Chapter 350 - 348: Yun Sui’s Grandpa Passes Away

Granny Yun and the others thought about it and decided they had to make things clear with Yun Sui’s grandpa.

The way Yun Sui was, he really couldn’t go to school anymore.

Mr. Yun planned to go discuss it with Yun Sui’s grandpa.

Yun Jiao thought of that old Daoist, who was currently managing their village’s temple.

A few statues of deities had already been repaired inside the temple, and many people had gone to see them.

He took very good care of the temple.

For some reason, Yun Jiao felt an urge to take Yun Sui to see him.

When Yun Sui returned home that day, his grandpa learned what had happened and held his grandson, crying for a long time.

"We’re not going anymore. Our Sui Sui won’t go to school anymore. Grandpa will find a way for you to learn a trade so you won’t starve in the future."

He had never expected the boy to be incredibly successful; he just hoped his child could learn to read a few words and make some friends.

But he was destined to be special.

And special people have a hard time blending in with the crowd.

Yun Sui’s grandpa stroked his little grandson’s head. "From now on, Sui Sui will learn how to make lanterns and weave bamboo with Grandpa."

Yun Sui obediently agreed.

"Sui Sui, does it still hurt?"

"I’m not in pain anymore, Grandpa."

He liked being with his grandpa, with Yun Jiao, and with Fifth Brother and the others.

He had friends now. Very, very good friends.

The next day, Yun Sui was home alone. His grandpa had gone to the school to handle his withdrawal paperwork.

Yun Jiao asked him, "Yun Sui, do you want to go up the mountain?"

Yun Sui showed her a little dog he had woven from cogon grass.

"Jiaojiao, look! A little dog. I made it."

"Wow, amazing."

Yun Sui’s eyes sparkled, completely unaffected by what had happened before.

He was very good at forgetting unpleasant things.

And because of that, he lived a simple and happy life.

"Come on, let’s go find that old Daoist."

Yun Sui obediently took Yun Jiao’s hand, and they headed up the mountain toward the temple.

When they reached the temple, the old Daoist was lying leisurely in a recliner under a large tree adorned with red silk ribbons.

Without even opening his eyes to look at them, he said, "You’ve come."

"Grandpa Qingfeng, how did you know we were coming?"

The old Daoist opened his eyes. "Why don’t you take a guess?"

Yun Jiao pouted. ’She wasn’t going to play such a childish game.’

The old Daoist’s gaze fell upon Yun Sui.

"Little Yun Sui, come here."

Yun Sui walked over.

"Sigh... Go back. Go back and see your grandfather one last time."

Yun Jiao’s heart instantly sank.

"Grandpa Qingfeng, what do you mean by that?"

Yun Sui looked bewildered. It was as if he didn’t understand, yet at the same time, he did.

"Grandpa, Grandpa..."

Crying out for his grandpa, Yun Sui stumbled as he ran toward home, the grass-woven puppy in his hand falling to the ground.

Yun Jiao quickly followed.

The old Daoist stood up and picked up the grass-woven puppy.

"Fate... cannot be defied."

Tucking the grass-woven puppy at his waist, Qingfeng, dressed in his old, worn Daoist robes, also followed the two children down the mountain.

As Yun Sui and Yun Jiao came down the mountain, they saw a noisy crowd of people carrying someone toward them.

Without even getting a clear look at the person, Yun Sui lunged forward.

"Grandpa, Grandpa..."

Yun Sui’s grandpa tremblingly reached out a hand and grasped Yun Sui’s small hand.

"Sui Sui, don’t be afraid."

It was a struggle for him just to speak.

Yun Sui cried. He was scared, very scared.

The people around them couldn’t bear to watch and looked away.

Yun Jiao went over to check Third Great-Uncle’s pulse.

She didn’t know much yet, but the pulse made her feel worse and worse.

Everyone carried him to his house and placed him on his bed.

Yun Jiao heard from them that they had found Yun Sui’s grandpa collapsed on the road.

Yun Sui was terrified, stubbornly staying by his grandpa’s side, staring at the man on the bed without blinking.

"Lin Hai is here, and so is Jiaojiao’s master!"

Yun Linhai had driven his motorcycle at top speed to bring Yun Jiao’s master over.

An examination and pulse-taking followed.

After his examination, Elder Xu shook his head.

"Master."

Yun Jiao looked at him.

Elder Xu sighed. "He’s like a lamp with no more oil. He can’t be saved."

Yun Sui’s grandpa had lost his wife and son in his early years, and his daughter-in-law ran off after giving birth to a grandson with problems.

He couldn’t blame his daughter-in-law, because life at home was just too hard.

So he raised Yun Sui all by himself. Already overwhelmed by grief, he exhausted a great deal of his energy.

Coupled with a difficult life, many illnesses had accumulated in his body.

With no money for treatment, he just endured the pain.

Now that life was finally looking up, the illnesses that had built up inside him reached a critical point.

This time, hearing that Yun Sui had been bullied, he was overcome with anger and grief, causing all these ailments to erupt at once.

"I can only use medicine and acupuncture to keep him alive for three days."

Yun Jiao acknowledged him softly. "Thank you, Master."

She felt terrible. For the first time, she felt a pang of sorrow.

Third Great-Uncle had been very good to them.

It was also the first time Yun Jiao had ever experienced someone close to her passing away.

She went into the room and crouched beside Yun Sui, not knowing how to comfort him.

Yun Sui clutched his grandpa’s hand, blankly shedding tears.

"Jiaojiao, Grandpa is sick."

Yun Jiao took his hand. "Mm, don’t be afraid. You still have us."

After Elder Xu performed acupuncture on Yun Sui’s grandpa, the man woke up.

But his complexion was ghastly, tinged with the aura of death.

Perhaps Yun Sui had a premonition. People like him were often able to perceive things others could not.

"Sui Sui... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."

"Don’t be sad. Grandpa is going to find your grandma and your daddy."

The old man looked out the window.

"It’s just... Grandpa can’t be with you anymore. Don’t be afraid. Grandpa just... just misses your grandma and daddy too much."

Yun Sui pressed the old man’s gaunt hand to his own face.

"Grandpa, don’t go."

His voice was choked with sobs. How could he not be afraid?

His grandpa was the only family he had left.

"Jiaojiao."

Yun Jiao walked over to the old man’s side. "Third Great-Uncle."

"Jiaojiao, Third Great-Uncle is asking a favor of you. In the future, please... help Yun Sui whenever you can."

’He knew his words were selfish, but... but he had to be selfish.’

Yun Jiao nodded. "Okay. From now on, I’ll protect Yun Sui."

Just then, Daoist Qingfeng walked in.

"Yun Sui’s grandpa, this child, Yun Sui, and I are bound by fate."

At that moment, a light burst forth from the murky depths of Yun Sui’s grandpa’s eyes.

He laughed, and through his laughter, he cried.

"Good, how wonderful..."

"Then I can... rest easy."

"I can rest easy now."

The old man slowly closed his eyes. He hadn’t died, however; he was just exhausted and had fallen asleep again.

For three days, Yun Sui never left his grandpa’s side for a single moment.

He even slept slumped over the edge of his grandpa’s bed.

’For the first time, Yun Jiao felt that three days had passed by so quickly.’

On the final day, Yun Sui’s grandpa had a final burst of energy. He had Yun Sui, dressed in new clothes, formally acknowledge Daoist Qingfeng as his master.

He took his grandson’s hand and placed it in Daoist Qingfeng’s.

"Daoist, I’ll be troubling you from now on."

He used the last of his strength to utter those few short words.

Finally, he looked toward the door. "Ah Qing, old woman, you’ve come to get me."

Yun Sui’s grandpa passed away. He left with a smile on his face.

Having entrusted his grandson to another in his final moments, he was finally at peace.