Zhao Damei's words were heartbreaking and resolute, and every single one struck a chord with Old Master Liang.
Looking at his daughter-in-law kneeling before the hospital bed, the old man's cloudy eyes shed even more tears.
Although she is his daughter-in-law, the two have depended on each other for many years, and he has long regarded her as his own daughter. How could he not understand her temperament?
This girl looks gentle, but she's incredibly stubborn. Once she's made up her mind about something, nothing can change it.
Moreover, this girl always keeps her word.
What she just said was not just empty talk to scare people; she really is capable of doing it!
The old man was filled with remorse and tears streamed down his face as he thought about how he had almost driven his daughter-in-law and grandchildren to their deaths.
His withered hand gripped Zhao Damei's hand tightly, patting it as he choked back tears:
"Okay, okay... Father-in-law understands. Father-in-law promises you, I'll never do that foolish thing again! Never again! We'll live well as a family, we'll live well together... Get up, the ground is cold, get up, don't kneel..."
Only after receiving the old man's assurance did Zhao Damei finally feel relieved.
With the old man's help, she stood up, wiped her face, and tried to make her tone more relaxed.
“Dad, don’t overthink it. The clothes-selling job that Qiqi introduced me to is pretty good. Sister Ping also takes good care of me. Plus, I sell flowers at night, and the money I earn is enough for our family’s expenses. The children are growing up day by day, and life will get better and better.”
Looking at her forced smile, the old man felt even more guilty and hesitated before speaking again:
"But, but that Comrade Zhang Guoqiang you just mentioned, he and you..."
"father,"
Zhao Damei interrupted him, turning her head slightly to avoid the old man's probing gaze. Her voice lowered, carrying a hint of melancholy.
“Let’s just say we were destined to be apart. Ping told me about the movie ‘Romance on Lushan Mountain’ before. Zhou Yun and Geng Hua in the movie didn’t end up together. Ping said that’s what it means to be destined to be apart.”
She paused, then forced a smile. "I think many people are probably like this."
She spoke lightly, but the old man could clearly see the reluctance and sadness in her expression.
His heart ached, and he wanted to say a few more words of advice, suggesting that perhaps things weren't so bad...
Just then, a frantic male voice suddenly came from the ward door:
"The ending of 'Romance on Lushan Mountain' wasn't like that! Comrade Li Ping must have been too busy and only told you the first half!"
"In the latter half of the story, five years later, Zhou Yun and Geng Hua reunite in Lushan! They overcome all difficulties and finally get together! With the blessings of their families, they are truly a perfect couple who have finally become husband and wife!"
Everyone was taken aback and turned to look at the doorway.
Zhang Guoqiang suddenly appeared, looking at Zhao Damei with anxious eyes.
He paused, and as if to make his point, he stammered, "..."
"This movie was shown in all the factories in the city before, to enrich the leisure life of our state-owned factory employees. I've watched it several times in the factory, so I definitely don't remember it wrong!"
His sudden appearance stunned everyone.
Zhao Damei lowered her head abruptly, frantically wiping away the tears on her face, not daring to look at him, her voice filled with barely concealed panic:
"You, how did you get here? Weren't you, weren't you in the little garden with the children?"
Seeing her evasive manner, Zhang Guoqiang felt both pain and anxiety in his heart, and quickly explained:
“It’s my mom. She brought all the kids from my family with her. She originally wanted to visit Uncle Liang, but I thought it would be inconvenient for you to talk inside, so I told her not to go over and disturb us. The kids were all saying they were hungry, so my mom took them to the cafeteria to get something to eat first.”
"I...I was worried that the children might have some dietary restrictions, and I was afraid that my mother's good intentions might backfire, so I thought I'd come and ask you."
Zhao Damei was stunned for a moment, not expecting him to be so thoughtful, even considering the child's dietary restrictions.
On second thought, although his biological mother occasionally helps out, he has been raising three children all by himself, acting as both father and mother. Over the years, he must have put in a tremendous amount of effort in taking care of them.
Thinking of all his good qualities, and comparing them with the choices she had to make, she felt even more heartbroken.
She deliberately turned her head away, avoiding Zhang Guoqiang's eager eyes, and spoke in a cold tone.
“The kids in the countryside aren’t so precious; they can eat anything. But it’s too much trouble for your mom to spend money to take them out to eat. I’ll go and bring the kids back right now.”
She lowered her head and walked out, wanting to escape this situation that made her feel both confused and heartbroken.
"Don't go!"
In his haste, Zhang Guoqiang didn't care about anything else. He grabbed her arm, steeled his resolve, and slammed the ward door shut, blocking the view from outside.
He placed his hands on Zhao Damei's shoulders, forcing her to face him.
Only then did he see clearly Zhao Damei's red and swollen eyes. He felt a sudden tightness in his chest and blurted out:
"Da Mei, don't hide anymore! I heard everything you were saying at the door!"
Zhao Damei's face turned pale instantly.
I heard that...
She originally wanted to find another reason to break up with Zhang Guoqiang, but she never expected that he would hear all the struggles and reluctance she had hidden in her heart!
This made her feel embarrassed, ashamed, and flustered.
His first instinct was to break free, "Zhang Guoqiang, you...you let go..."
Her voice trembled slightly, and she didn't dare to look up at him.
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