Chapter Sixty-Nine: Hospitalization

The call came from Liu Chunyan, but before they could even exchange a few words, Chen Xin heard Liu Chunyan let out a startled cry, followed by a string of “Dad, Mom,” and similar exclamations. If she listened carefully, there seemed to be the voices of Liu Jianmin and his wife as well.

However, before she could make sense of what was happening, Liu Chunyan hung up.

Chen Xin didn’t rush to call back, nor did she hurry over to the Liu family’s house. Whatever had happened there, it was certainly utter chaos. If she, an outsider, showed up so eagerly, it would only invite gossip. Besides, Liu’s children were all present—there was no need for her to busy herself.

After more than an hour, Liu Chunyan called again, and this time, Chen Xin answered immediately.

“Is everything all right, Chunyan?” Chen Xin’s first words were filled with concern.

“My brother is getting a divorce,” Liu Chunyan’s voice was weary, laced with barely suppressed anger. “That wretched woman—if anything happens to my mother, I’ll never forgive her.”

After a few words of comfort, Chen Xin finally learned what had happened. After returning from the police station the previous day, Liu Jianmin had tried to talk things over with his wife, but she showed no sign of remorse. She called him a fool, while her own mother wailed and accused the Liu family of being heartless, even to their own relatives, and claimed they favored outsiders.

Liu Jianmin said nothing and left. That night, he sent his wife a message, saying he wanted a divorce and told her to consider how they would divide the assets.

Early the next morning, his wife and mother-in-law stormed into his parents’ home, causing a scene. They smashed things, including photos of his parents. His mother was so enraged she fainted on the spot, and his father was left clutching his chest in pain. The two women, terrified, tried to slip away, but this time Liu Jianmin didn’t let his wife go—he slapped her, while Liu Chunyan’s husband restrained the mother-in-law and called the police and an ambulance. If not for the neighbors’ help, who knows what might have happened in the Liu household that day.

“And where is everyone now?” Chen Xin asked.

“My mother’s in the hospital. The doctor said it was an episode brought on by extreme anger, and there might be signs of a stroke. As for my father, they found a heart problem, so he’s been admitted as well. I’m at the police station right now—can you go to the hospital and keep an eye on them for me?”

Without hesitation, Chen Xin gathered her things and hurried to the hospital. Before leaving, she called Zhou Hao to explain the situation and told him where she’d hidden the keys.

Zhou Hao promised to send someone to her house right away and asked if she needed him to go with her to the hospital.

“No need, there’s no time to wait. It’s not far—I’ll just ride over,” Chen Xin replied, already on her bicycle. When she arrived at the hospital, she learned that Grandpa Liu had gone for more tests, leaving Grandma Liu alone in the ward.

When Chen Xin entered, Grandma Liu was facing the window, gazing absently at the sky. Overnight, she seemed to have aged dramatically—her hair was almost completely white.

Grandma Liu had always been particular about her appearance, dyeing her hair every six months and keeping herself neat and tidy—a lively, spirited old lady. But now, lying in bed, she exuded an air of defeat, as if all her vitality had drained away, clinging to life merely out of habit.

Chen Xin’s heart ached, and her eyes grew red.

“Grandma Liu, I’ve come to see you,” she said softly, placing the fruit she’d bought on the bedside table and settling into the chair to take Grandma Liu’s hand.

“I just spoke to the doctor—Grandpa Liu’s all right, just some heart ischemia, which is common in the elderly. As long as he takes care of himself, he’ll be fine. He’s still got one more test to do. I was worried you’d be alone, so I came up quickly. They should be back soon.”

Grandma Liu looked at Chen Xin, her lips trembling as tears slid down her cheeks and disappeared into her white hair.

“It’s said that children are a burden, but you and Grandpa Liu have done your duty, raising them all these years. Now it’s their turn to care for you. If you’re unhappy, you should go out and enjoy yourselves. They aren’t children anymore—they’re in their thirties. Their lives are their own responsibility now.”

“That’s true,” Grandma Liu murmured.

Just then, the door opened and Grandpa Liu was wheeled in by his son-in-law. Though his expression was grim, he looked far better than Grandma Liu.

“Take care of yourself. Once you’re well, let’s go live by the sea for half a year—leave everything behind. You love painting and reading; we’ll rent a little farmhouse, and I’ll fish for you every day.”

Grandma Liu squeezed Chen Xin’s hand tighter and nodded, tears in her eyes.

“Mom, you and Dad should focus on your own lives and let your children handle their own affairs,” the son-in-law said.

Hearing this, Grandma Liu nodded again. Many had advised her to let things go, but after a lifetime of worry, it was hard to simply let go. Still, her heart felt lighter than before, especially when her in-laws arrived with their grandchild. Listening to the child’s sweet voice, the old couple’s faces relaxed into genuine smiles.

“My dear, why don’t you come stay with us for a while? When you’re better, you can travel as you please.”

“No need,” Grandma Liu replied. “We’ll be in the hospital for a few more days. Once we’re discharged, we’ll go traveling and leave them to their own devices.”

Liu Chunyan’s mother-in-law, though a bit calculating, would never stoop to the things Liu Jianmin’s mother-in-law had done. She might try to get a little advantage but had a good heart. These days, she’d been cooking and making soup for the family, bringing her son and daughter-in-law and their young child to keep the old couple company. Only when Grandpa Liu was allowed to leave the hospital did she return to the county with her grandson.

“I used to think she was difficult, but now I realize that the truly wicked are those whose malice hides beneath the surface,” Grandma Liu confided to Chen Xin.

“When I’m gone, everything in the house will be divided equally. No one can say I favored my son or daughter.”

Chen Xin hesitated, wanting to suggest they make a will, but then remembered that these were not such open times. If she brought it up, Grandma Liu might think she wished them gone.

So she just smiled and made a few lighthearted remarks.

“By the way, I heard from Chunyu yesterday that Officer Zhou seems quite taken with you. Have you considered giving it a thought?”

It was an old woman’s habit to play matchmaker and draw red strings between people.

“Oh, it’s nothing like that. I asked him to help me buy a security door, and lately he’s just been concerned about you two, so he often checks in,” Chen Xin replied, her cheeks tinged with pink. Still, she couldn’t deny that Zhou Hao seemed to treat her with a special sort of attention.