"Aunt, why are you in Qinghe City?"
Chen Yang's shout drew Shen Xue and the two little ones over. Shen Futang and Liu Chunmei, the elderly couple, also came to help with the move.
"Wow, what is all this? It's quite heavy."
Shen Futang didn't know that his elder sister was helping Chen Yang with the used radio business. He stepped forward to help carry things.
"Brother, Sister-in-law, Yangzi, Xueyatou, my two precious great-nephews, why are you all in Qinghe City?"
"I'm here to get some goods, all Dream Recycling Radios."
Shen Xiaoxia looked at the whole family with surprise. Anyone who didn't know would think her elder brother's entire family had moved.
In those days, for rural people, a trip to the county town was considered a long journey. Many people never even got to the city in their lifetime, let alone the entire family suddenly showing up. Shen Xiaoxia was naturally surprised.
"Yangzi has business here. I want to come along and see our ancestral wine cellar. As people get older, they tend to miss certain things."
Shen Futang glanced at his younger sister. She was much younger than him. When their father donated the ancestral property, they were too young to remember.
"Brother, that ancestral property was squandered by our father. It's not your fault."
"You've lived too hard your whole life, always taking care of us younger ones when you were young, delaying your marriage. It's a good thing Sister-in-law didn't mind marrying you despite your age."
"We didn't even keep our eldest nephew. You've lived hard enough; don't think about these things. Can't you just live a peaceful life and enjoy yourself? Why torment yourself?"
Hearing Shen Futang say he wanted to see the ancestral property, Shen Xiaoxia felt uncomfortable.
She always knew her elder brother had a hard life. When they were children, he looked after them, and he didn't get married until he was over thirty.
Otherwise, why would Shen Xue be only in her early twenties and Shen Rong not even married yet at such an old age?
To raise them, her elder brother never saved any money. When he married his wife, their family was very poor. His wife didn't eat well during her pregnancy, and the child in her womb also suffered.
At first, his wife's first pregnancy was with her eldest nephew, who was originally the elder brother's only male heir. The loss of the child had always been a taboo in the Shen family, something no one dared to mention.
Shen Xiaoxia always knew that her elder brother had suffered too much in his life. That's why she felt sorry for him and squeezed out some fine grains to ask her husband to send to their mother's family.
Her second brother, Shen Guangfu, also knew that he would never bear to use that fine grain. He knew it was his younger sister's filial piety to her elder brother. If he were more capable, he would also show filial piety to his elder brother.
An elder brother is like a father. Their father passed away early, and their elder brother was like a father to them.
He raised them from infancy, and they saw and felt the hardships and grievances he endured.
Now that her elder brother's eldest son-in-law had become successful and their lives were improving, he still wanted to stir up trouble over the Shen family's ancestral property. Shen Xiaoxia couldn't help but feel wronged for him.
His entire life, in his youth for his siblings, in middle age for his children, and in old age, thanks to his daughter and son-in-law's blessings, he could finally live a good life. Yet, he wanted to think about taking back the ancestral property for his deceased father.
What was he seeking?
Why couldn't he live for himself for once and have a good life?
"My dear sister, your elder brother is like a stubborn donkey; no one can change his temper."
"I don't dare to speak ill of him. Anyway, I'll just live with my two precious grandchildren. I still have to live with spirit. When my precious grandchildren grow up, I'll have more precious great-grandchildren."
Liu Chunmei glanced at Shen Futang. Although she said she didn't care, she actually felt sorry for her husband.
She knew her husband's temper. His whole life, he only thought of others' well-being. In his youth, he cared for his siblings. After marriage, he cared for her. After having children, he cared for his children.
He endured all hardships and bore all burdens, never letting his loved ones suffer even a bit of grievance.
Back then, she married him because she saw his sense of responsibility. Sudang Novel Network
"What our father lost, no one can blame you. You were just a young master, not the owner, let alone the patriarch."
"Brother, stop being foolish. Just stay with your children and grandchildren and enjoy your good life."
Shen Xiaoxia's eyes welled up with tears. She couldn't stand seeing her elder brother suffer.
Back then, when her younger sister was so disappointing, she couldn't help but want to hit anyone who saw her brother's family being bullied by her younger sister's husband. How could he forget how her elder brother treated them!
"I know. You were young then and didn't remember. I walked into our family's courtyard."
"Everyone I met called me Young Master. Our family's donkey carts were more numerous than those of the production team."
"I just want to go home and see if our ancestral property is still there. If I don't torment myself, I'm content. I have two daughters, two precious grandchildren, and such a capable eldest son-in-law. What more could I want?"
"If I were any more uncontent, heaven would take me."
Shen Futang looked at his younger sister, his eyes also reddened. He knew his sister was worried about him.
"Bah, bah, bah. What nonsense are you saying?"
"Heaven doesn't care to take away a good-for-nothing old man like you."
Liu Chunmei glared at Shen Futang, and the old man immediately fell silent.
Shen Xiaoxia, who had been feeling a bit sad, was suddenly amused.
"Grandpa, eat candy, eat candy, and Grandpa won't be sad anymore."
The little child didn't understand what they were talking about, but when she heard the word "sad," she took out candy from her small pocket and peeled it for Grandpa.
"Sweet, my precious grandchild is the best."
Shen Futang, with a piece of milk candy sent by the little child in his mouth, was so happy his face was about to wrinkle.
"Grandpa, I have some too. I have dried grapes. They're sweet too."
Chen Hao, unwilling to be outdone, grabbed a handful of dried grapes and offered them to Shen Futang.
The old man, at his age, was moved to tears by the two little ones.
"Good grandchildren, you are both my good grandchildren."
Shen Futang, with dried grapes and milk candy in his mouth, held a little one in each arm, his voice choked with emotion.
Living a whole life thinking only of others was too tiring. He should also think about himself. With two precious grandchildren, what more could he be unsatisfied with?
"Big sister, all the items have been moved upstairs for you. Get in the car, it's almost time."
In just a short while, the driver had helped Shen Xiaoxia move her things into the car. At first, Zhang Weiyang had time to help her with deliveries, but later he became too busy.
So Shen Xiaoxia started coming to the Qinghe City main store to pick up goods herself. Each time, she would give a little something to the driver and ticket agent. Over time, the driver became more enthusiastic.
Furthermore, Dream Recycling Radio was now a key supported star individual household business in the entire Anhui province. Even Secretary Chen of Liuhe County personally inquired about it, so the driver dared not neglect her.
That's why, as soon as the car stopped, he ran over to help move the goods when he saw Shen Xiaoxia.
"Brother Zhao, I'm here."
"Brother, I'm going back now. Try to be more open-minded. People only live this life once, so live happily. Seeing you happy makes us siblings sweeter than honey."
Shen Xiaoxia truly wished her elder brother a good life, free from any more grievances or hardships. He had spent his whole life for others; it was time he thought about himself.