Upon hearing this, Director Wang flew into a rage. "Qi Zhifang, what are you shouting for? Don't you know how the old lady got sick?"
Qi Zhifang's face darkened. "That was Wang Fang who made me angry, not me!"
Director Wang was furious at these shameless words. "She wasn't born? You gave birth to her but didn't raise her! And you still have the nerve to talk back? Besides, how many days have you taken care of the old lady since she got sick? Did you contribute a single penny to the nursing home? You're not even as good as Wang Dong and Wang Hong! Those two siblings at least know to come and visit their elderly relative!"
And you? Do you think I don't know what you've been doing out there? The public's eyes are sharp! If it weren't for the lax enforcement these past few days, someone like you would have been in jail long ago!
In a fit of anger, Qi Zhifang shamelessly declared, "I don't care anymore! Whoever she gave the house to, who will handle her funeral arrangements!" and then left.
Director Wang ignored him and took out a deposit slip, saying, "Your mother saved 78 yuan. Qi Zhijun and Wang Dong each got 30 yuan, and Wang Hong got 18 yuan. This is how the old lady divided it up."
Tears streamed down Qi Zhijun's face as he hoarsely called out, "Mom! Mom!" He was unfilial while alive, and now he's making a fool of himself in death. The nurse, Director Wang, and Li Qiuxiang all scoffed, utterly disapproving of this spectacle.
Qi's mother passed away just like that! Each family contributed two yuan to buy an urn and bury her ashes.
Life is already too fleeting, why bother scheming and striving? We live no more than thirty thousand days, merely borrowing a physical body; in the end, we are empty-handed, taking nothing with us. Why cling to anything? Even with thousands of houses, a bed only needs three feet of space. Even with millions of strings of cash, you can't take a single penny with you after death. Even with thousands of clothes, you can't wear them all until you die; only worn-out garments are truly clothes, and only those who grow old together are truly husband and wife.
Qi Zhijun finally came to his senses, but it was too late. Zhao Aiguo, completely unaware, had gained another elderly and impoverished child. When Director Wang brought Qi Zhijun to the Party School to find him and help him transfer the property deed, he was still feeling guilty. He wasn't family! Could he really ask for a house? Besides, he didn't need a house himself!
Director Wang said, "Little Zhao! Before the old lady died, she said this house would be yours!" Actually, at that time, Qi's mother was already having a hard time speaking. She had a second half of her sentence that she didn't make clear, which was that she wanted Zhao Aiguo to change his surname to Qi and return to his ancestral home, but no one heard it! They only knew that she wanted to give the house to Zhao Aiguo.
Zhao Aiguo said shyly, "Is this okay?"
Qi Zhijun said in a low voice, "It is his kind gesture after all. The only question is, can you rent this house to me?"
Zhao Aiguo nodded in agreement! He didn't actually want it at all, but under their persuasion, he still went through with the transfer. When he got the property deed, he was in a dilemma. He didn't dare tell his family about it. He remembered that his grandparents and parents' faces turned sour when they heard about the Qi family. His grandparents and parents were so angry that they cried.
When I got home, I thought about it for a long time and put it in the cabinet with my comic books, then locked it up.
What is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not, you cannot force!
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