Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?-Chapter 1037 - 1033: Arrangements

After breakfast, Shen Siyuan summoned Duoduo back.

Under the Mysterious Power of the Qiankun Umbrella, the light and shadows subtly shifted, and in the blink of an eye, they had returned to the countryside from their residence in Bin Hai.

Meanwhile, Zhu Lijuan once again embarked on the journey to Xu Xiangyang’s place, but this time, her husband Tan Boyuan accompanied her.

The couple had barely slept through the night, under the lamplight, discussing not only the arrangement for Xu Xiangyang and his grandmother but also harboring a deep concern for the future.

Originally, Tan Boyuan felt that feeding two children on his meager income was already a heavy burden on his shoulders.

Now, suddenly needing to accommodate a bedridden elderly person and a young child doubled the pressure, making it almost unbearable for him.

Others might either firmly oppose taking in the grandson and grandmother or have long entertained thoughts of divorce under such pressure.

But Tan Boyuan was an honest man, cherishing the family that was difficult to build. Despite myriad challenges, he chose to bear them alone.

Zhu Lijuan saw the worry in her husband’s eyes, feeling both guilty and troubled.

She knew life would become increasingly difficult, yet she couldn’t stand by idly. If she hadn’t known about their predicament, it might be different. But now that she understood their situation, how could she watch the elderly and child fend for themselves?

"Alas..."

Zhu Lijuan let out a long sigh, the wind brushed past her temples but couldn’t clear the clouds of worry on her brow.

Tan Boyuan, holding his son, heard the sigh and though overwhelmed with worry himself, mustered the spirit to offer comfort.

"Don’t be too anxious; life’s a journey, and while it might seem tough now, with patience, it will eventually pass..."

Though his words were reassuring, Zhu Lijuan was no stranger to the taste of hard times.

After finally enjoying some brief stability, seeing it all revert was burdensome to her heart.

"It seems I was never meant to enjoy a life of comfort," Zhu Lijuan murmured softly, her tone filled with helplessness.

Tan Boyuan remained silent, only tightening his grip around their child, echoing, "Everything will be okay."

The couple spoke, each burdened with their own thoughts, unknowingly drawing closer to Xu Xiangyang’s current residence.

From afar, they saw Xu Xiangyang’s frail figure standing at the doorway, tiptoeing to peer anxiously toward the road.

Seeing them, his eyes first lit up, quickening his pace to greet them, but upon recognizing Tan Boyuan, he slowed down and even slightly withdrew.

After Zhu Lijuan left last night, Xu Xiangyang didn’t follow her back, as his bedridden grandma couldn’t be left alone.

But he remembered his mother’s promise to return today, and as dawn broke, he waited at the door, afraid of missing her.

As Tan Boyuan and his wife approached, Xu Xiangyang timidly called out "Mom," though his gaze was fixed on Tan Boyuan with some reserve and unfamiliarity.

"Are you Yangyang? Hello, I am your brother Tan Yongchen’s father."

Tan Boyuan spoke first, keeping his tone as gentle as possible, while the little one in his arms waved his small hands in wonder.

"Hello, Uncle."

Xu Xiangyang answered softly, his voice barely audible, and his head lowered slightly.

"Hello to you too."

Tan Boyuan also assessed him; the child seemed frail for his age, but his eyes were bright and clear.

Zhu Lijuan noticed too that Xu Xiangyang had cleaned up himself today.

He had changed into reasonably clean old clothes, washed his face well, and cleaned the dirt from under his nails, clearly preparing to welcome them.

Her heart warmed, though she didn’t mention it, instead softly asked, "Have you eaten breakfast?"

Xu Xiangyang shook his head, his little hands unintentionally clenching his shirt hem.

"How come you haven’t had breakfast yet at this hour? Is there food at home? Let me cook something for you." Zhu Lijuan said and started toward the house.

Tan Boyuan quickly stopped her, "Cooking now will take too long. I think it’s better to give him some money to buy something ready-made to eat."

"No, no!"

Hearing this, Xu Xiangyang quickly shook his head, waving it like a rattle.

"I... I never have breakfast in the morning."

The words struck a chord with Zhu Lijuan, her heart ached intensely, and her eyes immediately felt warm.

She squatted down, gently touched Xu Xiangyang’s head, speaking softly, "Children shouldn’t skip breakfast. How will you grow strong on an empty stomach?"

"It’s okay; I’m used to it and never eat it."

Xu Xiangyang smiled brightly, as if it were a trivial matter, yet his feigned ease deepened Zhu Lijuan’s heartache, her nose tinged with acidity.

Zhu Lijuan didn’t insist on the breakfast matter, instead leading Xu Xiangyang into the house, greeting the bedridden elderly gently, then meticulously expressed her concerns before turning to discuss moving with her husband.

Tan Boyuan circled around the house inside and out, getting a sense of things.

Although the grandson and grandmother had lived there for years, their possessions were pitifully scarce, just a few bags of old clothes and some battered pots and pans.

These items were either terribly worn or no longer useful, hardly worth taking along.

"You take care of the children; I’ll pack up the things."

Tan Boyuan rolled up his sleeves briskly.

"Once everything is sorted out, we’ll call a car, and it can all be moved in one trip."

"Oh, this house is rented; should we inform the landlord first?"

Zhu Lijuan remembered suddenly, feeling worried.

"I wonder if they owe any rent still."

"Ask Yangyang," Tan Boyuan suggested, nodding toward Xu Xiangyang.

Xu Xiangyang was whispering to his sister Miaomiao, who listened quietly, her little face timid and unfamiliar, lacking Xu Xiangyang’s warmth.

Just then, a car horn suddenly sounded outside the courtyard wall, making them look up instinctively. A luxury car was parked at the gate, conspicuous in the old alley.

"Who could that be?"

Tan Boyuan lowered his voice, looking at Zhu Lijuan with curiosity.

Zhu Lijuan shook her head, full of confusion, "I don’t know them either."

As soon as she finished speaking, the car door opened, and a well-dressed couple stepped out.

The man first glanced at the courtyard, noticing them standing at the gate, then approached and politely asked, "Is this Xu Xiangyang’s home?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

It was Tao Guangsha and his wife, sent by Shen Siyuan to handle Xu Xiangyang and his grandmother’s arrangements early.

"Yes, it is. Who are you?"

Xu Xiangyang moved a step forward, bewildered, to survey the couple.

"We are workers from the Hongdou Children’s Charity Foundation."

Jiang Wenxin smiled first, her voice warm and kind.

"Hongdou?"

The word triggered Xu Xiangyang’s memory; he had met Dou Dou yesterday, who introduced herself as Tao Hongdou.

He leaned in closer, scrutinizing Jiang Wenxin’s features, noticing her resemblance to Dou Dou and immediately spoke with joy, "You’re Dou Dou’s sister, right?"

"Haha, your eyes are sharp, child!"

Jiang Wenxin laughed heartily.

"But I’m not her sister; I’m her mother."

Tao Guangsha glanced at his wife amusingly, nodding warmly to Xu Xiangyang, "I’m Dou Dou’s father."

"Hello, Uncle! Hello, Aunt!"

Xu Xiangyang realized, quickly greeting them with delight on his face.

"Yangyang, who are they?" Zhu Lijuan approached, quietly asking her son.

"They are Dou Dou’s parents; Dou Dou... she’s my friend... she helped me pick up bottles yesterday," Xu Xiangyang said proudly.