Wang Hong stormed over to see Qi's mother. Qi's mother had recovered a little; although her mouth was crooked and her eyes were slanted, and her speech was unclear, her mind was clear. Wang Hong came over and said with a smile, "Grandma, were you waiting anxiously? I've been too busy with work lately and haven't had time to come see you. The weather is quite nice now, shall I cover you with a blanket and push you out for a walk?"

Lying on the bed, Qi's mother nodded laboriously. Wang Hong pushed the wheelchair over, helped Qi's mother into it with difficulty, and then pushed it around downstairs. Qi's mother mumbled something, and Wang Hong responded to her. After a while, they saw Wang Dong carrying two pounds of apples. Qi's mother suddenly trembled, sobbing and drooling, crying like a child.

Wang Dong rushed over, squatted down, and let Qi's mother hold him. Wang Hong picked up a handkerchief hanging next to the wheelchair to wipe her hands, feeling uneasy herself, and said, "Grandma, don't get agitated! Calm down."

Wang Dong stayed with Qi's mother until almost eight o'clock, when it was already dark and there were no more buses running. After putting Qi's mother to sleep, the brother and sister finally left.

As they walked, he said, "Brother, wasn't Grandma the best to us when we were little?"

Wang Dong said in a muffled voice, "Yes, but Grandma was the best to that woman."

Wang Hong sighed, "How could she be so heartless? If it weren't for her, Grandma wouldn't have let Uncle divorce Xiao Wei."

Wang Dong looked at Wang Hong and said, "This is what people used to say: the old man is like a scale, and he always favors the poorest family!"

The two chatted for a while, then Wang Hong suddenly said, "By the way, my sister's father-in-law went to the hospital today. He wants my sister to sign a divorce agreement where she has to leave with nothing. I said something on her behalf, and she got upset. Doesn't she realize she's almost thirty and still in that kind of body? Having children will be difficult in the future. If she really leaves with nothing, how will she live? Where will she live? She doesn't think at all when she makes decisions."

Although Wang Dong had considered Wang Fang's situation—where would they go if they divorced?—hearing Wang Hong's words made his head spin with rage. "Serves him right! Let him sleep on the streets! If I ever discipline him again, he'll be begging a dog for mercy..."