The others went to rest one after another, while Cheng Muhai and his wife cleaned up the downstairs and closed the doors and windows.
Liu Ying asked: "Will you stay down here?"
"Yes." Cheng Muhai whispered: "Brother Chang has not recovered yet and is in poor spirits. I can take care of him to some extent by staying here."
"Okay." Liu Ying turned around and went upstairs.
Cheng Muhai entered the room and found Chang Bo leaning on the edge of the bed, his head buried and counting something, and he moved cautiously.
"Brother, what are you fussing over? It's very late and you still haven't slept?"
Chang Bo responded confusedly: "I... am counting how much money I still have around me."
Cheng Muhai was stunned, frowned and asked, "What are you counting the money for? Do you want to buy something? The clinic doesn't have much money, I've already given it to you."
"I have to pay you back, don't I?" Chang Bo sighed and whispered: "You take care of me every day, give me a place to live, provide me with three meals a day, and help me pay for my medical expenses. You have to let me pay back, otherwise I will feel guilty
It will be uncomfortable.”
Cheng Muhai knew that the old man would definitely insist, so he had no choice but to compromise.
"Don't worry, give it now. Give it to me when you get back to the imperial capital."
Chang Bo whispered quietly: "I still have it now."
"What to do?" Cheng Muhai asked back: "Do you need to do anything? What are you doing in such a hurry? I'm not in a hurry for money!"
Chang Bo leaned back tiredly, yawned, and hugged the thick quilt tightly.
"I'm almost eighty-seven, and I don't know how long I can live. Today may not necessarily be tomorrow. I don't want to owe you money after I die. I owe you enough."
"What are you talking about!" Cheng Muhai said angrily: "What are you doing saying these words in the middle of the night?! It's bad luck! Don't think too much, go to bed early."
Chang Bo frowned, not knowing what he thought of, and gave a low smile.
"Ah Hai, when I fell down that day, I seemed to have figured out everything. At that time, I thought... it would be good to just sleep to death like that. I wouldn't have to suffer the consequences of staying in this world. In the past, people from the older generation would always
It is said that when people come to this world, they come to suffer. But don’t be afraid. If you suffer in this life, you will get rich in the next life. I am not greedy, and I don’t want to live a better life in the next life. I just want not to be disliked by others.
enough."
Cheng Muhai's eyes turned slightly red and he swallowed more: "Brother, don't think nonsense. You just raised an unfilial son, and you did everything else well. In our village, many people still respect you. The village chief also said so.
, he knows your family’s situation very well, and he has scolded Tian Shuan many times.”
"What are you scolding him for?" Chang Bo smiled bitterly: "If you scold him, will he be nice to me? Will he listen to the village chief? Impossible. If he had a brain and a little filial piety, how could I have done this?
This is the point.”
Cheng Muhai said in a deep voice: "Don't worry about him. After you return to the imperial capital, continue to work and live in the warehouse. As long as you are here for one day, A Yuan and I will ensure that you have a meal."
"Haha..." Chang Bo smiled bitterly: "The son that my wife and I have worked hard to raise for most of our lives, sold my house and my land, and only asked me for money, but refused to give me a bite of food.
Damn it! What evil did I do in my previous life to end up with such a son! My dear, I can’t help you!"
At this point, the old man cried softly and kept wiping his tears.
Cheng Muhai sighed: "Brother Chang, don't be sad. Just think of it as a debt owed to that heartless bastard! Didn't I tell you everything? Ignore him from now on and just live your life well."
Chang Bo shook his head slowly: "Ah Hai, after I fell down this time, I felt that my body was different."
"What's different?" Cheng Muhai asked nervously, "What's wrong with you?"
Chang Bo seemed to be hesitant and whispered: "I feel...very weak in the mainland, as if I am about to collapse. Ah Hai, I feel that my days are really not far away."
"Don't think too much." Cheng Muhai comforted him: "The doctor said that you were just overly angry for a moment, that's why you felt dizzy and fainted. Once you get some rest, you'll be fine."
Chang Bo caressed the warm quilt on his body, thought of something, and fell into memories.
"Ah Hai, when I was a child, I dreamed of having a full meal. I didn't think about anything at that time. I thought that as long as I could have three meals a day, I would be satisfied. Now we can have three meals a day and live cleanly.
My house can be covered with such a warm and soft quilt. In fact, I think I am good enough."
Cheng Muhai's eyes flashed slightly and he said: "It will be better in the future. You have to live for more than ten or twenty years to see a better future."
"You're already over eighty, how many more years are there?" Chang Bo laughed softly, "That would make him an old goblin. Think about it, there aren't many old people in our village who can live to be over eighty.
.I am considered to have lived a very long life, right? How do you say that - what is the age of seventy?"
"Seventy years are rare in life." Cheng Muhai replied.
"That's right." Chang Bo nodded hurriedly: "People who can live to be seventy are considered rare! But I can live to be eighty-six! I'm so lucky!"
Cheng Muhai saw that he was sometimes excited and sometimes sad, and couldn't help but worry secretly.
"Brother, A Yuan and Lingling will return to the imperial capital in two days. Then you go back with them."
Chang Bo was silent for a moment, his wrinkled old face expressionless.
After a long pause, he said: "I just suddenly thought... What on earth have I lived for so many years... My wife is gone, the son who has loved me for most of my life might as well be gone, and my grandchildren ignore me.
.You think I’m so boring as a human being?”
"Interesting!" Cheng Muhai said solemnly: "You went up the mountain to cut grass and firewood when you were ten years old. My old mother fell on the hospital bed every three days. It was you who supported her with your little arms and legs. You relied on your own diligence to build
You bought an adobe house and married a daughter-in-law. The old road we took up the mountain was almost paved by you alone. The house your grandson lives in was bought by you with the money you made from raising sheep. Your grandsons and granddaughters rely on your money.
You have to grow up. What other people want to do is their business. If you do well, God is watching!"
Chang Bo's eyes were red and he wiped his tears quietly.
"Ah Hai, I...I won't go to the imperial capital. I have to stay in the village. I may not have that much time left. Just laugh if you are laughed at! It doesn't matter if you are scolded by your own son, daughter-in-law, why should you be afraid of being laughed at by others? Old man
We all say that fallen leaves must return to their roots and die in their hometown. We are from Chengjia Village, so naturally we must die here."
Cheng Muhai was secretly afraid.
"Brother, what's wrong with you tonight? Why do you keep saying weird things? Don't scare me!"
Chang Bo shook his head: "No... I didn't mean to scare you. I just think that my old bones may not last long, and I need to arrange my funeral in advance. The money must be counted and put away, and the things must be sorted out."
Cheng Muhai stared at him for a while, stood up, came forward, and patted his arm.
"Brother, I have to tell you something."
Chang Bo narrowed his eyes and asked, "What's the matter?"
Cheng Muhai explained: "After you fell that day, I was teasing you while cursing Mr. Tian Shuan and his wife. I told them that I wanted to push you to death, but they didn't dare to speak. Later, I scolded them severely.
His wife scolded him and said, since you think the old man is so good, then I’ll give it to you! I agreed without hesitation. Many villagers were present at the time and can all testify. I used my old face to contract you, this old man.
, you must not cause anything to happen to me, otherwise your son and daughter-in-law will have to come to me and cause trouble."