Jiang Huai snuggled happily in Jiang Shan's arms for a while before being taken away by Mr. Xunmei to study with Sanlang.
Although he was still extremely unwilling, his mother promised to continue sleeping with him at night, so he gave in.
When they reached Fu Ting's side, Jiang Huai suddenly grabbed Fu Ting's hand and said in a childish voice, "Grandpa, let's go together!"
That one call of "Grandpa" brought tears to Fu Ting's eyes.
Jiang Shan looked over in puzzlement, wondering when these two had become so close. He suddenly recalled how Fu Qiyuan had tried various methods to get Jiang Huai to call him "Dad." They were father and son, even their tricks were similar.
It's probably genetic.
Jiao's mother's expression was not good. If Shan'er knew the truth, she would definitely not be willing to marry into the Fu family. What kind of grandfather is he!
Fu Ting happily took Jiang Huai's little hand and followed Mr. Xunmei to the backyard.
The old patriarch stroked his beard and followed along, forcing himself to be brave.
Although he doesn't like reading, he loves watching his great-grandson recite his lessons. This kid is so promising!
As Fu Qiyuan watched them walk away, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of Jiao's mother's dark face when he looked away. His heart tightened, and his face turned pale.
As clever as he was, how could he not know that his father had sold him off to please his mother?
Jiang Shan didn't notice the subtle tension between the mother and son. She stood up listlessly from her chair and said, "Mother, I'm going to check out the branch in the east of the city. I also need to go to the newly opened cake shop later, so I won't be back for lunch."
Jiao's mother stepped forward, took her hand, carefully examined her complexion, and sighed softly, "It's good to go out for a walk, just don't overwork yourself, and come back soon, okay?"
Jiang Shan nodded silently, turned back to give Fu Qiyuan a reassuring smile, and then left.
The atmosphere in the house hasn't been good these past few days; there's an indescribable sense of oppression. Perhaps she hasn't completely accepted Jiao's mother as her biological mother without any reservations, or perhaps she still can't get used to the two souls in her mind.
In this atmosphere, she felt somewhat anxious and uncertain.
She worried that her modern soul would be ostracized and leave this world forever, thus completely losing her Jiang Huai!
She then worried that the original owner Jiang Shan's soul would affect her modern soul, making her no longer herself.
She worried that if Fu Qiyuan discovered that there were two souls in her body, what would he do?
She felt like she was going crazy!
This is not good!
After Jiang Shan left, only Jiao's mother and her son Fu Qiyuan remained in the house.
Jiao's mother turned and went back to her room. As she closed the door, Fu Qiyuan blocked it.
"Mother..." he called out pitifully, his eyes filled with pleading.
Jiao's mother glared at him fiercely and sat down in the chair.
Fu Qiyuan walked over dejectedly, silently lifted his robes and knelt before Jiao's mother, trembling as he said, "Mother, your child... your child has failed Shan'er, failed your teachings. Your child dares not ask for your forgiveness, only begs that you not make things difficult for yourself, and not grieve any further..."
"Don't call me mother! I'm not your mother!" Jiao's mother hardened her heart and turned her head to the side, ignoring Fu Qiyuan.
Fu Qiyuan buried his head in his mother's lap in anguish. "Mother, I owe you and Shan'er so much that I can never repay you in this lifetime. If there is an afterlife, I will never let you and Shan'er suffer again!"
Jiao's mother closed her eyes and slapped Fu Qiyuan hard on the back. "I would rather abandon Shan'er than not protect you. I have never regretted it. But why did you treat my Shan'er so badly? She's just a fool! How could you be so heartless, you wicked child!"
Fu Qiyuan's mind was once again filled with the memory of that night in Huaigu Village, and how happy the foolish woman was when she saw him.
"Erlang, what's wrong? Let's go home, I'll take you home right now!"
"Erlang, why are you so hot? Are you sick? I'll hold you, don't be afraid!"
"Erlang, you're shivering. Are you cold? Don't be afraid, I'll take off my clothes and give them to you."
"Erlang, be gentle, it hurts..."
"Waaah, Erlang, it hurts so much..."
Fu Qiyuan slapped himself hard across the face, and tears streamed down his face instantly.
"Shan'er...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...!"
Looking with heartache at the deep finger marks on Fu Qiyuan's handsome face, Jiao's mother said with great distress, "How could you be so foolish! Shan'er was your fiancée... but you... what a tragedy!"
Fu Qiyuan was heartbroken. Every night after regaining his memory, whenever he recalled that scene, his heart ached so much that he could hardly breathe.
But what's done is done, and he was powerless to defend himself.
He owes Shan'er and Huai'er something, and he will spend the rest of his life... and the next life, and countless lifetimes to love them and make it up to them!
“Mother, I know I am guilty of a grave sin, but my feelings for Shan’er are as clear as day. I dare not hide it from you. The Shan’er I love is the one who is now! Even though I committed an unforgivable sin against Shan’er in the past, the Shan’er I love is the one who has lost her memory, not the foolish Jiang Shan who was once betrothed to me!”
Jiao's mother stared blankly at Fu Qiyuan, then suddenly raised her hand.
The once foolish girl, now Shan'er... Jiao's mother's raised hand hesitated to fall.
"You...explain yourself! What do you mean? What exactly are you trying to say?"
Fu Qiyuan raised his head and said, word by word, "Mother, Shan'er is your biological daughter. I want to cherish her, love her, and take good care of her, not because she was once engaged to me, but because she has a completely new soul. What I love is this soul of hers, not that silly little sister!"
Jiao's mother's heart pounded wildly. She said, somewhat flustered and confused, "No matter what kind of soul she is, she's still my daughter! My own daughter! I won't allow you to hurt her again!"
With tears streaming down his face, Fu Qiyuan smiled and said, "Mother, I swear on my life that I will never let anyone hurt Shan'er and Huai'er again in this lifetime!"
Jiao's mother steadied herself, took a deep breath, and said, "As long as Shan'er is doing well, whether she forgives you or is willing to marry you is Shan'er's choice, and I will respect her choice. Whether you and she can rekindle your relationship, and whether you and Huai'er can maintain this father-son bond, is up to fate. I can't worry about that anymore!"
Fu Qiyuan bowed down and kowtowed heavily.
No one knew what kind of inner turmoil and fear Jiao's mother was experiencing at that moment.
The new soul that she had deliberately ignored over the years, now attached to Shan'er, had become a death knell deep within Jiao's mother's heart.
If this brand-new, intelligent soul that everyone loves doesn't belong to her Shan'er, then who is this Shan'er? And where is her Shan'er?
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