Xiao Lang looked at the children by the bedside. Each one had grown up and had their own lives. The youngest twins, a boy and a girl, had graduated from college. Time had flown by so quickly. It seemed as if only yesterday Chen Xiaoru was complaining, "I'll never have another child!"

"Dad, don't worry about us. Instead, you should take care of your health." The eldest daughter Xiao Ruo held Xiao Lang's hand, her eyes red.

"Yes, Dad, you have worried about us all your life. Now it's time for you to enjoy your retirement." The eldest brother Xiao Zerui also echoed, his voice choked with sobs.

Xiao Lang smiled, his eyes swept from the children one by one, and finally fell on Chen Xiaoru, his eyes full of attachment and reluctance. He held Chen Xiaoru's hand tightly, and said in a hoarse voice: "Xiaoru, thank you, it is my greatest blessing to marry you in this life."

Chen Xiaoru shook his hand back, tears streaming down her face. "Old man, what nonsense are you talking about? We still have a lot of life ahead of us!"

Xiao Lang shook his head, forcing a smile. "Silly boy, don't I know my own body? I'm afraid I can't make it this time. I'm sorry, Xiaoru, I can't be with you until old age."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Chen Xiaoru's voice was filled with tears. "You will definitely get better! We can hug our great-grandson together!"

Xiao Lang smiled, but his smile was a little difficult: "Okay, okay, holding my great-grandson... cough cough..." He began to cough violently, and his face turned pale in an instant.

"Dad!" The children were frightened and quickly surrounded him.

"Doctor! Doctor!" Chen Xiaoru panicked and shouted loudly.

Xiao Lang tried to calm his breathing and said intermittently: "Xiao Ru, after I leave, you must...eat well, sleep well...take good care of yourself, don't...don't get too tired."

"I'm not tired! I'm not tired!" Chen Xiaoru shook her head desperately, "Don't say anymore, you'll be fine!"

"Children..." Xiao Lang looked at the children, "From now on... you must be filial to your mother... Brothers and sisters... must help each other..."

"Dad, don't worry, we will!" Xiao Ya promised while crying.

"Dad, please stop talking. Just have a good rest. We will all listen to you!" Xiao Qiang also burst into tears.

Xiao Lang nodded with satisfaction, his eyes gradually becoming distracted...

"Old man! Don't scare me! Wake up!" Chen Xiaoru shouted heartbreakingly, but Xiao Lang no longer responded.

In the ward, the crying was deafening.

The Xiao family's twelve zodiac animals have been missing a "leader" ever since then.

Everyone in the family compound was deeply saddened when they heard the news of Xiao Lang's death. The old Xiao who had "a large family with many children and grandchildren, and was feared by all was gone.

On the day of the funeral, everyone in the family compound came to see him off, creating a truly spectacular scene. Wang Xiaopang was also there, no longer the bratty kid he once was, but a mature, steady middle-aged man. He looked at Xiao Lang's portrait, overwhelmed with emotion. If it weren't for that old man, he wouldn't know how many beatings he would have received! It was thanks to those "little bullies" in his family that he learned how to behave early on.

Chen Xiaoru lay quietly on her bed, her lonely figure alone in the empty room. The hustle and bustle of the past seemed to have been drained away, leaving only endless silence and memories. Xiao Ruo came in with a bowl of porridge and said softly, "Mom, please eat something. You can't bear it if you continue like this."

Chen Xiaoru shook her head slowly, her eyes empty, as if she couldn't see anything.

Xiao Ruo's eyes were red, and she fought back tears. She placed the porridge on the bedside table and continued to persuade him, "Now that Dad is gone, you must take care of yourself. If anything happens to you again, we...what will we do?"

Chen Xiaoru remained silent for a long moment before she slowly spoke, her voice hoarse, "Sister, go tell your eldest brother to tell everyone that the whole family will have dinner together tomorrow night. No one should be left out."

Xiao Ruo's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition came over her. She asked in a trembling voice, "Mom, what...what are you going to do? Don't scare me!"

Chen Xiaoru didn't answer directly, but said in a tired voice: "Child, just do as I say. I know what I am doing."

Xiao Ruo didn't dare ask any more questions. She knew her mother's character and that it was difficult to change her decision. She wiped the tears from her eyes and quietly retreated.

After leaving the room, Xiao Ruo was still restless. She felt that her mother's decision was a little strange, like... like she was making arrangements for her final arrangements.

She quickly found her eldest brother Xiao Zerui and told him exactly what her mother had said. After hearing this, Xiao Zerui also looked solemn.

"This...what's wrong with Mom? Is it because the blow is too great?" Xiao Zerui said with a frown.

Xiao Ruo shook his head: "I don't know, but I always feel uneasy. Brother, what do you think we should do?"

Xiao Zerui pondered for a moment and said, "No matter what, let's do as Mom said. Call everyone back tomorrow and see what happens then."

"This is the only way." Xiao Ruo sighed helplessly.

The brother and sister split up and began to notify their other brothers and sisters.

The brothers and sisters who received the call were also very shocked and worried. They all said that they would definitely rush back on time tomorrow.

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Zerui's heart was still in turmoil. He remembered that his father loved his mother the most. Now that his father was gone, his mother's grief was imaginable. He just hoped his mother wouldn't do anything stupid.

On the other side, after receiving the call, Xiao Qiang threw the bottle of wine in his hand.

"Damn it! The old man is gone, what is the old lady going to do? Is she going to follow the old man? No! I have to go back quickly!" Xiao Qiang cursed while packing his things and calling his wife.

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