Chapter 241

Chapter 241

These words frightened He Quan so much that he even turned off the radio.

He stopped rocking in his chair, sat up straight, and had a bad feeling: "What have you done this time? Did you beat up your elder brother's two sons?"

He Youde shook his head.

He just kept crying.

"You can't have harmed your elder brother's daughter, can you? What does it mean to just cry? What have you done to wrong your elder brother this time?" The old man was so angry he wanted to throw the radio at him, but he couldn't bear to part with either the radio or this son of his.

He had been favoring him for too many years, and now, even though he knew the eldest was more filial, he couldn't change his ways.

He Youde, an old man, sobbed: "Father, you must help me. Do you remember the child your elder brother lost years ago?"

He Quan had a bad feeling about this.

"That child, actually, I had someone steal him back then. I made them deal with it, no survivors allowed, and I threatened them severely. But those two people were ruthless and greedy; they raised the child.

Now he has come with his family to extort me.

He says if I don't take care of them, he will expose everything.

Father, you must help me.

Your elder brother has always been thinking about my lost nephew! If he finds out, will he still take care of our family?

Xiao Tian is at the most critical stage right now.

He is your most cherished grandson, Father! Please help me."

He Youde wept bitterly.

His tears made He Quan feel terrible as well. How could this unlucky son cause him so much trouble?

After a long while, He Quan, in a fit of anger, kicked his foolish son to the side: "How could I have such a heartless son? Your elder brother has been so good to you all these years. How could you do such a thing back then?"

He Youde became even more distressed: "Father, I was confused at the time. Back then, my brother was doing better and better, while I could only stay home. His son and mine were worlds apart.

If my brother's son were gone, wouldn't my son be the one he focuses on?

I did it for Xiao Tian!

Otherwise, how could I manage alone?"

Hearing his son's explanation, He Quan felt sorry for him.

The younger son had been left at home by him and his wife, not allowed to leave.

They had two sons; what use was a daughter? A daughter would marry out and no longer belong to the family.

One son left to pursue his ambitions, so the other had to stay and keep them company.

Now, the elder son was doing exceptionally well, while the younger one relied on his brother's help.

Could the disparity in their lives be any greater?

He Quan's heart softened; his younger son's future had been ruined by him and his wife.

"Stop crying. If I had known this would happen, why didn't you refrain from doing such a terrible thing back then? Now that the truth is out, you come to me? What good will it do to find me?" While scolding his son, He Quan began to think of ways to help him.

Although both the elder and younger sons were his, there was always a difference between the palm and the back of the hand.

Besides, if that family came forward, it meant the elder son hadn't died, right?

As long as he was alive, after all these years, perhaps the matter could still be negotiated.

"Has your sister-in-law not returned yet?" He Quan looked at his unambitious son.

He Youde nodded repeatedly: "Not yet, Father, you must help me. Even if you won't help me, you must help my son, Xiao Tian."

"Alright, stop acting like this. Come with me to see your elder brother."

He Quan took his younger son out the door.

It took over half an hour to walk from his place to his elder son's. When they arrived, it was just in time for lunch, and He Zhifei had come back to eat.

Upon returning, he saw the old man and was particularly delighted.

"Father? Why are you here at this time? Why didn't you tell me earlier? I could have had someone prepare lunch for you," He Zhifei was extremely happy. For years, Father had refused to live with them.

It was because he had left far away, leaving Youde to take care of the two elderly parents alone.

So he had always blamed him.

He knew he had wronged the elders over the years and had been trying to make amends.

Unfortunately, Father just wouldn't agree.

He Zhifei was thrilled, but when he looked around and found no one to cook, his smile froze.

Seeing this, He Youde awkwardly explained: "Brother, hasn't your wife been working these past few days? My wife has been helping with the cooking. Today, her family said her mother isn't feeling well and asked her to go back and check on her.

So...

Maybe I can cook lunch today?"

"No need, let's go out to eat," He Zhifei quickly said.

He Quan looked at his eldest son and sighed, "Your wife is really something else. She hasn't worked outside the home for all these years, and now she wants to go out of town this year? Doesn't she know the family needs her care? Especially you, working so hard."

He Zhifei was deeply moved, "Dad, Yingying has her reasons. These years..."

"Alright, let's not talk about her. Dad knows it's been tough for both of you. I came today because there's something I need to ask you." He Quan then called over his younger son.

He Quan's eyes were red-rimmed, "Zhifei, Dad knows that you and your wife have always been thinking about my grandson who was lost at birth. This has been a thorn in your side. I, I don't know how to tell you this."

"We're family, just say what's on your mind," He Zhifei said, puzzled by the day's events.

He Quan immediately made He Youde kneel down, "Zhifei, back then, when your child was taken, it had something to do with Youde. Back then, Youde was confused and worried that if you had a child, you wouldn't take care of his child in the future.

Those years he spent at home, he stayed with me and your mother, learning nothing useful.

If his child turned out like him, it would be the end.

So, he did something foolish and had someone steal your child.

All these years, he never dared to speak up, and I only found out today."

After He Quan finished speaking, He Zhifei punched his younger brother in the face, "You scoundrel! I'll... I won't kill you today..."

He Zhifei hit him a couple more times before He Quan intervened, "Zhifei, I know you're suffering, but he is still your brother. If it weren't for him taking care of me and your mother all those years, I might not be here. Have you forgotten what your mother told you before she passed away?

Have you forgotten how hard your brother worked to take care of me those years?

He wronged you, but without him, would you even see me today?"

He Quan wept bitterly.

"Brother, kill me if you want, I've wronged you," He Youde regretted everything. If he had known they were going to confess, he would have preferred to keep it hidden.

He Zhifei couldn't bring himself to punch again.

He slumped to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

He Quan looked at his eldest son, then at his youngest, "Zhifei, your child is still alive. We can find him in that county. But as for your brother..."