Landlord Wang disregarded the pale faces of the two individuals, turned his head, and looked at Yu Daming who had just kicked someone out, instructing, "Daming, go invite my nephews and cousins over!"
"Yes, Master!" Yu Daming immediately ran out to fetch people.
"Youbao, you’ve suffered..." Landlord Wang’s gaze fell back onto Wang Youbao, and seeing how much thinner Wang Youbao had become, his old eyes reddened with distress. "Don’t worry, your father is here, I won’t let them bully you anymore!"
Wang Youbao immediately shook his head, "Dad, I’m alright, as long as you get better, that’s all that matters." Being bullied was nothing; all he wanted was for his kind father to be healthy and live a long life.
Landlord Wang sighed, "Your father isn’t sick, it’s just that my time to die is near, I’m already seventy, I’ve lived a long life, it’s time for me to go."
"Dad, don’t say that." Wang Youbao had just wiped his tears away, but upon hearing Landlord Wang’s words, they fell once more.
"Youbao, ’Real men do not cry easily,’ from now on, don’t cry so easily, lest others see and laugh," Landlord Wang tried to take a handkerchief to wipe away Wang Youbao’s tears, but his sick hands lacked the strength, and in the end, it was Wang Youbao who took the handkerchief and wiped his own tears.
Landlord Wang’s clouded vision fell on An Jing and Xiao Changyi: "Who are these two...?"
Wang Youbao immediately introduced them: "Dad, these are my two friends, An Jing and Xiao Changyi. They happened to visit me today, and it’s thanks to their help that I was able to come in."
Landlord Wang gave An Jing and Xiao Changyi a grateful smile, "Thank you both for just now. I have always heard Youbao mention you, Youbao may be kind-hearted, but he’s not a fool. Over the years, he’s had many friends, but the only ones he mentions in front of me are you two, which must mean you really treat him well, unlike the others."
Despite the fact that if she hadn’t resisted, she would have become his concubine, An Jing didn’t feel uncomfortable at this moment.
This man was a good person.
This man was her friend’s father.
She had respect for him.
An Jing responded gracefully with a smile, "Youbao has also treated us with true sincerity."
"That’s very good to hear," Landlord Wang nodded, "I probably won’t be able to survive this ordeal, but I hope your friendship lasts forever."
An Jing said, "Uncle, you’re clear-headed now, your health should be improving."
"There’s no need to comfort me, I know my own body well, I’m likely experiencing a brief improvement before the end. While I’m still lucid, I want to settle all my affairs so that when I’m confused again, others won’t have an opportunity to take advantage."
No sooner had Landlord Wang spoken these words than Yu Daming had the uncles and cousins brought in.
The uncles and cousins were initially delighted that Landlord Wang was lucid and then they asked what matter he needed them for.
An Jing felt this was a family matter and intended to leave with Xiao Changyi, but Landlord Wang stopped them.
"Don’t go, the two of you, consider yourselves as witnesses to this," he said.
An Jing and Xiao Changyi then decided to stay. They were planning to keep standing, but Yu Daming brought two chairs behind them and invited them to sit, and they did so without demur.
Landlord Wang then looked toward the uncles and cousins, "I may be sick and muddled, but have you all lost your wits too? I’m not childless, why would I adopt my second brother’s son as my own?"
One of the uncles replied shamefully, "When we saw you nodding that day, we didn’t object."
"Why didn’t you object? Was it really just because I nodded? Or was it because Youbao, being born of a concubine, couldn’t compare to Wang Youtao, the legitimate son of my second brother!"