Two days before the Lunar New Year, Xia Heping received a telegram from his hometown saying that his grandmother had fallen while getting up to use the toilet at night and might not make it.
Xia Heping froze on the spot, his face filled with astonishment and disbelief.
Zhang Hongyan noticed that he had suddenly fallen silent and asked in confusion, "Old Xia, what's wrong? What did the telegram say?"
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Zhang Hongyan simply picked up the telegram and read it herself.
After reading the last few words, Zhang Hongyan's hand holding the telegram trembled slightly.
She never expected that it was Old Lady Xia who had an accident. She had no feelings for this mother-in-law, and the other woman's life or death was not of much concern to her.
But the other party is, after all, Xia Heping's biological mother. Regardless of any past conflicts, Xia Heping must be feeling terrible right now.
After a while, Zhang Hongyan finally found her voice: "Old Xia, let's go back."
"Hmm," Xia Heping responded in a muffled voice.
Because the Chinese New Year is just around the corner, train tickets are already hard to buy, and sleeper berths are even harder to get.
In the end, Xia Qingqing asked Song Ze to help her buy four tickets.
Song Ze held Xia Qingqing's hand: "Qingqing, I'll go back with you."
The two of them are now engaged, so it's perfectly legitimate for Xia Qingqing's fiancé to go back with her.
Xia Qingqing hesitated, "But the New Year is coming soon, aren't you going to stay in Beijing to be with your grandfather?"
Song Ze shook his head: "It's okay, my aunt and uncle will be back for the New Year."
Besides, he lives with his maternal grandfather every day and sees him every day, so the few days of the Lunar New Year don't really matter.
"Alright, but you should still discuss it with your grandfather. Actually, we're just going back to visit our hometown; we'll be back soon."
It's no wonder Xia Qingqing's words sounded so cold; it's simply that she and Old Madam Xia had no real affection for each other, and her return this time was only out of consideration for Xia Heping's feelings.
"I know, but I still want to go back with you," Song Ze said, patting Xia Qingqing's head.
Because of the time constraint, Song Ze directly helped buy tickets for the next day.
The family hurriedly packed their luggage and boarded the train back to their hometown with Song Ze the next day.
Knowing that Xia Heping must be feeling bad, the group remained silent for most of the two days on the train.
They arrived in Pingxi County on the day of the Lunar New Year, and the weather was cold with few people on the road.
Xia Qingqing was too lazy to bother Xiao Hui, so the group walked back to Shihe Village.
As soon as they reached the village entrance, someone spotted them: "Heping, you're back! Your mother... sigh, hurry back and see her."
The man sighed, and Xia Heping's face turned pale.
Seeing this, Zhang Hongyan took the luggage from his hands: "Old Xia, give me your things, you go to the old house first, we'll be there shortly."
Xia Heping nodded vigorously: "Yes, you should go home and get some rest. There's no need to rush over."
He knew that his wife and two children didn't have much affection for his mother, and he was already very grateful that they were willing to come back with him. In addition, they had traveled for two days by train and walked such a long distance in the cold wind, and he couldn't bear to see his wife and children suffer.
Xia Heping hurried to the old house. The gate was slightly ajar, but he pushed it open and went inside.
It was Chinese New Year, but the house was completely quiet and devoid of any festive atmosphere.
Xia Hezhi happened to come out to pour water and bumped into Xia Heping. He exclaimed with delight, "Second Brother, you're back! Come in and see Mother, she's been waiting for you."
"How is Mother?" Xia Heping asked with a solemn expression.
Xia Hezhi shook his head slightly, his eyes red: "Sigh, not good. I can't even eat. I'm afraid I won't make it through the next few days."
Since Grandma Xia's accident, Xia Heping has come to take care of her almost every day, so he is quite familiar with his mother's situation.
Especially these past two days, I've often heard my mother unconsciously muttering the words "second brother," so I know that she definitely wants to see her second brother one last time before she dies.
Fortunately, my second brother came back in time.
Xia Heping pushed open the door and walked into Xia's grandmother's bedroom. Xia's grandfather looked over sharply and exclaimed, "Second son, it really is you! You're back..."
He had just vaguely heard sounds coming from the courtyard and was still somewhat incredulous, not expecting that it really was his second son who had returned.
"Dad, I'm back," Xia Heping said, his voice choked with emotion.
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. Your mother has been thinking about you all along," Old Man Xia said silently, wiping his eyes.
Xia Heping looked at the person lying on the bed. Old Mrs. Xia was so thin that she was just skin and bones, and her hair was gray. She was very different from the figure he remembered.
In Xia Heping's memory, his mother was always full of energy and had a strong voice when she scolded people. He couldn't imagine that his mother would become like this.
Xia Heping was at a loss for words: "Mother, how is Mother? Why aren't you going to the hospital? Don't worry about the money, just take Mother to the hospital."
Old Man Xia shook his head, his voice weak and feeble: "Sigh, why didn't you go to the hospital? I was just discharged yesterday, and the doctor said I'd be gone in the next couple of days."
People are very afraid of dying in the hospital these days, so once they know there is no cure, their families will usually bring them home immediately.
The sound of the father and son talking woke up the somewhat confused old lady Xia. She raised her hand tremblingly, trying to touch her second son in front of her: "Second son, is the second son back?"
"Mother, it's me. I've come back to see you." Xia Heping burst into tears and tightly grasped Old Lady Xia's hand.
A tear glistened in Old Mrs. Xia's cloudy eyes as she said haltingly, "Second son, I'm so sorry."
These past few days, she's been lying in bed thinking a lot, realizing that she's done many foolish things in the past, but now she probably can't make amends even if she wants to.
Fortunately, her second son was willing to travel a long distance to see her one last time, and she was content.
"Mother, your son doesn't blame you," Xia Heping said, choking back tears.
What's so strange about that? Even ten fingers can be different lengths, and it's inevitable that parents will show favoritism. He's long since come to terms with it.
Xia Heping never expected to receive an apology from Old Madam Xia in his lifetime; this was beyond his expectations.
Meanwhile, Xia Qingqing and her three companions also returned home carrying large and small bags.
Looking at the unfamiliar house in front of him, Song Ze sighed, "This is the first time I've come here since my family built a new house."
Xia Qingqing nodded: "It seems so. Time flies. Several years have passed in the blink of an eye."
Zhang Hongyan took out her key and unlocked the door. Seeing the two still standing there talking, she quickly called out, "Xiao Song Qingqing, it's cold outside, let's go inside quickly."
Once inside the house, Zhang Hongyan immediately started assigning tasks to everyone. Song Ze went to fetch water, Gou Dan and Xia Qingqing cleaned the house, and she went to the kitchen to start a fire.
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