Free Web NovelChapter 429: Chapter 425: Li Zhi’s Idea
The next day, after breakfast, Sun Jiaming asked Guan Yicai about his plans.
"I’m at an age where I could be in my coffin any day now. What plans could I possibly have? My only worry is for this child, Feng Ling. Jia Ming, you and Li Zhi are both good people. This old man is going to swallow his pride and ask one thing of you. I’m not asking for anything else. In the future, if Feng Ling can’t get by, I beg you to lend her a hand. Don’t let people bully her. This old grandpa thanks you."
Guan Yicai truly had no plans for himself. Just as he said, he was old; his only concern was for his granddaughter.
Sun Jiaming and Li Zhi both nodded.
"Grandpa, don’t say that. You’re not going to die."
Feng Ling shook her head, her eyes red-rimmed.
Gu’er found Feng Ling’s expression strange. Her eyes held a deep-seated terror, as if she was absolutely horrified by the thought of Grandpa Guan dying. ’That’s not right,’ Gu’er thought. ’When people get old, that day inevitably comes. It’s the same with our own grandma. Though we all hope she lives to be a hundred, we know in our hearts that no one knows what tomorrow holds. All we can do is be good to her while she’s with us, leaving no room for regret.’
But Feng Ling’s fear seemed bone-deep, different from theirs. Gu’er had pegged Feng Ling as a girl with great fortitude, so for such terror to leak out was uncharacteristic of her.
"Alright, alright, Grandpa won’t die. Grandpa still has to watch my Feng Ling get married."
Guan Yicai hurriedly comforted his granddaughter.
"Jia Ming, do you have any ideas?"
Grandma Sun could see what her grandson was thinking.
Sun Jiaming laid out the plan he and Gu’er had discussed the previous night. Grandpa Guan could move into a nearby nursing home, and he could drop by for visits during the day. He would have a place to sleep at night, and if he was willing, he could even stay with them. As for Feng Ling, she could go work with Xinghua or at the mall. The pay wasn’t bad, more than enough for her to live on. In a couple of years, they could find her a good man, and everyone could pitch in to see her get married in style.
Everyone who heard the plan thought it was a good one. After all, Guan Yicai couldn’t stay at Li Zhi’s place forever.
"No."
Before anyone else could speak, Feng Ling was the first to shake her head. The single word "no" came out in a higher, slightly sharper tone than her usual voice.
"Thank you both for your kindness, but I will not send my grandpa to a nursing home. If a future husband ever resents my grandpa, then I just won’t get married. It’s true, I don’t have the means right now to give him a good life, but I will work hard. I cannot let Grandpa live in a nursing home. He still has me, his granddaughter. As long as I’m alive, I will never leave him. I’ll take care of him. As for a job, I’ll find one myself. I won’t be a burden to any of you."
Feng Ling spoke with fierce determination. Her expression struck Gu’er as odd. ’It’s as if someone is trying to snatch Grandpa Guan away from her.’ Gu’er had no doubt that if someone actually tried, Feng Ling would fight them to the death.
Guan Fengling’s concern for Guan Yicai was far beyond ordinary. Others might see it as filial piety, but Gu’er sensed something wasn’t right.
Feng Ling’s words cast a silence over the room. No one had expected her to be so opposed to the idea. They had meant well and had no other intentions, but if she wasn’t willing, they couldn’t force her.
Seeing that no one else was speaking, Gu’er spoke up. "Feng Ling, please don’t say that. We were just making a suggestion. If you don’t want Grandpa Guan to go, then he won’t go. It’s as simple as that. And you’re not troubling us at all. As for work, there’s no rush. If you don’t want to work at our mall or with Xinghua, you can take your time and look for something else. Don’t worry about a place to live, either. If you feel it’s inconvenient to stay here, we have employee dorms. They’re not big, but they’re enough to live in. We have absolutely no intention of kicking you out, so please don’t take it the wrong way."
"That’s right, Feng Ling," Grandma Sun added. "Jia Ming and Gu’er meant well. In fact, about that nursing home, I already told them I was thinking of going to stay there with a friend for a while. There are more people, more conversation... it’s livelier. It’s not about throwing your grandpa in there and abandoning him. But you’re a devoted granddaughter, so if you don’t want him to go, he won’t. You can stay here with us, we have room."
"Grandma Sun, Brother Jia Ming, Gu’er, please don’t be angry with me. I didn’t mean to sound that way. It’s just... right now, my grandpa and I only have each other. I don’t want to be separated from him. It’s not that I think your idea is bad, I just can’t accept it. If you and Brother Jia Ming are willing, could you lend us the employee dorm for now? Once I earn enough money, I’ll rent a place. As for work, I’ll look for it myself. I’ve never worked in a mall before. I’m afraid I wouldn’t do a good job and would just cause more trouble."
Feng Ling apologized to everyone. She knew they meant well; helping her find a job and getting her grandpa into a nursing home—which surely wasn’t easy to get into—would take a lot of effort on their part. ’But I really can’t let him go there,’ she thought. ’I absolutely can’t.’
"Alright. I’ll have someone take you to the employee dorms later. They’re furnished with everything, including a kitchen. You’ll have to buy your own bedding and kitchenware, but I’ll have Jia Ming help you get all that. You can live there without any worries. As for work, you’re free to look on your own. If you can’t find anything suitable, just let us know."
Gu’er nodded in agreement. She respected Feng Ling’s wishes. ’People can have very strong pride,’ she thought. ’Maybe our offer wounded hers. If so, we’ll just have to do things her way.’
Feng Ling was about to express her thanks when Li Zhi interjected, "The employee dorms are pretty far from here. I don’t think that’s very convenient. Besides, Ergou and his buddies are living there now. Even though there are plenty of empty rooms, there aren’t any other women. It wouldn’t be convenient for Feng Ling to go there. How about this: Li Ting is seeing someone now and is getting married in August, so she hasn’t been staying over recently. Let Feng Ling stay in Li Ting’s room. Grandpa Guan can keep staying at my place, and he can still come over during the day to chat with Grandma Sun. What do you all think?"
No one had expected Li Zhi to make such a suggestion. Gu’er glanced at him, just as surprised as everyone else. Seeing the way Li Zhi was looking at Feng Ling, her heart gave a little flutter. ’Could it be? Is Li Zhi interested in Feng Ling?’
"There’s no need. Thank you, Brother Li, but my grandpa and I can’t stay here. Really. I know you’re trying to help us, Brother Li, but this is a kindness we can’t possibly repay."
Feng Ling rejected Li Zhi’s offer.
Li Zhi was taken aback for a moment; he hadn’t expected her to refuse. Strangely, his impression of her only improved. A beautiful young woman taking care of her grandfather all by herself—that showed true devotion. She had endured so much hardship without giving up, which spoke to her persistence. To leave home with her grandfather showed courage. From the moment she arrived, she hadn’t been intimidated by the unfamiliar environment and had spoken with tact, which showed she was level-headed. Rejecting Sun Jiaming’s proposal proved she had a mind of her own, and not abandoning her grandfather despite their difficult circumstances proved her fortitude. Now, by refusing his own offer, she showed she wasn’t greedy or seeking a life of comfort. It was rare to find so many fine qualities in one person. He admired that. He liked people like her.
