Chapter 191 Irony
"Go ahead and don't worry, I'll take care of things here. I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong."
Shen Cuifen thanked them profusely and left the room, jogging along the corridor.
Only after all the formalities were completed did she feel a little more at ease.
But when she reached the door of the ward, she suddenly froze.
The door wasn't closed properly; it was ajar.
Through the crack, she saw a familiar figure standing inside the house.
He was all smiles as he reached out his hand to her.
"Mom! You're finally back!"
It is Shen Guizhen.
She took a few steps forward and almost bumped into Shen Cuifen's arms.
"Mom! You've lost so much weight. Have you not been eating properly these past few days?"
Since the day Shen Cuifen took Shen Zhongshun to the hospital, the mother and daughter have not seen each other again.
During this time, Shen Guizhen's heart was constantly in suspense.
Although Shen Yongcai repeatedly reassured her that "it's okay," she just couldn't sleep soundly.
This morning, she finally couldn't hold back anymore.
After handing over the responsibilities at home for a few hours, I quickly changed my clothes and rushed to the hospital.
"Guizhen, what brings you here?"
Looking at her daughter's haggard face, Shen Cuifen felt a lump in her throat and tears almost rolled down her cheeks.
"You've lost so much weight in just a few days! Your face is all sunken! You're nothing like you used to be!"
Shen Guizhen shook her head, smiled, and sighed.
"Where have I lost weight? Look at my face, it's chubby and I'm quite plump! But you and Zhongshun, have you been sleeping and eating well these past few days? I see that Zhongshun's face is much rosier. When we get home, I'll cook you a nice meal, some stewed ribs, some stir-fried dishes to go with rice, and some steamed buns, to help you nourish your bodies."
Upon hearing "delicious food," Shen Zhongshun's eyes lit up instantly.
"Big sister! I want to eat your brown sugar pancakes! The crust is crispy, the inside is soft, and they're steaming hot when you bite into them—they're so delicious! Can you make them? I remember how they used to taste!"
Shen Guizhen couldn't help but laugh out loud, her eyes and brows filled with doting affection.
"Sure! We'll make them for you as soon as we get back. We'll knead the dough fresh, heat the pan right away, and make them one after another, as many as you want! You can eat until you're stuffed!"
Seeing him chatting and laughing, full of energy, Shen Guizhen finally felt relieved.
It seems my uncle was right; the person really doesn't have any major problems.
With proper care and time, it will naturally recover.
There was still a little medicine left, dripping down the IV tubing.
The mother and daughter leaned against the headboard, chatting side by side.
"Mom, my eldest uncle sawed up Grandpa's bed."
Shen Guizhen said softly.
Shen Cuifen immediately jumped out of bed.
"What? A saw? You're not mistaken, are you? Who did it? Your uncle? He's got some nerve! Did your grandfather yell at him on the spot?"
Something's not right. Lu Qiming is usually quite mild-mannered, so why would he do something like this this time?
Was he confused in his haste?
Shen Guizhen quickly pulled her down to sit.
"Mom, you've misunderstood! The whole bed wasn't sawed off, that wouldn't do. Uncle sawed off a piece of the bed board under Grandpa's bottom! Just a small section in the middle, a little bigger than the palm of his hand, just enough for him to relieve himself."
“You sleep at one end, and the other end was sawn out. Grandpa nailed wooden frames on both sides of the gap, tied sturdy ropes, and installed iron handrails on both sides. If we're not there, he can turn over by himself, lift his legs, squat in that empty space, poop and pee, and then grab the handrails to slowly turn back.”
“He can still move his hands. After cleaning him up, he can put on his pants by himself. He’s a little slow, but he can manage. My job is to empty the bedpan and help him turn over. It’s a bit easier. We don’t have to carry him around every time, which makes our backs ache.”
Shen Cuifen's mouth was open, and she couldn't close it for a long time.
"Wow! Your uncle and grandfather really put their heads together! They must have racked their brains to come up with this idea!"
She slapped her thigh, her eyes shining.
"You know, this method must have taken you through a whole night to figure out, right? From drawing up the plans to test cutting, you even had to take measurements so that the cut wouldn't be off-center, otherwise the bed would collapse and that would be a real problem!"
There are no men in the family, only women.
Three women had to take care of a sick old man, feeding him, changing his toileting habits, and everything else was difficult.
They didn't want Shen Cuifen to shoulder the burden alone, and they didn't want her to collapse from exhaustion.
With this bed, the work became easier and less strenuous.
The old man can live with dignity even while lying down, and he won't feel like a burden.
Shen Zhongshun and Shen Guizhen nodded in unison.
"Yes, that's absolutely right. If it weren't for my uncle and grandfather taking action, I don't know how we would have survived."
"Also, Mom, the courtyard wall has been built a long time ago."
Shen Guizhen continued.
She slowly told her mother about each and every one of them.
The chickens at home laid a few eggs, someone stole half a piece of bread, and someone knocked over the salted vegetables that were drying.
Shen Guizhen even told Shen Cuifen how many flowers the old peach tree in the backyard had blossomed this year.
Shen Cuifen felt a warmth in her heart as she looked at the smile on her daughter's face.
In this life, she finally prevented her daughter from going astray.
As Shen Guizhen spoke, her voice grew softer and softer.
His tone was hesitant, and a faint unease appeared on his face.
"Guizhen, are you trying to talk about Yang Juanhua?"
Shen Cuifen saw through her daughter's thoughts at a glance.
Shen Guizhen's face flushed red instantly.
After a long while, he nodded slightly.
Shen Cuifen knows her daughter all too well.
From childhood to adulthood, Guizhen would act this way whenever she encountered something embarrassing or difficult to talk about.
Avoidance, silence, biting lip.
"Mom, do you want to hear it? If you do, I'll tell you; if you don't, we won't talk about it."
Shen Guizhen raised her head, a hint of hesitation in her eyes.
"Listen! Zhongshun's injection isn't finished yet, let's listen to the commotion!"
As Shen Cuifen spoke, a smile appeared on her lips.
Judging from her appearance, Yang Juanhua must be up to her old tricks again.
This kind of thing happens every few days in the village.
But every time something goes wrong, a bunch of jaw-dropping details always come out.
"She took Lu Zhonghe and moved into Er Laizi's house!"
Shen Guizhen spoke in a low voice, almost whispering in Shen Cuifen's ear.
"Grandpa even ran over to stand up for him, but Grandma grabbed a broom and hit him so hard he got a bump!"
"Now Grandma has declared that she wants to divorce Grandpa!"
The moment those words were spoken, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Divorce has always been a big deal in the village.
Especially for couples who have been married for decades, once they have a falling out, it becomes known throughout the whole village.
"Everyone in the village is saying that Lu Jianguo and Lu Shuixian are the children of our great-grandfather!"
Shen Guizhen's voice went even lower.
"He can't even get into his own home now."
Upon hearing this, Shen Cuifen immediately sat up straight and glared at her.
"Did your great-grandfather move in with your grandma?"
Shen Guizhen stood up abruptly, her eyes wide open.
"Mom! How did you know?!"
Shen Cuifen rolled her eyes inwardly.
A family where the men are promiscuous and the women work themselves to the bone.
The child is acting strangely, and the grandson might not even be his biological child.
It's even more exaggerated than a TV drama.
"Why are all the men rushing out into the world these days?"
She muttered under her breath, her tone full of sarcasm.
Li Xiao'e had a fiery temper, yet she bore seven children for Lu Guirun.
She manages everything at home and outside, and has never complained of being tired.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
