Chapter 144 Silently
One by one, relatives from near and far came to visit Yao Deyi, once or twice...
Yao Deyi went from being able to walk a little by holding onto the wall or with Yao Weimin's help each day, to eventually becoming completely bedridden, and from being able to eat only liquid food to relying on IV drips to survive. Initially, they went to the hospital for checkups, but later doctors came to their home every day.
Yao Fanghua simply moved back to Beijing with her son and nanny.
Recently, Yao Weiguo has actually gone out of the house and started taking turns keeping watch with Yao Weimin.
Since returning to the city, Yao Weiguo has become like a sheltered young woman who rarely leaves her home. In previous years, she would sit by the window, engrossed in her books. Now, with no hope of further education, she remains indoors, still engrossed in her books, though it's unclear what she's reading. She doesn't work, doesn't socialize, and hardly speaks, perhaps only to Zhang Xiuxiu and the children. They say that stillness breeds restlessness, but Yao Weiguo seems to show no sign of wanting to move.
Even when he steps out of the house and into the next room, he keeps a long face and remains silent.
Li Chunying cursed inwardly a thousand times: Who's he trying to impress with this grotesque display of grief? His father isn't even dead yet; he can wait until he dies to come out and annoy people! But she couldn't be bothered to say anything. Her son had finally stepped out the door, and if she said a few words, he'd retreat back inside. Li Chunying truly felt like she'd given birth to a bastard.
With a caregiver present, Yao Fanghua doesn't need to do anything when she comes to work each day.
When Yao Deyi was awake, he would keep him company, listening to operas and reading the newspaper. When the weather was nice, he would even push his bed out to bask in the sun. He would chat with Li Chunying, Yao Weimin, and Aunt Zhong.
That day, Yao Deyi woke up and wanted to listen to the opera he hadn't finished watching the day before. Yao Weimin turned on the tape recorder, and Li Chunying turned down the TV volume. Yao Fanghua, meanwhile, was reading a book.
Yao Weiguo stood directly in front of Yao Fanghua.
"I want to go out and work, preferably in an office."
Yao Fanghua was surprised. Yao Weiguo hadn't spoken to her and her siblings for so many years. Was this... a breakthrough? Was this... finally willing to take a step forward instead of hiding his true feelings?
Clearly, Yao Weiguo had mustered up a lot of courage to come to her and ask for a job.
But, I'm really sorry, she simply can't afford to hire someone like Yao Weiguo. Let alone office work, she wouldn't even want someone like Yao Weiguo for menial tasks.
"Brother, there are no suitable spots available right now."
Yao Weiguo was shocked to be rejected so ruthlessly. His chest heaved with anger, and he felt utterly humiliated. He turned and left, slamming the door shut behind him.
Li Chunying and Yao Weimin watched and listened intently from the sidelines, but they were both busy with their own affairs and didn't say a word.
After Yao Weiguo left, Li Chunying muttered to Yao Weimin, "What's gotten into him?" He still wants a job, preferably an office job, as if his sister is a wishing well. If you want a job, at least lower your expectations and attitude first. Li Chunying shook her head, thinking her son was hopeless, arrogant and unrealistic...
In June, the weather grew increasingly hot. Yao Deyi was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
When Yao Deyi woke up, he was barely breathing and had become emaciated. He murmured that he wanted to go home.
He knew he was dying, and he wanted to go home, to die there.
In the end, Yao Deyi went home.
Wu Peng had already arrived with his daughter. Seeing Yao Deyi's condition, he knew that Yao was only holding on for a few more days; he was definitely not going to make it. This was how he had seen several of his closest relatives pass away.
A few nights later, Yao Fanghua suddenly woke up, gasping for breath. She had dreamt of Yao Deyi, dreamt that he was looking at her from above, and that he told her he didn't want to die.
Yao Fanghua felt a pang of panic and quickly got up to put on her clothes.
Wu Peng woke up as well, "What's wrong?"
"Go home and visit,"
Wu Peng got out of bed, cleared his head, and went to drive.
The two told the nanny what they needed to do and hurried to the courtyard. Sure enough, the lights were on in the courtyard.
Li Chunying called Yao Fanghua and learned that Yao Fanghua had already left and was on her way. Li Chunying wondered who had called Yao Fanghua in advance.
Yao Fanghua and Wu Peng entered the house, where Yao Weimin and Yao Weiguo's family were already standing in front of the bed. Soon after, Yao Fangyuan and Zhong Er also arrived.
Yao Deyi's face was ashen. He opened his eyes slightly for a glance, then closed them again. He left without a sound.
Li Chunying held Yao Deyi's hand, and Yao Fangyuan cried out "Dad!" before rushing to the bedside and bursting into tears.
Zhang Xiuxiu's loud wailing completely woke up the alley.
What does it feel like to lose a loved one? Without a doubt, it's painful, an unspeakable feeling of suffocation, and helplessness.
She somewhat understood why the older generation was superstitious; perhaps they wished that their deceased relatives had truly gone to another world and were doing well there.
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