novelraw Chapter 399 - 378 Preconditions_1
Chapter 399 - 378 Preconditions_1
Zhang Yichen saw the sinister smile on Old Master Zhang’s face and felt that things definitely wouldn’t be easy this time. Had she said something wrong? Why did her grandfather have such a vicious smile?
"Grandpa, why are you standing here grinning like a fool? Did I say something wrong? Your silly laughter is making me feel deeply unsettled. Do you think I did something wrong and you’re here to punish me? Why do you have to laugh like that?"
"Child, do you really wish that your parents would return home?"
"Of course, Grandpa, isn’t that a silly question? They are my parents; naturally, I hope they can come back and live with us. Don’t you know how much I’ve longed for my parents to be by my side over these years? You’ve seen how I struggled step by step to reach where I am today. You should understand the hardship in my heart. If my parents could return and be with all of us, to walk through life together, my heart would be overjoyed. In my life, I’ve actually never longed for anything excessive. I know that longing doesn’t necessarily lead to good outcomes, but this time, I truly wish my parents would come back to me. Having my parents return to my side is something I’ve dreamed of. Yet my parents have always disappointed me, preventing me from following through with my heart’s decision!"
"Thinking it over, since your parents have repeatedly decided not to come back to our home, it shows that they have no place for us in their hearts. Given this, I must make another significant decision. I need to take back my previous words, and I’ll declare anew: If you want your parents to return home, then you and your wife must have another child for me. Only then will I not oppose your parents’ return, because people who disregard their children and their own father, I feel, deserve no good attitude from me. They have never considered us, yet we genuinely hope for their return. Both sides need a way to step down with dignity, don’t we? We’ve built them a staircase to descend smoothly, and they should let us have a staircase to step down too, shouldn’t they?"
Zhang Yichen knew that her grandfather must have his reasons for saying this. Although she didn’t quite agree with this transactional approach, she couldn’t help but to agree. For the return of her parents, who wouldn’t want to pay a price? To have her parents accompany her, to spend more time with her, who wouldn’t be willing to endure some pain and torment?
Ran Zhihan never expected his grandfather to set such a condition for him. He knew the old man had an ulterior motive. Ran Zhihan was aware of what his grandfather must have been thinking inside. The Zhang family had passed its legacy from generation to generation through a single line of descent. He too wished for the Zhang family to flourish and branch out, but Old Master Zhang found it hard to bluntly state these words, needing to consider the dignity of all involved. The only way to tell Ran Zhihan about the hopes of branching out the Zhang family was in this manner!
"Grandfather, actually, I understand your intentions in saying and doing this. Even if you hadn’t told me, we would still have made the Zhang family branch out, because you have been so good to us. Being a part of the Zhang family, should we not pass down the family’s legacy generation after generation? I also know you truly wish for mom and dad to come back. You don’t say anything regarding mom and dad’s strong and firm opposition. I also feel very uncomfortable about it. I just don’t understand. Their grandson has been born, so why is it that as grandparents, they are still reluctant to come back and look at their grandchild even once? Could it be that they hold such contempt for me and my child in their hearts? What exactly did my child and I do to offend them, causing them to treat us in such a manner? We don’t ask for much; I just hoped that my son would know his grandparents’ love from the moment he was born, that they would come back to see him. But the result has disappointed my son and all of us!"
"Nai’er, Mommy hopes you can understand that it’s not that your grandparents don’t love you, but that they have callously abandoned all of us. I don’t know whether it’s right or wrong to tell you this now, but Mommy hopes you can know that your grandparents are not at home right now. If they would come back, then Mommy’s house would have another little brother or sister for you, and then you should have some company. Mommy doesn’t want you to be alone on the path of life. The journey of personal growth is very lonely when spent by oneself; Dad and Mom have already experienced this loneliness and pain, and I should not let you try it out. Your dad grew up without the company of his parents, but you will always have your mom and dad by your side. Yet mom and dad can’t be with you for a lifetime. As you grow up, you will inevitably walk into society alone, and you will face all the pain and torment it brings by yourself. And at that time, the ones who can help and share the joys and sorrows with you will only be your siblings!"
Old Master Zhang, hearing what Ran Zhihan had said, couldn’t help but let tears slide down from the corner of her eyes. Indeed, he knew how lonely his grandson must feel on the path of personal growth, even with a grandfather by his side, he was ultimately alone. During that time, there was no one to help him. He had reached this point today through his own resilience. He understood the meaning behind his granddaughter-in-law’s words to her child. He was grateful for his granddaughter-in-law’s sense and recognized the rightness in such thinking. Sadly, this principle was one his own son and daughter-in-law could never comprehend in their lifetimes, because their hearts never understood what their own son was missing. They could never realize what they owe their son. It was not merely love, but companionship...
"Alright, honey, let’s not be so melancholic. If we have a few more sons and daughters for our boy, he won’t be lonely on life’s journey, will he? This matter still relies on the two of us, doesn’t it? Saying all this to our son won’t do any good, now will it? Isn’t that right?"
Upon hearing his grandson’s words, Old Master Zhang couldn’t help but let out a laugh. His granddaughter-in-law also laughed along. Indeed, aren’t all things man-made? If one is determined to make a change, what is there that can’t be changed?