Chapter 206: The Inside Story

Chen Family of the County Town

Xiao Laoyezi Chen lay paralyzed in bed; after being brought back, no one cared for him diligently, and his condition had grown increasingly severe recently.

Chen Jiefang had no choice but to notify his second brother and younger sister to return and discuss the matter.

After Chen Jianguo arrived home, he asked: "Brother, wasn't Father fine before? How did he suddenly become paralyzed?"

Chen Jiefang naturally would not take the blame upon his own household, so he recounted the incident of Xiao Laoyezi Chen hiding something under the jujube tree and having it stolen; in truth, he had only guessed this through Xiao Laoyezi Chen's various behaviors, but only by doing so would his second brother and younger sister not hold the eldest branch of the family responsible.

The three siblings chatted outside for a while before entering Xiao Laoyezi Chen's room.

Xiao Laoyezi Chen was now frantic with anxiety, regretting why he had not left himself a backup plan back then; it was not only the matter of the stolen hidden items, but most importantly, the marriage arrangement with the Liu family.

He knew that Liu's second son was not biologically Liu's, and that the boy's biological parents must be formidable; he had been waiting, no, he should say he was gambling, gambling that the woman would reappear; most crucially, someone had truly inquired about the Liu family just a few days ago.

Yet precisely at this critical juncture, the house was robbed, and he had suffered a stroke and become paralyzed; now he could speak but not write, truly driving him to desperation.

What he had not expected even more was that not only was his daughter-in-law a fool, but his second grandson, that rascal, had also gotten a woman outside pregnant and was caught in the act, which now meant he had formed an irreconcable feud with Liu Shanliang.

If Liu's second son truly returned to claim his ancestry in the future, let alone gaining any benefit, it would be good enough if they were not retaliated against.

Seeing his second son enter, he instantly formed a new thought: since Wei Ping of the eldest branch had failed, then let Lu Weijun and Wei Zhong of the second branch take over; after all, it was not absolutely necessary to marry Shanliang's second daughter; his family still had a little daughter, didn't it?

If Lu Weijun of the second branch could not win over Liu's second daughter, Miss Liu Chuxue, then letting Wei Zhong, the second son of the second branch, marry Liu's youngest daughter, Chunxiao, would also work; their ages were suitable, and thinking of this made his heart feel somewhat better.

That woman had brought so many things back then; she certainly was no ordinary person.

But now he could say nothing, and he was so anxious that he kept 'woof-woofing' at his second son.

The second son, Chen Jianguo, did not understand his father's meaning: "Brother, what is Father trying to say?"

Chen Jiefang did not understand either: "He is probably just excited to see you."

Hearing the conversation between his two sons, Xiao Laoyezi Chen grew even more frantic.

It was the younger sister, Chen Cailan, who had followed behind them, who spoke up: "Father seems to want to say something, but he cannot speak."

Then she walked to Xiao Laoyezi Chen's bedside: "Father, am I right? If I am, blink your eyes."

The three siblings stared at Xiao Laoyezi Chen and saw him blink his eyes.

Chen Cailan said excitedly: "Look, Father nodded."

Then she bent down: "Father, what do you want to say?"

After asking, she turned to Chen Jiefang: "Big Brother, go get a pen and a notebook; let us try if Father can write down what he wants to say."

Chen Jiefang knew perfectly well that Xiao Laoyezi Chen could not write, yet he obediently went and fetched them.

Chen Cailan had them help him sit up: "Father, I will hold your hand; try to write down what you want to say."

Xiao Laoyezi Chen had no sensation at all in his right hand, so he looked at his left hand; after all, a daughter was more attentive; she noticed his gaze and understood his meaning.

She walked to the other side of the bed, put the pen into Xiao Laoyezi Chen's hand, and placed his hand on the notebook: "Father, try it."

Xiao Laoyezi Chen knew this was likely his only chance; after struggling for a long time, he wrote a crooked character 'Liu'.

(End of this chapter)