NOVEL NEXT Chapter 359 Planning
Song Qinghe looked at the old man, unconscious and unable to wake up.
Feeling somewhat helpless, and with mixed emotions.
This father, in his mind, was someone to be revered, yet there was a complex resentment towards him.
The father's demands on them, the children, were strict, with physical punishment as a common recourse, even resorting to family rules.
The father believed in "spare the rod, spoil the child."
Among the three brothers, he was the least favored by his father.
Since childhood, he was rebellious.
As he grew up, initially, he didn't want to study medicine; he wanted to paint, to travel the world.
But a whipping from the old man left him no choice but to pursue a path in medicine.
That was not something he liked.
Even though he didn't enjoy walking the path of medicine, he was already on it, life doesn't offer do-overs. If not for his mother's protection all the way, his journey might have been smooth.
As he reached marriageable age, his father insisted that a marriage had been arranged for him since childhood.
In this day and age, where were matchmaking sayings coming from, and what even is a childhood betrothal?
Even though his parents could be considered old cadres, old party members, how had they resorted to such feudal superstitions at this point?
But what could be done?
He disagreed, and his father, with an intimidating face, lashed out at him with the whip.
He was over 20, yet his father beat him so badly he couldn't get out of bed.
His mother was there, telling him that the girl he was engaged to was gentle and virtuous, and that the girl's mother and his own mother were close friends who had saved his parents' lives. He understood he was being used to repay a favor.
Well, so be it, marry whoever, he didn't have a girl he liked anyway.
The moment he met his wife, he felt comforted, at least as his mother had said.
This girl was indeed gentle and virtuous.
The quiet days made him feel that his life, under his parents' arrangements, would just be like this.
Honestly becoming a doctor and growing old with his wife.
Yet, the year his wife was pregnant, he suddenly encountered the love of his life.
The moment he saw his wife's younger sister, he understood that spending a lifetime with someone requires love. Without the support of love, spending even a second with someone becomes unbearable, to a point where death seemed preferable.
His wife's gentleness and virtue couldn't change his heart. The moment his son was born, he told his wife about his decision to divorce.
His wife was a weak person, didn't make a big scene, but she committed suicide.
This incident completely changed his world.
After the old man punished him harshly, he didn't allow him to bring the woman he loved into the family!
Thus, he endured alone, initially thinking, "Let's see who can outlast whom; I am ultimately my father's biological son."
Could it be his father truly wished to see him alone for a lifetime?
Yet, he didn't expect his father could be so ruthless, only because of a beating he gave Song Moting.
His father decided to sever ties with him.
At that moment, he realized that in his father's eyes, he was nothing but an unfilial son, not even as important as his own son.
Resolute, he decided that even if his father refused to acknowledge him, he would marry the one he loved.
Indeed, he fulfilled his wish, marrying the one he loved, and had his own wife and children.
Yet, he looked down on Song Moting all the more.
Because Song Moting received all the affection from his father that he never received.
No matter how mischievous, disobedient, or rebellious Moting was, in his father's eyes, he was the best grandson.
The irritable father never laid a finger on Song Moting.
He finally understood that his father wasn't incapable of loving a child; he could!
Just that love had never been directed at him.
Years have passed, and he never thought to be filial to his father.
When he decided to make amends with his father, his father had a stroke.
As a doctor, he certainly knew what comes after a stroke.
Either paralysis, or limbs that don't obey, or slurred speech, or a crooked mouth and squinted eyes.
His father, once so dashing and decisive, had turned into this state.
He felt some pity, but also schadenfreude, thinking this was karmic retribution.
His father treated him this way, ultimately receiving such retribution; now in need of his children's filial respect, must his father still hold himself so high?
The rights his father held would dissipate along with his stroke.
Song Qinghe sighed.
Despite the schadenfreude, he knew such feelings were wrong.
His father's downfall served no benefit to him, nor to the entire Song family.
Though there was still the old lady present.
But the power the old man held couldn't be matched by the old lady.
He originally wanted to reconcile with his father, hoping to leverage his father's power to advance further, but now it seemed things were completely contrary to his hopes.
The old man had become like this, and it was hard to stay in his current position.
People go where the sentiment lies.
The old man, becoming this way and losing his important position, probably meant the Song family was facing an unprecedented storm.
Song Qinghe scratched his hair.
What to do?
Seems like he had to think of a way.
The old man was just laid down, so there still might be room for maneuver.
After all, the old man still had his connections, and during this opportunity, he could use the old man's network to make a few calls, to accomplish some things for himself.
If the old man truly fell gravely ill.
It might be the last thing the old man could do for his children.
Song Qinghe turned and walked out.
Jiang Xiaoxiao and Song Moting had been accompanying the old lady at the Song family's place, waiting half the day for the old man, only to receive a call from their uncle saying the old man had missed a point and would arrive in the morning.
The two exchanged glances, and Jiang Xiaoxiao helped the old lady back to her room to rest.
Song Moting made a few calls in the living room.
After Jiang Xiaoxiao came out, Song Moting's expression was serious.
"What's wrong? Seeing your expression so serious, did something happen to the old man?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao reacted swiftly.
"I contacted my friends in the railroad, and they informed me that the old man had a sudden stroke halfway for unknown reasons. The old man had actually arrived just now and should be sent to Jingbei Hospital now.
Our uncle said that a check could only be done tomorrow, so he didn't want grandma to be startled."
"A stroke?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao was stunned. The old man was such a cheerful and open-minded elder, decisive and swift, always walking tall, with his back forever straight.
The military bearing ensured the old man stood like a straight pine all his life.
For such an elder, if he were left with sequelae from a stroke, she couldn't imagine what would become of him.
"Don't worry, perhaps things aren't as bad as we imagine."
Not seeing him in person, Jiang Xiaoxiao dared not jump to conclusions.
Song Moting nodded.
Indeed, grandpa will be alright.