But there's really nothing I can say about it; it's all the previous generation's business, so I'll just have to listen to their arrangements. Actually, I really don't like the old lady's things.
Others may not know, but the old lady knows exactly how much she owns. Although she is quite wealthy, her father wouldn't be happy if she gave it to him.
Liu Aimin invited Liu Changhai's family to the side room. "Third Uncle, have some hot water first. You're all getting on in years, don't get too excited."
"Aimin, where are your parents?"
"Third Uncle, calm down for a moment, I'll take you to see them."
After hearing his nephew's words, Liu Changhai thought to himself that his elder brother and sister-in-law should be in good health.
Why didn't the three of you greet you?
After exchanging a few polite words, Liu Aimin helped Liu Changhai to his parents' room.
Hu Aifen and Li Cuihua were keeping the elderly couple company, urging them to eat.
When Liu Changhai saw his elder brother and sister-in-law like this, he burst into tears again.
Actually, he used to look down on his older brother, but his sister-in-law was really good to him. He was only a few years older than Aimin, and back then, it was his sister-in-law who took care of him.
Liu Changhe and his wife were quite excited to see Liu Changhai.
They pulled him onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and the three old people sat together, shedding tears.
"Cuihua, take the six of them to eat. Aifen, go and prepare some food for Uncle San."
It took a lot of effort for the three elderly people to calm down.
"Changhai, your second brother passed away the year before last." Liu Changhe sighed.
"To be honest, if it weren't for waiting for my mother, I would have collapsed long ago. My sister-in-law and I are both extremely tired. We're afraid that one day we won't be able to open our eyes again, and our mother will have to bury her child."
"Big brother, big brother, you've had such a hard life all by yourself."
Liu Changhe shook his head, "I didn't feel it was hard. I'm truly content to be able to stay by my mother's side for the rest of my life."
"Brother, Mother is telling me to go back; she doesn't want me to wear mourning clothes for her."
Eldest brother, I know what our mother is thinking. Because of my selfishness and that of my second brother, Aimin wasted his whole life. Mother is afraid that Aimin and I will fight over the family property.
"Brother, don't worry, I swear, I won't take a single penny from the family. But could you please let me see Mother off on her final journey? Brother, is that alright?"
"Changhai, you can stay at home."
Hu Aifen reheated the food for the three elderly people and let them eat a few bites before leading the seven of them back to the prepared room.
Liu Changhai looked at his son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and son-in-law sitting in the chairs and said calmly, "If you want to stay, then stay; if not, then go back." None of the six spoke. "Dad, why don't we get a share of the old man's things?" the second daughter said indignantly.
"Because those are the old lady's things. If you don't want them, you can go back. The same goes for the two of you."
No one spoke in the room. Liu Changhai was old enough to have seen through things long ago. He was a smart man. He had been blinded before. How could he not know what the children were thinking?
Only now do I feel the sadness. I also realize that I truly hurt the old folks back then. I lay down, wrapped in the blanket, and stopped caring about them.
From the old lady's attitude, you can tell that she doesn't think much of her children.
It's also my own incompetence that led to raising my children like this.
The three siblings exchanged glances, then quietly went outside. They didn't dare discuss it at home, but instead went to a secluded spot on the street to talk.
"Brother, we're going back now, there's nothing for us to do."
"Fine, you can go back if you want. I'm staying. I'm still the grandson, no matter what."
"Yes, we'll leave tomorrow morning."
Zhang Hongmei and Liu Jingze stayed with the old lady; they were the two people the old lady valued most.
"Hongmei, you lie down for a while too, I'll keep an eye on things."
Zhang Hongmei shook her head, "Brother Jingze, I'm fine."
The next morning, Liu Jingze helped the old lady, and Zhang Hongmei fed her half a bowl of bird's nest.
“Hongmei, lie down and get some sleep. I’m fine. I haven’t seen Er Lengzi yet, but I can wait for him. You can’t stay up too late.”
"Grandma, I'm fine." Zhang Hongmei said, stood up, took out three small bottles of spiritual spring water from her bag, and fed the old woman one bottle.
She and Liu Jingze each had a bottle. "Great-Grandma, I'm going to give one bottle each to my great-uncle, great-aunt, uncle, and great-uncle. I'll be right back."
"Yes, go ahead. It would be a waste to give me something this good."
Zhang Hongmei knew that the spiritual spring water wasn't a panacea, and giving it to the three elderly people now wouldn't have any effect, but at least it could prolong their lives for a while longer.
Seeing that all four elderly people had drunk the wine, Zhang Hongmei was finally relieved.
Lu Jing entered. "Madam, the four young masters have already arrived in G City, and they should arrive tonight."
"Yes." Zhang Hongmei nodded with tears in her eyes.
“Hongmei, why did you bring the four children back?” Liu Aimin sighed.
"Uncle, the four children will be very disappointed if they find out that the old lady has passed away and they did not come back."
The four elderly people fell silent.
Li Cuihua and her two children still came to deliver food.
"Cuihua, you take care of the children's meals. You and the three of you can cook lunch here."
"Hmm, that works too, otherwise it'll get cold by the time it's served."
Sanya and her husband drove back themselves, but I reckon it will take them at least three days to get there.
"Okay, if I can make it in time to see the old man one last time, that's fine too. If I can't make it, it's still good to be able to send him off on Senior Citizens' Day."
"Sigh! It's just that Stone isn't good enough; he cried when he found out."
"There's no way around it, it's too far." Hu Aifen understood.
Zhang Hongmei returned to the old lady's room, where Xiao Wu and the other four children were.
Xiao Wu sat on the bed, holding the old lady's hand and trying to make her happy.
“Grandpa, this is my first time back to my hometown. Please get well soon so you can tell us about the village.”
The old lady smiled and said, "Okay, I'll tell you. Just wait for me to finish."
Liu Jingze gave his seat to the five children, who all gathered around the bed.
A short while later, Ping An and his six companions, along with Liu Qiang and his two brothers, also came in. Xiao Wu and the others stepped aside, leaving the seats for the nine of them.
Liu Jingze hugged Xiao Wu. "Son, take them to eat. Take care of yourselves."
"Godfather, you should also be careful."
In the afternoon, the married daughters of Liujiatun received the news and returned to kowtow to the old lady.
“Hongxi, tell them to go back home. They all have a lot of things to do at home, but I’m fine here.”
“Don’t worry about it, mistress. Everything will be arranged. The fact that they came to see you is their own thoughtfulness.”
In the evening, the old man seemed to be in much better spirits.
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