Chapter 407

The renovation of the Guangzi area was very successful, mainly because the Wang Family Village side was straightforward; after all, it occupied their land, so building houses on the spot, plus other compensation, was a good thing.

Although they built high-rises to accommodate more people, Zhou Bingkun indeed built them according to normal commercial residential standards, not like those return-to-residence buildings.

In the middle of 1997, as the last household in the Guangzi area moved away, the original buildings became rubble all over the ground, and the moving stories of the innocent era of the past scattered with the wind among every brick, every tile, every grain of sand, and every stone, and the Guangzi area of the past was gone.

Although Zhou Zhigang always nagged about demolishing the Guangzi area, when the Guangzi area was really gone, he seemed to have had his spirit drained, depressed, as if this life ended here, with no regrets.

He no longer watched the gate, and every day he and Li Suhua took the bus to the Guangzi area construction site to take a look, and occasionally went to Wang Family Village to stroll around. The old couple accompanied each other every day, swaying happily through the streets and alleys of Jichun, watching Jichun, which was no longer the Jichun in their memory.

January 2001, the fiery atmosphere of the New Year rippled in every corner of Jichun, and something called the "New Year flavor" permeated people's hearts. The usually lively old Zhou family was gloomy this year.

In the First Municipal Hospital, looking at his biological father and mother lying on the bed, Zhou Bingkun's eyes were red, and he asked his good brother on the side: "Brother, can you really not save them? You are a divine doctor? I beg you, Brother, take another look..."

Wang Yan just shook his head without speaking and patted him on the shoulder.

Zhou Zhigang lay down yesterday, and Li Suhua lay down today. He had expected this situation long ago; after all, Zhou Zhigang is seventy-five this year, and Li Suhua is one year younger, seventy-four; they are both old. Last year, the two of them started getting sick often; their bodies couldn't hold up.

If it weren't for the three times Zhou Rong angered them, maybe they could have lived a few more years, maybe even reaching eighty. But everything that should have happened has happened, and living until now is all thanks to his, Wang Mouren's, miraculous medical skills. Originally, Li Suhua's body was still better than Zhou Zhigang's, but now that Zhou Zhigang has lain down, she might have a feeling, knowing she can't keep him, and with worry added to the lack of will to survive, it is natural for her to lie down too.

Also, except for Zhou Rong, the children and grandchildren in the family are all good; the eldest son is a high-ranking official, the youngest son's business is even bigger, and there is a nephew who has been grateful and taking care of them for so many years. Except for Zhou Zishan, who couldn't get into a top university, all the other grandchildren are from prestigious schools. The eldest, Zhou Jianhua, is married and has a great-grandson, Feng Yue is also married and has a great-granddaughter, and the rest of the children are also quite good, so there is nothing to worry about.

Now that the two of them lie down together and leave one after another, it's also quite good.

Zhou Bingkun still wouldn't give up: "Is there really no way?"

"If I could cure them, would I just let it be?" Wang Yan shook his head: "Bingkun, reaching this age is already not bad; how many people in our China can you find who can live to over seventy without illness or disaster? Parents always have a day to leave, and you and I will also have that day sooner or later. Wipe your tears and transport the old couple back in a while."

Zhou Bingkun didn't speak, squatted on the ground, covered his face with both hands, his shoulders heaving, and wailed loudly. The sadness in it naturally needs no words.

Wang Yan didn't say much, rubbed his big head, looked at Zheng Juan who was equally sad on the side, and Hao Dongmei who was standing against the wall, not knowing what to do, and a group of younger generation children, and sighed.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the normal state of life; he has seen too many of them, related to him or not, he has sent off many of his own children and grandchildren, and although he appeared quite sad, it was only because one must be a bit sad at this time, but in reality, he had no waves in his heart.

After more than four hundred years, he has long had new insights into life and death; he used to be afraid of death, but now, he has long viewed death calmly. Of course, not fearing death is just an attitude toward death, which does not mean seeking death. He asks himself that his brain is not sick and his body and mind are quite healthy, so it's not a big problem to hold on for another thousand or eight hundred years.

Li Suhua on the bed opened her eyes, turned her head to look at her old son squatting on the ground crying, and she said weakly: "Bingkun."

"Mom, are you okay?" Zhou Bingkun hurriedly ran to the bedside, reached out to hold his mother's hand, and didn't forget to turn back and greet: "Brother, take a look, is that better? Is it better?"

"Mom is fine, no need to look, Mom knows." Li Suhua touched her old son's face with a smile: "Look at you, such a big boss, a grandfather, what are you crying for? Your brother was right just now; everyone has this day, and Mom's life is complete, which is a good thing. Xiao Yan, can your Uncle still wake up?"

"Yes, he should wake up in another two hours."

"Bingkun, let's go home, let's all go home."

"Go home, go home, I'll have someone come over right away." Zhou Bingkun nodded repeatedly, wiped away his endless tears, took out his mobile phone, and called his subordinates to call a car. Actually, an ambulance could send them, but he felt it wasn't as comfortable as the car he found himself.

Li Suhua chattered, muttering messily to the children in the room; she didn't dare to sleep, she was afraid she wouldn't wake up...

After tossing for a while, they brought both Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua back home.

Not long after arriving home, Zhou Zhigang woke up, was fed some water, and after relaxing for a while, he and Li Suhua leaned against the head of the bed and smoked dry tobacco.

Coughing, looking at the pile of children and grandchildren blocking the room, he waved his hand: "What are you doing? A family crying and howling? We two aren't dead yet; go, go do what you need to do. Bingkun, where is Bingyi?"

Hao Dongmei said: "Dad, I've already called Bingyi; he'll be back in a while."

"Yueyue."

"Grandpa."

Zhou Zhigang let out a long breath, wanting to say something, but finally didn't say it, shook his head and said: "In the future, if you have anything, find your two uncles; if that doesn't work, find your Uncle Wang, do you know?"

Feng Yue's tears flowed out, and she nodded and choked: "Grandpa, I know, you are still thinking about my mom. Before the New Year, I went to Qian Province on a business trip and went to Jinba Village, where my dad and mom went to the countryside. She went back to teach again, saying she had been doing it for several years."

Li Suhua glanced at the old man and turned to ask her granddaughter: "How is she? Is she still resenting us?"

"She's fine, it's just that I haven't seen her for so many years, so I'm a bit estranged; she's not very warm to me either, she asked about our current situation, but didn't say anything else. It's been so many years, Grandma, Grandpa, don't think about it anymore."

Zhou Zhigang gave a "Hey" and waved his hand: "Let it all disperse, disperse..."

Although he was about to die, his brain was still clear. Feng Yue's words were vague, but he understood; it was that she couldn't get over it. After all, if she had really gotten over it, she would have talked about the whole process, exactly how the conversation went. Maybe she even had a fight with Zhou Rong; otherwise, why would she say they were estranged and not warm?

What dispersed were the group of children; the adults were still there.

Looking at his old son who was crying, Zhou Zhigang laughed: "Bingkun, nothing to cry about; your mother and I are both this age, and we haven't suffered, which is quite good. Our family, you are the one I didn't think highly of but who has the most promise; there's really no place to reason about this."

Zhou Bingkun wiped away his tears and looked at his biological father with a smile: "Then what did you think before?"

"You, diligent and down-to-earth, could live a good life, but I couldn't have imagined that you would become a big boss; I really didn't see you had such great ability."

"Dad, you really saw it accurately. The one with ability is my Brother Yan; if it weren't for him, there wouldn't be today."

"Xiao Yan, hmm, must thank Xiao Yan; over these years, you've been worried a lot."

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "Uncle, we are all one family, no need to thank."

Zhou Zhigang nodded with a smile and looked at Zheng Juan who was wiping her tears on the side: "Zheng Juan, you've been taking care of the family all these years. What I'm most satisfied with about Bingkun is not that he became a big boss, not that he has so much money, but that he married such a good wife."

Li Suhua also chimed in: "Exactly, all these years it's been Juan'er busy inside and out; Bingkun picking you is his good fortune."

Zheng Juan wanted to laugh, but couldn't help crying, just calling Mom and Dad very sadly.

Just then, Zhou Bingyi ran in anxiously: "Dad! Mom!"

Zhou Zhigang responded with a smile: "You're back, Bingyi."

Looking at his parents leaning side by side on the bed, Zhou Bingyi's eyes also turned red: "Dad, Mom... all these years I haven't been able to take care of you, I'm sorry..."

"Hey, do we need you to take care of us? Although everyone says raising children is to prevent old age, Dad also knows that since you left in '69, you have completely left this family. You are an official, it's different; you have to serve the people. Dad is an old party member; don't I have this consciousness? Alright, alright, stop crying, all of you; let's talk, let's talk..."

Unlike when the family was together in the past, always talking about the future, comparing the past with the present, and imagining a good life in the future. Instead, they recalled the bits and pieces of the past and talked about the childhood of Zhou Bingkun and the others. For a time, the room was filled with laughter. If it weren't for the room full of people forcing smiles with tears in their eyes, if it weren't for Zhou Zhigang's strenuous voice becoming less and less audible, it would have been an ordinary day.

Zhou Zhigang held Li Suhua's hand, touched her face with effort, his eyes shining brightly: "Suhua... going first..." As he spoke, the hand supporting his old wife slipped, and he closed his eyes naturally. At the corner of his eyes, two lines of clear tears slid down; he had regrets after all...

Brothers Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Bingkun had long since knelt down, biting their teeth hard to keep from crying out, looking at their old mother who was also tearful on the bed.

Li Suhua grabbed her old man's hand and sighed: "Old thing, this life hasn't been easy either... It's good to go, good to go; once and for all."

She looked at the group of people in front of her, looked at the group of grandchildren leaning at the door, and finally her gaze fell on the two sons, and she said with a smile: "You two, live your lives well, don't let your dad down, and don't let Mom down..."

As she spoke, she closed her eyes with a smile, her vitality faded, and her head rested on Zhou Zhigang's shoulder; the old couple leaned on each other, so harmonious.

"Dad... Mom..."

Brothers Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Bingkun finally cried out, screaming loudly. Others present also shed tears and cried out. The group of little cubs outside who had already grown up also cried; these grandparents had always been very good to them, and most of them were raised by Li Suhua, so the feelings were deep.

Wang Yan naturally didn't cry, but he lit a cigarette, turned around, and walked out; staying here was annoying...

The old couple Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua were born in the Republic of China, experienced the War of Resistance, experienced the Unification War, experienced the New China, lived until the new millennium, and witnessed the prosperity of the country with their own eyes.

The passing of a generation is the curtain call of an era, and also the beginning of a new era...

The passing of the old couple Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua made Zhou Bingkun depressed for a period of time, but he understood the truth, and after that period, he was fine, continuing to be busy with his business empire.

Zhou Bingyi was still the same; he had long since become the second-in-command and was doing well. It was said that he was going to be transferred again, and further promotion was just around the corner.

The third generation, because of the family relationship, went into business and politics and were doing well. Only Wang Jianye was influenced by his biological mother and got into literature; he was playing quite happily and also inherited his mother's title, the prodigal child.

Zhou Bingkun's group of friends were certainly much better than in the original drama, but they also lost their friendship with Zhou Bingkun. With Zhou Bingkun's status today, he would have no regrets; it was quite good.

Qu Xiuzhen, this elder who cared for Zhou Bingkun, this friend of different generations, didn't wake up in 2002. This was already the result of Wang Yan's help, living a few years longer than originally.

Zhou Bingyi's mother-in-law, Jin Yueji, lived until 2008 and left only after the Olympics were over. On one hand, this was because Wang Yan helped to regulate her, and on the other hand, it was because she really had no worries, living four years longer than originally, which was not bad.

As for Wang Yan himself, he was naturally the same, occasionally looking at Long Teng's various scientific research achievements, and most of the time he was healing the sick and teaching apprentices in the hospital from eight to five.

The First Municipal Hospital established a separate TCM department, built a special building, and had its own operating system, and Wang Yan was naturally the director. Without bragging, after his years of careful guidance, this is the best TCM hospital in all of China. At the same time, he also held the title of Vice President of the TCM Academy and Professor of the Beijing TCM College. The Jichun First TCM Hospital is the best of the best for TCM internships. As for why he wasn't the president, it was mainly because he didn't manage administration; otherwise, he would be the big brother.

Of course, his changes to TCM in this world were not just these. The most important thing was that after his years of persistence, and with the improvement of his status and qualifications, after becoming the big brother of TCM, he changed the entire TCM teaching system.

After nine years of compulsory education, those who are interested in TCM development can apply for secondary vocational schools opened by major TCM colleges, and graduate directly to university. Of course, not many people apply for this, mainly because TCM is not an easy path to take, and it takes a long time to earn money after learning. Those without family background, whose families can't afford the bottom line, will absolutely not go.

Wang Yan naturally expected this situation long ago; he had nothing else, just a lot of money. After graduating from university, he directly gave subsidies together with the country, just to support TCM.

Of course, TCM is a dialectical discipline, which also involves many Eastern philosophical thoughts, and those who are not smart cannot learn it. In order not to delay the future of some silly children who have enthusiasm but no talent, and also to screen out suitable talents, even if it is just a secondary vocational school, it is not so easy to get into; it is only after a series of exams and tests that one can be allowed to enroll. This solved many sequelae of this education system. However, this is also in the exploration stage; there are advantages, but there are also many disadvantages, so it still needs to be studied slowly.

It was also because Wang Yan had nothing to do, and it was just this whim that he did it; in the future, there would mostly likely be no such thing, and whenever he had the mind, he would talk about it again...

The hand of time moved quickly again, and in the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve in 2020. In Zhou Bingkun's villa, three generations of the old Zhou family, plus three generations of Wang Yan's family, gathered together to celebrate the festival.

Since Jin Yueji passed away, it has basically been like this every year.

Sixty-nine-year-old Wang Yan, seventy-two-year-old Zhou Bingyi, and sixty-eight-year-old Zhou Bingkun sat on the sofa drinking wine and eating side dishes. The wives of the three were busy making dumplings with a group of children, which was very lively.

Because of Wang Yan and Zhou Bingkun, although Zhou Bingyi worked just as hard, he didn't get cancer, and his body was quite good; Wang Yan looked at him living to eighty.

He sighed: "Really fast..."

"I knew you would say that every year." Zhou Bingkun exhaled a puff of smoke and shook his head with a smile: "You say this is also strange, Brother Yan, so many years have passed, why don't you look old? You're almost seventy, and you don't have a single white hair, looking about the same as forty or fifty. Look at us two, the hair is basically all white."

Without Wang Yan speaking, Zhou Bingyi explained: "Can we two compare? He is a TCM doctor and knows martial arts; he has a way of maintaining health. Just based on these two points, if it were in ancient times, meeting an emperor who wanted immortality, he could be a national teacher. Of course, his status is not low now; isn't the health work for the big leaders all directed by your Brother Yan?"

Wang Yan laughed: "It's just maintenance; over these years, I haven't worked hard, nor have I worried, and with a good mentality, the body is naturally good."

The three old men chatted and laughed for a while, and Zhou Bingyi said: "Before the New Year, Yueyue told me that Zhou Rong is gone; do you know?"

Wang Yan nodded with a smile, and Zhou Bingkun snorted: "Living to seventy, that's burning high incense."

Zhou Bingyi sighed: "Dad and Mom have been gone for almost twenty years, are you still remembering?"

"I wanted to slap her long ago, it's just that Dad and Mom were there, so it wasn't easy to make it too ugly, and later I didn't want to see her act. You wait for me to die and go down to see her; I have to give her two slaps no matter what." Zhou Bingkun was very angry, raised his head and drank a mouthful of wine: "Back then, Dad and Mom might have done something wrong, but they are gone, what else does she want? Really speaking, if it weren't for her angering them those three times, according to what Brother Yan said, they could have lived a few more years. Fine, let's not be hindsight; just say after Dad and Mom were gone, she didn't even say she would come back to burn paper? One year, two years is fine, but nineteen whole years; until she died, she didn't come back; you say how ruthless she must be."

Zhou Bingyi shook his head: "She might also be embarrassed to come back, and she has pressure in her heart."

"What pressure does she have? Unfilial thing..."

"Alright, alright." Wang Yan patted Zhou Bingkun on the shoulder: "People are gone, why talk about that."

Zhou Bingkun was silent for a moment, let out a long breath: "Brother Yan, I'm relieved; Big Brother, you must live a few more years, otherwise it's meaningless for me."

"Get lost, I'm living to a hundred." Zhou Bingyi looked at his good brother with annoyance: "It's the New Year, wish me something good."

"That's fine, that's fine..."

"Dumplings are ready."

"You three, hurry up, time to eat, time to eat, don't get drunk before eating dumplings..."

Outside the window, it started snowing heavily at some point; inside the room, it was another family reunion.

The water droplets condensed and rolled down on the floor-to-ceiling window due to the temperature difference between inside and outside, reflecting the fiery joy of the whole family.

Just like back then, the three-room flat house with plastic-sealed broken windows...

---Side note---

Thanks to (No1 Wuliang Tianzun) (You will never walk alone) for the continued support of the two big brothers.

Daily thanks to the good brothers who voted for the monthly tickets for their support.

Thanks to the brothers who voted for the recommendations for their support.

Thanks to the big brothers who read silently for their support.