Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Life’s Uncertainties
Qin’s mother shook her head, "You studied medicine, so I shouldn’t have to remind you how long it takes for a woman to recover after having a baby!
You just said you were out of confinement, but who says you are? You’re only a month post-partum, the double month confinement is not yet over!"
Xiao Li smiled and changed the topic, "Mom, did Dad go out again?"
Qin’s mother nodded, "Yes, he went to your Great Uncle’s place again."
Whenever Qin’s father visits the old house, he always goes to several great uncles’ places to sit and chat, most often visiting Great Uncle Gen.
Qin’s mother held the baby, watched him sleep soundly, and chuckled, "This little guy truly sleeps well, no matter how you move him, he doesn’t wake up."
Xiao Li nodded, "Yes, he sleeps soundly, easier to care for than Mianmian when she was little."
Qin’s mother laughed, "Maybe he knows he’s a boy, naturally not as pampered as his sister, so if he’s not well-behaved, nobody will love him.
Isn’t that right, little one?"
Xiao Li replied with a smile, "It’s possible. Boys in our family aren’t pampered, so this might be his way of winning affection."
While chatting idly with her mother-in-law, a servant brought Xiao Li the soup that was being stewed for her. She had come to the estate abruptly yesterday and missed a day of her confinement meals.
Today, they began serving them again.
After a month of confinement meals, even though they varied daily, Xiao Li genuinely didn’t feel like eating them.
She was happy to skip a day yesterday but didn’t expect them to resume today.
The soup was served, and Xiao Li drank it slowly. Possibly due to a change of location and chef, the soup’s taste differed from before; she actually found it quite pleasant to drink.
After finishing the soup, Xiao Li and her mother-in-law chatted and basked in the sun until the baby woke up wanting milk, prompting Xiao Li to carry him inside to feed.
There was a slight breeze in the yard, so Xiao Li preferred not to feed outdoors for fear of catching a chill; besides, she wasn’t comfortable nursing outside.
As Xiao Li went inside to feed the baby, Qin’s mother followed, noting how the house was filled with children’s items, so different from when Qin Xiao used to live alone!
Just as Qin’s mother was observing the room, a servant came in with Mianmian, "Madam, Young Madam,
Master sent word back; things are not good at Great Uncle Gen’s place. The Second Master went over to check the situation, and I’m to bring the young lady back to the courtyard."
Qin’s mother exclaimed in surprise, "What did the Master’s message say?
Yesterday the Master was still playing chess with Great Uncle Gen, how come there’s suddenly such news today?"
The servant shook her head, "The messenger only said Great Uncle Gen isn’t doing well; didn’t explain much..."
Upon hearing this, Qin’s mother hurriedly said to Xiao Li, "Xiao Li, you watch the two kids at home, I’ll go check things out."
Xiao Li nodded, "Alright."
Qin’s mother rushed out but didn’t even make it to the estate’s gate before receiving news that Great Uncle Gen had already passed.
Qin’s mother was stunned, notified Qin Tan and He Jie in the city to hurry back, and asked someone to inform Xiao Li before leaving alone by car.
Xiao Li had just finished feeding the baby when someone came to inform her, and hearing the news, she was shocked too.
It’s so sudden!
By noon, Qin Tan’s family returned as well; He Jie brought the kids and stayed at the old house with Xiao Li, while Qin Tan also went to Great Uncle Gen’s place.
He Jie, holding the younger son, came directly to Xiao Li’s with the elder son, "Xiao Li, do you know what’s going on at Great Uncle Gen’s place?
There was no sign before; how did he suddenly pass away?"
Xiao Li shook her head, "I don’t know either. Yesterday Dad went over to play chess with Great Uncle Gen.
This morning Dad also intended to go and play chess again, but who could have known Great Uncle Gen would pass away just like that."
He Jie lightly sighed, "Dad will surely be very upset."
Xiao Li nodded, having heard Qin Xiao mention before that due to Qin Senior’s unreliability, Qin’s father’s early days at the Qin Family were not easy, and among those who protected him, Great Uncle Gen contributed the most.
Qin’s father has always been grateful for Great Uncle Gen’s care, hence he always visited to accompany him whenever he came to the old house.
Things in this world are truly unpredictable; someone doing fine yesterday isn’t here today.
Qin’s father and mother didn’t return until evening, while Qin Tan and Qin Xiao stayed behind.
A vigil was set up there, and the brothers planned to stay overnight to help.
Once Qin’s mother returned, Xiao Li and He Jie went over to see her; having cried the whole day, her eyes were red, and she was lying on the bed to rest.
He Jie and Xiao Li came in, looked around, but didn’t see Qin’s father, "Mom, where’s Dad?"
Qin’s mother’s voice was hoarse, "Your dad is in the study; he’s feeling bad, so let him have some alone time."
He Jie and Xiao Li exchanged a glance.
The two of them hadn’t interacted much with Great Uncle Gen and didn’t have many feelings toward him, but seeing Qin’s father and mother so upset, they also felt a bit sad.
Xiao Li, noticing Qin’s mother’s husky voice, went to pour some water for her. Qin’s mother took it and drank a couple of sips, "Xiao Jie, Xiao Li, you should call Aunt Wu and Aunt Fang later, ask them to come up the mountain; the day after tomorrow is Great Uncle Gen’s memorial, and you’ll need to attend too.
There’s no need for the kids to go; let Aunt Wu and Aunt Fang come to watch over them. With familiar faces around, the kids won’t fuss."
He Jie and Xiao Li nodded; He Jie hesitated before speaking, "Mom, how did Great Uncle Gen just suddenly pass away?"
Qin’s mother shook her head, "Your Great Uncle Gen had issues with angina previously. He seemed fine this morning; when your dad arrived, he was having breakfast and was even looking forward to playing chess after eating.
But before he finished eating, he clutched his chest and fell; the family administered some medicine and called the family doctor over, but he still left."
With Qin’s mother in low spirits, He Jie and Xiao Li didn’t stay long, speaking with her a bit before each returned to their courtyard.
The next day, Qin’s father and mother headed back to Great Uncle Gen’s, while Qin Tan and Qin Xiao came back to rest.
On the day of Great Uncle Gen’s memorial, He Jie and Xiao Li also went, attended the memorial, and helped lay him to rest before they returned.
After the funeral was managed, both Qin’s father and mother fell ill, quickly being taken to the hospital overnight. Qin Xiao’s plans to stay long-term at the old house were disrupted, so he had to take Xiao Li back to the city.
Two days later, at the hospital, Qin’s mother pleaded, "Ah Xiao, I’m already better, surely there’s no need to stay longer in the hospital!
I honestly don’t like the hospital; just let your dad stay since he’s still not feeling well."
Beside her, Qin’s father retorted, sounding dissatisfied, "That’s so unkind; leaving me alone in the hospital—how does your conscience handle that?"
Qin’s mother countered, "What’s there to feel guilty about? When you were younger, busy with work, was it rare for me to be hospitalized on my own?
Don’t forget, when I gave birth to Ah Xiao, you weren’t even around, and only made it back when I was being discharged!"