Chapter 17

Sang Ran and Zhu Chang'an had just stepped off the train.
They were travel-worn and weary.
But upon hearing the news that Sang Ran’s grandfather had fallen ill again, she couldn’t sit still and insisted on coming over. Zhu Chang’an didn’t want her to handle it alone, so he rode his bike with her.
The two had spent all their money in Shenzhen, leaving only a little behind. When Zhang Cuixia heard they were coming, she quickly stuffed fifty yuan into Sang Ran’s hands, not as a loan, but as a gift.
This was one of the big differences between being married and unmarried.
Sang Ran was grateful but had no time for lengthy words, offering a hurried thank-you before leaving.
Along the way, she didn’t notice Su Ya at all.
After all, she wasn’t the one driving. Zhu Chang’an, aware of her anxious state, pedaled quickly, and they sped past in a flash.
They hurried all the way to the Sang family home.
By then, the entire Sang family was gathered.
Sang Ran had previously told Zhang Cuixia when she would return, and since the return train tickets had been purchased when they left, the timing was fixed.
When the Sang family went to the Zhu residence to deliver the news, they naturally asked about Sang Ran’s return, so everyone knew when she would arrive.
To avoid missing her, the Sang family had taken time off work, not going to the fields that day.
Everyone gathered in the courtyard of Sang Ran’s eldest uncle. Sang Ran’s grandfather had raised three sons and two daughters, all of whom had married and started families. Their ages were no longer young, and each household had sent representatives. At a glance, the family truly appeared flourishing and prosperous.
As Sang Ran entered the Sang family courtyard, she could hear the innocent, clear voices of children: "Grandpa is sick. Is Auntie coming back to buy lots of yummy things for Grandpa?"
"Yes, so you have to be good later," someone teased with a laugh.
Most women tended to favor their natal families. Even after marriage, their treatment of relatives from their own family versus their in-laws was entirely different.
Except for Sang Ran’s parents and a few others, whom she had thoroughly humiliated once before, most people believed that now that Sang Ran was making money, it was time for them to reap the benefits.
Sang Ran pursed her lips, her expression devoid of any smile. She parked the bicycle outside the courtyard and strode in quickly.
"Ah, Sang Ran, you’re finally back! Your grandfather has been talking about you every single day. I’ve been running around busy these days, but he never held me in his heart like this," said Sang Ran’s eldest aunt.
As soon as she spoke, others chimed in.
Everyone in the area knew what had been happening. Sang Ran had gone south, returned, and started selling clothes, ten yuan per piece. A quick calculation would reveal just how much she was earning. Hadn’t she become a boss now, someone to be respected?
Even though she was of a younger generation, everyone still smiled along with her.
Sang Ran didn’t immediately put on a cold face. Facing the smiles of others, even though her expression wasn’t great, she still forced a strained smile and greeted them one by one: "Grandma, Aunt, Second Aunt"
Zhu Chang’an followed suit and greeted them as well.
"Ah, this child is so well-behaved," the ones who were addressed smiled even more warmly, trying to get closer to her.
Sang Ran’s parents, however, didn’t approach. Their expressions toward Sang Ran weren’t particularly pleasant either. They had come today because they were afraid Sang Ran might actually give in to the others’ demands, leaving them, her own parents, at a disadvantage.
But judging by her expression, it seemed the others’ plans probably wouldn’t succeed.
Sure enough, before they could say much more, Sang Ran sidestepped them and went straight inside.
Aunt Sang’s smile stiffened considerably, but she quickly followed her in. "Dad is old, and his health isn’t great, but he’s still doing alright. The doctor just said he needs to rest and recuperate properly."
Aunt Sang’s wife hurriedly added, "Sang Ran, it’s not that I don’t want to take care of Dad. It’s just that you know our family’s situation, the children can barely eat their fill, and the adults are just scraping by. It’s not like you, who suddenly came into so much money."
Sang Ran acted as if she hadn’t heard and walked straight in. There, she saw the gaunt old man lying in bed, his spirits still somewhat intact. He frowned as he looked at them and said, "And you call this 'doing alright'? He’s so thin, how is this 'alright'?"
Uncle Sang’s wife guiltily fell silent, and the others also looked embarrassed and said nothing more.
Sang Ran’s expression, which had just improved slightly, darkened again.
The little bit of vitality she had painstakingly nurtured in him with her money over the past while had vanished again after this illness.
But she couldn’t lose her temper in front of Grandpa Sang. She forced a smile and called out, "Grandpa!"
The old man frowned, leaning against the headboard, his expression troubled, as if something was bothering him. Suddenly noticing the commotion, he turned his head and his frown immediately eased. A familiar, gentle smile appeared on his face as he said in a hoarse voice, "Sang Ran, you’re here. Grandpa’s fine, it’s just the usual old problems. I’ll be better after some rest. If you’re busy, you don’t have to come."
Sang Ran had a feeling Grandpa Sang didn’t want her to come.
But his gaze was as affectionate as ever, so it must be for some other reason. Listening to the noisy chorus around her, Sang Ran quickly figured it out. She curved her lips into a smile and said, "It’s fine, I just got back. Grandpa, can you still stand on your legs?"
"Of course I can! Why wouldn’t I be able to?" Grandpa Sang immediately nodded, afraid his granddaughter would worry. He added, "I’ve been able to stand since I came back from the hospital. I just can’t stand for too long."
As he spoke, he lifted the thin quilt.
He hadn’t stood up earlier only because his son had told him not to. He knew the reason, but he was used to obeying others and didn’t dare to resist, so he had stayed lying in bed.
Only when he saw his granddaughter did he quickly stand up, afraid she would misunderstand.
A pair of legs, so thin that only dark, weathered skin remained, were exposed. They looked like the bark of an old tree, and just one glance was enough to make one’s heart ache.
But these legs were still functional.
Grandpa Sang tested them out, standing unsteadily for a moment before sitting back down.
Sang Ran breathed a sigh of relief. The situation was much better than she had imagined.
She glanced around the room. Although many people were blocking her view, she could still see the sparse, simple furnishings. The room was empty, with nothing of much value left. She asked, "Grandpa, is there anything you want to take with you?"
Grandpa Sang looked puzzled. "Take what?"
The people who had been hesitant to butt in and had let the grandfather and granddaughter talk suddenly showed subtle changes in their expressions.
Aunt Sang asked suspiciously, "Sang Ran, what do you mean by that?"
Sang Ran smiled at Grandpa Sang, making everyone's hearts tense up. Then they heard the girl say, "Grandpa, your leg hasn't fully recovered yet. You need to go to the hospital."
Aunt Sang breathed a sigh of relief and chided, "Is it just about the hospital? If you had said so, I would have taken him there. Do we need to bring anything?"
Aunt Sang nodded in agreement, "Exactly, child, there's no need to make it so complicated. We can just pack a few clothes and that'll be enough."
But Sang Ran shook her head and said calmly, "We do need to, because Grandpa won't be coming back after this."
"What?!" Aunt Sang widened her eyes and stared at her, "What do you mean? How can an already married girl like you possibly take care of your grandpa?"
"Why can't I?" Sang Ran's smile turned cold.
Zhu Chang’an, who had been quietly following Sang Ran, quickly interjected to deflect the group's displeasure, saying loudly, "Of course we can!"
He snorted, raised his eyelids, and hinted meaningfully, "We've already discussed it. Grandpa, you'll stay in the hospital for a couple of days. Once Sang Ran and I have our funds sorted out, we plan to rent a place in town. It'll be more convenient for your medical visits then. Don't worry, from now on, we'll take care of you. We don't need anyone else."
To outsiders, they always said they were renting a place to avoid being criticized for earning too much money and attracting unnecessary trouble.
Grandpa Sang was shocked and repeatedly waved his hands, "How can that be? I'm almost at death's door, why waste money like that?"
Originally, he had thought about staying with his granddaughter after the family split, so he would have a place to live. But now, if they had to rent a place just for his illness, he wouldn't feel at ease.
Aunt Sang didn't believe Zhu Chang’an's words at all. As a married daughter herself, how could she not know what mothers-in-law were like?
So she quickly tried to educate them from her own experience, "Sang Ran, don't be willful. You're already married, if you do this, won't your in-laws get angry?"
Zhu Chang’an was furious. Why was everyone ignoring him? He raised his voice and said, "I already told you we've discussed it as a family! Why would they be angry?"
Aunt Sang secretly curled her lip.
Seeing that Sang Ran was already forcefully helping Grandpa Sang to his feet to leave, Aunt Sang hurriedly blocked their way, "No, no! It was agreed before that Dad would stay with our family!"
Sang Ran looked up at her and asked seriously, "Oh? So are you going to pay for Grandpa's medical expenses?"
"You have money, don't you? You pay for it, and we'll take Dad to see the doctor!" Aunt Sang declared righteously.
Sang Ran sneered, "I do have money, so why should I give it to you to take Grandpa? Why wouldn’t I take him myself? Do you really think I don’t know that once I hand over the money, it’ll be like feeding meat buns to a dog, gone forever!"
The younger aunt of the Sang family, who had remained mostly silent until now, stared at her niece in astonishment. She hadn’t expected that after just a month or two of marriage, Sang Ran would become so sharp-tongued.
She said sternly, "How can you talk like that? We’re just trying to be considerate of how busy and tired you are with your business. Why are you overthinking it?"
Considerate?
If they were truly considerate, they wouldn’t have rushed Grandpa Sang out of the hospital and left him bedridden. With three sons and two daughters, was it really impossible to pool together enough money for an elderly person’s hospital expenses?
Was that even plausible?
Sang Ran merely glanced at her and said, "If you’re not contributing any money, then shut up!"
The noisy courtyard fell abruptly silent at Sang Ran’s clear, sharp voice. The younger aunt’s face turned pale with anger.
The eldest aunt panicked, her lips trembling. She couldn’t bear to step aside, nor was she willing to spend money. Just as she was about to try persuading Sang Ran again, the girl suddenly grabbed her outstretched hand. The eldest aunt’s expression shifted as a sharp pain shot through her wrist, and a cold voice rang in her ears: "Get out of my way!"
The next moment, she was shoved aside.
She could only watch helplessly as Sang Ran led the old man out.