Chapter 628: Cotton-Padded Jacket During Winter
Translator: Endlessæantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Shen Qiuhua teared up when she recalled her memories. “My grandmother loved me, but I couldn’t save her. I was too young then. I feel sad just thinking about it.
“My mother passed away when I was a child, and my grandmother raised me. I was ten then, and my grandmother worried about me even though she was dying. I still remember what she looked like.
“She told me to live a simple and happy life and to forget about the Shen family. She said they would be in chaos soon and that most would not survive. Lian Qiao brought me to Blossom Village, and we left the Shen family behind.
“l addressed Lain Qiao as Mother when we lived there for a while. When she brought me away again, she died in a fire.”
Shen Qiuhua had never mentioned this to anyone, not even the Su family.
Su Binglan’s heart ached when she listened to her mother’s story. She hugged her mother, saying, “You’ve suffered so much, Mother.”
Shen Qiuhua looked at her daughter and smiled. She shook her head and said, “l didn’t. I’m content to have children like you and a family like this. I like my life with my family now. My husband treats me well, and so do my children.
“My life is perfect because I have a harmonious and loving family. I don’t
know what my life would’ve been like without the Shen family’s misfortune. Besides, your grandmother treated me well and couldn’t bear to see me suffer.’
Although Shen Qiuhua had been through a lot, she did not have to worry about being hunted down.
“Doesn’t your brother not welcome you back?”
Shen Qiuhua shook her head. “Your uncle isn’t a bad person. He’s my biological brother and has always supported me and my grandmother when she was alive.
“Your uncle is honest; only he and my grandmother know my identity. Your aunt is the one who has a problem with me. My grandmother and brother protected me from her when I lived with them. That made your aunt even angrier.
“l didn’t want to make things difficult for my brother, so I lived with your father in Su Teng Village, far from Blossom Village. Still, 1 visit my brother during the holidays.
“I’m grateful to your grandmother and uncle. They’re my family, too, after all.
When Shen Qiuhua left, the Shen family no longer treated her as the main branch’s young lady. However, she was happy and did not care about that. Su Binglan nodded. “That’s my caring grandma and uncle, I guess.”
She was grateful that they had saved her mother and treated her well. Therefore, she planned to bring her uncle some gifts when visiting him for the holidays.
“Mother, did you ever consider returning to the Shen family when we lived in poor conditions?” Su Binglan asked curiously.
“No, I never did.” Shen Qiuhua shook her head. “My grandma told me to live well, and the only way to do that is to stay far away from the Shen family’s conflicts.
“Although we didn’t have a great life in the past, we could sleep soundly. I’d be harming you if I returned to the Shen family.”
Shen Qiuhua felt a lingering fear as she spoke of her past. “l heard the family’s internal strife took the lives of a few of my uncles and siblings.”
Su Binglan could understand it. After all, the Shen family was one of the six great families. What happened to them was unsurprising, as they constantly fought for power.
“Mother, I heard Shen Qiuhui is now the head of the Shen family.”
Shen Qiuhua nodded. “l know, but I didn’t expect it, especially since he’s my stepbrother. His mother passed away not long after he was born. My father remarried and treated Qiuhui poorly.
“l even saw my father beating him once. Later, I told Quihui to go to my courtyara ana tnat tne servants would onng mm rooa. 1 also 01ten Drougnc him to play and gave him plenty of fun things to do.
“Although I wasn’t close to my siblings, Quihui obeyed and depended on me. You know when someone is in need, and you can’t help but help them? Also, he was younger than me, so I wanted to be good to him.
“l didn’t expect Qiuhui to survive in such a conflict-filled environment and even become the head of the family.”
Shen Quihua later found out about matters regarding the Shen family. Still, she never considered returning to them. She wanted her children to live relaxed lives without being bound to such conflict.
‘It’s good to be where we can eat good food and wear clean clothes. Our days are easy-going, and we can sleep soundly in Su Teng Village.’ Su Binglan said, “So, that makes Shen Mohen my cousin?”
“Yes.” Shen Qiuhua nodded.
Su Binglan looked at her mother’s expression and asked, “Don’t you want to acknowledge any of your family members, Mother? I heard that Mohen and his father have been looking for you.
“The Shen family isn’t like before, and I can protect you now. You no longer have to worry about anything and can do whatever you want.”
Shen Qiuhua was silent for a moment before sighing. “l was closest with my grandmother and had a good relationship with my younger brother when I lived with the Shen family.
“But I always worried about my brother when I moved to Blossom Village.”
Su Binglan said, “You can acknowledge certain family members as your family but not let anyone know.”
“l understand. I want to see your uncle and cousin, but I don’t want to have anything to do with the rest of the Shen family.”
“l told Cousin Mohen he should stay for dinner. If he recognizes you tonight, then so be it. We won’t have to avoid him, right?”
Shen Qiuhua nodded smilingly. He knew her daughter was warm and caring, like a cotton-padded jacket during winter.
‘My daughter can understand me without needing to hear me speak.’
Afterward, the mother-daughter duo returned to the kitchen to cook.
At that moment, Liu Yinyin had already seasoned the rice. It needed to be just night, or it would not taste good. Liu Yinyin looked at Su Binglan and said, “Binglan, can you taste this and see if it’s good?”
Su Binglan took a whiff, then picked up some rice with her chopsticks and tasted it. “It’s pretty good. We used to make bean cakes alongside the rice cakes. We can add something new, too.”
Everyone perked up when they heard that. Su Wenzhe was kneading dough as
he asked impatiently. “What do we add?”
“l can make sweet potato and brown sugar cakes. If we have milk, the pastry will be more delicious.’
However, the bison with the spiritual energy that Su Binglan found in the mountains was still at the border. The cows at Su Teng Village differed from the bison.
Su Binglan thought setting up a farm to produce milk after the New Year was a good idea..