Chapter 4 Ancestral Ring

The two of them had just entered the main hall when they saw a big basin of chicken soup placed on the table. Su Meijuan looked curiously at her daughter and asked,

“Ningning, where’s your mother-in-law? Has she left?”

“Mm, she went home to cook for Father-in-law.”

“Child, why didn’t you invite your in-laws to eat with you?”

“Mom, Mother-in-law said she kept some for themselves, and this portion is just for us.”

Hearing that, Su Meijuan spoke earnestly:

“Ningning, your in-laws treat you well. You must show them filial piety. It’s a pity Zhenhua passed so early, otherwise how could you have…”

“Mom, I’m doing fine now, don’t worry.”

At this moment, Tang Wanning truly had no desire to remarry. First, because she no longer trusted men, and second, because she wanted to spend time with her family and make up for them.

Su Meijuan thought her daughter still hadn’t let go of Xu Zhenhua and could only sigh helplessly.

“Alright, Mom won’t worry. Let’s eat.”

Looking at the large bowl of chicken soup, the cold-mixed eggplant, and the rice, the whole family swallowed hard — it smelled too good. Although their lives were much better now than a few years ago, they could only manage to eat enough to be full. To “eat well” was still far out of reach.

After a satisfying meal, Tang Wanning began to clean the dishes, but Su Meijuan quickly stopped her.

“Ningning, you’re not feeling well. Go rest. Leave this to me.”

She spoke and immediately started tidying up swiftly, not giving her daughter a chance to lift a finger. Perhaps this was the difference between a birth mother and a mother-in-law. In her previous life, Bai Xiuying would also say such words, but she never lifted a hand. She would just move her lips, waiting for Tang Wanning to decline.

“Thanks, Mom.” Tang Wanning’s eyes turned slightly red.
“I’ll head back now. I’ll come visit you again in a couple of days.”

Seeing her daughter about to leave, Su Meijuan felt reluctant but didn’t stop her. She only reminded her softly:

“Rest well these days. Your father and I will take care of the fieldwork.”

Afraid that his sister wouldn’t listen, Tang Huaixu quickly added,

“Sis, don’t worry. Mom, Dad, and I are always your strongest support!”

Though Tang Dehou didn’t speak, his eyes were filled with concern, almost overflowing.

Tang Wanning sniffled and said in a muffled voice:

“Dad, Mom, little brother, don’t go to the Xu family’s fields for the next few days. When Zhenhua was still alive, weren’t the fields managed by just my in-laws? There’s no reason that after Zhenhua’s death, suddenly the two of them can’t manage.”

“But you…” Su Meijuan wanted to say more, but Tang Wanning cut her off.

“Mom, just listen to me.”

Though she didn’t understand why her daughter’s attitude had changed so much, Su Meijuan knew listening to her daughter would never be wrong.

“Alright. If anything happens, come tell us. Don’t keep it all bottled up.”

“I understand, Mom. Then I’ll go back now.”

Looking out at the pitch-black night, Su Meijuan felt uneasy.

“Let Xiaoxu walk you home.”

At first, Tang Wanning wanted to refuse, but after thinking of something, she nodded and agreed.

It was already seven in the evening, the moon high in the sky. Under the moonlight, Tang Wanning and Tang Huaixu strode out of their family courtyard. Glancing around and seeing no one, Tang Wanning leaned closer to her brother and whispered,

“Xiaoxu, hold me up a little, then do this… and that… Got it?”

Although Tang Huaixu didn’t understand why his sister wanted to do this, since she said so, she must have her reasons. All he had to do was obey.

“Sis, I’ve got it memorized.”

Following his sister’s instructions, Tang Huaixu held her up. Tang Wanning instantly slipped into character, leaning weakly against her brother’s shoulder, one hand pressed to her forehead, as if she might faint at any moment.

They hadn’t walked far when they ran into the village loudmouth, Li Ailian.

“Wanning, what happened to you?” she asked with concern.

Tang Huaixu glanced at his sister and, feeling distressed, explained:

“Isn’t it because she’s been working day and night? This afternoon she fainted in the fields. The doctor said if she keeps this up, her health will collapse sooner or later.”

“Your sister really is pitiful. She had just gotten married when your brother-in-law…” Li Ailian sighed, then turned to Wanning with heartfelt advice:

“Child, your body is the foundation of everything. If you collapse, won’t life become even harder? You mustn’t work so desperately. Take this chance to rest properly.”

Tang Wanning forced a weak smile and said faintly,

“Thank you, Auntie, I’ll remember.”

On the way back, they ran into several others, exchanging greetings before finally reaching the Xu household. As soon as they entered the yard, the siblings saw Bai Xiuying with a gloomy face, scrubbing dishes while muttering under her breath.

“Mom, I’m back,” Tang Wanning said weakly.

Startled by her voice — whether from guilt or something else — Bai Xiuying’s hand slipped, and the bowl she was holding crashed to the ground.

Flustered, she quickly picked it up before looking at Tang Wanning with feigned concern.

“Wanning, you’re back. You must be so tired… What’s wrong with you, why are you so weak?”

Tang Huaixu sighed and repeated to her everything he had just told the other villagers.

Hearing that, Bai Xiuying pretended to be anxious.

“Huaixu, quick, help your sister to her room to rest.”

“Alright, Auntie, I’ll take her in now.”

“Go, go.”

Bai Xiuying had no patience to deal with them anymore and waved them off perfunctorily. Yet as the siblings turned away, she glared viciously at Tang Wanning’s back, wishing her eyes could bore a hole through her.

Once inside the room, Tang Wanning immediately perked up, lively again. She patted her brother’s shoulder with a grin.

“Well done.”

Tang Huaixu scratched his head, smiling sheepishly.

“Sis, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head home now.”

“Be careful on the road.” She reminded him,
“If Mom and Dad hear anything, explain it to them so they won’t worry.”

“Got it, Sis. I’ll be going then.”

“Good.”

After her brother left, Tang Wanning began tidying her things. She truly didn’t want to stay in this house another day. But to find out who had made that phone call three days later, she had no choice but to remain for now.

There wasn’t much to pack. Besides some dowry items she had brought when she married in, the only other thing was a ring.

According to Xu Zhenhua, this ring had been passed down from his great-great-grandmother to his mother, and then, after their marriage, to Tang Wanning.

The ring was mainly white, looking just like fine white jade, but it wasn’t. Its texture was more like plastic — no matter how many times it was dropped, it wouldn’t break.