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“Mom, do you feel anything?” Wang Qian was experiencing an indescribable comfort, and Zhang Lan felt the same. “Qianqian, I feel so comfortable all over, I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s an indescribable comfort.”
The mother and daughter embraced tightly, feeling the comforting sensation. Wang Qian didn’t understand what was happening, but she had a guess. Since the space was already so spiritual, could it be sensing the sorrow she had just experienced and comforting them in this way? Regardless, as long as her mother felt comfortable, she didn’t want Zhang Lan to die, not at all. Perhaps the space could sense this emotion, and maybe this feeling was its surprise. Well, since it had come to this, she would leave it to fate. As long as her mother was there, she would find ways to ensure her mother’s health and longevity, for herself and for their family.
“Mom, do you still feel uncomfortable?” Wang Qian looked up at her mother eagerly.
Zhang Lan smiled and kissed her daughter on the cheek. “Sweetie, I’ve never felt this good before. Come, let’s go and check our harvest.”
Feeling physically and mentally refreshed, Zhang Lan took her daughter’s hand and led her to inspect their land.
At this moment, Zhang Lan had a faint feeling that perhaps she could live a little longer. The feeling just now was too comfortable. Perhaps her precious daughter could help their family continue this happiness.
She wasn’t seeking great wealth or luxury; she would be content as long as she could watch her children grow up. Being able to accompany her children as they grow is her greatest wish as a mother.
The mother and daughter, who were tearful just a moment ago, now had smiles on their faces. They both held hope in their hearts, hoping that happiness would not elude them.
“Mom, look, the corn is ripe. What should we do?” Wang Qian was feeling uncertain at this moment. Zhang Lan, with a smile on her face, took her daughter’s hand. “Silly girl, for now, it’s just the two of us who can work. We’ll talk about the future later. For now, we have to keep it a secret. Tomorrow, we’ll go out and wander around, and then we’ll come here to harvest.”
The next morning, Zhang Lan got up early to cook. Hao Lianchun couldn’t believe how quickly Zhang Lan had recovered. “Lan, are you really okay? Let me do it instead. I’m free anyway.”
Hao Lianchun was genuinely concerned. She couldn’t believe that Zhang Lan, who had been unwell just yesterday, was suddenly fine. Besides, Zhang Lan was known to be strong, and the old lady thought she was just forcing herself to get up.
“I’m fine, Auntie. The cold is gone, and there’s nothing else major. Look, I’m feeling great now, aren’t I?” Hao Lianchun took a good look and saw that Zhang Lan’s complexion no longer looked sickly. It seemed that she had truly recovered.
“Silly girl, you really scared me. Now that you’re better, we have to take good care of ourselves from now on.” Hao Lianchun was genuinely frightened by Zhang Lan’s sudden recovery, but she didn’t say that out loud.
The two worked together in the kitchen, one tending to the fire while the other started cooking, displaying great coordination. Upon hearing the sounds from the kitchen, Mingcheng and the others got up. They had a morning run to complete. When Zhang Lan saw the children waking up, she quickly helped them wash their faces.
“Mom, are you feeling better?” Seeing Zhang Lan busy in the kitchen, Mingcheng and the others were genuinely surprised.
Zhang Lan chuckled and patted her son, saying, “Mom is better now. You don’t need to worry. Hurry up and wash your face. Don’t keep your grandfathers waiting.”
On the kang, Wang Qian knew her mother had already gotten up, but she was still reluctant to move. It was so warm in the quilt, and it was too cold outside.
Once the family was ready, the two grandfathers went out to train the militia, while the other elders went to the team for study. At this time, things got busy at home.
After seeing off her daughter and son-in-law, Zhu Qiyu made thorough preparations at home and arrived at Wang Zhenhe’s house early in the morning with her two children.
It was the first time the old lady had visited her third son’s home. Seeing the grandeur of the house, she couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed. Her son lived in such a nice house, yet he never invited her, his mother, over for a meal. Instead, he had some unsavory characters staying there. In her son’s heart, she, his birth mother, had no place at all.
As soon someone opened the door, Zhu Qiyu burst into tears. “Third son, you have to stand up for your mother. Your father, that old ghost, is not living with me anymore. What am I supposed to do in the future? Your younger siblings haven’t settled down yet. How can I, an old lady, start from scratch?”
The people inside the house were taken aback by Zhu Qiyu’s sorrowful voice. The inevitable had arrived.
Wang Zhenhe, sitting on the kang, didn’t move. Instead, he glanced at the old man who was smoking at the head of the kang.
“The inevitable has come. What do you think? Should you go out and take a look?” Wang Deshan said without lifting his head.
Wang Zhenhe looked at Wang Deshan helplessly and then got up and went out. With the support of her two children, Zhu Qiyu, crying all the way, arrived at the door.
“Madam, you should go back. This is not the place for you to come. My father said he doesn’t want to see you.”
Wang Zhenhe’s large hand stopped the mother and her two children from entering.
“Nonsense. You know I am your mother, but what did you just call me?”
Zhu Qiyu, upon hearing this address, forgot her tears and pointed at her third son in disbelief.
Wang Zhenhe looked at her calmly. “I called you ‘Madam.’ Do you think there’s anything wrong with that? I know you’re my mother, but are your actions those of a mother?”
The tone of the third son was no longer angry and agitated as before. Today, his voice was extremely calm and distant, leaving Zhu Qiyu feeling uncertain.
Is this still her obedient son? In the past, no matter how he was scolded or hit, there was always emotion involved. But today, she truly couldn’t understand this son of hers.
“Third son, I’m your birth mother. You don’t even recognize your birth mother. How can I live? I’ve raised you with so much effort, and now my son doesn’t even recognize me. Is there any justice in this world?” Zhu Qiyu sat on the ground, slapping her thighs, with snot and tears streaming down. If anyone else had seen her in this state, it would have been truly pitiful.
“Hey, Granny, what drama are you performing now? My grandpa is doing just fine. Why are you crying as if there’s been a death? Wait, did Auntie die yesterday? But why haven’t we heard anyone mention it?” Wang Qian, with a child’s face but words that could infuriate Zhu Qiyu, immediately made the old lady, who had been crying on the ground, jump up and slap her across the face.
“You little brat, how dare you curse my daughter. Today, I must teach you a lesson, you disrespectful thing without any respect for your elders or ancestors.” As soon as Wang Qian spoke, Zhu Qiyu’s act was ruined. Wang Zhenhe couldn’t let his daughter take a beating. His large hand grabbed the old lady’s hand, and in his eyes, there was not only disappointment but also a hint of fierceness.
“Madam, please behave yourself. My wife and I are here to raise and educate her. It’s not your place to intervene in matters of child-rearing,” Wang Zhenhe firmly held Zhu Qiyu’s arm, while Wang Zhenguo chimed in, “Third brother, what are you doing? This is your birth mother. Is this how you treat the woman who raised you for so many years? You are truly unfilial. Dad, if you don’t come out, Third brother will hit my mother. You can’t ignore this.”
Wang Zhenguo began shouting towards the house, while Wang Deshan remained motionless on the kang. Mingcheng and the others rushed out of the house, with Zuo He and Mingyuan shielding Wang Qian. “Don’t you dare touch my sister. If anyone dares to lay a finger on her today, they’ll have to deal with us.”
Mingcheng, with a somewhat frail body, stood in front of the three, while Wang Xuan emerged from the house with a fire poker in hand.
“Granny, tell me whose life you want to take today so we can prepare. We’ll let the neighbors and friends know, and everyone can witness how great my granny is. Whoever you want dead will die,” Wang Xuan interjected.
With the siblings’ interruption, Zhu Qiyu’s plan was completely disrupted. She closed her eyes and began wailing in the courtyard.
“Oh God, open your eyes. Look at the fate I have. Even my grandchildren are bullying me. What’s the point of living? I might as well die,” she lamented.
Due to the commotion at the Wang residence, a crowd had gathered on the street to watch. When the old lady saw the crowd, she made as if to run into the wall, but Wang Zhi and Wang Zhenguo wouldn’t allow it. The courtyard was filled with the sound of wailing as the siblings held Zhu Qiyu and wept in the Wang family’s compound.
“What’s the old lady Wang up to today?” Some latecomers were unsure of the situation, but Liu Hui and his wife, who lived nearby, were more informed and began explaining to the others.
As more people learned what had happened, they joined in to help calm the situation. Although no one was particularly fond of the troublemaking old lady, since the commotion was happening at Wang Zhenhe’s house, and Zhang Lan had just been through a lot two days ago, they felt that the old lady’s behavior was pushing Zhang Lan to the limit. With this mindset, they tried to reason with Zhu Qiyu.
“Sister-in-law, what are you doing here? If you’re here to see Third brother, just say so. Why make such a scene? Your daughter-in-law is still lying on the kang. How does it look to others when you act like this? Are you trying to drive someone to their death? If you think this kind of behavior isn’t illegal, then go ahead and make a scene,” Wang Zhenhe’s old aunt intervened at a critical moment, reminding Zhu Qiyu of her purpose in coming today.
“Old man Wang Deshan, how long do you plan to hide? You better go home right now, or I’ll come bother you every day. Let’s see who will suffer more,” she exclaimed.