Chapter 242 - 241: He Nan Registers His Marriage, He Ze Faints

He Ze saw that He Nan had remarried and was now getting ready to move to town. The sense of disparity in his heart grew even wider.

Looking at the room full of people, everyone seemed to have a complete and happy life except for him, the odd one out. He didn’t know where the surge of malicious anger came from.

"Eldest Brother, you’re really something now. But you just rode on Third Brother’s coattails. Not like me. When I remarried, everyone just kicked me when I was down. Not only did no one stand by me, but now I don’t even have a home. I guess everyone’s got a different fate. Eldest Brother, I really envy you."

He Lang hadn’t even glanced at He Ze since he walked in. Now, hearing He Ze’s words, he let out a cold laugh.

He Ze suddenly turned on He Lang.

"Third Brother, you don’t have to be so sarcastic. I know I can’t compare to you now. If I’d been the one to hog all of our parents’ favor, of course I’d be talking big too."

He Lang turned his head to look at He Ze, his expression impassive.

"Second Brother, why don’t you tell me what favor I got from our parents?"

He Ze clenched his fists.

He retorted, "You think you didn’t?"

He Lang raised an eyebrow. "Feel free to point it out."

Mr. He’s face was terribly grim. Mrs. He snapped at He Ze, "Can’t you keep your mouth shut even while you’re eating?"

He Ze suddenly laughed.

He said with a self-deprecating laugh, "Look at this. Am I even part of the He family anymore? It seems like every time Third Brother and I disagree, you always side with him. Isn’t that favoritism? Why does it have to be about material things?"

He Lang let out a low chuckle. "If you’re twisted inside, you’ll see injustice everywhere."

He Ze stared at He Lang, his eyes full of discontent. "If it weren’t for your bright idea back then to make me leave with nothing, would I have ended up in this state? Now I’m not even sure if I’m part of the He family. You think I don’t know what you’re up to, raising Little Chen? You just want him to grow distant from me, to not acknowledge me as his father. Well, you’ve succeeded. My family is a mess, and I’m a wreck."

"So, when it comes down to it, you just regret it?" He Lang hit the nail on the head.

He Ze shuddered, the corners of his mouth twitching. His gaze wavered.

Upon hearing this, Gao Cuiyun glanced at He Ze, then looked toward Little Chen.

Little Chen’s dark eyes were fixed on He Ze, filled with nothing but scorn.

He Lang scoffed. "I say, my dear Second Brother, you talk as if I’m the one who ruined your happiness. Was I the one who made you cheat and find someone else? I gave you advice, sure, but didn’t you only agree because you were in such a hurry to get a divorce? You said you were pursuing true love. So why is it that now that things aren’t going well for you, you suddenly feel the need to find an excuse for your sordid past and think of me again?"

"Let me tell you, you’re not that important to me. I really wouldn’t go to the trouble of raising Little Chen and the others just to spite you. All I can say is, your son is more magnanimous and more capable than you are. And don’t say Eldest Brother is riding my coattails. If Eldest Brother wasn’t capable, he’d fall right back down even if I propped him up to the sky. Just like you. Weren’t you the first factory worker in the whole village? And look at the state you’re in now."

Gao Cuiyun stood up and said to Mr. He, "Father, when He Ze and I divorced, it was your kindness that allowed me and the children to stay in the family home while he was the one to leave. I was in pain at the time, but I was also secretly delighted. But I don’t need that anymore. I don’t want this house. I’ve already moved with my children into our new home. That place has nothing to do with him, so I can live there in peace."

Mr. He glanced at Gao Cuiyun and sighed. "He Ze, I never knew this was what you thought. Since you feel you were wronged back then, just take this house back. I’ve always considered myself to have treated you three brothers equally. If you feel there’s any other injustice, come to me. It has nothing to do with your third brother."

He Ze looked at Gao Cuiyun, then at Mr. He. His lips trembled as if he was about to say something, but though he opened his mouth, no words came out. Then, his body went stiff, and he collapsed straight down.

THUMP. The sudden turn of events startled everyone.

"Second Brother!" Mrs. He cried out.

He Lang and He Nan immediately jumped off the kang, first checking He Ze’s nose. He was still breathing.

"To the hospital," He Lang said, then hoisted He Ze onto his back and headed out. He Nan followed behind.

Mrs. He slapped her thighs and began to wail, "What’s happened? What’s happened to him?"

Mr. He was about to go as well, but Little Chen said to him, "Grandpa, I’ll go."

Little Chen glanced at Gao Cuiyun and then took off running.

Gao Cuiyun, at that moment, didn’t know what to think. Her fists were clenched tight, and her teeth were chattering.

The sudden scene also startled Wang Hui Fang.

She stood there, at a loss. Xue Yue patted her arm in a gesture of comfort.

No one had expected He Ze to cause such a scene on the day of He Nan’s remarriage.

Xiao Yang and Ziming grabbed Gao Cuiyun’s hands, equally terrified.

Mrs. He waited at home, so anxious she was shedding tears. Thinking of He Ze’s health, she couldn’t help but worry.

In the afternoon, He Lang and the others returned, a trace of melancholy on each of their faces.

Gao Cuiyun had already taken the children home, and Wang Hui Fang was no longer in the main house.

Mrs. He grabbed He Lang and asked, "Where’s your second brother? Why didn’t he come back with you? What’s wrong with him? What did the doctor say?"

He Lang patted Mrs. He’s hand but didn’t speak.

He Nan said, "Second Brother woke up in the hospital and ran back on his own."

"Ran back? Then what did the doctor say about him fainting?"

He Nan sighed. "The doctor said there’s a lesion in his stomach. He suspects it’s stomach cancer, but he’s not sure. He said to go to the provincial capital hospital for another check-up."

"Stomach cancer? No—impossible, they must have made a mistake." Mrs. He staggered as she spoke, and He Lang caught her.

Mr. He was also in disbelief.

"How could that be? Where is Second Brother?"

He Nan said, "He went back to his own house. He doesn’t know yet. The doctor told me after He Ze woke up and ran off."

"How could this happen? Second Brother is still so young. What are we going to do?" Mrs. He muttered.

He Lang said, "If he’s sick, we get him treatment. We’ll take him to the hospital in the provincial capital for a check-up. If there’s a disease, we’ll treat it."

Mr. He nodded. "Right. I’ll make a trip to Second Brother’s house and see what’s going on with him."

Over at the new house, Little Chen stood at the main gate, not going in.

’A mix of complex feelings churned inside me. As much as I hate him, I never wished for his death.’

’I don’t dare go inside. I’m afraid Mom will ask... and what would I say? That *that man* might have a disease, that he might not have long to live?’

Mr. He arrived at He Ze’s place. This was the first time he had come over since the house was built.

The main gate was closed. Mr. He pushed, but it didn’t open; it was locked from the inside.

He knocked forcefully. After a while, no one came out to open the gate.

"Second Brother, open the door."

After he called out a few times, he heard the faint sound of a door opening, and then someone walked out.

The main gate opened. It was Xiao Yu.