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Chapter 654: Were the words too harsh?
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As soon as Zeng Lijuan and her brother Zeng Jiahua walked out of the ward, Zou Jin, Su Zhicheng, Zou Dan, and Ji Conglin, who were waiting outside, immediately surrounded them.
Zou Jin's face was full of gratitude: "Uncle, Aunt, thank you! If it weren't for you..."
Zeng Jiahua waved his hand, his tone calm but clearly distant: "We're here to see her today because she's related to us by blood, but that doesn't mean we've let bygones be bygones. We will never forgive her for the sins she committed in this life, for what she did to our parents. This is the last time we'll see her. If she passes away, don't tell us."
These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Zou Jin and Zou Dan, chilling them to the bone. Su Zhicheng and Ji Conglin exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with confusion. What had their mother-in-law done in her youth that her own sister and brother still wouldn't forgive her at this point?
Zou Dan, who was already somewhat arrogant, couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up indignantly: "Uncle! Aren't you being incredibly heartless? My mother is already in this state; even if she made mistakes in the past, it should be forgiven! As elders, don't you and Aunt have even this much tolerance?"
"Zou Dan!" Zou Jin quickly stopped her sister.
Upon hearing this, Zeng Jiahua took a deep breath: "Alright! Since you've asked to this extent, then I might as well tell you what your mothers did back then!"
These words piqued the curiosity of Su Zhicheng and Ji Conglin, the two sons-in-law, and they unconsciously perked up their ears.
"In the late 1960s, your mother, Zeng Liping, ruined her parents' home! And that wasn't all; she also publicly posted a notice announcing that she was severing ties with her biological parents, me, and your aunt! Your maternal grandfather was so angered by your mother that he fell ill and passed away not long after!"
At this point, Zeng Jiahua became somewhat agitated. After calming down, he continued, "At first, she simply cut off all contact with us. We were the ones who kept trying to contact her, writing letters and making phone calls. But what did she do to us?"
Zeng Jiahua recounted Zeng Liping's numerous misdeeds, detailing how she treated her closest relatives and how she leaked family secrets to outsiders, leading to Zeng Jiahua being meticulously plotted against and nearly losing his entire fortune.
"These things can't be settled just because she's sick, understand? We've provided her with the best medical care out of consideration for our blood ties; we've done everything we could! But what she owes us, she can never repay in this lifetime!"
The Zou sisters, Jin and Dan, were stunned, as if they were seeing their mother for the first time. Zeng Liping's past actions completely overturned their understanding, leaving them speechless. Su Zhicheng and Ji Conglin were also astonished; their mother-in-law's actions truly shattered their worldview, and they looked at each other, speechless.
Zeng Lijuan, who had been silent all along, had tears welling up in her eyes. She wiped her eyes and said calmly, "We came here to see her off on her final journey. As her sister and brother, your uncle and I have done our duty to her. Our relationship with her ends here in this lifetime."
She turned to Zou Jin, who seemed more sensible: "Zou Jin, I can tell you're a sensible child. Your mother's illness must have caused you a lot of suffering. After she passes away, you should both live your own lives. There's no need to come and thank us or visit us. We haven't been in touch for so many years. From now on, we should each live our own lives and not disturb each other. It's better for everyone this way."
She then looked at Zou Dan, her voice growing colder, "You sisters shouldn't blame us. If you have to blame someone, blame your mother for not giving you the chance to be close to us from a young age. To put it bluntly, if it weren't for this bloodline, we would be no different from strangers."
Zou Dan panicked upon hearing this. It would be a huge loss to sever ties with this relative. Ji Conglin, who was standing next to her, noticed that Zou Dan was upset and quickly grabbed her arm. Ji Conglin knew that his uncle and aunt were right to do so, and if they continued to argue, they would only lose face.
Zou Jin was also genuinely angry and shouted, "Zou Dan! What are you doing? Don't speak!"
Zeng Jiahua and Zeng Lijuan exchanged a glance. Their only consolation was that their niece, Zou Jin, was at least sensible and hadn't inherited her parents' selfish and cold-hearted genes. On the contrary, Zou Dan's unruly and ungrateful behavior was exactly like Zeng Liping's when she was young—a complete ingrate. Compared to her, the siblings' attitudes towards their two sisters were clearly distinct.
Zou Jin took a deep breath and solemnly bowed deeply to Zeng Lijuan and Zeng Jiahua. Su Zhicheng and Ji Conglin immediately followed suit. Only Zou Dan remained stiff-necked and head held high.
Zeng Lijuan looked at Zou Jin, a trace of pity creeping into her heart. However, when her gaze met Zou Dan's resentful eyes, she hardened her heart and gritted her teeth.
"Big sister, let's go," Zeng Jiahua said.
Zeng Lijuan nodded, and the two of them, without saying anything more, turned and left the inpatient department under the escort of several bodyguards.
After getting into the car, Zeng Jiahua sighed, "Sister, were my words too harsh?"
Zeng Lijuan shook her head: "What you said makes perfect sense. Back then, she was the one who jumped up and down, hysterically demanding to sever ties with us, and there was also the matter of Dad. You know, later our children grew up, and we got old, so we thought, 'Let it go, she's still my sister, let's forgive her!' But who knew she couldn't change her ways! She still had her eye on that box Mom left behind! If Mom hadn't hidden it so well back then, she would have taken it long ago and lost it somewhere! How dare she ask Mom for it back? After that, I completely gave up on her. She's done so many bad things, are we not allowed to say anything?"
Zeng Lijuan became increasingly agitated as she spoke: "Later, she told outsiders about the box she had hidden at home, almost causing you to be framed and killed! Do you think she's even human?"
Zeng Jiahua nodded in deep agreement: "Yes!"
His thoughts were exactly the same as his eldest sister's; his second sister had been such a troublemaker all her life! She turned the family upside down and still showed no remorse even in her old age. Now, lying in a hospital bed awaiting death, is she finally waking up to reality? Too bad, it's too late!