I trade in both worlds

Seeing Xu Xu coming in, Second Aunt Xu put down the chicken feed in her hand and called out, "Xu Xu, come here, have you eaten yet?"

Xu Xu looked at Xu Jizong and Second Aunt Xu with lifeless eyes: "Uncle, Second Aunt, I have eaten. My mother asked you to come over after breakfast."

Seeing Xu Xu's expression, Xu Jizong and Aunt Xu looked at each other. They had a bad feeling when Zhang Yunxiang called them over, as if she was explaining her funeral arrangements.

Second Aunt Xu looked at Xu Xu, trying to read something from her expression: "How is your mother? Has she been feeling better these past two days?"

Xu Xu lowered her eyelids and said sadly: "I was very energetic when I woke up this morning. I was worried..."

Xu Jizong put down the bamboo strips in his hand and looked at Xu Xu worriedly: "Xu Xu, don't worry, maybe your health is getting better."

The pale and powerless words had no power to comfort her, but this beautiful expectation was also what Xu Xu hoped for. Xu Xu's eyes turned red and he nodded vigorously.

Second Aunt Xu opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say. She patted her clothes and said, "We'll pack up and go over."

Xu Xu wiped his eyes and said, "Uncle and aunt, don't worry. You guys have breakfast first. I still have to go to my second grandfather's house. I'll leave first." With that, Xu Xu turned and left.

After Xu Xu left, Second Aunt Xu said to Xu Jizu: "Tell me, is your sister-in-law..."

Xu Jizong was silent for a while: "Whether it is or not, we will know when we go over and take a look."

"Alas, she is so young." Second Aunt Xu took a small stool and sat down: "If she goes, what will happen to the two children? Xuxu has two children of her own, and her in-laws are not easy to deal with. Xiaojin and Xiaozhun will not have a good life if they go to her in-laws' house."

Xu Jizong looked at the bamboo strips in his hand and said sadly, "Xuxu is not a weak person. Her parents are not around, and as the elders, we should support her and let her stand on her own feet."

Second Aunt Xu nodded: "Okay, pack up and go, don't keep my sister-in-law waiting for too long."

"Oh!" Xu Jizong sighed deeply, supported himself on his knees and stood up, preparing to wash his hands, change his clothes and go over.

My second grandfather is the patriarch of the Xu family. He is very fair in his dealings with people. All matters, big and small, in the clan have to be decided by him. The patriarch's house is in the middle of the village, which is quite far away, about one hundred or two hundred meters away.

Their family also built a house made of blue bricks and large tiles, but it was built ten or twenty years earlier than the Xu family's, so it looked older.

The gate of the clan leader's house was still closed, and standing outside the door, one could faintly hear someone talking inside. Xu Xu called out from outside the door: "Second Grandpa, are you home?"

After a while, the courtyard door opened and the second grandmother came out. Seeing Xu Xu, she smiled and greeted her, "It's Xu Xu. Have you eaten? How's your mother? Is she feeling better?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Xu burst into tears. Second Madam saw her expression change and asked cautiously, "What's wrong? Your mother..."

Xu Xu wiped her tears and said, "My mother, my mother asked my second grandfather to come over after breakfast."

The Second Mistress shouted to the main room, "Master, Master, come out quickly, Mother Xuxu wants you to come over."

Xu Xu hurriedly stopped her: "Second Madam, don't worry, eat first, my second uncle and second aunt will be there soon."

The clan leader came out and asked with a puzzled look on his face, "What's the matter? Why are you so anxious?"

Second Mistress tugged at his sleeve and glanced at Xu Xu: "Xu Xu's mother has something to do, so please come over after breakfast."

The clan leader looked at Xu Xu, who had obviously cried, and thought about Zhang Yunxiang's situation. He sighed in his heart: "Okay, I'll be there in a while. Xu Xu, you go back first."

Xu Xu nodded: "Then I'll go first."

Seeing Xu Xu walking away, Second Mistress asked in a low voice, "Master, is Xu Xu's mother really dying?"

The clan leader shook his head and said, "The day before yesterday, Ji Zong and his wife went with Xu Xu to buy funeral materials and clothes."

The Second Grandma said sadly: "She is still so young, and the child is so small, what are we going to do with the two children in the future?"

The clan leader turned his head and looked outside the door, but saw nothing: "Hurry up, go and have a look after dinner, if there is anything, then lend a hand if you can."

Second Mistress waved her hands and went to the kitchen: "You still need to tell me this."

The patriarch sat silently on a bamboo chair in the yard, looking at the mountains in the distance, wondering what he was thinking.

After returning home, Xu Jin, Xu Zhun and Yang Qiwei had finished breakfast, and the twins were cleaning up the dishes. Over the past month, their mother's illness had caused the two brothers to grow up rapidly. They had been feeling anxious and had become cautious in everything they did.

Xu Xu took the dishes and washed them, then told Yang Qiwei to go back to the room to look after her sister, while she took the two of them to see Zhang Yunxiang.

As soon as they entered the room, they saw Zhang Yunxiang half lying on the bed. She looked more energetic than in the past few days. They ran to the bed and asked happily, "Mom, are you okay?"

After hearing this, Xu Xu turned her back to them so that they wouldn't see her sadness.

Zhang Yunxiang didn't answer. She raised her hand and touched this and that, with a look of reluctance on her face. She forced a smile and said, "Mom is much better today. Xiaojin and Xiaozhun, you must listen to your sister in the future, understand?"

The twins nodded, "We'll be obedient."

Zhang Yunxiang looked at her son seriously and said, "Okay, study hard, pass the imperial examinations, and become a supporter for your sister."

Children usually have a very strong sixth sense. As they listened to their mother's teachings, an inexplicable uneasiness made the twins' eyes moist, and they looked like they were about to cry, which made Zhang Yunxiang feel heartbroken.

She knew she couldn't say any more. The more she talked, the more the children would think about it. Although they didn't understand yet, people's intuition is amazing. Zhang Yunxiang suppressed her reluctance and smiled to comfort her son.

After a while, there was a voice outside the door. Xu Xu walked out and saw the clan leader, Xu Jizong, and Second Aunt Xu coming over. He hurriedly greeted them, "Second Grandpa, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, you are here."

The clan leader nodded and said, "Where's your mother? Let's go over there now."

Xu Xu brought the clan leader, second uncle, and second aunt Xu to Zhang Yunxiang's room. Zhang Yunxiang greeted them, "Second uncle, younger uncle, and sister-in-law, they are here. Xiaojin and Xiaozhun, hurry up and call them."

Xiao Jin: "Second Grandfather, Second Uncle, Second Aunt."

Xiao Zhun: "Second Grandfather, Second Uncle, Second Aunt."

The clan leader: "Hey, you're so good. Have you eaten yet?"

Xiao Jin: “I ate it.”

Xiao Zhun: "I ate it."

Xu Jizong and Aunt Xu touched the twins' heads and saw Zhang Yunxiang half lying on the bed with her hair disheveled. It looked like she had washed it and her face was rosy. Their hearts skipped a beat, knowing that this must be her last breath, and they couldn't help showing sadness on their faces.

Zhang Yunxiang smiled at the three of them, glanced at Xu Xu and said, "Xu Xu, take your brother out first. Mother will talk to your second grandfather, second uncle, and second aunt."