A Good Country Wife
Chapter 586 - 580_1

Chapter 586: Chapter 580_1

Zhao Erhu had just reached the doorway when Zhao Yunxiang seemed to sense his presence. Her previously closed eyes suddenly opened, gazing towards the door. Seeing it open and the figure that appeared before her, she could no longer hold back her tears, which fell down her face. Her eyes were filled with both heartache and solace. Her voice was weak but laced with excitement, "Erhu, you’ve finally come back!"

No matter the reason, what Zhao Yunxiang had been longing for these past few days was Zhao Erhu’s arrival. But by this time, she felt she could hardly hold on any longer. If it weren’t for a burst of willpower—for her husband and son—she would have almost given up. Yet, without having her affairs in order, how could she close her eyes in peace and take her last breath?

"Big sister, you?..." Zhao Erhu, looking at Zhao Yunxiang’s expectant eyes, felt an unbearable sourness in his heart and, for a moment, didn’t know what to say.

Lin Genfa had been by Zhao Yunxiang’s side the whole time, but had become too tired and dozed off by the bed for a while. He woke up when Zhao Erhu opened the door. "Erhu, you’re back. The doctor said your big sister doesn’t have much time left. She’s been hanging on with the help of the Hundred-year-old Ginseng these past few days, just hoping to see you one last time. It looks like you’ve made it just in time."

"Brother-in-law, big sister seems to be in good spirits. Did Doctor Zheng really say there’s no way to treat her?" Zhao Erhu was still somewhat unwilling to believe it and wanted to try anything possible.

"Doctor Zheng said he has done everything he could. Your big sister is happy to see you, which is why she looks particularly spirited right now," Lin Genfa shook his head, knowing better than anyone that Zhao Yunxiang’s current condition was just a momentary recovery before her death. It was for Zhao Erhu that she seemed so lively, appearing more energetic and with a healthier complexion than the past few days, prompting Zhao Erhu to ask such a question.

Lin Genfa didn’t avoid Zhao Yunxiang when he spoke to Zhao Erhu. Zhao Yunxiang knew her own condition all too well; she had been lying on the bed, barely alive for the better part of a year, and had long since wanted to end it all. If it hadn’t been for Lin Genfa constantly persuading her, she would have taken her own life by now. Finally reaching the last moment was a kind of release for her.

Zhao Yunxiang looked at the two men she cared for most in her life with a smile, "Genfa, could you step out for a moment? I have something I want to say to Erhu."

Zhao Yunxiang wanted to take this chance to send off Lin Genfa and leave her last words to Zhao Erhu. She knew the man she had shared a bed with for half a lifetime all too well—so honest and kindhearted. If he were to hear her words, he would surely refuse to bother Zhao Erhu any further, so she had to get him out first.

Zhao Erhu, seeing Zhao Yunxiang send Lin Genfa out, probably also understood somewhat what was going on. He sighed softly, feeling that his big sister, after all, couldn’t let go of her husband and the children, which was why she so eagerly awaited his return.

Having been tempered in the business world for so long, Zhao Erhu’s understanding of human emotions had grown increasingly clear. He wasn’t upset in the least. Putting himself in their shoes, the person he cared for most and couldn’t let go of was his little wife; no one else, whether it was his blood brothers and sisters or Dalang and the others, weighed as much in his heart as his little wife did.

"Big sister, is there something you want to tell me, or something about the brother-in-law and the kids that you want to entrust to me?" Zhao Erhu got straight to the point. Seeing his big sister like this, although her spirit seemed okay, speaking was still quite difficult for her. He wanted to spare her the trouble of speaking or exerting too much effort.

"You’ve guessed it all, now that you’re successful and capable, you’ve seen right through your eldest sister’s thoughts," Zhao Yunxiang felt ashamed as Erhu saw through her intentions, although what she did was not unjustifiable, she still felt she had wronged her own younger brother, especially since he and his wife had helped their family so much.

"Eldest sister knows she has wronged you, especially your wife. I was so wrong before, almost causing harm to your wife, but she didn’t hold a grudge, and these days we’ve really relied on her help. Eldest sister feels deeply guilty, and really shouldn’t ask you for anything more. It’s just that, you know the situation at home, once I’m gone, I can’t stop worrying about the young and old at home, your brother-in-law and the kids, I really can’t rest easy. I hope you’ll look after them, especially the children. Your brother-in-law isn’t too old; if one day he remarries, that woman might not be as virtuous as your wife. I’m afraid she won’t treat the children well," Yunxiang said with a face full of sorrow and helplessness. Even with all her worries and reluctance, she couldn’t demand that Genfa never have another woman in his life; Genfa’s life was still long, and he deserved to have a woman take care of him, so she could only entrust the children to Erhu,

Although Erhu felt emotional, he showed nothing of it on his face. Seeing his lack of reaction, Yunxiang thought he was reluctant, "Erhu, your sister really had no choice but to ask this of you. If your home was still like before, I wouldn’t have asked this of you..."

"Eldest sister, you don’t need to say anymore. Rest assured, after you’re gone, I’ll take good care of brother-in-law and the kids," he replied.

"As for your sister-in-law, please explain to her that your eldest sister is sorry for all she has done to her in this life. Even if I have to be a cow or a horse in the next life, I will repay her."

After speaking more words between them, Zhao Erhu finally opened the door and let Genfa in, then went to call Yunxiang’s children inside. Talking to Erhu had exhausted Yunxiang’s last bit of strength, and now she was at death’s door.

"Brother Erhu, you’ve made it back in time, it seems you’ve seen your eldest sister?" Doctor Zheng hadn’t left that evening either, fearing that Yunxiang might suddenly take a turn for the worse. Hearing activity from Genfa’s side, he quickly got up, carrying his medical kit over, and ran into Erhu.

Erhu nodded, "Yes, I’ve just spoken with eldest sister. These days, we owe much to Doctor Zheng; otherwise, I’m afraid I would have missed seeing my sister for the last time."

"No need to thank me, I’m merely fulfilling my duty as a doctor. Thank your wife instead. Your sister owes her life to the Hundred-year-old Ginseng your wife gave, allowing her to hold on just so you could see your sister one last time. To have such a wife is truly your good fortune," Zheng said, admiring what Lin Yue had done over the past few days and reminding Erhu of his wife’s virtues, lest Erhu fail to recognize them and take her for granted.

Erhu understood better than anyone just how wonderful his wife was, and seeing his reaction, Doctor Zheng knew he didn’t need to say more. Erhu’s reputation for doting on his wife was something he had heard of. He looked towards Yunxiang, "How is your sister faring? Does she need me to come over now?"

Erhu shook his head, "There’s no need. My sister has reached her limit. Let their family have more time to talk together."

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