Reborn in the 80s, Get Rich by Eating Melons-Chapter 704: Arrival at Li City

Tong Yaohui rented a van, and the whole family gathered at the hospital entrance, waiting for Si Chen. At six in the afternoon, after Si Chen finished a surgery, they immediately headed to Li City.

Considering the elderly and children on board, the driver didn’t drive too fast and even took a break halfway, causing a significant delay. By the time they arrived at Li City Hospital, daylight had broken.

They inquired about the ward and, upon their arrival at the Inpatient Department, bumped into the doctor in charge of Lin Fengying. Having previously worked together, the doctor shook his head slightly when he saw Si Chen, patting him on the arm and advising him.

"Dr. Si, you should hurry and see your mother for the last time."

Being doctors themselves, they couldn’t hide Lin Fengying’s condition. All they could do was comfort Si Chen.

Si Chen nodded and said, "Thank you." He, together with Tong Yao, then led everyone else into the ward.

Si Boyi and Zhang Lijuan’s family were standing teary-eyed in front of the bed. Seeing that Si Chen and the others had arrived, Si Boyi’s already red eyes reddened further as he choked on his words, "Big brother, sister-in-law."

Si Chen pressed his lips together and replied with a curt "Mm," and then walked to the bedside. Lin Fengying, who was lying on the bed with a ventilator, seemed to sense her eldest son’s presence. She slowly opened her eyes and weakly opened her mouth, but no words came out. Tears flowed continuously from the corner of her eyes.

Si Chen and Tong Yao called their two children to the bedside and said, "This is Si Yang and Tong Yue."

"Grandma."

Si Yang and Tong Yue called out in unison.

Lin Fengying tilted her head slightly. Her tears flowed even more freely when she saw Si Yang and Tong Yue. Her fingers moved slightly, as if she wanted to touch her grandchildren, but in the end, she couldn’t lift her hand.

Upon seeing her in this state, everyone’s hearts ached.

Si Chen’s face was heavy, but he didn’t express much sorrow. Si Boyi was distraught, his eyes red and choked with emotion but he didn’t utter a word.

Lin Fengying glanced at the people in the room for a moment. It seemed as if she had let go of her final concerns. She then closed her eyes again, but she continued to breathe weakly through the ventilator.

Si Boyi sniffed and walked to the door with Si Chen, "The doctor said our mother won’t make it past tonight."

Si Chen nodded, "You’ve had a hard time over the years."

Si Boyi shook his head, "Big brother, don’t say that. If it weren’t for you and sis-in-law’s help, our family wouldn’t have been able to build the big house, we wouldn’t be living this well. Our mother might not have lived long, but she was well looked after these years. We haven’t let her down."

Si Chen looked at the ward door, his voice devoid of much emotion, "It’s also good if she passes on like this, less suffering."

As a doctor, he had seen too many elderly people suffer through painful deaths, hence this statement. He may not have been around Lin Fengying in these years, which might seem unfilial. However, she was well looked after in the countryside, which was better than how many elderly people lived there.

After hearing Si Chen’s words, Si Boyi felt slightly comforted. He hesitated, "Big brother, I haven’t informed Xiaohui yet. Shall we let her know?"

After moving to Kyoto five years ago, Si Xiaohui rarely returned home. She only contacted Lin Fengying and didn’t keep in touch with them. They, too, didn’t wish to stay in touch with Si Xiaohui.

As for what Si Xiaohui was doing in Kyoto, they were not clear. All they knew was that she wasn’t in any legitimate profession. Before, they had heard that she was working in shady places. Recently, they heard she was being kept by a man, but then his wife discovered the affair and gave her a beating.

Every time Si Boyi heard about her, his blood pressure would soar, and he prefered not to comment on her matters.

Si Chen weighed in, "Let her know, she can come back if she wants."

This would be the last time the three siblings would be together harmoniously. After Lin Fengying passed away, they wouldn’t concern themselves with Si Xiaohui anymore.

Si Boyi nodded, "I’ll ask Lijuan to call her later." They stood at the door, chatting about some matters concerning Lin Fengying’s funeral. Si Boyi returned to the room, then, to tell Zhang Lijuan to call Si Xiaohui.

Although they were reluctant to contact Si Xiaohui, considering Lin Fengying’s impending death, Zhang Lijuan decided to call Si Xiaohui.

The call connected quickly, and it was received by a man, who sounded like he was in his fifties. Zhang Lijuan thought she’d misdialed, but after confirming the number, she said,

"I’m looking for Xiaohui. Isn’t this her phone?"

Upon hearing this, the man tossed the phone onto the bed, "Huihui, someone’s looking for you."

Si Xiaohui was still in bed, she took the phone with some impatience, "Who the hell is it, calling so early in the morning."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lijuan became angry, "Isn’t it because your mother is dying? Your brother asked me to inform you. It’s up to you whether or not you come back."

Si Xiaohui gasped, "What did you say?"

"Your mother fell down the stairs, she’s on her deathbed. If you want to see her for the last time, perhaps you should leave now," Zhang Lijuan spat irately.

Si Xiaohui flared up, "Zhang Lijuan, how the hell have you been taking care of her? How could she fall down the stairs?"

"She’s your mother, not mine. I’ve been providing her with meals and carers, which is already pretty good. If you cared for her, you would’ve taken her to live with you a long time ago. You hardly visit her once a year, why are you blaming us now? Listen, if you want to attend her funeral, you better come back soon. Otherwise, don’t blame us if we don’t notify you when she passes. Here, the elderly are typically buried within three days of their death."

After saying these angry words, Zhang Lijuan hung up the phone.

The nerve of some people. They don’t bother about their mother usually, but then become all blameful when something happens.

Si Xiaohui stared blankly at the phone, feeling disoriented. Her mother could hardly walk lately, but she was well cared for in the countryside and was in good health. How could she be gone just like that?

No one would love her in this world now that her mother was gone.

The more she thought about it, the more upset she felt. Tears started streaming uncontrollably down Si Xiaohui’s face.

The man emerged from the bathroom and got under the quilt, immediately sidling up to Si Xiaohui, his hands wandering.

Si Xiaohui pushed the man away, "I’m going home. My mother is dying."

"So what if she’s dying? Everyone dies when they’re old." The man reached out to embrace Si Xiaohui again.

"Are you even human? I told you my mother is dying, and all you think about is that!" Si Xiaohui sat up, crying as she beat the man on his chest.

Having been hit, the man was irritated. He struck Si Xiaohui with a slap, leaving her stunned.

He started putting on his clothes, cursing furiously, "Such bad luck. Si Xiaohui, I’ve spent money on you. Don’t act all pitiful here."