"Alright, alright, Qingfeng, don’t get angry just yet. Let Mom finish. Two million is really a astronomical number for us. Tian Tian just graduated, her job isn’t stable yet, and her salary isn’t fixed. Where would she get such a sum?"
"Does that crazy woman mean Tian Tian has to repay two million? And she has to do it now?"
"It’s not that she has to repay it all right now. Sigh... I honestly don’t know what she’s thinking. Tian Tian doesn’t possibly have that kind of money now, and I know that supporting two children isn’t easy for you. Qingfeng, why don’t you discuss with Yue Xin and stick to our earlier agreement of paying back every six months? Regarding the total amount... let’s base it on Tian Tian’s future job situation, what do you think?"
"Mom! I’ve told you long ago, the money spent on treating my second brother back then, I don’t need Tian Tian to repay a single cent. He was my own brother, blood is thicker than water, and he’s no longer with us. Even if I’m the worst person, can’t I understand this principle?"
"Mom, don’t worry, all the money Tian Tian sends back, I’ve been saving for her to use as part of her dowry when she gets married in the future. Though our second brother is gone, she still has me, her big uncle, and her little aunt! Her little aunt promised she’d contribute to the dowry when Tian Tian gets married!"
Outside the door, Gu Tiantian listened to her grandmother and uncle talking inside the hospital room, trying hard to control her emotions and not cry.
No matter how hard she tried, she still felt an ache in her nose and her eyes started to water.
She needed some space!
Plus, she couldn’t let Grandma and Uncle see her .
She took the elevator to the first floor and headed straight to the garden behind the inpatient department.
Uncle was still the same uncle.
Though he was a man of few words and a bit slow, he genuinely protected her.
The image of her uncle snatching money from the great aunt’s hands years ago flashed through her mind, and Gu Tiantian pressed her lips tight as her vision blurred.
As she recalled her uncle saying that the money she sent back was saved for her dowry, tears finally streamed down.
She thought her world only consisted of herself and Grandma, but there was also Uncle and Little Aunt.
Uncle was honest and slow, yearly returning home for New Year’s and often ending up silent after a few words from the great aunt, generally just leaving.
As for her little aunt...
Her little uncle is in the military, and years ago, her little aunt had accompanied him. During the busy holiday seasons, she was caught up with studying and later work, so they rarely saw each other.
Last year, her little aunt came to visit Grandma, but since she was out doing part-time jobs, she missed her as well.
She never realized that uncle and little aunt were thinking about her future.
Gu Tiantian covered her face, softly sobbing.
Tears seeped through her fingers, making her deeply ashamed for feeling distant from Uncle and Little Aunt over the years.
She didn’t even have her Little Aunt’s phone number stored.
She had it before, but after her phone got stolen last year, the numbers saved on the phone couldn’t be retrieved when she replaced her SIM card, not knowing they’d be lost.
The more she thought about it, the sadder Gu Tiantian felt.
But she couldn’t cry loudly because this was a hospital. Even though she hid in an unnoticed corner, many patients and their families were coming and going not far away.
When Jiang Xinxin arrived, she saw a familiar figure crouched under an osmanthus tree in the distance, covering her face, doing who knows what.
As if thinking of something, Jiang Xinxin smiled slightly and quickly walked over.