"If you want to take Xiao Yuan with you, you need to change your attitude. You owe Xiao Yuan, not the other way around."
Chi Ge had been listening from outside for a while and finally had to come in.
He knew that as he got older, he would eventually leave this world.
He was also worried that if he were to pass away one day, Xiao Yuan would be all alone.
He actually hoped that Xiao Yuan could reunite with his family and live in harmony.
However, when his son and daughter-in-law returned, their attitude towards Xiao Yuan made him disheartened.
But for some reason, his son and daughter-in-law were determined to send Xiao Yuan abroad.
He felt that it would be great if his grandson went abroad.
Perhaps, after spending a couple of years getting along well with his parents, their relationship might improve.
But now, as they were on the verge of an argument, Chi Ge had to intervene to resolve the issue.
"Grandpa!" Chi Yiyuan called out.
He knew his grandfather's thoughts, but if even he left, his grandfather would truly have nothing left, living alone.
"Xiao Yuan, I know you're worried about this old man. It's fine, I've seen it all. My health is good these past two years, and I can hold on for a while longer. It's not too late to show your filial piety after you've completed your studies abroad and returned."
As Chi Ge spoke, he didn't look at his son and daughter-in-law.
But a fleeting sense of shame crossed their faces.
Yes, they had forgotten about the old man.
If they took Xiao Yuan with them, his father would have to live alone.
However, they couldn't take their father with them to Germany. Firstly, their father didn't want to go. Secondly, there was no place for him to stay if he did.
Even Xiao Yuan would likely need the storage room at home to be cleared out before he could live there.
Chi Ge, however, didn't even spare them a glance.
To Chi Ge, perhaps the most important person was his grandson, Chi Yiyuan, whom he had raised from childhood, enduring hardships together.
"Xiao Yuan, Grandpa is also reluctant to see you go far away, but the advanced technology abroad is worth learning. If you can study abroad and broaden your horizons, it will be beneficial for your future."
Chi Ge earnestly persuaded his grandson to go with his parents.
"But Grandpa, what will you do if I leave?"
Chi Yiyuan's reluctance to go was multifaceted, and Chi Ge was a very important reason.
He truly couldn't bear to leave his grandfather alone in the country.
Although Xiao Tian and the Su family would take good care of Grandpa.
But how could that be the same as having his own grandson by his side?
Another significant reason for his disappointment with his parents was that this couple had not considered at all what would happen to Grandpa if he also went abroad!
"Father, why don't you come with us to Germany!"
At this moment, Chi Niandong finally invited his father.
"No, you go ahead. I'm quite well here in China, and I have a few friends to talk to," Chi Ge waved his hand and said, "As the saying goes, fallen leaves return to their roots. This old body of mine truly doesn't want to travel so far anymore."
"But..." Chi Niandong wanted to say more.
Although his siblings weren't in the same city, they were all in Germany. If their father went, it would be a family reunion.
Yu Xiyue quickly said, "Since Father doesn't want to go, let's respect his choice."
In Yu Xiyue's opinion, the reason Chi Yiyuan had a poor relationship with them as parents was largely because Chi Yiyuan had been raised by Chi Ge.
If Chi Ge had gone with them, Chi Yiyuan's relationship with them might still have been so strained.
Chi Ge glanced at his daughter-in-law and said nothing.
Finally, with Chi Ge's insistence, Chi Yiyuan, unable to defy his grandfather's wishes, agreed.
Meanwhile, Su Xiaotian, who was a thousand miles away, was unaware that Chi Yiyuan would be gone by the time she returned.
She was still busy helping Xiaoshu solve his problems.
********
Yuan Guoqing's home.
Yuan Guoqing, to thank Shen Zizhen for her guidance during this period, returned home a day early to prepare to host Shen Zizhen and others.
He was an honest man. Although his family's conditions were not good, he had done his best. He found the preserved ribs and cured meat that had been stored for a long time, and also slaughtered a small rooster from his home.
Yuan's mother knew that her son had met a benefactor and was not stingy with these good things.
She got up early in the morning and helped her son.
Preserved ribs stewed with dried bamboo shoots, home-style fried cured meat, clear stewed rooster, boiled meatballs, stir-fried eggplant, and scrambled eggs with green peppers – six dishes. The mother and son spent the entire morning preparing the meal.
Yuan's family's conditions were very poor. The meat for the meatballs was made from small shrimp that Yuan Guoqing had caught himself from a small ditch.
The shrimp were too small, so Yuan Guoqing was too embarrassed to serve the tiny shrimp as a dish. He peeled the shrimp meat and minced it into a paste to make meatballs.
The mother and son had put a lot of effort into this dish.
But looking at the table of dishes that were still presentable, the mother and son showed satisfied smiles.
"Guoqing, will the teacher you mentioned dislike us for being poor?"
Yuan's mother looked at their bare and empty house and was still a little worried.
She heard that this Teacher Shen was from the capital, a place of great importance. What if he looked down on their home?
Yuan's mother was a strong-willed person, but the family's conditions were truly too poor, which made her unable to help but worry.
Yuan Guoqing smiled and said, "Mom, no, Teacher Shen is not that kind of person. Xiaotian and Sanggong, the siblings, are also not that kind of people. They are all very good and won't look down on our home."
Although he said this, Yuan Guoqing was actually still worried about this issue.
What if?
After all, their family's conditions were truly too poor; even in the village, they were among the poorest families.
"Besides, Mom, we just need to do our best to express our gratitude. Don't overthink it."