Grandfather Ji Xinghua lived with his youngest son Ji Shan in the dormitory provided by the food factory. It was on the first floor and had three rooms and a small living room, with a shared kitchen and bathroom.
To get there from this street, it took roughly fifteen minutes because it was all narrow lanes that cars couldn’t enter.
"Let’s go buy some fruit next door," Ji Ying suggested as she looked at the fruit stall beside the street.
Xu Qinghe had already gone to the fruit stand to buy apples and then bananas.
Xu Qinghe glanced at the alcohol, a box of chili sauce, egg cakes, and fruit they brought; it was quite a respectable offering.
"Grandfather lives just inside there?"
Xu Nianhua surveyed the houses here, with their mixture of flats and multi-story buildings, which seemed to have seen many years.
Ji Ying looked around, noting that not much had changed since her visit in the first half of last year.
"Nian’an, Nianhua, remember to speak sweetly when you meet your grandfather later," Ji Ying instructed. "He’s getting on in years, so we need to be more filial to him in the future."
"Mom, I know," Xu Nianhua said, smiling as she walked down the unfamiliar street, thinking of her long-not-seen grandfather and feeling a tinge of anticipation.
"Mom, don’t worry, it’s not like Nianhua and I are the silent types," Xu Nian’an assured. This was his first trip back to the city, and he found everything fascinating.
Previously, he thought the county was quite large, but after entering the city today, Xu Nian’an realized he had been like a frog in a well.
"How much further, Brother Shuyuan?" Xu Nian’an asked, following closely behind Ji Shuyuan, looking around curiously as he inquired.
"Walk to the end of this alley, turn twice, and we’ll be there," answered Ji Shuyuan, acknowledging people he knew with a smile as he greeted them, just before reaching the end of the alley, where he suddenly stopped.
"Brother Shuyuan, we haven’t reached the place yet," said Xu Nian’an, puzzled as he looked toward Ji Shuyuan.
"Aunt, Uncle, I need to apologize for something," Ji Shuyuan suddenly turned around, stopping in front of Xu Qinghe and Ji Ying, and bowed deeply.
This unexpected gesture startled Xu Qinghe and his wife.
Ji Ying’s complexion turned pale in fright; she staggered and nearly fell to one side, but Xu Qinghe caught her promptly and asked, "Shuyuan, what does this mean? What have you done wrong?"
Xu Qinghe’s gaze was sharp as he stared at Ji Shuyuan, his mind drumming with worry. Perhaps something serious had befallen his father-in-law?
If anything had truly gone wrong...
Wouldn’t Ji Ying grieve for a lifetime?
In a flash, a multitude of thoughts raced through Xu Qinghe’s mind.
"It’s..." Ji Shuyuan hesitated, unsure of how to begin.
"Ji Shuyuan, just spit it out. You’re about to worry us to death," Xu Nian’an urged, no longer addressing him with the honorific ’brother’ but by his name instead.
"Is Grandfather..." Ji Ying’s voiced trembled as she bit her lip.
"Aunt, you’ve misunderstood," Ji Shuyuan felt their misunderstanding and quickly explained, "Grandfather is fine."
"You child, you almost scared me to death."
Ji Ying gripped Xu Qinghe’s hand tightly, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
"Before New Year’s, Grandfather fell ill," Ji Shuyuan continued, "but in fact, his health hasn’t truly recovered."
His words instantly raised everyone’s concerns again.
"Ah, Ji Shuyuan, can you not speak in half-truths?" Xu Nian’an wished he could delve into his cousin’s mind to uncover what he really intended to say.