Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2372 - 2308: We’re Out of Money at Home

Previously on Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s...
Chiang Xiao encounters the frail and aged Meng Chaojun, who has fainted from skipping his medication and falling down the stairs, prompting her internal conflict over whether to offer aid despite past resentments—for the sake of her husband, Meng Xinian, and Old Meng. As they rush him to the hospital, she plans to administer her healing Potion once the opportunity arises, but waits outside the emergency room after he's admitted. Ding Haijing arrives breathless, having followed swiftly, while Chiang Xiao reassures Old Meng that the Potion could help when Meng Chaojun awakens, lifting the elderly man's spirits amid the uncertainty of his worsening condition.

Yet, without seeking the medicine, he could only witness Meng Chaojun's condition worsening bit by bit each day.

They wouldn't dare harbor any resentment toward Chiang Xiao, considering how she truly poured her heart into treating Meng Chaojun at the start; the troubles stemmed from their own mistakes.

Even Chen Baoshen felt a surge of anger.

Besides, Chiang Xiao has plenty on her plate as well; wasn't her father just recovering from surgery lately? Brain surgery, no less. They figured she might already be worn out, so they hesitated to pile more pressure on her.

With Chiang Xiao now volunteering that she had brought Potion Five, Old Meng found himself choking back tears he couldn't control.

"Really? Little one, you actually brought the potion here? But..."

Old Meng appeared to recall something all at once, a wave of embarrassment and sorrow washing over him as he awkwardly turned away, struggling to find the right words.

Chiang Xiao felt a touch confused. "Grandpa?"

"Little one, our family doesn't have much... money these days."

The word 'money' seemed to stick in his throat, and once it escaped, his cheeks burned red while his lips quivered, avoiding Chiang Xiao's gaze entirely.

What connection did money even have to this?

At first, Chiang Xiao couldn't grasp why money had come up.

But the very next moment, understanding dawned on her.

As soon as it hit her, heat rushed to her face, and a wave of unease twisted in her chest.

Suddenly, she felt like she had been somewhat heartless.

Back when tensions had flared between her and Meng Chaojun, there were moments when the agony overwhelmed him, prompting him to plead for Potion Five from her.

During those times, she had demanded an outrageous sum for each bottle.

A single bottle of Potion Five, priced at thousands or even tens of thousands, might match its true worth in terms of the elixir itself, but slapping that fee on Meng Chaojun had been downright ruthless on her part.

Had Old Meng and Meng Chaojun been the type to cling to grudges without shame or breadth of mind, no matter the past events, this alone would have justified their bitterness toward her.

However, they hadn't let it fester.

At the very least, in the beginning, they had eagerly pitched in to pick the wedding date for her union with Meng Xinian, and they showed up for the ceremony too.

That evening, as Chiang Xiao sorted through the red envelopes from the guests, she discovered that Old Meng and Meng Chaojun had each slipped her two, with five thousand yuan in every one.

In total, that added up to twenty thousand yuan from them.

She had mulled over giving the cash back then, but what was Tyrant Meng's comeback?

"One's for seeing his grandson wed his eldest granddaughter-in-law, the other's for his son tying the knot, likely the sole daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law he'll ever have. If not to you, then who? They're thrilled if you take it. Just hold onto it."

At the time, she figured Tyrant Meng was just talking her out of returning the funds, to avoid making Old Master Meng feel like boundaries were still up.

Looking back now, though, wasn't Tyrant Meng essentially letting her know that no matter what, they remained his grandfather and father?

And not once had he uttered a harsh word against her.

In truth, while she raked in hefty payments for Meng Chaojun's agony-easing and potentially life-preserving Potion Five, Meng Xinian probably hadn't been at ease with it either.

Perhaps he had long sworn off chasing paternal affection from Meng Chaojun anymore, but was it truly necessary for her to drive an even deeper wedge between them?

All this while, she had believed her love for him was unwavering.

Now, Old Meng thought she was delivering the medicine to demand payment.

That's why he mentioned their household lacking sufficient funds at present.

Chiang Xiao gazed at Old Meng's whitening hair and the deep lines etched across his features, drawing in a heavy breath she couldn't suppress.

"Grandpa, I never mentioned anything about wanting money."