Chapter 988: Laws of Nature

The head of the Jin Family is critically ill.

The old man has not eaten or drunk for several days; he has only outgoing breath and no incoming breath, and cannot even swallow a mouthful of water.

The old lady stays by her husband's side, holding her partner's hand and shedding tears.

Her partner grips her hand to comfort her: "After I am gone, you must live happily; do not be sad."

"Don't let your imagination run wild; you will get better soon."

"It won't happen; I know my own body."

"I'm sorry I cannot continue to walk with you; you must take good care of yourself when you are alone."

After saying just a few simple words, the old man is exhausted and falls into a coma.

The old lady wipes her tears and asks the doctor: "Doctor, how many more days can my husband hold on?"

The doctor shakes his head: "Old Lady, Jin Lao only has these few days left; you should notify the family to prepare for the funeral."

Jiangzhou.

The Sheng Family.

Shi Youxuan receives a phone call from her daughter and feels very heavy-hearted.

She notifies Wan'er, and the two sisters take their husbands and children to A Country to see their grandfather one last time.

The area in front of the hospital bed is crowded with people; the old man takes one satisfied look at his descendants, closes his eyes, and departs forever.

The old man was highly respected in A Country during his lifetime, and after his death, the funeral is held to a high standard, enjoying the treatment of a state funeral!

Black veils and white curtains, the whole country is in grief.

Intellectuals have a high social status in A Country, and since Jin Lao was also highly respected, he is even more beloved by the people.

The common people spontaneously stop all entertainment activities, and the roads for the funeral procession are filled with people who have come to mourn.

The funeral lasts for nine days, with countless tedious rituals; not to mention the children being exhausted, even the adults are barely holding on.

After the funeral ends, Shi Youxuan feels she cannot even straighten her waist and has to lie in bed for a whole day to recover.

Grandfather is gone, and Grandmother seems to have had her spirit drained overnight; she has no energy, her back is hunched, she is always staring blankly at one spot, and she has aged significantly.

"Grandmother, come back to Jiangzhou with me; our family is large and lively, and it will be easier to look after you."

The old lady shakes her head: "Good child, I appreciate your filial piety, but I cannot leave this place. I was born in A Country and raised in A Country, and I will be buried in A Country later. Besides, your grandfather is here; if I leave, he will be so lonely by himself."

"But, Grandfather has already left."

"No, he is still here; I can feel that he is here."

Shi Youxuan and Wan'er listen quietly, shedding silent tears.

Grandfather and Grandmother had a wonderful relationship and never once turned red in the face or argued in their entire lives.

Now that Grandfather is gone, Grandmother's soul has followed him.

"But now that you are the only one left, we are worried."

Shi Ran appears at the door: "Mom, Aunt, don't worry; I am here, and I will take care of Great-Grandmother."

"You girl, why are you meddling? You can't even take care of yourself, let alone take care of Great-Grandmother?"

Shi Youxuan tries to persuade her two more times, hoping Grandmother will change her mind and return to Jiangzhou with her.

But the old lady is unmoved and refuses to change her mind no matter what, so she has to give up.

The children have to go to school and cannot be away for too long.

Thus, the two families prepare to return.

Before leaving, Sheng Hanyu calls Qi Heng into the room, and the two men, one big and one small, have a secret talk for a long time. No one knows what they said, but before Sheng Hanyu leaves, the look he gives Qi Heng is mixed with a hint of appreciation.

Shi Youxuan says to her husband: "You take the children back; I am going to the Ji Family to see my aunt."

When the old man passed away, Shi Yucheng also came to pay his respects in his dual capacity as a representative of the Ji Family and as Shi Youxuan's adoptive father.

A Country and Q Country are not far apart, and transportation between the two countries is very convenient.

Her aunt is now seven months pregnant, and Shi Youxuan prepares to go back with her adoptive father to see her aunt.

The Ji Family.

Ji Yingjie is glowing, and she looks to be in very good condition.

It is just that she has gained more than two sizes, and her face has become round.

The two sit together and chat.

Ji Yingjie: "If I weren't in this condition, I would definitely have gone to pay my respects when your grandfather passed away. Regardless of anything else, we are relatives, and that old man Jin was actually quite decent, though the old lady was a bit difficult."

In truth, when it comes to being difficult, who could compare to her?

However, these words cannot be said in front of her aunt.

"It's fine, Grandmother knows you are in a delicate condition and it's inconvenient, and it is the same for my father to go."

"It is not the same!"

Ji Yingjie objects: "He is a man; how can a man represent the Ji Family? Originally, I was prepared to send Nianci to represent me, but I cannot exert myself now. Nianci has to worry about all the big and small matters in the clan, and she is already spread too thin."

Shi Youxuan:...

The ideology of female chauvinism is already deeply rooted in Ji Yingjie's mind.

Her subordinates are qualified to represent her, but her husband is not!

Only the women of the Ji Family could say such things; others would never think this way.

Shi Youxuan touches her aunt's massive belly: "Aunt, your concepts should also be changed."

"Put yourself in others' shoes; you are pregnant with a son, your own flesh and blood. If they grow up and are beaten, scolded, and looked down upon by their mother-in-law, how would you feel? Could you bear it?"

"I could not."

She takes the opportunity to say: "Then why don't you change your thinking? Stop with that 'women are superior and men are inferior' stuff; what era is this?"

"Look outside, gender equality has been advocated for over a hundred years; shouldn't the Ji Family also keep pace with the times?"

Ji Yingjie glared: "You say it lightly, what 'keep pace with the times'? My Ji Family has stood tall for decades not by relying on some progress, but by relying on the traditions and wisdom passed down by our ancestors."

"Hmph! Forgetting one's roots."

Shi Youxuan was not annoyed, nor did she argue with her aunt, but instead touched her aunt's belly again: "Fine, I won't lecture you with big principles, I'll just ask you, what are you going to do about your own son?"

Ji Yingjie: "That's easy, send him to Jiangzhou, you raise him."

Shi Youxuan:...

"Are you willing to part with him?"

"I am willing. Boys have no future in the Ji Family, so it's better to send him away; it won't have been in vain that we were mother and son. This is the deepest love I can give him."

Shi Youxuan was speechless once again.

She couldn't fathom it; this is called love?

Where is the love in that?

Seeing her niece remain silent, Ji Yingjie assumed she was unwilling.

She immediately added: "Xuanxuan, don't worry, I won't just dump the child at your house and wash my hands of it."

"I have already sent people to buy a house in your residential complex, and the nannies and maternity matrons have all been arranged; you just need to go over and check on him when you have time."

For some reason, she suddenly thought of Zhu Qingxiang.

She said exactly what was on her mind: "How is what you're doing any different from Zhu Yiwen? His son was raised just like that, and he grew up with an unhealthy mentality."

Her aunt was very displeased: "Stop mentioning him in front of me, he has no right to be compared to me."

"Fine, I won't mention him, but does my father know about this?"

"He knows. He said if I send my son to Jiangzhou, he will go back personally to take care of him."

Shi Youxuan:...

"Then won't you two be living apart?"

"Living apart is fine. I'll have a daughter in the future, he isn't important." Ji Yingjie stroked her belly happily.

"A daughter?"

Her mouth was covered by her aunt.

"Shh—"

"Keep your voice down, what are you shouting about? Besides you and your father, no one else knows about this, don't you dare let it slip."