Chapter 164: Chapter 154: Old Mrs. Tang

Mr. Tang kept changing the subject, and Old Mrs. Tang finally let her son off the hook, no longer needling him and making him feel remorseful and miserable.

It was just as she said: she had seen through it all and come to terms with it. Now that she was at the end of her life, what was there left to hold onto? As long as her son’s life was happy and he felt comfortable, then she should just let it be. Of course, she couldn’t control him even if she wanted to. So what if you were his mother? You couldn’t change his mind when you were alive, so what could you do after you were dead?

Her life could only be defined by one word: failure. A complete and utter failure.

She would have no face to meet their ancestors. In the future, the Tang family would be handed over to that Wu Xiaowen, and she couldn’t rest easy about that, not one bit.

Resentful and unwilling, Old Mrs. Tang allowed her eldest son to feed her medicine, spoonful by spoonful. Thinking her son must be tired, she wanted to finish it quickly so he could go rest. She then planned to just lie down and try to sleep it off.

Tang Qingshan, however, was determined to spend more time with his mother. After feeding her the medicine, he didn’t hurry to leave. He sat on the edge of the bed and spoke with her. Mr. Tang went out to give Xiao Zhang a few instructions, then returned to the room. He had intended to urge his son to go shower and rest, but seeing the mother and son talking and that the old lady seemed to have a bit of energy, he sat down as well.

Tang Qingshan glanced at his father and said with a smile, "Tomorrow, I’ll go bring that child over. Dad, Mom, you’ll definitely be shocked when you see her. The resemblance is uncanny. Even that little rascal Shao Jin was suspicious and kept pestering me, asking if I’d ever been to the South to get married and have a child."

"What child?" Mr. Tang asked.

"I was just telling Mom about her. She’s at the Gu family’s place; she just arrived today."

Mr. Tang chuckled. "Back then, your mother wanted you to go to the South, but you insisted on running off to the north. If you had gone to the South, who knows, you might have made a different life for yourself!"

He was, of course, referring to getting married and starting a family.

Old Mrs. Tang patted her son’s hand, her tone one of affectionate complaint. "Wasn’t it all for that girl from the Gu family? I just don’t get it. Your father was a famous romantic in his day, full of flowery tricks. He wanted to take half the girls in the city home with him. How come when it comes to you boys, you’re both determined to hang yourselves from a single tree?"

Mr. Tang protested, "Hey, hey, can you not... You can’t just spew nonsense in front of our son. Leave me a little dignity!"

Old Mrs. Tang scoffed, "Alright, I’ve put up with you two, father and son, my whole life. I’m about to die, and you still won’t let me speak the truth?"

Mr. Tang fell silent for a moment, then said flatly, "Let’s not talk about the follies of youth. None of that was serious. Lan Qing, we’ve walked through this life together, and there’s the afterlife too. I’ll follow you. I’ll always be with you."

A sheen of moisture veiled Old Mrs. Tang’s eyes. She said no more and slowly closed them.

Tang Qingshan cleared his throat. "Dad, Mom, I have something else to say."

Mr. Tang nodded. "Go on."

"Uncle Gu was in a deep coma for several days after his fall, but then he was suddenly up and about again. He even said he feels better than before! Do you really think that was the hospital’s doing?"

"It wasn’t?"

"Of course not! The reason Uncle Gu recovered so quickly is all thanks to this little girl from Wancheng in the South. She used acupuncture and a dose of traditional Chinese medicine to wake him up!"

Mr. Tang stared directly at Tang Qingshan. "You’re saying this little girl knows medicine, and she saved Old Gu?"

Tang Qingshan replied, "That’s right! She knows traditional Chinese medicine! Shaojun was the one who asked her to come. That kid Shaojun never does anything unreliable. And just as expected, she really did save Uncle Gu! I want to bring her over tomorrow to have a look at Mom."

Mr. Tang nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes! If her medical skills are that good, we must invite her over! I didn’t know about this, or I would have rushed over to the Gu family to get her myself... Why didn’t anyone tell me? No wonder I thought it was strange. How could Old Gu, who was completely unresponsive before, suddenly be fine? I didn’t think that bunch at the hospital was that miraculous."

Tang Qingshan smiled. "The girl isn’t old, just a little slip of a thing. The Gu family was also trying to protect her. They would have told you sooner or later; they just didn’t get the chance with everything that happened today."

Old Mrs. Tang opened her eyes. "Qingshan, you just said this little girl looks a lot like you? Where is she from?"

"From Wancheng, in G Province. The same place where Qingyun is."

"What’s her name?"

"Well, I’m not sure of her specific name. I only know her surname is Mo. Shaolian took her as his god-sister and gave her the name Zheng San Niu."

Old Mrs. Tang was surprised. "A god-sister can have her name and surname changed just like that? Would her parents agree to that?"

"The young brothers are probably just calling her that for fun. She must have her own name; we’ll find out tomorrow. However, I heard from Shao Jin that Shaolian told him the girl is an orphan with no parents."

Old Mrs. Tang’s eyes flew wide. "An orphan with no parents? And she looks like you? Go quickly, go right now, and bring that child to me!"

Mr. Tang also stood up. "Qingshan, Dad will go with you."

Tang Qingshan looked troubled. "Dad, Mom, the child traveled through the night, came here by helicopter, then went straight to the hospital to give Uncle Gu acupuncture and decoct medicine. She must be exhausted. She’s still sleeping, and she didn’t even eat dinner tonight. Can we wait until tomorrow?"

Old Mrs. Tang nodded hurriedly. "Oh, in that case, let’s wait until tomorrow! The poor thing, she’s so young. We mustn’t wear her out!"

After a pause, Old Mrs. Tang looked at Mr. Tang. "About Qingyun, is it confirmed he’s not coming back for the New Year?"

Tang Qingshan said, "Mom, I’m here this year. I’ll spend New Year’s Eve with you and Dad. I’ll leave on the afternoon of the first day."

Old Mrs. Tang was gratified. "My eldest son does have some conscience after all!"

Tang Qingshan: ...

Mr. Tang mused, "This is a critical year for Qingyun. The year after next, we’ll have him transferred back to the provincial capital. It will be much more convenient for him to travel to and from Beijing then. Xiao Wen can be transferred back before him. That way, you’ll have a daughter-in-law to attend to you, and the children can spend time with their grandmother."

Old Mrs. Tang snorted. "I’m not so blessed. Have her attend to me? I think I’d rather die and be reincarnated sooner! It’s just a shame about my dear grandson, not being able to be by my side. The Wu Family people are already on their way up, haven’t they reached Beijing yet? They’ll need you to show them the way again, won’t they? I’m afraid they’re going to take Hao Hao over there for the holiday... SIGH! My poor, wonderful grandson. I hope he isn’t corrupted by that bunch of hypocrites!"

Mr. Tang wisely remained silent. Tang Qingshan said, "Mom, it’s not that bad, is it? The two Wu family elders are professors from a prestigious university, after all."

"Heh, prestigious university professors? Old Man Wu is one thing, but that woman is a total fraud who deceives the world to gain fame! Son, Mom knows your head is a little clearer than Qingyun’s. Qingyun has already been fooled, so don’t you be so naive! After Mom dies, you don’t need to mix with them. Just separate from the family and live on your own, you hear!"

"Mom, let’s not talk about this, okay? You should rest for now. Tomorrow, I’ll bring someone who looks like your granddaughter to cheer you up!"

"Granddaughter?" Old Mrs. Tang gave a bitter smile. "I do have a granddaughter, you know. But no matter how I look at her, she doesn’t resemble a child of our family! Do you remember that year when Xuanxuan came to Beijing for the first time? I scolded the Gu family’s Third Son’s wife, and Old Mrs. Gu even argued with me for half the day over it. It was only because I overheard that Third Son’s wife gossiping. She said Xuanxuan definitely wasn’t Tang Qingyun’s child! The words were hurtful, it’s true, but I won’t lie to you two: even though I scolded her, I actually thought the same thing! I’ve always felt that Wu Xiaowen deceived Qingyun and cuckolded him..."

Tang Qingshan: ...

Mr. Tang could no longer stay silent. His eyes widened as he glared. "Fang Qinglan, that’s enough! What kind of family is our Tang family? If outsiders dared to spout such nonsense, we’d shut them down. But you’re the matriarch of this household. How could you... This is outrageous!"

"Old man, you have eyes, too. We have portraits and photos of several generations of Tang family ancestors. You tell me, don’t you look like your father? Don’t Qingshan and Qingyun look like you? Hao Hao also has a shadow of you all in him. But what part of Xuanxuan looks like a member of the Tang Family? I’m only saying this to you here at home. It’s not like I’m out there broadcasting it with a loudspeaker. What are you getting so worked up about?"

"Xuanxuan is still little, what can you tell? Besides, if she were or weren’t his, wouldn’t Qingyun know?"

"’A child at three foretells the adult, a child at seven foretells the old man.’ You wouldn’t understand. As for Qingyun, he’s a fool. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been led away by a woman like Wu Xiaowen!"

"You—"

"Fine, let’s not talk about it. I’m tired. I just want a few quiet days. After I’m dead, I won’t be able to see what happens to you Tangs anyway!"

Mr. Tang hated hearing his wife talk about dying. He had been holding it in for a long time, but today, hearing his son talk about a girl with superb medical skills who might be able to save his wife gave him a surge of confidence. He didn’t want to endure it anymore and blurted out:

"Qingyun and Xiao Wen haven’t had it easy these past few years either. Why don’t you stop harping on them? Let others go, and you’ll be more at ease yourself. Then you wouldn’t be so sick you’re at death’s door, wouldn’t that be better?"

Old Mrs. Tang had already been winding down, but his words instantly enraged her. "I’m harping on them? You tell me, who said that? If that rebellious son hadn’t crawled out of my own belly, would I have spent all these years struggling to protect and provide for them, letting them live so carefree? Fine, Tang Renqian, I’ll show you what it really means to not let go!"

Old Mrs. Tang took two forceful breaths and raised her voice. "Qingshan, call Qingyun! Tell him his old mother is about to die and to get his ass back here with his wife and kids to serve my medicine!"

Mr. Tang was stunned. "You... how can you be so capricious? Qingyun has already made his arrangements. His work is the priority. He’ll come back to see you in the second half of the year. Xiao Wen also called me a few days ago and said that since Qingyun can only spend the New Year at his workplace, she and their son would go accompany him. Then on the second day, they’ll go to the neighboring province to get together with the two Wu elders. It’s been so many years, they should!"

"So they deserve a reunion, and I, a sick old woman, deserve to be lonely and miserable?"

"Don’t you have me and Qingshan?"

"Is your old face cuter and more lovable than my grandson?" Old Mrs. Tang lifted her chin arrogantly. "Let me tell you, Tang Renqian, as long as I haven’t breathed my last, whoever provokes me is in for it! Wu Xiaowen called you, so why wasn’t I told? You dare help Wu Xiaowen deceive me? Just you wait!"

Mr. Tang was at a loss for words. He could never win against this woman, who grew more unreasonable and domineering with age. He turned to look at his eldest son, hoping he would say a few words. But Tang Qingshan, with perfect timing, picked up Old Mrs. Tang’s medicine bowl, stood up, and walked out, saying, "Mom, I’ll go get you some hot water to drink."

Mr. Tang: ...

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