Chapter 60 Jiang Fengnian's Regret
The days passed in a flurry of activity. In June, Jiang Suining received a wedding invitation from Zhuang Hongjuan and Zhou Wei. The wedding was to be held on June 6th in their newly rented courtyard house near the kelp farm.
This small courtyard is not far from the fish farm, and you can smell the faint salty smell of the sea breeze.
The courtyard wasn't large, but it had been carefully cleaned. In one corner, there were some seashells and conches that Zhou Wei had somehow acquired, serving as decoration. There were no lanterns or decorations, only two small but eye-catching red "囍" characters pasted above the courtyard gate and the house door, announcing the festive atmosphere.
Zhuang Hongjuan's father had a special status, and the young couple were not well-off financially. Zhou Wei was unwilling to use his father-in-law's money, so the wedding was kept simple.
Jiang Suining and Lu Ye arrived rather late; a dozen or so people had already gathered in the courtyard, mostly colleagues from the seaweed farm and a few of Zhuang Hongjuan's friends. The atmosphere was lively but not noisy.
The groom, Zhou Wei, was wearing a brand-new Zhongshan suit with a small red flower pinned to his chest. His thin face wore a shy yet happy smile as he busied himself offering cigarettes to the guests.
The bride, Zhuang Hongjuan, wore a red polyester shirt and a long red skirt. Her long hair was styled in large waves and neatly pinned up at the back of her head, with a red phoenix tail flower tucked into the side. Her face was filled with the joy of a newlywed and a touch of shyness.
Her father, the usually stern-faced and upright leader, was unusually detached from his usual demeanor today. Dressed in casual clothes, he sat in a rattan chair in the courtyard. Although he didn't say much, he watched his daughter and son-in-law bustling around with gentle eyes, occasionally exchanging a few simple pleasantries with those who came forward to greet him.
Zhuang Hongjuan's daughter, Yueya'er, has grown quite a bit taller. She has two braids hanging down her shoulders, with red hair flowers tied at the ends, and is wearing a red dress.
Today is her mother's remarriage. Her stepfather treats her very well, and she is very happy, with a bright smile on her face. She often grabs candy and melon seeds to share with the children who have just arrived.
The wedding ceremony was as simple as it could be. There was no master of ceremonies; instead, an older woman from the farm presided over the ceremony, said a few words of blessing, and had the newlyweds bow to the farmer and then exchange vows. That was it.
The banquet was set up in the courtyard, with several borrowed square tables. The dishes included sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed fish, steamed clams, oyster and tofu soup, cold seaweed salad, several seasonal stir-fries, and a braised pork dish, which was already quite sumptuous.
Everyone sat together, eating and chatting happily, waiting for the bride and groom to toast them. The drinks were locally produced bulk white wine and orange soda, both of which were very refreshing.
Halfway through the meal, Lü Aiguo arrived. He had clearly just finished work, wearing an old military uniform stained with dust. He rushed into the courtyard, his voice preceding his arrival: "Sorry, sorry! Something came up at the construction site and I was delayed. I'm late! Technician Zhou, Comrade Hongjuan, congratulations!" His loud voice instantly attracted everyone's attention.
As a key member of the military's engineering team, Lü Aiguo was highly regarded by Commander Zhuang for his outstanding abilities. Today, he is attending the wedding as a junior colleague of the commander.
He walked straight up to Zhuang Fu, saluted, and smiled憨厚ly: "Commander, I'm late."
Father Zhuang nodded to him, a rare smile appearing on his face: "It's good that you're here. Find a place to sit and help yourself."
Lu Aiguo then turned to the newlyweds, offering his blessings and a small red envelope. He then looked around, trying to find an empty seat. His gaze swept over them and landed on Zhuang Lina, who had just come out of the house with two bottles of orange soda.
Zhuang Lina wore a light blue collared top today, exuding a calm and gentle temperament, which contrasted sharply with her sister Zhuang Hongjuan's cheerful and bright personality.
As a member of her family, she always helped entertain the guests. One table was short of a bottle of orange soda, so she went to the kitchen to get it. When she was almost at the table, she didn't notice a small, uneven stone under her feet. The thin heel of her high heel tripped her, and she immediately lost her balance. She let out a soft cry and was about to fall backward when the soda bottle in her hand almost flew out of her hand!
"careful!"
In the blink of an eye, Lü Aiguo, who was standing next to Zhuang Lina, stepped forward, firmly supporting Zhuang Lina's lower back with one hand, and nimbly scooping up the falling soda bottle with the other.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Zhuang Lina was still in shock when she felt a warm and reliable hand support her, and a reassuring force helped her regain her balance.
She subconsciously looked up and saw a dark, square face with a concerned expression, bright and focused eyes, and even fine beads of sweat on his forehead from rushing along the way.
Lu Aiguo looked down at the girl in his arms. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from fright, and her eyes were bright and moist like those of a startled fawn, carrying a hint of panic and helplessness. The girl looked familiar. Upon closer inspection, Lu Aiguo realized it was Zhuang Lina.
"Are you... alright, Comrade Zhuang?" Lü Aiguo was the first to react, quickly letting go of her waist and handing the plate back to her somewhat embarrassedly, his voice unconsciously softening.
"N-nothing, thank you, comrade." Zhuang Lina blushed even more, but when he called her "comrade Zhuang," she looked up at him and asked, "You, you recognize me?"
She realized she had asked a redundant question as soon as she finished speaking. She and today's bride were twins, and anyone who saw them would know that her surname was Zhuang.
“I recognize her,” Lü Aiguo explained. “Back when we were in military school, my senior sister was quite a prominent figure, but she didn’t recognize me.”
Zhuang Lina suddenly realized.
Although brief, this little incident was noticed by many observant people. Jiang Suining happened to be sitting opposite, taking in the whole scene. She gently nudged Lu Ye beside her with her elbow, giving him a knowing look. Lu Ye followed her gaze, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
Zhuang Hongjuan also saw it, and exchanged a smile with Zhou Wei beside her. Even Zhuang's father, who was sitting in the main seat, lingered between Lü Aiguo and his youngest daughter for a moment. Although he did not speak, his eyes became more profound.
Lu Aiguo took the opportunity to sit down in the empty seat next to Zhuang Lina. During the meal, he no longer talked and laughed loudly as when he first arrived, but instead seemed a little reserved, occasionally stealing a glance at Zhuang Lina who was eating quietly beside him.
Zhuang Lina seemed to be more silent than before, and she ate in a delicate manner. When her elbow accidentally touched Lu Aiguo's thick arm on the table, she would quickly pull her hand back as if she had been electrocuted, and her ears would quietly turn a blush.
The simple wedding banquet ended as the sun set, and everyone helped clear the dishes and bid farewell to the newlyweds.
When Lü Aiguo left, he deliberately walked up to Zhuang Lina and said in a much lower voice than usual, "Senior Sister Zhuang... I'll be going now."
Zhuang Lina looked up, glanced at him quickly, and nodded: "Yes, goodbye, Comrade Lü."
Under the moonlight, their eyes met again, and though it was only for a moment, they seemed to see a different kind of light in each other's eyes.
Jiang Suining and Lu Ye walked hand in hand on their way home, the sea breeze blowing, carrying a coolness and the faint sound of the tide in the distance.
"Today's wedding, though simple, was really nice, and," Jiang Suining said with a hint of a smile, "I think we might be able to drink wedding wine again soon."
Lu Ye naturally understood what she meant. Recalling Lü Aiguo's unusually awkward appearance and Zhuang Lina's rarely seen shy demeanor, he chuckled softly, "Who can say for sure about fate?"
“They’ve all found happiness,” Jiang Suining said with emotion. “You mentioned Mother and Uncle Zhong’s situation, shouldn’t I bring it up too?”
“Sure,” Lu Ye agreed with her, “but let’s talk to my older brother first. I see he’s busy at the construction site every day, so he’s probably still in the dark.”
“We should tell him,” Jiang Suining thought for a moment, “There’s no time like the present, let’s do it tomorrow at noon.”
Lu Ye squeezed her hand: "Yes, you decide. I will always support you."
***
It was nearly noon, and the machines roared at the construction site of the tidal cold storage facility. Workers sat in twos and threes in the shade, eating their lunch. Jiang Suining, carrying her lunchbox, found her brother Jiang Fengnian, who was squatting with several workers, eating his lunch.
"Brother, come over here for a second, I need to talk to you about something." Jiang Suining winked at him.
Jiang Fengnian wiped his mouth and followed his sister to a secluded spot behind the pile of building materials: "What's going on? Why are you being so mysterious?"
"Brother, there's something I want to discuss with you." Jiang Suining organized her thoughts and tried to speak tactfully. "Look, you're married now, and I'm doing well too. Our mother has worked hard for most of her life, and she's only in her forties. She has a long life ahead of her. Shouldn't we also think about her happiness in her later years?"
Jiang Fengnian rummaged through the food in his lunchbox without looking up: "Is that even a question? From now on, let Mom live with us. Ah Hong and I will definitely take good care of her and let her enjoy a peaceful and happy life."
“That’s not what I meant,” Jiang Suining said, choosing her words carefully. “I meant that Mom is still young, so shouldn’t we consider finding her a companion? Someone who understands and cares about her, someone to look after each other.”
Jiang Fengnian's chopsticks fell into the lunchbox with a "thud." He looked up abruptly, his eyes wide, as if he had heard something unbelievable: "Sui Sui, what nonsense are you talking about? Who are you looking for? Our father has only been gone for a little over ten years!" His face instantly darkened, and his tone was clearly displeased.
Jiang Suining's heart sank as she saw his sudden change in expression, but she still forced herself to say, "Brother, times have changed. I think Uncle Zhong is a pretty good person, and he cares about Mother..."
"Zhong the tailor?!" Jiang Fengnian stood up abruptly like a firecracker, his voice rising with anger, drawing the attention of several workers in the distance. "Him?! When did he... do something to Mother?!" His mind went blank, a surge of rage at the invasion of his territory rushed to his head, and his fists clenched instantly.
"Brother, calm down!" Jiang Suining hurriedly grabbed his arm. "I thought Uncle Zhong was a good person, so I mentioned it to Mother! Mother herself also thought so!"
She had thought that saying this would calm her brother down, but instead, her words only added fuel to the fire.
Jiang Fengnian flung his sister's hand away, veins bulging on his forehead. Pointing at her nose, he trembled with rage: "Jiang Suining! Are you crazy?! Father's remains are still not…", he realized he'd misspoke and quickly corrected himself, "How many years has Father been gone? And you're already in such a hurry to find Mother a new husband? How can you face Father? I think you've made too much money, and your mind has become too shrewd. You don't even care about ethics and morality anymore!" He spoke recklessly, completely disregarding that they were in a public place.
"Brother! How could you say that!" Jiang Suining was stung by his words and stunned. Seeing him about to leave, she came to her senses and anger rose in her heart. "I'm doing this for your own good, Mother! Be reasonable!"
"I'm unreasonable? I think you're all bewitched!" Jiang Fengnian roared, shoving her aside and trying to rush out. "I'm going to settle accounts with that old bastard!"
Jiang Suining grabbed him desperately, and the two siblings tugged at each other behind the pile of building materials, creating a tense atmosphere.
In the end, Jiang Fengnian was stopped by Jiang Suining and did not go to find Zhong the tailor, but he had a dark face all afternoon and exuded a low pressure that kept strangers away.
That evening, Jiang Fengnian returned home in a rage. Liu Hong was cleaning up in the kitchen when she noticed his expression and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Did you have a fight with someone?"
Jiang Fengnian ignored her and went straight into the inner room.
Jiang's mother was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), mending a work uniform with worn-out cuffs for Jiang Fengnian by the light of the lamp.
“Mother!” Jiang Fengnian stood at the door, his voice as stiff as a stone, “Sui Sui said you want to spend the rest of your life with that tailor Zhong? Is that true?!” He stared intently at his mother, his eyes filled with disbelief and hurt.
Jiang's mother paused, the needle nearly pricking her finger. She looked up at her son's ashen face and bloodshot eyes, her heart clenching. She lowered her head in a panic, her fingers unconsciously twisting the thread, her voice trembling slightly: "Da Nian, you...you don't panic, let me explain slowly..."
Hearing the commotion in the kitchen, Liu Hong quickly dried her hands and came in. Seeing her husband's accusatory look and her mother-in-law's flustered expression, she knew something was wrong. She gently tugged at Jiang Fengnian's arm and said, "Danian, talk to your mother properly. Don't shout."
"Speak properly? How can you speak properly?!" Jiang Fengnian shook off his wife's hand, his anger intensifying, his voice trembling with emotion. "Mother! My father! He worked himself to the bone for this family and passed away so early! You've only enjoyed a few days of happiness? And you're already thinking about other men? How can you face my father?! Can he rest in peace down there?!" He roared hoarsely, as if trying to shout out all the pain of his collapsing faith.
"Da Nian!" Jiang's mother suddenly looked up, her face turning deathly pale, her lips trembling. "How could you say that about your mother?! When have I ever wronged your father?" After more than a decade of hardship, she was met with such accusations from her son. Her heart felt like it had been ripped out, and tears welled up instantly.
Liu Hong also got anxious and shoved her husband hard: "Jiang Fengnian! What nonsense are you spouting! Apologize to your mother right now!"
"What am I supposed to apologize for?! Did I say anything wrong?!" Jiang Fengnian was furious and wouldn't listen to anything. His eyes were red as he looked at his mother's tears, feeling both pain and anger. He became even more reckless, "Did that guy surnamed Zhong give you some kind of spell? He's an old bachelor, penniless, good-looking, just a tailor! Are you that desperate for a man?! How can you expect us children to save face?! If the neighbors find out, they'll all gossip about us!"
She clutched her chest, feeling a piercing pain. Tears streamed down her face. Her son's foul language felt like a red-hot iron, searing her to the core. She had been tormented by her son's opposition, feeling guilty towards her children, but these cruel words shattered that guilt, leaving only boundless chill and despair.
Seeing her mother-in-law's pained expression, Liu Hong was both angry and heartbroken. She shouted at Jiang Fengnian, "Are you crazy, Jiang Fengnian! Look what you've done to your mother! Shut up!"
Seeing his mother's heartbroken state, Jiang Fengnian felt a little panicked, but his intense anger and stubbornness prevented him from bowing his head. He stiffened his neck, panted heavily, and turned his face away.
In the following days, the atmosphere at home dropped to freezing point.
Jiang's mother stopped going out and locked herself in her room, visibly growing thinner and thinner. Liu Hong took meticulous care of her, and privately tried to persuade Jiang Fengnian countless times, but he was as stubborn as a mule and refused to budge.
After waiting for several days at the clothing store without seeing Jiang's mother arrive, Zhong the tailor became extremely worried. Unable to bear it any longer, he took a bag of soft cakes that Jiang's mother loved and went to Coconut Grove Village.
He had just reached the entrance of the Jiang family's courtyard when he bumped into Jiang Fengnian, who was returning home from get off work.
Enemies meeting are bound to be furious. Jiang Fengnian's pent-up anger, which had been building up for days, suddenly surged to the top of his head.
"You surnamed Zhong! You dare to come here again!" He roared, like an enraged beast, and pounced on Zhong the tailor, punching him hard in the face.
Caught off guard, Zhong the tailor staggered backward, scattering the pastries in his hands all over the ground. He was old and a craftsman; he was no match for Jiang Fengnian, who had spent years doing manual labor.
"Da Nian, let's talk this out. What are you doing?" Zhong the tailor covered his face, momentarily stunned by the blow.
"What are you doing? What do you mean, what are you doing? You dare to lay a finger on my mother! I'll beat you to death, you shameless old man!" Jiang Fengnian's eyes were bloodshot, and he had completely lost his mind. His fists rained down, aiming at his face and body.
As he hit, he roared out all the resentment and twisted anger in his heart, his voice loud enough for the neighbors to hear: "You old widower! Do you think you can just come and live off us now that we're doing well?!"
"I'm telling you, dream on! My mother was born a member of the Jiang family, and she'll die a member of the Jiang family! Even in death, she'll be buried alongside my father!"
"Who do you think you are? A stinking tailor! A lowlife! You dare to step foot in the Jiang family's door?! Get out!"
"Weren't you up to no good all along? You tried to touch me inappropriately right here in the store? Huh?!"
These foul words, like the filthiest curses, not only severely humiliated Zhong the tailor, but also clearly reached the ears of Jiang's mother and Liu Hong, who were watching the commotion outside.
Liu Hong was talking to Jiang's mother when she heard the sounds of beating and cursing outside, along with those offensive words. Her expression changed, and she was about to get up when she saw Jiang's mother suddenly stand up.
Jiang's mother's originally pale face turned bright red, not from embarrassment, but from extreme anger and heartbreak.
Her son's extremely vicious words were like poisoned ice picks, shattering the last bit of hesitation and maternal tenderness in her heart caused by her concern for her son! She could tolerate her son's opposition, and she could grieve silently, but she could never tolerate him using such vile language to insult a person who was genuinely good to her and of good character!
Like an enraged lioness, she rushed out the door and saw that the tailor, Zhong, had been beaten black and blue, with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, but she still did not fight back and just silently endured it, while her own son was still hurling insults like a madman.
"Jiang Fengnian! Stop right now!" Jiang's mother screamed with all her might, her voice shrill. She rushed forward and stood in front of Zhong the tailor without hesitation, tears streaming down her face, her eyes blazing like knives at her son. "Hit him! You can beat me to death today! Hit him!"
Seeing his mother so resolutely protecting an outsider and glaring at him angrily, Jiang Fengnian lost his temper and blurted out, "Mother! You're still protecting him?! You've abandoned all your dignity and your son for such a despicable wretch?! You're really... really senile! You have no shame!"
"Smack!"
A resounding slap interrupted Jiang Fengnian's words.
It wasn't Jiang's mother who hit him; it was Liu Hong who rushed out after her. She was trembling with rage, pointing at Jiang Fengnian: "Jiang Fengnian! Are you even human?! How dare you talk to your mother like that?!"
Jiang's mother looked at her son, and the last bit of warmth in her eyes disappeared, turning cold and unfamiliar, carrying a kind of despair and calm that made Jiang Fengnian's heart tremble.
She spoke each word clearly: "Jiang Fengnian, listen to me carefully. From now on, I have no son like you, and you have no right to interfere in my affairs! I, Chen Fengying, am going to marry Zhong Zhiyuan! Whether you agree or not, I will still marry him!"
After saying that, she stopped looking at her son who was frozen in place, turned around, and carefully helped up Zhong Tailor, whose face was covered with injuries and whose eyes were complicated but also touched. Her voice was tired but unusually firm: "Brother Zhiyuan, let's go to the hospital."
Watching his mother support Zhong the tailor as they resolutely left, Jiang Fengnian covered his face and stood there stunned.
The evening breeze carried the faint whispers of his neighbors, jolting him awake. What inhuman things had he just said? How could he have insulted his mother and Master Zhong like that? "Foolish old man," "shameless," "despicable bastard"... these words echoed wildly in his mind, making him want to tear his own mouth apart! Overwhelmed by immense regret and panic, he collapsed to the ground, his legs giving way, clutching his head in his hands.
Jiang's mother stayed in the backyard of the clothing store that night, making it clear that she did not want to see Jiang Fengnian again.
Liu Hong stayed behind to take care of her mother-in-law. Seeing her mother-in-law's ashen face and her forced strength, she felt both angry and resentful towards her husband.
Upon receiving the news, Jiang Suining arrived at the clothing store. Seeing her mother's still troubled expression, she said softly but firmly, "Mom, don't be sad. Whatever decision you make, I will support you. You have sacrificed enough for this family. In your later years, you should live for yourself. My brother was confused for a moment and got stuck in a rut, but he respects and loves you in his heart. He just used the wrong method."
Jiang's mother sighed, took her daughter's hand, and tears welled up in her eyes: "Sui Sui, I know, but his words that day were like knives, stabbing my heart. It's not that I want anything, it's just that I'm heartbroken..."
Jiang Suining held her mother's hand, her nose stinging, her heart aching, and she wished she could go find Jiang Fengnian and beat him to his senses.
Jiang Fengnian spent his days alone in his empty home, feeling like each day was an eternity. He visibly grew thinner and thinner, sighing all day long, and making frequent mistakes at work.
He went to the clothing store several times, but Liu Hong stopped him at the door each time. "I don't want to see you now. Your words were too hurtful!" Liu Hong said with red eyes. "Da Nian, put yourself in my shoes. If our son treated me like this in the future, wouldn't you be heartbroken? I've suffered half my life. What's wrong with finding someone who cares about me? What's wrong with Uncle Zhong? Are you trying to force me to my death?"
Jiang Suining looked at her haggard brother, feeling both heartache and anger: "Brother, were you even speaking human language the other day? You broke Mother's heart! If Father knew how you treated Mother, would he be able to rest in peace? Don't you know what kind of person Father is? He definitely hopes that someone can take good care of Mother and make her life more comfortable in her later years!"
His wife and sister's words were like hammers, shattering Jiang Fengnian's ridiculous stubbornness and so-called face.
He recalled the hardships his mother had endured in supporting the family all these years, and the loneliness his mother would sometimes feel gazing out the window after he got married. Comparing this to his own utterly despicable and vulgar insults, tears of regret finally welled up in his eyes.
He ran desperately to the clothing store, knelt at the door of the inner room, and cried, "Mother... Mother... I beg you, please open the door and let me in to kowtow to you..."
Liu Hong glanced at her mother-in-law's tense profile and listened to her husband's hoarse and weary pleas outside the door, feeling both anxious and pained.
She subconsciously touched her lower abdomen, where a small life was growing, which she hadn't yet had a chance to announce.
That night, she originally wanted to tell her husband the good news, but unexpectedly, Jiang Fengnian, who came home late, got into a fight with his mother-in-law. The series of conflicts delayed the matter. At this moment, looking at the mother and son who were stuck in a stalemate, an idea rose in her mind.
She walked to Jiang's mother's side and gently persuaded, "Mother, Danian knows he was wrong. He's lost weight these days. Can you give him a chance to apologize in person? You can't really never see him again, can you?"
Jiang's mother turned her head away and remained silent, but her tightly pursed lips loosened slightly.
Jiang Suining also spoke up: "Mother, let my brother in. We need to talk things out."
After a long while, Jiang's mother nodded very slightly.
Liu Hong quickly went to open the door.
Jiang Fengnian staggered in. After not seeing her for several days, he was unshaven and his eyes were sunken. Seeing his mother's indifferent back, he knelt down with a thud, his voice choked with sobs: "Mother! Your son was wrong! Your son is not human! He is a beast!"
As he spoke, he kowtowed forcefully, his forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud. "I was out of my mind that day, spewing nonsense! I'm a worthless wretch! I've let down Father, and I've let you down even more! Mother, you can hit me, you can scold me, just please don't ignore me, your son can't live without his mother..."
He cried like a child, all his stubbornness and anger vanishing in endless regret.
As Jiang's mother listened to her son's sobbing, her shoulders trembled slightly, but she still did not turn around. The wound in her heart was too deep to be easily healed by a few words of repentance.
Seeing that his mother refused to forgive him, Jiang Fengnian felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He turned to the tailor Zhong beside him and was about to kowtow again: "Uncle Zhong, I'm so sorry! I'm a bastard! I deserve to die! Hit me, beat me up badly to vent your anger!"
Zhong the tailor quickly stepped aside, wanting to help him up but not daring to, and said awkwardly, "Get up, get up, no, it's over, let bygones be bygones."
The situation reached a stalemate for a moment.
Looking at her husband kneeling on the ground, unable to get up and suffering terribly, and then at her mother-in-law, who was tough but had a lonely back view, Liu Hong finally made up her mind.
She walked up to Jiang's mother, gently took her hand, and her voice trembled slightly with a hint of pleading:
These words, like a gentle clap of thunder, exploded in the small room.
Jiang's mother turned her head sharply, looking at Liu Hong in disbelief. Her gaze, filled with surprise and joy, fell on Liu Hong's still flat stomach: "You, you really mean it?" A crack finally appeared on her icy face, and a trace of grandmotherly love and joy quietly emerged.
Jiang Fengnian also suddenly raised his head, staring wide-eyed at his wife, as if he hadn't heard clearly: "Wife, you, you're pregnant?"
With tears in her eyes, Liu Hong nodded vigorously: "Yes, I wanted to tell you sooner, but..." She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood.
Jiang's mother looked at her daughter-in-law, then at her son kneeling on the ground, his face streaked with tears, yet also somewhat stunned by the news, and felt a mix of emotions.
The arrival of her grandchild was like a warm spring breeze, washing away the ice in her heart. She could harden her heart and not forgive her scoundrel son, but she could not refuse a new life that was about to arrive and that needed a complete family.
She let out a long, deep sigh, a sigh that seemed to wash away all her sharpness and coldness. She walked up to Jiang Fengnian, not to help him up immediately, but to look at him, her voice still weary but no longer cold: "Get up. You're about to become a father, what kind of behavior is this?"
The words, "You're going to be a father," were like a pardon, instantly bringing tears to Jiang Fengnian's eyes. He knew his mother had forgiven him, but instead of getting up immediately, he kowtowed deeply again: "Mother! Thank you, Mother! Your son will definitely be filial to you and Uncle Zhong from now on, and will never do anything foolish again!"
He quickly said to Liu Hong, "Hong, you've worked so hard. I'm so sorry for making you worry these past few days..."
Jiang Suining breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this scene and stepped forward to help her brother up: "Brother, remember today's lesson. Treat your sister-in-law well in the future, and be filial to Mother and Uncle Zhong."
"Yes, I've got it. I'll definitely do it." Jiang Fengnian nodded vigorously, secretly determined not to let his mother be sad again.
With the grandchildren as a strong bond, the rifts in the family began to heal quickly.
Although Jiang Fengnian was initially a little embarrassed in front of Zhong the tailor, he tried his best to adjust himself, began to call him "Uncle Zhong" and awkwardly apologized again for the fight that day.
Zhong the tailor was a kind and generous person. Seeing that Jiang Fengnian was genuinely repentant, he completely let go of his grudges.
Not long after, with the sincere blessings of family and several neighbors, Jiang's mother and the tailor Zhong held a simple banquet at Zhong's home and officially became husband and wife.
Jiang Fengnian and Liu Hong busied themselves with great care and attention. Seeing the long-lost, genuinely relaxed smile on Jiang's mother's face, the last bit of awkwardness in Jiang Fengnian's heart vanished, replaced by a sense of relief and happiness for his mother.
This turmoil, born of love, intensified by stubbornness, and ultimately resolved by the new life, made Jiang Fengnian fully understand that true filial piety is about making parents feel at ease and happy, and respecting their right as independent individuals to choose and pursue happiness.
The form of a family may change, but the warmth of blood ties and kinship will always be their most solid harbor.
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