Chapter 161 - I Want My Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildre
like Yujia doesn’t want you to worry," Hao Zhonghua shook his head with a sigh, “On the phone, Yujia’s dad expressed that since Yujia didn't wish to study in America, he hopes I could take care of he...Chapter 161: I Want to Be Surrounded by Grandchildren
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Returning to the seaside on a bumpy bus ride, Hao Ren walked back to his own beach villa. Just as he was about to call for his grandmother, he suddenly noticed Xie Yujia appeared in their home wearing a white apron!
"You... how did you get here" Hao Ren asked with some surprise.
"I came over to accompany Grandma," replied Xie Yujia calmly.
"What's wrong, Arin Do you have any objections" The grandmother walked out of the room on the first floor and stood beside Xie Yujia, asking Hao Ren. "No... no objection." Hao Ren put his schoolbag on the sofa and asked Xie Yujia a bit anxiously, "How did you get here"
"I took the bus over. The stop only goes to the entrance of the scenic area, so I walked in from there," answered Xie Yujia.
Hao Ren nodded and guessed that Xie Yujia must have finished her exam early, which is why she arrived earlier than him. However, it still takes about half an hour's walk to get here from the bus stop. With the sun beating down in the afternoon heat, this was quite a challenge for a girl like Xie Yujia.
"You didn't come back with Arin," said Grandma somewhat discontentedly to Xie Yujia.
"I don't know when he's coming back. Maybe he has something going on with his classmates I came over mainly to keep you company!" Xie Yujia smiled and bent her lips, saying this.
"You've really gone through a lot for such a long distance," Grandma looked at Xie Yujia worriedly. For Hao Ren, the journey from school was an exercise. But for Xie Yujia, it was quite strenuous.
"Grandma, shall we steam the fish as usual" Xie Yujia changed the subject and asked.
"Sure! Do whatever you like; I'll love anything that Xiao Yujia makes!" Grandma responded cheerfully.
"Hm!" Xie Yujia nodded and ran back into the kitchen to get busy again.
Hao Ren saw that the house was empty and asked, "Grandma, where are my parents"
"Ah, they went to Beijing this time. I get upset just talking about it," Grandma said with an impatient expression. "It's a national key project; they're going to be away for a month."
"They both went together" Hao Ren asked for confirmation.
"Yes, they say something about interdisciplinary collaboration and that you shouldn't worry about it affecting your exam mood." Grandma replied.
If it's going to affect me, then these past ten years have already affected me. Hao Ren thought to himself.
He was used to their behavior anyway, so he sighed slightly and asked inquiringly, "Then, Grandma, shall I stay with Aunt Zi this month"
The idea was for Grandma to be alone at the villa by the sea, which would surely make her lonely. Uncle Wang can only tend flowers and cook meals; it's more reassuring for Grandma to stay with Aunt Zi.
"I can't trouble Aunt Zi and her family again this time," Grandma said. "I've decided to live in the countryside for a while. An old friend from my youth finally got in touch with me last week, saying she now lives in Zhejiang Province where it's beautiful and peaceful with many grandchildren around. She invited me over."
"You're going alone" Hao Ren was quite worried.
"I'm much healthier than before, don't worry about it," Grandma said. "And living in the countryside, chatting with my old friend about the past, that's what will make me happy." She added with a sigh of her own, "Look at others; they have their children and grandchildren around them, big houses full of life. As for me, I'm all alone, no son or daughter-in-law nearby, only one grandson, let alone great-grandchildren."
Hao Ren saw that she was getting emotional again so he quickly tried to soothe her, "Alright, alright, after my exams are over, I'll take you there myself."
He thought to himself that if Grandma went and saw all the other people with their children and grandchildren around them in big houses bustling with activity, she might come back feeling even more lonely.
There's no other way around it; Hao Jia only has him as a single heir. According to traditional values, the responsibility of continuing the family line rests entirely on郝仁’s shoulders.
Duke Wang had some business at home this week and went back. As a result, this spacious beach villa was left with just the three of them—郝仁and his grandmother. If not for 謝雨嘉's presence, it would have been even quieter with only 郝仁and his grandmother.
Because there were only three people, 謝雨嘉didn't prepare an elaborate meal; instead, she made three vegetable dishes, one meat dish, and a soup that complemented each other well and was quite exquisite.
As long as the grandmother didn't speak up, the trio was as silent as a lake. 謝雨嘉ate quietly in small bites, while 郝仁wolfed down his food without daring to glance at 謝雨嘉beside him.
The grandmother watched their behavior during the meal, feeling something wasn’t quite right.
"Didn't Little Zi come over this week" The grandmother asked with some concern for Zhao Ranzǐ.
"No, her parents took her to Nanjing; she should be back next Sunday," 郝仁explained.
“Oh.” The grandmother sounded slightly disappointed.
Pausing for a moment, she asked again, "What about those two young ladies, Lu Linlin and Lu Lili Don't they come over to play"
The grandmother enjoyed the company of others, yet her home was eerily quiet like an old castle. She used to look forward to 郝仁returning every day; now she had another hope—looking forward to these young ladies coming to keep her company.
“Grandma,” 郝仁was a bit helpless. “They have their own lives, how can they come over every week”
"They said they would come every weekend," the grandmother murmured softly, fond of the obedient Lu Linlin and pretty twin sisters Lu Lingli.
Seeing her grandmother's expectant look, 郝仁felt a bit guilty; elderly people's wishes were so simple—just having their descendants spend time with them was enough to make them happy.
"Yu Jia, you don't need to go back today. Stay here and keep your grandma company," the grandmother suddenly lifted her head and said to Xie Yujia.
Xie Yujia hesitated for a moment, then her beautiful eyes flickered as she picked up her phone, "I'll make a call to my aunt."
She stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window facing the sea, talked on the phone for a while and hung up before returning, "My aunt said it's fine since I'm staying at Hao Ren's house."
Hearing this reply, her grandmother happily smiled, even regaining her appetite.
The grandmother asked various questions with care; Hao Ren and Xie Yujia answered one by one. The three of them sitting at the table really did seem like a family.
After dinner, Xie Yujia and Hao Ren got up together to clear away the dishes.
Despite Xie Yujia's candid moment in the library, they still had some unresolved issues. They silently tidied the table; when their arms brushed against each other occasionally, they would carefully step back a few steps. Xie Yujia was honest but also reserved—very different from those wild girls at school.
Hao Ren wasn't like other boys either who could easily and casually pursue a girl, and then laugh it off after failing without any lingering awkwardness.
The grandmother watched TV on the sofa outside while they washed dishes in the kitchen, not exchanging a single word.
"Later, you can sleep in my parents' room. Conveniently, they're in Beijing so the place is empty," Hao Ren said with a slightly dry voice after some silence.
“Okay,” Xie Yujia wiped the dishes quietly and efficiently, softly replying.
No further words were exchanged.
I can't resist saying that Xiao Yu Jia's role is not as simple—thank you to all my understanding classmates for your supportis bull-like eyes, clearly displeased.Ding!The basketball hit the rim and bounced off to the side.Hao Ren leaped into the air, grabbed the ball, and flew straight toward the basket again.Slam dunk!The...