Chapter 17: Confirmation

Tang Xiaorou didn’t know Grandma Jin had recognized her, but it didn’t matter; the important thing was that the information was true.

On her way back, she saw Grandpa Tang alone.  Noticing no one was paying attention, she followed him again.

The path became increasingly familiar; Tang Xiaorou knew Grandpa Tang was going to see Widow Xia again.  Surprisingly, he didn’t go directly to Widow Xia’s house but turned onto a small path.  Reaching his destination, he stood before a small mound, remaining there for a while before leaving.

After Grandpa Tang was gone, Tang Xiaorou emerged from behind a tree.

Looking at the small mound, Tang Xiaorou guessed what was inside, but she still dug it up to see for herself.

Beneath the surface was a tattered piece of coarse cloth.  Carefully using a branch to move the cloth, Tang Xiaorou saw a small skeleton presumably Grandma Tang’s firstborn son, who had died shortly after birth.

Tang Xiaorou covered the skeleton with the cloth and restored the mound to its original state. She bowed respectfully before it before leaving.

“Xiaorou, you’re finally back! Did you find out anything?” Qin Xueqiong rushed over, concerned.

Tang Xiaorou nodded. “Yes.”

Mother and daughter walked home, but Tang Xiaorou didn’t see the children. “Where are Little Liang and Little Yan?”

“They’re taking a nap.”

Qin Xueqiong smiled, but then sighed, remembering the children’s injuries. “I don’t know what their mother was thinking, hitting them so hard.”

“She’s probably just like Tang Jianshe.”

Qin Xueqiong looked at her daughter with guilt. “Xiaorou, I’m useless.”

Tang Xiaorou shook her head. “Mom, it’s not your fault. You’ve suffered much more than I have.”  After entering the house, Tang Xiaorou recounted everything, finally saying, “Tonight, I’ll talk to Grandpa Tang. I believe that if he makes Tang Jianshe divorce you, you’ll be able to divorce soon.”

“Okay, I hope we can divorce soon.”

Accepting the divorce, Qin Xueqiong felt relieved. She would go wherever her daughter went.  Her daughter couldn’t manage two children alone; she had to help.

Seeing her mother’s acceptance, Tang Xiaorou smiled.  Her mother had finally come to terms with it.

When work ended, Grandpa Tang, Tang Jianhua, Tang Jianshe, and Jiang Wenyan returned together.

Tang Rufang smiled at Jiang Wenyan. “Wenyan, you’re here.”

Jiang Wenyan smiled at Tang Rufang and greeted the Tang family. Seeing Li Cuilan, he asked, “Auntie, are you feeling better today?”

Li Cuilan couldn’t stop smiling at Jiang Wenyan’s concern.

“Much better.” She invited him to eat. “We don’t have much, but please join us.”

Jiang Wenyan replied, “Auntie, this is already very generous. It’s my pleasure to be here.”

Grandpa Tang waved his hand. “No need for formalities. I asked you to come. Let’s eat.”

The Tang family had cleared the table yesterday, so he hadn’t seen Qin Xueqiong and Tang Xiaorou. He didn’t think much of it, but now that it was dinner time and they still weren’t there, he asked, “Aren’t Auntie Qin and Xiaorou coming for dinner?”

Hearing this, the Tang family members’ expressions stiffened. Tang Rufang quickly recovered and explained with a smile, “Second Aunt and Xiaorou have already eaten.”

Jiang Wenyan didn’t ask further.

After dinner, Tang Jianhua quickly told Jiang Wenyan the results of his inquiry. “Wenyan, I’ve spoken to the village chief about buying land. There are two empty plots; one is near our house, and the other is at the end of the village.”

Tang Rufang looked at Jiang Wenyan. “Wenyan, let’s choose the one next to our house. The one at the end of the village is too far, and there aren’t many houses there.”

Jiang Wenyan had seen an empty plot on the roadside when he came to the Tang family’s house, so he nodded. “Okay.”

Seeing Jiang Wenyan’s agreement, Tang Rufang was overjoyed. The other Tang family members were also happy. Although Jiang Wenyan was an intellectual youth, he was from Beijing.

He could buy land and build a house so easily, showing that his family must be well-off. Tang Rufang finding such a city man was wonderful.

After discussing this, Jiang Wenyan prepared to return to the intellectual youth dormitory as it was getting late.

“Wenyan, I’ll see you out.”

Tang Rufang happily saw Jiang Wenyan out.  In the courtyard, she ran into Tang Xiaorou.

“Hello.”

Jiang Wenyan greeted Tang Xiaorou politely.

Tang Rufang stared at Tang Xiaorou warily. “What are you doing here?”

Tang Xiaorou couldn’t help but laugh. “Tang Rufang, are you trying to be funny? If I’m not at home, where else would I be?”

Jiang Wenyan also frowned at Tang Rufang.

Tang Rufang forced a smile. “No, I just saw you were in the house earlier. Why are you out now? Aren’t you supposed to be taking care of those children?”

“Children?”

Jiang Wenyan was puzzled. When did Tang Xiaorou have children?

Tang Rufang explained that Tang Xiaorou had gotten married and had two adopted children. Then she looked at Tang Xiaorou. “Xiaorou, Wenyan and I are getting married soon. You must come to the wedding.”

Tang Xiaorou smiled. “We’ll see. I’ll be going to join my husband’s army soon, so I might not be able to make it.”

“Joining the army?”

Tang Rufang looked at Tang Xiaorou in surprise. She hadn’t heard about this before.  Considering Tang Xiaorou’s determination to get her uncle and mother to divorce, would she really join the army if the divorce didn’t happen?

Tang Xiaorou ignored Tang Rufang and said, “I need to see Grandpa Tang. I won’t keep you.”

Watching Tang Xiaorou leave, Tang Rufang frowned.

Jiang Wenyan also looked thoughtfully at Tang Xiaorou. “Your cousin seems to have changed a lot.”

“She has. She’s been causing trouble at home, trying to get her uncle and aunt to divorce.”

“What… divorce?”

Jiang Wenyan was surprised. “How could she try to get her parents to divorce?”

“It’s outrageous.”

Tang Xiaorou didn’t know they were talking about her, but even if she did, she wouldn’t care. 

She found Grandpa Tang and smiled. “Grandpa, I need to talk to you.”