His own life was like a candle in the wind, which could go out at any time, but he was not afraid. However, Xu Qinghe was in the most brilliant years of his life and had just entered the marriage hall with his lover. The future was full of infinite possibilities and beauty. How could he let a momentary impulse destroy this peace and cast a shadow on the reputation of the Xu family?
She gently stroked the jade pendant she took out from her underwear, which was as warm as the early spring sun, and slowly placed it in Xu Qinghe's palm.
At that moment, the air seemed to freeze, leaving only the sound of the two people's heartbeats echoing in the small space.
"Last night, Sun Youfang sneaked into my room, aiming for this jade pendant." Zhu Yunxiu's voice was heavy. "Child, you may have never considered that you don't have Xu family blood flowing through your veins. The marriage between your mother and father was just a temporary measure to protect you from the wind and rain."
She took a deep breath. "In that turbulent era, your mother, a woman filled with hope and fear, fled persecution and came to the Xu family, seeking refuge under the guise of marriage. However, fate played a cruel trick on her. After giving birth, her body gradually weakened, and she ultimately could not survive that difficult time and passed away at an early age."
"Your maternal grandparents were a prominent family with a complex background. During that turbulent time, to protect your mother's safety, they chose to hide her in this remote village and entrusted her to our Xu family. They generously gave us enough wealth to renovate our home. During that time, our Xu family indeed experienced a great improvement in material terms, and we lived a more comfortable life than ever before."
"As time went by, the outside world became increasingly chaotic, and your maternal family seemed to be no exception. But fortunately, your true identity has never been discovered by outsiders, and no one has come to cause trouble for you."
"I've always hoped to take this secret to the grave, letting it fade away with the passage of time. But I never expected that Sun Youfang would know all this and try to use it to expose your life experience. I was afraid that you would be hurt, so I planned to take you away..."
At this point, a hint of determination flashed in Zhu Yunxiu's eyes, but it was also mixed with deep worry for his granddaughter.
After hearing this, Xu Qinghe raised the corners of his mouth slightly, thinking to himself that this was just an episode in his life experience, which was far from the big secret he had been expecting. He couldn't help but feel a little lost.
But she soon understood the old man's painstaking efforts. In the old man's view, the outside world was still full of crises, especially with the college entrance examination approaching. She was just afraid that Xu Qinghe would be implicated and exploited maliciously because of the exposure of her life experience.
Seeing the old woman's tears silently falling, Xu Qinghe said nothing, but hugged her tightly: "Grandma, this is really not a big deal, I can handle it. Even if Sun Youfang knew, she can't do anything to me. Don't worry, let's go home, everything will be fine."
Zhu Yunxiu's face was filled with worry. Seeing her granddaughter's composure, she thought she hadn't explained the seriousness of the situation clearly enough, so she emphasized again, "You don't know, your maternal family's background is extremely special. If it gets out, it could bring you unforeseen troubles."
"Grandma, I understand."
Xu Qinghe nodded heavily, and to reassure the old man, she added, "Please rest assured, everything will be fine. After all, that's a matter of my outside family, and has nothing to do with the Xu family. And since my mother married into the Xu family, I'm naturally a member of the Xu family. What background does the Xu family have that outsiders can't know?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunxiu quickly shook her head: "Indeed not."
"That's right. A daughter who is married off is like spilled water, which can never be taken back. Mom and I are both part of the Xu family. There is nothing to be afraid of. Who can assert that I am not my father's biological child?" Xu Qinghe's analysis woke Zhu Yunxiu up from her dream.
Time passes slowly, who can prove every little detail of the past?
Zhu Yunxiu suddenly realized that she was almost easily swayed by Sun Youfang's words, and she couldn't help but regret her previous worries.
"You're right, grandma was confused!" She had tears in her eyes and felt guilty for her previous concealment.
With the misunderstanding cleared up, the old man's heart knot finally untied, and he followed Xu Qinghe on the journey home.
On the way down the mountain, Xu Qinghe suggested, "Grandma, please tell me more about your maternal family. If they're really in trouble, I'll have to think of a way to help them. Any help is appreciated."
"That was a long time ago..." Zhu Yunxiu hesitated, and secretly didn't want her granddaughter to be involved in the turbulent and complicated past.
"It's okay, grandma. Just treat it as a small talk to relieve your boredom and tell me about it. As for whether I can help or not, it depends on whether I can do it."
Just like this, in the afterglow of the setting sun, the grandfather and grandson walked slowly, talking about the past as they walked, touching each other's hearts.
Xu Qinghe looked thoughtful as he gently stroked the old photo in his hand, thinking to himself: My grandfather's family was able to foresee the importance of protecting my mother in that turbulent era and hid her in a remote village at all costs.
At that time, there were countless kind-hearted people who had been wronged and wronged in the world. Xu Qinghe knew in his heart that he would never hesitate to lend a helping hand when he could, because these were his closest relatives who were connected to him by blood.
Zhu Yunxiu looked at her granddaughter and was pleased to find that she was no longer the little girl who only knew how to play.
So Zhu Yunxiu told all the past events without reservation.
It is said that when Xu Qinghe's mother was nearing the end of her life, even though her grandfather's family had not yet completely escaped the predicament, they still tried their best. When her mother was seriously ill, they secretly invited a highly skilled doctor in an attempt to save the life that was about to disappear.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Those feeble efforts ultimately failed to turn the tide, and my mother passed away within a few years.
Then, the torrent of history surged, and the social turmoil made the distant relatives fight for themselves and were unable to take care of themselves.
With no other choice, he had to entrust Zhu Yunxiu and her son to take care of the young and helpless Xu Qinghe, and then there was no news from him.
"I heard that your grandparents may have been sent to a remote farm, and that your uncle responded to the call of the times and became an educated youth. As for his whereabouts, it is a mystery." Zhu Yunxiu sighed lightly.
Xu Qinghe listened carefully to every word and promised firmly: "I understand. I will find a way to find out about them. Grandma, don't worry too much. I have a roof over your head now."
At this point, Xu Qinghe suddenly remembered that she seemed to have neglected Yin Yunjie, and quickly apologized to her grandmother: "Grandma, please rest for a while under the shade of this tree. I will go up the mountain to look for Yin Yunjie. Don't let him wait in vain."
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