CHAPTER 507: CHAPTER 490 FAMILY MEETING

The old man’s funeral followed the customs of their area.

The elderly were brought back home.

With the belief of returning to the earth and coming back to one’s roots, they specifically found a vehicle to bring the old man back to the village.

The funeral was considered completely concluded.

Jiang Xiaoxiao and the others were too tired to speak.

Aside from the sadness in their hearts, the complexity of the funeral added to it. In rural areas, funerals are quite elaborate. It was Jiang Xiaoxiao’s first time attending one; when it was her parents’ turn, it had nothing to do with her at all.

By the time she found out, her parents had already passed.

The arrangements were made by the community.

This time she experienced it thoroughly.

The old man was already laid to rest.

Now the family sat together for a meeting.

Jiang Xiaoxiao sat there, saying nothing.

Song Moting, being the grandson-in-law, also found it inappropriate to speak.

"Mom, Dad has already passed. We have to seriously discuss your retirement arrangements, as well as Dad’s funeral this time."

Fan Jianfeng spoke, harboring his own motivations.

Mrs. Fan leaned against the quilt on the kang bed. After sending off her husband, she seemed to have lost all her vitality, appearing listless.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was actually very worried about her grandmother.

This time her grandmother seemed not well.

In her previous life, her grandmother was concerned about the children at home, her parents, and even herself, mustered up the spirit to continue living just to take care of them.

But what about now?

Since there were no more worries in life, nothing to care about, the old man’s passing became a heavy blow to the old lady.

The old lady really seemed a bit unable to recover.

The old lady looked up blankly at her eldest son.

"Eldest, just say whatever you have to say! We’re all family, don’t keep it hidden, even I, the old lady, don’t understand what you mean, let alone your siblings.

Anyway, our family is all here, just say what you want to say."

The old lady frowned, among her children, except for the eldest who wasn’t raised right, the others were fine, but she didn’t know what the eldest meant by these words.

Fan Jianfeng felt somewhat embarrassed, couldn’t his mother just give him some face?

But seeing the look in Fan Jianguo and Fan Xiuying’s eyes, he felt awkward.

"Mom asked me to speak, so I won’t be polite. I’m the eldest in the family, if I don’t say something, things can’t just go on like this. Dad is gone, and mom is now all alone, I was thinking of bringing mom back to the village to live.

After all, there are still some of mom’s old friends in the village, old aunties and such, so she can have people to talk to, comfort her, make her feel better, and life will be easier for her. Old second, you’re in the city, although the house is big, you have to work. Every day when you’re not home, mom will probably feel lonely.

Everyone says raising children is for old age; now there’s only mom left in our family, as for the old-age expenses, how about the two of us split it, fifty-fifty, what do you think?"

Fan Jianguo thought that made sense, once he returned he would be busy with the store matters, and once he started getting busy, he’d likely leave early and return late, having no time to take care of his mom. Before, there was still the old man with the old lady, the two of them could go for a walk, chat, and visit the grocery market.

But now, with only his old mom left at home, he wasn’t comfortable. But letting his mom go back to the countryside with his eldest brother, he was even more uneasy -- just the temper and sharp tongue of his sister-in-law, what good life would his mom have following her?

Before, with dad around, the two of them could support each other. Now with only mom, if she suffered any grievance, his own mom would probably just endure it.

"Eldest brother, let’s properly discuss mom’s retirement. Although what you say makes sense, I’m reluctant to let mom leave."

Fan Jianguo really didn’t want to let go.

Fan Jianfeng’s eyes widened, that wasn’t a pleasant thing to hear from his brother, if outsiders heard it, wouldn’t they suspect he couldn’t take good care of his own mom?

"Old second, what do you mean by that? Although your sister-in-law’s past actions were somewhat wrong, she’s changed now, you know that. Besides, there’s me, it’s not like I’m dead, how could I watch our mom suffer?"

Fan Jianguo knew what he said was a bit unpleasant.

He could only smile awkwardly and shake his head, "Eldest brother, that’s not what I meant. Mom’s been living quite comfortably and happily in the city. Besides, as mom gets older, if she has any ailments, it’s more convenient to see a doctor in the city. If you’re worried I’m too busy to care for mom, then let me tell you something.

I’ve already found a partner, and we’re planning to marry by the end of the year. There’s not much time left. Once I’m married, there will be someone at home to take care of mom, you can rest assured. I’m not taking care of mom because I’m counting on you for the retirement money, I know things aren’t easy for you.

As for the retirement, I can handle it myself, I also want to make things easier for you. Don’t take it the wrong way, your brother truly wants to take care of mom."

Fan Jianguo really didn’t care about the retirement money; his parents had been living with him these past two years, he hadn’t asked his brother for a single cent.

He knew his brother, he spoke nicely but his actions could be unbearable.

It was only because he was his own elder brother that he let things slide, he wasn’t one to fuss over things, so he didn’t want to nitpick.

But letting his mom go back to his brother to live wasn’t feasible for him.

Hearing this, Fan Jianfeng finally felt comfortable, that was more like it.

Wu Jin’ai pursed her lips, "Old second, your brother is the eldest son. It should be us taking care of our parents. When you took mom and dad away, we were criticized in the village for being unfilial.

This time, let mom come back to live with us, give us a chance to show our filial piety. We’re not fighting you for the retirement money, after all, your brother and I are just villagers living off the land, we really can’t afford much.

If mom can come back to us, you can just send us 20 yuan a month for the retirement, rest assured, I will definitely take good care of mom. Even if you marry at the end of the year, a new bride wouldn’t be happy to start by looking after an elder.

A new bride in the house wouldn’t be happy about that, would she? Sister-in-law is thinking about you. When life gets better, if you want to bring mom over, I won’t stop you."

Fan Jianguo got the point, his sister-in-law’s words, in essence, were still about the retirement money.

Saying 20 yuan right off the bat!

Really daring, without a care for embarrassment.

In the late 70s, how much was a worker’s salary? And here his sister-in-law was, casually asking him for 20 yuan, not that he couldn’t afford it.

But how much of that 20 yuan would actually be spent on his mom, Fan Jianguo knew well, with his sister-in-law and brother’s character, that money would probably all go to them.

Even if he had money, he wouldn’t spend it like that, he’d rather spend it all on his mom.

He wouldn’t aid his brother under the guise of his mom’s name, that wouldn’t be right.

Doing a good deed without recognition.

Fan Jianguo wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

He wasn’t going to act foolish.