afternoon.
Xiao Ruanruan and Old Madam Qin together pushed Old Master Qin towards the stage in the Qin family courtyard.
While Xiao Ruanruan and Madam Qin were making preparations, Su Xiaowu, Su Lei, Su Qianqian, and Qin Sihan stayed by Grandpa Qin's side.
After Xiao Ruan Ruan left, Grandpa Qin's loving gaze remained fixed on Su Xiao Wu.
His lips moved several times, as if he wanted to speak but then stopped. However, remembering what Old Madam Qin had said about their eldest brother, Su Yiqing, not wanting to acknowledge him, he swallowed all the questions he wanted to ask.
Soon, the melodious sound of a flute rose from the stage, followed by other background music.
In an instant, everyone's attention was drawn to the stage.
Madam Qin went on stage in a red opera costume, with flowing cloud-shaped shoulders, a jade belt, and a skirt. She wore light makeup, although she was no longer as graceful as she had been in her youth due to her advanced age.
However, when Madam Qin put on her costume, her eyes sparkled and her every gesture exuded an indescribable grace and elegance.
A beautiful woman, even in her old age, is still a beautiful woman!
"The splendor of the past has not faded, the fragrance of the Six Dynasties lingers; the smoke of tobacco fills the world, breaking the hearts of men..."
As the mournful sound of the flute gradually faded, Madam Qin began to sing. Her aged voice sang a melodious opera tune, but it carried a greater weight and sense of desolation than when she was young, a weight that came from having experienced the vicissitudes of life.
Little Ruanruan played the flute, and the flute's notes harmonized perfectly with Old Madam Qin's voice.
Su Xiaowu, Su Lei, Su Xixi, and Qin Sihan, who didn't understand the opera, only thought the flute music was beautiful and that Grandma Qin on stage walked gracefully.
Tears welled up in the corners of Old Master Qin's eyes.
His first meeting with Madam Qin was when she was singing this opera on stage, and he was an audience member.
In that era, actors were considered the lowest of the low, and as the heir of a powerful family like the Qin family, he would never have been allowed to marry an actor.
However, when you're young, you really can do anything for love.
In order to marry Madam Qin, he had already decided not to inherit the Qin family and even sever ties with the Qin family.
However, Old Madam Qin managed to win over the Qin family patriarch, who wanted to prevent them from being together, by using her business acumen.
After that, they lived through turbulent times and faced many hardships. Fortunately, Madam Qin was by his side, offering advice and helping him through these challenges, which saved the Qin family.
After the song ended, Madam Qin went backstage to remove her makeup, and then took out the top jade flute from the flutes hanging on the wall.
The jade flute is made of the finest mutton-fat white jade, with a warm and smooth texture, and it is clearly not a modern artifact.
She put the jade flute into a box and handed it to Xiao Ruanruan, saying, "Xiao Ruanruan, this jade flute is a thank-you gift from Grandma for accompanying her. You can't refuse it."
Little Ruanruan hesitated for a moment, then said obediently, "Thank you, Grandma Qin."
Old Madam Qin reached out and ruffled her soft hair, "Good child..."
Her family had been running a Peking Opera troupe for generations, until she married Mr. Qin, at which point the family disbanded the troupe.
This jade flute was a family heirloom, originally intended to be passed down to the daughter. Now that the daughter is gone, it has been passed down to the granddaughter, which puts an end to a long-cherished wish.
Old Madam Qin led Xiao Ruan Ruan out of the backstage area.
Qin Sihan pouted, holding Xiao Ruanruan's hand with eyes full of reluctance, "Ruanruan, are you really going home? Aren't you going to stay with us for a few more days?"
Little Ruanruan shook her head with a serious expression, "I've been playing at your house for a long time now. If I don't go home soon, my brothers will miss me!"
"Okay!" Qin Sihan said somewhat sullenly, "Then why don't you go home and stay for a while, and then come to our house to play again?"
I'll wait for you to come, and then we'll dig for earthworms, fish, and make perfume together.
This time, you and Brother Qin Huan had rabbit hot pot, and I didn't get to eat any. You must take me with you next time!
"Okay, I promise you!" Little Ruanruan stood on tiptoe and patted Qin Sihan's shoulder, agreeing confidently.
Grandpa Qin, whose eyes were red and who had been staring at Xiao Ruanruan, pushed his wheelchair to her side and reached out his withered hand to touch her face.
But after lifting it up, it was put down again.
Little Ruanruan shuffled her short legs to him, then took Old Master Qin's hand with her two tender, lotus-root-like hands and placed it on her face.
A pair of big, bright eyes, like black grapes, looked earnestly at Grandpa Qin. "Grandpa Qin, you must get better soon. When you get better, Xiaoruanruan and her sister will take you to dig for earthworms and go fishing."
"Okay!" Old Master Qin replied with a slightly trembling smile.
He originally wanted to tell Xiaoruanruan and the others that he would take them back.
He wanted to see his other grandchildren, but when he heard what Xiao Ruanruan said, he couldn't say anything.
Su Yiqing has already made things very clear, so if he tries anything further, it would seem rather despicable.
Su Xixi was looking in the direction of Qin Huan's courtyard, her face full of doubt. "Strange, why haven't I seen the little mute boy today? Didn't we agree yesterday that he would come to see us off when we went home today?"
Hearing Su Qianqian's mutterings, Qin Sihan pulled her aside and whispered, "Brother Qin Huan went to visit Auntie in prison early this morning."
"They're not back yet? It's already afternoon."
Qin Sihan shook her head. "He probably hasn't come back yet. I haven't seen Brother Qin Huan since this morning."
"Okay, then I'll just have to come see him and Xifan again next time," Su Xixi said with a hint of regret.
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