Gao Dazhuang and Gao Daxing both nodded, and Yang Hua, along with Gao Daxing’s wife, remained silent. They couldn’t really just ignore Gao Guofu’s funeral arrangents, as they all had to continue living in the sa community, and would otherwise be drowned out by the community’s reproach.
But at this mont, more than anything, there was mutual suspicion about where the other fifty thousand yuan had gone. Lin Xuebi, her voice hoarse, said, "Your father must have hidden that money sowhere outside."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone began to bla each other again, because after all, Gao Guofu had died angrily, and the whereabouts of that fifty thousand yuan were unknown.
Gao Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong arrived while the family was still blaming and suspecting each other, wanting Gao Guoqiang to handle Gao Guofu’s funeral.
Gao Daxing, the most vociferous among them, even claid that the one hundred thousand yuan had caused his grandfather’s death, demanding compensation from Gao Guoqiang and others.
It was simply shaless, unrivaled under the heavens.
Feiteng imdiately beat up Gao Daxing, pounding him severely. Yang Hua and others yelled about calling the police, heartbroken to see their beloved youngest son being beaten.
"Go ahead and call the police, let’s see what the police have to say," Feiteng challenged.
Yang Hua and the others fell silent at once. Lin Xuebi wept in Gao Guoqiang’s presence, playing the victim. Gao Guoqiang, having learned about Gao Guofu’s death, also seethed with anger and cursed, "Utterly disgraceful."
Zheng Xianghong watched Lin Xuebi, slowly saying, "You had a good family; how did it turn out like this, Lin Xuebi? Old Lady Gao was like this, you’re the sa and so is Yang Hua, and now Daxing’s wife too. You’re all the sa. Haven’t you ever thought that retribution might one day fall upon your own heads? I won’t speak of what kind of person Old Lady Gao was in life, but as she was about to die from illness, how you treated her...you know in your hearts. You’re already of an age, how can you still not understand? You haven’t grown at all over the years."
Turning to Yang Hua, Zheng Xianghong continued, "Your mother-in-law treated Grandma poorly, and you just followed suit. Haven’t you ever thought that when you get old, your sons and daughters-in-law might treat you the sa way?"
Yang Hua thought to say her sons wouldn’t, but looking at her daughters-in-law, she hesitated for a mont.
Yang Hua had never reflected on her actions before; even after marrying into the Gao Mansion, that was just the way things were, and she had no love, even disliked and hated, both Old Lady Gao and Lin Xuebi.
So she never felt wrong about being cold and rciless to Old Lady Gao and Lin Xuebi; in her mind, such wicked elderly won didn’t deserve sympathy.
Yet she didn’t realize that she had unconsciously turned into the very persons she despised – Old Lady Gao and Lin Xuebi – and was even replicating their path.
Moreover, because of her indifference, her eldest daughter-in-law was also distant from the family and didn’t often return.
But her favored youngest daughter-in-law was no better, reminding Yang Hua of her own self. Upon this realization, Yang Hua shivered, looking at Lin Xuebi now and recalling Old Lady Gao’s outco, her spine chilling.
Silenced by her thoughts, her youngest daughter-in-law suddenly beca enraged, glaring at Zheng Xianghong bitterly.
Zheng Xianghong looked her straight in the eye and asked, "Do you disagree with what I’m saying?"
"You nosy old hag, what does our family situation have to do with you? You cut ties with us, yet why are you here? You talk about us being shaless, but aren’t you the sa? If you really cared about Grandpa as a brother, would you have let him die so miserably? Your fake pity is disgusting."
"Then why don’t you ask your mother-in-law and great-grandmother why we were reluctant to help you? Besides, with your temperant and your family’s behavior, we wouldn’t want to. We gave a hundred thousand yuan last ti; even if you’re ungrateful, there’s no need for hatred. But look in your eyes, in your hearts, you resent us. Why should we help you? I’d rather give money for charity than spend it on thankless people. And haven’t you been speaking ill of your eldest sister-in-law in front of your mother-in-law?"
Unperturbed, Zheng Xianghong seed to have finally seen through this family. Her words made Gao Daxing’s wife glare, and Gao Dazhuang’s wife looked over as well; Lin Xuebi and Yang Hua were taken aback.
Zheng Xianghong added, "Look, don’t they act just as you once did?"
Silence from Lin Xuebi and Yang Hua.
"You can’t even manage to arrange a proper funeral for Gao Guofu without bickering. Although the money was originally for Gao Guofu’s dical expenses, it belonged to him, and he wanted to share it with you, not letting go. But you took his money and still begrudged him a funeral."
On concluding, Gao Feiteng, along with Yang Hua, and Gao Jianmin deeply regretted their actions, fearing that the other fifty thousand yuan would be lost to soone else, their hearts aching profoundly.
Zheng Xianghong turned to Gao Guoqiang and said, "Let’s go; you’ve seen enough. Even with blood relations, the ties have turned strange, and seeing their character, there’s no point in staying. Gao Guofu brought this upon himself, choosing to spend the money on his ungrateful, spiteful family rather than on treatnt. I feel no sympathy for him."
With a cold expression, Zheng Xianghong watched as Gao Guoqiang inwardly sighed heavily. He knew he shouldn’t be soft-hearted, especially approaching the end of his life, always reluctant to harbor any regrets.
Even though he knew their relationship had been severed, with no true familial ties remaining, the mont he learned of Gao Guofu’s death, Gao Guoqiang was still overwheld with sorrow.
"Let’s go back," Gao Guoqiang said gravely.
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