Volume 9 – Chapter 34: Beasts of Burden
Grandma Xiaochun planted a lot of Sweet Osmanthus flowers in her yard. When the breeze swept up, it was the most beautiful. Besides the scenery, the fragrance was also a plus point.
“Speaking of which, you damaged this tree in the past.”
“Me?” Luo Qiu was taken aback for a moment.
Grandma Xiaochun pointed at an Osmanthus flower tree. It was much shorter than the others, and it did not appear lush.
At this moment, Grandma Xiaochun picked some Osmanthus flowers from the Osmanthus flower tree and put them in the basket held by Luo Qiu. She smiled and said, “I remembered how old you were then.”
“That old?” Grandma Xiaochun put her hand on her waist and gesticulated, smiling kindly. “You wanted these plants to be in your house. Then, you pluck it and end up damaging them.”
Luo Qiu smiled and said, “I was naughty… Yup, I remembered. My father scolded me at that time. Come to think of it. After that time, I started to be afraid of him.”
“Not really.” Grandma Xiaochun shook her head. “The Osmanthus flower trees here belong to all of you. When I’m gone, someone has to take care of it. It’s hard to make these plants grow lush. If no one takes care of it in the future, then it’s a pity.”
She took Luo Qiu’s hand and came to the other tree, “This one is for your father, but he was afraid that he didn’t have time and he couldn’t take care of it well. He also said that he did not know where to put this huge tree if he moved it back to the city. So, he left it here.”
Luo Qiu stretched out his hand and gently stroked the trunk. He then looked at the Osmanthus flower trees in the garden, “You planted all of these here for us?”
Grandma Xiaochun nodded. She turned her head to the side, which made her look a little lonely and smiled slowly, “Well, this is so that my descendants can enjoy the benefit of my hard work. Oh, by the way, this one is planted for your biological mother, and then the one next to it was planted for your stepmother. What’s her name again? Something like Ling…”
“Ziling.”
“Oh, right.” Grandma Xiaochun shook her head. “I haven’t met her. Your dad just mentioned her name at that time, and he never let us meet her. A few years ago, not long after your father left, your uncle and the others went to meet your father once. When they came back, they didn’t look happy. I think that both of them must have gotten into arguments about some unpleasant things. At that time, I wanted to go, but I am old, and my body is deteriorating. I can not walk anymore. So, I am unable to meet you for a long time. I have let you down.”
Luo Qiu shook his head.
Grandma Xiaochun looked at Luo Qiu and said, “Your uncles are not malicious. But sometimes, they are a little bit rash. Sometimes, they also commit silly mistakes. Please don’t take offense to their mistakes. Forgive them. After all, they are your relatives. We as humans will naturally miss our relatives once we get old.”
Luo Qiu did not intend to respond directly to Grandma Xiaochun’s words but inquisitively changed the subject, “Grandma, there are so many flower trees here. Can you remember which tree was planted for who?”
“Really, you think just because I am at my end, my brain deteriorate?” Grandma Xiaochun patted Luo Qiu’s head casually. “This flower tree belongs to your second uncle – Luo Shan. This one next to it belongs to your third uncle…”
This row belongs to Aunt Xiaochun’s son and daughter. She had three sons and one daughter.
The next row belonged to the descendants, such as Luo Zheng and the others.
“Hey, this is Luo Zheng’s. I reserved a place next to him. When he manages to get a wife, I will plant it, but now…” Grandma Xiaochun stopped talking.
Luo Qiu continued, “Then, this tree should belong to Luo Zheng’s sister? Cousin Luo Ting?”
Grandma Xiaochun patted Luo Qiu’s shoulder. Her gaze grew tender, seemingly admiring something, “This is Luo Ting’s, and the one behind is her son’s. And this one is…”
“What about this one?” Luo Qiu pointed to the other tree that Grandma Xiaochun stopped mentioning and asked.
Grandma Xiaochun shook her head. She was still looking at the flower tree that she did not mention, “This tree belongs to Dazhe, Tingting’s former husband… Oh, this good child was wasted.”
Luo Qiu said, “Yesterday, I heard Luo Zheng talked about it.”
Grandma Xiaochun said, “In this family, probably no one except Luo Zheng is willing to mention Dazhe. When your cousin sister Tingting married Dazhe, Luo Zheng was still young. He was just a kid who was a little older. He especially liked to follow Dazhe around. He idolizes Dazhe as a brother-in-law.”
Grandma Xiaochun suddenly sighed, “I haven’t seen Da Zhe for a long time. I don’t know if he is doing well now.”
Luo Qiu curiously asked, “Grandma, do you like this, ex-brother-in-law?”
Grandma Xiaochun thought and said, “How do I describe this kid…? He has a sense of heroism. When my old man was still alive, I said that if Dazhe, this kid born in the past, he would be an expert in defeating the foreigners [1]. However, young people would usually make mistakes. Sometimes, they won’t be able to make up for the mistakes they committed for a lifetime. A life was taken. Who can let it go so easily?”
“A life?”
Grandma Xiaochun looked at Luo Qiu and said, “Luo Zheng didn’t tell you?”
Luo Qiu shook his head, “Brother Zheng only mentioned that he had been in prison for many times.”
“Dazhe…” Grandma Xiaochun was silent for a while. “At that time, it was not long after he married your cousin sister Tingting. It was also not long after the birth of his child. I don’t know what happened to him. I heard that he and several people had kidnapped a child. In the end, the child drowned and died. The police came to take Da Zhe away. That was his first time in jail, and he was sentenced to five years in jail.”
Grandma Xiaochun shook her head, “No one wanted to see him at that time. It was only me, the old man, and Tingting… When I saw Dazhe at that time, I could hardly recognize him. His eyes were dull and lifeless. He didn’t say anything. I thought that the kid knew he was wrong, but I don’t know what happened. Not long after he came out, Dazhe committed another crime and went back to jail. Over the years, he has been back and forth in prison. I don’t understand him. He was regretful of his mistakes, but he kept on committing crimes one after another.”
Grandma Xiaochun sighed and said, “Your cousin sister Tingting also gave up all her hopes on him. So, she remarried. But, fortunately, your current brother-in-law is kind, educated, and humble. Such an excellent man is hard to come by. Let’s stop talking about it. I will get even more upset.”
Grandma Xiaochun cheered up and looked at Luo Qiu and said, “Come on, let’s pick some more Osmanthus flowers.”
“Alright.”
At this time, a woman, who was about twenty-six or seven years old, walked quickly towards them with a worried expression on her face, “Grandma! Grandma! How are you feeling?”
“It’s Luo Shan.” Grandma Xiaochun asked curiously. “Have you not gone to work yet?”
Luo Shan had an astute and capable aura. At this moment, she just glanced at Luo Qiu quickly. She then grabbed Granny Xiaochun’s wrist directly, putting her fingers on Grandma Xiaochun’s pulse.
Grandma Xiaochun also allowed her to do so, “Luo Qiu, this is Luo Shan, the youngest daughter of your third uncle. She just graduated not long ago. She is now working as a doctor in the hospital in our town. Get acquainted with her in the future, alright? ”
“Okay.” Luo Qiu nodded.
Unexpectedly, Luo Shan frowned, “I don’t have the leisure to do so. You bring the old woman out for a stroll when you know that her health is deteriorating. Will you be able to bear the consequences when she catches a cold? You are a university student, and yet you don’t even know such basic matters! Bastard!”
“Luo Shan, how can you talk to him like that? This is your brother!” Grandma Xiaochun frowned. “I desire to come out for a stroll.”
Luo Shan said quickly, “Grandma, don’t get agitated! Don’t talk first! Enter the house, and I will perform a diagnosis on you!”
After speaking, she straightaway pulled Grandma Xiaochun back into the house. In the end, she gave Luo Qiu a stern and unpleasant gaze.
But, now, I am not a university student…
Luo Qiu turned around and looked at the Osmanthus flower tree planted for Dazhe. After a while, Luo Qiu lifted the basket again and continued plucking the Osmanthus flower.
…
“Gan Jing, be careful. Otherwise, I will find someone else to fix it.”
“It’s okay, Sister Lin. It’s just changing the light bulb, small matter.”
Sister Lin shook her head and said, “You little kid. I can’t see anything. Whether you change it or not makes no difference.”
Dazhe said, “That won’t do. There would always be danger in case there is electrical leakage. You live by yourself, and you must be careful about everything. Later, I will see if there is anything that needs to be repaired. I will try to fix it for you as soon as possible.”
“Well, alright, then. I can’t stop you.” Sister Lin smiled and said. “Gan Jing, why don’t you stay for dinner today? I will cook for you.”
“Sister Lin, no need. I’m here. I’ll cook for you later!” said Da Zhe quickly.
But, Sister Lin was not curious and said, “I’ve been cooking for myself the whole time. Do you cook for me? Silly, is it possible for you to cook for me forever because I can’t take care of myself? Okay, I’m going to cook the food. You sit down for a while.”
If I can.
Da Zhe silently watched at Sister Lin, who walked into the kitchen with her hands touching the wall for support.
If I can, what’s there to be pitiful if I can be a beast of burden in this lifetime?
