Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2486 - 2422: Truly Pathetic

Previously on Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s...
Old Master Jiang becomes increasingly suspicious of Lu Shuangshuang due to circulating rumors and decides to send her back to the Lu Family under the pretext of protecting her from harmful talk. Jiang Qiuyan agrees to inform her but suggests waiting for Old Master Lu's arrival, though Old Master Jiang insists on acting immediately to observe her response. As Jiang Qiuyan leaves, she encounters Fourth and Fifth Master Jiang, exchanging brief words amid the family's underlying tensions.

Fifth Master, on the other hand, leads a quiet and isolated existence every day, seeming utterly devoid of ambitions or cravings, with his daily meals kept basic and unadorned. That's why the Jiang Family frequently remarks that if Second Master had managed to emulate Fifth Master's way of life, he could very well still be thriving today.

'Fourth Uncle, Fifth Uncle, I'll head out now.'

'Off you go, off you go.' Fourth Master Jiang dismissed him with a wave.

Once Jiang Qiuyan had departed, Fourth Master Jiang turned to Fifth Master and remarked, 'Old Five, you mentioned needing Doctor Chen and even pulled me into it. Boss isn't some fierce beast; if you require medical attention, why would he refuse?'

'It's not like that, Fourth Brother. We haven't shared a relaxed chat over tea with Boss in ages. With this opportunity, catching up on family affairs isn't a bad idea.'

'Never mind. What's appealing about tea anyway? You've stuck to plain tea and water all your life—haven't you grown weary of it?'

Fifth Master Jiang gave a bitter smile, 'What choice do I have? This body just can't handle more.'

They proceeded indoors to locate Old Master Jiang, only to find him on his way to Jiang Shiheng's residence, where they crossed paths.

Upon spotting them, Old Master Jiang halted briefly.

'Laosi, Laowu, is there something you require?'

'Boss, Laowu wants to borrow Doctor Chen from you.' Fourth Master Jiang cut straight to the point, 'Where are you off to?'

'To Xiao Sixth's home. Is Laowu unwell?'

Fifth Master Jiang once had a dedicated physician attending to him, though that doctor served at the D State hospital and wasn't exclusively the Jiang Family's own.

Naturally, should any urgent developments arise, Chen Yiping would certainly visit to check on him.

Yet, Fifth Master Jiang's condition showed no real improvement; the physicians noted that his strict self-discipline was a blessing, keeping the ailment from advancing further.

Still, it's akin to a blade suspended above, constantly fighting the sickness while adhering to a rigid routine—true joy remains elusive.

Thus, Fifth Master Jiang tends to withdraw from society, and it's common to hear he's recuperating due to poor health. His request for Chen Baoshen now leads Old Master Jiang to suspect he's ailing once more.

Fifth Master Jiang explained, 'Over the last few days, I've experienced some tightness in my chest and nagging headaches; nothing severe, but with Doctor Chen present, I'd appreciate if he could examine me and perhaps suggest a remedy to ease it somewhat.'

Old Master Jiang regarded him with worry, then sighed and offered, 'Laowu, your health is truly concerning... I'm en route to Xiao Sixth's; shall we accompany you there?'

'To Xiao Sixth's? Absolutely, let's head there together.' Fifth Master Jiang chuckled, adding, 'You remember, when Xiao Sixth was young, I often held him and even let him ride on my back like a horse. We shared a strong bond then, but now that he's returned, he comes across as more distant.'

His words carried a touch of nostalgia.

Ever since Jiang Liu's return, he interacts with everyone on equal terms, properly acknowledging those he recognizes and seeking cues from those around him for unfamiliar ones before responding.

It seems as though he regards all equally.

Old Master Jiang let out a sigh, 'You can't fault Xiao Sixth for that. He doesn't recall much, and it's been a full twenty years away from home; feeling estranged is understandable. Consider Laoliu and Laoba—after their marriages and homecoming, weren't things altered from pre-wedding days? They've grown far more polite toward us.'

Fifth Master Jiang chuckled once more, 'Indeed, that's right.'

Fourth Master Jiang huffed in frustration, declaring, 'Boss, I believe we ought to reopen the case of what occurred with Xiao Sixth and probe it deeply! It's utterly disgraceful! Xiao Sixth is one of ours, and this took place right in our D State—how could we allow such an outrage against him? We should all hang our heads in shame!'