Chapter 6 I leave my daughter to you

Huo Mingze replied earnestly, "She likes spicy and sour chicken giblets, stir-fried tripe, beef tendon, and beef. She doesn't like carrots, onions, and eggplants. If the carrots are shredded, she can eat a little." These details were in the information he had reviewed the day before, and he had memorized them.

Shen Weiguo's eyes brightened. Who wouldn't want their daughter to find a considerate man? He didn't have much time to assess whether Huo Mingze was truly considerate, so he could only ask to see if he knew Xiaodi's preferences. If he didn't even know her basic likes and dislikes, how could he be entrusted with her?

Huo Mingze continued, "Uncle, I've known Modi for a long time, and I've always liked her. Rest assured, I will always treat her well." As he spoke, he took out his bank card from his pocket. "Uncle, this is my bank card. I'll give it to Modi to manage. Everything in our home will be in her name."

"Good... good... You keep the card yourself... A man should have money on him," Shen Weiguo said, moved to tears.

He asked, "Who is in your family?"

"My grandfather, my mother, and my sister. My sister is in college, and my grandfather, being elderly, grows some vegetables at home. Don't worry, even though my family's financial situation isn't great, both my grandfather and my mother have pensions," Huo Mingze replied.

Hearing that Huo Mingze's grandfather grows vegetables and has a pension did put Shen Weiguo at ease. It was a normal family, not overly wealthy but not too poor either. It was just right. Unlike Tianxi, who had once been as ordinary as them but then became the young master of the Gu family, worlds apart from them. It didn't matter that Tianxi became a young master, but Xiaodi nearly lost her life over a broken heart.

He then asked, "Xiao Huo... do you two have plans to get married?"

"Uncle, I've always wanted to get married, but it depends on what Xiaodi wants. I don't have any experience, so you can let me know any requests you have, and I will do my best to fulfill them," Huo Mingze said sincerely.

"Our family... is ordinary. I am sick and have burdened Xiaodi... but my daughter is excellent. From childhood to now, she has been my precious treasure... I have no other requests. I only ask that you treat her well. If one day... whether it's love or marriage... it becomes nothing but a mess, I hope you remember what you said today. You said she is someone who is full of enthusiasm for life, kind-hearted, resilient, courageous, intelligent, and focused..."

"Uncle, rest assured, I will remember all of this," Huo Mingze promised.

Shen Modi was already crying uncontrollably, covering her mouth.

Shen Weiguo breathed laboriously and said, "She is young and beautiful now, everything seems wonderful... but one day, she will grow old. If... you can no longer remember her beautiful appearance... don't hit her, don't scold her... part ways amicably... let her brother Xiaoguang pick her up... no matter when, where, in wind or rain, Xiaoguang will definitely go to get her. Our family is poor... but we will give all we have to love her... when the time comes, also go to my grave and tell me..."

"Dad, please stop, stop talking..." Shen Modi cried, gasping for breath. Xiaoguang couldn't hear, but seeing his sister's and father's expressions, his eyes reddened with sadness. He hugged his sister, letting her lean on his shoulder. Shen Modi cried even harder.

Huo Mingze held Shen Weiguo's hand and said solemnly, "Uncle, rest assured, I will never let Modi down." Although it was a blind date, he was very traditional at heart and viewed marriage as sacred. Once married, he would be loyal and protective.

"Good... Xiaodi..." Shen Weiguo called out.

"Dad!" Shen Modi immediately came over. Shen Weiguo took Modi's hand and placed it in Huo Mingze's hand. He solemnly said to Huo Mingze, "Today... I entrust my precious daughter to you. I hope in the future... you both live in harmony, and build a good family together... enjoy the good times together... and face difficulties together... life is long, there will be many challenges... encourage each other, don't blame each other."

"Okay! Uncle, don't worry, I will take good care of Modi," Huo Mingze said. Shen Modi's tears fell on her father's hand, as well as on Huo Mingze's hand. Feeling the warmth of her tears, Huo Mingze instinctively placed his hand on Shen Modi's shoulder and patted it.

Shen Weiguo looked at his daughter again.

"Mm." Shen Modi responded painfully, "I will face the difficulties, Dad. Everything will be okay. With the expert consultation, you will get better."

Shen Weiguo smiled. Despite the torment of his illness, despite his pale and gaunt face, and the oxygen tube in his nose, he smiled from the bottom of his heart and said, "Dad won't see your wedding, but seeing you both doing well now... is happiness... Xiaodi, Xiaoguang has grown up, he's a man, he can support himself... you don't have to take care of him too much. Mingze, once you become Xiaoguang's brother-in-law, please don't see him as a burden... he is strong, he can do more heavy work at home... if he wants to study, if you have the means, lend him some money, he can repay it after he starts working... if you don't have the means, just take care of your own life..."

"Dad, I will take good care of Xiaoguang." Shen Modi's heart ached so much that she almost convulsed. Her father, in order for her to have a good life, was even asking her not to worry about her brother anymore.

Huo Mingze held her with one arm and said, "Uncle, don't worry. Xiaoguang is Modi's brother, so he is my brother too. I won't let him do heavy work; I will support his education, and I will help him with his career in the future. We are a family and will support each other."

"Thank you on behalf of Xiaoguang!" Shen Weiguo struggled to sit up and thank him.

Huo Mingze immediately held him down. "Uncle, don't move. Just lie down and rest."

At this moment, a bald-headed chief doctor came in with several assistants, flipping through the medical records and checking the medication labels on the IV bottle. He said to Shen Modi, "Family member, after our consultation, we have come up with a new plan for your father's illness. We will proceed with immunotherapy. If you agree, we will start right away."

"Doctor, I don't want treatment anymore," Shen Weiguo's first reaction to hearing "immunotherapy" was the thought of more expenses.

"Doctor, don't listen to my dad. We will proceed with the treatment. As long as there is hope, we will treat him," Shen Modi said.

The doctor replied, "We will do our best. Additionally, this treatment is subsidized and free of charge."

Hearing that it was subsidized and free, Shen Weiguo fell silent. If there was hope, he wanted to live longer, even if just to spend more time with his children. He longed to see Modi get married and Xiaoguang grow up.

The doctor continued, "Family member, if you agree, please sign here, and we will begin this afternoon."

"Okay." Shen Modi stood up and took the pen. When she saw the risk warnings on the consent form, her hand holding the pen paused. One of the warnings stated that all treatments carry risks. She glanced at her father's frail body, bit her lip, and signed her name. There was a slim chance with treatment; without it, there was no hope at all.

"The patient should not eat anything and must rest well. We will take him to the treatment room in about two hours," the doctor said.

"Okay, thank you, doctor!" Shen Modi immediately expressed her gratitude.

After the doctor left, Shen Modi suddenly asked Huo Mingze, "Did you bring the household registration book?" She was terrified that something might happen during her father's treatment. She wanted her father to see her marriage certificate before he went into the treatment room.