CHAPTER 298: 298. PARTING, PERSEVERANCE, SIGH

The time of joy tends to be especially short, and before you know it, the days have passed mid-month.

Despite overwhelming reluctance, Wu Liguo must wave goodbye to this blissful life of playing with grandchildren.

After nearly a month of wholehearted affection, Liu Wu, Wu Liu, Liu Xuan, and the little friend Liu Yu, who the old man decided upon after much deliberation, wholeheartedly accepted this grandfather.

When they heard he was leaving, Liu Xuan and Liu Yu clung to his legs on either side, crying and howling in protest.

After confirming several times that grandpa was busy with work and had to return, and there was no room for negotiation.

Wu Liu quickly packed his backpack, planning to go to Beijing with grandpa.

Appeasing the rebellious two alone was enough to exhaust Wu Yinghong’s energy, let alone when the usually obedient second child started causing trouble.

With a particularly impatient glare at the little troublemaker, she said very seriously: "Once you’re in Beijing, you must listen to grandpa, accept his arrangements to study there. You’ll only have the chance to come back during winter and summer vacations, not seeing dad, mom, older brother, younger brother, and sister for at least four months. Are you sure?"

She expected that this deal-breaker would make the little boy immediately surrender, crying and shouting about not wanting to go to Beijing.

To Wu Yinghong’s surprise, Wu Liu firmly nodded, "I know, Mom, I just want to spend more time with grandpa. Since I’m not at home, you’ll have Dad, my brother, sister, and my siblings around. Grandpa would be all alone."

Hearing this from the child, Wu Liguo felt his weathered old heart suddenly immersed in warm water.

Warm and soothing, tears suddenly welled up and fell.

"Grandpa is pleased with your thoughtfulness, but you’re still young..." Wu Liguo suppressed his yearning with difficulty and spoke decisively.

Staying with parents is more beneficial for the child’s growth.

The child will be his successor, the future hope of the Wu family.

The burden on the shoulders is great, and leisurely carefree days will be few.

While the child is still young, let him have some carefree years.

Of course, his concern was entirely for his eldest grandson, but it also needed the boy’s appreciation, right?

After all, most half-grown kids dislike being told they are young.

Being ten years old after the new year, Wu Liu was especially defiant, interrupting before his grandfather finished, "I’m not small, not at all, I’m already ten! I heard Mom cry, saying she was unfilial, leaving a father over sixty alone in Beijing. I heard Dad saying he wanted to quit his job, for the whole family to move to Beijing to accompany grandpa.

But Dad couldn’t bear leaving Number One Scholar Village, and Mom couldn’t bear leaving Number One Scholar Village, and both worried about grandpa’s health.

If they are troubled, then let me do it, I will take care of grandpa!

After all, I am the only one among the four children with the surname Wu, who calls grandpa ’grandpa’.

Being filial to grandpa, and making the Wu family flourish, is a responsibility I will shoulder in the future!"

Wu Liguo was moved to tears, holding tightly onto the little one in his arms.

Embracing as if holding a rare treasure, reluctant to let go.

Though all four children are beloved, parting with Wu Liu heading to Beijing means hardly seeing him all year.

But watching his father-in-law’s graying hair and tear-filled eyes, Liu Shouren ended up suppressing his reluctance and said, "Dad, since Wu Liu is so filial, why don’t you take him with you to Beijing? No matter what, the mischievous kid can accompany you, can’t he? If you wouldn’t mind, that is."

"Such a precious little one, I can’t cherish him enough, why would I mind? But you, are you really willing to let me take the child away?" Wu Liguo was full of doubt, perhaps due to the extra care middle-aged parents give their children. Despite having three daughters and one son, making four children, each one is like the apple of his eye.

Liu Shouren gritted his teeth and firmly said the word ’willing’.

A child’s filial piety should be fulfilled by the parents.

Moreover, Beijing offers better conditions and educational resources.

The son will grow more excellent and responsible under the careful guidance of the father-in-law...

Though countless reasons crossed his mind, when the time for farewell came, Liu Shouren couldn’t resist his eyes reddening.

Leaving the familiar hometown for a strange city, away from parents and siblings.

Wu Liu felt utterly uncomfortable, his big eyes swollen from crying.

Yet he never once suggested not following grandpa, nor mentioned wanting to go home.

When Wu Liguo tried convincing him to disembark and return home, the little one shook his head like a drum and insisted on sticking to his word.

He said he was merely unaccustomed, and it would get better.

Just like when they came, they brought and shipped many dried wild vegetables, hazelnuts, monkey heads, pine nuts, and various fruit wines from Number One Scholar Village, dried chicken, duck, and geese as return gifts for Wei Lai, Wu Hao, Dong Shu, and the others.

Of course, various ginseng wines specially brewed by Shuzhen and Lianshan were packed in several large boxes.

Liu Shouyi also prepared some snacks like flavored pickles, marinated chicken gizzards, and pickled chicken feet from their food factory.

Even the bags of rice produced during their participation in dry farming to paddy rice conversion were given to each family in two fifty-pound bags, along with some soybean oil produced by the team.

The value may not be high, but the sentiment and thoughtfulness in the gift were most important.

Receiving guests all happily felt this way, giving what they thought might be needed in the village, and what Lianshan and Shouren might need most.

Or sharing some delicacies they wanted everyone to enjoy together.

These specialties embodied beautiful memories of their hardest, yet most fortunate times.

Though the gifts and returns differed in price, their value in everyone’s hearts was the same.

Because they represented the bonds of remembrance and care between each other.

It wasn’t until a gathering at the Wu family, where they drank the ginseng wine that Wu Liguo always cherished from Shuzhen, that everyone marveled: Knowing Shuzhen and her husband was one of the most difficult fortunes of our lives, having someone who silently aids you without seeking credit.

Such relatives and friends are truly life’s gifts beyond explanation.

Shuzhen sighed, saying those who spoke must have been moved, reminded of the money and food stamps she and her husband secretly put at the bottom of their lunch boxes!