The old lady’s voice was wheezing heavily, her throat emitting a rasping sound with each breath. Upon closer inspection, the old lady’s once plump body was now so thin it was almost just skin and bones. Her hair was a tangled, graying mess, and her once round chin had become sharp and pointed over time. Her tightly pursed lips were an unhealthy deep red, and her swollen, tear-filled eyes were staring at him unblinkingly, determined to get a real answer before she would relent. Dai Weiguo helplessly rubbed his face: "Mom, let’s talk about the child later. Right now, the most important thing is to take you to the hospital! We need to get you healthy and strong. Whatever you wish for, be it the stars in the sky, your son will build a ladder to get them for you." "Big brother, at this time, you’re still talking nonsense with mom? The old lady has been ill for four or five days, unable to eat or sleep well, clutching her chest in pain unable to move for long periods. The doctor said her heart is weak and her mood is depressed, advising us children to go along with the elderly’s wishes. We’ve called you hundreds of times, but you’re always too busy. And when you finally make time from your busy schedule, you only humor mom? Talking nonsense about stars and the moon, when everyone knows what mom truly cares about is seeing her twelve-year-old grandson whom she’s never met!" Even if she favored sons over daughters, she was genuinely good to her only daughter, often supporting her. So in terms of emotion and filial piety, Dai Weijuan also hopes mom could live healthily and for a long time. For this reason, to open the old lady’s heart and to help her recover naturally, Dai Weijuan rarely confronted her most successful big brother head-on. But truly, the solution is right in front of him, yet he blocks it every chance, not allowing himself nor his siblings to take the old lady back to Liu Village? Honestly, for the nephew she has never met since birth, Dai Weijuan doesn’t feel any particular emotion. His mere presence can make mom happy, give her the spirit and motivation to live a few more years, and annoy that damn Bai Jing. Just for these two reasons, she welcomes his arrival. In her life, her only son started first grade at four, and by twelve, he was already in the third year of middle school. He looked just like her and consistently ranked at the top of his class. He also understood music, was good at painting, and was adored by accomplished individuals from various fields who loved and treated him as their own relative. Such a son perfectly fit all his beautiful expectations of a son. Every time he saw in the materials that his son had an excellent relationship with his stepfather and most respected Lianshan as a father, Dai Weiguo couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of bitterness, helplessness, and jealousy. He desperately wished to fly overnight to Black Province Liu Village to reclaim his son and announce to the world: He, Dai Weiguo, is Xiao En’s real father! But, Wu Liguo was watching him closely, ready to catch any mistake and destroy him. Being so cautious was essential, where would he dare to confront him? Just thinking about being stripped of his rank, demoted from a regiment commander to a platoon leader, or even kicked out of the army, he instinctively resisted. After all, after passing several selections and enduring the villagers’ envy, he finally put on that military uniform he never wanted to take off for the rest of his life. The saying "a mother knows her son best" really holds true. The moment Dai Weiguo furrowed his brow, hesitating with difficulty, Dai Mother knew that her filial eldest son likely did not intend to let her die in peace. Sure enough, after a long silence, he began to share his difficulties in detail, hoping his mother could understand and support him. Dai Mother bitterly laughed to herself: Back then, the family was poor, and her husband was complacent and unambitious. She put all her hopes on her understanding and smart eldest son, hoping he would strive for success, provide for his parents, support his siblings, and bring honor to the Dai family name. But now, it seems her education was too successful? Old man, our eldest son has abandoned his wife and son to climb up. Now, he doesn’t even care about me, the old mother, what shall we do? The only grandson is named after another family, calling Lianshan his father. Old man, I am sorry! Tears silently streamed down her face, and amidst the darkness, Dai Mother only heard the alarmed cries of her eldest son and daughter, pitched with distress. She wanted to tell her children she was fine, just the same old ailment. She just needed to catch her breath, and she’d be alright! She was still alive! She needed to outlive that old Wu, and she still had to recognize her eldest grandson openly. Unless she heard her grandson happily calling her grandma, she couldn’t truly rest in peace. Though she had a lot to say, she didn’t have the strength at all. She couldn’t even move her fingers or blink. Seeing the old lady fall backward with a stream of tears, Dai Weiguo was utterly frightened. He immediately lifted her horizontally and rushed to the hospital without a second word. While running, he shouted: "Mom, mom, don’t scare your son! Mom, hold on. As long as you’re okay, I won’t be a soldier anymore. Even if I am completely demoted, I’ll take you back to Liu Village to find Xiao En. To find your grandson, let him be filial to you, let him call you grandma..." After over two years of constant struggle, he finally compromised in the face of the old lady’s deteriorating health. But, it was all too late! Anxiously waiting outside the emergency room for over three hours, all he got from the doctor was a regretful "I’m sorry, we tried our best." "No, no, this isn’t real!" Dai Weiguo yelled, refusing to accept the bad news. For the past two years, his mom had used every trick to get him to agree to bring Xiao En back, feigning illness, crying, pretending to be pitiful over dozens of times already. There were never any issues until this time? No, he couldn’t believe it! Like a madman, he pushed past the doctor and dashed into the operating room. Pulling away the white sheet covering his mom, he saw her slightly swollen eyes and still-open eyes. No matter how he cried, shook her, she would never open her eyes to see him, never call him son again! Overwhelmed with regret and guilt, Dai Weiguo was nearly engulfed. When the news reached Dai Weimin, Dai Weijia, and their spouses, along with Bai Jing and Dai Weijuan’s husbands, all they saw was him gently stroking the old lady’s eyes repeatedly: "Mom, rest assured. Isn’t it just about officially acknowledging Xiao En, letting him take back the Dai surname and be a proud descendant of the Dai family, continuing our bloodline? Your son will immediately take you back to Liu Village to find him. No matter how difficult it is, I will absolutely fulfill your wish!"