Li Chu thought of the Uncle Lin he saw when Jia Yuan gave birth that day, and his heart sank.

Just by looking at his face, he could easily tell that Uncle Lin was practically on his last legs.

Uncle Lin was injured during the War of Resistance against Japan, which damaged his vital energy. He is still alive today thanks to the good recuperation he received afterward.

No matter how well it can be managed, the inevitable end of a path cannot be avoided.

At that time, Uncle Lin also noticed that Li Chu kept looking at him. He was well aware of his junior apprentice's medical skills, so he took the initiative to come over.

"Xiao Chu, you figured it out, didn't you?"

"Yes, Uncle-Master, why didn't you tell me?"

"Sigh, I know my own body best, so you don't need to waste your energy. Last time, you were the one who pulled me back from the brink, allowing this old man to continue to eke out a living. This time, no one can help me. But seeing the fourth generation of the family being born will make me content."

Uncle Lin, sitting in his wheelchair, patted Li Chu's hand with a smile, then gestured with his chin to the few people standing not far away: "They don't know about this yet, so don't tell them. My body can hold out for a while, at least half a month. During this time, don't come to my place too often, so they don't find out anything."

Li Chu did not refute, but simply nodded silently. This must have been the old man's last wish; he hoped to spend his final days with the children.

As a doctor and as his junior apprentice, Li Chu felt he should respect the old man's choice.

But why does he feel so suffocated?

"Xiao Chu, what are you thinking about?" Wang Ziwen called out to Li Chu, who was lost in memories.

"Oh, brother-in-law, it's nothing, I just thought of Uncle Lin."

Seeing the lingering sadness on his brother-in-law's face, Wang Ziwen asked, "What's wrong? Is your uncle's health...?"

"Hmm," Li Chu nodded and then shook his head, "There's nothing I can do anymore."

After a long silence, Wang Ziwen picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of water, and said, "Don't think too much about it. Old Lin is almost ninety years old. Even if he passes away, it will be a happy occasion."

"Sigh," Li Chu sighed, "It's not a matter of whether it's a happy funeral or not. Along my journey, besides you and my sister, the person who has helped me the most is Uncle Lin. You could even say that he has been there for me at every step of my work, but..."

Wang Ziwen didn't know how to comfort his brother-in-law, just like when his master passed away. He and Li Qin were also at a loss, and could only watch helplessly as he knelt alone in front of the mourning hall for three days and three nights.

"Don't worry, brother-in-law, I'm fine." Li Chu forced a smile at his brother-in-law.

"I didn't mention it earlier, but there are still dozens of bottles and jars in the courtyard in Shichahai that I bought." He changed the subject, unwilling to think about that matter anymore.

"Bottles and jars? You mean old objects, right?"

"Yes, quite a lot. Brother-in-law, are you interested in those?"

"Me? I don't recognize those things, and besides, those things aren't worth much now, are they?"

...

Li Chu didn't know what to say. It seems that people nowadays have a fixed mindset that whether something is good or not is measured by its value.

“Brother-in-law, those things are cultural relics, they are history, they are a microcosm of the past, and they cannot be measured by price alone.”

“I don’t understand that.” Wang Ziwen waved her hand dismissively: “I’m just a roughneck. I don’t use that stuff for money or food. I wouldn’t even take it if it were given to me.”

“Brother-in-law, those old objects can allow future generations to study the history of that time in depth.”

"Studying history? Generation after generation has been studying history, and there's even a history major in universities. Tell me, what have people actually learned from history?"

"There are many..."

"Too much?" Before Li Chu could finish speaking, Wang Ziwen interrupted: "I forgot which old leader said this, but he said that these famous scholars at home and abroad study history, but what have people actually learned from history?"

The only thing people learn from history is that they learn nothing. This is true generation after generation.

"Brother-in-law, whose words did that leader say?"

"Who cares which leader it was? I've forgotten too. I think it was someone who said it when we first entered Beijing."

My brother-in-law was among the first batch of people to enter Beijing after the peaceful liberation; he was a company commander back then.

He then stayed there, and later left the army to work in the local area, never leaving the city again.

The two of them sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting about the past, while also playing with the dogs lying at their feet, until Li Qin and the other four returned from Jia Yuan's place.

Even after lying in bed, Ding Qiunan kept talking about Jia Yuan's two children.

"Honey, you don't still want a child, do you?"

"Go away, what are you saying? I'm about to become a grandmother, how could I possibly want another child?"

Although she said that, Li Chu clearly saw the fleeting melancholy on her face.

He was still very puzzled about why he couldn't get pregnant again.

The couple had always been in very good health and had never taken any precautions, but since Wenhui and Wenxuan, there had been no sign of pregnancy, which had become a source of great anxiety for Ding Qiunan.

Li Chu smiled and patted the back of his wife who was nestled against his chest.

Do you feel unhappy?

"How is that possible?"

"Then why do you keep dwelling on this child's problem?"

“I just feel a little sorry for you. You love children so much, but I haven’t been able to give you more.”

“We have children, it’s not like we don’t have any. I’m very content. Now I just need to wait to hold my grandson, but…”

"But what?" Ding Qiunan asked, tilting her head up to look at her husband.

"Now that everyone can only have one child, what should we do if Qiaoyun also wants to see a child?"

"Well……"

That is indeed a problem.

"No, no, you almost got me hooked. Qiaoyun is so busy she's never home, how could she have time to look after the child? I'll let her have her when she's home."

Li Chu smiled secretly and said nothing. "I'm afraid you won't think that way anymore. You probably won't be able to bear to let the child leave you even for a day."

Not speaking doesn't mean there's no movement. With a skillful roll over, a daily routine of a pleasant bedtime exercise begins.

The dogs under the eaves outside the main house all moved in unison, quickly drooping their ears that were originally standing up.

A stirring melody lingered in the bedroom for a long time.