After Zhao Zhenzhen left, Mother Xie immediately contacted someone to purchase gifts, instructed the caregiver to take good care of things, and took Father Xie home to rest. During this period, one of them always had to stay at the hospital, looking utterly worn out. Since they had something to do the next day, they needed to get a good rest tonight.
At 9 AM the following morning, they contacted Zhao Zhenzhen and eagerly set off for Xujia Village.
"Auntie, the road is a bit difficult to traverse, please bear with it," the guide said.
"Don't talk nonsense, lead the way," Mother Xie replied.
Mother Xie, having lived a life of comfort for many years, was soon out of breath. However, she didn't complain once. Father Xie supported her, and their pace didn't slow at all. The young assistant followed a short distance behind them, carrying the gifts.
Upon seeing the stone and thatched cottage, Mother Xie became extremely excited. Without any sign of disdain, she walked faster. "Slow down, don't fall. This house isn't going anywhere," Father Xie cautioned.
"Oh dear, I'm just too excited. We're finally here. I'm exhausted," Mother Xie exclaimed.
The door was open. Xie Qiu'er was playing by the entrance. Upon seeing people arrive, she immediately went inside to inform Jun Jiuli. Jun Jiuli came out and simply nodded at the group. Mother Xie showed no sign of the awkwardness of their first meeting. She leaned forward and extended her hand. "Respected one, hello. My surname is Lin, and this is my husband, Xie. We apologize for intruding without prior notice."
Jun Jiuli shook her hand. "My surname is Xu. Please come in and sit."
"Oh, certainly." Mother Xie pulled Father Xie along and followed Jun Jiuli into the house, completely ignoring Zhao Zhenzhen, who was trailing behind. Zhao Zhenzhen felt she was more familiar with Jun Jiuli and wanted to make a good impression on Mother Xie. Unexpectedly, Mother Xie was a very sociable person. Even though Jun Jiuli didn't engage much, Mother Xie chatted enthusiastically. Zhao Zhenzhen couldn't interject at all, and the matter was settled.
"Sister, when are you free? My son is still in the hospital, and I'm truly anxious," Mother Xie said.
"I will go down the mountain with you tonight. Give me the payment after your son wakes up," Jun Jiuli replied.
"You can rest assured, I will never go back on my word. What do you need to pack? Do you need any help?" Mother Xie asked.
"No, I'll just bring my daughter," Jun Jiuli responded.
"Ah, alright, alright!" Mother Xie felt very relaxed on the way down the mountain. She sensed that Jun Jiuli had some abilities; otherwise, why would she dare to charge afterward? Thinking that her son in bed could be saved, she couldn't help but feel happy. She thought of this as a lesson for him, to see if he would dare to wander around carelessly in the future.
Father Xie looked at Mother Xie strangely. "What's with your expression? Anyone who didn't know would think you were a stepmother."
Mother Xie hit Father Xie several times with her hand. "You're the stepdad! He was courting death without knowing his limits. He deserves it!"
"Oh, some people weren't like this just a few days ago," Father Xie remarked.
"Hush, hush. When that brat wakes up, I'm going to teach him a good lesson." Seeing that even the young Xie Qiu'er walked steadily, Mother Xie quickly hurried to catch up with Jun Jiuli and the others. She didn't want to talk to Father Xie anymore, for fear of accidentally shedding tears again, which the old man would surely mock.
Fearing that Jun Jiuli might not be accustomed to it and feel awkward staying at someone else's house, Mother Xie booked a hotel room for her and Xie Qiu'er. She thoughtfully explained how to use the amenities inside. Afterward, they had dinner together before Father and Mother Xie dared to go to the hospital to watch over Xie Jiucheng.
Mother Xie turned back and noticed Zhao Zhenzhen was still following. She frowned impatiently. "Why are you still here? It's so late, why aren't you going home? Your family must be worried."
"I... my family isn't here. I also want to see Jiucheng." Seeing that she had found Jun Jiuli, Mother Xie felt grateful. She saw how much Zhao Zhenzhen had run around for Xie Jiucheng, and her concern seemed no less than her own. Mother Xie's feelings towards her softened, and her heart, which had become hardened, yielded. "Come in and sit. Keep Jiucheng company. He might really want to see you."
Zhao Zhenzhen could hardly believe her ears. She had always felt that Mother Xie was snobbish and materialistic. Ever since she and Xie Jiucheng started dating, Mother Xie had never given her a pleasant look, even though her job was respectable and she didn't need Xie Jiucheng to support her. But Mother Xie looked down on her condescendingly. If it weren't for the fact that she truly loved Jiucheng, she would have found it unbearable.
She blinked her teary eyes at Mother Xie, her eyes full of gratitude and joy. She even excitedly grabbed Mother Xie's hand. "Auntie, thank you, Auntie. You can finally accept me. I'm so happy."
Mother Xie felt a bit awkward and didn't know how to respond. After Zhao Zhenzhen's excitement subsided, she quickly withdrew her hand. Zhao Zhenzhen's face immediately turned red. "Auntie, I was too excited just now. I'm really sorry."
After saying that, she quickly lowered her head and ran to the hospital bed, looking at Xie Jiucheng, who was like a vegetative state, with great concern. "Cheng, Sister Ying is finally willing to help. You'll wake up soon. I miss you so much."
Mother Xie thought Zhao Zhenzhen might say something intimate, so she felt it inappropriate to stand there. She then left the ward, leaving some space for the two of them. Just then, Father Xie, who had returned after routinely inquiring about his son's condition from the doctor, saw Mother Xie standing outside the door and looked surprised. He quietly asked, "Is that girl inside?"
Mother Xie nodded. Father Xie pulled her to sit on the chairs in the hallway. "Although this girl has some personality issues, she is sincere towards our son. She's been running around for days and has lost a lot of weight. You shouldn't speak ill of her from now on."
"Am I that fierce? I haven't mistreated her before... If she marries into our family and I get old and can't move, will she mistreat me?" Seeing his wife's adorable demeanor, Father Xie couldn't help but stroke her head. "After that brat gets married, we'll kick him out of the house and enjoy our own two-person world. Your husband has money. When we get old, we won't have to look at anyone's face. We can hire people to take care of us."
"Yes, that's settled. I haven't wronged them, so I won't humor them. However, I won't interfere with their dating from now on. It's that brat's own choice anyway."
"Mm."
Zhao Zhenzhen walked out with red eyes. "Auntie, I'm so sorry for making you wait outside for so long."
"It's alright, it's alright. It's cooler outside. I felt dizzy staying inside for too long." Mother Xie, afraid she might feel awkward, walked into the ward. Father Xie, as usual, showed no particular expression towards her. However, Zhao Zhenzhen was content with this. She had heard from Xie Jiucheng that his father always listened to his mother. Zhao Zhenzhen sat obediently beside them. When no one spoke, the atmosphere became awkward again.
"Auntie, I'm sorry, it's all my fault this time," Zhao Zhenzhen said.
Mother Xie was baffled. Why was she apologizing again? "It's my fault for not discussing it with Sister Ying in advance. I didn't expect her to be so greedy. She was already giving us a house and finding a school for Xie Qiu'er, which was very generous. Yet, she demanded three million yuan. It's too much."
Mother Xie quickly waved her hand. "It's not too much, not too much. This saved Jiucheng's life. Besides, I set the conditions myself. Those high-caliber individuals often have their temperaments. Our family is in business, and we might need to rely on them in the future."
Zhao Zhenzhen looked moved, thinking Mother Xie was saying this to comfort her. "Auntie, you are too kind. But we can't let them treat us like fools. I'll go talk to Sister Ying tomorrow. She must have been living in the mountains for too long and doesn't understand what three million yuan means. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Even without that much money, she would surely be willing." As she spoke, she seemed to have made up her mind, cheering herself on, vowing not to give up until her goal was achieved. These words made even Father Xie frown, looking at Zhao Zhenzhen as if she were an idiot.