Rebirth: My Dear Little Wife Is So Scheming

Chapter 1352: Final Arrangements

The old man sat at the dinner table.

Zhao Xue eagerly pushed the steamed fish in front of the old man.

There was also a bowl of tomato egg noodles in front of the old man.

To please the old man, the noodles were not only firm but also finely sliced, topped with bright red tomato sauce and golden eggs, indeed fragrant.

The family ate the meal in harmony.

Chen Qidong saw the old man was still in good spirits, so he accompanied the old man to watch TV in the living room.

"Dad, your son here is not capable. When you came to live with me, I suggested you go to the second and third son's place because, as you saw, this house is so small, there's hardly room for an extra person.

At that time, your grandson was about to get married, and I really had no way to arrange a place for you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let you go to the second and third son's place. Who knew those unfilial children wouldn't take good care of you.

You don't know how much effort I've put into looking for you all over the streets and alleys these past two years, countless times, and never found you.

I was really regretful.

How come I didn't keep you back then.

The day you called me made me overjoyed. I thought I must bring you back home, let you enjoy the pleasures of family."

This is him trying to clear his name.

The old man smiled and patted his son's hand.

"I know my eldest, you are all filial. I know none of you are unfilial children. Dad knows, so he never said anything. When my sons have difficulties, I, as a father, naturally understand.

Looking at your house, it's not spacious for living either."

Chen Qidong, hearing this, eyes brightened, he was waiting for the old man to say this.

"Dad, true, this house isn't spacious; you see, living in the small room, the couple has to squeeze into that tiny space, which only fits a single bed. It's because your son is not capable, always wanting to buy a bigger house, but can't afford it due to low income."

He looked eagerly at the old man, waiting for him to continue.

"Yes, it has been tough for you over the years. Seeing that the house here isn't spacious, living in that room makes me uncomfortable as well, seeing the grandson and granddaughter-in-law squeezed in there, hot and stuffy.

Let's do this, I will call the second son, I know their homes are more spacious, I'll stay there, so I won't bother you, or make the grandson and granddaughter-in-law uncomfortable."

Chen Qidong's eyes widened, instead of hearing the old man say he'll give money for a house, he found out the old man wanted to move out.

Hurriedly, he smiled and said.

"Dad, don't, even if the house is small, living together we can have conversations. I want to be filial to you, you've done so much for us over the years, having you here makes me feel secure."

Sending the old man away now could mean sending away the money.

The two chatted about all sorts of things, with Chen Qidong occasionally trying to steer the topic towards the money the old man had, but unfortunately, the old man never took the bait.

In the afternoon, the old man got tired and wanted to rest again.

Chen Qidong had no choice.

In these half a month, living at the eldest son's house, the old man indeed enjoyed the warmth of father-son affection.

Even if it was meant to deceive him out of the 100,000 yuan he had, the eldest son now treated him with kindness, chatting with him casually.

The daughter-in-law made sure he ate, drank, and used everything comfortably.

The truly filial ones turned out to be the grandson and granddaughter-in-law.

Chen Zaiqi remembered to spend time chatting with his grandfather every day after coming back home, and his wife occasionally bought some tasty treats for the old man.

They were genuinely filial.

They didn't know the old man's past conflicts with their parents, they honestly believed the uncles were unfilial.

The old man hadn't expected that the eldest son and his wife, who were crooked, could raise such good children.

Half a month passed quickly, the second son couldn't wait any longer, directly came to pick up the old man.

The remaining days, the old man stayed at the second, third, fourth, and fifth sons' homes, each for half a month.

No matter which house he stayed at, the couple treated him with good food, drinks, and smiles.

In essence, Chen Old Man's sons all remembered that sum of money and naturally treated him with respect during this time.

The old man stayed at each of his five sons' houses, looking forward to deciding tomorrow whom to stay with last.

In truth, the old man knew his own health clearly, life was getting worse each day.

Especially during the half month at the fifth son's house.

The old man lay in bed most of the time.

Couldn't eat much, each meal drinking at most half a bag of milk, sometimes with a bit of energy, managing to eat a piece of bread.

He grew very thin, visibly showing poorer complexion day by day.

On the last day at the fifth son's house.

All five brothers and their wives gathered around the old man's bed.

"Dad, you've stayed enough at the fifth son's house, think about the remaining days, where would you like to live?" Chen Qidong asked eagerly, hoping the old man would go with him, seeing that the old man's health wouldn't hold for much longer.

If he didn't put in effort now, the old man might pass away soon, and they could only split the money equally.

The old man smiled, indeed feeling fatigued, he knew his end was near.

Looking at his five sons with eager eyes, carrying some flattery.

They weren't flattering towards him, nor worried about their father dying.

The sons were concerned about the money.

"I know my own health, it'll probably be within these days. After I'm gone, don't have a huge funeral, keep it simple. The country now advocates cremation, right? Just burn my old bones, no need to keep the ashes, keeping them holds no significance. Scatter them in a river, that'll do. I've never been able to leave our small village all lifetime, only left to wander in the provincial city.

Once I die, I'll be free, can go wherever I want with the river. Then I won't need to worry about how you're all doing, you're all doing well now, children grown, I can report to your mother once I'm underground.

I haven't made any money or inherited wealth for you this lifetime. The demolition money and house, you all received them already. I don't have much left to give you, you all can split them as you want.

I won't say much else.

Fifth son, this is a new house, dying here wouldn't be good for the house.

Take me to the hospital, stay there for two days, once I'm gone it's easier to take me to the crematorium. Nobody can fault that."

The old man was arranging his affairs.

The people didn't achieve their goals, feeling a bit disappointed.

But thinking about equally splitting, each could hold 20,000 in hand, the thought kept them warm.

If done as the old man instructed, the funeral wouldn't cost much.

Even avoiding costs of an urn.

Buying a grave nowadays costs a fortune, with the old man opting for water burial, it saves effort.