At that time, being suddenly reminded by Ji Shuyuan, Ji Ying felt the timidity of approaching her hometown.
Ji Ying had grown up in the county since she was a child, and by a chance encounter, she met the honest and reliable Xu Qinghe, and impulsively decided to marry him. Her parents had advised against it, but they couldn’t persuade her. Over the years, no matter how tough or tiring it got, she never complained or expressed her fatigue.
Her three older brothers doted on her, occasionally offering her support, which made her days bearable.
After her father and eldest brother moved to South City, their meetings had become less frequent, only about once a year.
"Grandfather is getting old and really misses Aunt." Ji Shuyuan spoke slowly, "Before the New Year, we originally planned to visit Aunt to celebrate, but, because Grandfather fell ill, we couldn’t make it."
Ji Ying abruptly stood up and said, "Shuyuan, that’s not what you told me back then!"
Before the New Year, Ji Ying had spoken on the phone with her brother Ji Shan, and at that time, they said they were too busy to visit. Whenever she asked about her father’s health, whether it was her second brother Ji Feng or her third brother Ji Lin, they both consistently said that the old man was in very good health, and her calls always seemed ill-timed, either Father had stepped out for a walk or had gone to someone’s house to play chess.
Her father indeed enjoyed these activities, and Ji Ying had never doubted it; now, hearing Ji Shuyuan’s words, Ji Ying felt extremely shocked.
"Dad is okay, right? How is he now? Shuyuan, your grandfather is my own father; you mustn’t hide anything from me." Ji Ying looked towards Ji Shuyuan in a panic.
"Mom, don’t worry." Xu Nianhua held Ji Ying’s arm and comforted her, "Grandpa should be fine, otherwise, Shuyuan wouldn’t be sitting here so calmly."
"Right, Aunt, don’t worry. I just wanted to ask if you have time to visit Grandfather in South City." Ji Shuyuan spoke calmly, his composed words slightly reassured Ji Ying.
"Go, I want to go see him." Ji Ying answered without hesitation, holding Xu Nianhua’s hand, feeling the warmth and strength of her hand, she gradually calmed down and said with self-blame, "It’s all my fault, if I hadn’t been so long without visiting Dad, I wouldn’t have been unaware of his illness."
Ji Ying felt extremely guilty and remorseful.
"Nianhua, since you’ve just finished your exams, let’s go to South City together." Holding Xu Nianhua’s hand, Ji Ying said, and then turned to Xu Nian’an, asking, "Nian’an, how about you? Do you want to join us?"
"Xiaohe is pregnant; it’s not suitable for her to travel, Nianji will stay home and take care of Xiaohe."
"Okay." Xu Nianji didn’t reject such an arrangement; he also wanted to see his grandfather, but with Xiaohe only a few months away from giving birth, he dared not travel too far. He said, "Mom, once Xiaohe has the baby, then we can all go to see Grandpa together."
"Hmm." Ji Ying nodded, her gaze landing on Xu Nian’an nearby.
Xu Nian’an nodded without hesitation and said, "Go, of course we should go."
South City wasn’t far, and he could still come back earlier as long as Grandpa was safe.
"Mom, I’ll go wash the dishes." Xu Nianhua lowered her eyes and started clearing the tableware.
The bowl in Xu Nianhua’s hand accidentally dropped.
"May it bring peace." Ji Ying immediately responded, stopping Xu Nianhua from picking up the shards, saying, "I’ll sweep it up; you mustn’t pick it up, be careful not to cut your hand."