Lu Yanzheng wanted to say he didn't remember, but he did have some impression of this woman.
Just from the fact that the two families haven't been in contact for so long, it's clear that this so-called aunt probably doesn't have a very good relationship with his mother.
The girl called Xiuer looked to be just over the age of marriage, and when she saw Lu Yanzheng, she was momentarily dazed.
She actually has a cousin like that?
"What are your plans for the future, Aunt?" Lu Yanzheng asked directly, ignoring Chen Xiuer's gaze.
She just said she was going to Dingshui Village to find Chen Shi. What happens after she finds Chen Shi? She can't just rely on Chen Shi to support her from now on, can she?
The woman covered her face and cried, "What can a woman like me do? I'm also taking care of your cousin, who is an unmarried girl. We can only wait until we see your mother."
Lu Yanzheng was unaware of the connection between Chen Shi and this woman, so he couldn't make a decision for her. After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about this, I still have some dry food here. Aunt and Xiu'er, fill your stomachs first, and I'll have someone take you to Dingshui Village later."
Ms. Chen looked around and asked in confusion, "Aren't you coming back with us?"
"I have other things to do, so I won't personally see Auntie off," Lu Yanzheng said indifferently.
Madam Chen didn't mind his attitude; she took the things and left with Chen Xiuer.
Jiang Qinyu and the others left before she emerged from behind Lu Yanzheng, looking curiously at Xiao Chenshi's retreating figure and asking, "Why have I never heard Mother mention this before?"
“I don’t know either, but Mother does have a younger sister who is eight years younger than her, in Chenjiawan Village.” Lu Yanzheng recalled the information he had looked up about Old Man Lu and Madam Chen.
His lost memories haven't returned yet, but the more times he returns to Dingshui Village, the more he remembers certain things and certain people.
Jiang Qinyu had no recollection of this, because after she married into the Lu family, Chen never mentioned her own family, nor did she see any of her family members come to visit.
But the porridge stall was already busy, and Jiang Qinyu couldn't care less about Xiao Chen and her daughter. She had to go and keep an eye on things so that the person cooking the porridge wouldn't be stingy with the ingredients.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chenshi and Chen Xiuer embarked on their journey to Dingshui Village.
Since they couldn't find any oxcarts or mule carts going that way, the two had to walk.
"Mother, you're already like this, why don't you eat it?" Chen Xiuer stuffed the dried meat that Lu Yanzheng had just given her into Xiao Chenshi's hand.
Little Chen stuffed it back into her mouth, saying, "You eat it. I don't know how many more days I have left. I can't waste such good food."
"Mother, don't say that. You will definitely live to be a hundred years old..." Chen Xiuer said, and then she started to cry.
Overnight, she lost her father and two brothers. Her mother also fainted and vomited blood many times due to excessive grief and was on the verge of death.
Madam Chen gave a wry smile. "I know my own body. Xiu'er, be good. When we get to your aunt's house, you must behave properly and not upset her, understand?"
"I'll listen to you, Mother. You should rest. We don't need to rush." Chen Xiuer knew what her mother was thinking, but there were some things she couldn't say.
Ms. Chen shook her head, "We need to hurry..."
She had a premonition that she probably only had two days left to live.
Before he died, he had to make arrangements for his daughter's later life, otherwise she would not be able to die in peace.
The mother and daughter walked slowly, and by the time they arrived at Dingshui Village, it was already past noon.
Today, Li Dachui and Chen Shao were on duty at the lookout tower. They spotted the Chen family mother and daughter from afar.
Seeing that there were only two women, they didn't go to announce their arrival, and only came down to inquire when the others got closer.
"Where are you from? Who are you looking for?" Li Dachui asked loudly.
Xiao Chenshi and Chen Xiuer were both stunned by the two watchtowers at the entrance of the village. What kind of village still has these?
Upon hearing Li Dachui's question, Xiao Chenshi snapped out of her daze and quickly replied, "Brother, we are from Chenjiawan Village. My sister married into the Lu family in your village, and we've come to find her."
"The Lu family?" Li Dachui thought for a moment. "Oh, you mean Old Lu's wife, Chen?"
There was only one family with the surname Lu in their village, and that was Lu Yanzheng's family.
“Yes, yes, that’s their house!” Little Chen nodded repeatedly.
Upon hearing that the person was looking for Chen Shi, Chen Shao, who was still on the lookout tower, immediately jumped down from there.
"Auntie, I'll take you there," Chen Shao said with a chuckle.
After thanking her, Madam Chen was helped by Chen Xiuer to the Lu family's house.
It was only a short distance, but Chen Shao called out from afar, "Aunt Chen, your relatives have come to visit!"
Just as Chen and Amber finished cleaning up the kitchen, they heard shouts outside. They quickly came out of the kitchen, pushed open the courtyard gate, and asked, "Who is it...?"
Chen's words caught in her throat. Her gaze lingered on Little Chen for a moment before she stiffened and froze.
"Big sister?" Little Chen rushed forward, tears streaming down her face. "I've finally seen you!"
Chen Xiuer stepped forward and bowed to Chen Shi, saying, "Auntie, I am Xiuer."
Startled back to her senses by the cries of her younger sister, Madam Chen quickly grabbed one of them with each hand, her eyes also moist, and said, "Don't be so formal, let's go inside quickly."
After she finished speaking, she turned back and thanked Chen Shao.
Chen Shao waved his hand and went back to the observation tower.
As he walked along the road, he scratched his head and muttered to himself, "Strange, why do I feel like I've seen that old lady before when I was a child?"
In the main room of the Lu family, Yunzhu had already taken Shufan and Pan'er back to the next room, while Amber stayed behind to help Chen Shi take care of Xiao Chen Shi and her daughter.
Ms. Chen had just finished crying and recounted her family's tragic experiences.
"Big sister, it's been twelve years since we last met. You don't even recognize me anymore, do you?" Little Chen said, sniffling.
Chen shook her head, "You are my sister, and I will recognize you no matter how much time passes."
Before she got married, she fell off a cliff while climbing a mountain in the rain, injuring herself and becoming unable to have children. When the news spread, the whole village regarded her as an unlucky person.
Instead of feeling sorry for her situation, her parents thought she couldn't have children and no one would want her in the future, making her a complete financial burden. Therefore, they treated her badly at home.
At that time, only her younger sister, Xiao Chenshi, still cared for her. She would secretly bring her her own food, help her with chores when their parents couldn't see, and give her things she found on the mountain to make up for the amount their parents required.
In short, she was grateful to Ms. Chen.
"Elder sister, I don't have many days left to live. The reason I brought Xiu'er to find you is because I know you are kind-hearted. Xiu'er is your niece after all. I only ask that after I die, you make sure she has something to eat and doesn't go hungry..."
The more Ms. Chen spoke, the more heartbroken she became, and she started sobbing again towards the end.
Hearing her words of entrusting her with the care of her child, Madam Chen was at a loss for words.
Logically speaking, since Xiao Chen had been kind to her, she shouldn't have refused her kindness at this time.
But the Lu family isn't ruled by her alone.
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