Chapter 11: Letters

No one expected Lin Qiao to ask this suddenly.

In the midst of the surprise, Xu Li smiled and gently asked, “What made you think of asking this?”

“This time, when I went back, my cousin hinted at something.” Lin Qiao looked directly at Old Mr. Ji, her gaze steady. “My uncle and aunt said that with the way things are between our families, the Ji family wouldn’t want me. So, did the Lin family really do something to wrong you or the Ji family?” She wasn’t one to let problems fester. Knowing there was an issue, she wanted to address it early.

Lin Qiao’s eyes were bright and determined, reminiscent of her father and even more so of the young Lin Chang when Old Mr. Ji first met him.

Lin Chang, who fought fearlessly and showed a shy awkwardness when asking for help writing letters home.

Lin Chang, who shielded him, bloodied, and entrusted him with his last words.

Though Lin Chang was later saved, Old Mr. Ji remembered every word he said.

Old Mr. Ji sighed, “It’s not exactly wronging us. Something happened back then. Your Grandma Ji, Little Uncle, and I were sent down, and your Uncle Ji was implicated. At that time, your Aunt Ji was pregnant with Xiao Ling, living in constant fear. I thought, since your family was remote and you were a martyr’s family, maybe Xiao Ze could stay with you to avoid trouble.”

“Did my family refuse?”

Old Mr. Ji was silent for a moment before saying, “Your family’s reaction was understandable. It was a chaotic time, and everyone was scared.” He was trying to make excuses for the Lin family. In reality, the Lin family not only refused but also explicitly stated they didn’t want any further involvement with the Ji family.

Back then, many families severed ties to protect themselves. Old Mr. Ji hadn’t told his son and daughter-in-law about this, and since then, there had been no contact with the Lin family until Lin Qiao reached out.

Unexpectedly, Lin Qiao started rummaging through her bag. “My grandparents might not have known about that incident.”

Old Mr. Ji was taken aback.

She pulled out a stack of letters. “My grandmother couldn’t read but had a habit of keeping letters. Even if she couldn’t understand them, holding them gave her peace of mind. She kept all the letters my grandfather wrote home and the ones you sent to him, organized by date. I checked, and the letter you mentioned isn’t there.”

“Not there?” Old Mr. Ji was genuinely surprised.

“Indeed, it’s not.” Lin Qiao confirmed again. “So, I wonder if my uncle intercepted that letter.”

Grandpa Lin was willing to risk his life to save others, so he wouldn’t have been afraid of being implicated. Grandma Lin wouldn’t have been so heartless either. It’s more likely that the letter never reached them and was intercepted by my uncle. They probably never knew about it.

After all, they couldn’t read, and it was Lin Shouyi who read and wrote letters for them.

Lin Qiao solemnly handed the letters to Old Mr. Ji, who took them, feeling their weight.

“I might be wrong, but before she passed, my grandmother did tell me to come to Yandu if I ever needed help. Knowing her, she wouldn’t have said that if she knew about this.” Lin Qiao shared everything she knew, hoping to resolve any misunderstandings. If not, she wouldn’t force it.

Seeing Old Mr. Ji staring at the letters in silence, she decided to give the couple some space. “It’s getting late. I won’t disturb your rest any longer, Grandpa Ji.”

With so much information to process, Xu Li also needed time to think. She called Ji Duo, “Take Qiao Qiao home and rest. You’ve both had a tiring two days.”

This time, Ji Duo didn’t insist on staying to keep watch. Glancing at the letters, he said, “You and Dad should get some rest too.”

After the two left, Xu Li massaged her temples and asked Old Mr. Ji, “Do you want me to help you read these?”

Old Mr. Ji, who had been impatient in his younger years, had mellowed out, but he still wouldn’t be able to sleep if this matter wasn’t resolved. Unexpectedly, he looked up and said, “Where are my reading glasses?” indicating he wanted to read them himself.

Xu Li fetched his glasses from the drawer and sat by the bed. “It’s good to take a look. Qiao Qiao doesn’t seem like someone who would lie.”

“If she were lying, she would have exaggerated the story about her uncle and aunt.”

Lin Qiao’s goal had always been clear: to escape that household. She never intended to use the Ji family for revenge against her uncle and aunt.

Old Mr. Ji put on his glasses and opened the first letter, immediately recalling distant memories from the familiar handwriting.

When Lin Chang was to be sent back to his hometown, Old Mr. Ji thought Lin Chang would ask for his help. Instead, Lin Chang quietly returned home, only saying he didn’t know how to do anything else and that farming would be fine. He asked Old Mr. Ji to look after his son if he wanted to help. Later, Lin Chang did send his son to join the army, but never mentioned it in his letters. It wasn’t until Old Mr. Ji encountered Lin Chang collecting his son’s belongings in the army that he realized Lin Chang’s son had been under his command and had died in battle.

Old Mr. Ji silently read through the letters, the only sound in the room being the rustling of paper.

After a long while, he took off his glasses, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Those two letters from back then are indeed missing.”

Lin Qiao didn’t know that Old Mr. Ji had actually written two letters, only receiving a reply after the second one.

Old Mr. Ji sighed deeply. “I had my suspicions back then. Old Lin and his wife didn’t seem like that kind of people. But at that time, many who seemed decent cut ties with us. We could barely take care of ourselves.”

“Yes, I never thought we’d come back,” Xu Li said, helping him organize the letters.

Old Mr. Ji sighed again. “Old Lin and his wife were good people, and Shouyi seemed reliable. How did he turn out like this?”

“Old Lin was already at war when the second son was born, right?” Xu Li said. “He left shortly after the birth. The family worried about him and inevitably spoiled the younger son a bit. Unlike the eldest, who was old enough to remember and had to help take care of his brother.”

A dragon begets nine sons, each different. It’s hard to say that children will always turn out like their parents.

Old Mr. Ji placed his glasses on the bedside table and suddenly changed the topic. “Is Xiao Ze getting a break soon?”

“I think he mentioned something about meeting up with his childhood friends.”

“Then let him spend more time with Qiao Qiao. The Lin couple can do anything. If we don’t hurry, I won’t be at ease.”

Intercepting letters and cutting off contact.

Knowing about Lin Qiao’s betrothal and still selling her, and even after being exposed, daring to make demands of the Ji family…

Xu Li also felt that as long as Lin Qiao remained unmarried, the Lin couple might cause more trouble. She hesitated, “But you just said forced marriages aren’t sweet…”

“I was just venting! Look at the eldest. Was he here to see me? No, he was here to support his wife!”

Old Mr. Ji got angry just thinking about his eldest son’s indecisiveness. “Forget him. Look at how Qiao Qiao handled things—meticulous, bold, and measured. Xiao Ze, at her age, didn’t have her skills. She might be a good match for Xiao Ze, better than letting the eldest’s wife arrange things.”

Mentioning Ye Minshu, Old Mr. Ji couldn’t help but scoff. “Her judgment.”

Sometimes, the older people get, the more childlike their temper becomes. Xu Li laughed at his remark, “Listen to you, dragging Xiao Ze and the eldest into this. If Minshu’s judgment is bad, how did she end up with your son?”

“If she had good judgment, she should have chosen the second son.”

In terms of ability, Ji Jun indeed couldn’t match Ji Duo. Both joined the army, but Ji Duo didn’t rely much on the family, while Ji Jun, despite being the son of Ji Chunming, could only manage a clerical job and eventually retired early to a civilian position.

Old Mr. Ji could say this, but Xu Li couldn’t agree. “That makes even less sense. The second son was just a child back then.”

“If the second son had been old enough, he wouldn’t have turned out like the eldest. It’s a pity the second son and Qiao Qiao are from different generations. Otherwise, given Xiao Ze’s behavior, I would have paired Qiao Qiao with the second son long ago. A grown man still listening to his mother.”

Old Mr. Ji’s dissatisfaction was more with his eldest daughter-in-law than his grandson.

Xu Li, understanding but not pointing it out, smoothly changed the topic. “Then you should have a good talk with Xiao Ze another day.”

“I know.” Old Mr. Ji was clearly tired, rubbing his temples. “I’m getting old, with old injuries. Without this marriage connection, she remains an outsider. When I’m gone, who will take care of her?”

Xu Li didn’t like hearing such ominous words. “You’ve only been in the hospital for two days and are thinking so much. I’m still waiting for you to help look after the second son’s children.”

“Him?” Old Mr. Ji got angry at the mention of Ji Duo’s marriage. “If he doesn’t stay single for life, it’ll be a miracle! Always with that cold face, not even looking at the matches I introduce. I’m afraid one day he’ll bring home a male bride and give me a heart attack!”

The Ji Duo, who could give someone a heart attack, had already returned home and, given the late hour, stayed at the old house.

Lin Qiao also returned to the room she had stayed in before, finding the thermos refilled with hot water, knowing she would return. As she put down her things, Aunt Zhang brought in a hot water bottle. “I heard you caught a cold. This will keep you warm.”

No doubt, this “heard” came from Ji Duo. This man seemed cold but had a strong sense of responsibility, taking care of everything entrusted to him.

Lin Qiao then remembered she was still wearing his coat and quickly took it off to return it to Ji Duo.

After dinner and another dose of medicine, her fever had subsided, and she no longer felt cold. Since it was a uniform, whether Ji Duo needed to wear it or wash it, returning it promptly wouldn’t delay him.

The Ji family’s courtyard was divided into two sections: the old couple and their two sons lived in the front yard, while the younger generation and the maid lived in the back yard.

At this hour, no one else was around, and only Ji Duo’s room had its light on. Lin Qiao easily found it by passing through the moon gate.

It seemed he was getting ready for bed, as the curtains were already drawn. Lin Qiao quickened her pace and was about to knock when she slipped on something and stumbled forward, crashing into the door.

The door was solid wood, and it would have hurt if she had hit it hard. Fortunately, she managed to brace herself, and since the door was latched, it swung open with her push. She staggered a couple of steps forward, steadying herself against the door frame.

Before she could feel relieved, she heard a low, stern voice, “Who is it?”

Ji Duo moved quickly, grabbing the shirt draped over the chair. He was so close that the shirt’s edge nearly brushed Lin Qiao’s nose.

Glancing up, Lin Qiao saw his muscular, well-defined back. Not only that, but his belt was undone, and his military pants hung low on his hips, revealing a powerful waistline and a hint of black underwear.

Oh no, he was changing clothes!

Lin Qiao’s face turned bright red, and she quickly looked away. “I came to return your jacket. I tripped at the door.”

She had intended to knock, not barge in unannounced.

Ji Duo’s jaw tightened, but he followed her explanation and found a small, inconspicuous stone at the door. While buttoning his shirt with a stern expression, he reached out to take the jacket, ready to send her off quickly. Just then, the courtyard gate opened.

“Aunt Zhang! I’m staying here tonight, not going back…” A teenage girl with a backpack ran in, pouting. She looked up and gasped at the scene. Before anyone could react, she turned and ran back, “I didn’t see anything!”