Chapter 352 Longing
Peng Chunlan is not stupid. Last year, someone suddenly came to their door, urging them to go to Beijing to file a complaint, and in the process, demand hush money from Xu Huaining's family.
At the time, she was lured by the exorbitant hush money the man mentioned, thinking that she could go to the capital without spending her own money, and even if she didn't get the money, she could still show off to others. So she took her two sons and traveled thousands of miles to the capital to file a complaint.
Everything that happened afterward was completely beyond her control. By the time she realized that she was just a tool used by others to kill, it was too late to regret it.
At first, she didn't know who was plotting against Xu Huaining's family. It wasn't until after the case was closed and the mother and son were sent back to the village that she figured it out after thinking about it for a long time.
Now that person is a high-ranking official, crushing a few ordinary people is as easy as crushing an ant. Peng Chunlan hasn't lived enough yet, she won't do something that would lead to her death.
After being scolded by Peng Chunlan, Liu Zhuzi felt uncertain and wanted to back out but was unwilling to give up.
"Mother, she can give things to the villagers, so why can't she spend money to treat Father's illness? If we use filial piety to pressure her, who in the village will dare to say we're wrong?"
No matter what method you use, as long as you can get the money so he can get a wife, isn't that enough?
Peng Chunlan was almost driven to tears by her eldest son's stupidity, and said coldly:
"Just because your father married into the Sheng family, just because your father was responsible for her mother's death, just because she is now an official's wife, a single word from her can bring our whole family to ruin!"
Compared to marrying a daughter-in-law and having grandchildren, one's own life and fortune are naturally more important.
Anyway, her son is the one who carries on the family line, not Peng Chunlan's.
Isn't it better to just live a good life?
Peng Chunlan was adamant, Liu Shitou refused to go, and Liu Zhuzi didn't dare to approach Sheng An alone, so he had to give up the idea of going to ask for money.
After Sheng An returned to the village, he was on guard against the Liu family causing trouble.
Seeing that the villagers had all left and no one else came, she had a slight doubt in her heart, but then put the matter aside and brought gifts to the Zhang family to thank Mr. and Mrs. Zhang for helping with the tomb sweeping over the past two years.
After staying at the Zhang family's house for a while, I politely declined their offer to stay for a meal. Then I went home, picked up Zhuozhuo, and went with my parents to the cemetery to pay respects to my mother.
Standing before Sheng's mother's tombstone, Sheng An put down Zhuozhuo, silently took out a tinderbox, and lit the candles and incense.
Grandpa and Grandma Sheng were very sad, and they lit paper money and burned it in front of their daughter's grave.
Seeing her great-granddaughter watching their actions with curiosity, Grandma Sheng perked up and said, "Your grandma is sleeping in here. Why don't you call out to her so she knows you've come to see her?"
Zhuozhuo scratched her little head, her brows furrowed, as if she didn't understand why her grandmother was sleeping in the dirt.
Despite her confusion, she still called out to the grave in her childish voice, "Grandma, Zhuozhuo is here!"
The little girl, who is already one and a half years old, has mastered many short daily phrases and can express them clearly.
Grandma Sheng's eyes welled up with tears as she watched this scene, adding paper money to the fire while muttering to herself:
"Your granddaughter traveled a long way to see you. If you are watching over her from heaven, please bless her and protect her so she can grow up safely and without worry..."
A gentle breeze swept by, and the burning paper money swirled softly, as if in response to Grandma Sheng's words.
After the worship ceremony, the family of four returned home, rested for a while, and then got up to prepare to return to the city.
Grandma Sheng glanced at the tightly locked courtyard gate and discussed with Sheng An, "We won't go back to the capital for a while. After the New Year, I want to go back to the village with your grandfather for a period of time."
Sheng An knew that this was her grandparents' true home, so she naturally wouldn't let them down: "Yes, Zhuozhuo and I will come back and stay for a few days then."
Grandma Sheng was overjoyed upon hearing this:
"Okay, okay, by then all sorts of wild vegetables will have grown, so let's make lots of steamed buns and wontons so Zhuozhuo can have a good taste of the fresh ones."
Grandpa Sheng was also very happy and looked forward to returning to the village for a short stay.
That night, Sheng An lay in bed, coaxing the little one in her arms.
Seeing that the little one wouldn't close his eyes to sleep for a long time, she asked in a puzzled tone, "It's past your bedtime, why aren't you asleep yet?"
Zhuozhuo couldn't understand, and kept whimpering, "Daddy, I want Daddy, I want Daddy..."
Sheng An was stunned, then patted her little bottom and laughed, "We haven't seen each other for so many days, and you still remember that you have a father."
Zhuozhuo gripped her hand tightly, her eyes red-rimmed: "Mother, Father is missing, boohoo, Father was snatched away by an eagle..."
Sheng An: "..."
She finally understood what it meant for children not to lie, but to talk nonsense.
Seeing that the little one was crying louder and louder, Sheng An quickly comforted him, "Your father is fine. He's in the capital dealing with bad guys. Once he's done dealing with them, your father will come back to find you."
Zhuozhuo couldn't understand, and seeing that her father hadn't appeared despite her calls, she started crying loudly, "Daddy, Daddy, waah—"
The crying woke up Grandpa Sheng and the others downstairs. They rushed upstairs to find out what was wrong, without even having time to get dressed properly.
Grandpa Sheng and Xu Chenglin are men, so they can't go into their granddaughter's (daughter-in-law's) room. They can only stand at the door and coax their granddaughter.
Grandma Sheng rushed into the room, picked up the little one, and coaxed him, "Good boy, good boy, there are no mouse holes in the house, your dad didn't get caught by mice, your dad will be back in a few days..."
It took the grandmother and grandson a lot of effort to finally manage to calm the little guy down.
Looking at the little guy with his eyes closed and glistening tears still clinging to his long eyelashes, Sheng An couldn't help but think of Xu Jinnian, who was far away in the capital. She wondered if he had eaten and rested properly, and when he would be able to return to Qingzhou to reunite with his family.
In the following days, people came to the small building every day to offer New Year's greetings.
Besides the Zhang family, the Fang family, the Ye family, and the Ding family, the head of the Xu family, having somehow heard the news, personally came to Shengyuan.
First, they inquired about Xu Jinnian's current situation, and second, they discussed the situation of the clan school.
Sheng An omitted what was inconvenient to say and recounted Xu Jinnian's situation.
Upon hearing this, the clan chief was both pleased and proud: "Jin Nian is the pride of the Xu clan!"
Xu Chenglin complained, “My son studied hard for ten years to get to where he is today. No one can imagine how much he suffered. Without a powerful backer or a good family background, he faced countless difficulties in the capital. He was plotted against by villains several times, and he only managed to escape danger by his own efforts.”
The clan chief understood what he meant: "Don't worry, I still have a few years left to live. I will keep an eye on the clan members and make sure they don't cause trouble for Jin Nian."
Xu Chenglin was somewhat satisfied, but denied it aloud, saying, "Clan leader, you're overthinking it. That's not what I meant."
The clan chief ignored him and continued to inquire about Xu Jinnian from Sheng An, so that he could tell the children in the clan school about it and encourage them to work hard.
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