CHAPTER 310: CHAPTER 310: MR. XU’S REFUSAL

Xu Xiuxiu needed to pass through the Xu Family’s main hall to get to Mr. Xu’s room, perhaps due to the urgency of Mrs. Xu’s accident, the table in the hall was still cluttered with messy dishes, some spoiled and some gone sour. Xu Xiuxiu frowned at the sight, then headed towards the corridor without further ado, unaware of what had happened, Mrs. Xu had suddenly passed away, and even upon returning, there wasn’t time to tidy up these things.

"Dad, come out and eat something, please!" Xiuxiu exclaimed, "I know you’re grief-stricken and heartbroken since mom passed, but no matter what, the living must go on. If mom knew, she would be upset too, because she cared about you the most. Besides, we need to prepare for mom’s funeral tonight. Can you at least show up and say a few words to the family elders?"

Xiuxiu hadn’t even reached Mr. Xu’s doorway when around the corner of the hallway, she heard Xu Fangfang trying to comfort their father with considerable effort.

"Get out, just get out, I won’t eat your food," came a crashing sound from inside the room, as if something was thrown at the door, followed by a loud bang.

Xu Fangfang’s hand, holding a bowl of food, trembled.

"Dad, please don’t be like this," Xu Fangfang said with frustration, furrowing her brows and stamping her foot, "What’s the point in making a fuss? Mom’s already gone! You’re being reckless and jeopardizing your health! Listen, I can’t make you care for yourself, and if you won’t, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll leave the food at your door. Remember to eat when you’re hungry. I have to go help the villagers with mom’s funeral preparations. I don’t have the time to coax you into eating, like you’re a child. Please try to understand us, your daughters. We’re having a hard time too. It’s true that mom is gone, but there’s still so much to take care of!" Xu Fangfang was quite blunt and seemed to have run out of patience, perhaps due to Mr. Xu’s prolonged stubbornness.

"Get out, just get out, you beast! I don’t need your care, get away from me, you make my blood boil," Mr. Xu roared again.

"Fine, then I won’t bother with you anymore! Do whatever you like!" Xu Fangfang shot back angrily, setting down the food as if to leave.

"Big sister," Xu Xiuxiu stepped forward and called out to her.

Maybe it was because she hadn’t expected Xu Xiuxiu to come, or because she felt embarrassed being seen and heard in her attitude towards Mr. Xu, Xu Fangfang looked at Xiuxiu awkwardly, her face still flushed with intensity, "Xiuxiu, what are you doing here? Dad, he won’t eat. He’s been in his room for a long while. He won’t listen to what I say; you try to persuade him. I’ve got to go, I’m busy." With that, she handed the bowl she was holding to Xu Xiuxiu and hurried off as if being chased by a ghost.

Xu Xiuxiu hesitated as she watched Xu Fangfang leave, then turned and knocked on the door, "Dad, it’s Xiuxiu. Si Ya and I are back. Please come out and eat something."

There was a moment of quiet and silence from the room, "I’m not eating; take it away!" His tone, compared to how he spoke to Xu Fangfang, wasn’t as harsh towards Xu Xiuxiu, but he still had no intention of coming out.

"Dad, it’s late, and if you’re not asleep, just come out and have a little something! Your health is the most important thing. I’ll leave the food at your door, so come out and eat a bit when you feel hungry." Xu Xiuxiu didn’t press further, Mr. Xu was standing firm, and as his children, they had to be a bit compliant with him. Mrs. Xu’s sudden death naturally required time to process.

After Xu Xiuxiu finished speaking, Mr. Xu didn’t respond, so she went ahead and left the food at the doorstep.

When she reached the Xu Family’s door, the simple rain shelter being built for Mrs. Xu was almost finished, while Xu Jingjing and Xu Qingqing, the sisters, sat beside it crying. Xu Fangfang was also nearby, her eyes red and swollen, apparently having cried a great deal.

Xu Xiuxiu had a bit of a headache. Among the four sisters, the three of them were crying uncontrollably, and it wouldn’t look right if she didn’t show any reaction, although she felt quite heavy-hearted. But crying as hysterically as they did was difficult for her.

"Xiuxiu, where’s your man? With such a big event as your mother-in-law’s passing, he ought to be back by now!" a busybody elder woman, who was helping comfort the Xu sisters, asked a bit intrusively.

"He’s been assigned by the military to advance his studies at the Imperial Capital School, so it might be a while before he can come back," Xu Xiuxiu responded helplessly. Honestly, if Song Yuanhuan didn’t return at this time, it could lead to gossip, but it just so happened that this unfortunate timing came up. They were unable to contact each other directly, so she had to wait for Song Yuanhuan to call her from Imperial City before she could tell him to call home.

"He’s gone to the Imperial Capital!" The elder woman’s tone was indistinct, unclear whether it was disappointment, disapproval, envy, or jealousy, but it was quite intriguing.

"He is a soldier, and military orders cannot be defied. He prioritizes the nation above all else, and I believe my mother would understand that," Xu Xiuxiu said with some effort. Then she excused herself to check on the children, hastily making her way to the Second Aunt’s house, already dressed in her white mourning clothes.

The night had grown deep. If not for the sudden need to return to her old home due to her mother’s unexpected death, her three children would have been sound asleep at this time. However, when she had left earlier, several children at the Second Aunt’s house were still awake, and she wondered if her son had fallen asleep by now.

"Auntie, I’ve come to check on the children. How are they? Are they all asleep?" The Second Aunt’s house was now quiet, and as Xu Xiuxiu carefully entered, she saw a group of children lying side by side. Song Chengguang and Cai Tou lay respectfully next to Little Baby and Little Moon, all nearly exhausted and asleep. The Second Aunt’s two grandchildren even snored softly.

"They’ve been good! As soon as you left, I urged them to sleep. They obediently took off their jackets and climbed into bed by themselves. Without any fuss, the older ones lay down next to the little ones. My Mingzi and Huizi and your elder sister’s Doudou were also worn out from playing, and now they’re all lying down quietly," Second Aunt said with an extremely relaxed tone and a smiling face.

"That’s good." Xu Xiuxiu sighed with relief. She was worried that too many children would be noisy and the boy and girl twins, being young, would throw tantrums if they didn’t see her. Previously, because of Xu Jingjing, the boy and girl twins had woken up, but seeing all the children now sleeping quietly relaxed Xu Xiuxiu somewhat.

"Go ahead with your duties, don’t worry! I’m getting on in years, and I may not be fit for other tasks, but I’m still confident in taking care of children. Ming Zihui, both brothers, are very healthy and usually not even a headache or a fever troubles them," Second Aunt boasted, patting her chest.

"Of course, I trust Second Aunt. You’re the experienced one, definitely more so than me!" Xu Xiuxiu flattered her.

Second Aunt’s smile broadened instantly. Although she was modest with her words, the pleasure from the praise could still be seen on her face.