Third Uncle Xiao wore a smile, but it was rather forced.

"Is my aunt at home?"

The "aunt" he referred to was Xiao Yuan’s grandmother. In Erdaowan, it’s customary for in-laws to address each other’s elders as uncle and aunt.

This is regardless of age.

"Yes, she is." Mother Xiao quickly replied, "Why are you looking for my mother?"

Behind Third Uncle Xiao was an old man who looked over seventy, and he stepped forward tremblingly: "Ji Shufen, is your mother’s name Ji Shufen?"

Mother Xiao nodded, "Yes."

She called into the house, "Mom, someone is here to see you."

Anning assisted her grandmother in coming out.

Grandma was old, her eyesight was blurry, and she couldn’t see clearly who was standing outside: "Who’s here to see me?"

The old man stepped forward excitedly, with tears almost falling from his eyes as he saw Grandma: "Shufen, it’s me, I’m Zhang Gen."

"Zhang Gen."

Upon hearing this, Grandma scrutinized the old man’s face, finally recognizing the young version of him: "Ah Gen, Ah Gen, is that you returned?"

The old man reached out to help Grandma: "It’s me. I’ve come back to find you."

Mother Xiao, seeing the situation, quickly invited Grandma and the old man inside to talk.

Mainly because both of them were elderly, and Mother Xiao was worried they might get too emotional.

Once inside, Mr. Xiao chatted with Third Uncle Xiao while Grandma and Zhang Gen sat together, recounting their years of separation.

Tears poured unceasingly from Grandma’s eyes: "Ah Gen, it’s been so many years since you left, more than fifty years."

She wiped away her tears: "I’ve been waiting for you, hoping for you. I was afraid I wouldn’t see you again, so I raised Honghong. My thought was that if I were to pass, at least someone would know my story, and when you came back to find me, they could say a few words to you."

Mother Xiao, whose name is Ji Hong, was not Grandma’s biological daughter but a foundling Grandma adopted. Grandma never married in her life. Initially, she lived alone, and later she raised Mother Xiao. When Mother Xiao got married, she wanted to bring Grandma to live with her in Fengtai Village, but Grandma refused, insisting on living alone. Mother Xiao had no choice but to visit often. After Xiao Yuan and the other children came along, she’d occasionally send them to stay with Grandma for a few days to keep her company.

Zhang Gen cried as he listened to Grandma speak.

"I’m sorry. I never contacted all these years; it was hard for you waiting for me."

"Have you been well all these years?"

Grandma asked Zhang Gen.

Zhang Gen nodded, "It’s been good, really quite good."

As he spoke, an assistant came in from outside: "Sir, the young master is calling."

Zhang Gen took the phone, responding in mumbles before hanging up.

Grandma’s face turned sour, and she hesitated to ask Zhang Gen, "Do you have a son?"

Zhang Gen nodded, "After I left, a few years passed and realizing I couldn’t return, my father forced me to marry. Later, we had two sons and a daughter. She died early, it’s been over twenty years now..."

Grandma abruptly stood up, speaking to Mother Xiao: "Honghong, see him out."

She didn’t give Zhang Gen another glance and turned into the bedroom.

Anning, who had been quietly sitting, seeing Grandma head into the bedroom quickly followed her.

Mother Xiao looked at Zhang Gen: "Mr. Zhang, we have family matters here. It’s not convenient to host you. Please find somewhere else to stay."

After saying this, she looked at Mr. Xiao, who was already set to send him out.

Zhang Gen was anxious, asking the assistant to help him up, walking to Grandma’s bedroom shouting loudly: "Xiao Fen, I had no choice. I was always thinking of you. I didn’t know when I could come back to find you. I was the only son at home; I could not go without offspring..."

At that moment, Grandma lay on the bed, tears flowing steadily from her eyes.

Anning was quite worried about her.

"Grandma, don’t be sad. If you don’t want to see him, I’ll go and chase him away."

Grandma waved her hand, sitting up and shouting towards outside: "Zhang Gen, you’re just a scumbag."

If it weren’t inappropriate timing, Anning would have been amused by Grandma.

Grandma was quite trendy, using terms like ’scumbag,’ indicating she kept up with modern times.

Zhang Gen was outside, stunned for a moment.

Grandma angrily said, "Don’t use the excuse of having an heir to fool me. If you cared about me, how did you have two sons and a daughter? On one hand, you fancy yourself deeply in love with me, yet on the other, you marry and have children with someone else. You’ve wronged me. You married someone; you should be responsible for them. Yet, you’re by her side claiming you think of me, which is irresponsible to her. You’ve wronged two women. You’ve set up a family, have sons and grandsons. Why have you come back to find me? If you hadn’t returned, at least I could miss you for a lifetime, and I’d have something good to hold in my heart."

Upon saying this, Grandma felt like crying again.

She had lived such a hard life.

Her adolescent romance wasted an entire lifetime.

"Get out."

Grandma shouted, using all her strength.

Zhang Gen seemed very embarrassed outside.

He deemed himself affectionate, hurrying to find Grandma upon hearing her whereabouts, not foreseeing that she’d rather he hadn’t returned.

"Xiao Fen, I’ve come to take you. Let’s go abroad together. We don’t have many years left to live. I wish to spend our final days together."

He tentatively tried convincing Grandma, but she didn’t want to acknowledge him at all.

Seeing Grandma so sad, Anning stepped out.

She faced Zhang Gen coldly: "Mr. Zhang, Grandma doesn’t want to see you again. Don’t stay here anymore. You’re here, making Grandma feel bad. She’s elderly after all, in case... I imagine this isn’t what Mr. Zhang would wish to see."

Zhang Gen felt a bit scared under Anning’s gaze.

Despite his age and all he’d gone through, the young girl’s look unsettled him.

He shivered, "I, fine, I’ll go for now, young girl, please urge your grandmother."

Turning back to Mother Xiao, "Daughter, please help persuade your mother. We’ve missed half a lifetime together. Now, with only a few years left, we wish to spend our final days together. I have many businesses abroad, and I’ve made a will delegating part to her. In the future, all these inheritances will belong to you."

He attempted using benefits to sway Mother Xiao.

Mother Xiao, however, was entirely unmoved.

"Sorry, I can’t persuade my mother."

She pointed outside, "We really have things to do here, please, Mr. Zhang, don’t disturb us any further."

Using ’disturb’ indicated Mother Xiao truly disliked Zhang Gen.

Helpless, Zhang Gen had to leave with his entourage. Before leaving, he thought to persuade Mr. Xiao, yet Mr. Xiao wasn’t one to be bought off. He coldly said, "It’s not something I can manage."