"Does it look good? Take a photo of me alone."
Yang Yufen adjusted her new clothes and smoothed her hair.
"It looks beautiful, Mom. Put on the bracelet I bought for you."
Qin Nian stepped forward to help.
"Alright, I love the gold bracelet my Nian bought for me the most. It was my very first one."
Yang Yufen’s hair was pinned up with a silver comb, a gift her children had bought for her with their own savings when they were young. She rarely wore it, treasuring it too much to use often.
The family took a group photo together, and the children squeezed in for a few more pictures with Yang Yufen alone.
"Today was so lively. I’m a little tired now—you all should rest early too."
Yang Yufen patted Qin Nian’s hand, which had been holding hers the whole time.
Her vitality seemed to drain away in an instant, the color fading from her face.
"Alright, Mom. Let me take you back to your room."
Qin Nian supported Yang Yufen, while Shen Xianjun also stepped forward. The children followed behind.
"That’s enough, that’s enough. We still have guests at home."
Yang Yufen lay down, her eyes slowly closing, her breathing growing slower and weaker.
"Mom—"
Qin Nian couldn’t hold back her sobs as she knelt beside the bed.
In her dazed state, Yang Yufen could no longer hear anything.
"Nian, Mom would be sad to see you like this."
Shen Xianjun comforted his wife, kneeling beside her at the bedside.
Half a year ago, Zhou Ang had told them that their mother’s health was deteriorating rapidly.
She had been holding on by sheer willpower. The broken leg had only been a catalyst—even without the injury, Yang Yufen’s spirit had already begun to fade, and she wouldn’t have lasted much longer.
Qin Nian and Shen Xianjun hadn’t wanted to believe it, but the monthly medical reports left no room for doubt.
There was no critical illness, yet her vitality had steadily declined. The fact that she hadn’t been bedridden was only because she refused to burden them, clinging to the last of her strength.
Zhou Ang hadn’t directly told Yang Yufen the truth, but Yang Yufen seemed to understand. After taking her medicine a few times, she spoke up herself.
"Xiao Zhou, this is just old age. Medicine can cure sickness, but it can’t stop time. Life and death are fated. Heaven gave me a chance—I’ve lived long enough already. The medicine burns my stomach, and it’s just a waste now."
Everyone silently controlled their emotions, trying to make each day as meaningful as possible.
Qin Nian knew that if she left her job to care for her mother-in-law, Yang Yufen would only feel more unsettled. Every day she clung to life would only bring more suffering.
Afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold back her grief, Qin Nian continued working, only returning home on her days off.
They had wanted to keep it from the children, but Li Wen was too perceptive. In the end, Li Wu was the only one left in the dark.
"Grandma, Grandma, don’t fall asleep! I haven’t brought you a gold medal yet—I haven’t become a real soldier! Dad, Mom, why aren’t we taking Grandma to the hospital? Why? We have money—we can get her treated!"
Li Wu suddenly struggled forward, trying to lift Yang Yufen, but Shen Xianjun held him back. Li Wen also stepped in to pull him away.
"Stop. Let your grandmother go peacefully. She’s held on for so long—she waited just for you to come home."
"Then why didn’t anyone tell me sooner? Why?"
Li Wu didn’t understand, but he didn’t dare disturb Yang Yufen.
"Because we all wanted her to stay with us a little longer. But she really couldn’t hold on anymore."
Li Wu collapsed to his knees. He wondered—if he had come home later, would Grandma have waited a little longer? But his parents said she had been in pain. He didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t bear to let her go.
When he had first arrived home, Grandma had been fine—she even said she’d make him something delicious. Just moments ago, she had been smiling so brightly in their family photos. He had thought everyone was just moved to tears.
"Why was I the only one kept in the dark? Why?"
Li Wu’s eyes were hollow.
Wang Xing hadn’t expected to miss his last chance to see Grandma Yang. His uncle had gone to the research institute looking for his parents but couldn’t find them, so he cornered Wang Xing instead. To avoid his uncle’s family, Wang Xing had stayed at school instead of returning home.
When he finally got the news, Wang Xing beat his uncle in a rage before sprinting back to the neighborhood—only to see the white funeral banners hanging outside.
Yang Yufen had left instructions for a simple funeral, but she had been so well-loved that mourners kept coming in growing numbers.
Shen Xianjun mentioned whether they should bury Yang Yufen beside her late husband, but Qin Nian refused.
"Mom had grown used to Beijing. She already chose her burial plot. We should respect her wishes. If we must move anyone, we can relocate Dad’s grave here instead. No matter the cost."
Qin Nian was uncharacteristically firm, and Shen Xianjun didn’t press further.
The sky remained overcast on the day of the burial, but as soon as the ceremony ended, sunlight broke through, warming everyone’s shoulders.
Life had to go on.
On the seventh day after her passing, Qin Nian brought roasted sweet potatoes and fresh flowers to Yang Yufen’s grave.
"Mom, I’m going back to work soon. Don’t worry—Xianjun and I will live well. You always said I was meant for great things. I won’t let you down."
Fan Juan and Liao Yuanjie stood behind them, placing their own flowers down.
They had been away on business and missed both the funeral and burial.
"Auntie always said life would keep getting better—that our country would keep prospering. It will happen, just as you wished."
Losing such a wonderful person left everyone heartbroken.
Li Wen and Li Wu kowtowed silently.
Without Grandma, the holidays lost all meaning. Being kept in the dark left Li Wu unable to move past his resentment.
Once Qin Nian and Shen Xianjun returned to work, only the two brothers remained at home. Sister Wu and Sister Li, who had stayed with them while Grandma was alive, no longer lived there.
"Grandma left something for you. Go take a look. And this—she asked me to help her record a tape. There’s a message she wanted to give you."
Li Wen handed Li Wu a key and a cassette tape.
Li Wu took them without a word, locked himself in his room, dug out an old tape player, and pressed play.
"My precious grandson, Li Wu—is this recording properly?"
"Yes, Grandma. Just press this button to pause, and this one to start again."
"Alright. Li Wu, my dear grandson… Grandma can’t bear to leave you all either. Watching you grow up has been my greatest joy. Don’t be angry with me. I wanted nothing more than to see you become a mighty general. I left something special for you—even your father doesn’t have it. Just for you and Li Wen. cough—"
A fit of violent coughing cut off the recording before it resumed moments later.
"You must grow up healthy and happy, understand? Grandma will be watching over you from above. My Li Wu… you’ll become an extraordinary man. I’m so proud of you both."
The message wasn’t long, but Li Wu played it over and over, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Grandma had loved him the most—her words for him were the longest.
