Chapter 36: A Fortune from Heaven
"Then you do it, I'll sleep for a while." Lu Qinniang had been taking medicine for the past two days and always felt sleepy.
But Doctor Hu said that was no problem.
"Um."
Xiao Yan lowered his head and continued to adjust his harpoon.
We all stayed up late last night to celebrate the New Year. At noon on the first day of the new year, everything was quiet. The hustle and bustle had died down and the neighbors were catching up on their sleep.
So when footsteps were heard at the door, Xiao Yan, who had excellent hearing, heard it immediately.
The footsteps were staggering and heavy, like the footsteps of an elderly person.
There was a knock on the door.
Even the sound was very soft, completely without any strength.
"Abandoned Mother, wait and go to sleep." Xiao Yan said, "Someone is coming outside."
"Someone is coming?" Lu Qiniang sat up, casually put her hair behind her head, and came out wearing clothes while she spoke.
The steps are fast and steady, and the pace is very fast.
"Did the couple start fighting again? It's New Year's Day, can't they be more careful? No matter how much trouble they make, the money won't be returned, hey——"
Lu Qiniang opened the door, her voice filled with surprise, "Why are you here? If you need anything, please call me! It's so icy and snowy here, and every step you take will make you slippery. What if you fall?"
"Abandoned Mother, I came to see you for something." Grandma Sun's voice was hoarse, and she seemed to be mumbling something in her throat, which was unclear.
The two houses were not far apart, but she was already out of breath after walking there.
"Come on, come on. If you're still carrying something, bring me some pickles!"
Lu Qiniang took the earthenware jar from her hand and supported her. "The threshold is high, please go slowly - Xiao Yan, this is Grandma Sun, let's go to pay New Year's greetings this morning."
Xiao Yan put down the harpoon, stood up and saluted.
Mrs. Sun's eyes were cloudy, and she squinted her eyes to vaguely see a tall figure.
She came forward and stretched out her hand to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, then reached out and held her old, skinny hand.
But Mrs. Sun stretched out her other hand to touch his face.
Xiao Yan was obviously not used to such closeness and subconsciously wanted to hide, but then he heard Lu Qiniang say, "You miss Sun Shun, right?"
Xiao Yan didn't move, allowing Mrs. Sun to touch his face, then his neck, shoulders, and arms, and finally grab his hands with both hands.
"Good boy, good boy, you are blessed, my abandoned mother." said Mrs. Sun.
"Blessed, everyone is blessed." Lu Qiniang said loudly with a smile, "It's cold outside, let's go inside and talk."
Mrs. Sun is hard of hearing and can't hear clearly unless she is called.
"Okay, okay."
Lu Qiniang helped Mrs. Sun into the house.
Xiao Yan thought about it, shook off the wood chips on his body, and followed him in.
"Look, what else did you bring me? I have everything at home." Lu Qiniang scolded, took out the red bean cake that she was reluctant to finish, and stuffed a piece into Grandma Sun's hand, "Eat it, it's soft and sweet."
But Mrs. Sun didn't eat anything. She just asked her anxiously, "Where's the earthenware pot?"
"Here. Don't worry, I'll keep the pickles and wash the jars and send them back to you."
"Give me the clay pot." said Mrs. Sun.
Lu Qiniang could only stuff the earthen jar into her hands.
Mrs. Sun opened the jar, reached in and fumbled around, then pulled out—
A handful of silver coins.
Lu Qiniang's eyes widened as she blurted out, "Whose house did you rob?"
Mrs. Sun didn't answer, but just took out the money.
There were silver and copper coins piled up in a pile on the kang.
Lu Qiniang glanced over and estimated that there were about forty or fifty taels of silver and seven or eight hundred copper coins.
Her mouth opened in surprise.
Mrs. Sun, where did you get so much silver?
"Good child," Grandma Sun fumbled and took Lu Qinniang's hand, "I know you're the only one who cares about me. This is all the money I've saved. Please keep all the silver except the copper coins. After I die, you will help me arrange my funeral, and the rest will be left to you."
Lu Qiniang quickly said, "No, no, I don't want it. First, tell me, where did you get so much silver?"
Even if you are old, blind and deaf, you must obey the law!
"This is a long story, and I haven't told anyone. Over the past few years, thanks to you, whether you're at home or not, you always send me gifts and think of me, an old woman. During the Chinese New Year, you sent me oil and meat, and Daya even came to help me with the work. In my next life, even if I have to work like a slave, I will repay you and your daughter for all your kindness to me."
"What are you talking about? Isn't this just a matter of lending a hand? When Shunzi was here, he and Heyao were as close as brothers."
Lu Qiniang helped Granny Sun sit down on the kang. "Tell me quickly, where did you get the silver?"
"About three years ago," said Mrs. Sun, "someone came to my house and gave me twenty taels of silver. He said he was Shunzi's friend and told me not to tell anyone about it. Later, he gave me two more 20 taels of silver each time, both in small and large amounts, saying it would be convenient for me to spend..."
Mrs. Sun didn't dare tell anyone.
But now, because she felt that her health was getting worse day by day, and she owed Lu Qiniang a lot, she took advantage of the time when no one was around to entrust her affairs after her death to Lu Qiniang.
"I don't know who that kind-hearted person was. When I'm gone, if you know, go to his grave and burn some incense and tell me."
Lu Qiniang was extremely surprised.
Are there such good friends?
Sun Shundu has been gone for so many years, but he still helps take care of Sun Shundu's grandmother. He is really loyal and affectionate.
"Abandoned Mother, please keep this for me. If I need a large sum of money in the future, I'll come to you for it. I trust your character."
"No, no," Lu Qiniang said quickly, "Keep the money yourself. When you need work, just call me."
If she doesn't help keep the money, it will be difficult to explain it later.
Especially since Mrs. Sun is so old, it is inevitable that she is confused.
It would be terrible if a quarrel arose over money.
"Keep it. I only trust you." Grandma Sun insisted, "I've watched you grow up, and I like your personality the most. You're affectionate, willing to endure hardships, and you don't scheme..."
She chattered on and on, bringing up old stories, allowing Xiao Yan to get a glimpse of the old times that Lu Qiniang rarely mentioned.
"...You had it so hard back then. Your parents-in-law passed away one after another, and Zhang Heyao still had to go to school. To support his education, you went to the docks carrying sacks. When you came back, your back was scraped, and you went to ask Doctor Hu for some ointment. Poor child, you couldn't find anyone to apply the ointment, so you had to come to my house to find me. I really loved you..."
"Oh, it's nothing. They're all old things. Why are you bringing them up?" Lu Qiniang felt a little embarrassed.
"You, my child, never tell anyone about your sufferings. You're always smiling. No matter how big the problem is, you can handle it." Grandma Sun said, wiping away her tears. "I, an old woman, don't like to speak ill of others behind their backs, and I don't like to speak ill of the dead. But -"
She paused. "Zhang Heyao is not worthy of you. I know you're thinking about him, but listen to me, an old woman—forget him. Live a good life with your current husband. Don't be against your will just because he was bought."
Lu Qiniang was stunned.
How could Mrs. Sun say that to Brother He Yao?
She is getting senile.
Xiao Yan was caught off guard by the help and was stunned where he was.
Why did Mrs. Sun say this about Lu Qinniang's white moonlight?
Xiao Yan was afraid that Lu Qin's mother would get angry.
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