Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 763: Chapter 763: The Child Wants to Support but the Parent Is Not Waiting (Part 3)

“Dad, your child is back!”

It was an ordinary sentence, but it made Elderly Mr. Di shudder, his originally dim eyes suddenly brightening.

His eyes were firmly fixed on the two figures at the doorway, without blinking.

“Third Child…”

He called out in a soft voice, so low that Liu Sisi standing in front of him could hardly hear him.

But Di Yelei heard him!

“Dad! It’s Third Child! Third Child has returned, Dad…”

Di Yelei lunged, rushing straight from the door to Di Yelei’s side: “Dad, Third Child has returned! It’s Yelei who has returned, it’s Yelei…”

“Third Child…”

A faint smile finally appeared on Elderly Mr. Di’s face, he tried to lift his hand up, but halfway it fell weakly back down.

Di Yelei quickly held his hand, placing it over his own chest: “Dad…”

Before he could finish speaking, his tears began to fall!

A man does not shed tears easily, only when he’s truly heartbroken!

Who can really understand the pain of parting by life and death? Di Yelei’s tears were streaming down continuously, unstoppable.

“Good! It’s good you’re back!”

Elderly Mr. Di struggled to raise his hand, finally touching Di Yelei’s face.

His hand was cold, void of any warmth, but it momentarily warmed Di Yelei’s heart.

He tried hard to wipe away Third Child’s tears, but it was strenuous for him. He forced himself to lean on Ms. Zhao, smiling at Di Yelei.

“A man sheds blood….not tears! Don’t cry, you’re not allowed to cry! Cough cough….” he began to cough violently again.

Di Yelei wiped away his tears forcefully: “Yes! Third Child obeys your instructions, Dad. A man sheds blood not tears!”

“Good, good! Third Child, your dad… is joyous! Having a son like you in his lifetime, it’s such a joy… truly a joy…”

The light in Elderly Mr. Di’s face slowly faded.

The old man who had been standing at the door since the beginning slowly moved forward. As everyone curiously watched him, he bypassed everyone, walked up to Elderly Mr. Di, and slowly knelt down.

Then, with the utmost respect, he bowed. It wasn’t until he had completed three bows that everyone finally comprehended.

The old man finally lifted his head, his face streaked with tears: “Unfilial son, Hongyuan, greets his father!” @@novelbin@@

Elderly Mr. Di seemed astonished, unable to stop his listing body from straightening: “You, you are Hongyuan…”

“Yes! Dad! Your son Hongyuan is back! Hongyuan has returned!”

Di Hongyuan had actually returned? Such news is simply too startling! If you’d say that Di Yelei’s timely return was a pleasant surprise, then Di Hongyuan’s arrival at this critical juncture of life and death is shocking!

Di Hongyuan was talking while unbuttoning his shirt, revealing a strange birthmark on his chest.

“Dad, Hongyuan has returned!”

Elderly Mr. Di didn’t speak. He stared at Di Hongyuan without saying a word. After a while, just when everyone doubted if he had passed away, he spoke again.

“It’s good that you’re back! It’s good as long as you’re back…. Your dad can finally rest in peace and meet your mom. She has been waiting for me over there…”

“Dad! You shouldn’t be saying that, you should live for a hundred years, Dad….”

Di Yelei was choked up and could no longer speak.

Even he couldn’t convince himself with these words, how could they convince Elderly Mr. Di?

“Dad! You will get better, Hongyuan just returned to your side, how can you leave Hongyuan alone? What do you expect Hongyuan to do?”

Di Hongyuan also knelt down and took a couple of steps forward, taking Elderly Mr. Di’s hand: “Dad, once you’ve recovered, Hongyuan will accompany you every day, providing you with plenty of grandchildren to enjoy your old age…”

The tree wants stillness, but the wind won’t stop; the child wants to support, but the parents won’t wait!

Di Hongyuan, having spent his time working away from home, thinking he had plenty of time to return home and visit, always delayed due to various reasons. But it’s only now that he understands what he’s missed out on! His heart aches inexplicably, yet he can’t find the words to express it.

“You do not resent your father for being harsh in the past, knowing that you care about me makes me very happy.”

Elderly Mr. Di shakes his head with difficulty, his eyes full of satisfaction as he looks at Di Hongyuan.

During their conversation, he turns his head towards Di Yelei: “Third Child, after I die, you should… bury me with your mom, together!”

“Dad, Third Child understands, Third Child will fulfill your wish! I will promise you a grand farewell… Third Child will…”

Elderly Mr. Di smiles satisfactorily, takes one last look at everyone in the room, and his gaze falls on Liu Sisi.

“Third Child, I’m hungry and would like some braised pork.”

Liu Sisi was delighted and quickly brought over the bowl of braised pork, handing the chopsticks to Di Yelei.

“Dad, your braised pork is here. Let Third Child feed you. Here!”

Di Yelei picks up a piece of the braised pork, his hands trembling uncontrollably. Only after several attempts does he manage to put that piece of meat into Elderly Mr. Di’s mouth.

A strange flush appears on Elderly Mr. Di’s face and he smiles as he chews on the braised pork.

“Good… good to eat! Good…”

“If you like it, please have some more. This is your favorite dish…”

Di Yelei’s tears fell again. He disregarded them and picked up another piece of meat to feed Elderly Mr. Di.

“Tasty, so tasty…”

Before Elderly Mr. Di could finish his sentence, his body suddenly jerked backward, convulsed, and then went still.

The bowl of braised pork slipped from Liu Sisi’s hand and smashed onto the ground, sending out a crisp sound.

Everyone at the scene froze, and no one spoke.

“Dad! Dad, are you alright? Dad, can you hear Hongyuan speak?”

Di Gaoyuan quickly went forward to feel for signs of life, but shortly after his expression darkened, he shook his head at everyone.

“Dad! ——”

“Grandfather!”

“Old man…

Suddenly, sobbing filled the room.

Soon, the red lanterns hung at the main entrance of the Di Residence were replaced with white gauze-covered ones. A white silk sash hung across the entrance and everyone in the Di Residence sank into grief.

Thanks to Liu Sisi’s earlier arrangements, the funeral preparations for Elderly Mr. Di were going smoothly.

The Taoist Priest was invited into the mansion, and the sounds of the suona and drum music filled the air, blended with the incessant cracking of firecrackers. The ancestral tablet with “The Recently Deceased Elderly Honourable Di Fude” written on it was quickly erected.

Elderly Mr. Di had been meticulously cleaned and dressed in a funeral robe with eleven layers. He was carefully laid on the doorway with an oil lamp lit beneath his feet.

Everyone changed into mourning garments to hold a vigil.

Originally, with Di Yelei and other men of the Di family not at home, and Di Ah-bao being ineffectual, the task of organizing Elderly Mr. Di’s funeral had fallen on Di Cheng. Now that Di Yelei and Di Gaoyuan had returned, even Di Hongyuan, who had absconded from home for decades, had returned, the organization of this matter naturally fell onto the eldest son, Di Hongyuan.

Di Hongyuan had spent years struggling to survive outside, and although he wasn’t familiar with the curious faces looking at him, it didn’t interfere with his arrangements for Elderly Mr. Di’s funeral. Everything that needed to be organized was quickly taken care of.

“Yelei, there’s something I would like to discuss with you.”