Chapter 180: Chapter 179: Clinging and Refusing to Leave (Part 1)
Chapter 179 Revision (1)
Qu Chaozong rushed to Li Shuren’s company early in the morning, and followed him to visit two kindergartens. Finally, finding some spare time, he called Shi Yang to inquire about the arrangements and when he would arrive in the provincial city.
It turned out Shi Yang couldn’t come, and he had to immediately take Zhao Meimei to her grandmother’s place in the south.
Liu Xiue called early in the morning to say that Zhao Meimei’s grandmother had suddenly fainted and was in the emergency room; the doctors said the condition was critical and issued a notice for the family to prepare for the funeral arrangements in advance.
Shi Yang took Zhao Meimei on a flight to the place, but by the time they arrived, Zhao Meimei’s grandmother had already been moved to the nursing home, and would be cremated and buried the next day.
The room where the elderly lady’s body was placed was chaotic, with relatives and friends coming in and out to mourn and offer condolences, joining the family in sorrowful thoughts.
Liu Xiue spotted Zhao Meimei and Shi Yang at once and hurried to greet them. She had grown considerably thinner, her eyes were swollen and deeply sunken, and she looked exhausted.
Zhao Meimei’s tightly suppressed emotions unraveled instantly upon seeing her mother. She lunged into her mother’s arms, crying out for her mom, tears streaming down. The sadness contained not only the reluctance over her grandmother’s passing but also a touch of longing for her parents.
Liu Xiue held Zhao Meimei and led Shi Yang to pay their respects to the body. Just then, Zhao Dazhuang emerged from the inner room, saw them, extended his arms, and embraced Zhao Meimei, his voice choked and hoarse, "Meimei, come, take a look at your grandmother. You won’t see her again after this."
Zhao Dazhuang’s scraggly beard and black attire made him appear both haggard and weathered. He hugged Zhao Meimei, patted Shi Yang’s shoulder, his lips quivered repeatedly until he bit down hard, forcing himself to swallow back the sobs.
Shi Yang patted Zhao Dazhuang’s back in return, in a half-embrace, offering comfort in a man-to-man way.
Neither spoke, but each understood what the other wanted to convey.
That day was the last time Zhao Meimei saw her grandmother, who lay peacefully in the glass coffin with closed eyes, her body painfully emaciated beyond recognition. Yet Zhao Meimei felt no fear, gazing from afar, her tear-blurred eyes fixed on her grandmother’s serene, quiet demeanor...
The events that followed were complicated and chaotic, and Zhao Meimei remained tightly held by Shi Yang throughout, who, despite being an outsider, participated fully in Zhao Meimei’s grandmother’s funeral.
During the mourning ritual, Zhao Dazhuang shouted hoarsely: "Mom!" It brought tears to all relatives, sisters clutching each other and crying sorrowfully.
Zhao Meimei’s second aunt held Zhao Dazhuang, tears falling: "Brother, you and sister-in-law should stay. Our big family is still together; mom is gone, let’s take care of dad properly."
Grandpa didn’t attend the funeral; his health couldn’t endure it, and he stayed home the whole time.
Grandpa stopped Zhao Meimei’s second aunt’s words: "You all go on with your lives. I don’t need any care from you. I’ve thought it through; after your mom’s seven-day ritual, I’ll move to the elderly apartments downtown. My old buddies are all living there; it’s a good setup, and we’ll have fun together."
When Grandpa spoke, there was silence all around, the family standing still.
The second aunt was the first to oppose: "No way, Dad, you’re putting us siblings in shame! We’re still alive; how can we let you live there!"
Grandpa stated firmly: "You each have your families and careers. It’s rare enough if you visit me once a week. I used to have your mom accompany me; now that she’s gone, it’s just me left. Do you really want to watch me spend the remaining days in an empty house, alone?"
The siblings were deeply touched by Grandpa’s words, their eyes all turning red.
The older aunt tried to persuade: "Dad, you can’t move to the elderly apartments. You should stay with us, each taking turns; we’re willing to serve and care for you."
Grandpa sighed: "You all go to work during the day, and the kids have school. I’d still be alone at home. Moving to the elderly apartments, I can chat with my old pals, enjoy the sun, play mahjong, and even have someone to talk to at night. How wonderful."
Grandpa was adamant, making a decision: "None of you are allowed to object to this. If you really want to honor me, occasionally visit me and I’ll be quite happy."
"Respecting my choice is honoring me."
Since Zhao Meimei’s grandmother fell ill, Zhao Dazhuang and Liu Xiue had been at the hospital constantly, spending the past half year without seeking work, residing in the hospital. Now, with the elderly lady suddenly gone, they were at a loss about what to do next.
Grandpa stood firm in his stance, and Zhao Dazhuang and his siblings couldn’t refuse him. They had to prepare to move to the city center’s elderly apartments, checking out the place in advance. Upon arrival, they found several elderly families from their previous neighborhood had settled there, with elderly men and women happily chatting and playing mahjong, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt was meticulous, inspecting everything from meals to accommodation thoroughly, eventually saying in awe: "The environment is really nice; it’s worth the extra money."
Grandpa insisted on moving after the seven-day ritual, with the family busily packing and tidying up.
Shi Yang had been staying in the same room with Zhao Dazhuang for the past few days. Lying on the bed at night, Shi Yang asked: "Uncle, what are your plans next?"
Zhao Dazhuang sighed deeply: "We’ve been tangled up at the hospital for this half year; now suddenly we’ve got time, and honestly, I haven’t really thought about what to do next."
Shi Yang said: "Uncle, your little pavilion was transferred, but the house is still there. If you move back, you’ll have a place to stay."
Zhao Dazhuang stayed silent for a while before saying: "Meimei’s mother and I have been discussing that once Grandpa moves to the elderly apartments, we’ll go back with Meimei, at least let her finish these two years of high school."
Shi Yang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, saying: "Uncle, I talked with my aunt about work before. I plan to lease a spot in the mall to set up a Naughty Castle, an indoor playground for kids. It’s a big project that needs managing. I want my aunt to help me since it’s more reassuring to work with family."
"Besides Naughty Castle, right now I specialize in installing Naughty Castles in kindergartens, and there’s quite a lot of work. Your background in designing in the factory matches perfectly; you can help me design installation plans, and workers can work more efficiently with the blueprints."
"Uncle, when you go back this time, you and my aunt should come help me. Running the business alone is really tough; you could lighten my load out of sympathy, would you?"
Zhao Dazhuang’s eyes showed surprise and were shaken, but his expression remained calm. Inside, waves of emotion surged, leaving him speechless for a while.