Chapter 5: Returning to the Rong Family

Chapter 5: Returning to the Rong Family

Since Wu Jing had come to the Rong household, due to Rong Fenghua, she had grown fond of Fan Xiaoyao, treating her as her own daughter. Wu Jing always cared for Fan Xiaoyao as if she were her own child.

Seeing tears welling up in Wu Jing's eyes, Fan Xiaoyao quickly reached out to wipe them away. "Aunt, please don’t cry. I’m perfectly fine!"

Rong Fenghua noticed his wife was the first to break into tears, and hurried over to gently embrace Wu Jing’s shoulders, shaking his head and soothing her in a low voice, "Xiaojing, after all these years, you’re still made of water—your tears come so quickly!"

Wu Jing pressed her fists against Rong Fenghua’s chest, refusing to let go, complaining, "You kept Xiaoyao in the dark about Second Sister’s illness. That wasn’t right! Xiaoyao is grown now. If we’d told her the truth earlier, she wouldn’t have gotten so drunk."

Fan Xiaoyao scratched her head, feeling a little guilty as she explained, "Aunt, haha, I wasn’t exactly drunk..."

Rong Fenghua’s cold gaze swept over Fan Xiaoyao, his voice full of reproach, "You drank yourself into a hemorrhage, and you say you weren’t drunk?"

Seeing Rong Fenghua’s stern expression, Fan Xiaoyao bowed her head, too embarrassed to say anything more.

Wu Jing shrugged off Rong Fenghua’s arm, a hint of blame in her tone. "Look how you’ve scared Xiaoyao!"

Rong Fenghua realized that whenever Wu Jing was with Fan Xiaoyao, she had eyes only for Xiaoyao, and his own status in her heart plummeted. Even their son, Rong Yu, saw it that way.

He stopped paying attention to Wu Jing and Fan Xiaoyao, focusing instead on Rong Kai. "Go help Xiaoyao with the discharge paperwork. We’re heading back to Yongnan Town this afternoon. Notify the family—everyone’s to be home tonight for a family meeting."

Fan Xiaoyao timidly looked at Rong Fenghua’s serious face. "Uncle, is tonight’s family meeting about my mother?"

Wu Jing comforted her, "It’s alright. Sooner or later, you must face what needs to be faced. But Xiaoyao, you must be brave in front of your mother!"

Fan Xiaoyao nodded vigorously, patting her chest and assuring Wu Jing, "Aunt, don’t worry. I’ll be careful. I won’t let Mom worry about me!"

Once Rong Kai finished the discharge procedures, Rong Fenghua picked up Fan Xiaoyao and instructed Rong Kai, "Today, you and Yeye ride with me. Your brother has arrangements to pick up your father, mother, and sister-in-law."

Page 2

Rong Kai felt uneasy—there hadn’t been a family meeting in ages. Tonight’s agenda surely wasn’t just about Second Aunt’s illness; Grandpa must have other things to disclose.

Rong Fenghua’s car left the hospital, taking the ring road straight to Yongnan Town.

By the time they arrived, it was nearly noon. Rong Fenghua had called home in advance, so Fan Xiaoyao’s mother had already prepared a table of dishes, waiting for them.

Rong Fenghua parked the car. He and Wu Jing walked behind, while Fan Xiaoyao dragged Yang Yeye’s hand, rushing home, with Rong Kai following closely.

As soon as she entered, Fan Xiaoyao saw Rong Jinfeng bustling about in the kitchen. She walked up behind Rong Jinfeng, covering her eyes with her hands, and rasped, "Guess who I am?"

Rong Jinfeng turned around with a smile, grasping Fan Xiaoyao’s small hands. "Who else would make me guess but my own daughter?"

Fan Xiaoyao felt defeated; ever since she was little, every time she played the guessing game, Rong Jinfeng saw right through her. She’d once wondered if Rong Jinfeng had eyes in the back of her head.

Ignoring Xiaoyao’s little antics, Rong Jinfeng looked to Rong Kai and Yang Yeye. "Kai, Yeye, I made your favorite dishes today. Eat plenty." She took Yang Yeye’s hand, concern in her eyes. "Yeye, you’ve gotten thinner again!"

She shot Rong Kai a glance. "Kai, you’re the husband—you need to take better care of Yeye, fatten her up a bit!"

Yang Yeye blushed, quickly taking Rong Jinfeng’s hand. "Aunt, don’t blame Kai. It’s me—my constitution isn’t strong. I just can’t gain weight."

When Rong Fenghua finished parking and entered with Wu Jing, he was greeted by the aroma wafting from the table. He sniffed appreciatively, "Sis, what delicious food did you make today? It smells wonderful!"

Rong Jinfeng grinned. "Are you teasing me? You’ve traveled everywhere—haven’t you tasted every flavor?"

Rong Fenghua went up and hugged Rong Jinfeng. "Nothing outside compares to your cooking!"

It was then that Rong Jinfeng noticed Wu Jing had returned as well. She hurried over, taking Wu Jing’s hand, teasing, "Our Jingjing is getting younger and younger!"

Wu Jing looked at Rong Fenghua, a bit embarrassed, while Fan Xiaoyao chimed in approvingly, "Mom, isn’t Aunt basically aging backwards?"

Page 3

Fan Xiaoyao’s remark brought laughter all around.

"What are you all chatting about, so happily? Let an old man in on the fun." Rong Shaoting descended the stairs, amiable as ever.

The Fan home was in the heart of town—behind it was the elementary school, and the street in front was bustling.

For all these years, Rong Shaoting preferred staying in Yongnan Town because it was the place he’d known all his life.

He had worked in Yongnan Town from the start and never left; as for how the Rong family had come to Yongnan Town, he’d never told anyone.

His gaze swept across the room, noticing Fan Xiaoyao’s father, Fan Zengfu, was absent. He asked Rong Jinfeng, "Jinfeng, where’s Xiaoyao’s father?"

Rong Jinfeng replied, somewhat helplessly, "Dad, don’t worry about him. He left with his fishing rod this morning and hasn’t been back since."

During the meal, Rong Shaoting doted on Fan Xiaoyao, piling food into her bowl. Rong Kai pretended to protest, "Grandpa, you’re biased! Xiaoyao’s all grown up, and you still serve her. I want some too..."

Rong Shaoting chuckled at his second grandson, lovingly scolding, "You rascal, you’re too old to be jealous of your own sister!"

Seeing himself bested again, Rong Kai nudged Yang Yeye’s arm, playfully complaining, "Wife, Grandpa doesn’t care for me—help your husband with some food!"

Rong Shaoting ignored Rong Kai’s antics, turning the conversation to Rong Fenghua. "Fenghua, you’ve notified your eldest brother and sister-in-law, and Rong Yu, right? And your third sister?"

Rong Fenghua wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Dad, big brother and sister-in-law, and Xiao Yu will arrive this afternoon. Third sister won’t be here until evening—Xiaoxia can’t get off work, Xiaoying has exams coming up, so those two sisters won’t make it."

Rong Shaoting nodded, sighing with a heaviness in his heart. "Eat, eat. We won’t wait."