Xu Lanyin dragged Xu Lanzhou into another room and gave him some instructions, mainly to prevent Old Man Xu from using Zhou Xin's tablet to suppress the Qin family. Then, they would see if Xu Qingyan's performance was worthy of Qin's unwilling forgiveness and acceptance of everything he did.
Xu Lanzhou said, "Master, you can't be that confused, right? After all, mother gave birth to us children and stayed with father for so many years."
Xu Lanyin snorted coldly, "That old man is the most vain, and he always doubts Mom's background. I'm afraid he will cry out for national justice to wrong Mom... It's best if he doesn't have that kind of idea. If he dares to make a mistake, you can't confront him head-on, so find a way to persuade Grandma and Dad to stop him. If he proposes to move to our house, you tell Dad how Grandpa bullied Mom before. I don't want Mom to be mad at Dad instead of dying..." He also mentioned that Xu Qingyan wanted the old couple to enjoy the good life with the second wife.
Xu Lanzhou also knew that Old Man Xu disliked Qin in many ways and was afraid that he would make Qin hurt, so he nodded in agreement.
Xu Qingyan wore his official uniform and asked Ji Zhu to drive the carriage. He and Xu Lanzhou rode horses and went to Xiaozao Village together. Xu Lanzhou was so happy to ride a tall horse back to the village for the first time that he was beaming with joy.
After Xu Qingyan left, Qin's eyes dimmed.
Xu Lanyin helped her sit on the kang in the east room and said, "Mom still resents Dad, right?"
She needs to be allowed to vent out the frustration in her heart.
Qin shed tears and said, "Actually, it's so difficult to make a man be devoted to you. I was just daydreaming before... I know this, but I still feel uncomfortable and suffocated..."
Xu Lanyin said distressedly, "Mom, you still have us. No matter what happens in the future, my brother and I will stand by you. If you are angry, just say it out. If you want to cry, just cry. Don't hold it in your heart, it will hurt your body."
Qin wiped away her tears, took out a handkerchief, and said with a wry smile, "You are all good children. Mother still has you, and I have thought about the future. Alas, your father's return is a good thing. He and Zhou had a hard time too. They suffered so much, and Zhou died... We who are still alive must look forward, especially the three of you. You still have a long way to go. Mother has thought it through. As long as your father respects me and loves my three children, I will respect him, cherish him, and regard him as my heaven. Your father is an official now, so it will be easier for you to find a husband in the future, and Zhou'er and Ting'er's future will be better..."
Qin chose to forgive Xu Qingyan. But she lowered her expectations of him and only wanted his "respect" instead of his "love" that she had always wanted.
Xu Lanyin hugged Qin's arm a little tighter and said, "Mother, you should really think it through. Don't pretend to be fine. If you can't get over it in your heart, it will hurt your health."
Qin sighed deeply and said, "Don't worry, my daughter. I have really thought it through. For the sake of my son and daughter, and for my mother's dying wishes, I cannot lose my position as the eldest wife."
Her biological mother warned her before her death that she would rather die than be someone's mistress.
Xu Lanyin understood. Yesterday, Qin had asked Xu Lanyue to call her "Big Madam." They had called Zhou's tablet "Second Madam," a declaration of her sovereignty. Even if she was a co-wife, there was still a distinction between the first and second wives, and the second wife couldn't step on her head.
This is good for her, as she has fewer thoughts and feels better. The loving couples of ancient times were actually those who respected each other, treated each other with respect, and treated each other with the same respect as guests...How many couples truly loved each other and only had eyes for each other?
Xu Lanyin took out a few banknotes from her purse and said, "Mom, I made a lot of money selling blackroot grass. Take this money and spend it however you want."
Qin counted the money and exclaimed in surprise, "Ten thousand taels, so much!" She returned the banknote to Xu Lanyin and said, "You picked the herbs, keep them as your dowry. Your family is rich, your father gave you three thousand taels."
Xu Qingyan did not hide any money from himself.
Xu Lanyin returned it to her and said with a smile, "I still have quite a bit. This money is for my daughter to honor her mother."
The mother and daughter argued for a while before Qin accepted it and said with a smile, "Okay, this is my daughter's filial piety to me, I accept it."
Hearing that Xu Lanyue had gotten up, Baoqi helped her wash up, and Qin and Xu Lanyin left the house.
Xu Lanyue saluted them and called out, "Auntie, Sister."
Qin invited the girl to come closer, stroked her head and said, "Good girl, this is your home, don't feel restrained. I'll ask someone to buy a little girl today to serve you specially." She also asked the chess master to measure her size and make her a few more sets of clothes and shoes.
The master is gone, so as long as the child has good intentions, treat her well. Qin Shi could see that Xu Qingyan loved this little girl very much.
Xu Lanyue also noticed that although the old lady was gentle and kind, she was not approachable, so she politely bowed and said softly, "Thank you, old lady."
After breakfast, Xu Lanyue, knowing her elder sister was going to have a private conversation with her aunt, took Huazi out to play in the yard. Huazi also liked her very much, barking and jumping on her. Xu Lanyue was not afraid at all, hugging Huazi and jumping and laughing, her laughter as clear as a silver bell.
Qin looked out the window. The little girl was smiling brightly in the morning sun, and the ugly scar didn't seem so ugly anymore. She chuckled and said, "That child has a good temper. She's not afraid at all even when she first came here."
Xu Lanyin said, "Children who grow up in that kind of environment are all very courageous. The most valuable thing about that child is that she is optimistic, open-minded, and knows when to advance and retreat at such a young age. I like her very much. Is Mom angry with me?"
Qin sighed, "Children without mothers are pitiful. Not to mention she's so young, I was already thirteen when my biological mother died, and I was still at a loss. The child is innocent, and you are the eldest sister, so you should treat her well. Mother's health is not good, so you should worry more about her affairs in the future."
Xu Lanyin nodded. Qin Shi couldn't get over Zhou Xin and wouldn't get close to Xu Lanyue. She was already being very kind to Xu Lanyue.
At that time, Xu Qingyan and his son entered Xiaozao Village, leading a tall horse, surrounded by a group of villagers. No one expected that Xu Qingyan was not dead, but had returned alive, still wearing his official uniform.
A young boy ran to the Xu family to announce the good news.
The old couple were chatting in the house. They were the only ones at home now. Xu Qingming had gone to the fields, Gu had gone to the market in town, and their great-grandson and great-granddaughter had gone to the provincial capital last month.
They didn't believe what the boy said at all.
Old Lady Xu scolded him, "Shuan boy, you're just making fun of me for no reason. Believe it or not, I can break your legs with one kick, and you won't even be able to find a wife..."
Before he finished speaking, he heard a loud shout from outside, "Xu Qingyan is back, Xu Qingyan is an official..."
Someone else asked, "Is this true? Are you still asleep?"
The man replied, "Really, really, we have already entered the village."
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