Back To The 80s-Chapter 494 - 505: Advice _1
Lu Aiguo’s words weighed heavily on everyone’s heart. Their once harmonious family had fallen apart abruptly.
Gu Xiaobei felt especially sorry for Fang Jing. She must have been distressed too. Her mother’s sudden death and her own unforgivable decision to divorce must have been heart-wrenching.
But Fang Jing was too far away in Capital City to visit.
Because of Wen Xiuqing’s hospitalization, no one was in the mood to comfort Lu Aiguo. Ji Xiangdong had Lu Zhanguo pack some porridge and boiled eggs, mantou, and pickles into a lunchbox for the hospital, while he went to ask for a leave at work.
Lu Aiguo wanted to go with Lu Zhanguo to the hospital, but Ji Xiangdong stopped him: "You rest first at home, go to the hospital in the evening to relieve your mother and let her rest."
Lu Songyuan would definitely be hospitalized for a while. As the eldest brother, it was his responsibility, during this time, to arrange everything effectively and efficiently. He could not let anyone else in the family fall ill.
After Lu Zhanguo and Ji Xiangdong left, Lu Aiguo awkwardly looked at Gu Xiaobei and Bai Xiaolan, scratching his nose, unsure of what to say.
Bai Xiaolan, holding Doudou, looked sincerely at Lu Aiguo and said sternly, "Aiguo, you need to be patient with Fang Jing. She is very upset right now. The sudden death of her mother and the decision to divorce must be extremely hard for her. Don’t be stubborn and lose your temperament during this time."
Gu Xiaobei agreed, "You two precipitated things. Try to understand her pain. Don’t just apologize to save face and expect her to forgive you. Have you ever thought about the fact that Fang Jing has lost her mother, her pillar of support? It’s heart-wrenching. The misfortune happened when she was picking up Yueyue. She blames you, yes, but she must blame herself too. If she had not gone to pick up Yueyue, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. But who can predict the uncertainties of life?"
Lu Aiguo looked at Bai Xiaolan, who usually mocked him, suddenly speaking such words. He felt complex. Then, recalling Gu Xiaobei’s words, they made sense, but he had made this impulsive decision, his heart heavy, he clenched his hair tightly.
Gu Xiaobei noticed Lu Aiguo’s pain and didn’t want to say more. She sent him to rest in the east room, leaving Bai Xiaolan to play with Xiaopang and Mo Wang in the west room. She cleaned the dishes and the house and prepared food for the New Year.
In the afternoon, Wen Xiuqing returned from the hospital, her face etched with exhaustion. Seeing Xiaopang and Mo Wang, she was too tired to even smile, just lightly patting Xiaopang’s cheek, she hoarsely said, "Be good, Xiaopang. Grandma can’t hug you today." She then went to rest in the east room.
Gu Xiaobei originally wanted to ask Wen Xiuqing if she wanted something to eat, but seeing her fatigue, she thought it would be best to let her rest first.
In the east room, Lu Aiguo, seeing Wen Xiuqing enter, sat up from the bed and hurriedly put on his shoes, "I’m going to the hospital to see dad now."
Wen Xiuqing shook her head, "Aiguo, sit down first, I want to talk to you."
Lu Aiguo paused in his action of putting on his shoes, and said to Wen Xiuqing, "Mom, I know I was wrong." As an adult, he expressed regret and helplessness like a child.
Wen Xiuqing sat next to Lu Aiguo, held his hand, and said, "I didn’t mean to blame you. While I was at the hospital, I realized that regret often comes too late when a wrong act can no longer be corrected. Your father and I have been married for over thirty years. During the earliest years, we were poor but our relationship was strong. But when your eldest brother disappeared, I blamed your father for always being away, blamed myself for not being capable, blamed your second brother for being ill.
I treated your father coldly, he never heard a warm word from me when he returned home from a hard day of work. Even so, your father never lost his temper. Often, I would hear his sighs in the middle of the night. I regretted and was hurt, but I couldn’t control my anger. When your sister-in-law returned home with Mo Wang and Xiaopang, I tried to change bit by bit, but I still didn’t care enough about your father. I always thought about what I could cook for Mo Wang and Xiaopang, and if your father showed slightest inattention to the children, I would lose my temper. Your father always responded with a careless smile. I often commented that your father had no face or skin. When your eldest brother came back and got married, I focused completely on compensating him. Recently, when your father felt numbness in his hands and legs, I didn’t take it seriously. I thought I would make him some herbal tea and he would be fine.
When your father fell ill, I realized that without him, I didn’t know what to do. He endured me all these years, all because he wanted our family to be harmonious, didn’t he? Without him, wouldn’t our family be missing a pillar?
Marriage requires understanding and forbearance. When we are young, we can manage if we are separated from each other. But when we are old, we need a companion, a support. You and Fang Jing are married couples, you have deeper feelings than the couples who get married halfway. And you have Yueyue. Think about it, regardless of why you got divorced, if it’s possible, get remarried."
Lu Aiguo, already in tears halfway through her speech, suddenly kneeled before Wen Xiuqing when she finished, grabbing her legs and sobbing, "Mom, I was really wrong. I regret it. I will change. I will definitely change. Regardless of whether Fang Jing forgives me or not, I will try..."
Wen Xiuqing stroked Lu Aiguo’s hair, tears rolling down her own face. Many people, after losing or missing something, would only realize to regret and cherish it.
For the next few days, Ji Xiangdong and Lu Aiguo took turns looking after Lu Songyuan in the hospital. Lu Songyuan had regained his consciousness but had symptoms such as blurred speech and unskilled movement of his right hand and foot, and needed rehabilitation therapy. Some people recover well from therapy, showing little difference from healthy individuals.
Every time Lu Songyuan saw Lu Aiguo, he couldn’t help sighing and said ambiguously, "You must bring Fang Jing back home."
Every morning, Wen Xiuqing would go to the hospital to massage Lu Songyuan and chat with him, and would help Gu Xiaobei prepare for the New Year celebration in the afternoon.
Wen Xiuqing said that the worse the situation got, the better they should celebrate the New Year. The family should celebrate happily.
Gu Xiaobei thought that Wen Xiuqing had changed a lot after Lu Songyuan got sick, as she would study carefully what to feed Lu Songyuan.
"Xiaobei, when you steam the mantou later, make a few flower rolls, with less salt and a little bit of red bean powder for your dad. He loves it," Wen Xiuqing said as she was frying some meatballs.
"Okay, should I take Xiaopang and Mo Wang to see my dad?"
Wen Xiuqing thought for a moment and shook her head: "Your dad must miss the children, but the hospital is full of germs. It’s not appropriate for the children to go there. Let’s wait until the New Year is over, your dad will be discharged."
