In the small courtyard.
Just after Chu Guozhong saw Su Chen off, he received a phone call.
"Hello, Chu Guozhong, I heard you went to the hospital? How could something this serious happen without telling your old Squad Leader?"
It was an old comrade calling. Having heard that Chu Guozhong had been hospitalized, he was deeply concerned.
After answering, Chu Guozhong steadied himself and said calmly,
"Squad Leader, don't worry. I'm tough as nails! It's just a minor issue. A couple days of rest and I'll be fine!"
"Ah, at our age, we can't afford to be tossed around like this. You must take care of yourself!"
Soon after,
One old comrade after another called. Without exception, they were all comrades who had once fought alongside him!
The moment someone found out he had gone to the hospital, the news spread through the entire veterans' group.
"Old Chu, don't worry. I'll arrange for the best doctors in the country to treat you right away!"
"Brother Chu, you really scared me! How did you suddenly end up in the hospital? If you hadn't taken that bullet for me back then, I'd have lost this old life of mine long ago! If there's anything you need, just tell me!"
"Little Chu, let's get together sometime soon. It's been so many years since we last met! Now that you've gone to the hospital, everyone's worried. Let's meet up and let each other know we're safe!"
The voices of his old comrades echoed in his ears, like a warm current flowing through his heart.
Yet at that moment, Chu Guozhong felt as if his heart were being cut by knives.
What he missed most were these old comrades who had lived and died beside him and fought together on the battlefield. But he could not tell them about his illness, lest these old fellows grieve over him.
Chu Guozhong held back his tears.
"Old Liu, don't worry. The doctor said it's just a minor problem! There's no need to trouble yourself!"
"Little Cheng, after all these years, you still haven't forgotten that one bullet. We were brothers in the same trench. Saving your life was only natural. Don't bring up such a small matter again!"
"Alright, alright. You take good care of yourself too. When we get together, I'll have a good few drinks with you all! We'll talk about our heroic deeds from back then, haha!"
After hanging up, Chu Guozhong's face seemed even paler.
Do not shed tears before the wine cup; heroes in their twilight feel each moment weighs like gold.
Though his heart remained in the vigor of his youth, his body no longer allowed it.
At that moment, as his gaze remained fixed on his phone, he noticed quite a few newly received messages.
When he opened them, Chu Guozhong nearly fainted from rage.
Eldest Son: Dad, I'm the eldest son of this family. Whenever something happened in the past, I was always the one who stepped up. Besides, doesn't every family let the eldest son inherit? The relocation funds should go to me!!
Second Son: I'm really unlucky. After I dropped out of school, you saw how hard I struggled out in society all these years. Now I have no way out. You're my biological father, you can't just stand by and watch me die! Give me three million yuan from the relocation funds, and I'll definitely make a comeback. Once I make money, don't worry, I'll pay you back immediately! Just give me three years. In three years, I'll repay you tenfold!
Youngest Daughter: Mom died in childbirth when I was born. If we're talking about who has been the most filial in this family, it's me! Think about it carefully. These past few years, whenever you had to go to the hospital, running around everywhere, wasn't I the one taking care of you? When did those two heartless brothers of mine ever come to look after you? Leave the relocation funds to me, and I'll care for you in your old age and see you through your final days!
Looking at the messages on his phone, Chu Guozhong was furious!
He blocked them all immediately!
Before these relocation funds came along, his children had argued and fought from time to time, but they had still been fairly harmonious and reasonably filial toward him.
But once the relocation funds arrived, their minds changed. They fixated on the money, argued every day, and had even gotten into several fights!
However, he had already given all the relocation funds away, donating them to society.
Chu Guozhong felt utterly relieved. The only thing that gave him pause was his own funeral.
His ordinary, low-key life had passed. For the funeral that would see him off, Chu Guozhong wanted something a little less ordinary.
Now that he had bought the ninety-nine-yuan send-off service, he hoped Su Chen would appear at his funeral as promised and bring a touch of mystery to it.
That evening,
Chu Guozhong returned to the resettlement apartment and lay on the bed, exhausted in both body and mind.
Breathing was becoming difficult, and his chest felt as though a huge boulder were pressing down on it!
He had intended to get a good night's sleep.
But unexpectedly,
A burst of shouting suddenly rang out.
"Damn it, I'm the eldest son of this family. By all rights, these relocation funds should be mine. What right do you have to fight me for them?"
A middle-aged man barged through the door, cursing as he spoke in the living room.
Behind him stood a man and a woman.
Neither of them was willing to back down.
"Brother, that's not right. The house belonged to Dad, so naturally the relocation funds belong to Dad too. Why should they go to you? Out of all us siblings, I've had it the worst these years. This money should obviously be used to help me first!"
"Get the hell out of here! Did we force you to go into business all these years? You were incapable, screwed it up, and lost everything. Now you want us to clean up your mess? Dream on! Are you willing to watch the relocation funds get lost too? Listen to me, you should give up on that business nonsense as soon as possible!"
"Big Brother, Second Brother, what are you two arguing about? I'm the youngest in the family, and I'm a girl. Give the money to me. You two are hardly ever home anyway. Haven't I been the one taking care of Dad all these years?"
Hearing the three of them arguing in the living room, Chu Guozhong's head throbbed. He shouted angrily from inside the room,
"Enough! Shut up, all of you!"
The three of them froze.
They had not expected the old man to be home.
The second son, Chu Anlu, was the quickest on the uptake. He immediately followed the voice into the room, feigning concern as he said,
"Oh, Dad, you were home and didn't say anything. I thought you hadn't come back yet!"
The eldest son, Chu Anfu, strode over and said righteously,
"Dad, why did you block my number? I couldn't get through when I called you! You even blacklisted me on WeChat?"
His daughter Chu Anxin, standing nearby, said, "Dad, you scared me to death. I came home just now and couldn't find you, so I hurriedly took leave and searched everywhere for you! I searched every park! I'm exhausted!"
Chu Guozhong was too angry to speak. He said coldly,
"I'm not your father! Get out, all of you!"
His tone was utterly resolute.
"Look how angry you've made Dad!"
Chu Anfu looked righteous as he pointed at his younger brother and sister in accusation.
Chu Anlu did not care about his eldest brother's accusation. He hurried forward to curry favor.
"Dad, I heard you went to the hospital again today. What did the doctor say? I'll bring you some supplements another day and help build up your health!"
At a time like this, he had to seize the initiative!
He just needed to act more filial. After all, the family's money would not go to outsiders; the relocation funds would surely be left to his biological children.
Maybe if he acted even more filial, the money would end up in his pocket.
"I'm perfectly healthy. I don't need you worrying about me. Get out. I want to sleep for a while!"
Chu Guozhong waved weakly. He was truly exhausted.
His eyelids seemed to be fighting each other wildly.
Yet his children's argument started up again beside him.
Eldest Son: Dad, what about the relocation funds? You can't keep holding onto them forever, can you?
The moment the relocation funds were mentioned, they all perked up instantly.
Second Son: Give me one million first. I only want one million. The creditors have come right to my door. If I pay off my debts, my wife will come back. You can't just watch me lose my wife and child, Dad!
The youngest daughter grew angry. "Have you two no shame? When Dad got sick last year, I was the one who took care of him the whole time. Where were you? And now you're here demanding the relocation funds. You really have the nerve! What right do you have?!"
The eldest son was left speechless.
But the second son sneered. "Heh, Chu Anxin, you're the one with all the free time. Don't think I don't know that Dad has given you plenty of help over the years. What's wrong with you taking care of Dad? Isn't that what you should do?"
The youngest daughter froze briefly, then flew into an angry embarrassment. "I don't care. Anyway, I've contributed the most in this family!"
Watching them quarrel endlessly before his eyes, Chu Guozhong's headache became unbearable. He wanted to tell them outright that he had donated the relocation funds.
But a lump of phlegm seemed lodged in his throat. His face turned red from holding it in, yet he could not utter a word.
They argued for a long time, but could not settle anything.
Chu Anfu, who had always had a violent temper, finally snapped and slammed his fist into the cabinet beside him.
"You can forget about getting a single cent of these relocation funds!"
"Why the hell not!? Who the hell are you?"
Chu Anlu also flew into a rage and started cursing!
The two quickly came to blows, throwing punches and kicks at each other!
"You dare hit me?"
"You dare kick me?!"
The two sons grappled with each other. The youngest daughter stood coldly to one side, wishing her two brothers would beat each other to death so no one could fight her for the relocation funds.
Nearby, Chu Guozhong's eyes were bloodshot. Looking at the scene before him, he could not say a single word.
His fury overwhelmed him!
As blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his entire body trembled, and he fainted on the spot from anger!
"Dad!"
Chu Anxin was terrified and cried out.
The two sons also stopped and hurriedly looked toward the old man.
They immediately panicked.
"Quick, call an ambulance!"
"Dad, you can't die! You haven't given me the relocation funds yet! I'm waiting for that money to save my life!"
"Why call an ambulance? Get him to the hospital right now!"
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