"It's nothing," Zhao Dashu joked, afraid that his mother would be terrified if she knew he was critically ill. "Didn't Ruxin and Zhaodi stay with you yesterday? We thought that if even a married granddaughter can be so filial, how could we, who are right in front of you, not be filial? Would people think that way?"
So last night, the three of us got together and decided that not only should we spend more time with you, but the children should too. As long as they are in the village, and it's not during the busy farming season, they must come to see you once or twice a day.
"Mother, I'm afraid that when I go back to the prefectural city after the New Year, they'll be back to their old ways, so I'm practicing beforehand. That way, I can discipline anyone who doesn't do well, don't you think?"
Is that really the case?
Old Mrs. Sun looked at her youngest son with suspicion. Was her third son really that filial?
He wasn't nearly as filial or patient with me before. Could it be as Huang said, that he's different now, that he's steady and filial? Otherwise, His Majesty certainly wouldn't have appointed him as an official.
Thinking this way, the old woman felt relieved.
"Knowing you're filial, do as you say, and they should take good care of me."
“Mother is absolutely right, they really should take good care of you.”
Zhao Dashu could only agree and agree.
"Mom, have some more porridge. What's wrong with you today? Why are you only eating so little? You're not feeling well, how can you not eat more? This little bit isn't even enough to feed you."
Old Mrs. Sun thought about it and agreed. She took three more bites and then shook her head, saying, "No, I don't want to eat, I don't want to eat any at all."
The doctor shook his head, indicating that they should not force-feed him; if he couldn't eat, they shouldn't force him, or he would vomit.
Zhao Dawen put down his porridge bowl. "Mom, who do you want to chat with?"
"Ruxin, I haven't finished chatting with them yet."
Zhao Ruxin squeezed into the crowd and continued chatting with the old woman.
Those who hadn't eaten breakfast went to the main room to eat, leaving only a few people inside.
Zhao Xiaoyu glanced at the old woman's ashen face and went to the main room, Xiao Lei following. There was nothing for them to do there; the old woman seemed to be chatting happily.
"Brother, after dinner, go to Uncle's house. We need to talk to him about this."
Okay, where are the others?
"Uncle will naturally tell the others. He should inform his own in-laws. He can stay in the courtyard at other times."
These days, my mother needs someone by her side, because when someone dies, the specific time for closing her eyes is crucial for the ritual.
Everyone nodded. Old Mrs. Sun had only eaten one steamed bun, and the other dishes were still on the table. Zhao Dashu and Mrs. Song didn't touch them; the other two families devoured them all.
Because Zhao Dashu was there, breakfast was actually quite plentiful today.
Meat buns, white porridge, boiled eggs, and side dishes—the portions are generous and filling.
Zhao Xiaoyu watched her second and eldest uncles come and go three times, and then watched the food on the table disappear little by little. She sighed and said that they had a good appetite.
Just by eating this, their whole family has been left far behind.
Back in the day, their family could eat more than anyone else.
It's only people with little oil in their stomachs who can eat this!
After eating, Zhao Xiaoyu stayed with the old woman for a while before going back home. She was worried about the baby, and she was sure that the breast milk would be fine for a while.
The others also left one after another.
Seeing that they had all left, Old Madam Sun felt a little relieved. It was good that they were gone; it meant that she was alright.
"Uncle."
The clan chief saw Zhao Dawen's long face and thought, "What a useless thing. He gets cheated on by a woman when he goes out, and then he's controlled by his wife when he gets home. What good is he anyway?"
What else can he do?
waste!
What are you doing here?
“Uncle,” Zhao Dawen swallowed and rubbed his hands. He knew his uncle didn’t like him, and he was very nervous when he saw his uncle.
Ever since my father passed away, the most frightening elder has been my eldest uncle, because he is still the clan chief and is much fiercer than my father.
"Um... um..."
"Get to the point, speak seriously, why are you stuttering?" The clan chief frowned. He hated people who dawdled and lacked any manly spirit.
"Mother, my mother... I'm afraid she won't make it. My third brother asked me to come and tell you that we... we probably need to start making preparations at home."
What did you say?
“My mother might not make it.” Zhao Dawen repeated.
"How could this be? Everything was fine before!"
"The doctor had said she was going to die, but she kept holding on and seemed to be doing fine. Later, the doctor brought by the third brother gave her acupuncture every day, and she said she felt much better."
Yesterday we spent the winter solstice with her. We ate more than a dozen dumplings at noon while we were talking. Who knew she would faint in the evening? After the doctor examined her, he said she might not make it.
We didn't believe it at first, but this morning when Mom woke up, she looked terrible and couldn't eat anything. She only drank a small half bowl of plain porridge for breakfast. She couldn't eat a single bite of her favorite chicken soup wontons or xiaolongbao because she thought they were too greasy..."
As Zhao Dawen spoke, his eyes reddened. After all, she was his own mother, the one who had loved him for decades. She might die soon; how could he not be heartbroken?
He was actually very sad when his father passed away. With his father by his side, the sky would never fall. After his father left, he had a miserable life.
After his mother passes away, Wang Shi will be the only one in the family. How will he survive?
One less person could stand up for him.
Even though his mother hasn't paid much attention to him these past few years, he still has a sense of security in being alive.
The clan chief silently took a few puffs of his cigarette, and after a long while, he sighed heavily, "Your mother has suffered a lot these past years, and it must be so painful for her to be bedridden and unable to move... Ah! It's all fate!"
If the King of Hell wants someone to leave at midnight, they won't stay until dawn.
Even if my younger siblings have plenty of food and drink and plenty of doctors, what good is it? They still can't live a few more years.
Thinking about it carefully, she didn't live her life in vain; at least she enjoyed some good things, unlike her brother, who suffered and saved his whole life, and then suddenly passed away without ever experiencing any happiness.
The old clan chief was deeply troubled. Of his brothers, he was the only one left, and he was the eldest. Now, even his only sister-in-law had passed away, and his wife had died two years ago.
Is he next?
I can't quite describe the feeling in my heart, but I feel really uncomfortable.
There was a sense of helplessness, as if I myself was about to give up and was about to go down to reunite with them.
"Go back and take care of your mother. If anything happens, just tell me, and I will do my best to help."
"Okay, Uncle, I'll be going now."
Zhao Dawen took his leave in haste.
He should go back and stay with his mother. Ever since he returned from the prefectural city, the way his uncle looked at him made him uncomfortable.
That feeling of being looked down upon and disdainful made him uncomfortable.
He's just being scammed by a woman, isn't he? He's the one who earned the money, so why should he care if he's willing to be scammed?
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