However, if crying could bring the two old grandpas who had loved and doted on them back today, Da Bao said that he would cry louder and shed more tears than anyone else. As long as master grandpa and great-grandpa could return together…
Qiao Nan laughed bitterly. “If it was possible, Mom hopes that they could return as well and never leave. However, do you remember that I bought you to your godfather’s house before? At that time, your godfather’s grandpa passed away as well. Godfather was so upset but his grandpa couldn’t return. Da Bao, if you think this way, how would Er Bao and San Bao think? You have to help me persuade them, right?”
Having received negative answers from Qiao Nan previously, Da Bao no longer demanded a solution from Qiao Nan on what he could do to keep the two old people.
That was because he knew that he couldn’t keep these two old men any longer. He had asked so many questions previously as he was unwilling to believe so.
The mother-and-son pair chatted for a while. It was time for Er Bao and San Bao to wake up according to their biological clocks.
San Bao rubbed her eyes and shouted, “Mom, I’m waking up.” Qiao Nan took out Er Bao and San Bao’s clothes and handed them over to the children.
Er Bao changed into his clothes quickly. He saw that Da Bao looked unhappy. “Da Bao, what’s wrong with you? Was it because you couldn’t wake up this morning? Don’t worry. We can take an afternoon nap later.”
Da Bao rubbed his lips and walked to Er Bao. “I’ll tell you something. However, you have to promise me a condition first.”
“What’s the matter?”
“When you cry later, control yourself a little. Don’t scare San Bao and Xiao Bao.” Da Bao knew very clearly how influential Er Bao could be.
“Cry? Why should I cry? I rarely cry after I reached the age of five.” Er Bao was not willing to take this lying down. He wasn’t as good as Da Bao, but this didn’t mean that he was a crying scaredy-cat.
Da Bao lowered his voice. “Master grandpa and great-grandpa have passed away, just like our class’ Jin Shasha’s grandpa. We won’t be able to see them in the future.” Jin Shasha’s grandpa’s death was the first to make Da Bao have a real impression of death. It also made Er Bao and San Bao understand that death would separate families.
“Nonsense. Master grandpa and great-grandpa even celebrated our birthday with us yesterday. How could they have died like Jin Shasha’s grandpa? You’re lying to me. I don’t believe it. I’m going to find great-grandpa and master grandpa.” Er Bao became angry and pushed Da Bao away. He even ran until his slippers fell. He rushed downstairs to Old Master Zhai’s room and called, “Great-grandpa.”
Not too long later, Da Bao, who was standing at the stairs, heard Er Bao’s loud cries. He never stopped calling ‘great-grandpa’.
“Mom?” San Bao, who finished washing her face, was shocked. “Why is Er Bao crying?”
“Yes, why is Er Bao crying?” Xiao Bao, who also woke up, sat on the bed and asked softly, “Did someone bully Brother Er Bao?”
This time around, Qiao Nan didn’t reply. After helping Xiao Bao put on his clothes, she led the three children downstairs.
The triplets understood the meaning of death. Only Xiao Bao wasn’t particularly clear about it. As the follower of these brothers and sister, Xiao Bao saw that Da Bao, who was the strongest among the triplets, was about to cry. He opened his mouth wide and cried louder than anyone else.
“I’m going to master grandpa’s. Who wants to follow along?” Qiao Nan changed her clothes and wore a piece of black cloth on her arm. She looked haggard.
Da Bao looked at Er Bao. “Er Bao, you can choose. Do you want to stay at great-grandpa’s with San Bao or go to master grandpa’s?”
Er Bao cried until his snot was going to fall off. “Can’t we be at both places?” He knew that once someone died, they would be sent to the crematorium. Once the fire burned, only ashes would remain and he could no longer see great-grandpa and master grandpa in the future. Today was the last chance. Er Bao didn’t want to miss either of them.
“There will be such a time. However, the two of them can’t be placed together now.”
“Then, you can stay with great-grandpa with Xiao Bao. I’ll find master grandpa with San Bao.”
“Sure.”
The little brothers cried while discussing and didn’t need the help of the adults next to them. After making a decision, Er Bao ran over to hold San Bao’s hand. San Bao was held by Er Bao in one hand and her mom in the other. Only then did she feel safe.
Walking toward the familiar Lin family’s house, it was the first time that Er Bao and San Bao felt afraid of master grandpa’s house, which was also their second home. Master grandpa passed away here.
“You’re here.” Seeing that Qiao Nan, Er Bao, and San Bao had arrived, the auntie’s eyes shone. However, she really couldn’t smile. “When Uncle Lin was still alive, he loved you and the three children. Uncle Lin would definitely be happy to know that you’re here to send him off.”
She had never seen such a good relationship develop between people who weren’t related by blood. Uncle Lin had obviously treated Qiao Nan as his biological granddaughter and the three children as his biological great-grandchildren. “As it was too early, he didn’t make it in time. The lawyer Uncle Lin hired when he was still alive should arrive in half an hour’s time.”
“Lawyer?” Qiao Nan didn’t understand and looked at her. “Why did master hire a lawyer?”
The auntie shook her head and didn’t say much to Qiao Nan. At this point in time, Qiao Nan was only sad about Elder Lin’s passing and didn’t think about anything else. The auntie could really feel that the feelings between Qiao Nan and Elder Lin were real and mutual.
Elder Lin had treated Qiao Nan as his biological granddaughter. Qiao Nan had treated Elder Lin much more sincerely than an average biological granddaughter would.
“Take a seat. Uncle Lin has already worn his clothes. There’s only me in this house. As he left, you would also know that there’s not much I could do and help with. Thankfully, Zhai Sheng came earlier. However, the elder in your home….” The auntie choked a sob. She didn’t understand how the two old grandpas seemed to have a date with each other. They were still well yesterday and looked energetic. At least, the elder in the Zhai family didn’t have any symptoms.
Everyone who saw the old elder in the Zhai family would say that with his spirits, it wasn’t an issue for him to live for another five or six years. Who knew that…
Qiao Nan didn’t answer and touched San Bao’s braids in understanding.
Indeed, the two old men had agreed beforehand. Both of them doted on the triplets too much. They felt it in their hearts earlier that they were not able to make it soon. However, they held on to that last breath and insisted on celebrating the triplets’ birthday this year. Only then were they willing to spit out that last breath and close their eyes.