Hua Kai originally thought they had made things clear when they called each other, but it seems that her third and fourth uncles are shrewd. It would have been better to let Zheng Shuzhen handle this.

Although Zheng Shuzhen knew Hua Fengxiang, she didn't expect her to be so ruthless: "No, it's not like we're trying to take advantage of you because your father had an accident. Everyone has emergencies sometimes, right? I am Jianshe's mother-in-law, how can this be so difficult?"

Hua Fengxiang said, "Mother, we really don't have any room at home. At most, you can come to my house. There's enough room for one person to sleep on the sofa, but that's definitely not enough for more people."

Zheng Shuzhen sighed: "What would I do if I went there by myself? I'm an old lady, I can't stay anywhere for the night. Your house is so expensive, I can't afford to go. I won't go, I'll just stay in this hospital corridor for the night."

Hua Fengxiang said, "Mother, there are guesthouses near the hospital. I think this isn't something that will be over in a day or two, so it would be more practical to find a guesthouse and book two rooms."

Zheng Shuzhen said, "Then go to the guesthouse and book two rooms for him. We didn't ask you for a single penny for your father's surgery. As a man and a daughter, we should at least show some filial piety, right?"

Hua Fengxiang said, "Mother, I am a married daughter, and I shouldn't be involved in my parents' family affairs anymore. You're asking me to secretly give money to my parents' family behind my husband's back, are you afraid that I'm living too well?"

Zheng Shuzhen sneered: "I understand now. We gave birth to you and raised you, and you don't even know how to be grateful?"

Hua Fengxiang also had something to say: "Back then, you married me off, took the bride price but didn't give me a dowry. Didn't I suffer in my husband's family? You sold me out, and now you call yourselves family? Isn't it too late?"

“Without me, would I have you? What’s wrong with me keeping the bride price? I’ve raised you for eighteen years. Did you not eat or drink for those eighteen years?” Zheng Shuzhen was getting anxious at this point.

“I started cooking and washing clothes as soon as I could work. I didn’t eat and live here for free.” Hua Fengxiang never felt guilty about this matter.

At this moment, another nurse came over: "Can you please be quiet in your home? What kind of place is this? Go outside to handle your family matters. If you make any more noise, you'll all have to leave."

Zheng Shuzhen was so angry that she sat down without saying a word.

Hua Fengxiang is a person who doesn't offend anyone and is good at speaking. She quickly apologized to the nurse: "I'm so sorry, nurse. Something suddenly happened at home, and everyone was very anxious. I promise I won't raise my voice again."

The nurse nodded and went about her business.

Zheng Shuzhen was so angry she was panting: "You think I'm capable?"

Hua Fengxiang stopped talking to her and sat down next to Hua Kai. She whispered to Hua Kai, "Your grandma and I have always been like oil and water. When we were little, your dad and I were the ones who suffered the most in our family."

Hua Kai didn't want to team up with Hua Fengxiang because, frankly, this person's character wasn't great, so there was no need to get close to her.

She said, "Auntie, it's best if we keep quiet outside the intensive care unit."

Hua Fengxiang knew that Hua Kai was cunning, but she never gave up trying to gain an advantage from her. She and her husband had discussed it and decided that even if they couldn't take anything from her, they still had to maintain a good relationship with someone like Hua Kai. She was rich, and her family could always benefit from her. Such a relative was always advantageous.

So even though Hua Fengxiang was unhappy, she still forced a smile and said, "Okay, I won't say anything more."

Over there, Second Aunt Huo Yanping and Fourth Aunt Zhao Xiuzhi sat together, whispering to each other.

"I'm not going to have a good life from now on," Aunt Zhao Xiuzhi complained to Huo Yanping.

Huo Yanping said, "How could I not go and help you normally? We two are the ones who suffer the most. The third brother's family lives in the countryside. Even if he goes back once a week, what can he do?"

Zhao Xiuzhi isn't stupid. She knows Huo Yanping is unreliable. How much help can Huo Yanping really offer? She's only worried about being laughed at by the villagers. She can save face for herself, but she's the one who will truly suffer.

But you can't say it like that. At least she can help me out, which will make things easier for me. Now I have to get along with her better: "That's right. It's just the two of us who are suffering. We're living next to the old man, and everyone's watching. What can we do?"

"Then do you think your sister-in-law can help?"

“If people come, they'll say she's filial; if they don't, outsiders can't really say anything. Besides, they didn't visit our home often before. After all these years, the relationship has become strained. How much can they really help?”

"But we can't just let them sit idle. There has to be some explanation for this, right?"

"Then we'll have to see what Mother says at the time."

The person who felt most at ease today was Aunt Wang Min, at least she didn't have to take care of the elderly. But thinking about those five hundred yuan still hurt her heart. That was a family's savings for a year. With two children in school and the family's expenses, they only had five or seven hundred yuan left at the end of the year. And now almost all of it was gone.

But it's still better than the second and fourth sons; at least they don't have to take care of the old man who eats and defecates on the bed.

After a moment of silence, Zheng Shuzhen said to everyone, "Fourth brother, stay here and watch over your father. The rest of us, let's go downstairs and discuss where we'll stay and what we'll eat tonight."

Hua Kai said to Zheng Shuzhen, "Grandma, you just need to discuss your food and lodging arrangements. We can make our own arrangements."

Zheng Shuzhen couldn't say anything, because even if she asked them to pay for their family's food and lodging, they wouldn't. They were just paying for their own, which was already a good enough arrangement.

She nodded, said nothing, and led her remaining son and daughter-in-law downstairs.

Hua Fengxiang didn't go out with them; she didn't want to get involved and end up paying more money.

After Zheng Shuzhen and the others had gone far away, Hua Fengxiang said to Hua Kai, "Kai Kai, your aunt has to go home to cook. If you have time, you can visit your aunt's house."

Hua Kai had no intention of going and replied perfunctorily, "Okay, take care, Auntie."

Hua Fengxiang said to Hua Wanhai, "Fourth Brother, I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now." Without waiting for Hua Wanhai to say anything, she quickly left.

Hua Wanhai spat in Hua Fengxiang's direction: "What the hell?"

Hua Kai truly looked down on them; each one was worse than the last.

After Zheng Shuzhen, along with her second and third sons and three daughters-in-law, came downstairs, they found a secluded corner where few people passed by and said, "With so many of us, we should at least find a hotel and get a room. We'll just buy a few steamed buns tonight. Everything in this city costs money, so we need to be careful."

Hua Wanhe said, "Mother, I think Captain Ye might come again tonight, and he might even buy some food."

Zheng Shuzhen said, "If they don't want to buy, can we force them to? We have to plan for the best. You can't even rely on your own sister, so why would you rely on others?"

Hua Wanhe fell silent; Zheng Shuzhen was indeed right.

Hua Wanhu looked at Zheng Shuzhen and asked, "Mother, how much money do you have left? We need money to stay in a hotel, and we don't have any on us." Even if he did, he couldn't share it with everyone.

Zheng Shuzhen said, "I only have ten dollars left. How much do you all have? Let's put it all together and get through this difficult time."

Hua Wanhu took out five yuan: "Mom, this is all I have."