Chiang Xiao felt somewhat embarrassed by such a vehement flood of compliments.
As they walked in, they realized the house was eerily quiet, as if she were the only one at home.
"Auntie, aren’t Grandpa Xue and Grandma at home?"
The moment Chiang Xiao brought up the question, Madam Zheng suddenly appeared a bit embarrassed. "My mom went to my place, and my dad went out; Old Zheng has gone to find him, so they should be back soon."
Chiang Songhai, always blunt with his words, said, "Is Brother Liujin’s health okay for him to be out?"
When they had come to visit the other day, Xue Liujin had almost collapsed, needing someone to help him walk. He was out taking a walk?
With the weather so hot outside, wouldn’t he be unable to tolerate it?
Seeing that Madam Zheng’s expression was a bit unnatural, Chiang Xiao knew that things weren’t as simple as they seemed.
Indeed, before long, Chairman Zheng returned, supporting Xue Liujin. Xue Liujin was completely reliant on Chairman Zheng’s support, and before they even reached the house, they heard him calling from outside, "Xiao Ping, quick, come help!"
Without paying any more attention to Chiang Xiao and the others, Madam Zheng ran out like lightning to help get Xue Liujin into the house.
"Brother Chiang, you guys, you’ve come?" asked Xue Liujin, greeting them weakly, as if he didn’t even have the strength to be happy.
His face was pale with a tinge of blue, and he seemed even thinner than when they had seen him three days ago.
Back then, it was night, and they couldn’t see clearly under the light, but now in the daylight, the sight of him nearly caused Ge Liutao to jump in shock.
This genuinely looked as though he had just narrowly escaped a severe illness. How could he not be resting in bed, yet still be capable of going out in the sweltering heat?
If Chairman Zheng hadn’t found him, he would have undoubtedly fainted outdoors.
Tears welled up in Madam Zheng’s eyes, and she got up to hide in the kitchen, clearly too embarrassed to cry in front of guests.
"Brother Liujin, why do you look worse than you did a few days ago?" unable to hold back, Chiang Songhai asked, feeling secretly alarmed.
Unable to lift his hand, Xue Liujin leaned on the sofa and said weakly, "Ah, to be old is to be useless."
Chiang Xiao looked toward Chairman Zheng.
Chairman Zheng also sighed and said, "I’ve been trying to persuade him to go to the hospital, but he won’t listen. This started an argument with my mom, and she left for our place in a huff, and my dad insisted on chasing her to scold her."
And then, guess what? His mother-in-law sprinted so fast his father-in-law couldn’t catch up at all and almost collapsed outside. Luckily, he followed him; otherwise, who knows what might have happened.
These old folks are just too stubborn.
Chiang Xiao thought to himself that Madam Xue had been driven away by frustration.
This old man also really had quite a temper. His wife wanted him to go to the hospital for his own good, and not only did he drive her away, he even thought about chasing after to scold her?
She was simply speechless.
"Haven’t I been to the hospital? Went several times, what’s the use? Just a waste of money," Xue Liujin eyes seemed to want to glare, but he didn’t even have the strength to glower, speaking weakly, "I’ve said it, at this age, just endure at home. When the time comes to go, then go. No need for all this fuss."
"Dad, you always say these things, but have you ever considered if mom and I can bear it?" Madam Zheng ran out suddenly, tears streaming down her face, "How old are you, hm? If you are sick, you must get treatment. If this hospital isn’t good, can’t we switch to another one? It’s not a serious illness; can’t it be cured with some rest? But you insist on saying things like you’ll just endure until you’re gone, these kinds of words. Do you know how much they upset us when we hear them?"
His expression became stony, and after a moment of silence, Xue Liujin said, "Upset about what? Anyway, everyone has to go through this sooner or later."