“Not going home? The doctor had said that Xiaoqi’s condition is very stable now. He can go home!” Huo Xiao’s old face flushed with anger.
He had come personally to call them home on New Year’s Eve but this scumbag had even said that he would not go back. Did he want to die outside?
“Father, don’t be so agitated. There are always what-ifs. Xiaoqi was fine last night, but he suddenly fell ill in the middle of the night. What if he falls ill again today?” Huo Ci tried to argue for his point of view calmly. “You didn’t see him yesterday. He suddenly fainted. That brat and I were scared to death.”
“That won’t do either. It’s New Year’s Eve! What is it like to spend it in the hospital? You scumbag! You kept dragging this out for days on end. You have to come back today no matter what,” Huo Xiao pointed at him angrily. “Pack your things. Pack your things for your old man immediately. Go home!”
“Mother, hurry up and persuade my father. Treatment for children can’t be delayed when they get sick, especially at Xiaoqi’s age. If he’s delayed for the slightest bit, it might become a big problem,” Huo Ci sighed and added, “What if Ling Xiaoqi becomes a fool? Especially if he has a high fever that can cause pneumonia, and cerebral meningitis. If he’s late in being treated for meningitis, he’ll become a retard.”
“Fool? Xiaoqi will become a retard?” Huo Xiao raised his walking stick and lashed it at him, fuming. “I’ll just beat you until you become a fool first! You unfilial son! What else do you know how to do besides angering me?”
As Huo Ci ran, he said, “Mother, hurry up and control my father. I’m telling the truth. If he really becomes a fool, I won’t be responsible!”
Xiaoqi was already sick to begin with. He sat on the bed like a silly dog and watched them in a daze, especially when Grandpa had said that he had had his brain burned into becoming a fool, a retard. His eyeballs only spun around.
In the end, Huo Ci hid behind Xiaoqi and hugged him. “Look, look. He’s all stupid now. If his head burns up again, he’ll be finished.”
Ling Sheng was fuming. Look at him! Was he talking like a human? He kept saying that Xiaoqi had been burned to a point where he became a fool, retard and suffered from cerebral meningitis. Why didn’t he become the retard instead!
Su Xiyin also got angry. She pointed at Huo Ci and bellowed, “Stop spouting nonsense! Who are you cursing? Xiaoqi is all fine and well. How could he end up like what you said?”
“I’m just raising an example. Why are you people getting angry? Even I can become a fool from a fever.” Upon seeing the burning eyes of the family of three staring at him with rage and murderous intent, Huo Ci’s scalp went numb and he chickened out. “Anyway, what I mean is that we should go home tomorrow, and let Xiaoqi stay in the hospital for a day of observation.”
Huo Xiao’s attitude was very firm. “That won’t do. Don’t we just need a doctor? I’ll hire 10 or 20 doctors to watch over Xiaoqi at home 24 hours a day and see what other problem can crop up.”
Huo Ci said, “Father, you’re being unreasonable now. You want to celebrate the new year and eat New Year’s Eve dinner, but are the doctors not human? Don’t they need to eat? Don’t they need to reunite with their families? You’re too tyrannical and domineering.”
Huo Xiao’s eyes blazed as he gritted his teeth and pointed at him. He bellowed, “Get out here! Don’t hide behind Xiaoqi if you have the guts. This won’t do, that won’t do. It’ll be fine as long as your old man will beat you to death.”
How mature! He knew how to hide behind Xiaoqi and use him as a shield. Once he came out, see if he would not beat that scumbag to death. He would not stop until he angered him to death!
“Father, how about this?” Huo Ci tried to negotiate in a soft voice. He smiled and said, “Let’s vote. The minority will obey the majority. Those who are willing to let Xiaoqi stay in the hospital for observation will raise their hands.”