Back To The 80s-Chapter 495 - 506: Discharged_1

Lu Songyuan stayed in the hospital with his three sons occupied with his care. Lu Zhanguo sometimes returned home in the evening and went directly to the hospital.

On New Year’s Eve, Wen Xiuqing suggested that Ji Xiangdong stay home and have dinner with Bai Xiaolan and Xiaobei and her others. She brought dumplings and vegetables and went to the hospital with Lu Aiguo.

Lu Songyuan was recovering quite well, which was a blessing, so the atmosphere at the New Year’s Eve dinner was not too heavy. Lu Zhanguo, worried about his family at home, rushed back as soon as he finished the first shift of the New Year after greeting Zeng Changzhi.

Thus, the New Year has passed hastily with the family divided into two groups.

Lu Songyuan had been in the hospital for half a month and insisted on going home.

Wen Xiuqing thought that recovery required rest, so going home was a good thing.

On the tenth day of the first month, early in the morning, Ji Xiangdong and Lu Zhanguo went to the hospital to pick up Lu Songyuan to be discharged. Lu Aiguo stayed home to watch the children and Xiaobei cooked. They surely needed to celebrate Lu Songyuan’s return home.

The discharge procedures were completed rather quickly and, before noon, they returned home with Lu Songyuan on a stretcher carried by them.

On hearing the front door open, Xiaobei rushed out with her cooking utensils. Seeing Lu Songyuan half-lying on the stretcher, she could not help but shed tears.

The serious illness had depleted Lu Songyuan’s energy, made him lose a lot of weight, and turned his face pale.

Xiaopang and Mo Wang ran to the stretcher, shouting, "Grandpa, Grandpa," as they missed their grandfather, with whom they spent almost every day.

Lu Songyuan leaned on a quilt, responding incoherently, "Good, our Xiaopang and Mo Wang are the best well-behaved." He lifted his hand to touch the children’s faces, but it was so trembling and weak that he couldn’t reach them.

With tears in her eyes, Wen Xiuqing said, "Zhanguo, let’s get your father indoors before he catches a chill."

Lu Zhanguo bent down, with Ji Xiangdong and Lu Aiguo holding him up, and carried Lu Songyuan into the east room.

Wen Xiuqing helped lay the mattress and placed a quilt behind it for Lu Songyuan to lean on.

Lu Songyuan looked at the three sons, two daughters-in-law, and grandchildren who had come in. He couldn’t help but burst into tears, feeling grateful to still be alive.

Sitting on the couch, Lu Aiguo put his arm around Lu Songyuan’s shoulder and said, "Dad, don’t cry. aren’t you back now? We will all be obedient and take care of ourselves."

"Bring Fang Jing and Yueyue back." Lu Songyuan’s words were blurred, but his mind was clear, still thinking about Fang Jing and Yueyue.

Lu Aiguo nodded, "Dad, don’t worry, I will bring Fang Jing and Yueyue home."

Xiaobei cooked a bowl of porridge for Lu Songyuan at noon. He could only eat light food now, and she also made two simple dishes specially for him.

Lunch was eaten on the heated bed in the east room. Wen Xiuqing thought that they should eat in two groups, but Lu Songyuan insisted that everyone squeeze onto the bed for a meal.

Watching Xiaopang and Mo Wang eating at the table kneeling on the heated bed, Lu Songyuan happily ate half a bowl of porridge more. Wen Xiuqing was afraid that he would get uncomfortable from eating too much, so she refused to feed him anymore.

After falling ill, Lu Songyuan seemed to be more talkative. At the dinner table, he kept saying, "Xiangdong, you must work hard so as not to let down the country’s cultivation of you."

"Zhanguo, you too, must live up to the uniform you wear and help Xiaobei with household chores when you have time."

"Aiguo, no matter how big you do in business, you can’t cut corners. You should get along well with Fang Jing, or I won’t have peace even in death."

Wen Xiuqing held Lu Songyuan’s right hand and massaged it assuringly, "Didn’t we get discharged from the hospital? Why are you still talking about death? You should recuperate and let the children rest easy."

It was still Wen Xiuqing who offered to take a family picture this year. She invited the photographer to their house and even took two half-length photos with Lu Songyuan and herself.

Xiaobei and Bai Xiaolan objected, but Wen Xiuqing laughed and said, "Why are you becoming so superstitious? After this event, your father and I realized that everyone has their end one day. It’s not unlucky to prepare in advance."

When taking the family photo, Lu Zhanguo helped Lu Songyuan sit on a chair under the grapevine in the yard and sat side by side with Wen Xiuqing. Bai Xiaolan put Doudou into Lu Songyuan’s arms, and let him hold Doudou around the waist. Xiaopang and Mo Wang were leaning against the legs of Wen Xiuqing and Lu Songyuan.

Xiaobei, Lu Zhanguo, Ji Xiangdong, Bai Xiaolan, and Lu Aiguo stood behind the old couple.

Everyone’s smiles were tinged with a hint of sadness. This year there was an addition to the family, Doudou, but Fang Jing and Yueyue were missing.

An imperfect family portrait froze the time in January 1987.

Zhuang Shuxian, along with Jiujiu, Chen Gang, and Ou Ruoshui, returned to T City for the New Year celebration. After the tenth day of the first month, she returned with Qin Li from T City.

After resting at home for a day, she went to Xiaobei’s courtyard with Qin Li for a visit.

Seeing Lu Songyuan sick on the bed, Zhuang Shuxian held Wen Xiuqing’s hand and comforted her, "Recovery from the illness takes time, you don’t have to worry too much."

Wen Xiuqing sighed, "It’s a blessing that he survived this time. We can only recover gradually from now on. We have often heard the kids talking about you, but we haven’t had time to visit you."

Zhuang Shuxian waved her hand with a smile, "It’s the same for us to come and see you guys. Your home is really blessed with capable sons and filial daughters-in-law."

Wen Xiuqing nodded in agreement. During this time, they had all been busy nonstop and she fully realized the saying, raise children for old age.

Xiaobei and Ou Ruoshui were talking while Qin Li and Bai Xiaolan were conversing in the west room.

Xiaobei looked at Qin Li and said, "After the New Year, I may not be able to come to the shop every day. You have to pay more attention. With the situation at home, I can’t leave for awhile."

Qin Li agreed, "It’s fine, just stay at home. If there’s something I’m unsure about, I’ll come find you. I’ll go when Uncle Lu recovers."

"Okay, once Xiaopang and Mo Wang turn three, I’ll send them to kindergarten." Xiaobei thought for a moment. She only had to tolerate for another half a year.

Bai Xiaolan was puzzled, "Why send them to school so early? They should at least wait until they are four or five."

"Given the situation at home, my father can’t be left alone for a while. Even when he recovers, he can’t take care of the children and do heavy labor. Xiaopang and Mo Wang are getting naughtier every day. I’m afraid that my father won’t be able to rest well with them around every day," Xiaobei voiced her worries.

Ou Ruoshui suggested, "Why don’t you hire a maid for the house? She can help with the housework. It may be too much for Auntie alone, and there are three children."

Xiaobei agreed, "It’s about time we hire a nanny. Otherwise, it’s too much to handle." She then asked Ou Ruoshui, "Sister Xuerong, what are your plans after the New Year?"

Ou Ruoshui had long had a plan. Now Xiaobei and her others weren’t outsiders, so she said, "I’m thinking about selling children’s clothes and women’s clothes. I’m going to the south to stock up."

"That’s a good business. When I bought clothes for Xiaopang and Doudou during the New Year, there were so many people in front of the clothes stalls that it was hard to move," Xiaobei nodded.

Ou Ruoshui smiled and said, "Yes, and I thought, I would buy some new shelves for the tea shop and sell clothes there. There are many passers-by and the business should be good."