Chapter 223: Madam Tang’s Brother
Madam Tang lay in her hospital bed, recovering slowly from the gunshot wound. The steady beep of the medical monitors and the sterile white walls had become familiar in her long stay here. Each day blended into the next.
Earlier today, the doctor had finally declared Madam Tang stable enough to be discharged in a few days’ time. Tang Junjie and Tang Ziyi had whooped elatedly, immediately discussing meal plans and home care.
Madam Tang reached out and clasped each of their hands, tears shining in her eyes. She gave their hands a feeble squeeze. Though her body was battered, her spirit was bolstered by her sons’ steadfast devotion. Their family would weather this storm together.
Li Chen and Zhang Mei entered Madam Tang’s sunny hospital room, finding her sitting up in bed chatting with her two dutiful sons.
"Brother Chen!" Tang Ziyi exclaimed warmly, rushing over to shake Li Chen’s hand. "We’re so happy you could visit Mother today."
Li Chen smiled, gripping his friend’s hand firmly. "Of course. How are you feeling, Madam Tang?"
"Much improved, thank you," she replied. "The doctors said I can finally go home in just a few days."
"That’s wonderful news," Zhang Mei said, handing Madam Tang a bouquet of flowers. "We’re so relieved you’ve recovered well."
Madam Tang took Zhang Mei’s hand gratefully. "I owe much of my recovery to you Li Chen. Tang Ziyi told me Li Chen donated blood when I needed it most. I will never forget his selfless act."
Li Chen ducked his head modestly. "Your son is like a brother to me. I just did what any member of this family would do."
Madam Tang patted Li Chen’s arm, her eyes glistening. "You have cared for us as if we were your own family, Li Chen. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity through this difficult time."
"Well, now that you’re recovering, I suppose you’ll be able to attend our wedding in two weeks," Zhang Mei said, her eyes twinkling.
Tang Ziyi looked shocked. "Wedding? When did you two start dating?"
Li Chen grinned sheepishly. "We never actually dated. I just decided there was no point in delaying the inevitable, so I proposed to Zhang Mei out of the blue two days ago."
"Brother Chen, I always knew you had feelings for Sister Mei!" Tang Ziyi laughed. "Congratulations! I guess we better prepare our best suits."
"Two weeks is quite fast though," Madam Tang said, raising her eyebrows in surprise. "What’s the rush?"
Zhang Mei chuckled lightly. "Blame our eager mothers wanting grandchildren right away. But honestly, we have been friends so we both know each other well, we just didn’t see the need to prolong our engagement."
A comfortable silence settled for a moment before Madam Tang gazed fondly at her two sons. "Well, I hope you boys don’t keep two lovely ladies waiting too long yourselves. I’d like to attend your weddings someday soon."
Tang Junjie and Tang Ziyi flushed red as the room erupted in playful laughter once more.
Madam Tang’s cheerful laughter was interrupted by a faint knock on the door. A Chinese man dressed in a traditional changshan entered quietly. His hair was steel gray and a worn fatigue hung about his aged features.
Madam Tang’s eyes widened in shock, her reaction not missed by Li Chen. She quickly composed herself and cleared her throat softly. "Would you all mind giving me a few minutes alone with this gentleman? We have some private matters to discuss."
"Of course, Mother," Tang Ziyi said, helping his brother gather their things.
As Li Chen moved to follow them out, he caught the stranger’s gaze for a brief instant. Something about the man’s piercing eyes and inscrutable expression sent an uneasy tingle down Li Chen’s spine. The man looked away wordlessly as the three young ones shuffled out.
In the hallway, Tang Ziyi frowned worriedly. "Did you notice Mother’s surprise at that visitor? She clearly knows him, though I don’t recognize the man at all." Tang Junjie murmured in agreement, glancing perplexedly at the closed door.
Li Chen remained silent, unable to shake the ominous tension that had gripped him. There was an impenetrable aura around that stranger - one that forebode unfinished business and secrets better left buried. What connection could he have to Madam Tang’s past? Li Chen stared hard at the door, waves of disquiet turning in his mind.
Madam Tang stared at the weathered face of the unexpected visitor, a tempest of emotions swirling within. As the door clicked shut, leaving them alone, the man broke the heavy silence.
"Sister..." he began, voice weary yet gentle. "When did you plan on telling your only brother that you’ve been injured?"
Madam Tang lowered her eyes, shame and regret washing over her. She had cut ties with her family decades ago under painful circumstances. Though she exchanged the occasional letter with this beloved brother over the years, they had not seen each other since the day she fled from their village.
"Wang Lei..." she whispered. "I did not wish to worry you."
Her brother Wang Lei sighed, sadness etching his face. "I traveled great distances when I heard rumors my little sister had been shot. Yet you could not bring yourself to inform kin of your suffering?"
Madam Tang blinked back tears. "I brought this misfortune upon myself. I did not want you burdened by my mistakes..."
Wang Lei stepped forward to clasp his sister’s hand, his palm weathered but warm. "Your burdens are mine as well. You may have turned away from our family, but I will never abandon my only sister."
Overcome by her brother’s enduring loyalty, Madam Tang wept.
Madam Tang composed herself as her brother Wang Lei pulled a chair to her bedside.
"Ying..." he said gently, using her childhood name. "Your sons have grown into fine young men. You must be very proud."
Madam Tang smiled softly. "Yes, raising them has been my greatest honor. Their father would be proud too..." A wistful sorrow passed over her face at the mention of her late husband.
"Does Father know you are here?" she asked after a moment.
Wang Lei chuckled. "You know how stubborn the old man is. But his health fades...and I know he misses you dearly, no matter his hardened words."
Madam Tang’s breath caught, thinking of her aging father who had once angrily sworn to disown her. That heated quarrel had sent her fleeing blindly to this foreign land decades ago.
Perhaps enough time had passed...could wounds be mended at long last?
The two estranged siblings regarded each other quietly for a few moments, decades of unspoken words hanging between them. Finally, Wang Lei broke the silence.
"I have missed you greatly, my sister," he said, his voice ragged with emotion. "I wished so many times that we did not part on such bitter terms."
Madam Tang blinked back fresh tears, gripped by the same regrets. "I have missed you too, every single day. I should never have shut you out for so long, my brother."
Wang Lei patted her hand gently. "The past remains behind us now. Today we start anew. Now tell me, what joyous events have I missed in my sister’s life?"
Madam Tang smiled through her tears. "Well, my sons for starters. Junjie and Ziyi are the pride of my life..."
The two siblings slowly bridged the years between them with reminiscing and hopeful words. Madam Tang felt a weight lifting that had pressed down since the day she had fled her family home so long ago. Perhaps there was a chance now for reconciliation and healing old wounds at last.
After catching up, Wang Lei curiously asked, "Who was that young man with your sons?"
"That is Tang Ziyi’s friend and boss, Li Chen," Madam Tang replied.
Wang Lei gazed at her meaningfully. "You know who he truly is, don’t you sister?"
Madam Tang sighed. "I have my suspicions about his ancestry, yes."
Wang Lei leaned forward intently. "Do you still have the thing safe with you?"
"Yes, hidden away at home. Someone came searching for it a few weeks ago," Madam Tang said gravely.
Wang Lei’s eyes widened in alarm. "Could the ancient prophecy be coming to pass?"
Madam Tang nodded. "I fear so."
Grasping his sister’s hand, Wang Lei said urgently, "You must give that thing to the young man. It belongs to his bloodline and he alone has the power to save this world from the rising darkness."
Though they spoke in English, their coded words hinted at secrets and knowledge only Wang Lei and Madam Tang shared about Li Chen’s true destiny. An ancient lineage, a foretold evil, and an artifact that could tip the balance - the stakes were far greater than anyone else realized.
