Chapter 88 Last Words from Zhang Maolin as He Passes Away

Inside Lanxin Pavilion, the lights were dim and hazy.

After taking a bath, Chen Junbo returned to his room. There was a silkworm cocoon lying on the bed. In the past few days, he had ordered the removal of the partitioned bed in the bedroom, and the two of them shared a bed at night.

Every night, Li Yang would lie down early and wrap himself tightly in the blanket, afraid that he might squeeze in even the slightest gap.

Being guarded against like this, he felt both annoyed and amused, with a hint of frustration.

He lifted the covers and got into bed. After lying down, he clearly felt the silkworm pupa beside him twitch. He closed his eyes and said, "Grandpa and the others have returned to Songshan Town. I will visit them tomorrow."

Grandpa's back? And Grandma too... Li Yang momentarily forgot about the cricket. He was going to see Grandpa tomorrow, so does that mean he doesn't have to go himself?

Li Yang was unsure of the meaning behind his words, pondering them to himself, and remained silent with his lips pursed.

“After that, my mother will live with my maternal grandfather at the Zhang residence. My grandfather’s condition has been very bad recently, and she is taking care of him at the Zhang residence.” Chen Junbo seemed to be talking to himself.

Old Master Zhang's health was not good, so the two of them returned to Songshan Town from the old house. It seemed that the doctors in Huizhou were no longer able to take care of Old Master Zhang's condition. Thinking of the frail old man, she couldn't help but say, "Then I will go with you tomorrow."

Unexpectedly, she took the initiative to suggest going to the Zhang residence. He originally wanted to take her with him, but his grandfather's condition seemed bad. He was also worried that his mother was at the Zhang residence, and the two of them had a bad past, so he didn't want to make things difficult for her.

Upon hearing her mention her colleagues, he turned to the side and pulled her, along with the blanket, into his arms.

"It's...it's not over yet, it's my period." Li Yang's voice trembled as she tried to pull away from the heat source pressing against her.

Chen Junbo chuckled, "I know, this period is probably going to last for several weeks." He then closed his eyes and fell asleep, pulling the other person closer to him. "Sleep."

Did you just get through today so easily?

Li Yang opened her eyes for a while. Ever since the day the two of them almost consummated their marriage, she had been increasingly flustered as she counted the days until her period. For some reason, she felt a little scared when she was awake and thought about it. She always felt that she was not ready and just hoped that her period would last a few more days.

The bedroom matters between husband and wife are the most unpredictable. Chen Junbo saw her series of reactions and tried to test her a little in the first few days, but in the last two days he really didn't touch her and just slept in her arms... Even the usual kisses stopped.

-

The next day, at the Zhang residence.

Chen Junbai led Li Yang to stand beside the old master's bed, with Chen Zhangshi sitting to one side. Half a year had passed since they last met, and she had removed all her hairpins and was bare-faced. After Sun Ruqing and Liu Rufang were questioned and she had prepared their bodies for burial, she had gone with the old master to the old house in Huizhou.

Every day in the old house, she watched helplessly as her father deteriorated day by day, until he was like a fallen leaf in autumn.

Li Yang's gaze swept over Chen Zhangshi, who had no expression on her face. Her eyes were calm and still, and a few wrinkles had appeared on her originally fair and delicate face. A few strands of gray hair had suddenly appeared in her black hair. She was bare-faced and gently wiping the face of Old Master Zhang.

Zhang Maolin slowly opened his heavy eyelids, his eyes sweeping laboriously over the two of them, "Ziheng..."

“Grandpa,” Chen Junbo knelt before the bed, reaching out to grasp the withered back of Grandpa Zhang’s hands, “Grandpa, I’m here.”

"Okay... Ziheng... daughter-in-law..." the old man said with difficulty, each word followed by a heavy gasp.

Li Yang hurriedly said, "Grandpa, I'm here." He then knelt down beside Chen Junbai and placed his hand in the old man's outstretched palm.

“Good, good,” Old Master Zhang said, his fingers curling slightly as he squeezed the hands of his two grandchildren together. “Lin Shuang, my Lin Shuang…”

"Father," Chen Zhangshi replied softly, placing a hand on the old man's shoulder.

"Ziheng...the moon wanes after it is full...the Lesser Fullness is the beginning of success..." The old man suddenly recalled the words he had taught Chen Junbai when he was young, "Things will turn around when they reach their extreme, never be greedy for the present..."

“Grandpa, Ziheng remembers everything: be cautious and prudent, and never try to be first.” Chen Junbai’s eyes were moist, knowing that the old man’s time was coming to an end.

Upon hearing this, Old Master Zhang's eyes suddenly lit up, and his voice became more coherent, "Ziheng, harmony in the family brings prosperity. Live a good life with Zhaozhao. Your mother can stay at the Zhang residence; she is, after all, your mother." As he spoke, he reached up to Chen Zhangshi's shoulder, took her hand, and placed it between his other hand, clasping them together.

Upon hearing this, Li Yang's brow furrowed, but relaxed in an instant, and she stretched out her palm. This was an old woman's last wish in this world. No matter how much she resented Chen Zhangshi, she could not be so heartless.

"Grandpa, Ziheng understands. Ziheng will definitely take good care of Mother."

As Li Yang watched Old Master Zhang struggling to make his final wishes, his heart sank, and tears streamed down his face. Seeing the fading light in the old man's gray eyes as he turned to him, he said with difficulty, "Grandpa, don't worry, we will definitely take good care of Mother."

A slight smile appeared on Old Master Zhang's lips. "Good child..." he said, slowly closing his eyes.

"Father, Father... Father, Father, look at me again, open your eyes, look at me again, Father..." Zhang Lingshuang cupped Old Master Zhang's head in her hands, rested her head on his shoulder, and sobbed softly, "Father, look at me again, it's me, Lingshuang..."

The old woman stepped forward and hugged Madam Chen, saying with tears in her eyes, "Miss, Master has passed away."

The snowball seemed to understand human nature, lingering at Chen Zhangshi's feet and licking the hem of her clothes.

The sixteenth year of the Daqing reign, the sixth day of the fourth month.

Zhang Maolin has passed away.

Zhang Linshuang, widowed and living in the Zhang residence, spent her days worshipping Buddha and serving her ancestors.

The coffin was kept at home for three days before the burial, and countless people came to pay their respects.

In the days that followed, Li Yang led Zhong Qian, accompanied by Zi Yan, to visit and purchase tea from one tea mountain to another. In less than ten days, they had collected the quantity ordered by Madam Zhang.

-

The wheels rumbled and came to a stop in front of the Chen residence. Li Yang got out of the car.

Seeing the gatekeeper waiting to the side, he asked, "Has the young master returned?"

The gatekeeper bowed his head and said, "Reporting to the young mistress, the young master has not yet returned."

Upon hearing this, Li Yang stopped in his tracks. "When will the young master leave the manor today?"

"Reporting to the young mistress, for the past ten days, the young master has been leaving at dawn and returning at dusk."

Upon hearing this, Li Yang seemed to be deep in thought, and returned to Lanxin Pavilion without saying anything more. She simply waved away the maids and servants who were about to help her change and bathe, and said, "Tell Chef Wang that there's no need to prepare food for the main house today." She then strapped on her armbands and went into the small kitchen.

At the appointed time, Chen Junbai returned home under the moonlight.

Passing through the hanging flower gate, he looked up and saw the main house brightly lit and the doors wide open. He looked around and saw that the courtyard was empty. He was furious and went straight up the steps to the main house.

The first thing you see is that the desk in the main room has been moved to the side, and the carved round table has been returned to the room. On the table is a small stove with a steaming bowl on it. Around the stove are various dishes, which are the hot pot we had at the Lin residence before.

On one side, the young woman sat in a round-backed chair, shivering like a pure white begonia.

"Nonsense, it's so chilly at night now, you'll get a fever again." With that, he quietly stepped into the house and closed the door, keeping out the cold from outside.

Li Yang was sitting at one side of the table. Because of the night's chill, someone had draped a cloak over him and huddled him in a round-backed chair. When he saw him return, his eyes flashed, and he grinned, revealing a row of small white teeth. He said, half-coquettishly, "Don't talk about me. I haven't eaten yet."

"Why haven't you eaten yet at this hour?" Chen Junbai frowned upon hearing this, glancing at the dishes on the table. They were indeed untouched, and he couldn't help but wonder why she was being so formal today.

Li Yang walked to his side, offering him a warm, damp cloth to warm his hands, still in a coquettish tone, "I want to wait for you to come back so we can eat together. I don't want to be all alone and lonely."

The soft, sweet voice reached Chen Junbai's ears, instantly dispelling the chill that enveloped him. Yet, he still deliberately maintained a stern face, scolding her, "Since you were waiting for me to have my meal, why didn't you send someone to the salt shop to look for me?"

Before he could finish speaking, he felt a chill in his palm. Li Yang cupped his hands and placed them on his cheeks. "Feel these," he said. "I waited for you all night. I'm cold and hungry. If you want to scold me, wait until dinner."

Helpless, Chen Junbo kneaded her cold earlobes with both hands, pressed his forehead against hers, and softened his tone, "It's so cold, why didn't you close the door and wait for me?"

"I want you to see me waiting for you as soon as you come back." Li Yang's almond-shaped eyes were moist, and she looked at him with a hint of timidity. Her words reached Chen Junbo's ears, "I heard from them that you leave before dawn every day and don't return until after dark. I know you're heartbroken because of your grandfather, which is why you're working day and night. I want to leave the lights on and the door open for you, so that you can see someone waiting for you when you come home. Your grandfather is gone, but you still have me."

Chen Junbo reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, burying her head in his shoulder with his large hand. As he spoke, his chest trembled, "Okay, I understand."

"Chen Junbo," Li Yang called him softly, his voice muffled by his clothes, "I'm hungry."

Hearing this, he closed his eyes and chuckled softly, releasing the young woman from his arms. "Let's eat."

Throughout the meal, Li Yang was constantly busy cooking and serving him dishes, spinning around like a top. "This is purslane. Try it. I think purslane tastes best when it's cooked in hot water. It's so smooth."

"The lamb is ready as soon as it changes color. Eat it quickly, it tastes best when it's hot and coated with sauce."

Chen Junbo tapped the door with amusement, "I just ate at Lord Lin's house once. You seem to like this way of eating. Where did you buy this sesame paste?"

“I made these myself. I’ve made several jars and they’re in the kitchen. If you like, I can bring you another bowl. We used to eat these often in the mountains. When it got cold, the food would get cold quickly, and my mother loved eating them in this pot.” Li Yang ladled himself a bowl of rice cakes and ate them in small bites. The rice cakes were so hot that he had to exhale after each bite, like a little rabbit.

"When I was a child, my grandfather and I often ate hot pot, but it wasn't like this, where you cook it while eating. We usually put in egg dumplings, shrimp, and pork skin, boiled them, and then ate them." Chen Junbo was also very hungry. He had been busy at the salt shop all day and only had a few bites at noon. Now that the hot pot was so delicious, he was really looking forward to it.

Li Yang tilted his head and thought for a moment, "My family has never eaten it like this before." Then he plunged his head back into the bowl to fight with the rice cake.

For some reason, the two had endless things to say today, yet they seemed to have no idea what they were talking about. By the time they had finished eating and drinking, it was almost midnight. Chen Junbo called someone in to clear the table, and when he turned around, he saw Li Yang leaning on the edge of the table, dozing off.

As I carried her back to bed, I heard her mutter, "If you're sad, just tell me. If you don't want to, you can hug me."

Seeing that the person was half asleep and saying such flirtatious things, Chen Junbo sighed, washed up, lifted the quilt and lay down beside her, pulling her into his arms.