, it was uncle Deng Xianping. Uncle Deng was already in his sixties, with gray hair at his temples. He had a scholarly vibe. Nie Zhenbang was very clear this man definitely would not lie.

Birth, old age, sickness, death, these were common human experiences. The patriarch’s physical condition was different from others. If it were a disease, even cancer, given the resources of the General Military Hospital and the patriarch’s status, even high-end imported medicines could be freely supplied. There would absolutely be no problem in keeping him alive. However, the patriarch was now a part of the natural cycle, his body functions were aging. It’s like a machine that has reached its lifespan. Even if technology is advanced, it cannot change this reality.

Nie Zhenbang paused for a bit and then looked up at uncle Deng, “Uncle Deng, can we ensure that the patriarch can hold for two more days?”(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast a recommendation vote or monthly vote on qidian.com. Your support is my biggest motivation.)