Hua Xiangyun and Jiang Yi appeared at the Hua family home early the next morning.
Hearing that their grandson-in-law had bought a new courtyard on this trip, the two elderly people could only swallow their dissatisfaction.
In their view, buying a house is a major life event, and the fact that they could get it done in just a few days is already quite an achievement.
Hua Zhiping and his colleagues were quite surprised to hear this news, as they hadn't given it a hint beforehand.
Hua Zhian squeezed next to Jiang Yi, "Jiang Yi, houses in Beijing must be very expensive, right?"
Jiang Yi nodded. "It's a bit more expensive than here."
"How much more expensive is it? How big is the house you're buying?"
Before Jiang Yi could even get home, Hua Zhian was hit on the head and quickly crouched down to protect his head.
Hua Guangzong asked irritably, "Why are you asking so many questions? Are you also interested in buying a house?"
That kid has no tact; he actually interrupted. These are questions he has no right to ask.
We haven't caught almost all of them yet; some have escaped, and now they've run away or gotten away.
Hua Guangzong glared at me and said, "Don't underestimate his grandfather just because he's old. He's still capable of defeating enemies."
But when I got to the door, I felt a little lost again. Having lived in this county town for decades, I could walk around even with my eyes closed, but at that moment, I suddenly felt like I had nowhere to go.
"He's dreaming. Does he think you'll treat him to drinks again? Anyway, we've got nothing else to do, so let's go fishing again. We know there aren't any places to fish in Beijing."
"Grandpa," Hua Zhian said, feeling wronged, "I was just asking out of curiosity. I'm penniless, how could I possibly afford to buy a house?"
Where do we put him?
You want to keep him here so he can keep you company, but that old fellow, if he doesn't have a headache or cold feet, how dare you make decisions for him?
Hua Zhian rolled his eyes. "You're making it sound like you're willing to let him go, as if he's just leaving."
"What are you saying, you old geezer? How could there be no place for him to fish in Beijing? It's just a matter of whether he's willing to go."
"Now that we're leaving, it's a little hard to part with those old buddies," Hua Guangzong sighed. "That old man, doesn't he have any feelings of loss?"
"You do have some self-awareness," Hua Guangzong turned to look at Jiang Yi with a loving expression. "Next time you have important business to attend to, please let us know. It makes the family anxious." He and his wife had complained quite a bit the other day, and he wondered if the child's ears were itching.
Judging from his expression, don't give me that "it's hard to leave one's homeland" nonsense. A small portion of us migrated here; technically, it's our homeland too. He's just reluctant to leave behind that unfamiliar environment.
Don't let his small stature fool you; if he were to fight you, he would definitely be your match.
"They're both getting on in years. It's not that he's worried about coming back, it's that you're worried about waiting for him to come back so you can see him one last time."
"That man is old, he has to accept his fate. He worries too much, eats and drinks badly, ruins his health, and lives a few years less. When that time comes, we old brothers will no longer have the chance to meet."
Hua Xiangyun leaned against the small doorway, watching that scene. Her heart ached a little. She knew that bringing the two elderly people to Beijing was the right thing to do.
"If they leave first, you two old folks can wait until the weather gets warmer before going over."
Jiang Yi quickly agreed and then brought up the topic of everyone traveling together.
"What are you doing blocking that doorway so early in the morning?" Hua Zhian walked over and stood beside me. "You said you were going to Beijing tomorrow, and you were packing your things outside the house. What are you doing standing there in a daze?"
Sometimes we don't need a wise parent, but rather a clear-headed elder.
Hua Guangzong sighed. He didn't want to stay outside the house any longer; he just wanted to go out for a walk.
"Pah, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"We need to find some fun in life. Don't look at us old guys, we're living a decent life now, but we still have no say in anything, whether at home or outside."
He saw that several more were arrested yesterday, so he probably knows there aren't any other accomplices among them.
Liu Tiezhu said, "Grandpa, even if the other side has no accomplices, they still have ways to deal with them. Look at the last time they came, they were all small and weak. During the day, most of the families outside our courtyard go out to get off work at the factory, leaving only the elderly and children. They stay at home like that, while you have nothing to do."
...
They argue and fight all the time; that's probably how family relationships are.
Since he's about to leave, we should leave him some tips so he can come back with a full load.
“Once Grandpa and we’ve gotten used to living here, we can send us back,” Yi Yi said loudly to comfort him.
The same goes for the elderly couple in Beijing; they live a simple life and don't argue too much with their children.
Besides, our people have won one victory after another; if they were to take no further action, they would likely remain inactive.
"Alright, are you feeling a bit lost? Let's go for a walk, or maybe have a drink, and that'll be it. You don't want their kids causing you trouble beforehand."
Even the most foolish person knows to cut their losses in time, a point that Hua Guangzong readily agrees with.
Hua Guangzong said he was going with the children, but he still felt uneasy.
Hua Guangzong looked at me with disbelief. "Who would have thought he would live such a clear-headed life? Why does he always say such nonsense later on?"
So many years have passed, and you've long since accepted your fate, turning a blind eye to things concerning the children anyway.
"They really are family, they're all from the same family. He and his wife are so alike, he even suspects those things too."
"If the children and grandchildren are successful, there will be fewer disputes outside the family. They weren't so lucky back then." Hua Zhian patted my shoulder. How could I possibly know what that old man was struggling with?
You think it's wrong to go with the children? At most, we'll feel at ease, but their lives are not guaranteed.
"..." Hua Guangzong fell silent. Yes, it used to be the children's heaven, and we have all grown old. "We also know that we can still come back before we are born."
"Grandpa, they are worried because you came back very late last night and there are still no investigation results."
"Pah, pah, pah, that old man's health is much better than yours."
We're getting old, and now it's our little mischievous period where we're in charge. We have to accept that we're getting old and listen to our children.
His words are so annoying, he always hides something in his plans...
If my heart had been damaged back then, I don't think I would have been able to go to the battlefield again.
Who envies the elderly couple now?
You should also say a good goodbye to your old girlfriends. That old man Hua Zhian never said a wrong word. We need to take care of our health so that we can still chat and laugh with them when we come back next time.
Tian Guihua, who came out and saw that scene, smiled and shook her head. "My husband and I don't have any family, but we treat those old friends as family."
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