Chapter 19: 19. Returning Home (Seeking recommendation votes, seeking collections!)

Zhang Ran bought some items like spirit money nearby, then arrived before Yu Qingwan's grave.

Looking at the photo on it, which was still from when they were together, Zhang Ran's expression became dazed once again.

This was actually a joint grave, as the photo featured both Zhang Ran and Yu Qingwan, though Zhang Ran's side could only be considered a cenotaph.

Zhang Ran didn't say anything about this, just watching quietly.

Zhang Sicheng squatted to the side burning paper, but his voice carried over, "After you had your accident back then, my mother broke ties with my maternal grandparents and lived with me and my sister."

"My mother would often mention you, and would tell us about the things you did together..........."

Zhang Sicheng spoke slowly, and Zhang Ran just sat on the ground listening quietly, without any movement.

Just like that, Zhang Sicheng spoke for half an hour, and Zhang Ran remained motionless.

Finally, Zhang Sicheng sighed, not disturbing Zhang Ran any further, and had Zhang Xiaotao and Susu kowtow to their grandmother and maternal grandmother before leaving, leaving this place to Zhang Ran.

The Meng He family had been waiting outside the whole time, not going up to disturb Zhang Ran and the others; once they saw Zhang Sicheng and the others coming down first, Meng He went up to meet them.

Next, under the intentional prying of Meng He and Lin Meizhi, information regarding their mother, Yu Qingwan, was completely drawn out.

After listening to their account, Lin Meizhi also fell into silence; she didn't know what kind of mood she should have at this moment.

Time passed just like that, and by one o'clock in the afternoon, Zhang Ran still hadn't come down, so Meng He had Meng Mingxuan order some takeout to eat right there.

Meng Mingxuan and Meng Zixuan both had outgoing personalities, and with the prompting from Meng He and the others, the two of them soon started chatting with the Zhang Sicheng siblings.

It was just that Zhang Siyan and Meng Zixuan hit it off quite well; after all, they were both women, and they had common topics like cosmetics and bags to talk about.

But Zhang Sicheng and Meng Mingxuan were talking at cross-purposes.

Zhang Sicheng had dropped out of high school to work and support his sister's education; although he had been very hardworking, diligent, and eager to learn for so many years, he was just an ordinary office worker.

Meng Mingxuan had been a rich second generation since childhood, liked to eat, drink, and play, had no great ambitions, and played with high-end toys like sports cars, so he couldn't find common ground with Zhang Sicheng.

Fortunately, once Meng Mingxuan learned that Zhang Sicheng worked in gaming, he steered the conversation toward games, so it wasn't too awkward.

They waited like this until five o'clock, when the setting sun rendered the clouds on the horizon into a glow of sunset, and only then did Zhang Ran walk out.

When Zhang Xiaotao saw Zhang Ran, he ran straight over; the little guy seemed to have a natural affinity for Zhang Ran, and although they had just met, he really liked being with his grandfather.

"Grandpa, Grandpa." Zhang Xiaotao shouted while running.

Zhang Ran's originally somewhat wooden gaze was also infected by the little guy and brightened slightly, and he reached out to pick the little guy up.

"Grandpa, I'm hungry." Taotao said without any shyness at all.

"Alright, we'll go eat right away." While speaking, Zhang Ran also reached Susu's side and picked her up as well, with one little one in each hand.

Although Susu's cold little face looked somewhat reluctant, her small hands subconsciously wrapped around Zhang Ran's neck, clearly not as she appeared to be.

"Brother Zhang, what are the plans for the evening?" Meng He said with a smile.

Zhang Ran said: "Let's leave it at this for today; I'll go back to eat dinner."

"Brother Zhang, I......." Meng He wanted to say something.

Zhang Ran waved his hand with a smile and said: "That's enough, I'll come find you tomorrow, and you can tell me in detail then."

Zhang Ran knew what Meng He wanted to talk to him about, but he didn't have much heart for it right now; since he had returned, then the things that belonged to him could not be snatched away by anyone.

Zhang Ran wouldn't be so anxious that he couldn't even wait this little bit of time.

"Alright." Meng He actually knew that Zhang Ran had his whole heart set on his family right now, but he wanted to tell Zhang Ran everything he knew in advance so he could be prepared.

He believed that those who should know about the news of Zhang Ran's return already knew, and they certainly knew what this meant, so they would prepare in advance.

And Zhang Ran had already been delayed for a month and a half; Meng He was afraid of missing the opportunity, which was why he was so anxious.

However, since Zhang Ran had said so, Meng He didn't say anything more.

Moreover, Meng He actually had an inexplicable confidence in Zhang Ran; even though twenty-six years had passed, and even though society and technology had undergone earth-shaking changes, Meng He still believed in Zhang Ran.

Meng He drove Zhang Ran and his family to the entrance of the residential compound; looking at this obviously dirty and messy compound, Meng He wanted to speak, but was pinched by Lin Meizhi.

Meng He then realized; indeed, he could casually give Zhang Ran a luxury mansion now, but this would very likely irritate Zhang Ran.

After getting out of the car, Zhang Ran said a word to Meng He and the others, then walked into the compound with a little one in each arm.

The obvious difference from just before was that this time, as soon as Zhang Ran reached out his hand, Susu stood in place waiting for him to pick her up, with no intention of refusing.

It was fine on the road, with the Meng He family there, so it wasn't too awkward, but now that only their family was left, Zhang Sicheng didn't know how to chat for a moment.

Fortunately, Liu Lu was relatively reliable; seeing her husband's discomfort, she smiled and said: "I'll buy you a mobile phone first. In today's society, you can't move an inch without a phone; even buying things requires mobile payment."

She wanted to popularize some current common knowledge for Zhang Ran.

Zhang Ran smiled and said: "No need, I have a phone. When I was inside, they taught us how to use them, and everyone was issued one."

As he spoke, Zhang Ran took out the phone, and when Liu Lu looked, it was the latest Longhua model, a smartphone worth 8999.

"Alright then. By the way, what dishes do you like to eat? I'll go buy groceries in a bit." Liu Lu said again.

Right now, the whole family relied on her to maintain the atmosphere, otherwise both sides would feel awkward.

Zhang Siyan basically didn't speak on the side, just watching silently.

"I'm easy, I can eat anything; just make whatever you're good at." Zhang Ran really wasn't picky, though he liked spicy food the most.

"Mom, I want to eat braised pork ribs." Taotao, the little guy, couldn't help but say.

"Alright, then we'll make braised pork ribs." Zhang Ran bounced Taotao in his left arm, then looked at Susu on his right and said: "What does Susu like to eat? Shall we let Auntie go make it?"

Hearing Zhang Ran pretend to speak like a child, Zhang Siyan's mouth twitched slightly, but her eyes began to soften.

At the very least, up until now, Zhang Ran, this biological father who was even younger than her, was performing quite reliably.