Back to the 70s: My Childhood Sweetheart Spoils Me Rotten-Chapter 305: Collapse
On the eighth day of the last lunar month, the Prime Minister passed away, and after the news spread, the entire nation was filled with grief, organizing various memorial activities in their own ways. ππ«πππ¨ππ―ππ πππ.ππΌπ
The Red Flag Brigade was no exception, and it left every villager who was immersed in preparing for the arrival of the Spring Festival in shock.
Although there were some who obstructed the memorial for the Prime Minister, the Red Flag Brigade and even the commune organized this event.
Gong Ruini had no impression of this Prime Minister, but hearing his stories in recent days, she admired him greatly for being a Prime Minister without children.
Even before Zhao Gang and the others could recover from this grief, they received a telegram from home: Father critically ill.
Seeing this telegram, Gong Tao couldnβt bear it and nearly fainted.
Cai Meina was shocked; after all, the previous notifications had given them some sense that Gong Dajiangβs health was not good, but receiving such a telegram shouldnβt have made Zhao Guangran faint.
"Gong Tao, Gong Tao." Cai Meina kept shaking Gong Tao and calling out to him.
Gong Ruini, too, was beside them shouting anxiously, worried if Gong Dajiang would take Gong Tao away as well. Really, was it necessary to be so agitated over an old man?
Clearly, theyβve been talking about how biased Gong Dajiang was before, and itβs not like they didnβt know Gong Dajiangβs health was poor, so why get so emotional now? Gong Ruini really couldnβt understand the reason.
Cai Ming saw that Gong Tao was in trouble and immediately went to find Zhan Jing to check the situation.
In these days, Zhan Jing was the busiest person in the village, as there were several people who fainted from excitement that he had to attend to, though none of them were serious problems yet everyone habitually called for Zhan Jing.
Just as Zhan Jing finished his work and returned home, he heard about Gong Tao fainting and was shocked, "Why did he faint?"
Even if their own could get excited, it shouldnβt be to the point of fainting from grief, whatβs going on?
"A telegram about critical illness came." Zhao Gang said softly.
Zhao Gang estimated that Gong Tao fainted not because of Gong Dajiang but because heβd been exhausted these days, and after receiving such a telegram, how could he not faint?
If it were him, Zhao Gang couldnβt guarantee he could withstand it.
Ah, look at the trouble this brings, in the winter near Spring Festival, the old manβs health is bad too, "And donβt know if Taozi can see him for the last time."
Even though telegrams are fast, it still takes several days; then they have to buy tickets and journey back home, who knows if they can hold on until Gong Tao gets home.
Ah, hearing this Zhan Jing understood, it was one blow after another that Zhao Gang couldnβt bear, "You go borrow a car from the village head, then get a proof."
No matter Gong Tao and his wifeβs views towards Gong Dajiang, now that this telegram has come, could Gong Tao simply ignore it and not go?
Whether or not he can see him for the last time, Gong Dajiangβs funeral must be attended.
Zhao Gang nodded, "Iβll take leave."
This yearβs festival, ah, well, the celebration here will be rather quiet; Gong Taoβs festival would be more lively given he would be dealing with all kinds of troublesome matters upon his return.
After Zhan Jing finished giving directions, he went inside to check on Gong Taoβs condition and saw him slowly waking up.
"Iβm fine." Gong Tao tried to sit up, "I just got dizzy, Iβm fine."
Zhan Jing grabbed Gong Taoβs hand annoyed, "Whether youβre fine is not for you to say."
"You wouldnβt want to go back sick, would you?"
Upon hearing this, Gong Tao, who initially wanted to say he was fine, shut his mouth, unsure of how tiresome the journey back would be or how chaotic home would be upon his return.
With our old man gone, how could Zhang Lan hold the fort? People went along with Zhang Lan before only out of respect for Gong Dajiang.
Now that Gong Dajiangβs gone, who would fear Zhang Lan? Theyβd only worry about her favoritism; Gong Zhuang must have been planning how to divide the money and houses for a while now; as for Gong Dajiangβs funeral, thatβs not the main concern.
Thinking about the troublesome matters waiting back home, Gong Tao was unwilling to take back Gong Ruini and her siblings, "Zhan Jing, Cai Ming, while Meina and I are gone, please take care of Ni Zi and her siblings."
When Cai Meina saw her husband faint after receiving the telegram, she was worried not only for her husband but concerned if they would have to take Gong Ruini and the others along.
Now knowing they werenβt going, Cai Meina was relieved.
Not only was Cai Meina relieved, but so were Zhan Jing and the others; with the Prime Ministerβs death, everyone was feeling down, and eating was just so-so, bodies were somewhat weakened.
Initially, a few days of rest would get one back in shape, but if forced to travel such long distances, she couldnβt guarantee this family could handle it.
With Gong Dajiangβs condition worsening, meaning heβs going to pass, they wondered if the small city they were headed to had anything good.
Even after many years of movements and good items being destroyed, there might still be a stray good item after all.
Plus, she had a lot of money on hand that needed to be spent or Gong Ruini would continually be unhappy; given that, why not return home to scavenge for treasures.
Gong Ruini had been planning to go back home with her mother; she didnβt expect they wouldnβt take her back, which left her a bit dissatisfied, "I want to go back."
Gong Ruwen had no opinions on going back; his idea was simply to follow his parentsβ, but seeing his sister wanting to return, he immediately changed his mind to follow Gong Ruiniβs idea.
"Ni Zi, behave." Bringing one or two back would only add trouble; Cai Meina scolded the two kids for the first time.
"Mom, I wonβt cause trouble." Gong Ruini quietly promised, considering that over the years, her health had greatly improved, possibly due to regular exercise or perhaps drinking water from her space, Gong Ruini stated her body wasnβt weak to the point that she couldnβt handle sitting on a train.
"Plus, if I donβt go back, who knows what chaos theyβll stir up." Going back was bound to be contentious, Zhang Lan couldnβt handle Gong Zhuang alone, wouldnβt she direct her fury towards Gong Tao instead?
The main thing is, "Ni Zi wants to spend New Year with Mom and Dad." Once the matters are settled, likely after New Year, Gong Ruini didnβt want their family of four to celebrate separately in different places.
Though Cai Ming and Zhao Gangβs families would take good care of her and her brother, with the former being an uncle, witnessing Zhao Xuranβs family reunites would upset Gong Ruini greatly.
If it were for another reason, Cai Meina wouldnβt approve, but hearing her daughterβs this request made her want to cry, although ultimately this matter was up to Gong Tao to decide.
Among the family of four, three had already made a decision, and at that moment they looked to him to ask his opinion, "Besides agreeing, what choice do I have?"
