Chapter 485 - 309 The Heart of Parents Under Heaven, Being a Bird of the Tang Family is Too Difficult (2 more - s)

Chapter 485: 309 The Heart of Parents Under Heaven, Being a Bird of the Tang Family is Too Difficult (2 more Chapters)

Tang Wan returned to Pingjiang on the fourth day after Jiang Jinsang was discharged from the hospital because it was for paying respects at the tomb, and the Jiang Family couldn’t insist on holding her back. They initially wanted Jiang Yanting or Jiang Chengsi to accompany them but Tang Yunxian gently refused.

"Ai, Yunxian has had it tough too..." The old lady was holding a pair of scissors, carefully pruning the flowers in the courtyard.

Jiang Jinsang was sitting in the yard soaking up the sun, "Wanwan’s mother is..."

"She was gravely ill, and back then, medical conditions weren’t as good as they are now. She didn’t hold on for many years and passed away. We thought she might have another year to live if she made it through the winter, but she was gone come spring," the old lady sighed.

"You must be good to Wanwan in the future. During the time you were sick, she was by your side the whole time, and she’s grown so thin."

"Your mother wanted to take her to the hospital so she could rest, but she wouldn’t allow it. This child, she doesn’t express much, but having lost her mother so early, she must be afraid that you too..."

Jiang Jinsang squinted at the sun, remaining silent.

**

Pingjiang Tang Family

They held memorial services every year. The process was much the same and generally unremarkable, but too many things had happened over the past year, making their emotions quite different.

On the way back home, Elder Tang held Tang Wan’s hand, "You’ve lost so much weight, stay home for a few days to recuperate."

"But Xiaowu is healthy now. Grandfather feels at ease entrusting you to him."

"If he dares to let you down in the future, I’ll fight my way to Beijing even if it costs me my life, and beat him half to death."

Tang Wan chuckled softly, "Grandfather..."

"That’s right, the Jiang Family called a few days ago, asking me when would be a suitable time for the wedding banquet. Wanwan, what do you think?"

The old gentleman was reluctant to let Tang Wan marry off into the distance, but he also hoped for his granddaughter’s happiness and looked forward to holding a great-grandchild as soon as possible.

Tang Wan was rather bashful, and she felt embarrassed discussing marriage.

"Dad, he has just been discharged, and his health hasn’t fully recovered. Isn’t it too early to discuss marriage now?" Tang Yunxian frowned.

Elder Tang, leaning on his cane, said, "They are engaged already, so getting married is just a matter of time, isn’t it? Where’s the rush?"

"Besides, we’re not saying we’re arranging the wedding for tomorrow. We need to give the Jiang Family some time to prepare as well—planning a wedding takes time."

"I know you don’t want to part with Wanwan, but the child is grown now, and she will have to get married eventually. We can’t be with her all her life."

Perhaps because they had just finished paying respects, there was a solemn weight to Elder Tang’s words.

"Grandfather, what are you talking about? Didn’t you say you would help me with the children in the future?" Tang Wan clung to his arm, feeling extraordinarily poignant as the old man was getting on in years and wasn’t in the best health.

"Of course, once you and Xiaowu have children, even if you dislike me, I’ll still come to help," the old gentleman said with a smile.

...

After returning to the old Tang Family home, both elders of the Shen Family had little appetite. Shen Shuci led them back to their room. Holding a photo of her daughter, the old lady’s eyes turned red involuntarily.

"Mom." Shen Shuci had been staying by their side; every year was the same. To tell the truth, she had already said everything there was to say, and truly didn’t know what words could offer any comfort.

Everyone tried to console: the dead are gone, and one should move on sooner. But for parents, that’s easier said than done.

"I’m alright." The old lady smiled, holding her hand, "I was just thinking, Wanwan is getting married. If your sister could see this scene, she would definitely be comforted."

"Shuci, your Uncle Tang said something today that was quite right. Your father and I can’t be with you for your whole life."

"We are getting older, and my health isn’t great..."

Hearing her mother say this, Shen Shuci felt a thud in her heart, "Mom, what are you talking about?"

"I’m just thinking, if your father and I aren’t here one day, you’d be all alone abroad. Have you considered finding a job in Beijing? It’s not as good as your homeland."

The old lady spoke as if this was not a spur-of-the-moment thought, gripping her hand tight.

"You and Wanwan could keep each other company, looking out for one another."

"Since you’ve married into our family, we’ve always treated you like our own daughter. Your father and I are getting old, and we can’t do much in terms of planning for you, but we’ve still got considerable savings. Finding a comfortable job in Beijing shouldn’t be a problem to ensure you won’t have to worry about livelihood for life."

"Mom..." Shen Shuci was about to speak when the door was knocked.

"Grandma, Huang Mama has stewed some chicken soup, it’s very fresh, you should try some." Tang Wan brought the chicken soup in. The old lady hadn’t eaten much all day and wasn’t in good shape, certainly making it hard for her to hold up.

"Alright." The old lady took the soup bowl with a smile, then with a meaningful look at Shen Shuci, she said, "We’ve already discussed this with your father; you don’t have to come back with us to the country. Even if you do return, I won’t let you through the door."

"Mom, what are you..."

Shen Shuci bit her teeth anxiously. They were not consulting with her but had already made the decision for her.

To speak frankly, Shen Shuci’s happiness over the years was completely stolen. Finally, she graduated and could work. Whether she married or not was irrelevant; what mattered was showing filial piety to her elders. Yet now they were hastily pushing her out, how could she not be anxious?

For an orphan like her to have found such good adoptive parents was a blessing cultivated from a previous life.

"What’s the matter? My words don’t matter anymore?" The old lady, advanced in years, had come to terms with life and death, and her daughter’s well-being was more important than anything.

"No."

"I thought you were gearing up to defy me. Wanwan is still here; you’re her aunt, you can’t set a bad example for her."

Shen Shuci had nothing to say with her words at this point.

"What’s wrong?" Tang Wan remained clueless.

"This chicken soup is quite nice. Shuci, go out and have a bowl too. I’m ready to sleep after finishing it. I’m really tired after all the bustle today." The old lady had made up her mind not to continue discussing the matter.

Shen Shuci pursed her lips, "Then have a good rest. Call me anytime if you need anything."

...

After delivering another bowl of chicken soup to her grandfather, Tang Wan came out and saw Shen Shuci standing in the corridor, feeding Hua Mei, looking somewhat absent-minded.

Her fingers didn’t grasp any bird food and mechanically repeated the action of bringing it to Hua Mei’s mouth, but Hua Mei didn’t receive a single bite.

Hua Mei chirped noisily:

Are you teasing me? Give me something to eat!

Flapping its wings, it protested noisily.

With its high-pitched and loud calls, Shen Shuci seemed to suddenly come back to her senses, threw the bird food from her palm back into the bag, and patted her hand, saying, "Are you full?"

The bird was confused:

I haven’t eaten yet! Who is full?

"It’s nice to be a bird, carefree, always either eating or sleeping." Shen Shuci picked up a stick used for amusing birds, ready to play with the bird.

She was already preoccupied with her secrets, and calling it teasing the bird, the stick accidentally went too far, nearly blinding Hua Mei. Flapping its wings, Hua Mei looked towards Tang Wan and cried out incessantly.

Someone’s trying to kill me!

Not feeding me, and keeps poking me! Is there no justice?

"Aunt?" Tang Wan walked over.

"Wanwan, what is it?"

"Did you and grandmother talk about something? Is everything okay?"

"What could possibly be wrong with me? Every year at this time, Mother’s mood isn’t that great. It’s quite normal." Shen Shuci smiled, "Her bad mood makes me uncomfortable, that’s all."

"Is that so?" Tang Wan frowned.

When Shen Shuci was adopted, she wasn’t a three-year-old child anymore; she was very sensible, and since the Shen elderly couple had good tempers, the three of them got along with rarely an angry word. Tang Wan was inevitably worried seeing the two in such a state.

...

After dark, Tang Wan was video chatting with Jiang Jinsang in her room when suddenly someone knocked on the door, "Wait a moment, let me go see who it is."

"Okay." Jiang Jinsang muted the call.

"Grandpa, what’s up this late?" Tang Wan was somewhat surprised, especially when she saw the old man hiding something in his jacket, looking like he was sneaking around, "What are you doing?"

"Let’s talk inside."

Tang Wan was puzzled; what was the matter, so mysterious.

"You should have just called me over if there was something. It’s pitch dark, what if you fell?" The old man’s vision wasn’t great, and the lighting in the courtyard wasn’t good either. It would be serious if he had an accident.

"I’ve brought you something." The old man fumbled out the item from his jacket and handed it to Tang Wan. Wrapped in two layers of plastic bags, it was unclear what it was, but by its outline and size, it seemed to be some little notebook...

Tang Wan took it with skepticism and slowly opened it, her pupils shaking slightly as she looked inside.

"Grandpa?"