Chapter 199

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t dare to move recklessly. She ran outside to call Han Cheng, “Han Cheng, I think I found something. Come and take a look.”

Han Cheng paused his actions and asked, “What did you find?”

Su Xiaoxiao said, “Come in and see for yourself.”

Han Cheng put down the tool in his hand and followed Su Xiaoxiao inside.

Once inside the room, Su Xiaoxiao squatted down and opened the just-covered suitcase. A strong smell of camphor rose into the air. Inside were some highly absorbent soil papers, and underneath, vaguely visible, were bamboo tubes commonly used for storing calligraphy and paintings.

Han Cheng looked at Su Xiaoxiao in shock and said, “Is this calligraphy and painting?”

Li Yufeng likes to put camphor balls in the cabinet to prevent insects, and Su Xiaoxiao was most afraid of this smell and kept fanning it with her hand, but it wouldn’t dissipate.

“I didn’t touch anything. It seems to be calligraphy and paintings. Has Uncle ever searched through these? How could he not know that calligraphy and paintings were placed here in such an obvious place?”

Han Cheng removed the absorbent paper on top and carefully took out a bamboo tube. “The most dangerous place is often the safest. I’ve been in this room countless times and never thought that my mother would so casually store priceless calligraphy and paintings in a suitcase.”

In fact, the preservation of calligraphy and paintings is nothing more than a few points: avoiding light, dust removal, moisture prevention, insect prevention, and sealing. A cowhide suitcase can fully meet these requirements.

Han Cheng scraped off the beeswax on the bamboo tube, carefully removed the scroll inside, and found that the scroll was still wrapped in a layer of parchment paper.

It had to be said that this was a textbook-like method of preserving antique calligraphy and paintings. Whether it was the highly absorbent soil paper or the parchment paper wrapping the calligraphy and paintings, they were excellent protections. After being placed in a dried, baked, polished bamboo tube and sealed with beeswax, and then sealed again with a cowhide suitcase and with camphor balls for insect prevention, it perfectly achieved light avoidance, dust removal, moisture prevention, insect prevention, sealing, and multiple layers of protection.

Although Su Xiaoxiao didn’t understand calligraphy and paintings, when she saw Han Cheng open the scroll, the profound history emitted a palpable aura. There was no need for an appraiser; this was a famous painting. Whether it was the lifelike fish and birds or the immersive pavilions and terraces, it was clearly the work of a master from hundreds of years ago or even longer.

“Han Cheng, whose masterpiece is this?” Su Xiaoxiao asked.

Han Cheng looked at the seal on the bottom and mentioned a name.

Su Xiaoxiao had no knowledge of ancient calligraphy and paintings, so naturally, she didn’t understand. Han Cheng said that although this master wasn’t very famous, this was a masterpiece not inferior to certain landscape paintings. It had great appreciation value, and insiders highly praised this master. Recently, a friend who was knowledgeable about calligraphy and paintings and went abroad even wrote asking about the whereabouts of this painting. Han Cheng never expected it to be hidden in his own home; it was quite a coincidence.

Looking at the remaining tightly sealed scrolls, Su Xiaoxiao said to Han Cheng, “I think Mother’s method of preservation is excellent. This painting hasn’t been damaged at all. Let’s not open the rest. If they get damp or infested with insects, it would be a pity.”

Han Cheng carefully wrapped up the scroll in parchment paper and put it back into the bamboo tube. He nodded. “This thing is really difficult to preserve. It’s not suitable to take out in this season. When the weather is clear and cool in autumn, we can open them all to air them out and see if there’s any damage. Let’s take this one that’s already been opened back. We can reseal it later or frame it and hang it in our room.”

This incident touched Su Xiaoxiao’s area of ignorance, and she listened to Han Cheng for everything else. However, she really didn’t want such a precious ancient painting hanging in the room as decoration.

“My suggestion is to seal it with wax first and decide later. If someone sees it, it might cause unnecessary trouble.”

Han Cheng nodded and carefully put the suitcase back. “I’ll listen to you; the bridge pier has been drilled through, and I saw an iron sheet. I guess it’s the box.”

Su Xiaoxiao smiled and said, “I can’t wait to see the gold.”

The couple walked out carrying three empty boxes.

………

Jiang Xue returned to the Jiang family, but Jiang Huai still had a grim expression, coldly snorting, “You finally decided to come back. I thought you died out there.”

Jiang Xue neither called him nor responded to his words. She put down what she was holding and looked around, asking, “Where’s Mother?”

As her words fell, Lin Su’s voice came from outside the door: “Is it Xue’er? Has Xue’er returned?”

Lin Su entered from outside with her two grandsons. “Xue’er? Is it really you? You finally came back to see Mother, sob… sob…”

Lin Su hadn’t seen her daughter for several years; she held Jiang Xue’s hand and was crying non-stop.

Jiang Xue actually guessed that Jiang Huai was deliberately deceiving her to come back. It was not surprising to see that Lin Su was fine. However, it was better than nothing had happened; she just come back to visit her mother. Mom, stop crying. I’m fine. Are you okay?”

Lin Su wiped away her tears and said, “Okay, okay, mom is okay.”

Jiang Huai roared, “Fine? Nonsense! A doting mother spoils her child rotten! Look at the good daughter you’ve raised. She didn’t want to get married or have children, completely unfilial and unrighteous!”

Jiang Xue took a deep breath. “I didn’t come back to argue with you. Since Mother is okay, I’ll leave first.”

After saying that, Jiang Xue picked up her handbag and was about to leave.

Lin Su held her hand and didn’t let go. “Xue’er, it’s rare for you to come back. Let’s have a meal together before you leave. Lang’er, Hao’er, don’t you remember your aunt? Come and greet your aunt quickly.”

Jiang Xue’s older brother’s two sons, one thirteen and the other ten, had seen Jiang Xue only a few times in recent years and didn’t have much of an impression of her. Nevertheless, they reluctantly called out “Aunt.”

Jiang Xue didn’t like this family, didn’t like Jiang Huai, and didn’t like her brother, Jiang Feng. But no matter what, her mother and nephews were innocent. Jiang Xue suppressed her anger and distributed the gifts she had brought back to her nephews.

The atmosphere eased a bit, and Jiang Huai began to act like the patriarch again: “Come here and follow me to the study. I have something to ask you!”

Jiang Xue said, “What’s the matter? Let’s talk here. I have something to do this afternoon.”

Lin Su pleaded, “Xue’er…”

Jiang Huai said, “About Han Cheng’s matter, are you sure you want to talk about it here?”

Jiang Xue sincerely found it ridiculous. She still didn’t understand why her good father and brother had always instilled in her the idea that she should marry Han Cheng when she grew up, to the point where she couldn’t even figure out if her feelings for Han Cheng were genuine or just influenced by the people around her.

Han Cheng was good; the Han family had good morals, but if he didn’t like her, what was the point of being good? Did she have any reason to insist on him? When he was already a widower with two children, should she stubbornly pursue him and aspire to become their stepmother?

Back when she was in Qingfeng Town, whenever she received a call from home, Jiang Huai’s most common phrase was, “Even when Han Cheng is already a widower with two children, he still doesn’t fancy you? Why are you so useless?”

Jiang Xue has no way to refute this. Yes, she’s not bad, either. Why doesn’t Han Cheng like her?

Later, she realized that whether Han Cheng liked her or not was one thing, but if their positions were reversed, if Han Cheng had a father like Jiang Huai, even if he were a revolutionary companion, she wouldn’t fancy Han Cheng. Marriage wasn’t just about two individuals; it involved two families. With such a vast difference in family background, even if they were combined, life after marriage would be chaotic. What was the point?

Jiang Xue was annoyed and took a deep puff of a cigarette in front of Jiang Huai. She said to her nephews, “Sorry, I’m addicted to smoking. You guys should go out first.”

Jiang Huai’s face turned blue, and she said, “Jiang Xue! You are a woman; what are you smoking for?! Do you have no shame left? Do you still want to get married?!” 

Jiang Xue smirked sarcastically and said calmly, “Shame? What shame do I have left? My dignity was lost long ago when I was pressured to marry Han Cheng in Qingfeng Town. Besides, with a father like you, who is worthy of me, Jiang Xue?”

“You!” Jiang Huai raised his hand and wanted to hit her.

Jiang Xue defiantly leaned her head forward, holding the cigarette, and pointed at her own face. “Go ahead, hit me. Hit me right here. Let me tell you, with this slap, I promise you I’ll never set foot in the Jiang family again as you wish! I’ll keep my word!”

Lin Su pulled her daughter behind her, crying, “Enough, Jiang Huai! Xue’er is thirty years old, not three. She is our daughter. Can’t you stop treating her like your puppet? Why must she have any connection with Han Cheng and the Han family?”

Jiang Huai clenched his fist, withdrew his hand, and punched the wall heavily. With now reddened eyes, he said: “Because she’s over thirty and still so ignorant, a doting mother spoils her child rotten. It’s all your indulgence! I did it for her own good, okay? Do you know how wealthy the Han family is? Do you know how much of a help it would be to our Jiang family if she could marry into the Han family?”

Although Jiang Xue didn’t like Jiang Huai, she didn’t expect her to be so vicious. She took a deep drag from her cigarette and extinguished it, saying, “Father, the Han family is happy and content with six members. The eldest son is almost as tall as me. Even if he and his family are good, what does that have to do with us? Are these words of any use to you?”

“How do you know that their eldest son is about the same height as you? Have you seen Han Cheng before? When did it happen?” Jiang Huai can be said to be very good at grasping the key points.

“Han Cheng lives nearby. It’s not that impossible to run into him. If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave. I really do have something to do this afternoon,” Jiang Xue said, turning to leave.

Jiang Huai shouted at her, “Hold on, I’m asking you a question. When did you meet him? Just now?”

Jiang Xue really didn’t know why her father was always fixated on Han Cheng. She replied coldly, “Yes, a family of six, hand in hand, returning to the Han family’s old mansion!”

After Jiang Xue finished speaking, she said to Lin Su, “I’ll come back to see you when I have time,” and left without looking back. Lin Su took a few steps after her, wiping her tears, but didn’t say anything more.

Jiang Huai didn’t care about her anymore; he paced back and forth and, after a while, asked Lin Su, “Where’s Feng?” (Jiang Xue’s brother).

Lin Su wiped away her tears and said, “I didn’t know.”

Jiang Huai snorted coldly, saying, “Both mother and daughter are useless. They’re of no use.” After speaking, he turned around and left.

……..