Chapter 214: The Death of Father Hu
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Wen Yu and Gu Jiu could not help but sigh.
When would their children be able to laugh and play so carefree like this?
They didn’t have to worry about their clothes getting dirty or their parents punishing them if their shoes got wet.
I Ian Qiao doted on the children. The children caught crabs by the stream. He Cheng was so small that he was led by his older brother and sisters. They took off their shoes and socks and played in the water.
They tied the crabs he caught with straw for him to play with.
He was so happy that he kept screaming.
“Children, we should set off,” Han Qiao said gently.
Even though her voice was not loud, the children immediately replied, “Yes, Mother.”
“Mother, here. Crab, eat!” He Cheng walked over with crabs.
He had long forgotten that his finger had been pinched by the crab a few days ago. The only thing he remembered was the taste of crabs.
Han Qiao tapped his forehead, “Aren’t you a little foodie,”
Before setting off again, Heng Yi checked the fire source and found that he couldn’t leave any sparks behind. He splashed water on it again and again.
After boarding the carriage, He Cheng and Sun Ke felt a little sleepy.
Han Qiao gave up the main seat and arranged the pillows for them to sleep next to each other.
Sun Xiu and Sun Yi leaned against each other and dozed off.
Han Qiao leaned in Heng Yi’s arms, and Heng Yi protected her slightly protruding abdomen.
Han Chi had already gone out to learn how to ride a horse from Wen Yu and Gu Jiu. With Zeng Baobao around, he became even more lively. Even if their legs were scraped, they would continue to play as if they were fine.
It was already evening when they arrived at Xishan Village.
When Han Qiao and the others appeared, Han Yuan was still in disbelief.
“All-Qiao?”
“Mother.”
Ever since they got angry the last time they met, the Han family was very nervous.
None of them didn’t dare to approach Han Qiao these days.
“All,” Han Yuan was a little excited and quickly asked her two daughters-in-law to come out.
Han Yuan asked them to call their aunt and call Father Han to come back home.
They hadn’t split up, but they needed to build another house. Those who could work at home were all busy there.
Grandpa and Grandma were also brought over from Eldest Uncle’s house.
Grandpa and Grandma noticeably had lost weight and looked haggard.
But they looked energetic.
The anger in Han Qiao’s heart dissipated when she saw this.
“Grandpa, Grandma,” Han Qiao called out softly.
Grandpa and Grandma were also emotional at the sight of her.
They were not used to living anywhere else after coming back from living with their granddaughter. They naturally missed their time in the county town, but as they continued to live here, they came to appreciate the liveliness in their home.
There were a lot of children, and they would run into their house when they had nothing to do. They would call out to them and give them some candy, and they would be able to play with them for a day.
In the county town, the children had to study, learn to read, and learn embroidery. They would only accompany them for a while.
It was expensive to go to the theater, and they also felt bad about the money Han Qiao spent on them.
Thinking that it was good to be in Xishan Village, they endured it.
They sighed, “It’s good that you’re back. It’s good that you’re back.”
The Han family had many members. When they heard that Han Qiao and Heng Yi had come for a visit, they all brought their things to Father Han’s side to help out.
They also chatted with Han Qiao.
When they were eating, they found out that Heng Yi had resigned from the government office, and the anger at the table was stifled.
Uncle Yao smiled, “Heng Yi and Ah-Qiao have their own plans. We don’t have to worry about them.”
This time, Han Qiao came back so suddenly that she didn’t see the annoying Han Xiang.
The Han family also tactfully did not mention Han Xiang. Despite being dissatisfied with her choice, they remained cordial.
The children were playing in the courtyard. They were very happy, uncaring if the sun had sunk and bid its farewell.
The adults had their own matters to discuss.
“Don’t collect the bamboo shoots anymore. They’re already old, so there’s no point in collecting them. However, wild fruits were not easy to transport. We have to be careful not to damage them,”
“That’s why we need to prepare some small baskets. We’ll separate them one by one so that they won’t be easily crushed.”
In short, things like fruits were not easy to transport.
However, if they were careful in their packaging and slowly transferred them to the county, they would be able to preserve them well.
Of course, they could also bring wine from the county town for them to brew, but wine was more expensive than wild fruits. If they fell on the road or someone tampered with it, the gains would not make up for the losses.
I Ian Qiao denied it without thinking.
She stayed overnight at the Han residence.
Han Qiao lived in Han Ming’s room. Just like Han Ming said, the room she and Heng Yi used to live in had always been empty. It had been carefully tidied up, and everything was clean.
The cushions and bedding were all brand new and had been washed clean.
After Han Qiao and Heng Yi lay down, Han Qiao sighed.
“I didn’t expect that we could come back here.”
“Do you regret giving the house away?”Heng Yi asked.
“I won’t regret it. After all, with this house, All-Ming and Ah-Hui will have one less thing to worry about. They’ll have free time to take care of the children. They call me aunt, so I have to do something for them.”
In the end, it was all for the sake of those poor girls.
“And I’ve never thought of staying in Xishan Village for the rest of my life.”
Regardless of whether she married Heng Yi or not.
She wanted to bring the children out of the mountains and live outside.
This house was built with the help of the Han family. She had thought it through when she considered giving the house to Han Ming.
Of course, it sowed a little discord.
Han Xiang had always wanted this house. If she didn’t give it to Han Ming, Han Xiang would always be thinking about it. If she gave it to Han Ming, Han Xiang wouldn’t be able to get it even if she wanted it.
Father Han and Mother Han would not agree to her choice.
Between her and Han Xiang, they would definitely side with Han Xiang, but between Han Xiang and Han Ming, they would definitely choose Han Ming.
Han Qiao felt that she was quite bad for having these thoughts.
She stayed at the Han family’s residence for a night and left for Ninghe Town early the next morning.
Because the Han family was now selling bamboo shoots, firewood, chickens, ducks, geese, and eggs, the family also had mule carts and ox carts, so the road had become very smooth.
It hadn’t rained recently, but the dust was rather heavy.
When they arrived at Ninghe Town, they first went to visit Master Wan.
Her little group of people didn’t want to have lunch at the Wan family’s place, so they made a casual meal and went to the Hu family.
Father Hu’s health was getting worse and worse. Even the doctor Heng Yi hired were helpless. They only said that the old man could eat whatever he wanted and that he did not have much time left.
One day was one day.
Father Hu was very happy to see Heng Yi and Han Qiao.
He praised Han Qiao, told her that she was very lucky, and told her that he wished them a good life together.
Third Brother Hu’s sisters and younger sisters had already brought their families back to accompany Father Hu on his last journey.
Maybe it was because he had seen all the people he wanted to see…
Father Hu passed away after lunch. He passed away in a particularly peaceful manner.
Third Brother Hu cried, but said, “My father has no regrets in this life.”
The person he cared about was by his side, accompanying him to the end of his journey.
Father Hu had passed away, so Heng Yi had to stay.
Han Qiao was pregnant, so she was afraid of bumping into other people. Heng Yi asked Bai Cha, Wen Yu, and Gu Jiu to send them back to the Urban area.
He had to stay and help.
Heng Yi wasn’t Father Hu’s adopted son, nor was he his relative. Third Brother Hu also had his own relatives, but he still gave Heng Yi a lot of work, almost as if he was his brother.
Heng Yi was very happy about it.
When Han Qiao returned to the county’s Heng manor, Aunt Zhao rushed over to her, “Madam, you’re back.. Something happened!”