Chapter 440 The Truth
Qin Fang quickly stood up and saluted awkwardly, "Why are you two here?"
Chu Ruohan saw his expression and understood most of what he meant, but her face remained gentle. "No need to be so polite. Yue Shu and I were out of town on some business today and happened to be passing by. I heard you were taking care of an elder here, so I stopped by to visit."
The old woman on the bed heard the noise and struggled to get up.
Seeing this, Chu Yueshu hurried forward and gently held her down: "Old lady, you are sick, lie down quickly and don't move."
The old woman then saw clearly the appearance and demeanor of Ruohan and Chu Yueshu. They did not seem like those of ordinary people. When she heard Qin Fang address them as "Madam" and "Second Miss", she began to have some guesses in her mind and looked at Qin Fang with some uneasiness.
Chu Ruohan walked to the bedside and said softly to the old woman, "Old lady, just rest assured. We are Qin Fang's master. We hope you don't mind our intrusion today."
The old woman's eyes welled up with tears when she heard this. She held Chu Ruohan's hand and choked with sobs: "No, don't blame me. Madam is a good person. It is a blessing for our Fanger to meet a master like you."
As she spoke, she turned to Qin Fang and said with a hint of resentment, "Fang'er, why didn't you tell me earlier that the Madam and the Second Miss were here?"
Qin Fang lowered his head, looking ashamed: "Grandma, I..."
"It's okay," Chu Ruohan interrupted him, turned to the old woman, and asked with concern, "Old lady, what is your illness..."
The old woman sighed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's all an old problem. If it weren't for Fang'er taking care of me wholeheartedly over the years, I'm afraid I would have died long ago."
She held Chu Ruohan's hand tightly, her voice filled with endless gratitude and sadness, "Madam, you don't know this, Fang'er is a child with a hard life, but a kind heart. He is one of the best children in the world!"
The old woman was very emotional and told the whole story in a halting manner.
It turned out that she was not Qin Fang's relative, but his mother-in-law who was arranged for him to be married since childhood.
Back then, she and Qin Fang's mother, Chu Ruohan's wet nurse, were good friends when they were young. They even got pregnant together and decided to marry their children to be in-laws.
Later, in order to make a living for her family, the nanny became a wet nurse.
After she gave birth to her daughter, her husband went to the river to fish and was washed away by the water. She was injured by crying and has been weak and sickly ever since.
Her daughter, Qin Fang's fiancée, unfortunately passed away due to an acute illness several years ago.
Before his fiancée died, what she was most worried about was her frail and sick old mother.
Qin Fang kept his promise. After his fiancée passed away, he took his mother-in-law to live with him and took care of her like his own mother. He did this every day for years without a single complaint.
In order to treat his mother-in-law's illness, he almost spent all his savings, and he lived frugally on his daily life.
Qin Fang's mother also supported him in doing this. When Nanny was still alive, she would occasionally visit her...
Chu Ruohan and Chu Yueshu listened quietly, their faces full of emotion.
They originally thought that Qin Fang had some unspeakable affair, or was being dragged down by someone in his family, but they never expected that it would be such a sad and admirable past.
Chu Yueshu's eyes were slightly red, and she said softly: "Qin Fang, your friendship is truly admirable."
Qin Fang showed a bitter smile on his face and said in a low voice: "Second Miss, you are too kind."
"She... I grew up with her, and it's my duty to do this for her mother."
He looked at the old woman on the bed, his eyes gentle but firm, "As long as grandma is alive, I will take care of her."
Chu Ruohan became more and more impressed with Qin Fang's character, and finally understood why he had previously refused the marriage on the grounds of being "burdened with trivial matters."
Such a loyal and righteous person is indeed rare.
In the past few days, Yuling was not completely unaware of the news in the mansion.
The maids and old women couldn't help but discuss the managers of the various shops in private.
Qin Fang is a person that people often mention in casual conversations because of his handsome appearance, steady behavior, and the fact that he is still unmarried.
After Chu Ruohan asked Qin Fang that day, a quick-talking maid told the story to people she knew as an interesting anecdote. As time went by, there were some scattered rumors about Qin Fang.
Some said that he had high standards and looked down on ordinary women; others said that he had family difficulties and it was not convenient for him to get married.
Today, when Yuling was helping to sort the newly delivered cloth in the laundry room, she heard several maids in charge of purchasing gathered together and whispering.
"Have you heard? There seems to be some progress in the case of Manager Qin."
"What's the matter? Tell me!"
"I also heard that Manager Qin isn't too picky, nor does he have any brothers or sisters at home who need help, but..."
"It seems like she's been taking care of an elderly relative of an old friend. I heard she's an old lady and isn't in good health!"
"Ah? Really? Wouldn't that be very hard for him?"
"Who says he isn't? He seems so meticulous on weekdays, but I didn't expect he has such a loyal side. If that's true, then he's a rare good man."
Yuling paused slightly when she heard these words.
She remembered the gloom that flashed across Qin Fang's eyes when he mentioned being "burdened with trivial matters" in the flower hall that day, and she also remembered his slightly desolate back when he hurried away.
It turned out that he had such a hidden secret.
An inexplicable emotion surged in her heart, including sympathy, admiration, and a strange feeling that she herself could not explain.
She felt that the image of Qin Fang, who was usually taciturn, seemed to have become much more vivid and taller all of a sudden.
After returning from Fengle Lane, Chu Ruohan made a decision in her heart.
She called Yuling into her room and sent her attendants away.
"Yuling," Chu Ruohan said softly, looking at the maid who had been with her since she was a child, "I want to talk to you in detail about Qin Fang."
Yuling's heart tightened, she lowered her head, and said softly, "Madam, please speak."
Chu Ruohan told Yuling everything she had seen and heard in Fengle Lane today, as well as what the old woman had said about Qin Fang's past.
She did not hide anything, nor did she exaggerate anything, but simply stated the facts calmly.
Yuling listened quietly, twisting the corners of her clothes tightly with her hands. Her face turned from white to red, then from red to white, and her eyes gradually filled with tears.
She never imagined that Qin Fang was burdened with such affection and responsibility.
"...That's what happened." Chu Ruohan finished speaking and looked at Yuling. "I trust Qin Fang's character. He values friendship and loyalty, and is someone worth entrusting."
"But he still has his mother-in-law to take care of. This is a responsibility and a burden for him."
Chu Ruohan took Yuling's hand and said, "You are not young anymore. I wanted to introduce you to an honest and reliable man, but you fell in love with Qin Fang. But who knew?"
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