Chapter 7: Forcing Qingbao to Kneel Before Her Ancestors
"You are a child of the Su family, how can you not pay your respects? Mengmeng's mother made military contributions, even she has to pay her respects when she comes!"
As the clan chief explained, he inadvertently compared the two pairs of mothers and daughters.
Even a fair family leader like him unknowingly sided with Si Yao and her mother.
However, Qingbao didn't mind these things.
Having served as a judge for many years, she naturally knew that human nature often leans towards the stronger party who can benefit them.
As for their own mothers, who were neither loved by their own family nor cared for by their husbands' families, and who had lived in the countryside for two years while their adoptive parents were nowhere to be found, they were naturally a group that couldn't be weaker.
Fortunately, Qingbao is back.
In this life, they will never suffer any injustice again.
“Others are others, and I am me. How can they compare to me?” Qingbao answered the clan leader without flinching.
Just as the clan leader was about to scold her, Qingbao pulled her mother back to the courtyard.
With a bang, the little guy slammed the door shut.
The clan leader was furious with her.
"Look at your good daughter. I thought she was sensible after suffering for two years," he complained to Su Xiao.
Su Xiao looked at the courtyard, his expression growing increasingly displeased.
There's still some time before dawn.
The villagers went back to rest and regroup, preparing for the clan ancestral worship ceremony the following day.
Qingbao was still hurt by Su Mengmeng, and Sihe was so heartbroken that she shed tears as she rolled a hot egg on Qingbao's face.
"I only went out for a short while, and they bullied you like this."
It's all my fault for being stolen at birth and not having enough power to protect my daughter.
Qingbao's face was rounder than an egg. She opened her bright, watery eyes and said in a clear voice, "Mommy, don't cry anymore. We're much better now."
She didn't even dare to tell her mother how miserable their previous life had been.
The mother and daughter lived here for two years. They had to wait ten days or so to get an egg, and they only got one piece of clothing a year.
Sihe was malnourished and had become much thinner.
But Qingbao's cheeks were round and plump, white and soft, making her look even prettier than a New Year's picture doll.
"Don't cry, Mother, don't cry. Qingbao will have some candy." Qingbao hadn't been able to eat a single bite of the candy she had brought back during the day.
When Qingbao saw the sugar pastry, she hesitated for a moment, remembering the pain from when Su Mengmeng forcefully stuffed it into her mouth.
But she didn't say anything, picked it up and ate it in one big bite.
The little one chewed and chewed, then squinted his eyes contentedly, making them look like crescent moons. "So sweet, thank you, Mommy."
Si He was worried that she would choke, so he poured her some water.
After a short while, she took her things out of the room and, with her back to her daughter, ate the egg she had just used as a face mask.
Suddenly, the egg white she was chewing was wrapped in a crisp and sweet taste. Si He was stunned and remembered when she poured water for her daughter earlier.
A piece of sugar pastry is missing from the table.
My heart feels sweet.
It was just dawn.
The villagers gradually gathered at the ancestral hall.
The clan chief ordered people to hide the bodies of Su Dazhuang and his mother at home, and to hold the funeral after the sacrificial ceremony was completed.
Since the founding of the Su family, there has never been such a joyous occasion, and everyone attaches great importance to it.
Si He also brought her daughter, Qingbao, who was wearing the new clothes she had brought back yesterday.
Outside the ancestral hall.
The clan leader had someone stop Madam Su.
"Chieftain, I was confused for a moment. Can we settle the score for what happened yesterday later? Let me go in and pay my respects today. This victorious son is my son."
Although Madam Su was an old lady from the General's Mansion, the most accurate person to speak in the clan was still the clan head.
Even General Su could not disobey the clan chief, otherwise it would be disrespectful to the ancestors.
“Madam, if you truly know you were wrong, then apologize to Si He. If she forgives you, I can take back what I said before.”
The clan chief wasn't determined to make things difficult for the old lady; it was just that the old lady had done something wrong, and the one who would suffer was her own daughter-in-law.
If he doesn't punish someone for such a shameful act, the clan will definitely gossip about it.
Therefore, he had no choice but to shift the blame.
Si He had just arrived with Qing Bao when the old lady and the clan leader called her over.
The old lady held Sihe's hand and said, "Sihe, please tell the clan leader that you have forgiven me for what happened yesterday."
The old lady, who was used to ordering Sihe around, was completely unaware that there was anything wrong with her words.
She felt that Si He was like a tool that obeyed her every word, doing whatever she was told without any emotion.
Si He pursed her lips and looked at the clan leader. "I can't pretend nothing happened. This concerns my innocence and two lives. I hope the clan leader will handle this more reasonably and not let it go lightly." After saying that, she shook off Madam Su's hand and took Qingbao's hand.
"Qingbao, let's go."
Qingbao nodded obediently and swung her short legs as she and her mother entered the ancestral hall.
Madam Su was so angry that she cursed loudly, feeling as humiliated as if she had been slapped in the face.
"Si He, what kind of attitude is this? If you don't come back and apologize to me, don't even think about going back to the Su family to enjoy a life of luxury!"
"Si He!!!"
The old woman's angry shouts caused many of her clansmen to turn and look at her.
Madam Su quickly covered her mouth, "Clan leader, my son will divorce her sooner or later because he sees her talking back to her mother-in-law like this. You don't need to care whether she forgives you or not."
“This isn’t a question of whether she forgives me or not.” The clan chief said, looking troubled. “I’m in a difficult position too. You should just wait outside.”
After saying that, the clan chief went inside.
Old Madam Su stomped her feet angrily at the door, gritting her teeth so hard she almost died of anger.
Inside the ancestral hall.
The clan chief was the first to perform the sacrificial ceremony, with Ye Xiao kneeling beside him.
They lit incense, prayed for blessings, burned petitions, and told the three generations of ancestors of the Su family that Su Xiao had made great military achievements and returned to the capital.
Upon returning to the capital, he became a sixth-rank general.
Following this was the family's memorial service.
After Sihe finished bowing.
Then it was Su Mengmeng's turn. She knelt in perfect posture, speaking sweet words to the ancestor.
"Mengmeng thanks Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, and Great-Great-Grandpa for their blessings, which allowed Mengmeng's father to return safely. Mengmeng is determined to bring honor to the Su family and will never disgrace Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, Great-Great-Grandpa, and Father..."
Her voice was soft and sweet, which made the adults praise her for being sensible.
Su Mengmeng looked up at the adults and said, "It's all thanks to my parents' good upbringing. Mengmeng isn't actually that outstanding."
Su Xiao stroked her head, his face beaming with pride and joy.
No wonder he and Yao'er have such a child.
Next.
Then he knelt down and bowed to Qingbao.
Qingbao stood to the side, putting her thumb in her mouth as she pondered, "If I pretend to faint, will I not have to kneel?"
"Qingbao, it's your turn!" the clan leader called out to her.
Qingbao snapped out of her daze and shook her head violently. "Clan leader, I can't kneel."
She is the judge of the underworld; in the underworld, everyone except Yama has to kneel before her!
If she knelt, I doubt any soul could bear it.
Qingbao shook her little head like a rattle drum, "Besides, I already told you last night that I can come today, but I can't kneel down."
She was already very polite.
But these people didn't seem to understand.
The clan chief said, "Qingbao, you're nothing like Mengmeng, so be very sensible. Come and pay your respects, or don't blame Grandpa Clan Chief for getting angry."
Qingbao frowned.
This clan chief seems to be unable to understand human speech.
Okay, let's let him hear some ghost stories in a bit.
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