Chapter 156 The Feud Between the Two Families
Han Xi had visited the Bo family many times. Grandpa Bo was not only knowledgeable and well-traveled, but he was also the one who founded Haohai Education Institution, which was well-known both at home and abroad.
I never imagined that he had worked for the Shen family when he was young, and that he had such a past with the old lady.
Shen Jiheng's face was already very pale, but from these words, he also understood those things that he had not understood in the past.
He asked, "Since you've already pledged your lives to each other, why did you choose to marry into the Shen family?"
The old lady looked at him and said, "Your Shen family is very powerful and has a business empire that covers the entire city of Chongqing. Back then, our ancestor calculated that my birth date and time were the most compatible with your grandfather's, so he sent someone to propose marriage. My father, in order to please the Shen family, was naturally eager to marry me off to them."
"So that's what happened. That's why you and Grandpa Bo were forced to separate." Han Xi could hear the helplessness in her tone, which must be because she regretted missing out on her lover.
The old lady sighed and said, "When I found out that my father had accepted the betrothal gifts and was going to marry me off, Shao Rong and I decided to elope. But we were discovered, and he was locked in the woodshed and beaten, forcing me to marry him."
Shen Jiheng's expression changed again, and his eyes showed more pity. He didn't know that his grandmother had gone through so much hardship when she married into the family.
Seeing the old lady's sorrow and pain, Han Xi patted her back and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“I couldn’t just watch him get beaten to death, and I knew we couldn’t be together. I originally wanted to return the jade pendant to him, but he insisted on giving it to me as part of my dowry.”
Now Han Xi understood the whole story, but he never expected it to be a romantic yet tragic past.
Shen Jiheng frowned and said, "Then why did you say later that the jade pendant was lost and that I had been looking for it for so many years?"
The old lady explained, "After I married and moved to Chongqing, I lost contact with him. A few years later, I heard that he had married and had children. I thought it wouldn't be good for the jade pendant to stay with me, since it was a family heirloom of the Bo family. I wanted to return it to him, but then it disappeared."
Han Xi asked curiously, "How could it disappear? Could there be a thief in the house?"
Considering the old lady's meticulous nature, she would surely keep such a precious item safe at home, so there was no chance of it getting lost.
Seeing the hatred on her face, Shen Jiheng guessed, "Could it be that my grandfather took it?"
This guess surprised Han Xi, but the old lady nodded.
She sighed softly and said, "After we got married, I was very cold to him. I don't know who he heard about my affair with Bo Shaorong from back then, but he took the jade pendant and had it sold."
Shen Jiheng now understands why the old lady has always been cold to his grandfather, regardless of whether he goes to cultivate or go elsewhere. It seems that she still holds a grudge about these things.
Han Xi could fully understand the old lady's anger and helplessness.
In that feudal society, women had no sovereignty, and even the last things they had left behind were taken away, so naturally they felt resentful.
"Then why didn't you go and redeem it back then?"
The old lady said helplessly, "I had someone inquire about it, and coincidentally, the jade pendant was bought by the Bo family. I was very relieved at the time, thinking that the matter was resolved, but..."
The old lady paused here, making Han Xi realize that something else seemed to be happening.
Shen Jiheng looked at her curiously: "Why did you stop talking? What was it?"
The old lady waved her hand, not wanting to continue, and tried to get up, but Shen Jiheng grabbed her arm.
Han Xi glared at Shen Jiheng. Even if he wanted to know the truth, he shouldn't treat the old man like that.
Han Xi comforted her, "Grandma, things have come to this point, you don't need to hide it anymore, just tell us."
The old lady pondered for a moment and nodded, ultimately allowing these past events to see the light of day again.
“Now that things have come to this, I’ll tell you. I was already angry that he took my jade pendant without my permission. I didn’t expect that he would not only not restrain himself, but also suppress Shao Rong behind his back, which ruined his newly developed business. I later heard that he was forced to sell the jade pendant to pay for his child’s medical treatment.”
"......"
Shen Jiheng was speechless after listening. Of course, he knew that the Shen family must have done a lot behind the scenes to grow so large.
However, after taking over, he focused solely on moving forward and did not bother to investigate what had happened in the past.
If the old lady hadn't brought it up now, I wouldn't have known that they had a grudge against the Bo family back then.
Han Xi felt extremely heavy-hearted. What the old lady said overlapped with what Bo Siye had said. Back then, Grandpa Bo did indeed sell his family heirloom to pay for his father's medical treatment.
Could it be Old Master Shen who secretly suppressed the Bo family when they were desperate back then?
Han Xi tentatively asked, "Grandma, did you continue to contact the Bo family after that?"
The old lady shook her head and said, "Back then, Shao Rong couldn't stay in Chongqing, so he left with his family. Before he left, he met with me and said that his biggest regret was that none of us kept the jade pendant."
Shen Jiheng said seriously, "That's why you've always wanted me to find the jade pendant."
The old lady nodded. This piece of Hetian jade had always been a knot in her heart. If she hadn't failed to protect it back then, it wouldn't have ended up outside.
The old lady looked at Shen Jiheng sincerely, patted his hand, and said meaningfully, "Jiheng, I know you are very filial. You have been helping me search for the jade pendant all these years. I only found it to return it to its rightful owner."
No wonder the old lady made him return the jade pendant without saying a word after learning who the other person was; that's why.
Han Xi chimed in, "Since this is Grandma's wish, you should return it to the Bo family. Si Ye said that Grandpa Bo fainted when he found out the jade pendant was taken."
The old lady asked anxiously, "How serious is he? Has he woken up?"
Judging from the old lady's reaction, she must still have feelings for her, but the guilt on her face made Han Xi feel sorry for her.
"It should be fine. Si Ye has gone to take care of you, so don't worry. I see you feel guilty, Grandma. It's been decades, so don't bother yourself anymore. Grandpa Bo is doing well, and I believe he doesn't blame you."
The old lady shook her head, rubbing her forehead, and said, "Fate is cruel."
Seeing that she looked unwell, Han Xi kindly helped her up, saying, "Grandma, I see you're tired too. Let me help you back to your room to rest."
The old lady was indeed exhausted. These secrets had been weighing heavily on her, and if she spoke them out now, they would become a burden on the younger generation. Their grievances with the Bo family seemed unresolved.
Shen Jiheng still had some doubts, but seeing the old lady's appearance, he couldn't bear to ask any further.
After Han Xi escorted the old lady back to her room, she came out and saw Shen Jiheng standing in the living room with a heavy expression.
Han Xi stepped forward and said, "When Grandma lay down just now, she told you to return the jade pendant. I believe you don't want to go against Grandma's wishes."
Shen Jiheng frowned. He was naturally unwilling, but he would still obey the old lady's wishes.
"I'll have Qin Chuan give you the things later, and you can hand them to him. But don't mention anything about Grandma to them. I don't want the Bo family to have any further involvement with us."
Seeing his attitude, Han Xi said bluntly, "The way you are now reminds me of the old man."
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