CHAPTER 773: CHAPTER 748: STAND UP

This wasn’t Jiang Laoshi coming back with a dark face, followed by his brother-in-law.

Fan Jianguo had just been scolded by his brother-in-law for quite some time. He knew he was a bit reckless; no matter what he should have sent someone to inform the family. But he had been too exhausted lately, so busy that he forgot many things.

Along the way, he kept apologizing to his brother-in-law.

Mrs. Fan and Liu Huili burst into tears when they saw Fan Jianguo, mainly because he really looked miserable now.

His clothes were filthy; they looked like rags, and his face was covered in stubble, suggesting he hadn’t slept for a long time; his eyes were filled with bloodshot lines.

The whole person seemed haggard, especially when getting close to people, there was a sour smell emanating from him—a scent that only arises from not showering for a long time.

Although it had only been half a month since they last met, he’d lost a whole circle of weight.

Seeing his mother and wife crying, Fan Jianguo hurriedly bowed and clasped his hands together in respect.

"Mom, I’m back in good shape. Please don’t cry. If you cry like that, I’ll feel like I’ve let you down, causing you to worry."

"Wife, look, I’m perfectly fine! Why cry?"

Mrs. Fan went up and pinched her son’s arm hard.

Fan Jianguo held his soft flesh on his arm; his mom always used this trick. When he was little, she beat him with a broom handle.

Later, when he grew up, his mom couldn’t handle the broom handle anymore, so she switched to pinching him with her nails.

As soon as the pain subsided, his wife came over and pinched his arm on the other side.

"Ouch, a double attack!" Fan Jianguo cried out in pain.

"I’m guilty. I’m wrong."

Seeing his mom and wife with red eyes from crying, he realized he had indeed made a mistake.

No matter what, he should have informed the family, knowing they were worried about him and unable to sleep at night.

"You, a grown man, make me worry about you. Do you know your wife couldn’t sleep from the tenth day, jumping up whenever there was a noise outside, thinking it might be you coming back?

Look at her, she’s become thinner within these days of exhaustion. I’m really afraid her body won’t hold."

Fan Jianguo embraced his mother and wife tightly.

"Mom! Wife, I promise! I promise there won’t be a next time, I won’t let you worry like this again. This time, the fruits couldn’t wait; I worried they’d spoil on the way, so as soon as the truck came back, I went straight to the wholesale market."

Liu Huili wiped away her tears.

"Did everything go smoothly, children’s dad? Did anything happen on the road?"

Seeing her husband exhausted like this made her feel sad, knowing it’s for the family, but also understanding that if it weren’t for her and the children, he wouldn’t be as tired as a dog.

"Nothing happened, everything went smoothly. Plus, all the fruits we brought back in the truck are sold. But I saved two baskets for you; Xiao Zhang will deliver them later."

Fan Jianguo finally felt a sense of relief.

The feeling of making money is truly wonderful.

Mrs. Fan slapped Fan Jianguo on the back a few times, choked up and unable to speak.

A year and more of tough days, finally endured.

The old lady wasn’t unaccustomed to tough days; her heart ached for her son’s hardships.

How could she not know what days her son had endured over the past year?

The most crucial thing was that the worry had turned her son’s hair white.

He’s just in his early thirties, but his temples are gray!

Worrying himself sick for his granddaughter and wife.

Now it’s finally clear after the storm.

The old lady was delighted.

Fan Jianguo hugged his dear mother tightly; people from their time are generally emotionally reserved, never revealing their feelings outwardly.

Yet, at this moment, he was truly excited, unable to resist holding his mother tightly.

He always remembered the days when his mother picked bad leaves in the vegetable market.

That bent figure, those staggering steps, carefully smiling, enduring all kinds of disdain from others.

The sourness in his heart.

Although no one blamed him, he knew that the past events couldn’t be blamed on him; however, his heart couldn’t help but feel that his father’s death was because of him. He swore to take good care of his mother afterward.

To ensure a good retirement life for his mother, everything was supposed to be fine, yet who would’ve thought he’d drag his mom down in the end.

"Mom, your son has stood back up again."

The old lady patted her son; since he became an adult, he had never been so close to her.

But today, the son was like that child again, holding his mother tightly, her heart softened by her son.

"Good! From now on, Jianguo, our days will get better. Mom is glad you and your wife will lead a good life."

The whole family was over the moon because of this.

Jiang Laoshi instructed Jiang Lei to buy some good drinks and food; their family needed to celebrate. The brother-in-law had finally come back strong.

Fan Xiuying quickly called Jiang Xiaoxiao and the other sisters to come back; everyone gathered together.

Actually, the children were all living nearby.

The couple specifically moved to the courtyard here to help Jiang Xiaoxiao take care of the kids.

The bungalow on the other side was left to Jiang Yue, Jiang Xin’s new tailor shop, which was also opened at the entrance of the nearby commercial street, so Jiang Xin moved to her parents’ courtyard with her two children.

Aside from not being able to reach Jiang Xiaoxiao and Song Moting, the sisters were very happy upon knowing their uncle made a comeback, planning to celebrate with him once they returned.

Jiang Xin arranged the workers at the tailor shop.

As soon as she went out, she happened to bump into Qin Dazhuang.

"Jiang Xin, today is Friday, I’m planning to take the kids to my place for two days. I’ll bring them back Sunday night, making sure it won’t delay their studies."

Qin Dazhuang no longer set up stalls selling pancakes and fruit; he had saved money for several years, not only buying a house but also renting a storefront, now opening a restaurant.

It’s said that the business is doing quite well.

Of course, Qin Dazhuang set up a hotpot restaurant, even specially went to Sichuan Province to learn for quite some time.

This suggestion came from once taking his two daughters to his mother-in-law’s house where he ran into Jiang Xiaoxiao, who gave him a few words of advice, sparking the idea in him.

The main reason was that Qin Dazhuang felt that he couldn’t set up stalls selling pancakes for a lifetime.

Though he had bought a house and could still support his two kids.

However, he hoped to reunite with his ex-wife.

Therefore, he aimed to do better, to act like a real man who could shield their mother and daughters from the storm.

Relying on selling pancakes to support his wife was not enough, his wife earned much more than him.

So he went all out following his sister-in-law’s advice, unexpectedly succeeding, with the hotpot restaurant business thriving.

Now, Qin Dazhuang not only bought a car.

But also bought a house next to his mother-in-law.

He certainly didn’t have the means to buy the courtyard, but managed to buy a building, a small two-story, almost like a villa.

Taking advantage of every chance, he could come by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, hoping to perform well enough for them to say some good words about him in front of his wife.