Zhao Zhenguo stood up and was about to go to the living room to make a phone call, but Zhao Ningchu stopped her.
"Dad, don't get excited. Please finish your breakfast before calling."
Zhao Zhenguo smiled awkwardly: "Okay, okay, I'll eat and then fight!"
After breakfast, because the old lady's condition was urgent, Ji Xiuran went to the hospital, while Zhao Ningchu stayed at home.
She and Xiaobai were playing with building blocks in the living room, while Zhao Zhenguo excitedly took out his mobile phone and dialed Chen Manxue's number.
"Hey, Manxue, it's me!"
"Well, Xiaochu agreed. Are you running? Why are you out of breath?"
When Zhao Ningchu heard this, he raised his eyes and looked at Zhao Zhenguo.
Not sure what Chen Manxue said, Zhao Zhenguo nodded quickly: "Okay, then you run first, don't run for too long, be careful not to get hurt."
After saying that, he hung up the phone.
Zhao Zhenguo walked up to Zhao Ningchu: "Xiaochu, your Aunt Chen is busy now. I will tell her later."
Zhao Ningchu frowned slightly: "She is running?"
"Well, I'm talking about kicking. I don't want to distract her or get hurt."
Zhao Ningchu sighed silently in his heart.
Why didn't I realize that my old father was so honest before, yet he was fooled around by others?
"Dad, how about hosting a simple wedding banquet for you after the Spring Festival?"
Zhao Zhenguo was stunned for a moment: "Wedding banquet?"
"Um."
"That's not good. I'm already old, so I can just get the certificate."
"That's okay, but for such a festive event, we will hold a banquet when the time comes and only inform some relatives and friends."
Zhao Zhenguo hesitated.
In the past few years, he has had almost no contact with his relatives at home. He has been in a nursing home and his character has been completely worn away.
Seeing this, Zhao Ningchu continued to speak: "Dad, isn't your birthday the 19th of the first lunar month? How about I organize a birthday party for you, and then I can introduce Aunt Chen to everyone, what do you think?"
"Xiaochu, you are thoughtful and remember your father's birthday."
Zhao Ningchu smiled: "Of course, it's settled. I'll discuss it with Ji Xiuran and see which hotel it is."
"Don't make the scene too big and waste money. Just have a meal."
"Don't worry, leave it to me. What you have to do now is to bring Aunt Chen back."
Zhao Zhenguo did not expect that Zhao Ningchu suddenly agreed, and he seemed to be very welcoming.
"Xiao Chu, after your Aunt Chen and I live together, I will move out."
"Why, isn't it nice to live here?"
"Just listen to dad and ask him to move out."
Zhao Ningchu nodded: "Okay, but no matter what, it has to be after your birthday. If you want to move out at that time, I won't object."
"Okay, okay, what do you want to eat for lunch? Dad will cook it for you."
"Dad, we just finished breakfast. If you are bored, you can go out for a walk."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Ningchu's phone rang.
It was Ji Xiuran calling.
Zhao Ningchu answered the phone.
"Hello……"
Ji Xiuran remained silent over there.
Zhao Ningchu continued: "What's wrong? How is the situation with the old lady?"
'She's gone.'
Zhao Ningchu didn't react for a while.
"What? Who's gone?"
"Grandma is gone."
…
When Zhao Ningchu rushed to the hospital, Ji Xiuran was standing in the corridor with an expressionless face.
She walked forward quickly: "Ji Xiuran..."
Ji Xiuran looked at her and frowned: "Why did you come here? Didn't I ask you to stay at home?"
'I was worried about you, so I came here.'
"I'm fine!"
'She, the old lady?'
Ji Xiuran did not answer Zhao Ningchu's words, but asked: "Where is my son?"
"I'm at home, let my dad take care of it, you don't have to worry about it."
Ji Xiuran said nothing.
Ji Xiuming and Chen Meijia walked over with red eyes and said to Ji Xiuran: "Xiuran, otherwise just go through the funeral process and don't go back to the old house."
Ji Xiuran raised his eyes and looked at Ji Xiuming coldly: "According to Yanjing's funeral rules, go home first and wait for seven days."
When Zhang Meijia heard this, she immediately became unhappy.
This person is dead, why move back?
Such a big yard will be so scary when the time comes.
She was very dissatisfied, but when she saw Ji Xiuran's gloomy expression, she immediately didn't dare to say anything.
Zhang Meijia winked at Ji Xiuming. Ji Xiuming hesitated for a moment and said cautiously: "Xiuran, these times are different. I believe grandma also hopes for some simplicity, isn't it better to put it together earlier?"
Bury grandma and let her rest in peace."
"RIP? You want grandma to be homeless?"
Ji Xiuming muttered in a low voice: He's already dead, and it will be unlucky to go back.
"But this is the Chinese New Year. Look, my sister-in-law is also pregnant with a child. How about..."
Before he finished speaking, Zhao Ningchu interrupted in a cold voice: "Second brother, you also said, what age are we in now, but you can't forget your roots as a human being."
Ji Xiuran said: "Take him home and follow the funeral arrangements in Yanjing."
"Xiuran, you..."
'What? Second brother thinks that after grandma passed away, he will become lawless?'
Hearing Ji Xiuran's words, Ji Xiuming was so frightened that he didn't dare to say anything for a moment.
After returning to the old house, Ji Xiuran started to get busy. Zhao Ningchu wanted to help him share some of the burden, but Ji Xiuran said that she was pregnant with the child now and should not be too tired, so he asked her to go back to the room to rest.
Zhao Ningchu walked toward the third floor minding his own business.
As soon as she went upstairs, she saw Ji Wang walking towards her. When Zhao Ningchu was hesitating whether to say hello, Ji Wang smiled and said, "Xiaochu, long time no see."
Zhao Ningchu looked confused. If she remembered correctly, this was the third time she had seen this man today.
Ji Wang saw her in a daze and said with a smile: "I am Xiu Ran's brother!"
When Zhao Ningchu heard this, he was stunned.
Ji Xiuran's brother.
Isn’t there only three siblings in the Ji family? Why did an extra brother suddenly appear?
When Ji Wang saw that she didn't speak, he continued: "You're surprised, aren't you?"
Zhao Ningchu came to her senses and quickly said politely: "Hello!"
"Don't be so formal."
Zhao Ningchu didn't speak, and Ji Wang continued, "Xiu Ran is busy downstairs, right?"
"Well, I couldn't do anything to help him, so I came upstairs."
"I heard you're pregnant, have a good rest!"
After saying that, he passed Zhao Ningchu and went downstairs.
Zhao Ningchu was very confused, but when he asked Ji Xiuran before, he said nothing.
"Well, big brother..."
Zhao Ningchu shouted to Ji Wang.
Ji Wang stopped, turned to look at her, smiled and said, "What's wrong?"
"You and Ji Xiuran..."
"Half-mother!"
Zhao Ningchu was stunned. Before she could speak, Ji Wang continued: "The four of us have the same father, and only the eldest sister was born from my father's main wife."
After saying that, he walked downstairs without looking back.
What Ji Wang said echoed in Zhao Ningchu's mind. She didn't expect that Ji Wang would tell her so clearly.
After returning to the room, Zhao Ningchu called Zhao Zhenguo and told him about the Ji family and asked him to take good care of Xiaobai at home.
There are a lot of people in the old house these days, and Ji Xiuran seems to be busy every day. Zhao Ningchu wanted to entertain guests with him, but he didn't allow it, because he was worried that she would be tired.
Zhao Ningchu also felt sorry for him, but at this time, she didn't want Ji Xiuran to worry, so the only thing she could do was to be obedient.
For several days in a row, although they were at the old house, Zhao Ningchu had very few opportunities to see Ji Xiuran.
In the early morning, Zhao Ningchu woke up and found herself alone in the bedroom. She felt empty for a moment.
She got up, put on her coat and went downstairs to the mourning hall. At this moment, almost all the guests had gone back, and only some people from her family were left.
Zhao Ningchu saw Ji Xiuran kneeling alone in the mourning hall, eyes lowered.
Looking at Ji Xiuran's lonely back, Zhao Ningchu felt a little distressed.
She walked forward and knelt beside Ji Xiuran.
Ji Xiuran raised his eyes and looked at her: "Why are you here?"
"I'll stay with you."
"No, go back and rest quickly."
Zhao Ningchu was unmoved: "No, I want to stay with you."
Ji Xiuran said nothing, and Zhao Ningchu continued: "Will grandma be buried tomorrow?"
"Um!"
"Ji Xiuran."
She called his name and reached out to hold his hand.
Ji Xiuran whispered: "What's wrong?"
"It's okay, you still have ours."
"Um!"
Zhao Ningchu originally thought about staying with Ji Xiuran for the last night, but she didn't expect that she didn't even know it when she fell asleep. When she woke up, she found herself lying on the bed and Ji Xiuran was no longer in the room.
Beside the bed were the mourning clothes Ji Xiuran had prepared for her.
Zhao Ningchu suddenly thought that today was the day of the old lady's funeral, and instantly woke up.
She quickly changed into her mourning clothes and hurried downstairs.
As soon as she came down, everyone's eyes fell on her. Zhao Ningchu didn't see Ji Xiuran in the crowd, but by then he heard the discussions among the seven aunts and eight aunts around her.
"It's just her."
"Isn't that right? I haven't seen anyone in the past few days. Now the old lady has a funeral, and she still wants to sleep in. What's wrong with her?"
"Stop talking, lest Ji Xiuran hears it."
"Even if he hears that he is marrying someone to the Ji family's daughter-in-law, he still won't keep vigil for the old lady. Look at how busy she is with Meijia.
It’s just her, I don’t know why she thought she was a guest.”
"Stop talking, Xiu Ran is here."
The woman was shouting arrogantly just now for Ji Xiuran to hear, but now she shut up immediately when she heard Ji Xiuran coming.
Zhao Ningchu walked towards Ji Xiuran and whispered: "Why didn't you call me?"
"It's okay, it's not time yet anyway."
"No, as the Ji family's daughter-in-law, what's the point of sleeping in the house?"
"No one dares to say."
Zhao Ningchu was about to retort that someone had said it just now, but he thought that one more thing would be worse than one less thing, and he didn't want to upset Ji Xiuran, so he simply didn't say anything.
Zhao Ningchu and Ji Xiuran walked out of the old house and found that it was drizzling outside.
Ji Xiuran quickly asked Zhao Ningchu to get in the car, while he walked in front holding the urn.
This is Yanjing's burial custom. As Ji Xiuran is the head of the family, he can only do it.
The old lady's urn was put together with the old man's, and Zhao Ningchu looked at the sealed tube.
She took a step back and bowed after Ji Xiuran.
The rain continued. Ji Xiuran was worried that Zhao Ningchu would catch a cold, so he quickly asked her to get back to the car.
Everyone who attended the funeral left one after another. Only Ji Xiuran and Ji Wang stood in front of the tombstone.
Ji Xiuran's eyes were always cold. He looked at the old lady's photo on the tombstone and said indifferently: "What are you doing here?"
"What are you afraid of?"
Ji Xiuran didn't say anything, and Ji Wang continued: "That's right, it was me who didn't want this family head before it was your turn. You were afraid that I would take it back??"
"Can you try it?"
'Xiuran, you still care so much about these fame and fortune things.'
"..."
Zhao Ningchu looked at the two of them, his mouth opening and closing, wondering what he was talking about?
Ji Xiuran didn't hold an umbrella, and his meticulously combed hair was soaked by the rain and fell down.
Zhao Ningchu found an umbrella in the car and got out of the car quietly. As soon as she walked in, Ji Wang's voice reached her ears.
"Xiu Ran, I know you hate me. I thought that if I gave up my position as the head of the family, you would hate me less. But looking at it now, I was wrong."
"Don't worry, I'm not interested in anything in the Ji family. You don't have to be so guarded against me."
"If you're not interested, then get out of Yanjing."
Zhao Ningchu didn't know whether to step forward or go back for a moment, and just stood there awkwardly.
Ji Wang glanced at her from the corner of his eye, smiled slightly at her, and then continued: "I didn't expect you to marry Xiaochu, but she seems to have forgotten me."
"what you up to?"
"Nothing? Don't be nervous, Xiaochu is here to give you an umbrella."
When Ji Xiuran heard this, he turned his head and looked at Zhao Ningchu standing calmly not far away, the expression on his face stiffened.
How long has she been here?
Did you hear that?
Zhao Ningchu realized that she had been seen, smiled awkwardly, and then walked towards Ji Xiuran.
Before she could speak, Ji Xiuran said loudly: "What are you doing here? Didn't I not allow you to come down?"
Zhao Ningchu was stunned when he yelled like this, and then turned red and jealous.
"I see you didn't hold an umbrella, so..."
Before he finished speaking, Zhao Ningchu's tears rolled out of his eyes.
Ji Xiuran looked flustered when he saw this, and quickly reached out to help her wipe the tears on her cheeks, and said softly: "I'm sorry, don't cry, I was wrong."
"You yelled at me!"
'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it, I'm sorry.'
Zhao Ningchu sniffed and looked up at her: "Ji Xiuran, what's wrong with you?"
Ji Xiuran held her hand: "Let's go home!"
After saying that, he was led by Ji Xiuran towards the car.
Zhao Ningchu turned around and found Ji Wang still standing in front of the tombstone, looking closely at him with a slight smile on his face.
Zhao Ningchu felt a little strange, but for a moment he couldn't say what was strange.
Sitting in the car, Ji Xiuran drove without saying a word.
All Zhao Ningchu could think about was the way Ji Wang looked at her.
The kind full of despair, nostalgia, and sadness.
Zhao Ningchu found it strange that he could see so much clearly.
"Ji Xiuran."
Zhao Ningchu glanced at Ji Xiuran who was driving with his peripheral vision.
"What's wrong?"
"Well, brother, she..."
Before he finished speaking, Ji Xiuran interrupted: "Don't talk about him."
Zhao Ningchu was stunned for a moment, and then said aggrievedly: "You are cruel to me again, Ji Xiuran, you are annoying."
Ji Xiuran braked, parked the car on the side of the road, and turned to look at Zhao Ningchu.
"Sorry, I..."
"What's wrong with you?"
'Daughter-in-law, I was wrong. Don't cry. I'll tell you when I get back, okay?'
"Speak everything clearly, otherwise I will not forgive you."
"Okay, don't cry."
Zhao Ningchu made a sound and turned to look out the window: "I'm not crying."
Ji Xiuran looked at his little daughter-in-law, hesitated for a moment, and then cautiously said: "Achu, don't you remember?"