Looking at the three little ones lying by the hospital bed with their cheeks puffed out, Jiang Peitian sighed and thought, "Isn't the point of living a few years to have a large family and someone to rely on in old age?"
He struggled to pull Jiang Chengjin onto the bed and held her in his arms:
"Look how much I love my grandson. Don't worry about it. Grandpa will be discharged from the hospital in a couple of days."
Wen Zhaoye sat on the sofa and said with a smile:
"See? You didn't treat your wife well when you were young, and now that you're sick, no one's even pushing your wheelchair."
Since settling the ownership of the property two years ago, Qi Meijing has never returned to the Jiang residence and has instead begun traveling all over the country.
Jiang Ci was away at university and rarely came home, so he was basically alone at home.
He's getting old and doesn't enjoy romantic relationships anymore. He gave all his lovers severance pay and never contacted them again. As for his illegitimate daughters, he simply gave them a sum of money for child support and never asked about them again.
During the day, he manages the company, and to spend more time with his grandson, he usually eats at Wen Zhaoye's place. But when he returns alone to the vast and cold Jiang residence, he still feels a sense of loneliness.
It's ironic, really. In my youth, I partied every night, but in my old age, I feel a deep sense of desolation countless times at night.
He sighed softly and said, "From now on, I won't go back to the Jiang residence. I'll stay at your place so I can see my grandson day and night."
Wen Zhaoye had heard him mention this request before, but in order to make him suffer the consequences and realize that only the person beside him in bed is the most important person in his life, he had refused. Now, seeing him like this, he couldn't bear to refuse him again.
He didn't say anything.
Wen Jiaojiao initially wanted to suggest that he win Qi Meijing back, but then she realized that Qi Meijing had spent her entire life in loneliness and suffering.
If she ultimately forgives Jiang Peitian, it would be too lenient on him, and a woman's best years would have been wasted in the end.
Therefore, rather than reconciliation, it would be better to let Jiang Peitian be in a state of repentance, while Qi Meijing has come to terms with life and now is the time for good days to come, so there is no need to waste any more time on him.
The three were chatting when Jiang Ci walked in: "Dad, I heard you're sick."
The three little ones said in unison:
"Bubu".
Jiang Ci smiled and said:
"Oh, so good."
Deep down, Jiang Peitian still loved and cared for this daughter, simply because she was his only child who grew up by his side.
Although he had wished countless times that she were a boy, he hadn't treated her badly because of it, and he chuckled:
"Xiao Ci, Dad was just about to ask you, how are things going with Hua Sheng?"
Lin Huasheng was Jiang Ci's childhood sweetheart and Jiang Peitian's preferred son-in-law since they were young. He was a steady and reliable man with a strong sense of career ambition. A man's time and emotional space are limited.
A man who is solely focused on his work is only afraid of the impact of scandals on his career.
So since her heart is filled with her career, she naturally won't indulge in frivolous pursuits. However, this is both good and bad for Chiang Ci.
Jiang Peitian is indeed a scumbag, but he can also tell at a glance whether the other party is in cahoots with him. This is the best path, and the only path, that he has arranged for Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci was obedient from a young age, and in the end, she did not disobey her father's orders to associate with a man whose appearance was far inferior to Zhou Jinyan's.
She said sincerely, "It's still the same as when I was a child, always talking about the economy and career."
Every day when we're together, all they do is pull out books and teach me how to manage and operate, and then they tell me a bunch of people's turning points in life. It's incredibly boring.
"Jiang Ci, I'd rather find a man who teaches you to grow than get involved with someone who just protects you," Jiang Peitian said gently.
Jiang Peitian once again launched into his familiar sermon:
The knowledge I teach you will only make you stronger, and in the future, you may even be able to stand on your own.
But if the person who was protecting you decides to stop protecting you, you'll be like a fish on a chopping board, weak and pitiful, completely at their mercy.
Wen Zhaoye always felt that these words implied something about him, because he simply wanted Wen Jiaojiao to stay at home, for no other reason than...
The main concern is that Wen Jiaojiao's dazzling presence might lead her to be infatuated with some young man and cause her to abandon her husband and children.
Over the years, every time I've criticized Jiang Peitian, I've also hoped to brainwash Wen Jiaojiao and teach her to behave herself, otherwise she'll end up like Jiang Peitian when she gets old.
He interjected, "If the person who was protecting you abandons you one day, it only means that they were never really there to protect you in the first place. So you still need to find someone who is truly sincere."
Before Jiang Ci could speak, Jiang Peitian clicked his tongue twice and said:
"You're quite suspicious, but I didn't mean to say that about you."
Wen Zhaoye felt relieved.
"Go on, and let my baby hear it too, it's all the truth."
Jiang Peitian chuckled softly, then lowered his gaze to look at the little girl beside the bed and said:
"Grandpa will definitely find a partner for our precious baby a long time ago."
Wen Zhaoye also became interested and reminded him:
"It has to be perfect in every way, otherwise it's not good enough for my baby."
Jiang Peitian: "Alright, alright, I understand. You can take the child back. I'll be discharged in a couple of days, and it's not good for the child to stay here any longer."
Wen Zhaoye stood up and prepared to leave with his wife and children, when Jiang Ci spoke up:
"Brother, I'll come to your house for dinner later."
The Jiang residence was deserted and lacked any sense of home; she didn't want to go back.
"If they're coming, they're coming. There's no need to say hello."
After Wen Jiaojiao finished speaking with a smile, she took her two sons' hands and left, with Wen Zhaoye carrying Wen Bao'er and following behind.
After Jiang Peitian and the others left, he said:
“You’re not getting any younger, just marry Hua Sheng. His dad mentioned it to me last time, and I agreed immediately.”
He was afraid that if the two of them stayed here, they would go along with Jiang Ci's wish to wait before getting married, and then criticize him, so he could only send them away to talk.
Jiang Ci couldn't quite describe her feelings for him; she couldn't categorize them as dislike either. She was indeed considering waiting before getting married.
She refused, saying, "Dad, I'm still too young to get married."
Jiang Peitian said earnestly:
"At 22, she's not young anymore. Besides, some people are already 24, and their families are pressuring them to get married."
"If his father and I hadn't arranged for you two to marry years ago, Hua Sheng might have already married another girl."
Jiang Ci replied without hesitation:
"Then let him get married. I'd rather never get married in my life."
Just then, a voice came from outside the door:
"Uncle Jiang, since Xiao Ci doesn't want to get married now, let's wait two more years. It's fine."
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