Chapter 52 Xiao Chu's mother is so good, Mom, you can't be mean to her!
[Ah Shu, Happy New Year. By the time you hear this recording, Mom will probably be gone... Hmm, it seems like there's so much to say, but I don't know where to begin...]
[Mom should first apologize to you, saying goodbye in this way. Mom is weak and incompetent, only caring about running away, selfishly leaving you with all the regrets... I feel like I've never been a good mother. I didn't protect you when you were little, and now that you've become excellent through your own efforts, I've not only failed to help you, but I've also become a burden to you. Ah Shu... Mom is useless. The only comfort I have in this world is having you as my daughter...]
That day I found the medical report in your coat. It turns out our Shu is going to be a mother too. The report shows twins. You kept it a secret. I think you must have your own plans, but I'm still a little worried. I went to see Director Jiang on the report. She told me that you plan to abort the two babies, but that way you may never be able to be a mother again...
[Ah Shu, I won't interfere with your decision about whether to keep the baby. If you ultimately decide to keep the baby, I've thought of two nicknames: An'an and Ningning, meaning a peaceful and smooth life. If you choose surgery, then I'll go to all the gods in heaven and ask them to bless you for a successful surgery. Also, there's a temple on Mingyuan Mountain in Beicheng that's very efficacious; remember to go and pray before your surgery...]
Ah Shu, the little home you prepared for us is so cozy. Mom can't bear to let it become a haunted house. I heard they say the lower reaches of the Lijiang River are the open sea. Mom has been trapped all her life by family interests, marriage laws... Now, I can finally be free. I want to go with the river to see how big this world really is. Ah Shu, don't cry, don't be sad, and don't stubbornly search for me...
[Ah Shu, Mom has to go now. Remember, you need to take better care of yourself from now on. Earn money, but also know how to spend it. Buy yourself more clothes, bags, and jewelry. Girls should dress up more. Our Ah Shu is so pretty, she'll definitely attract a lot of outstanding boys when she dresses up... Look at me, I'm rambling on and on again. I'm not saying anything more, it's getting dark, Mom has to go...]
【Ah Shu, remember to eat well, sleep well, and take good care of yourself. When you miss your mother, come to Lijiang. Your mother will turn into a river breeze to accompany you…】
The recording stopped, and the whole house fell into a deathly silence.
Shen Qingshu was already in tears, but she didn't make a sound from beginning to end.
She pressed the phone to her heart, her pale lips trembling slightly, and said, "Xingxing, I don't have a mother anymore."
"You still have me."
Qiao Xingjia hugged her, crying, "A-Shu, I'm here for you. I'll always be with you... Don't be afraid. No matter what happens, I'll always be with you!"
Shen Qingshu closed her eyes, a sob escaping from her throat...
-
Three days later, Shen Qingshu held a funeral for Jiang Yuelan.
Shen Qingshu bought a cemetery plot by the river, but since the body could not be found, she could only erect a cenotaph for Jiang Yuelan.
The Jiang family announced five years ago that they were severing ties with Jiang Yuelan, but Jiang Yuelan's mother is still alive.
After much deliberation, Shen Qingshu still had the funeral home staff write a funeral invitation and send it to the Jiang family.
Ultimately, no one from the Jiang family came; only the over-seventy-year-old Madam Jiang sent a wreath.
Shen Qingshu, dressed in plain clothes, watched as the staff placed the two wreaths in the corner.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she looked away.
The mourning hall next door was bustling with people, filled with a constant mix of weeping and words of comfort.
Only Jiang Yuelan's mourning hall was desolate and oppressive.
Half an hour has passed since the funeral began, and only the staff of Shen Qingshu Studio and Qiao Xingjia's parents have come to pay their respects.
Shen Qingshu was not surprised by this.
Just then, footsteps came from the doorway.
Qiao Xingjia turned her head and saw who it was. She was a little surprised. "Dr. Qin."
Qin Yancheng nodded to her. "You're not late, are you?"
"No, no," Qiao Xingjia welcomed him inside. "It's already very kind of you to come."
After paying his respects to Jiang Yuelan, Qin Yancheng turned to Shen Qingshu, pursed his lips, and sighed softly, "Miss Shen, please accept my condolences."
Shen Qingshu bowed deeply to him, "Dr. Qin, thank you for coming."
Qin Yancheng scratched the back of his head, looking a little awkward. "Actually, I just ran into Si Yan and the others in the parking lot."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingshu frowned.
"Them?" Qiao Xingjia had a bad feeling. "Fu Siyan and who?"
Before Qin Yancheng could answer, there was a noise at the door.
Fu Siyan and Zhou Yuchu led Fu Siyu, whose forehead was still bandaged, into the room.
"Damn it..." Qiao Xingjia rolled up her sleeves, "If I could still tolerate this, I would..."
Qiao's mother stepped forward and pulled her back, scolding her in a low voice, "What are you doing? This is a funeral, be more composed."
Qiao Xingjia gritted her teeth in anger, "They're clearly here to cause trouble!"
"Respect the dead!" Qiao's mother said, "Take a look first, don't act rashly."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Xingjia could only suppress her temper for the time being.
Fu Siyan led Zhou Yuchu and Fu Siyu forward, took the incense from the funeral staff, and prepared to offer incense to Jiang Yuelan.
Shen Qingshu walked over and stood directly in front of Jiang Yuelan's portrait.
Fu Siyan and Zhou Yu were both taken aback.
"You have no right to offer incense to my mother!" Shen Qingshu looked at them with the same disgust and hatred as if she were looking at a murderer.
Fu Siyan frowned, about to speak, when Qin Yancheng hurriedly stepped forward and pulled him aside.
Qin Yancheng said in a low voice, "Are you crazy? It's fine if you come, but why did you bring her?!"
“Xiao Chu deliberately turned down work; she meant it.” Fu Siyan paused, then added, “Shen Qingshu harbors resentment towards Xiao Chu, and Xiao Chu came here to talk things out with her.”
Qin Yancheng stared at him in disbelief for a full three seconds, unable to utter a word.
“You really…” Qin Yancheng shook his head, “You should get a divorce, you should!”
Fu Siyan sensed the sarcasm in his words, and his expression suddenly darkened.
Seeing that he hadn't grasped the point of his words at all, Qin Yancheng could only silently mourn for Fu Siyan in his heart.
At this moment, Zhou Yuchu, who had lost Fu Siyan's protection, looked like a wronged little wife, her eyes red and almost crying.
“Miss Shen, the dead cannot be brought back to life. I know it’s hard for you to accept this right now, but Siyan and I are here to sincerely mourn Aunt Jiang.”
"Truly?" Shen Qingshu scoffed, nodded, and turned to pick up Jiang Yuelan's portrait, bringing it close to Zhou Yuchu. "Zhou Yuchu, do you dare say to my mother's face that you didn't harm her? Do you dare?"
Zhou Yuchu frowned slightly as he looked at Jiang Yuelan's portrait, then quickly looked away.
She took a step back, her tone innocent, "Miss Chen, please calm down. If Aunt Jiang were still alive, she certainly wouldn't want you to be like this..."
"My mother left me a voice message before she jumped into the river."
Zhou Yu was taken aback.
Shen Qingshu saw her reaction clearly.
She curled her lips into a smile. "Zhou Yuchu, would you like to hear what she said before she died?"
Zhou Yu felt a sudden panic.
Did Jiang Yuelan really leave a recording for Shen Qingshu?
So, her background...
Shen Qingshu held her mother's portrait in her hands, staring at Zhou Yuchu as she approached step by step.
Zhou Yu took a few steps back, then suddenly cried out in pain and fell to the ground!
"Ah! My foot..."
"Mother!"
Fu Siyu quickly squatted down, looking at Zhou Yuchu with a worried expression, "Mom, are you alright?"
Zhou Yuchu shook her head, her eyes red, "It's nothing, Mom just twisted her ankle by accident."
Fu Siyu frowned, stood up and walked to Shen Qingshu, tilting his head back and saying, "Mom, you've misunderstood Xiao Chu's mother!"
Shen Qingshu frowned, looking at Fu Siyu who was protecting Zhou Yuchu like a little adult, and couldn't help but sneer, "I misunderstood her?"
“Yes!” Fu Siyu nodded, frowning as he looked at Shen Qingshu.
"It was Xiao Chu's mother who told me and Dad that Grandma Yue Lan and you don't have many family or friends. She was worried that if the funeral was too quiet, you would be even more upset. So she specially turned down a very important job to come to the funeral with Dad and me! Xiao Chu's mother is so good, Mom, you can't be mean to her!"
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