Chapter 151 The Greatest Blessing

"Mom made braised pork today, as well as tender ribs and a soup made with an old hen. Eat more later! You're so thin."

She smiled and gently rubbed Shen Zhongshun's head, her fingertips still covered in dirt.

"Look at your face, it's as dirty as a kitten's. Go wash it quickly."

As she spoke, she used her sleeve to wipe the mud off his cheeks.

"You've changed your clothes. Don't run around in these clothes, or you'll sweat and catch a cold."

Judging from his hurried manner, he must have just picked flowers in the garden and ran back home.

He hadn't even had time to wash his face; his forehead was covered in sweat.

Fortunately, this time, Shen Zhongshun finally spoke.

More importantly, the tree branch she grabbed in her anger ultimately didn't fall.

Otherwise, she might regret it for the rest of her life.

No wonder Lu Zhongshun never came back in her past life, even until her death.

It turns out he wasn't heartless.

Instead, she had misunderstood him, and that slap chilled his heart.

She wronged him back then; how aggrieved he must have felt.

Fortunately, it's not too late for anything in this lifetime.

Fate gave her a second chance, and she will not let the regret repeat itself.

Shen Zhongshun nodded obediently, his eyes gentle.

He turned and walked slowly into the house.

But he walked steadily towards the side room next to the kitchen.

That's where he usually lives; he washes his hands and changes his clothes there.

Shen Cuifen looked down at the pink peach petals floating in the bucket.

The meal was quickly prepared, the stove fire was extinguished, and the aroma filled the entire courtyard.

The bricks outside have all been unloaded and piled up neatly, ready to be used for wall construction tomorrow.

After finishing their meal, Shen Cuifen's family had to rush to town to run errands, along with her two older brothers.

Although it's a celebration of moving into a new home, it should be a lively occasion.

But some people have to travel and others have to work, so drinking is not appropriate.

The family sat around the table and discussed it briefly before unanimously deciding not to hold a banquet.

They simply carried Lu Qiming from the house to the kitchen to eat together.

The old man doesn't like to move around much and always complains about the grease and smoke in the kitchen.

But since everyone was in a good mood today, Shen Cuifen had someone bring out his wheelchair and place it next to the dining table so that he could also share in the joyous atmosphere.

"I haven't been to the kitchen in almost twenty years, and now the house is in this state!"

Lu Qiming sat in the chair and slowly looked around.

Since becoming bedridden, he has never stepped out of his room.

Lu Jianguo found it troublesome and never carried him out for some fresh air.

Shen Cuifen was a frail woman with limited strength, and she couldn't move his heavy body at all.

Therefore, apart from the room where he usually lies down.

He knew almost nothing about the rest of the house.

Those dilapidated thatched huts that used to be on the verge of collapse have all been demolished.

Instead, rows of sturdy, solid earthen-walled and tiled houses were erected.

The eaves are neat, and the roof is covered with gray-blue tiles.

Even the courtyard wall has been renovated, with each red brick neatly and firmly laid to form a square courtyard.

Several new trees have been planted in the corner of the yard, their tender green leaves swaying gently in the breeze.

Looking at everything before him, Lu Qiming's throat suddenly tightened, and his eyes unconsciously welled up with tears.

The others also fell silent, heads bowed, a pang of bitterness rising in their hearts.

They all knew that Lu Qiming had really had a tough time.

For decades, he was bedridden and unable to move, relying on others to take care of his every need, including eating, drinking, and toileting. The torment he endured was beyond what most people could comprehend.

Seeing this, Shen Xuelin gently patted his shoulder.

“Now that life is quiet, I won’t let you be all alone. I’ll bring my two sons over often. They can take turns carrying you out to bask in the sun and feel the cool breeze. It will make you feel better and lift your spirits.”

As Lu Qiming listened, tears welled up in his eyes. He nodded vigorously, his voice choked with emotion.

"Okay...okay, thank you so much, in-law."

He raised his head again, looked at Shen Xuelin, and spoke with even greater excitement.

"Oh, my dear in-law, I really have to thank you! What a wonderful daughter you've raised! If it weren't for Mulan taking care of me without ever leaving my side, cleaning up after me, feeding me, and wiping my body without a single complaint, I would have given up long ago and wouldn't have made it to today!"

A complex expression flashed across Shen Xuelin's face. He waved his hand somewhat awkwardly and said in a low voice, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. We're all family. Bringing this up will only make us feel distant. Let's eat. The food is getting cold."

In fact, if time could be turned back, he would be a hundred times against letting his daughter Shen Cuifen marry into the Lu family.

At that time, although he valued the Lu family for their honesty and integrity, he never expected that Lu Qiming would become paralyzed at an early age, dragging down the entire family.

He was even more unwilling for his daughter to suffer like this, taking care of an elderly man on his sickbed day and night.

But it's too late for regrets now.

Her daughter has already married into the family, and she has never complained once.

As a father, he couldn't take on this hardship for her.

The only thing we can do is respect her choice and silently support her as she moves forward.

At present, my grandson Shen Zhongshun is still young and cannot help much.

But if they visit more often and bring some things, it will at least lighten Shen Cuifen's burden.

As the atmosphere gradually became somewhat dull, the aroma of the dishes on the table began to rise.

Shen Zhongshun blinked, picked up a piece of braised pork, and carefully placed it into Lu Qiming's bowl.

"Grandpa! This piece of meat is the tenderest, and it's your favorite! When I grow up, I'll carry you out to eat every day, and I'll cook whatever you want to eat, okay?"

Lu Qiming paused for a moment, then broke into a big smile and nodded repeatedly.

"Good! Good! Of course it's good! You're truly a good grandson of your grandfather!"

He paused, then said earnestly, "Then you need to eat more now, to grow strong and healthy. Only with proper nutrition can you grow tall and strong. In the future, you will not only have to take care of Grandpa, but also be filial to your mother, as well as your maternal grandparents. A harmonious family is the greatest blessing!"

Shen Zhongshun listened attentively and nodded heavily.

Then, he suddenly stood up, picked up his chopsticks, first put a piece of braised pork into Shen Xuelin's bowl, and then put another piece into Song Qiaoying's bowl.

"Grandpa, Grandma, you've both worried so much about this family! I want to take care of you too!"

After saying that, he picked up a tenderly stewed pork rib and gently placed it into Chen Cuifen's bowl.

"Mom, you should eat more too. Don't just focus on taking care of us and forget about yourself!"

Shen Cuifen's heart skipped a beat.

This kid usually seems very carefree.

In fact, she was the most attentive of all her children.

The braised pork was fatty and greasy, which she never liked to eat.

These are details that others might not notice, after all, it's a family meal.

Who would deliberately stare at the food in her bowl?

But only Shen Zhongshun remembered it clearly.

So today I specially changed the ribs for her, and even picked out the lean ones with a bit of cartilage.

"Zhongshun, you should eat too, you still have to go to school after you finish eating."