20demayo Chapter 55 Settling the Old House and Leaving His Instructions
Chapter 55 Settling the Old House and Leaving His Instructions
Chapter 55 Settling the Old House and Leaving His Instructions
I. Thinking of my hometown and seeking a place to settle down
With his mind made up, and Wan Jing's words of willingness to accompany him to the provincial capital still ringing in his ears, Chen Shanhe did not delay for a moment. The first thing he did was to calm his mind completely and carefully plan all the funeral arrangements for his family.
He knew better than anyone else that this trip to the provincial capital would be long and arduous, and he didn't know when he would be able to set foot on the land of Qinglong Town again.
He could put aside all the worldly affairs, the hardships of his adventures, and the busyness of practicing medicine. The only things that mattered most to him were the old Su family house and his two elders, Su Zhenshan and Su Mingyuan.
Wanjing grew up with her grandfather and father. Now that they have moved far away, only the two elderly people are left in the empty courtyard, guarding this homeland.
As the elderly get older, their legs and feet become weak, and their eyesight and hearing gradually decline.
If after he leaves, no one will take care of them, no one will visit them, and they will suffer from cold, hunger, headaches, fevers, or other illnesses without anyone knowing or caring for them.
Even if he makes a great name for himself in the provincial capital, even if he has superb medical skills, a great reputation, and earns a lot of money, he will still have a guilty conscience and will never be able to get rid of it for the rest of his life.
Therefore, before leaving Qinglong Town, everything else can wait, but this matter must be put first.
The old house must be properly settled, and the two elders must be entrusted to the most reliable and trustworthy people.
We must leave no hidden dangers, be meticulous in the slightest, and take no chances whatsoever.
Only when the home is stable, the elderly are cared for, life is secure, and there is someone to rely on when one is sick.
Only when he and Wanjing ventured out into the world could they truly be free from distractions and worries, allowing them to focus on practicing medicine, doing their work, and creating their own world.
He stood quietly in the courtyard of the Su family, his gaze slowly sweeping over every blade of grass, every tree, every brick and tile.
Looking at the familiar door, the stove in front of the window, and the stone bench in the yard, I was filled with mixed emotions, but my eyes remained calm and my thoughts were firm.
He had already made clear and specific plans in his mind regarding who to entrust each matter to, how much money to leave behind, and what instructions to give.
Poems as proof:
I long to travel far and wide.
First, settle things properly in your hometown.
I still long for my old house and grand hall.
One cannot be at peace if even one thing is not done well.
II. Visiting the old house entrusted to the villagers
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Chen Shanhe got up early and changed into a clean and tidy set of cloth clothes.
He tidied himself up neatly and then walked steadily toward his neighbor Zhang Zhonghou's house.
Zhang Zhonghou was known throughout Qinglong Town as an honest and upright person.
He is kind and honest, not talkative, but meticulous. He is reliable and steady in his work, never cunning or perfunctory.
On ordinary days, the Zhang family maintained close ties with the Chen and Su families, helping each other and having a deep friendship. They were recognized as honest and reliable families in the town.
After much deliberation, Chen Shanhe concluded that Zhang Zhonghou was the most suitable and trustworthy person to entrust the old house and the two elderly people to.
Upon entering Zhang Zhonghou's house, Chen Shanhe bowed deeply with his hands clasped, without uttering a single superfluous word of politeness, getting straight to the point with utmost seriousness.
"Uncle Zhonghou, I've come here today specifically to ask you for a very important favor."
Upon seeing how serious he was, Zhang Zhonghou quickly stepped forward, reached out to support him, and spoke in a cheerful tone.
"Shanhe, child, what are you doing? Get up! Just tell me what you need. As long as it's within my power, I'll do it without hesitation or shirking my responsibility!"
Chen Shanhe straightened up, his expression became serious, his eyes were sincere, and he spoke his mind truthfully.
"Uncle Zhonghou, Wanjing and I are engaged, and we will soon be heading to the provincial capital to make our fortune."
"I'm entrusting the care of my grandfather Su Zhenshan and uncle Su Mingyuan to you in this old house."
"You don't need to worry too much about the old house. I just ask that you come and take a look when you have some free time."
"Don't let the doors and windows break and no one fix them, don't let the yard become overgrown and no one sweep it. Just help look after the house and guard the yard."
"The most important people are my grandfather and uncle."
"Please visit them more often, talk to them, ask if they are feeling well, check on their health, so that they can lend a hand if there is an emergency."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhonghou immediately patted his chest and readily agreed, his tone firm.
"Shanhe, don't worry! You can leave this to me with complete peace of mind."
"I will definitely take it to heart and look after the elderly properly. I will never let them suffer the slightest grievance, and I will never allow the old house to be damaged in the slightest!"
Poems as proof:
He visited his neighbors with great sincerity.
Entrust the house to an honest person.
I only wish that my parents may always be well.
I will live up to the expectations of my fellow villagers and my own conscience.
III. Detailed Instructions for Leaving the Banknotes (A series of seemingly unrelated sentences)
Having heard the entrustment was well said, Chen Shanhe felt somewhat relieved and immediately turned around and hurried back to the Su family's old residence.
After entering the room, he took out a small package he kept close to his body from the side of the kang (a heated brick bed), and gently opened it. Inside were the silver coins he had saved from practicing medicine.
Thinking of his two elderly parents, he was not stingy at all and took out enough money without hesitation, stacking it neatly.
Then they took a clean piece of coarse cloth and carefully wrapped it up layer by layer, again and again, for fear that it would fall apart on the way.
After everything was tidied up, he stepped into Zhang Zhonghou's house again, holding the silver coins in both hands with a solemn expression, and slowly handed them to the other party.
"Uncle Zhonghou, you must accept this money."
He spoke sincerely, explaining everything clearly and without any ambiguity.
"Part of this is a reward for your hard work. You spend your time running errands, visiting relatives, and taking care of household chores, which takes up a lot of your time and energy. We can't let you work for nothing."
"The remaining large portion is specifically reserved for my grandfather and uncle for their daily expenses."
"Buy rice and flour, buy clothes and shoes, buy medicine when you're sick, and get all your pocket money from here. Don't be stingy with it."
"Keep a clear record of everything, and use the money freely. Never let the two elderly people be short of money or suffer any injustice."
Knowing that Zhang Zhonghou was an honest man, he was afraid that the other party would refuse to accept the money, so he quickly handed it over and repeatedly urged him to accept it.
"Uncle Zhonghou, you must remember this."
"If Grandpa or Uncle has a headache, fever, or is feeling unwell, or if there is an emergency or difficulty in the family."
"Even if it's the dead of night, you must send someone to the provincial capital to deliver a message to me as soon as possible."
"As soon as I hear the news, no matter how busy I am, how far away I am, or how difficult it is, I will immediately put down what I am doing and rush back as soon as possible."
His tone was earnest and his voice was steady. Every word and sentence was filled with concern for his elders in his hometown, and with the responsibility and duty that a man should have.
Holding the silver coins, Zhang Zhonghou was deeply moved. He nodded repeatedly and promised to handle the matter thoroughly and properly.
Poems as proof:
He gently handed the silver to his neighbor.
His earnest words of advice were full of genuine affection.
But if there is an emergency, you must report it.
The ends of the earth are not far away, yet I will turn back.
IV. Only when everything is in order can one feel at ease.
After handing over the money, Chen Shanhe was still not at ease, so he carefully told Zhang Zhonghou about the two elders' habits and preferences one by one.
"Grandpa is old and has bad teeth. He likes to eat soft food and is afraid of getting cold at night, so he needs to cover himself with an extra blanket."
"Your uncle is a man of few words. He doesn't like to talk about things on his mind. Spend some time with him, talk to him, and help him relax."
"They are usually frugal and reluctant to spend money, so you should persuade them to eat and use what they need and not to be stingy."
Each and every matter was explained clearly and arranged perfectly.
Zhang Zhonghou kept everything in mind and nodded repeatedly: "Shanhe, don't worry, I've remembered everything and will definitely take good care of it."
Chen Shanhe finally breathed a long sigh of relief after everything was arranged.
The weight that had been hanging over my heart finally settled down.
The old house is well cared for, the elders are looked after, there is no worry about food and clothing, and there is someone to rely on when sick.
Only then did he truly feel relieved.
Only after settling his family and relatives in his hometown could he feel at ease taking Wanjing's hand and embarking on the journey to the provincial capital.
Dedicated to practicing medicine, determined to explore new horizons, I will live up to my original aspirations, my family's expectations, and this life.
Poems as proof:
Everything has been arranged properly.
My heart is at peace and my resolve is firm.
I have no regrets as I depart this world.
I'd love to venture out into the world and live a long and fulfilling life.