Chapter 52

“Take it. This belongs to your Eldest Aunt. She and I never had children in this lifetime. Since it is something from the Jiang Family, being able to pass it on to a descendant of the Jiang Family means I have fulfilled one of her wishes.” Grandpa Hua spoke with firm resolve.

Yin Xiaoman did not know how to refuse. After a long moment, she hesitantly asked: “Grandpa Hua, can you tell me about the Jiang Family?”

At the very least, she wanted to understand why her father had kept those past events so tightly hidden for so many years.

Moreover, she was also eager to know what exactly those people—who had raided their house and turned everything inside out—had been searching for.

Grandpa Hua remained silent for a long time before shaking his head.

“I don’t know why your father never told you, but I believe he must have his reasons for keeping it from you all this time. If I were to talk to you about it now, I fear it would go against his wishes.”

At this point, he smiled, but there was an indescribable bitterness in that smile.

“Forget it, Xiaoman. Sometimes, not knowing is better than knowing. Just wait a little longer. Let’s see…” Grandpa Hua wanted to say they should wait and see how the situation changed, but after some thought, he did not voice it.

Instead, he forced himself to change his words: “Let’s see when we find your Little Aunt. When that time comes, she and I will tell you together.”

“Little Aunt? She’s still in the country?” Yin Xiaoman was now filled with questions.

“I don’t know.” Grandpa Hua said, his eyes clouded with sorrow.

He had returned all these years, doing everything he could to fulfill his wife’s dying wish.

Yet, despite all his efforts, the only result was unexpectedly coming across this girl and learning the whereabouts of his Little Brother’s family.

As for his younger sister, there had been no trace of her to this day.

“I really don’t know.” Grandpa Hua said, his expression full of anguish.

After a brief moment of silence, he looked at Yin Xiaoman and gave a comforting smile. “Don’t think too much about it. If we really can’t find your Little Aunt, then before I die, I will tell you everything about your family. Rest assured, I won’t take these secrets with me to the grave like your father intends to.”

Yin Xiaoman felt a sharp pang in her heart upon hearing this.

Without thinking, she instinctively reached out, grasped Grandpa Hua’s sleeve, and called out: “Uncle.”

The moment that word left her lips, Grandpa Hua’s eyes instantly welled up with tears.  

The old man reached out and grasped her hand, remaining silent for a long time as he swallowed the lump in his throat.  

He looked at her with deep affection and let out a gentle sigh before continuing: “Good child, I will accept this title. But in front of outsiders, do not call me that. The fewer people who know about this relationship, the better.”  

As if afraid that his words would make the young girl feel hurt, he added another explanation: “This is for your own good.”  

Yin Xiaoman nodded.  

She was not a naive eighteen-year-old; she naturally understood the deeper meaning behind Grandpa Hua’s words.  

Even though Zhongshan Island appeared to be a peaceful and idyllic paradise, everyone had at least some understanding of the situation beyond the island.  

True family did not rely on mere titles. Protecting oneself and taking precautions against potential dangers was far more important.  

Grandpa Hua was already a busy man. He had only managed to come out this time by hastily making up an excuse during mealtime. Since he had said what needed to be said, he did not intend to stay any longer.  

After firmly insisting that Yin Xiaoman accept the wooden token, he was about to leave.  

However, just as he stood up from his stool, a loud bang suddenly echoed through the courtyard as someone forcefully pushed open the outer gate from the outside.  

The noise was so loud that both of them were startled.  

Yin Xiaoman was the first to rush out.  

But before she could even reach the gate, a sweaty Erniu came barreling toward her, crashing straight into her arms.  

Erniu had grown a lot now, nearly reaching her waist, and was chubby from eating well.  

That impact nearly sent Yin Xiaoman stumbling backward.  

If not for Grandpa Hua quickly reaching out to steady her, she might have been knocked over by her own daughter.  

“Oof!”  

Yin Xiaoman was both startled and annoyed. She rarely got angry, but this time she couldn’t help raising her voice: “How old are you now? Why are you still so reckless?”  

As she spoke, she lifted her hand as if she were about to give a light smack.  

But before she could do anything, Erniu, already full of grievances, immediately burst into tears with a loud wah.  

“Mother, go hit them! Hit Dami, hit Da Bao! Hit them hard! Use a stick to beat them!”  

She sobbed and wailed as she spoke.  

And as if that were not enough, she clung tightly to Yin Xiaoman’s arm, trying to drag her toward the gate.  

Standing nearby, Grandpa Hua could not hold back his laughter. Amused by the little girl’s antics, he chuckled and said: “Oh my, what did they do to bully our little girl this time? Why are you so angry? Look at you, all covered in sweat. Don’t be upset, come here, let Grandpa wipe it off for you.”  

As he spoke, Grandpa Hua bent down, intending to pick Erniu up.

But the little girl was truly furious this time. She was no longer the usual obedient and adorable child.

Even towards Grandpa Hua, she dared to resist.

She twisted her small body, stubbornly refusing to let the old man carry her. Instead, she lunged forward and clung tightly to Yin Xiaoman’s leg, forcibly dragging her mother outside with her.

In Erniu’s heart, Dami had always been like a god.

Whenever she saw him, her eyes sparkled with admiration. Whenever their parents had even the slightest disagreement, she would defend Dami fiercely.

But now, she was so angry that she didn’t even call him “Brother” anymore. She even wanted her mother to take a wooden paddle and give him a good beating…

Yin Xiaoman found the whole thing utterly hilarious.

She was no longer upset about nearly being knocked over by her daughter.

“What did they do to bully our Erniu? Come, tell Mom.”

She bent down and picked up the little girl.

Erniu was so angry that her entire body was stiff. Her small face was flushed red, and her forehead was covered in sweat. Upon hearing her mother’s question, she felt even more wronged.

Finally, she softened, buried her face into her mother’s familiar neck, and sobbed miserably.

“They… They said they would wait for me by the stream! They told me to take Grandpa Hua home first, and then they would take me to play. But when I went back, they were gone! I looked everywhere, but I couldn’t find them! Mom, go hit them! They tricked a little child!”

Listening to her daughter’s extremely aggrieved tone, Yin Xiaoman felt an instant headache coming on.

Now that there were more children in the household, squabbles and fights for attention had become a daily occurrence.

Da Bao used to have a steady personality, the kind of child who never gave the adults any trouble.

But ever since Dami arrived, he finally had a companion, and his true nature had been unleashed. He followed his older brother around, running wild.

The once protective older brother who used to dote on his Little Sister now had another sibling to play with—and had started finding his Little Sister annoying.

This wasn’t the first or second time the two boys had ditched Erniu to go play by themselves.

But Erniu had an exceptionally good temperament. No matter how mischievous her two brothers were, as long as they came back, apologized a little, and coaxed her, she would forgive them quickly.

This, however, was the first time she had been angry to this extent.

Yin Xiaoman had no energy to intervene in the children’s squabbles—nor could she even if she wanted to.

So, she simply patted Erniu’s back and coaxed: “Alright, when they come back, I’ll take the wooden paddle and give them a good beating. If they don’t apologize to our Erniu, I’ll hit them extra hard!”

But what Yin Xiaoman hadn’t expected was that Erniu immediately panicked upon realizing that her Mom had no intention of going out to find the boys right away.

She wriggled out of Yin Xiaoman’s embrace, grabbed the hem of her mother’s clothing, and tugged hard, trying to pull her toward the door.

“Mom, let’s go now! Hit them hard! Let them run! Let them go poke a wasp nest!”

“Brother Qiangzi said wasp stings hurt a lot! No matter how I warned them, they wouldn’t listen! They still ran off in secret!”

Yin Xiaoman felt her mind buzz loudly.