The commotion attracted everyone in the house. Everyone was frightened; what had happened? Why was the crying so heart-wrenching?
Everyone rushed into the house and was stunned when they saw the three people on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Liu Changhe's wife patted her chest and said, "Aifen, you can't cry on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Jingze rarely comes back even once a year. No matter how big the matter is, we can't bring bad luck to him. Stop crying now."
Hu Aifen's crying stopped abruptly. But she still sobbed like a wronged child.
"Mom, Jingze said he'll never get married? What should we do? What should we do? When he gets old, there will be no one to take care of him."
Everyone in the room fell silent. Liu Jingze slowly sat up.
"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, please get on the kang (heated brick bed). Everyone in the family is here today, so I'd like to take this opportunity to talk to you."
Hu Aifen roared, "What are you saying? What's there to say? I only want to hear about your plans to get married and have children."
Liu Aimin patted his wife on the shoulder and sat down next to her.
"Liu Jingze, you're so old, and this is how you show filial piety to your elders? We raised you with so much hardship, and this is the result of your disobedience and lack of respect?"
Liu Changhe and his wife also took off their shoes and got onto the kang (a heated brick bed).
Looking at the elderly woman sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), Liu Jingze felt a lump in his throat and almost burst into tears. He raised his head and said, "Great-Grandma, Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, please let me be willful just this once!"
Liu Jingze patted his chest. "It's empty inside me. I can't even feel my heart beating. I feel ice-cold all over, without any warmth. Mom, I'm unfilial. But please, one last time, have pity on your son and grant me this wish!"
I don't want to get married and have children because that person isn't her. Also, I feel that I'm not lucky enough to be with Hongmei in this life, so I'll wait for her in her next life, clean and pure.
She'll definitely choose me in the next life. God will see how sincere I am and grant my wish. So, please let me be willful just this once, okay, Mom?
Hu Aifen burst into tears after hearing this, and Liu Changhe's wife also shed tears.
The two men inside the room also had tears in their eyes. But looking at their son, who had always been the pride of the family, and their grandson's cautious demeanor, neither of them said anything.
My child is all grown up. She's always been exceptionally obedient, intelligent, and thoughtful. Why then has she faced so many difficulties in her love life?
Hu Aifen cried her heart out. Liu Jingze moved over, hugged her, and gently patted her back.
The old lady sighed, "Jingze, you're scaring Hongmei and making her feel guilty."
"So don't tell her, don't look for her. I'm quite comfortable living on my own. You see, in our family, my grandparents and parents all love each other, but my second and third uncles' homes are always in chaos."
I don't want that kind of life. I want a marriage based on love.
“Jingze, your grandmother and I had never met before we got married. Your parents were a little better off than us; they had met before the wedding, but they didn’t really know each other. We only got to know each other little by little after the wedding, and that’s how our feelings developed.”
Your second and third uncles were both cultured men who believed in free love. Yes, they did choose their own partners, but so what? When their so-called love lasted, it couldn't withstand the test of time. The more they loved each other then, the more they regret it now!
Liu Changhe had never said anything so reasonable.
“Grandpa, those are them. I am not my second or third grandfather, and Hongmei is not one of those two selfish and ignorant women.”
Give me my freedom, let me wait for Hongmei. In my next life, I will definitely stay by her side early and bring her to our home.
Dad, I really believe in fate now. I have a feeling that my destiny with Hongmei hasn't arrived yet, so I'm going to cherish it. I'm going to wait for her, and I'm sure I'll be able to meet her in my next life.
I want your approval, and I don't want you to be unhappy, but please don't pressure me. You know I've always been a person of principle, and I won't compromise.
As for your concerns about my future care, that's easy to solve. One of Hongmei's children will definitely call me godfather. I'll definitely win him over, and he'll be the one to take care of me in my old age.”
The elders in the house were astonished to hear this. How could their proud and arrogant child say such humble words?
Hu Aifen truly resented her son and Zhang Hongmei in her heart, but she resented God even more. Since they were not destined to be together, why did God let her son get involved? Why did God arrange for them to meet?
The room was unusually quiet, except for Hu Aifen's sobs.
Half an hour later, the old lady suddenly spoke up, "Jingze, I agree. You can live however you want!"
The others on the kang (heated brick bed) remained silent, but they were all very unhappy.
"Thank you, Great-Grandma. I thank my family for their forgiveness once again. Mom, I haven't changed; I'm still your son."
Hu Aifen just wiped away her tears and didn't say anything. The others didn't speak either.
"Grandma, I took the negative of this photo; I'm going to develop it. It contains photos of my family."
The old lady said nothing more. "Do whatever you want. You're too old for me to control."
The atmosphere in the room was particularly heavy. No one spoke, and Liu Jingze felt this wouldn't do. He felt he should say something to cheer them up.
"Grandma, Zhang Shouyi came to me and said that the foreigners helped Hongmei bring back money this time, and they want to demolish all the houses in our village and build two-story buildings instead."
The old lady was shrewd and experienced, and of course she knew Liu Jingze's intentions.
"Hongmei told me this before she left. She told me that I would definitely be able to live in a small villa."
Jingze, Hongmei is studying away from home and has to find ways to earn money. You must be a strong support for her at home.
"I know." Liu Jingze laughed self-deprecatingly. "With my qualifications, there's no way I would have had this opportunity. I received Hongmei's letter. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have been able to get involved in this."
The old lady patted Liu Jingze on the shoulder. "That's because she trusts you. She can confidently entrust her back to you."
Liu Jingze nodded. "I understand. I will definitely take good care of the house for her. How can I betray her trust?"
Hu Aifen pushed her son away from her embrace. "Liu Jingze, I will never forgive you until you get married and have children."
No one on the kang (heated brick bed) tried to persuade her. The mother understood her feelings.
"Mom, I've disappointed you. I'm an unfilial son."
Hu Aifen stopped talking, got off the kang (a heated brick bed), put on her shoes, lifted the curtain, and went out.
"Dad, please talk to Mom."
Liu Aimin glanced at his son, said nothing, and went to find his wife.
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