Hua Chongzhi looked at his wives and sighed, "It's just bad luck for our family. Why did it all happen at once? Today is the Little New Year, how are we going to get through this?" As he spoke, tears welled up in the old man's eyes.
Hua Kai pulled Gu Lanyan to stand behind. There was no need for Hua Kai to take the lead. They could just watch. If it was a matter to be shared by several families, they wouldn't shirk their share, but they wouldn't be superfluous either. They just needed to avoid gossip among the villagers.
But leaving isn't an option either; we have to stay here and wait for news.
At this point, Huo Yanping and Zhao Xiuzhi were both quiet, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.
After a while, Hua Zhongzhi also felt that the atmosphere was a bit uncomfortable, and said to them, "Why don't you go home first? It's the Little New Year today, and even adults can't not let the children eat. We'll let you know when we get news. It's not far."
Hua Kai had been waiting for these words. She said, "Grandpa is right. My mom just asked me to bring Grandpa some bone broth. I'll bring it over in a bit, and I should get a message by now."
Huo Yanping also wanted to go home: "Then let's go back and wait for the letter."
Hua Zhongzhi nodded: "Okay, let's go back."
Hua Kai and Gu Lanyan came out first, followed closely by Huo Yanping.
Once outside the courtyard, Huo Yanping said to Gu Lanyan, "Sister-in-law, now that our parents have been living with the fourth son and the family has separated, does that mean we can just abandon them?"
Gu Lanyan said, "Even if the family has separated, parents are still parents. How can they become neighbors? The fourth son and his wife should just take care of their food, clothing, and shelter. Illness is an accident, and we should still take care of what we need to take care of."
Huo Yanping curled her lips: "You have money and you're not afraid. So, our family was already poor, and with my parents having one accident after another, where are we going to get any money?"
Hua Kai said, "If you don't have money, just do your work to serve. Serving doesn't cost money, it's just a bit tiring. Those with money contribute money, and those with strength contribute strength. Isn't that fair?"
Huo Yanping didn't want to spend any money or effort, so she quickly went home after reaching her own doorstep.
Gu Lanyan sighed: "That's really selfish."
Hua Kai said, "Those are the kind of people my second uncle and aunt are. What good intentions can we expect from them? We don't need to pay attention to them. They wouldn't dare to ignore us, otherwise the villagers' spittle would drown them."
Hua Kai used to hate the feeling of having no secrets in the village, where everyone knew everything. She felt that life was too tiring, always being observed by others.
But now I suddenly realize that there are also advantages, namely that it is very effective in restraining people like Hua Wanhe.
If this were in the city, nobody would know anyone else, and he really wouldn't care about his parents, and nobody would know. But it's different in the village.
After Gu Lanyan and the others returned home and rested for a while, Hua Kai went over to deliver bone broth to Hua Zhongzhi.
Upon entering Hua Wanhai's kitchen, Zhao Xiuzhi was squatting in front of the stove, lighting a fire while wiping away tears.
Seeing the flowers bloom, she quickly wiped her eyes and said, "The flowers are blooming. Did you bring soup to your grandfather again?"
Hua Kai placed the soup on the stove and said, "Fourth Aunt, this soup is cold. Let's heat it up for Grandpa later."
Zhao Xiuzhi agreed, "Yes, I'll be hot in a bit." Then she looked at Huakai and said, "I always thought that people born of the same mother were close, so I always felt that I was close to your second and third uncles' families. Anyway, when nothing serious happened, I didn't think there was anything wrong with it. It wasn't until your grandfather came back from his illness that I realized how close we were. Apart from your family, no one came to help me take care of the old man. Huakai, to be honest, your fourth aunt really regrets it. I know it doesn't mean anything to say this now, but I'm telling the truth. I'm not asking you to help take care of your grandmother. Your grandmother isn't your biological grandmother, so it's understandable that you don't take care of her. Besides, she hasn't been good to you either. It's just that I really feel that your fourth uncle and I owe your family something."
Hua Kai could tell that Zhao Xiuzhi was truly repentant at this moment: "Fourth Aunt, let's not talk about the past."
Zhao Xiuzhi said, "Thank you, and thank you Mom too. Your fourth uncle and I really know we were wrong. We won't shirk our responsibility. If we were young, listening to your grandma was immature, but later we realized it was wrong and still bullied you like before, then we were wrong."
"Fourth Aunt, don't overthink it. Our family isn't foolish, don't worry. I'll go in and talk to Grandpa for a bit." Hua Kai didn't know what to say to Zhao Xiuzhi. If she were to ask for forgiveness, she couldn't do it, and she certainly couldn't make that decision for her parents.
However, she could also see that Zhao Xiuzhi had repented. At least one thing was clear: when the old man fell ill, she and Hua Wanhai did not shirk their responsibilities, which was quite commendable.
Zhao Xiuzhi knew that there was a reason why the other party didn't say forgiveness, so she didn't say anything else: "Then you can go in."
Hua Kai entered the house and sat down next to Hua Zhongzhi: "Grandpa, don't get angry, otherwise your injury will get worse."
Hua Zhongzhi said, "I know, but I still can't help worrying. You know, even if I get better, I won't be able to do heavy work. What if your grandma also gets sick? What will your fourth uncle do if there are two sick people in the family?"
Hua Kai said, "Then Grandpa needs to take better care of himself and recover as soon as possible, so that Uncle Si will have less pressure, right?"
Hua Zhongzhi nodded: "That's true. If I keep lying down, and if something happens to your grandma, with two of us lying on the kang, how will your fourth uncle survive? I originally thought that with so many sons, I wouldn't be afraid of no one taking care of me in my old age, but now... sigh, only your fourth uncle is alright. No matter what, he takes good care of me while I'm lying on the kang, providing me with the food and clothing I need. As for your second uncle, just consider him an ungrateful wretch. He used to come all the time, but now I can't see him at all. Your third uncle comes, but he doesn't do anything after he arrives, and your fourth aunt has to cook for him. It would be better if he didn't come at all."
Listening to Hua Chongzhi's nagging, Hua Kai knew that the old man was different now than before, and his mentality was different. However, the harm they had done to their family in the past could not be erased. Of course, all the good they had done for Hua Wanhe was wasted, and Hua Chongzhi had to bear all of this himself.
Upon hearing this, Hua Kai suddenly asked Hua Zhongzhi, "Grandpa, if our family were still so poor, and you hadn't been injured, would everything have changed? Would you think you were wrong?"
Hua Chong was speechless when Hua Kai asked him these questions, because even without these changes, he wouldn't have changed, since he had been doing quite well before.
He sighed deeply: "Sigh, I know I've made too many mistakes. Wrong is wrong, and I'm sorry to your family."
Hua Kai knew the answer too, and she sighed.
At this moment, Hua Wanjiang came running back and said to Hua Zhongzhi as he entered the house: "Father, Mother's condition has stabilized. It was a stroke, and she is out of danger. However, she may not be able to use her left hand and foot properly in the future."
Hua Zhongzhi paused for a moment and asked, "Is that hemiplegia?"
Hua Wanjiang nodded and said, "Sort of, but the doctor said that if I recover well, I can still get out of bed with crutches, so I won't be considered paralyzed. It's still good."
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