Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 275

Xu Zhaodi knew she was in the wrong, so she opened her mouth, but some things remained unsaid.

Just then, Xiangye came in carrying Xiuer. He Yuzhu clapped his hands, wanting to take his daughter, but Xiuer hadn't seen her father for over a month and felt a little unfamiliar with him. She turned her head and nestled in Xiangye's arms.

This made He Yuzhu very embarrassed.

The three women all smiled and then used this incident to give He Yuzhu a few words.

Xiangye then said, "Sister Zhaodi, your father-in-law was so angry that he went to the hospital. You should go and see him, or people will gossip."

"I'm not going," Xu Zhaodi said guiltily.

"What, you went to the hospital?"

He Yuzhu thought it was just a normal argument, but he didn't expect that Old He would go to the hospital. This was a serious matter.

Xiangye nodded and then told her what had just happened. The couple had a serious argument today, and when Old He came to mediate, Xu Zhaodi and Old He exchanged a few words, which made Old He quite angry.

Old He already suffered from heart disease and asthma, and he was so angry that he fainted.

He Yongqiang got anxious. Although she wasn't his biological father, she was still his uncle, so he slapped Xu Zhaodi across the face.

Then Xu Zhaodi ran over angrily, and He Yongqiang quickly took Old He to the hospital with the help of the neighbors.

The three people involved in the argument left, and the neighbors dispersed as well.

He Yuzhu said angrily, "What can I say about you? You're such a grown man, why are you still arguing every day?"

It's also my own fault for not training Xu Zhaodi properly before. She's only been gone for a month and she's already caused such a huge mess.

Xu Zhaodi realized at this point that she had gone a bit too far. After all, he was her father-in-law, and Zhu Zi had often used a pointer to teach her before.

She must be filial to her father-in-law and take care of He Yongqiang; she can no longer indulge her own whims.

But when the time came, she forgot what Brother Zhu had told her, and now that He Yuzhu was questioning her like this, Nuonuo couldn't say a word.

Xu Huizhen advised, "Why don't you all go to the hospital to see Grandpa He?"

"I'm not going," Xu Zhaodi said softly.

He Yuzhu said helplessly, "I'll just have to do it myself. If Old He sees his daughter-in-law, he might just go and meet Marx in a fit of anger."

"That's true, then you go by yourself."

He Yuzhu took two cans of food and two pounds of pastries from home before putting on his coat and coming out.

After walking a few steps through the alley and onto the main street, I happened to see Wobo Cai Quanwu.

He Yuzhu waved his hand, and Cai Quanwu pulled the rickshaw up to him: "Boss He, where are we going?"

"Isn't Boss He at the hospital? I'll go check on him." With that, He Yuzhu got into the rickshaw.

"Boss He is still the most benevolent."

"Sigh, what can I do? I was their matchmaker. I should have known better than to be their matchmaker."

Cai Quanwu slowly pulled the rickshaw, gradually increasing the speed as his body recovered.

"Mr. He, there's no need to blame yourself. It's not your fault. It's mainly because both of them are quite stubborn. Since ancient times, matchmakers have only been responsible for marriage and not for having children. The two of them fell in love on their own, and it has nothing to do with you."

The two chatted like this until they arrived at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. He Yuzhu gave her 50 cents, said "Keep the change," and then went inside.

Cai Quanwu happily put the money into his pocket, just as someone waved for a ride and asked, "How much to Qianmen Street?"

"Two cents."

"So expensive!"

"Sir, this price is not expensive in the dead of winter."

"Alright, here's two cents."

He Yuzhu asked for the ward number at the information desk, found the room, and saw Old He lying on the bed, looking somewhat listless.

"Uncle He, are you feeling better?"

Old He struggled to open his eyes and saw He Yuzhu enter. He immediately tried to sit up.

He Yuzhu quickly went over, put the things he was carrying on the bedside table, and then pressed his hand down on his head, saying, "No, you should just lie down and rest."

Old He said, "Look at you, it's such a small thing, and you still have to come and see me. This is an old ailment of mine, it will be fine after a while."

"Don't mention it. We're neighbors, so we'll lend a hand if anything happens."

Only then did He Yongqiang say, "Thank you, Brother Zhuzi, for bringing things over."

"Don't mention it. How is the old man's condition? What did the doctor say?"

"The doctor didn't say anything; it's an old problem for my dad," He Yongqiang said softly.

Although He Yongqiang's words were correct, He Yuzhu noticed that his expression was a bit off. He didn't know if it was because of Old He's illness or because he was upset after arguing with Xu Zhaodi.

After chatting with the father and son for a few minutes, I said goodbye.

"I'll give it to you."

He Yuzhu and the others came to the door and asked again, "Is there really nothing wrong with Grandpa He's condition?"

“This…” He Yongqiang hesitated.

"What's there to hide?"

"The doctor said my father's health is failing and he won't last much longer. He also told me to prepare for his funeral in advance."

He Yuzhu was always very strange; at this point, the old man did not shy away from talking about his death.

They would prepare their burial clothes and coffin while they were still alive, and have someone make the coffin in advance, which would then be placed in their own home.

I wouldn't mind spending every day with them.

He Yuzhu nodded and patted him on the shoulder: "Take it easy. Everyone is born, grows old, gets sick, and dies. No one can escape it."

Old He stayed in the hospital for two days and was discharged on the third day. When He Yuzhu saw him again, he felt that his mental state was worse than before.

He Yuzhu managed to get a whole train carload of radios and electronic components in the summer, but it took more than a month for customs to receive the goods.

This time it went more smoothly than the last time; Elena got the goods out in less than half a month.

The pieces of Dacron fabric were divided between Chen Xueru and Ye Qingmo.

Then, he would send some radios and watches to Ye Qingmo. These goods would be his share, but she would have to convert them into cash herself.

He Yuzhu had just delivered the goods to his warehouse when someone approached him.

He Yuzhu invited the person in and poured them tea.

"May I ask what brings you two here?"

The man, who looked to be in his forties and wore a Zhongshan suit, pulled out a letter of introduction: "We are from the Materials Bureau, and we want your batch of electronic components."

He Yuzhu brought quite a lot of parts this time. The main reason is that the radio takes up less space than the parts, and the same volume can carry more items and is easier to sell.

He Yuzhu looked at the letter of introduction and saw that it was from the Municipal Materials Bureau. He said:

"You want my electronic components?"

"Yes, these are strategic materials, and we will use them very much."

"Okay, no problem, could you save some for me?"

After thinking for a moment, Zhongshan Suit said, "Alright, we can't have it all."

Most of the goods were taken away by Zhongshan suits, and He Yuzhu's shop opened smoothly. Mechanical watches, radios, and phonographs were still selling well, making this New Year very fulfilling.

A new year has arrived in the blink of an eye, and we've finally entered our fifth or sixth year.

However, Old He next door is getting weaker and weaker, and he doesn't look like he's going to make a living anymore.

That day, He Yuzhu was at home playing with his daughter He Yuanxiu when Xiangye rushed in in a panic, shouting, "Brother Zhu, something terrible has happened! Sister Zhaodi has angered Grandpa He again!"

"What?" He Yuzhu was startled.

Xiangye said, "You should go over there quickly, He Yongqiang isn't home."

He Yuzhu helped hand Xiu'er, whom he was holding, to her, and then turned and ran outside.

They soon arrived at the backyard next door, where Xu Zhaodi was struggling to help Old He up, but she couldn't lift him at all.

He Yuzhu quickly came over and helped him sit down on a chair next to him before asking, "Didn't I tell you not to upset your father-in-law? Look how weak he is."

As he said this, he reached under Old He's nose and felt that his breathing was already very weak.

"I didn't say anything!" Xu Zhaodi said timidly.

"Alright, hurry up and go find a car, I'll carry you to the hospital."

Xu Zhaodi then realized what was happening, said "okay," and quickly ran out.

He Yuzhu carried Lao Hetou on his back. After they came out, several neighbors were surprised, and Pianye even came over to ask him something.

"Old He has fainted."

Just then, the rickshaw arrived, and He Yuzhu put Old He on it and urged him to hurry up and ride.

Xu Zhaodi also knew to take the money, and together with the enthusiastic old man, they followed the rickshaw. The friendly neighbors quickly went to find He Yongqiang.

They soon arrived at Xiehe Hospital. He Yuzhu carried Lao Hetou on his back and ran inside again. A nurse came up to them and pointed out the way to He Yuzhu.

Once everyone was taken into the emergency room, He Yuzhu was ushered out.