Chapter 16 – Someone Who Treats You Well Should Never Be Allowed to Fall!

In the afternoon, they met with the senior apprentice brother, Guan Hao.

“Yuwei, here’s what you asked for. What are your plans afterward?”

Guan Hao, wearing glasses, had a refined, scholarly look—the true aura of a senior apprentice brother. In his hands, he carried a bag of items and a basket.

“Senior brother, we’re planning to go to the countryside to accompany our parents.” Xia Yuwei happily accepted the items. These were all the medicines she needed.

Whether for her research or for use in the countryside, these would serve as backup supplies. In the resource-scarce countryside, sometimes a single dose could save a life!

“You two girls… how can you endure such hardships in the countryside?” Guan Hao furrowed his brows. Yet regarding their master’s situation, he felt utterly powerless.

“Senior brother, don’t worry. We’ll manage. In the capital, you still have to gather evidence to help clear our father’s name as soon as possible.” Xia Wanwan patted her chest in assurance.

Guan Hao’s head ached. These two were the master’s treasured disciples, yet he was unable to protect them—he felt so useless.

“Junior sisters, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault; I can’t help you much. These are things your sister-in-law specifically asked me to bring for you.”

Saying this, Guan Hao handed over another basket, containing braised five-spice pork and eggs.

“Oh! Please thank sister-in-law for me. She really knows I love her braised meat.”

Xia Wanwan felt warmth in her heart. At this moment, there were few people willing to help—they all avoided her as if she were a plague—but the thought was enough.

“Take this as well. Once there, write a letter to your eldest brother; he’ll send some money each month.” Guan Hao took a stack of large-denomination bills from his pocket and handed them to Xia Yuwei.

Xia Yuwei hurriedly refused. Senior brother had a child to feed, and his small monthly wage wasn’t enough even for their own needs.

“Senior brother, since we’re family, I’ll be honest. My husband’s family of three all met with accidents, and they sold off much of their property. We have money to spend.”

Guan Hao’s face filled with astonishment. This junior sister had only been married for less than two months—and was already a widow?

“This… how did this happen? Just married and… and…” The words “widow” never escaped his lips.

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is we have money. Senior brother, you must also take care and be wary of those people targeting you.” Xia Yuwei’s expression was entirely calm, as if it were someone else who had died.

“Alright! I understand. Be careful on your journey, and send my regards to master and mistress.”

“Mm, senior brother, take care!”

“You too!”

“Senior brother, I’ll see you off.” Xia Wanwan, like a little fox, quickly followed, handing Guan Hao a letter.

Guan Hao gripped the letter, sweating nervously. Once home, his wife, Ling Fangyue, hurried over with their child: “You’re back! Did you deliver the items?”

“Yes.”

Seeing her husband’s anxious expression, she panicked slightly. Did something happen?

“Why is your temple sweating so much?”

“Nothing, nothing.” Guan Hao avoided his wife and went to the study. He finally calmed down enough to open the letter.

The more he read, the more his brow furrowed. Everything—this was all because of him. His so-called greed had harmed their master’s family.

But someone had crippled him—truly satisfying justice. He had also heard that his house had been emptied overnight. Finally, the villain met a fitting end.

He then wrote another report. Reporting? That was easy for him.

Xia Yuwei quietly packed her things. She knew what senior brother hadn’t said aloud. Widow. But she didn’t care at all.

If her family could safely return, and if her presence prevented her sister from marrying a good man, she’d choose to live independently. After all, she had money and could support herself.

“Sis, do you regret it?”

“No!” If given a second chance, she would make the same choice. If they had to die, it would have been her—so for survival, they had to die.

“Don’t worry. No one will speak ill of you in the future. Our family can support you. Don’t think too much, okay?”

“Mm!”

“Ah, what’s this?”

Xia Wanwan, craving a bite of the braised meat, noticed a roll underneath.

Upon opening it, they found cash—converted into nationally accepted bills by their considerate sister-in-law. The sisters felt its weight in their hands.

“This money must have been secretly placed by sister-in-law. But their family isn’t wealthy—what should we do with so much?” Such thoughtful people—one giving openly, the other secretly—worried they’d suffer.

“Wanwan, we can’t take this money. Let’s buy some milk powder and secretly deliver it tonight.” Xia Yuwei proposed, troubled but determined.

“Agreed!”

Xia Wanwan rolled the money back up and wrapped all the meat and eggs in greaseproof paper.

The two then bought milk powder and other baby items. As dusk fell, the sisters quietly approached Guan Hao’s house and knocked loudly on the gate.

Hearing movement inside, they quickly hid in the shadows. Surely, the sister-in-law would recognize the basket.

Ling Fangyue opened the door, saw no one, and was about to scold—until her foot hit something.

Looking down in the moonlight, it was their basket!

Delivered to the little girls today, now it was at her door—they had come to return it. She peered around, saw no one, and carried it inside.

“Who is it?” Guan Hao asked, hearing the noise. Seeing his wife with the basket, he immediately understood.

“The two little sisters?”

“Didn’t see anyone.” Ling Fangyue carried the basket inside. Under the dim yellow light, they saw what was inside.

“They even bought milk powder… and condensed milk too? This isn’t cheap.”

“Old Guan, this is the money I gave them. Why did they return it?”

Ling Fangyue was surprised. At this special time, the girls had extra money to feel confident. Truly remarkable.

Guan Hao couldn’t help but admire them. Marrying a virtuous wife really paid off. He gently helped his wife sit down and told her everything he had learned today.

Ling Fangyue hadn’t expected Yuwei’s marriage to be so tragic. Still, these girls spent extravagantly.

“This condensed milk is insanely expensive, three yuan per small can. I usually don’t even buy it for the child, and they bought ten!”

“These two girls are good-hearted. They like you as their elder sister-in-law and want to care for you and the child. We can repay them later.”

“That’s right!” Ling Fangyue blushed slightly. After so many years, she finally felt recognized. That alone made her happy.

Night fell, stars dotted the sky. Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled patterns and long shadows on the ground.

Two figures gradually disappeared into the darkness. Their new life was about to begin!