Chapter 125 Filial Piety Competition

Wang Jianwu and the other six, along with two others who had worked in investigation, were officially hired that day. They were temporarily housed in a courtyard house in the alley.

The others went to Shenzhen to start work together. Considering that some of them were indeed facing difficulties, Yao Fanghua gave them advance money for their train tickets.

Huang Tang and Guo Yi accepted the task of tracking and investigating Yao's eldest uncle that very day.

After hearing the whole story, the two men were filled with righteous indignation. "Don't worry, boss, we've got it covered."

The two were then arranged to be admitted to the hospital under the guise of caring for Old Master Yao. It was definitely advantageous to have someone on your side. Yao Fanghua was in high spirits.

Wang Jianwu and the others were all from rural areas, and their situations were all similar. After receiving half of their wages in advance, they were excited, then discussed it and decided to send most of it back to their hometowns. Once one person suggested sending it, everyone else agreed.

Wang Jianwu originally wanted to send money, but when he thought of what his father had said before he left home, and the way his two brothers' families looked at him while he ate, he changed his mind and decided to do as his father said. He would only send his father fifty yuan a month for his retirement, and save the rest himself.

Firstly, I really don't want to send it; secondly, I'll try my best to get my parents into a VIP ward in the future.

He had heard from Huang Tang and Guo Yi that the ward where Boss Yao's father was staying was incredibly nice.

When the others asked, he said he was saving the money for his parents to stay in a VIP ward and hire caregivers. Of course, he hoped his parents would stay healthy and that the money would never be needed, but that didn't stop him from using it as an excuse.

The others found his reasoning sound and didn't press further. Wang Jianwu successfully secured his first paycheck.

Apart from Huang Tang and Guo Yi, who left early and returned late every day, the rest of them, under Wang Jianwu's leadership, ate, slept, and exercised, following a schedule similar to that of the army.

Grandpa Yao is living a comfortable life in the hospital. During the day, he chats with fellow patients and plays chess; in the evening, he watches TV and listens to opera. Caregivers are by his side day and night, and nurses check on him frequently. Grandpa Yao feels secure and less anxious. He used to worry about dying quietly and being discovered later. Now, he's sure he won't be left to die before being found. Especially after his granddaughter told him to stay as long as he wanted, since it's become a nursing home, Grandpa Yao feels truly at peace.

Seeing that Grandpa Yao's spirits were improving, Yao Fanghua planned to take the children back to Shenzhen. As for Wu Peng, he would stay for a while to discuss with Director Yu the matter of making reasonable use of the fan factory's land.

The night before Yao Fanghua was scheduled to return to Shenzhen, her phone rang suddenly in the middle of the night.

It was Aunt Cao calling, saying that the old man was not well and that they should come quickly.

The two immediately regained their senses. Yao Fanghua ran to the hospital, while Wu Peng went to the alley to call for the Yao brothers, Yao Deyi and Yao Deren.

As dawn approached, a large crowd had already gathered around Grandpa Yao's hospital bed.

With his breath coming in short gasps, Old Master Yao finally opened his eyes slowly. As he regained some clarity, he took out the gold watch from his pocket and pointed in the direction of Yao Fanghua and Wu Peng.

The two men stepped forward and took the old man's hand.

"Here you go." Old Master Yao placed the watch into Yao Fanghua and Wu Peng's hands together.

Then his hand fell limply to his side.

Yao Deren and Fang Guizhi frowned. The old man's things should be given to his son. He's really getting senile!

Aunt Yao frowned, wanting to argue with her father that this thing should be given to the children!

Amidst the complaints and discontent of the group, Old Master Yao passed away peacefully.

"Grandpa, why did you leave us like this?"

A piercing wail startled Yao Fanghua.

Zhang Xiuxiu was the first to sit down on the ground and start wailing.

Not to be outdone, Aunt Yao and Fang Guizhi sat down right there by the bedside, their cries growing louder and more heart-wrenching.

The ward was immediately filled with cries of varying pitches.

After that, Yao Fanghua and Wu Peng were no longer needed, as Yao Deren and Yao Dagu took the initiative in handling the funeral arrangements.

Notifying relatives, friends, and neighbors, the funeral arrangements were handled entirely by themselves, demonstrating their filial piety.

Yao Weimin received the news and rushed back from Shenzhen three days later, just in time for the old man's funeral.

Fang Guizhi spoke sarcastically in front of the mourning hall, "What's the use of making so much money if you can't even see your own grandfather one last time? Chunying, I'm not saying this to be mean, but you can't rely on your children and grandchildren who live far away. Only those who are close by can you count on and fulfill your filial duties. Father, open your eyes and see, your unfilial grandson has come back." Ever since Yao Fangfang's reputation was ruined, Fang Guizhi wished everyone's reputation was tarnished.

Li Chunying was about to go up and argue, but Yao Fanghua stopped her. A funeral was being held, and the courtyard was full of people. If they started arguing about this now, Yao Weimin's reputation for being unfilial would spread. No one cared whether you were filial or not; the topic of conversation would definitely be Yao Weimin's alleged unfilial behavior, and the two families would start arguing.

Anyone would probably talk about the verbal battle between the two brothers during the Yao family's funeral with great interest, and it might even get more and more exaggerated over time.

Yao Fanghua pressed Li Chunying down and said to Yao Weimin, "Weimin, where's the money you earned this month? Did you bring it back? Hurry up and give it to Mom. Mom is saying that we want Grandpa to have a grand funeral."

Yao Weimin pulled a wad of cash from his bag, all ten-yuan bills. The wad of cash totaled one thousand yuan.

Ever since Yao Weimin started frequenting the Great World shopping mall, he has always carried cash in his bag.

Yao Weimin stuffed the wad of money into Li Chunying's hand, tears welling up in his eyes. "Mom, spend it as you please. Make sure Grandpa has a grand and impressive wedding."

Everyone around had their eyes glued to that wad of money. Who said it was bad to be away from home? Who said it was bad to go out and earn money? Bullshit! Nothing is more real than money!

Forget about filial piety. They have to feed and serve these little emperors every day. If they could make this much money by letting them go out, they would rather all their children and grandchildren go abroad and not come back for a whole year, as long as the money comes back!

"Besides, there's a generation gap between them. He's a grandson and grandfather, not a father and son. If he didn't see them one last time, he didn't see them. It's more important to be alive and to work and make money."

"Even among those right here, how many people would quit their jobs just to take care of someone at their bedside? They only occasionally take leave. Who can take leave all the time to stay home and take care of someone, giving up their job? Giving up their money?"

"That's right, Aunt Yao's demands are too harsh. I haven't seen her two sons go to the hospital to take care of her."

"Not to mention their son, the couple didn't serve them either. I heard that even Old Master Yao would run away when he saw them."

"Grandpa Yao was enjoying his final days. I heard he was staying in a high-class ward, had a 24-hour caregiver, and received the same treatment as government officials and leaders. I heard it was all paid for by his granddaughter and grandson-in-law."

"It's good to be rich, you still need to be rich." Anyway, I don't think about anything else.

"Of course, I went to that ward. I had to go through two checkpoints before I finally saw Old Yao. That guy had a single room with big windows, it was bright, there was a TV to watch whenever he wanted, and there was even a toilet. All the other patients were retired leaders. The food was all prepared according to the doctor's prescription. Oh my, I was so envious."

Fang Guizhi's eyes reddened when she saw the stack of money. Hearing the whispers around her, she spat at Li Chunying and went back inside to loudly mourn at the funeral hall.

As a result, there were two rivals in the mourning hall, one was Aunt Yao and the other was Zhang Xiuxiu. After two days of competition, the two were not to be outdone. When Fang Guizhi made a move, the two immediately followed suit, and even one wave was stronger than the other.

Listening to the commotion inside, Yao Fanghua felt a sore throat just thinking about them. This also highlighted the importance of Zhang Xiuxiu's fighting spirit; in the past two days, Yao Fanghua had been constantly giving Zhang Xiuxiu mints and water infused with dried sea buckthorn. Zhang Xiuxiu had outshone Aunt Yao and Fang Guizhi, and Yao Fanghua would even slip her money—one yuan for each round of crying—all of which contributed to Zhang Xiuxiu's increasing vigor. Her filial piety at the mourning hall completely overshadowed that of Aunt Yao and Fang Guizhi, earning unanimous praise from the surrounding aunties and grandmas.

Zhang Xiuxiu covered her face, and with each howl, all she could think about was money. She pinched her lips, which she couldn't help but curl up, and wished she could have more battles with Fang Guizhi and Aunt Yao.