Chapter 322: Playing Xiao Shitou's recording for Zhou Wei

Hearing Xu San say that, I too burst into tears.

I tightly gripped Xu San's hand,

Another old person is about to leave this world,

but I am powerless, only able to watch helplessly as they depart.

Xu San is a good person; if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been able to settle in Qi He back then, nor would I have met Lao Wai, Zhou Hai Long, and others.

I have always been grateful to Xu San.

Let him live more decently than those who have children.

At this moment, Xu San's gaze revealed peace.

His greatest concern was to have Zhengzheng take the Xu surname; I have already promised him that.

Then he would have no worries.

Even in his old age, Xu San still wanted to have an heir.

No matter how our society develops or what reforms it undergoes, I have found that some people's desire to continue the family line still persists.

That is to let one's surname be passed down, to let one's bloodline continue.

Only then can one be without shame before one's ancestors.

At this moment, Xu San forcefully pulled his hand away,

"Jianqiang, go on, I'm tired, I need to rest. When I die, don't make a big fuss. Sigh, just bury me quietly. Jianqiang, go attend to your affairs."

I said, "Uncle, I'll stay with you a bit longer."

"Really not needed; if you keep this up, I'll get angry. You're a leader, you're busy, don't waste your energy on someone about to die. Hurry up and go."

Xu San spoke weakly and angrily.

I still wanted to say something,

Xu San then closed his eyes and no longer looked at me.

I knew Xu San had refused to speak with me.

I had no choice but to stand up,

"Uncle, take care, I'm leaving."

Xu San didn't open his eyes, just weakly waved his hand.

I came out of Xu San's room, feeling terrible inside.

I wiped my tears at the doorway.

At that moment, Xiao Feng was waiting outside the door for me,

"Jianqiang, Uncle Xu San, it looks like he won't last much longer. What are you planning?"

"If I were at Qi He Kuang when he dies, I would give him a grand funeral, let him depart in glory, so people know that Xu San, though childless, still departs splendidly. I will have Zhengzheng break an old pot and wave banners to guide the way."

I said this sadly.

"Jianqiang, you are truly a good person; others give a little kindness, you return tenfold. Xu San merely took you in back then; actually, he didn't do you much of a favor." Xiao Feng said.

"Xiao Feng, you don't know; when one is in the most difficult times, whoever extends a hand to help is a great favor."

"Back then, I had it so hard, you know?"

"I ran from South City Town to Qi He Zhen, not knowing a single person, always at risk of starving. Fortunately, Uncle Xu San reached out and helped me a bit."

"Only then did I manage to survive in Qi He."

"That is a great favor."

I took out a cigarette, lit it, and began to smoke.

"If everyone in the world were like that, knowing gratitude, then there would be no war." Xiao Feng said.

"Xiao Feng, don't say that; it makes me sound saintly, but everyone lives differently. Xiao Feng, let's go, we'll go see Zhou Wei." Having said that, I left.

I and Xiao Feng quickly arrived at Zhou Wei's ward.

Zhou Wei's ward was arranged very warmly,

the nurse aide was massaging Zhou Wei's body, fearing that if he lay too long his muscles would atrophy.

Seeing us come in, the nurse aide hurriedly stood up,

"Hello, Mr. Zhao."

"Sister, no need to stand. How is Zhou Wei now?" I asked.

"His eyeballs can move up, down, left, and right." The nurse aide said.

"That's good."

The nurse aide called out to Zhou Wei: "Zhou Wei, your husband has come to see you. Zhou Wei, can you hear me? If you hear, move your eyeball."

I also shouted: "Zhou Wei, you are Jianqiang; did you hear my voice? If you heard, move your eyeball."

Zhou Wei seemed to hear; only her eyeball moved up and down once in the eye socket.

This shows she has a response,

I more urgently said: "Zhou Wei, do you know that today is the second day of the lunar new year? We have passed another year; we have all grown a year older."

"By the way, Xiao Shitou misses you; I brought his recording to play for you."

"He is a very filial son. Zhou Wei, Xiao Shitou has grown up; now he holds an important position at Da Heng Group."

"Zhou Wei, can you hear me?"

After saying that, I took out a mobile phone from my pocket.

I found the audio recording Xiao Shitou made,

played it for Zhou Wei to hear,

From the audio came Xiao Shitou's voice,

Xiao Shitou hadn't even spoken yet when he burst into tears.

"Mom, did you hear me? I'm Xiao Shitou, your most beloved son. Mom, I miss you. I want to come see you, but the situation doesn't allow it."

"Mom, how are you now? I've been worrying about you all the time."

"I know you're also worried about me. Don't worry, Mom, I'm fine."

"Mom, I want to ask you something. Dad told me to acknowledge Zhang Zong as my father. I want to ask you if this is true."

"Why? I don't want to acknowledge him at all."

"But Dad said I must. I can only acknowledge him, Mom, did you hear that?"

"Zhang Zong said that later he will also have me change my surname and name."

"I'm afraid that if I really change it, you won't recognize me."

"You won't remember your Xiao Shitou anymore."

"Mom, I don't want to change."

"I want to be by your side to take care of you."

"Mom, I really miss you…."

"Xiao Shitou then cried hysterically in the audio."

"I listened, also silently shedding tears beside him."

"Zhou Wei on the ward, I could clearly sense her eyes darting about, as if searching for something."

"I again brought the phone to her side,"

"replaying Xiao Shitou's voice,"

"As soon as the phone rang, Zhou Wei's gaze immediately calmed."

"She quietly listened to her son's voice."

"The nurse aide said then, 'Mr. Zhao, it's about time; don't keep stimulating the patient.'"

"I will play it for her every day."

"This phone audio, it seems she can hear it."

"I handed the phone to the nurse aide,"

"'This is her son's voice, also the voice she knows best; please take care of this from now on.'"

"After saying that, I stood up."

"Xiao Feng wiped her tears behind me,"

"'Jianqiang, let's go.'"

"I nodded, accompanying Xiao Feng out of the ward."

"Outside the ward,"

"Xiao Feng's eyes were bloodshot,"

"'Jianqiang, today I finally realized how important children are; a woman without children, in this world, living is truly meaningless."

"'I truly envy Zhou Wei, who not only has Ru Meng but also Xiao Shitou. Sigh, thinking about myself, I have nothing.'"

"Listening to Xiao Feng's sigh,"

"I took out a cigarette, and Xiao Feng asked me for one,"

"She lit it."

"I said, 'Xiao Feng, it's not too late now. You're still young; everything is possible.'"

"Xiao Feng sighed to the heavens: 'Ah, what opportunities? Without a suitable person, it's better not to have children. You really made Xiao Shitou acknowledge Zhang Zong.'"

"I took a puff of smoke,"

"'If Xiao Shitou didn't acknowledge Zhang Zong, how could we hide in the Da Heng Group? Now Zhang Zong fully supports us. Without his support, we would have been caught long ago.'"

"'Why is Zhang Zong doing this? Is it solely to acknowledge Xiao Shitou?' Xiao Feng asked."

"'There's that, plus another matter: he wants to give the Da Heng Group to Xiao Shitou, but he alone can't manage it."

"He wants to borrow our strength to acknowledge Xiao Shitou, then strive to obtain the Da Heng Group and hand it over to Xiao Shitou personally."

"All of this is for his own son."

"Zhang Zong these years hasn't left anything behind outside; he returned just for Xiao Shitou."

"Xiao Shitou also acknowledged Zhang Zong,"

"This Xiao Shitou kid is very sensible. Sigh, Xiao Shitou has really grown up."