Third Uncle Xiao wore a smile, but it was rather forced.
"Is my aunt at ho?"
The "aunt" he referred to was Xiao Yuan’s grandmother. In Erdaowan, it’s customary for in-laws to address each other’s elders as uncle and aunt.
This is regardless of age.
"Yes, she is." Mother Xiao quickly replied, "Why are you looking for my mother?"
Behind Third Uncle Xiao was an old man who looked over seventy, and he stepped forward tremblingly: "Ji Shufen, is your mother’s na Ji Shufen?"
Mother Xiao nodded, "Yes."
She called into the house, "Mom, soone is here to see you."
Anning assisted her grandmother in coming out.
Grandma was old, her eyesight was blurry, and she couldn’t see clearly who was standing outside: "Who’s here to see ?"
The old man stepped forward excitedly, with tears almost falling from his eyes as he saw Grandma: "Shufen, it’s , I’m Zhang Gen."
"Zhang Gen."
Upon hearing this, Grandma scrutinized the old man’s face, finally recognizing the young version of him: "Ah Gen, Ah Gen, is that you returned?"
The old man reached out to help Grandma: "It’s . I’ve co back to find you."
Mother Xiao, seeing the situation, quickly invited Grandma and the old man inside to talk.
Mainly because both of them were elderly, and Mother Xiao was worried they might get too emotional.
Once inside, Mr. Xiao chatted with Third Uncle Xiao while Grandma and Zhang Gen sat together, recounting their years of separation.
Tears poured unceasingly from Grandma’s eyes: "Ah Gen, it’s been so many years since you left, more than fifty years."
She wiped away her tears: "I’ve been waiting for you, hoping for you. I was afraid I wouldn’t see you again, so I raised Honghong. My thought was that if I were to pass, at least soone would know my story, and when you ca back to find , they could say a few words to you."
Mother Xiao, whose na is Ji Hong, was not Grandma’s biological daughter but a foundling Grandma adopted. Grandma never married in her life. Initially, she lived alone, and later she raised Mother Xiao. When Mother Xiao got married, she wanted to bring Grandma to live with her in Fengtai Village, but Grandma refused, insisting on living alone. Mother Xiao had no choice but to visit often. After Xiao Yuan and the other children ca along, she’d occasionally send them to stay with Grandma for a few days to keep her company.
Zhang Gen cried as he listened to Grandma speak.
"I’m sorry. I never contacted all these years; it was hard for you waiting for ."
"Have you been well all these years?"
Grandma asked Zhang Gen.
Zhang Gen nodded, "It’s been good, really quite good."
As he spoke, an assistant ca in from outside: "Sir, the young master is calling."
Zhang Gen took the phone, responding in mumbles before hanging up.
Grandma’s face turned sour, and she hesitated to ask Zhang Gen, "Do you have a son?"
Zhang Gen nodded, "After I left, a few years passed and realizing I couldn’t return, my father forced to marry. Later, we had two sons and a daughter. She died early, it’s been over twenty years now..."
Grandma abruptly stood up, speaking to Mother Xiao: "Honghong, see him out."
She didn’t give Zhang Gen another glance and turned into the bedroom.
Anning, who had been quietly sitting, seeing Grandma head into the bedroom quickly followed her.
Mother Xiao looked at Zhang Gen: "Mr. Zhang, we have family matters here. It’s not convenient to host you. Please find sowhere else to stay."
After saying this, she looked at Mr. Xiao, who was already set to send him out.
Zhang Gen was anxious, asking the assistant to help him up, walking to Grandma’s bedroom shouting loudly: "Xiao Fen, I had no choice. I was always thinking of you. I didn’t know when I could co back to find you. I was the only son at ho; I could not go without offspring..."
At that mont, Grandma lay on the bed, tears flowing steadily from her eyes.
Anning was quite worried about her.
"Grandma, don’t be sad. If you don’t want to see him, I’ll go and chase him away."
Grandma waved her hand, sitting up and shouting towards outside: "Zhang Gen, you’re just a scumbag."
If it weren’t inappropriate timing, Anning would have been amused by Grandma.
Grandma was quite trendy, using terms like ’scumbag,’ indicating she kept up with modern tis.
Zhang Gen was outside, stunned for a mont.
Grandma angrily said, "Don’t use the excuse of having an heir to fool . If you cared about , how did you have two sons and a daughter? On one hand, you fancy yourself deeply in love with , yet on the other, you marry and have children with soone else. You’ve wronged . You married soone; you should be responsible for them. Yet, you’re by her side claiming you think of , which is irresponsible to her. You’ve wronged two won. You’ve set up a family, have sons and grandsons. Why have you co back to find ? If you hadn’t returned, at least I could miss you for a lifeti, and I’d have sothing good to hold in my heart."
Upon saying this, Grandma felt like crying again.
She had lived such a hard life.
Her adolescent romance wasted an entire lifeti.
"Get out."
Grandma shouted, using all her strength.
Zhang Gen seed very embarrassed outside.
He deed himself affectionate, hurrying to find Grandma upon hearing her whereabouts, not foreseeing that she’d rather he hadn’t returned.
"Xiao Fen, I’ve co to take you. Let’s go abroad together. We don’t have many years left to live. I wish to spend our final days together."
He tentatively tried convincing Grandma, but she didn’t want to acknowledge him at all.
Seeing Grandma so sad, Anning stepped out.
She faced Zhang Gen coldly: "Mr. Zhang, Grandma doesn’t want to see you again. Don’t stay here anymore. You’re here, making Grandma feel bad. She’s elderly after all, in case... I imagine this isn’t what Mr. Zhang would wish to see."
Zhang Gen felt a bit scared under Anning’s gaze.
Despite his age and all he’d gone through, the young girl’s look unsettled him.
He shivered, "I, fine, I’ll go for now, young girl, please urge your grandmother."
Turning back to Mother Xiao, "Daughter, please help persuade your mother. We’ve missed half a lifeti together. Now, with only a few years left, we wish to spend our final days together. I have many businesses abroad, and I’ve made a will delegating part to her. In the future, all these inheritances will belong to you."
He attempted using benefits to sway Mother Xiao.
Mother Xiao, however, was entirely unmoved.
"Sorry, I can’t persuade my mother."
She pointed outside, "We really have things to do here, please, Mr. Zhang, don’t disturb us any further."
Using ’disturb’ indicated Mother Xiao truly disliked Zhang Gen.
Helpless, Zhang Gen had to leave with his entourage. Before leaving, he thought to persuade Mr. Xiao, yet Mr. Xiao wasn’t one to be bought off. He coldly said, "It’s not sothing I can manage."
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