Volume 9 – Chapter 36: Nostalgic

When Boss Luo returned with a basket full of Osmanthus flowers, a group of people gathered in the living room. All of whom were older than him. Luo Qiu could recall the impressions and names of some but others were very vague to him.

These people were discussing something. Uncle Luo Shan held the phone and spoke with someone at the moment.

Luo Shan was not there. She was in Grandma Xiaochun’s room at this time… and the door was closed.

These people probably saw Luo Qiu, but none of them greeted him. On the contrary, uncle Luo San covered the phone for a while and said, “Oh, this is Luo Qiu.”

Then, Luo Shan continued talking on the phone. These relatives nodded towards Luo Qiu, then whispered to each other, or frowned in thought.

Luo Qiu remembered what Grandma Xiaochun had said. After putting the basket in place, he silently delivered tea to the seniors according to seniority.

With a smile and hot tea, that would not be indifference.

“Oh…Thank you. I didn’t expect Brother Qi’s children to be so grown up. I haven’t seen you for a long time. Next time, come to Uncle’s house for a visit.”

Yes, it was just a question of initiative or otherwise… Whether it was sincere or in vain, Luo Qiu cared only because it was the old man’s expectation.

“If there is a chance.” Luo Qiu responded.

At this moment, an elderly man suddenly said, “Luo San, I say, since mom was woken up now, it’s better to ask her clearly what she means? This is to avoid quarreling in the future and hurt our feelings.”

The other man sitting opposite frowned and said, “Can you keep quiet at a time like this? Do you have to go so far for this one-third of an acre land?”

“You can’t say that. Now that the huge development is going on. It doesn’t mean that our land will not be next in line tomorrow!” He emphasized, “Oh, can you guarantee that you won’t jump at that chance straightaway then?”

“That’s right!” The elderly woman sitting next to him helped him, “Our daughter-in-law is working in the government. She heard that the news indicates that this year…”

But before she finished speaking, she was interrupted – Her husband stepped on her toes quietly.

“Wait, Second Sister-In-Law…Have you heard the news?”

“No, no, it was just a rumor. It came from the outside,” said the woman. “I don’t know whether it’s true or not. Besides, who can give an accurate picture of this policy? I just thought in case there is such a policy. Better to get ready early.”

“Fine, don’t say anything now. When Luo Shan comes out, we’ll ask about the situation.” Luo Shan gave a stare, “I have contacted the hospital, and they can send an ambulance.”

“I think it must be terminal lucidity,” The woman murmured at this time. “It will be better to prepare for the funeral.”

“Stop talking!”

Several pairs of eyes glared at her. The woman then shrank her neck.

Luo Qiu did not bother with the conversation, having returned to the kitchen earlier.

“What are you looking for?” Luo San’s voice came from behind Luo Qiu’s back abruptly.

“Um… flour.” Luo Qiu turned around, “Grandma Xiaochun mentioned she wants to make Tang Yuan [1]. So, I want to prepare first and save her work.”

Luo San froze for a moment. Between the folds of her eyebrows, she looked at the relative of the same generation in front of her, who she had not been in contact with puzzledly, and asked, “You…you don’t seem to be anxious at all?”

Luo Qiu whispered, “No matter how anxious you are, some things still need to be done. Certain things can’t be stopped.”

“Are you trying to rationalize?” Luo San glanced at Luo Qiu indifferently, shook her head, and said, “No matter what, I won’t agree that you assume responsibility for my grandma… Whether as a doctor or as a granddaughter, in terms of the severity of the matter, I hope you can figure it out by yourself.”

“Indeed, I didn’t consider your feelings.” Luo Qiu nodded. “I’m sorry.”

Luo San felt like she was beating the air with her strength. She had an uncomfortable feeling that made her unwilling to continue talking with this relative. She pointed to a cabinet and said, “The flour is inside, and the grandmother said she wants to see you… alone.”

“I’m going over.”

Luo Shan breathed a sigh of relief subconsciously when she saw Luo Qiu leave from her side. Suddenly, she felt like she had lost — It had nothing to do with status, seniority, work background, and education level, or even a matter of humanity and sophistication.

It was something else that had been missing from her.

“Why does it feel like I’m making trouble out of nothing?” Luo San muttered, then shook her head, quickly left the kitchen and walked into the living room – This was the first place she went to after coming out of Grandma Xiaochun’s room.

What made her uncomfortable was that… Grandma wanted to see such a distant relative, but not her children.

“Can you stop arguing about things that may not be there?” Luo San’s dissatisfied voice was ringing in the living room. “When I was in the room just now, I can hear you all arguing! Grandma asked that I tell you all that she is still here!”

She was such a powerful woman, whose rather fierce eyes could stare down not only her parents but even the other elders.

“Sansan, how’s your grandma?” Luo Shan was still a little nervous.

Luo San shook her head, “It’s true that time is running out for her… You won’t understand the specific situation. If you can understand, it is the terminal lucidity.”

As she said, Luo San glanced at the woman who was sitting with her neck curled up and then sighed, “Grandma said to have dinner with everyone tonight. We should follow what she wants to do. Don’t ask, and don’t say anything. Just as usual.”

Luo Shan nodded, and then made a phone call, “Tingting, get Chen Hai to come over tonight. Everyone will have a meal together.”

Seeing this, other people also make phone calls silently.

Luo Zheng looked at everyone, “Dad, I’ll drive to town to buy some food…”

…

“Really? Have you picked so many Osmanthus flowers?” Grandma Xiaochun looked at Luo Qiu happily. Her face looked more radiant, “What a good boy. It must be hard for you.”

She did not mention anything, as if the quarrel that took place outside in the living room did not happen.

“Because I also want to have grandma’s Tang Yuan.”

“Really?” Grandma Xiaochun grabbed Luo Qiu’s hand and said, “By the way, can he come tonight?”

Luo Qiu closed his eyes and said softly after a while. “Grandma, you know that he can’t appear in front of everyone.”

“But, I always feel that he is right by my side.” Grandma Xiaochun sighed lightly. “Recently, when I was in a daze, I always felt that someone told me that he was there. And I feel my body seems to be getting lighter and lighter. By the way, there seems to be a little child who was wet all over. He was walking, walking, crying, and walking, so pitiful.”

“Let’s make Tang Yuan.” Luo Qiu stood up and said.

Grandma Xiaochun was startled. She then cheered up and said with a smile, “Okay, let’s take a look at grandma’s handiwork.”

…

Usually, if Dazhe did not speak, Big Head would have the intention to do something but not the strength to do so… It was just that the atmosphere in the car was too quiet.

“By the way, Brother Zhe, have you heard? Ah Long died inside,” said Big Head abruptly. “I heard that he died of illness. It’s hard to tell whether it is or not… Oh, anyway, just another person we know has died.”

Dazhe was taken aback and looked at Big Head silently. After a while, his eyes gazed aimlessly on the road outside the window and muttered, “Really, even Ah Long… Then, I am the only one left.”

“Ah? Brother Zhe, what are you talking about?” Big Head did not hear clearly.

Dazhe shook his head, “It’s nothing. Can you drive faster? Why is your new car running so slow? When can I arrive at the village?”

Big Head said resignedly, “Brother Zhe, you don’t know. Now the roads are installed with surveillance cameras. We can’t simply drive as fast as before! When I enter the village road, I will speed up immediately! Ai… the times are different. ”

With that said, Big Head turned on the car stereo.

Oldies.

*Here lies a rough translation of the song [2]*

——”I’m the most powerful in Wan Chai [3].”

——”Hongxing rule the place.”

——”Bolou prostitute dens and big stalls are booming in business.”

——”Gangsters Bosses are high-class.”

——”Backers tells who is the most powerful.”

——”I won’t lose in street brawls.”

-“Saber light sword shadow, let me break into your gang to show my skills.”

——”My heart roars the name of my gang. I won’t be afraid, even if I die.”

——”Let my blood flow…”

“Saber light sword shadow”

Dazhe reached out and turned off the car stereo, saying that the times were different, and there was nothing to miss.

[1] Boiled balls of glutinous rice flour, eaten during the Lantern Festival

[2] Song Title: Saber Light & Sword Shadow – https://g.co/kgs/6wZvph

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wan_Chai

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