Chapter 148 Guardian Spirit 16

After dinner, the servant brought a cup of tea to Mr. Song. Mr. Song took a few sips before his thoughts calmed down. He asked Xie Yinian for the letter left by Su Youshuang.

Xie Yinian handed it to Mr. Song with both hands.

This letter was indeed written by Su Youshuang himself, but it was just written today. Yao Rong used some tricks to make it look like it was left behind decades ago.

Mr. Song unfolded the letter, took out his reading glasses from his chest pocket, put them on, and slowly read it. After a while, he put down the letter, took a long breath, and said with regret: "So that's the case. It seems that Aunt Su didn't receive the letter that my aunt sent back that year."

The letter mentioned that in 1943, after Song Yutong left Suzhou with Old Master Song, the situation in Suzhou became more serious. The oil-paper umbrella business could not be continued for the time being. Under the persuasion of her friends, Su Youshuang went back to the countryside for a while, and then returned to Suzhou.

When she came back, Su Youshuang, a weak woman, decided to sell her ancestral home in order to continue the oil-paper umbrella business and open an oil-paper umbrella shop.

But after selling the ancestral home, she immediately rented a house not far from the ancestral home, and continued to make oil-paper umbrellas while waiting for Song Yutong.

Before and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Su Youshuang fell seriously ill. In the following two years, her illness recurred and she finally passed away.

Old Master Song carefully closed the letter and took off his foggy reading glasses again. It was

the first time that Song Yuanting saw his old man crying, and he quickly took out a tissue and handed it to him.

Old Master Song lowered his head and wiped his eyes before saying, "We went back too late. As soon as we arrived in Suzhou, my aunt took me to the Su family's ancestral home, but after so many years, the residents near the ancestral home have basically changed. We asked for a long time, but we only knew that Aunt Su was still doing paper umbrella business, but we couldn't find out anything else."

"Aunt bought the Su family's ancestral home, thinking that no matter where Aunt Su went, as long as Aunt Su was still alive, this would be the place where Aunt Su was most likely to come."

Song Yuanting supplemented Old Master Song, "You also know that Shanghai and Suzhou are very close."

"During the Republic of China, many people from all over the country ran to Shanghai, wanting to make a living in Shanghai. But the cost of living in Shanghai was high, so many people went to Suzhou."

"After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the end of the civil war, and the establishment of the country, outsiders returned home one after another, and the population mobility in Suzhou was too large."

Xie Yinian respected Miss Song Yutong very much: "Miss Song Yutong is a person who keeps her promises."

Old Master Song smiled and said, "The Su family is also a family that keeps its promises. Otherwise, I would not be able to meet you, Yinian, today."

Xie Yinian was a little embarrassed by the old man's praise. He glanced at Su Youshuang, who were feeling mixed emotions of sadness and joy, and said softly: "Did Miss Song Yutong leave any relics?"

"Yes." Old Master Song stood up, "I'll take you upstairs to have a look."

Several people went up to the fourth floor of the villa together and came to the room in the corner of the villa.

"All of my aunt's belongings are in this room." Old Master Song did not let Song Yuanting do anything, but he pushed open the door himself.

It was obvious that the room was often cleaned. Although it had a deserted feeling as if it had not been lived in for a long time, it was not dusty.

A black and white wedding photo hung in the middle of the room.

The woman in the photo was wearing a dazzling white wedding dress, with a lace veil hanging by her ears, and pearl jewelry on her earlobes and neck sparkling.

She bent her lips, her eyebrows and eyes were smiling, playful and lively.

Su Youshuang stood in front of the wedding photo, looking at Song Yutong, who was exactly the same as in her memory, and smiled slightly.

Yao Rong's heart moved slightly, and he looked at Old Master Song: "Did Miss Song Yutong finally marry the fiancé?"

Old Master Song said: "No. As soon as the Song family got into trouble, the fiancé distanced himself from my aunt."

Old Master Song was a man of certain age, so he naturally understood what Yao Rong meant by this question.

"It doesn't matter. Although this oil-paper umbrella is a wedding gift prepared by Aunt Su for my aunt, it symbolizes more than just a wedding gift. It also symbolizes the friendship between Aunt Su and my aunt."

"My aunt often told me that the proudest thing in her life was that she met Aunt Su and helped her when she went out on a whim that day. Even though they have only known each other for a short time, Aunt Su is still the most cherished friend of her life."

"Some people are still as close as new even when they are old, while others are still as close as ever. Aunt Su and my aunt are probably the latter."

Speaking of which, Su Youshuang and Song Yutong did not spend much time together, but this kind of support and help far outweighs other things.

Old Master Song imitated Yao Rong and Xie Yinian and stared at the wedding photo: "Speaking of which, the relationship between aunt and uncle is thanks to Aunt Su."

Even though Su Youshuang was in a daze, she turned around and looked at Old Master Song when she heard this.

Old Master Song smiled and said, "After my aunt arrived in Peking, she wrote a letter to Aunt Su. She originally wanted to ask the post office to send it to Aunt Su, but communication was very inconvenient at that time. My aunt thought that if someone she knew was going back to Suzhou recently, she could ask him for a favor."

"For this reason, my aunt specially went to several hometown gatherings."

"Later, she didn't find the person who helped to deliver the letter, but she got to know my uncle."

Su You's eyes were slightly curved. A woman like Miss Song Yutong, who is top-notch in appearance and talent, can only be matched with a man who truly respects and loves her, and who has both talent and appearance.

Old Master Song looked at the oil-paper umbrella in Xie Yinian's hand: "Can I open it and have a look?"

"Of course." Xie Yinian handed the oil-paper umbrella over.

Old Master Song slowly spread out the oil-paper umbrella.

Song Yuanting also came over and looked carefully at the red oil-paper umbrella that was soaked in time, from the frame to the painting, everything was exquisite, full of charm, and natural in the ancient way.

Even with the eyes of Old Master Song and Song Yuanting, it must be said that this oil-paper umbrella is really exquisite.

It is as beautiful as a collection.

After eighty years, its beauty has not been damaged.

Song Yuanting thought, let alone anything else, just looking at this umbrella, you know that Xie Yinian and his group are not liars.

Liars can't take out such an umbrella.

"This is indeed the work of Aunt Su." Old Master Song stroked it for a long time and closed the umbrella again.

"Grandpa, you can even recognize this?" Song Yuanting was surprised.

Old Master Song smiled. He was in a good mood, so he explained very patiently: "The Su family's umbrella-making craftsmanship was unique. Although it has been lost now, it was still possible to inquire about it back then. I also saw a special mark on the handle of the umbrella, which is enough to show that this umbrella was made by the Su family."

"The Su family rarely made this kind of big red oil-paper umbrella for weddings. This one in front of you should be the only one that has survived to this day."

Even with Yao Rong's knowledge, it must be said that Song Yutong and Old Master Song were indeed very careful in looking for Su Youshuang.

Otherwise, they would never know the Su family so clearly.

Later, the rest of the Song family came back.

Old Master Song personally introduced Xie Yinian and Yao Rong to them.

Like Song Yuanting, the other members of the Song family had heard about Su Youshuang, and they were very gentle and polite to Xie Yinian and the others.

Xie Yinian knew that they were so gentle because of Mr. Song's face.

When they returned to the guest room, Xie Yinian whispered to Yao Rong, "I think Mr. Song has recognized me as the descendant of Su Youshuang, and he has placed all his gratitude to Su Youshuang on me."

He did not want to deceive Mr. Song, but at first he just thought that it would be easier to gain the trust of the Song family with the identity of Su Youshuang's descendant.

Yao Rong smiled and asked Xie Yinian, "Do you have any plans for the Song family and Mr. Song?"

Xie Yinian shook his head quickly, "Of course not."

He was just a little overwhelmed by the favor.

Only those who have not often felt cared for will be so uneasy for this gratitude that does not belong to them. Yao Rong stretched out his hand and smoothed down Xie Yinian's frothy hair: "Then you should just accept the kindness of Mr. Song to you."

"You are not the descendant of Su Youshuang, but you are Su Youshuang's benefactor. If it weren't for your kindness, perhaps Su Youshuang and Mr. Song would have to carry this regret and never have the chance to let it go."

Xie Yinian sighed: "It's just a simple task for me."

Yao Rong smiled but said nothing. Is

this called a simple task?

Since ancient times, there have been a few heavenly masters who are willing to do such simple tasks and help ghosts complete their observances.

It is precisely because Xie Yinian thinks this is a piece of cake that his action is even more valuable.

If at the beginning, helping Xixi was more due to her insistence, then helping Su Youshuang now is entirely out of Xie Yinian's personal wish.

***

Xie Yinian really didn't think how rare his actions were.

When he first came into contact with the line of heavenly masters, he met Zhang Yongyuan, a vicious and evil heavenly master, and almost died tragically at the hands of Zhang Yongyuan.

Later, he met Yao Rong.

Yao Rong not only saved him from life and death several times, but also taught him how to become a heavenly master.

Yao Rong himself is a ghost, so of course it is impossible for him to instill in Xie Yinian the view that "heavenly masters and ghosts cannot coexist".

Therefore, Xie Yinian's understanding is different from those of the Heavenly Masters who have received orthodox inheritance.

Just like people can be good or bad, ghosts can also be good or bad. How can they be generalized? This is what Xie Yinian thinks.

But it seems that the entire Heavenly Master community does not think so.

Because they had an appointment to go to the cemetery to pay tribute to Song Yutong the next day, everyone got up early.

Old Master Song didn't want others to disturb him, so he asked Song Yuanting to drive him, Yao Rong and Xie Yinian to the cemetery.

This cemetery has a history of several decades.

Today is not a special day, nor is it a weekend, so not many people come to the cemetery to sweep the graves.

"Oh, it's raining." Song Yuanting had just parked the car when he saw a drizzle in the sky. He was a little worried, "It's not easy to go up the mountain on a rainy day."

Old Master Song said, "This little rain won't be a problem."

Song Yuanting checked the weather forecast and saw that it was indeed showing light rain and the sky was not too gloomy, so he didn't insist, unbuckled his seat belt and went to open the door for everyone.

Yao Rong was holding flowers and an oil-paper umbrella.

Xie Yinian was carrying the best candles and paper money.

Song Yuanting supported Old Master Song, who was still leaning on a cane with his other hand.

Su Youshuang transformed into a figure, also holding flowers in her hand.

She asked Xie Yinian to burn them for her yesterday.

The group walked through the drizzle, slowly went up the mountain, and came to Song Yutong's tomb.

"Aunt, look who's here. I finally found Aunt Su's descendants." Old Master Song said happily, his face full of pride.

"Miss Song Yutong, I'm here to see you in person with this oil-paper umbrella."

Su Youshuang stared at the black-and-white photo of a smiling girl on the tombstone, and the scene when she first met Song Yutong suddenly appeared in front of her.

She was hiding under the eaves from the rain, with a gentle face, as if she had walked out of the Jiangnan Ladies' Painting. He walked up to her step by step with an umbrella and asked her with a smile: Do you look like you need some help?

When her closest relatives turned against her for a little benefit and drove her out of the ancestral home, it was Miss Song Yutong who held the umbrella for her and lent her a helping hand.

When she left, Miss Song Yutong also left the umbrella to her.

She was holding the umbrella, thinking that if she had the chance in the future, she would make the best umbrella and return it to Miss Song Yutong.

Su Youshuang smiled slightly: "It's a pity that I couldn't give it to you when you got married, so that you could hold it when you got married."

But this red oil-paper umbrella is indeed the best umbrella.

Su Youshuang moved her wrist, and the phantom of the red oil-paper umbrella fell into her hand.

The continuous spring rain passed through the 30th year of the Republic of China and fell in the year 2023.

Su Youshuang held the umbrella, stood by the tombstone, and shared the last rain with Song Yutong.