Even disregarding the care she received as a child, the dowry that Old Madam Chi gave to Han Luoxue last time was quite valuable.
Besides, when Sister Zhen first told her, she had also wondered why Chi Ling'er would suddenly run away with the things. In the end, it was probably because of that dowry incident. After all, for so many years, Chi Ling'er had been the one in charge of the Chi family, and her status was not low, whether in the shop or at home.
But when she suddenly appeared, and the two old people showed her a little favoritism, Chi Ling'er couldn't help but feel uneasy.
It's not surprising that she would take such an extreme action at this time. After all, she's inherently an extremely selfish person. Of course, this is no excuse for her running away with the Chi family's assets!
She wouldn't let Chi Ling'er off the hook, but she wouldn't abandon the two elderly people either; she just didn't care too much about them in her heart. Han Luoxue nodded in agreement when she heard her mother's words. She didn't support blind filial piety, but she would absolutely not stop her mother from fulfilling her filial duties.
"Let's both go see her!"
Han Luoxue sighed; she hadn't seen the two elderly people for a long time. This time, Yunniang didn't object.
When the two went out, Han Luoxue took out some food and fruit from her spatial storage, believing that the two elderly people still needed these things.
...
After the two elderly people left Chi Hongcai's place, they accepted the small amount of money that Sister Zhen had given them.
At the time, Old Master Chi didn't intend to be frugal. The next day, he took Old Madam Chi to see a doctor, hoping to get some medicine. However, the doctor's expression was rather grave. Old Master Chi pulled the doctor aside and whispered, "Doctor, what's wrong with my wife? Will she be alright?"
Looking at the much older Mr. Chi, the doctor sighed, "The old lady's condition is not good; I'm afraid she won't last much longer."
Old Master Chi deliberately avoided Old Madam Chi, as he didn't want his wife to worry.
Hearing this, however, chilled him to the bone. They had supported each other for most of their lives, and had both a son and a daughter. Who could have imagined that in their old age, they would meet such an untimely end!
The doctor finally sighed and said, "The old lady needs to rest and recuperate. She should avoid getting upset, cold, or wind. With more nourishing medicine, she should be able to live for a few more years."
In fact, many people in the capital knew about the Chi family's situation. They sighed for Old Madam Chi and her husband, remembering how glorious the Silk Embroidery Pavilion had once been. But in such a short time, it had changed hands. The two elderly people had been left destitute and homeless.
Old Master Chi's face was bitter. He understood what the doctor was saying, but how could they afford to properly pamper Old Madam Chi now? They didn't even know how to solve their daily meals. The little money they had was used to buy some medicine, and that was it. If things hadn't gone wrong in the past, they could have... Old Master Chi didn't even dare to think about it.
His wife had a very hard life; for over a decade, she had no interest in the shop and had been searching for her youngest daughter, living a life of aimless wandering.
But when she finally found her, she realized that her younger daughter's suffering was all caused by her older daughter. How could she accept that?
At that time, the old lady was also struggling internally. She wanted to seek justice for her youngest daughter, but she couldn't bring herself to be ruthless towards her eldest daughter who had been by her side for so many years. It was her weakness that led to the current situation.
Grandpa Chi couldn't blame his wife for anything; what he felt most was guilt, because he hadn't raised their two children well.
After getting the medicine, he carried it and helped Old Madam Chi back to their simple house.
Throughout the journey, Madam Chi kept asking, "How is my health? How much longer can I hold on?"
Old Master Chi gave a forced smile, his heart filled with bitterness, but he dared not let Old Madam Chi discover it.
"What nonsense are you talking about? You're perfectly healthy. It's just a common cold that caused your cough. Once the cold goes away, you'll be fine."
His heart was bleeding as he said this. If one day Old Madam Chi were to pass away, would he go with her? There was nothing left in this world worth his attachment, the old man thought to himself.
Madam Chi paused for a moment, then her face showed understanding.
"Sigh, you still don't understand me. Actually, I know my body best. I know I don't have many days left to live. This cough of mine isn't just a simple cold, is it?"
Hearing this, Old Master Chi felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart. He suspected that Old Madam Chi had overheard his conversation with the doctor.
"Don't overthink it. The doctor said it's just a cough caused by a cold. Don't scare yourself. Just take some medicine and you'll be fine." Old Master Chi still didn't want to admit it.
"Alright, if you say no, then no, but I still want to go see our youngest daughter. I wonder if she's back yet? And Xueya, her child must be very cute, probably just like Qiao'er when she was little."
As she spoke, Madam Chi's eyes reddened. She felt her face was a little wet, and when she raised her hand, she realized that she had been crying without realizing it. In fact, she had cried many times before.
When she misses her youngest daughter, she often recalls her childhood, from a tiny, rosy-cheeked baby to someone barely tall enough to sit in front of the embroidery frame and begin learning to embroider. Both children are her own, and she has always treated them equally.
The two children simply have different talents. The younger daughter has a higher talent for embroidery. It was for the sake of the family's development and the continuation of the Silk Embroidery Pavilion that she discussed with her husband the idea of handing over the management of the Silk Embroidery Pavilion to the younger daughter, with the older daughter assisting.
But who could have imagined that their casual remark would be overheard by their eldest daughter, who then quietly arranged for her to be sold by human traffickers.
When she learned of this, she should have put aside her own family ties for the greater good, but she was still too soft-hearted.
"Honey, I know I was wrong, but our Qiao'er probably won't give us that chance again."
Many things are wrong once they're done. Once they've missed their chance, even if they want to turn back, how can they expect their little daughter to always be waiting for them?
Old Master Chi felt bitter. He secretly made up his mind that no matter whether Yunniang forgave them or not, he would make Yunniang come to see his wife one last time.
The two supported each other, walking slowly and unsteadily. They walked for an unknown amount of time before finally reaching their humble little house.
But at the door, they encountered someone unexpected. Upon seeing the man, Old Master Chi's expression changed.
"What are you doing here, you unfilial son?"
The person who came was none other than his good-for-nothing son, Chi Hongcai.
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