Chapter 177 Mom, all these years, I think I've really been wrong.
"So, my sister only saw and heard you say you wanted to eat tangyuan (sweet rice balls), and mistakenly thought that Grandma went out for you."
Qin Shuzhi looked at her man and felt a pang of pain in her heart. She asked softly, "Then why didn't you explain back then?"
If he explains it, he won't have to bear this crime for so many years.
“After my mother’s accident, my sister couldn’t accept the fact and was seriously ill for about three months. During that time and after that, my grandmother wouldn’t allow anyone in the family, especially my sister, to mention my mother.
After that, Shi Qingman began to distance herself from him. At first, he didn't understand why, but later he realized that she blamed him for her mother's departure.
Shi Yuanxing lowered his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "What's done is done. No matter who Mom went out to buy things for, there's no point in pursuing it anymore."
No matter how much they argue, their mother will never come back.
As soon as Shi Yuanxing finished speaking, one of his hands was gently grasped. He turned his head and met the woman's distressed gaze. He forced a smile and said, "I'm fine."
So much time has passed. Although the pain and regret remain, it will never be like before, when thinking about that night brings heart-wrenching pain and remorse.
Every time he returned to that house before, it was a form of mental self-torture.
Standing in that room, he regretted countless times why he hadn't been more persistent back then. If he had been more stubborn and willful that day and stopped his mother from going out, that accident wouldn't have happened.
pity.
There are no "what ifs" in this world.
An accident happens, and that's that.
No one can change the outcome.
He lost his mother that day.
It means it's lost forever.
Shi Yuanxing had never told anyone about this past event before, but now that he had told Qin Shuzhi about it, the gloom that had accumulated in his heart for many years seemed to dissipate a little.
But he never intended to tell Shi Qingman the truth.
He's a real man, he promised his mother—
Since his mother wasn't home, he had to help her take care of his older sister.
This was the last thing he promised his mother, and he always kept it in his heart.
He was so angry in the study yesterday that he blurted it out.
But he didn't expect that Qin Shuzhi and Shi Qingman would be listening outside the door.
Seeing the deep look in his eyes, Qin Shuzhi couldn't help but lean closer and gently hug him.
She didn't speak, but for Shi Yuanxing, her embrace was the most powerful comfort, so he didn't speak either, but simply hugged her back silently.
*
Shi Mansion.
Shi Qingman locked herself in her room all night and refused to see anyone, but the old lady knocked on her door early in the morning. When she didn't open the door, the old lady stood outside and wouldn't leave. In the end, Shi Qingman had no choice but to open the door.
Looking at her pale and haggard granddaughter, Madam Shi felt heartbroken.
"You haven't eaten all night, so I asked the kitchen to make some hot porridge. Would you like some?"
Shi Qingman sat on the edge of the bed, clutching her most treasured ballet trophy tightly in her hand, her gaze unfocused, and she remained silent.
Seeing her like this, Old Madam Shi's eyes were filled with sorrow and worry. "Silly child, if your mother could see this from heaven, how heartbroken she would be to see you torturing yourself like this?"
She held Shi Qingman in her arms and lovingly stroked her hair. "Child, be strong. You must live a good life. That's the best way to comfort your mother, you know?"
Shi Qingman hugged her grandmother, buried her face in her body, and began to sob...
After some persuasion, the old lady finally got the man to eat something before leaving the room.
However, this is not the end of the story.
There is another person in this family who refuses to eat breakfast.
When Madam Shi arrived in the garden, she saw Shi Hongzhen sitting on the bench from a distance. Sunlight fell on his slightly hunched body, reflecting a sense of dejection, loneliness, and sorrow.
As she watched his retreating figure, Madam Shi suddenly realized that her son, who was always full of energy and seemed to be on steroids every day, seemed to have aged.
She walked over and silently sat down next to him.
The mother and son sat in silence for a long, long time. Suddenly, Shi Hongzhen spoke in a hoarse voice, "Mom, all these years, I think I really made a mistake."
Madam Shi turned her head to look at him, and saw him say with a face full of guilt and dejection, "I have always believed that a man can only be called a good man if he focuses on his career, achieves great things, and provides his family with the best life."
“But yesterday, when I went on my long journey, he said I had put the cart before the horse in my career and family, he said…”
Shi Hongzhen took a deep breath. "It was my neglect of my family and his mother that caused our family to fall apart."
In his mind, the ideal couple is one where the man is the breadwinner and the woman stays at home.
So he left the household to his wife, but he never expected her to take his busy schedule for granted, which ultimately led to this tragedy...
Over the years, he never knew that his wife's death was indirectly caused by his neglect. He even felt that after his wife left, no matter how many temptations he faced, he always kept himself pure, never touched any other woman, and never remarried, which was the most faithful thing he could do for his wife.
"I thought my life had been a success all these years, but only today did I realize... I've actually been a complete failure." Shi Hongzhen said self-deprecatingly, slowly looking at Old Madam Shi.
"For so many years, I've been single-mindedly focused on my work, neglecting my wife and causing her tragic death. Even now, I still only think about work, lacking care and companionship for my children, and even towards you... for so many years, I've rarely taken the time to show my filial piety..."
Over the years, he has wronged his mother, wife, and children too much.
Shi Hongzhen lowered his head in shame.
Even the most powerful figures in the business world only reveal such a vulnerable and genuine side to their mothers.
The old lady couldn't help but reach out and gently pat her son's shoulder to comfort him.
"You just push yourself too hard," she sighed. "But I can't really blame you."
Shi Hongzhen looked up and heard his mother say, "You have been influenced by your father since you were a child, so your words, actions and beliefs naturally follow his."
"Your father did put all his energy into his career, but that was because when he was in power, the Shi Group was in a critical stage of maintaining its business. He had no choice but to focus all his energy on the company in order to keep the family business in a stable position."
Madam Shi looked at Shi Hongzhen and said, "But when the family business was handed over to you, it was already in a stable stage, so your situation is different from your father's. You don't need to focus on your career."
“Over the years, I have repeatedly advised you not to be so tense, especially in the last two years. I have asked you to try to let go and delegate authority, so that Manman can gradually take over, but you just won’t listen.”
Shi Hongzhen blurted out, "Ke Yuanxing is the male heir of the Shi family and the future successor of the group. How can I relinquish power if he doesn't come back?"
"I don't like hearing that," said Madam Shi with a stern face. "What do you mean by boys and girls? They are all children of the Shi family, and they can all inherit the family business."
"You," the old lady poked his forehead, "How old are you? Still so old-fashioned. Who told you that the Shi family's business can only be passed down to male heirs?"
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