After finishing lunch and returning home, Tong An'an received a call from her mother, who asked about her work progress and whether she had the weekend off.
Tong An'an reported truthfully, and her mother sighed on the other end.
"You used to be home all day, and I thought you were an eyesore. Now that you've been gone for so long, I actually miss you. Especially your father."
"His health hasn't been very good lately. If you have time, come back next weekend to see him."
Tong An'an anxiously asked her mother what was wrong, but her mother was evasive and wouldn't say.
"It's nothing major. He's smoked his whole life. I've told him repeatedly to stop, but he never listens. It's his own fault for feeling unwell."
"Don't worry about it too much. Focus on your work. Just come back when you have time."
Her family lived in a small town, and their livelihood depended on a small snack shop, which had funded her and her brother's high school education and her university studies up to a master's degree.
Finances had always been tight, especially in recent years.
Her mother managed the small shop alone, while her father took on odd jobs at construction sites, barely managing to make ends meet.
Her father was a man of few words. When he was home on his days off, he would just smoke, sleep, and Tong An'an couldn't remember the last time she had a proper conversation with him.
Looking at her own spacious and luxurious home, holding her cat, living a comfortable and leisurely life, while her parents were suffering back home.
Although she was short on money, a wave of guilt washed over her, and she wanted to go home.
After hanging up her mother's call, she called her brother. She hadn't known how serious it was until she asked.
Her father was quite ill.
A while ago, while working at the construction site, he had coughed up blood. After much nagging from their mother, he finally went for a check-up.
The doctor said there was a shadow on his lung, and the situation was not optimistic, but more details would only be known after further examination.
So, the atmosphere at home was very somber.
As soon as Tong An'an heard this, she could no longer sit still.
She asked her brother to pick her up; she wanted to go home and see.
The siblings returned home together, and her mother was overjoyed to see her.
Although she was chattering away, saying Tong An'an didn't eat well and had lost weight, and that her children, including her husband, gave her no peace of mind.
But Tong An'an knew that was just her mother's personality; she didn't mean any harm.
The reason she liked to nag was just her way of showing concern.
With it being the weekend and demolition looming, there was no business at all at the shop.
Her mother lamented to them as she cooked.
In the past, they had some income every day from sporadic customers, but now they didn't dare to buy vegetables or replenish stock, and basically had no earnings.
"We were counting on the money your father earned to help your brother get married and have children, and to prepare a dowry for you. Now, look, even he has collapsed..."
"It's not that your mother is heartless and doesn't care about you, it's just that we are not capable. You'll all have to rely on yourselves from now on."
Hearing this, the siblings felt a pang of sadness.
Her brother frowned and said to their mother, "How many times have I told you, you don't need to worry about my marriage. You and Dad should just eat and drink as usual, don't always try to save money for my wedding."
"Oh, don't say such foolish things. When will you be able to afford a house if you rely on yourself? When will you be able to afford the bride price? Girls are very practical now, how much money does it take to get married? You have nothing, why would anyone marry you?"
Her mother, wearing simple clothes, skillfully stir-fried the dishes.
"Your father and I may not be able to buy you a house outright, but we can at least help you with a significant portion. We thought that in the next few years, you would work hard, and we would help you save some more, so we could comfortably help you get married. But don't worry, if necessary, we'll borrow some money; your wedding is a big event."
They were even considering borrowing money to live?
Tong An'an quickly said, "You don't need to prepare anything for me. I don't plan to get married in the next two years. And even if I do, isn't a dowry optional?"
"Silly girl. You are my daughter, after all. If I buy your brother a house and a car, and then give you nothing, would your parents feel right about it? Besides, do you think the groom's family isn't materialistic? We receive their bride price, and if we don't give a decent dowry in return, you'll be looked down upon by your in-laws."
Her mother laughed at her, "You two, it's because I like to take charge and spoil you that you're so naive even at this age."
That evening, the four of them sat down to eat. Her father was coughing incessantly, and her brother said with firm conviction.
"Tomorrow, I'll take you to the hospital in the city to get it checked. If you're sick, we'll treat it quickly. You can't let a living person be choked to death by urine. Stop talking about my marriage."
"Not to mention that I don't have anyone I like right now. Even if I did, encountering something like this, and being asked to disregard my father's life for the bride price, I'd rather not marry someone like that."
Her father's face turned red from suppressing his cough. He waved his hand at his son and said.
"I just have a cold, my bronchial tubes are inflamed, that's why I cough. It's not a big deal, no need to go to the city hospital. What nonsense have you been listening to from your mother?"
"You two work hard, don't go down the wrong path, find suitable partners, and get married quickly. That's the best way to repay me. Don't think about all those useless things all day."
It had always been like this at home. Although life was simple, the family of four would yield to each other when eating, drinking, and spending money. They would also bicker and get angry over trivial matters, but for the most part, their hearts were warm.
Seeing her parents like this, Tong An'an felt even more incompetent and ashamed.
She had to go to work the next day, so after dinner, she had to rush back to the city center. Before she left, her mother packed a large bag of her favorite food for her.
Tong An'an refused, "You and Dad keep it to eat."
"We grow vegetables at home, and your father and I can't eat much. Unlike you, who has to spend money even to buy a scallion. Take it with you. When you don't have time to buy breakfast, eat some. Don't skip breakfast and ruin your health."
"No need, Mom. Our canteen food is very good..."
"The canteen is the canteen, but this is your parents' gesture. You child, take it quickly. Your brother is waiting outside."
After her mother finished speaking, she noticed her brother's car lights were on and quickly scolded him.
"You disobedient child, starting the engine so early, wasting gas! Hurry, hurry, get in the car. You ran back and forth twice today, and your brother worked for nothing."
Tong An'an hadn't cried in a long time. Holding the snacks, she got into the car. Watching her parents' figures growing smaller in the darkness, she couldn't help but cry.
Her brother drove with a heavy heart.
After crying for a while, Tong An'an composed herself and said to her brother with determination.
"I will work hard. I will earn a lot of money and give Mom and Dad a good life. Don't worry, we will all get better."
Her brother's personality was like their father's; he was a man of few words.
When she said this, he reached out and squeezed her hand, his eyes also moist.
All afternoon, Jiang Jingyu checked his phone countless times, but Tong An'an had not proactively messaged him.