Luo Anping was practicing calligraphy in the west room with Beisitian when they suddenly heard crying from the east room.
Luo Anping glanced up at Beisitian, saw her engrossed in practicing calligraphy, then looked over there and continued his practice as well.
Little Zhuangzhuang’s chubby little body waddled back and forth between the two of them, the gray fur on his back becoming more noticeable.
About ten minutes passed, and the sound from over there gradually subsided, likely giving way to reflecting on the years gone by.
Beisitian put down her pen and said to Luo Anping, "Co on, let’s go eat."
Luo Anping was already hungry and imdiately put down his pen and followed her out.
"Mom, let’s eat first." Beisitian said as she lifted the door curtain.
Mrs. Qin wiped the tears from her face and nodded, "Yes, yes, let’s eat first and talk while we eat."
Beisitian was used to talking while eating. The education in her boudoir dictated silence during als and sleep, but following her master in the streets, the common people didn’t adhere to such rules, often chatting while eating, especially the traders who would leave as soon as the al and conversation ended.
Luo Anping saw that all three of their eyes were red. He was very well-behaved, put the kang table in place, tidied the bowls and chopsticks, and waited for Luo Anguo to take the first bite.
"Sitiang, I’m really sorry about on the way here, I didn’t know anything and just spoke recklessly. Don’t take it to heart." Luo Xuhua had already been inford of everything and naturally knew Beisitian’s awkward situation now.
"Brother, it’s okay," Beisitian replied with a faint smile.
She noticed that Luo Xuhua showed little reaction to the white stead buns, the torn marinated chicken, and the simred fish soup.
She rembered hearing Luo Xuhua say earlier that his business had never taken off over the years, and he had recently even lost his capital—implying that he should be quite poor.
"Huazi, I won’t hide it from you; the entire family relies on Little Tian’er now. Without her, none of us could eat these dishes on the table, and we could only afford two als of cornbread a day. It’s hard enough for her to support one household, let alone two. Your uncle, aunt, and I have already split up our family; do you understand what I an?" Mrs. Qin said.
She was afraid that once Luo Xuhua returned ho and ntioned what they ate, Qin Hongi would co and cause trouble.
Although they weren’t scared of disputes now, it was annoying.
Luo Xuhua nodded, "I understand. Uncle and Aunt still treat like their own son, otherwise, they wouldn’t be so honest with . I know how to respond when I get back. Don’t worry, Aunt, and Sitiang, thank you for your efforts over the years!"
"It’s what I should do," Beisitian replied and continued eating.
After clearing the table, the three chatted through the afternoon. Luo Xuhua particularly asked about the current situation at ho, learning that Qin Hongi still caused trouble, but the scary part was that not even Luo Aiguo could restrain her like before.
Back then, she chased from the city to Kao Village, crying and insisting on marrying Luo Aiguo. She was incredibly obedient then, but once she succeeded and had a child, she didn’t care anymore and revealed her true self.
"You’ve grown up now; Qin Hongi can’t do anything to you. Don’t interact with her in everyday life, and don’t add more stress on your dad," Luo Anguo advised.
Luo Xuhua had returned, and once Qin Hongi learned of it, there was no telling how upset she’d be, causing even more trouble.
"Rest assured, Uncle," Luo Xuhua replied.
"Huazi, are you staying for good this ti?" Mrs. Qin asked.
Luo Xuhua paused briefly and then said, "Let’s see. Maybe I won’t leave."
Upon hearing this, Beisitian glanced at Luo Xuhua, silently thinking how insincere his words were.
The three continued their chat until Beisitian returned from herding sheep, and only then did Luo Xuhua leave.
After Luo Xuhua left, Mrs. Qin sighed, "Just wait, who knows what trouble Qin Hongi will stir up."
Luo Anguo also sighed, "Huazi’s all grown up now, so even if Qin Hongi still harbors malicious thoughts, she can’t get away with them."
"Hmph, she’ll get her couppance eventually. If it weren’t for what happened back then, how could Huazi have run away for so many years without a word, leaving everyone thinking he died out there!"
Beisitian, seeing they spoke freely, seized the opportunity to ask about it. A few words later, the topic swung back to Mrs. Qin’s eyes, and the conversation continued.
Mrs. Qin glanced at Luo Anguo.
Luo Anguo took a drag of his cigarette, "There’s nothing to hide. Say whatever you want."
Only then did Mrs. Qin speak, "I later thought carefully about my eyes, and I realized what was going on. I was the one who introduced Huazi’s mother to Luo Aiguo, so Qin Hongi probably resented for that!"
Beisitian felt a bit confused listening to this.
Later, listening to Mrs. Qin, she finally understood. Initially, only Luo Anguo went to the countryside, but there was unrest in the city, and the Luo Family offended soone. If they didn’t leave, who knows what charges would be put on them, so Luo Aiguo brought his mother to the countryside to find him.
But just coming here wouldn’t allow him to migrate and get a piece of land!
It was Mrs. Qin who suggested that Luo Aiguo marry a local woman here; with a local wife, the policies might be more lenient.
Mrs. Qin didn’t understand, but Luo Anguo did, and he imdiately thought it was a good idea, so he relayed it to Luo Aiguo. Luo Aiguo had so personal connections from the past and used them all up, spending all his money on smoothing things over. It took a lot of effort to settle the matter.
Because Luo Aiguo ca from the city and was handso, many girls in the village fancied him, and with Mrs. Qin’s matchmaking, it wasn’t long before the matter was settled.
Within a year, Luo Aiguo’s wife beca pregnant, and soon Luo Xudong was born. It was then a woman ca from the city, claiming to be an old fla of Luo Aiguo, wanting to visit him.
This woman was naturally none other than Qin Hongi.
Luo Aiguo did have a relationship with Qin Hongi before and had feelings for her. But, having just settled down, he couldn’t allow her to cause any commotion, so he secretly comforted her with words, fearing she’d make a scene.
Eventually, the secret ca out, and Luo Aiguo’s wife found out about it. While Qin Hongi was not an exceptional beauty in her youth, being city-bred made her different from the village girls; this pushed Huazi’s mother into premature labor two months early.
Luo Xuhua was born safely, but Luo Aiguo’s wife was left with lasting health issues, needing dicine for years, and ultimately, she passed away.
Less than a year later, Qin Hongi entered the household.
Though many in the village gossiped about it, over ti, the matter faded from public attention.
Initially, Qin Hongi behaved herself, looking after her in-laws and husband. To Luo Xuhua, she was cordial on the surface but spoke maliciously behind his back.
As ti passed, Qin Hongi’s treatnt of Luo Xuhua worsened, especially after giving birth to Luo Xuqing; she was even more excessive. One ti, Luo Xuhua fell into the Kao Shan River, nearly losing his life.
Though he might not know it himself, Mrs. Qin and Luo Anguo knew that Qin Hongi had spiked Luo Xuhua’s water bottle with a sleeping potion. Luo Xuhua went to the riverside to play every day, never expecting such treachery. He fell into the water and would have been lost if a hunter hadn’t co back from the mountains and fished him out just in ti.
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