After finishing lunch and returning home, Tong An'an received a call from her mother, who asked about her work progress and whether she had the weekend off.
Tong An'an reported truthfully, and her mother sighed on the other end.
"Before, you were always hanging around at home, and I found you an eyesore. Now that you've been gone for so long and haven't returned, I miss you terribly. Especially your dad."
"His health hasn't been very good lately. If you have time, come back next weekend to see him."
Tong An'an anxiously asked her mother what was wrong, but her mother was evasive and didn't say.
"It's nothing major. He's smoked his whole life. I've told him repeatedly to quit, but he never listens. He deserves to feel unwell."
"Don't worry too much about it. Focus on your work. Just come back when you have time."
Her family lived in a small town, relying on a small snack shop to support her and her brother through high school, and then she went to college and pursued a master's degree.
Finances had always been tight, especially in recent years.
Her mother managed the small shop alone, while her father took on odd jobs at construction sites, barely making ends meet.
Her father was a man of few words. When he returned from work, he would just smoke, sleep, and Tong An'an couldn't recall the last time she had a proper conversation with him.
Looking at her own spacious and luxurious home, holding her cat, living a comfortable and leisurely life, while her parents suffered back in their hometown.
Although she was short on money, she felt a pang of guilt and wanted to go home.
After hanging up her mother's call, she called her brother. What she learned shocked her.
Her father was quite serious.
A while ago, he had coughed up blood while working at the construction site. Only after her mother's persistent nagging did he go for a check-up.
The doctor said there was a shadow in his lungs, and the situation was not optimistic, but more details would be known after further examination.
Therefore, the atmosphere at home was very somber.
Upon hearing this, Tong An'an couldn't sit still any longer.
She asked her brother to pick her up; she wanted to go home.
The siblings returned home together, and upon seeing her, their mother became emotional.
Although she chattered incessantly, complaining that Tong An'an didn't eat well and had lost weight, and that her children, including her husband, never gave her a moment's peace.
But Tong An'an knew that this was just her mother's way; she didn't mean any harm.
The reason she was so talkative was simply her way of showing care.
With it being the weekend and demolition approaching, there was no business at all.
Her mother sighed as she cooked for them.
"A while ago, we still had some income every day, even if it was sporadic. Now, we don't even dare to buy vegetables and stock up. We're basically getting nothing."
"We were counting on your father's earnings to help your brother get married and have children, and to prepare your dowry. Now, look, even he's fallen..."
"It's not that your mother is heartless and doesn't care about you, it's just that we don't have much ability. From now on, you'll have to rely on yourselves."
Her words brought a wave of sadness to the siblings.
Her brother furrowed his brow and said to their mother, "How many times have I told you, you don't need to worry about my marriage. You and Dad should eat and drink as usual, don't always try to save money to get me married."
"Oh, don't say such foolish things. When will you be able to afford a house on your own? When will you be able to afford the betrothal gifts? Girls are so realistic now, how much does it cost to marry a wife? You have nothing, why would anyone marry you?"
Her mother, wearing simple clothes, skillfully stir-fried the dishes.
"Your father and I may not be able to buy you a house outright, but we can at least help you with a large portion. We were planning for you to work hard these few years, and we'd save a bit more to comfortably help you get married. But don't worry, if necessary, we'll borrow some. Your marriage is a big deal."
They were already borrowing money to live?
Tong An'an quickly said, "You don't need to prepare anything for me. I'm not planning to get married in the next two years. And even if I do, isn't it possible to marry without a dowry?"
"Silly girl. You are my daughter, after all. If I buy your brother a house and a car, but give you nothing, would your parents feel right about it? Besides, do you think the groom's family isn't materialistic? If we receive their betrothal gifts, we have to give some dowry in return, otherwise, you'll be looked down upon in your husband's home."
Her mother laughed at her, "You two, I've spoiled you rotten by taking care of everything. You're this old and still so naive."
That evening, the four of them sat down to eat. Her father coughed incessantly, and her brother said with firm resolve.
"Tomorrow, I'll take you to the city hospital to get it checked. If you're sick, we'll treat it immediately. You can't let yourself be held back by a mere cold. Don't keep talking about my marriage."
"Don't say I don't have someone I like now. Even if I did, if something like this happened, and they wanted me to risk my father's life for betrothal gifts, I'd rather not marry that person."
Her father's face turned red from suppressing his cough. He waved his hand at his son and said.
"I just have a cold, my bronchial tubes are inflamed, that's why I cough. It's not a big deal, no need to go to the city hospital. What nonsense did you hear from your mother again?"
"You two should work hard, don't go down the wrong path, find suitable partners, and get married quickly. That's the best way to repay me. Don't waste your time thinking about useless things."
It had always been like this at home. Although life was simple, the family of four would yield to each other when eating, drinking, or spending money. They would bicker and sulk over trivial matters, but most of the time, their hearts were filled with warmth.
Seeing her parents like this, Tong An'an felt even more incapable and ashamed.
She had to go back to the city center after dinner as she had work the next day. Before she left, her mother packed a large bag of her favorite foods for her.
Tong An'an refused, "You and Dad keep it to eat."
"We grow vegetables at home, and your father and I can't eat much. Unlike you, you have to spend money even to buy a scallion. Take it. If you don't have time to buy breakfast, eat some of this. Don't skip breakfast and ruin your health."
"No need, Mom, our cafeteria food is very good..."
"The cafeteria is the cafeteria, but your parents' intentions are your parents' intentions. You child, take it quickly. Your brother is waiting outside."
After her mother finished speaking, she noticed her brother's car lights were on and quickly scolded him.
"This rascal, starting the engine so early, isn't that a waste of gas? Hurry, hurry, get in the car. With these two trips today, your brother's work for the day is wasted."
Tong An'an hadn't cried in a long time. She sat in the car with the snacks, watching her parents' figures getting smaller and smaller in the darkness, and couldn't help but burst into tears.
Her brother drove with a heavy heart.
After crying for a while, Tong An'an composed herself and said to her brother with determination.
"I will work hard. I will earn a lot of money to give Mom and Dad a good life. Don't worry, we will all get better."
Her brother, with his father's quiet nature, was a man of few words.
Hearing her words, he reached out and squeezed her hand, his eyes also moist.
All afternoon, Jiang Jingyu checked his phone countless times, but Tong An'an hadn't proactively messaged him.