To prepare for his mother's birthday banquet, Chu Fang spent almost the entire day making a large table full of delicious dishes, which were laid out as night fell.
As the birthday girl, Chu's mother had no smile on her face. She looked at everyone in the Chu family, trying to imprint their faces in her mind.
"Yes, yes."
"Yes," Chu Yi replied.
"Sing me a song about selling wine."
"Huh?" Chu Yi touched his face.
Upon seeing Chu Fang and Chu's father nod, Chu Yi picked up her violin and began to play and sing, her sorrowful voice instantly enveloping the Chu family.
Chu's mother poured herself a glass of wine, drank it all in one gulp, and then said, "As you all know, I've been listless these past few days, and you've had many guesses. I'm sorry, things are as you think, I... I have lung cancer."
After Chu's mother finished speaking, the room became extremely quiet. She looked at all the family members, who were all staring at her, their expressions indifferent.
Why?
Something's not right.
Shouldn't you all weep and wail when I tell you this truth?
Why do you always look like this?
Is this news too explosive, so you haven't quite recovered yet? Let me repeat it again.
Chu's mother repeated herself, but everyone still had the same expression. This time, Chu's mother broke down, and tears welled up in her eyes: "You don't love me at all!"
Mr. Chu pulled out a tissue and wiped away his wife's tears: "We know."
"What do you know? You know nothing!"
Chu's father smiled and said softly, "When you went to the hospital to check for lung cancer, the person who diagnosed you was mentally ill, so he just made things up. You only had a cold at the time."
"Huh?" Chu's mother tilted her head.
Chu Fang presented various pieces of evidence: "This is the surveillance video from that time, this is the doctor's diagnosis, this is the diagnosis for a mental patient, and it is indeed a mental illness."
Chu's mother's eyelids rolled back, and she fainted.
Her thought a split second before she fainted was: "Oh no!"
... ...
Chu Fang then carried his mother back to the bedroom and covered her with a blanket.
The group then began celebrating the birthday. It was a birthday party without the birthday person, but it was still a day worth celebrating, as it was a celebration of the family members' safety and well-being.
After the women in the family finished eating, they went to watch TV and chat, leaving only the men at the dining table.
"This whole thing really scared me to death," said Chu Yongquan, the eldest brother, as he took off his t-shirt.
“Who says otherwise?” Grandpa said. “A few days ago, Chu Fang’s mother bought all sorts of nutritional supplements for us old folks and told us to take our medicine on time. I really thought it was what I was thinking, but it turned out to be a misunderstanding.”
"It's good that you're alright." The eldest uncle sipped his wine and then poured more for Chu Fang.
"Uncle, what are you doing?"
I'd like to offer you a toast.
Why?
The eldest uncle raised his glass: "Thank you. It is Chu Yi's honor to have you as her brother."
The eldest uncle knew that his daughter had entered the music industry, and he knew that Chu Fang had made a lot of efforts to help Chu Yi, not only with money, but also with heart and energy.
"I'm her brother, it's what I should do," Chu Fang said dismissively.
"I'd also like to toast you."
Upon seeing his uncle's determined face, Chu Fang then toasted with his uncle and drank it all in one gulp.
... ...
They drank until late at night.
Chu's father returned to the bedroom and patted the blanket: "Don't sleep, I know you've been awake for a while."
Chu's mother sat up abruptly and asked, "Why don't I have late-stage lung cancer?"
Hearing this, Chu's father chuckled: "You seem a little dissatisfied?"
"No, it's just that I've already prepared myself for death in every way possible, and suddenly being told it's not late-stage lung cancer is a bit hard for me to accept." Mother Chu hesitated for a moment, "The main thing is... ..."
Chu's father asked, "What's the most important thing?"
"The main problem is that wicked woman, Zhong Tingyue. After learning about my test results, she took advantage of my misfortune and forced me to sign an unequal treaty. How am I supposed to fight against such a wicked woman now?"
Actually, everything else was fine; Chu's mother could bear it. What she couldn't bear was the agreement she had signed with Zhong Tingyue.
That was a treaty that humiliated and ceded national sovereignty; even the treaties signed by Li Hongzhang were no better.
Chu's father shrugged, looking helpless.
Chu's mother sat cross-legged, fiddling with her phone, searching for ways to renege on the contract.
... ...
Chu Fang returned to his bedroom, gazed at the night sky, and a bright smile appeared on his face.
Just then, Zhong Tingyue sent a message.
[Wang Shu: Is Mr. Chu drunk?]
[Solo player in a dating game: I'm speechless.]
[Wang Shu: I don't believe it.]
[Solo player in a dating game: Don't believe me? Post a cool selfie, and I can point out where your hemorrhoids are.]
Wang Shu: ... ...
Zhong Tingyue and Chu Fang were sending various emojis when Jiang Wenzhen suddenly sent a message.
[Jiang Wenzhen: Sister Zhong, Sister Zhong, something terrible has happened!]
[Wang Shu: What is it?]
[Jiang Wenzhen: A studio opened next door; our competitor has arrived.]
Wang Shu: ... ...
Jiang Wenzhen: Can't you give me some kind of response?
[Wang Shu: What's the point of you sending this message?]
[Jiang Wenzhen: No, it was just for fun. I lost a bet with Guan Guan, and she made me say five meaningless sentences to you. This is the fourth one.]
[Jiang Wenzhen: This is the fifth sentence. Okay, Sister Zhong, goodnight and sweet dreams.]
Zhong Tingyue: "... ..."
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