Chapter 380 Grandfather and Grandson

When she returned to the Tao family home, everyone had already accepted her plans for the future.

"What a lucky day it is today? Why did everyone choose to come home today?"

Not long after they arrived home, Cui Mei, Cui Xiang, and Tao Qing, as if they had planned it together, also arrived home one after another.

It was a rare occasion that all the children came back on the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, and the old man was very happy, calling out that he wanted to make dumplings for everyone.

"Your dad said a few days ago that he and your mother only get their holiday on New Year's Eve. What about Cuilian? I heard she went to work on the railway. Is she coming back for the New Year?"

While chopping vegetables, Cuihua replied, "Grandpa, Cuilian will only be back on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. She said she'll stay home until the fifteenth and then leave again, so she has a ten-day holiday."

Continuing with the remaining few, "Cuiju will be going back on New Year's Eve this year, but she has to go back to work on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, and officially start work on the seventh day. The time is quite tight."

I'm not a permanent employee yet, so not being on night shifts is already a huge blessing, so I'll be working normally during the Spring Festival.

Cuihong was much luckier; she was given a holiday on New Year's Eve, following the government's policy, and officially returned to work on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year.

Another year has passed in the blink of an eye, and compared to everyone else, the old lady's spirits are really declining day by day.

He already had the aftereffects of a stroke, and now he's not only deaf, but he also hardly speaks or recognizes people anymore.

Whenever someone visits her, she holds their hand and looks at them for a long time, but only when Xiao Jiu goes by does she grab her hand with tears in her eyes and say, "My Jiu has come back to see Grandma?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jiu couldn't help but cry, hugging her grandmother with a look of heartache and worry on her face.

Seeing this, Grandpa would try to comfort him, saying, "That's how it is when people get old. Who knows, one day they might not be able to open their eyes anymore. It's okay, don't drink."

My husband and I haven't suffered much these past few years, we've been doing quite well. But as people get older, all the organs in the body age and can't function properly anymore!

This is all normal, and you don't need to feel guilty. Your grandma and I have the greatest wish to see you get into university.

After her older siblings returned, Xiao Jiu stopped being busy and spent her days staying by the old lady's side.

Taking her to the public bathhouse, changing her clothes, mending her clothes, and simply sitting beside her without saying a word—that is a kind of happiness.

She happily accepted the small cakes and cookies that she prepared for the old lady, then ate them in small bites, getting crumbs all over her mouth and body, while waiting for Xiao Jiu to wipe them off. Sometimes, the grandmother and granddaughter would even smile knowingly at each other's helplessness.

The older woman thought the younger woman was teasing her, while the younger woman thought the older woman was comforting her. They had a very good relationship, and the grandfather would secretly wipe away tears from time to time.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, which is New Year's Eve, the weather was exceptionally fine, with bright sunshine. I had just taken a bath at the public bathhouse yesterday, and today Xiao Jiu put an apron on the old lady, took out scissors, and said he was going to cut her hair.

Grandma Tao sat there very cooperatively, and even joked, "If you don't cut it nicely for me, I won't let you have your way."

Xiao Jiu grinned, showing her white teeth: "Okay, but if it looks like a dog chewed it, you can hit me, okay?"

"I won't hit you, you're the one I raised. It would hurt me to hit you. Just pinching you is enough!"

This seemingly ordinary sentence instantly broke Xiao Jiu's defenses, and her hand holding the scissors trembled slightly with excitement.

Her shoulders were heavy with suppressed emotion, her eyes were downcast, and the unbearable pain she couldn't swallow brought tears to her eyes instantly.

Until a pair of large, warm hands landed on her shoulders. "Oh, you're still nervous? How about I cut your hair?"

He patted her shoulder reassuringly, then squatted down to make his tall frame laugh.

Xiao Jiu took the opportunity to wipe away her tears, composed herself, and tried to speak, but found that she was choking up even more. So she simply picked up the scissors and started trimming seriously.

Zhou Yue didn't leave either. He chatted loudly with the old lady while keeping an eye on Xiao Jiu's hair, reminding her that the haircut was asymmetrical.

The winter sun shone on them, its warmth making the scene exceptionally gentle and heartwarming.

Tao Zui helped the old man walk back and forth in the yard, and heard Tao Shuanzi sighing beside him.

“This girl was raised in vain. She’s a warm and caring daughter. None of you are as considerate as Jiu’er.”

Tao Zui deeply agrees. When I was little, I wanted to grow up quickly, but now I realize that home is the warmest and most carefree place in my life.

"Grandpa, sometimes I really don't want to grow up. Once I grow up, going home becomes a luxury."

Especially after entering military academy, the more you come into contact with things, the more you realize the complexity of human nature.

The softest spot in our hearts can only be found in childhood memories.

The old man looked up, the blinding sunlight shining directly into his eyes. As he instinctively reached to shield his eyes, he sighed and squinted slightly.

"Your grandma and I don't have many years left to live. Xiao Jiu'er is the lubricant we're leaving for you brothers. After you brothers start your own families, you must support each other, share joys and sorrows, and treat your only sister well. She is our family's lucky star and a catalyst between you brothers. With her by our side, your grandma and I will have no regrets even if we die."

Tao Zui looked at his grandfather in surprise, and the old man chuckled: "Strange?"

"If it seems strange, try to recall the good days in our family. Did they only gradually come after Xiao Jiu arrived?"

Think about Tao An, that academic underachiever, how your sister forced him to study, compete with him, and urge him to study, until he finally got into high school.

And then there's the household chores—food, clothing, shelter, transportation—everything your sister needs to worry about.

We did help the Tang sisters back then, but over the years, they have repaid us in kind, and even more than we have.

Without the back-and-forth between our two families, would you be able to go to work and school so carefree?

To be honest, without the Tang sisters' care, your grandmother and I would have passed away long ago!

Are you relying on your son and daughter-in-law?

They still need to earn money to support their families, and although they live in the county town, it's not enough to solve their immediate needs.

Several of his grandsons have been admitted to university, but he only comes home for a few days a year?

If it weren't for those girls looking after me, I wouldn't be able to sit here so comfortably basking in the sun.

Last year's flood alone was enough to give them a hard time.

These words, spoken with an air of self-satisfaction and shame, were followed by, "Sir, we're sorry, we..."

"Alright, I'm not saying this to make you feel unfilial. I just want to remind you that we only took them in for a few years back then. They built their own family on their own. If possible, please take care of them in the future and treat them like your own sisters. This is all part of the blessings that come together."

Life is full of ups and downs over the decades; who can guarantee that they won't need help from others?

Within your means, try to accumulate as much good fortune as possible; you never know when you might need it.