Momo's Gradual Change

C24. Grandma is Aware.

Chapter 24: Grandma is Aware

"I thought it was something serious, you scared me." Grandma Song lightly patted her, "It's nothing major, no need to go to the hospital. Grandma knows what's going on."

"No, I must go." Song Yimo was very serious, her tone sharp, but her face was too tender, lacking authority.

Grandma Song couldn't help but smile, "You really don't need to waste money."

"It's not a waste at all, Grandma. You're the only family I have, I'm very scared..."

Thinking about her lonely past, Song Yimo felt anxious. Clutching onto the elderly woman's waist, she choked out, "Grandma, I want you to accompany me for a long, long time. I want you to see me get married and have children, just like other families. When I'm busy with work, you'll help me with the children. If I come home late, there will be someone to nag me, someone to care for me, cook nutritious meals to keep me healthy. Grandma, only you treat me like this. You're the only one in this world who cares for me from the bottom of your heart. I can't take any risks. Please put my mind at ease, will you?"

With tears streaming down her face, Grandma Song patted her head, feeling deeply moved. If she closed her eyes now, she might not be able to rest in peace, but, "Yimo, Grandma knows you're filial, but you also know the situation at home. The little money we've saved can't be touched. With your good grades, you will definitely get into a good university. Grandma needs to save enough for your tuition fees, so you can study without any worries. Grandma knows her body and knows there won't be any major issues."

"I know you're worried about money." Song Yimo sat up straight and took out a bank book from her pocket, opening it and placing it in front of her, "I have money."

Grandma Song's eyes widened at the numbers, she thought she must have read it wrong. She put on her glasses, sat back, and counted again. It was a five-digit amount!

The meager amount of money she had saved up wasn't much compared to this.

"Where did it come from? Who gave it to you? Yimo, you can't do anything illegal!"

"Come with me." Song Yimo took Grandma Song to the open computer, clicking on various webpages and explaining to her.

"You see, this is a website for writing novels. This one here is written by me. See these rewards? Let me give you an analogy. Recently, a circus came to our town to perform. People who enjoyed the show would throw money in. I understand it in a similar way; it's like a reward for my writing. Each one hundred points represents one yuan, this is five yuan, this is eight yuan. The larger the number, the more it represents. Half of this money goes to me and the other half goes to the website. The amounts on this bank book are my share."

Grandma Song was literate, and Song Yimo explained in detail, so she slowly understood. She looked down at the numbers on the book, "So much... Doesn't the government regulate this?"

"I actually earned a bit more than this amount, but I've already paid taxes on it, making a contribution to the country!"

"So, you bought a computer to write... novels on here?"

"Yes, I accidentally discovered this way of earning money. Teachers always praised my writing, so I decided to give it a try." Song Yimo vaguely explained, "It didn't take up much of my study time. You've seen my midterm grades; I know what's important and what's not. I will definitely get into a good university and make you proud."

Being in the top twenty in the grade was certainly an achievement, but the old lady was still a bit uneasy. She felt like the money came too easily and burnt her hands.

Song Yimo squatted in front of Grandma Song, looking up at her from below, her eyes filled with pleading, "Grandma, I just want you to be kind to yourself. You sacrifice everything for me, patching up your own clothes while I have everything. If I'm not here, I'll deal with things frugally. Grandma, I feel sorry for you, just like you feel sorry for me. I want to give you the best of everything, I want you to stand tall in front of those who gossip, you wouldn't raise ungrateful people. They're the ones at fault, not you. You and Grandpa are the best people. I am the product of your upbringing. I am not bad. Grandpa isn't here to show my respect, so I will show you double the respect. Let others envy you, and shut the mouths of those who gossip..."

Tears streamed down Grandma Song's face, she grabbed Song Yimo's hands and hugged her tightly, crying out loud, as though wanting to release all the years of pain and bitterness.

Those children were her eternal pain, even though she and her husband had never treated them unfairly. They had worked hard to provide the best for them, and it wasn't easy to raise two vocational school students with their family background. When times were tough, they endured hardships, but once both siblings were working, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They both had pensions, although not much, enough to support themselves. They never expected anything in return from their children, but how could the children not treat them as they did?

How could they not?

Song Yi got married and divorced, leaving her daughter with Grandma Song, and disappeared without a word. At that time, Song Yimo was still very young, not yet three years old. They had the heart to do it and didn't mention the money, and not to mention returning.

Grandpa was so upset he couldn't close his eyes. She shed so many tears, afraid to think further for fear of ruining her eyesight and becoming a burden to Song Yimo.

Song Yimo was so obedient, so capable, there would be a time when they would regret it.

Song Yimo couldn't hold back her tears either. What she said was something she had wanted to do in her past life but didn't. She had thought about it for so many years, so her persistence had become an obsession.

After a while, Grandma Song cried her heart out, wiping away her granddaughter's tears with her rough but warm hands, "Get up early tomorrow, we'll go to the city. Grandma wants to live to a hundred, so all those people can see how filial my granddaughter is. They can all learn from her and compare themselves to the bottom of the earth."

"Yes." Song Yimo nodded vigorously.

The two of them looked at each other, their faces red and teary, but they smiled at the same time. Grandma Song patted her granddaughter's hand, "Go to bed early. It's going to be a busy day tomorrow, and we can't do it without energy."

Returning to her room, she looked at the black and white old photos on the desk. She picked them up, gently caressing her husband in his younger days. "Yimo has made something of herself. It would have been so nice if you could have lived to see this."

Thinking about her husband, Grandma Song's tears fell again. Those two beasts, they had sent a letter before, but her husband had waited two days and never received a reply before he passed away. How unwilling he was to leave.

Their situation, how many people talked behind their backs that the Song family raised ungrateful children. Even though Yimo was obedient and treated her well in front of her, there would always be those who suspected she might also turn out to be ungrateful, making her uncomfortable and fearful. She was afraid Yimo might actually follow their words and become like Song Yi and Song Zhi.

But now, she was no longer worried. Her Yimo was different, entirely different.

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TN:
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