The old family house had a room left for them, and it had been renovated, looking spacious and bright.
Xu Mumu returned to the room and was asked by Yin Yang to rest in the room. Although there was no problem with Xu Mumu’s health, she couldn’t hold out for long.
Xu Mumu obediently listened to him. After visiting her grandparents, she went back to her room to rest.
The room had been arranged in advance, and looking at the decor, Xu Mumu’s eyes felt a bit teary. It was very similar to her room at home. Her parents were so thoughtful, worried she might not sleep well.
When Yin Yang went to take care of the children, Jiang Yuxiu brought Yun Qiu over. The little girl had grown much taller and quieter over the years, and Xu Minghui and his wife had added another son to the family.
"Mumu, why is your health getting weaker?" Jiang Yuxiu sat beside Xu Mumu, with a hint of worry in her eyes. Xu Mumu’s health suddenly declined over the past two years. Sometimes she would fall into a deep sleep for several days. Even though hospital check-ups showed nothing wrong, Xu Mumu was surprisingly healthy, even healthier than anyone else.
Xu Mumu leaned back on the bed, feeling resigned about her health situation. It was deteriorating faster than she thought, and her body could only last another three to four years at most.
"Sister-in-law, I’m fine. I know my own body."
Xu Mumu had explained this many times, but no one believed her. Her frail appearance indeed scared the family.
"Don’t say you’re fine; you have no idea how worried Mom and Dad are. Even when Grandpa and Grandma passed, they were still thinking about you." Jiang Yuxiu looked at her little sister-in-law with a headache.
Xu Mumu fell silent. Jiang Yuxiu’s words made her feel upset. She didn’t want her grandparents to leave this world so soon, but they were old, and although they didn’t have serious illnesses, they had numerous minor ones. Living was torture for them.
Seeing Xu Mumu silent, Jiang Yuxiu sighed inwardly. Her intuition told her that this sister-in-law surely knew about her own condition but wasn’t willing to tell the family.
She knew what she said would hurt Xu Mumu, but she still hoped Xu Mumu would stay healthy and not shoulder everything on her own, given the many family members who cared about her.
If Xu Mumu said nothing, the family would only worry more.
"There’s no one else here now, Mumu. If you have any difficulties, just speak up." Jiang Yuxiu looked earnestly at Xu Mumu, as instructed by Xu Minghui.
"Sister-in-law, don’t ask. When the time comes, I’ll tell you." Xu Mumu’s eyes grew a bit moist. She had lived a very happy life, especially with such a caring family.
"Can’t you say it now? Since your health deteriorated, Mom and Dad haven’t been able to sleep or eat well, worrying about you every day." Jiang Yuxiu sighed.
"Sister-in-law, don’t ask me. I haven’t figured out how to explain it yet, and telling you would only add to your worries." Xu Mumu was helpless, not wanting her parents to worry for her.
"Not telling us is what’s making us worry." Jiang Yuxiu sat at Xu Mumu’s bedside with Yun Qiu, pouring her a cup of warm water.
"That would still be better than the sorrow after knowing about it." Xu Mumu smiled.
Seeing Xu Mumu unwilling to say more, Jiang Yuxiu did not press further and instead started talking about interesting things among the children. The children in the family had grown up gradually, and several of them played well together.
Xu Mumu chatted with Jiang Yuxiu for a while before going to sleep. Sleeping helped reduce her energy consumption. Once rested, she could be more active.
After Xu Mumu fell asleep, Yin Yang was pulled aside by Xu Hai and his wife for a scolding.
"Tell me honestly, what’s wrong with Mumu? Why is she so weak now?" Li Caixia glared at Yin Yang fiercely.
"Mom, Mumu doesn’t want me to say, please don’t make it hard for me." Thinking of his wife’s condition, Yin Yang also felt distressed, but other than doing more good deeds, there was nothing he could do to help her.
"I am making it hard for you. Hurry and tell me. Usually, you are not easy to find, and with Mumu’s health declining, you still often take her traveling around the world." Li Caixia looked at Yin Yang discontentedly.
"Mom and Dad, we have our difficulties, and some things Mumu will tell you herself." Yin Yang said seriously.
"We want to know now. Mumu’s health is bad, and you’re keeping it from us. We’re worried; knowing her condition will at least give us some peace of mind." Xu Hai looked at Yin Yang and said. They were very worried about their daughter’s condition, but the couple never told them, causing them a lot of anxiety.
"I can’t decide that. I’ll discuss it with Mumu once she rests." Looking at his in-laws’ worried expressions, they had aged a few years with worry these past two years, and the couple felt guilty.
"Don’t make things difficult for Mumu." Thinking of their daughter’s situation, Li Caixia couldn’t help but admonish.
"Mom, of all people, I wouldn’t make things hard for Mumu." Yin Yang said helplessly.
"Hmph, I’ll let you go this time. Remember to come and tell us early." Although she wasn’t very satisfied with Yin Yang’s words, she reluctantly accepted his explanation.
Xu Mumu slept through to the next day. On the day of the grandparents’ funeral, many guests came. Almost everyone from the village showed up. Xu Mumu donned mourning clothes, with a mourning scarf on her head, stood by the coffin, listening to the chanting Taoists, and following the family in kneeling and paying respects.
The Xu Family was large, with thriving descendants. The courtyard of the Old Xu Family was almost filled with them.
Xu Mumu was suddenly helped to kneel by Yin Yang, with Doudou and his brothers following behind her. The family was quite worried about her.
After all the rituals were over, she was hurriedly sent back to her room to rest by the father and son.
Someone unexpected was in the room—Xu Xue had actually come.
"Why are you here?" Xu Mumu asked curiously. Over the years, her business with Xia Chengyuan had grown larger, but she’d been busy with her charitable undertakings and hadn’t paid much attention to Xia Chengyuan. She only knew that every time dividends were distributed, Xia Chengyuan would transfer a large sum of money to her.
"Just came to see you. What’s going on with you?" Xu Xue asked, looking at Xu Mumu. Knowing she was no longer the Xu Mumu she knew from her previous life, she didn’t dislike her as much anymore.