Yao Chunnuan had a dream. She dreamed that she returned to the old house in her hometown. The old house remained in the same appearance as when she last left. The east and west rooms were filled with food and daily necessities.
She walked around the old house, but unfortunately she didn't see her grandmother or little Hei Bei.
Perhaps because she hadn't eaten much at night, she felt a little hungry. Seeing the food scattered around, even though she knew it was a dream, she couldn't help but pick up a chocolate. The rich aroma filled her nose, and she was surprised. It felt so real. She wondered if she could take it outside.
As soon as this thought came to her mind, she woke up and looked down. What she was holding in her hand was the chocolate she had just taken from the old house.
She seemed to realize something. The old house had come with her? And she could access its supplies at any time? Didn't that mean she would never go hungry again, never have to worry about food again?
Realizing this, she was completely excited. This excitement made her awake, and then she couldn't fall asleep at all. After turning over, she pricked up her ears and quietly paid attention to the movements around her. After she found that everyone around her had fallen asleep, she began to explore the rules of using the old house.
But she thought too much. After she took out the chocolate, she could no longer take out anything else. However, the old house full of supplies could still be seen.
Yao Chunnuan: ...What's the difference between this and finding a mountain of gold and silver, only to be left with nothing but despair?
She tried a few more times, but the old house was like an old turtle, showing no reaction at all. Finally, she could only give up in frustration and fall asleep exhausted.
Regardless, the existence of the old house gave her confidence. Although she was still figuring out how to use the old house's supplies, she firmly believed that it wouldn't remain like this forever. Once she figured out the rules for use, her chances of survival would skyrocket. With beautiful thoughts in her mind, she fell asleep.
The next morning, Yao Chunnuan saw Wang Lang, his eyes red. He had come to inform them that Censor Wang had died last night by striking a pillar. The government officials had allowed them to see Censor Wang one last time and bid him farewell.
Old Lady Han also asked to see Censor Wang off, and the officer leading the way agreed without hesitation.
In front of Censor Wang's corpse, all the women of the Wang family burst into tears.
The women of the Han family were also stunned. Perhaps out of sympathy for the loss of their loved ones, they were all very sad.
Yao Chunnuan lowered her head, feeling a sense of silence, as if she was out of place. Perhaps for Censor Wang, death was a relief, and living was difficult.
In this sad atmosphere, a half-grown young lady from the Han family suddenly pointed at Yao Chunnuan and said, "They are all crying, why aren't you crying?" Because of her height, Han Yao saw the adults from the Wang family crying simply, but the bad guy who bullied their family yesterday didn't cry. She must have lowered her head and pretended to cry!
As soon as the young lady of the Han family said this, everyone's eyes fell on Yao Chunnuan.
Wang Lang's eyes also fell on her. Seeing that she kept her head down, she pursed her lips.
Yao Chunnuan pretended to wipe the corners of her eyes and slowly raised her head. She couldn't cry. To her, Censor Wang was little more than a stranger. She felt melancholy and sad that an upright official had been forced to death, but unfortunately, she couldn't cry.
Besides, Wang Yushi was not killed entirely by someone else. He chose death because he had something to ask for. In another sense, he got what he wanted and died a worthy death. Why was she crying?
However, just because she couldn't cry didn't mean she was willing to be accused as if she had done something unforgivable.
Yao Chunnuan glanced at Han Yao indifferently and said, "What's it to you whether I cry or not? If you worry so much about your child, you might end up being a runt."
Smart people could hear Yao Chunnuan's sarcasm: the little girl was too cunning and had grown up too young. But it was really rude of her, as an adult, to argue with a child.
Listening to these people's whispered condemnations, Yao Chunnuan rolled her eyes. If she can't speak, then shut up. What's wrong with showing off? She deserves to be criticized for speaking ill of others! Besides, she's already fourteen or fifteen, what's the point of still being a little girl? If we compare ages, she's eighteen, so she's only a few years older than her. Who isn't a little girl?
Old Madam Han was very annoyed with her and said bluntly, "Indeed, Censor Wang is your father-in-law. Whether you cry or not has nothing to do with my Han family. My wife just can't stand it."
What a divisive remark! Yao Chunnuan said to the Han family with a fake smile, "Your Han family is truly noble. When the elder of the Wang family passed away, a young lady from your family didn't cry when she saw a junior like me, but instead expressed her dissatisfaction. This is truly admirable. But it's so strange. You are so noble and impeccable, and you can't tolerate even the slightest flaw. Why did you report me yesterday? Just to exchange for a place of exile?"
Yao Chunnuan's words made the Han family's fight for justice a joke.
The Han family was humiliated by her words. They really had no basis for reporting her. For a moment, the Han family was speechless.
Wang Chao growled, "That's enough. If you don't want to give my dad a ride, get out!" After saying that, he looked straight at Yao Chunnuan.
It was clear that he was talking about her! It seemed that he was very dissatisfied with the fact that he didn't shed a single tear.
Yao Chunnuan turned around and left, what a surprise!
These people are truly strange. Dad died, so they should just grieve on their own terms, expressing their own feelings and mourning. Why are they so concerned about others? She simply didn't cry, didn't laugh, or behave in a manner that would be disrespectful or offensive to the deceased, so why are they so overly critical of this? Do they have to impose their will on others?
"Yao!" Wang Lang called her.
Yao Chunnuan turned around speechlessly, "Whether to drive him away or keep him, you should first reach a consensus."
"How can you be so cold-blooded--" Wang Chao looked at her with red eyes, as if she had done something unforgivable.
Yao Chunnuan's face suddenly fell. "I don't like to hear that. I understand you're sad about your father's death, but who are you showing off your hatred for? I'm telling you, Major General, don't take your anger out on me! If you want to blame someone, the one you should blame the most is yourselves. Three or four grown men can't even look after an old man. You're useless!"
Yao Chunnuan's words made Wang Lang's back teeth clench even more. Her word "useless" wasn't so much an insult to the brothers as it was to him. He had been reborn, yet he still couldn't save his father.
At this time, the chief official came forward and urged them to hurry up, saying that once the matter was settled, they would have to set off. They were not given any time to digest and adjust.
Wang Lang agreed politely, but Wang Chao remained silent in frustration.
Yao Chunnuan curled her lips. This guy was just picking on the weak. Look, the jailer treated him so badly, showing no sympathy for them. Why didn't he seem to have any complaints? She was just too nice to them, which was why they were getting ahead of her. Yao Chunnuan regretted visiting them last time and bringing them sesame cakes.
At the last moment, everyone in the Wang family, except Mrs. Wang, knelt down and kowtowed to Censor Wang, bidding their final farewell.
Yao Chunnuan did not kneel, she just bowed three times to Censor Wang on behalf of the baby in her belly.
Then, the three eldest sons of the Wang family each held a torch, stood in different positions, and lit the firewood at the same time.
At this time, the officers gave them some dry food and water.
While the fire was burning, Wang Lang came to Yao Chunnuan.
Yao Chunnuan looked at him curiously, but didn't move and continued to eat her dry food in small bites.
Wang Lang mentioned her previous dispute with the Han family, sighed, and advised her, "Don't be so stubborn. It won't do you any good to offend the Han family like this. In exile, anything can happen. A little bit of malice could cost someone their life."
Yao Chunnuan wrinkled her delicate nose. "Even if you all die, she won't die." On the road to exile, did you think you could win by having more people? The harsh reality will tell you that having more people is useless and a burden! Once she figured out how to use her old house, she could live comfortably alone.
Then she tilted her head and looked at him, "You're quite funny, you talk as if I was deliberately provoking trouble first. Do I have to change my other half's face after the Han family slaps me? If I don't, I will offend them. What do you think, should I change or not?"
Wang Lang frowned, "That's not what I meant."
"I don't know what you mean, and I don't want to know. I just ask you, if this happened to you, tell me what you would do." Yao Chunnuan didn't believe that Wang Lang, who would eventually grow up to be a cunning, power-grabbing, and ruthless boss, would be someone easy to deal with.
Wang Lang stopped talking.
Yao Chunnuan curled her lips. She said, it's easy to persuade others, but if the knife doesn't fall on yourself, you will never know the pain.
Wang Lang seemed helpless and walked away without saying a word. But after taking two steps, he stopped again and said, "Do you remember what you said when you came to visit me last time? Only by living on can you have thousands of possibilities. I said so much just because I wanted you to live."
Looking at this man, Yao Chunnuan shook her head inwardly. Yao Chunnuan looked down on him. If he had the guts, he could kill them. Don't forget, she was still pregnant with his child. If anything happened to her, it would mean two deaths. What was the point of just asking her to tolerate it?
After Censor Wang was cremated, their hands were shackled one by one, and then they were driven away.
Yao Chunnuan looked at the shackles on her hands, knowing that they were there to prevent them from escaping. It was like a show of force, and they wouldn't be able to take them off anytime soon.
As soon as they arrived on the street, Yao Chunnuan saw Yao's father and mother and others.
The two of them were obviously not in good condition. Mother Yao's eyes were swollen and as big as walnuts. Father Yao also had dark circles under his eyes. He must have tossed and turned in bed last night.
Elder Brother Yao, Second Brother Yao and Second Sister-in-law Yao all came, and Uncle Yao also led Elder Brother Yao to stand aside. After all, Grandfather and Grandmother Yao were old, so they did not come. Sister-in-law Yao was at home looking after the house, so she did not come either.
The Yao family accompanied him all the way to the city, and only stopped five miles away. In addition to the Yao family, some relatives of fellow prisoners also accompanied him.
The officers escorting them were quite reasonable and gave them some time to say goodbye.
Yao's mother was the first to burst into tears. She hugged Yao Chunnuan and burst into tears, "If I had known earlier, we wouldn't have coveted this wealth." Yao's mother regretted letting her daughter marry into the Wang family. It was truly a blessing, yet she was now suffering. After this, she didn't know if they would ever meet again in this life.
Yao Chunnuan couldn't even hug them back, so she could only let them hug her, tears in her eyes.
No matter how much we say, we must eventually say goodbye.
Before they parted, Yao Chunnuan leaned close to her mother's ear and whispered, "Mom, if anything happens to our family and we can't make it, please come to Yichun to find me!"
She has an old house now. If the materials in the old house are used reasonably, whether she can accomplish great things is another matter, but there will definitely be no problem in protecting the Yao family.
Whoever's parents are hurt will feel the pain. Her words can be regarded as giving the Yao family a way out and hope. I hope they won't need it.
After hearing this, Yao's mother looked at her in surprise. Although she didn't take it seriously, she kept it in mind. Her daughter's parting words must be very important, and she must remember them.
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