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In Wan Chunmei’s arms, little Qiyue twisted her small grape-like eyes, looking around. Her gaze finally landed on the peeling paint of the large door.
Just then, a gust of cold wind swept through, and the door suddenly opened on its own.
With a creaking sound, the door slowly swung open.
Wan Chunmei took a few steps forward and, seeing the door open, quickly called out, “Old man, the door’s open. Let’s go in.”
“Alright!” Old Tan hurried to follow.
Old Wu, still confused, wondered why the front door, which had always been locked from the inside, was suddenly wide open. What had happened?
By the time he realized what was going on, the Tan couple had already entered the house.
In the yard, Old Master He was still writing, waiting for Old Tan and his wife to arrive.
What he hadn’t expected was for the Tan couple to walk straight through the front door.
“Old Master He,” Old Tan called out, startling the old man so much that the pen in his hand dropped.
He quickly turned around to look at the newcomers. “Who’s there?!”
Wan Chunmei immediately replied, “I’m your daughter-in-law’s eldest sister.”
When Old Master He saw who it was, he was completely stunned. His surprise wasn’t because they had entered through the front door, but because of Wan Chunmei’s appearance.
She looked exactly like an old acquaintance of his.
Old Tan and Wan Chunmei walked up to him and asked, “Old Master He, you called us here for something?”
Old Master He’s gaze remained fixed on Wan Chunmei, and he didn’t answer for a long time.
Old Tan grew angry. Although the old man was elderly, he couldn’t just stare at his wife like that. “Old Master He!” he called sharply.
Only then did Old Master He snap out of his trance. “So you’re the Tan family?”
Old Tan nodded. “That’s right.”
Old Master He then turned his attention back to Wan Chunmei and asked, “Is your mother’s maiden name Liu?”
Wan Chunmei was taken aback and quickly replied, “How do you know that?”
Old Master He immediately brightened up. “Is she the third daughter of the Liu family from the neighboring village?”
Wan Chunmei, still confused, nodded. “That’s right.”
A broader smile appeared on Old Master He’s face. “What a coincidence! Your mother and I were close friends many years ago.”
The term “close friends” was an understatement.
Wan Chunmei’s biological mother had been the beauty of the town, admired by everyone in the area.
Old Master He, proud of his family background, had also been quite taken with her. Unfortunately, fate had played its hand, and despite their connection, he only managed to earn the title of “close friend” instead of something more.
Wan Chunmei had rarely heard her mother speak of this, so she was unaware of this history.
With a smile, Old Master He quickly gestured toward the house. “Come, come, please, come inside.”
Wan Chunmei and Old Tan exchanged a glance before walking inside together.
As they entered, Old Master He continued chatting with a smile. “I remember when your mother gave birth to you. I made sure to visit her. It’s hard to believe how much time has passed, and now you’ve grown so much.”
Of course, she had grown—after all, her children was almost fifteen or sixteen by now.
Wan Chunmei silently thought to herself as she slowly sat down.
Old Tan sat beside her, making sure not to slack off for even a moment.
At that moment, the fourth daughter-in-law of the He family arrived. Her mind was full of thoughts about how Old Master He might try to make things difficult for the couple, completely oblivious to the current situation.
“Big sister, you’ve come,” she said, flashing a fake smile as she stepped forward.
Wan Chunmei ignored her, pretending not to notice. “Old man, this He family sure has a lot of dogs. They’re barking nonstop—how annoying.”
Upon hearing this, the fourth daughter-in-law of the He family purposely put on a pitiful expression. “Big sister, why are you treating me like this again? I’m your own sister, after all.”
She spoke in a voice tinged with a sob.
Old Master He quickly strode over, glaring at the fourth daughter-in-law of the He family. “What are you standing around for?! Can’t you see we have guests? Hurry up and bring the tea!”