Chapter 214 - Chapter 214: Never Held Hatred
Chapter 214: Never Held Hatred
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“The Tian Family Village is about ten miles away from our Shanghe Village.’ Shen Yao slowly closed the book in his hand and said tirelessly, “There are a total of ten villages around Dingyuan County. The customs of each village are different. And the Tian Family Village has a particularly obvious bad habit of favoring boys over girls.’
“The villagers who were born and raised in the Tian Family Village are all very stubborn. The sons of the Tian Family Village are even more stubborn. If the child they give birth to is a daughter and not a son, they will be unhappy. Coincidentally, my maternal grandfather is also such a person.’
‘Grandfather also valued boys over girls?
‘Yes.” Shen Yao nodded. ‘Moreover, the situation in my maternal grandfather’s family is a little complicated. In the second year after giving birth to my mother, my maternal grandmother was pregnant again. Unfortunately, more than six months later, something happened to my maternal grandmother. She fell and couldn’t protect the child. In the end, she died in depression in less than three months.”
‘At that time, Mother was still young. Grandfather’s bloodline was thin, and he had to help look after the stove in a restaurant in the prefecture capital, so he brought Mother to the prefecture capital. However, the good times didn’t last long. When Mother was six years old, Grandfather accidentally injured his hand, so he lost his job in the prefecture capital.”
‘There was once a traveling Daoist priest who said that Mother was destined to carry evil spirits, which would jinx her father and mother. Only by marrying someone without parents and with an extremely life force could she resolve this evil spirit. Later on, Mother married Father.”
“What happened after that?”
‘After that, Grandfather married another wife and gave birth to two sons in a row. However, those two uncles were two years younger than Eldest Brother.” Shen Yao sighed softly. “Five years ago, when Mother brought Father back to the Tian Family Village to visit the new year, Youngest Uncle suddenly had a fever. That stepmother insisted that the murderous aura in Mother’s life was too strong, which hindered Youngest Uncle’s health. In addition, Grandfather also said some harsh words and forbade Mother from taking the surname
Tian.’
Only then did Zhao Lanhua change to her mother’s surname.
Ji Zhao really did not expect her warm and hearty mother-in-law to have such an unhappy past.
‘Mother must still be thinking about Grandfather in her heart.” Ji Zhao couldn’t help but sigh. “After all, no one in this world is willing to abandon kinship.”
Even if this familial love was not that beautiful, everyone would feel nostalgic for their parents.
This was probably human nature!
‘No matter what happens in the Tian Family Village tomorrow, I will accompany Mother,” Ji Zhao promised seriously.
After a simple wash, Ji Zhao fell asleep.
However, she dreamt again.
This dream was not a nightmare, but it was very disgusting!
The next day, when Ji Zhao yawned and walked into the kitchen, Zhao Lanhua was cutting cured meat.
‘Ah Tao, you’re awake? I left some corn porridge in the pot for you. Drink it while it’s hot.’
‘Alright, thank you, Mother!”
‘Girl, don’t say thank you so casually in this family. It’s too distant.” Zhao Lanhua pretended to look at her angrily. Ji Zhao could only chuckle foolishly.
‘Mother, what are you cutting?”
“1 want to give some of the cured meat to your maternal grandfather. Your maternal grandfather’s favorite dish is smoked cured meat. With this dish, he can drink at least two taels more wine!” Zhao Lanhua explained with a smile.
’11t sounds like Grandfather’s alcohol tolerance is not bad!”
“That’s right. You don’t know, but when your maternal grandfather was young, his alcohol tolerance was especially good.” Recalling the things that happened when she was young, Zhao Lanhua seemed to have opened a conversation box. “1n the past, when he was in the restaurant in the prefectural city, during festivals, the restaurant would give out a jar of good wine. During the Dragon Boat Festival, they would give out glutinous rice and duck eggs. During the Mid -Autumn Festival, they would give out lotus paste mooncakes. During the
Spring Festival, they would give out smoked cured meat!”
‘Stir-fry it with garlic sprouts and add fried peanuts. It’ll taste great,” Zhao Lanhua said with a smile. “1’11 make it for you tomorrow. You’ll know.’
‘Alright!” Ji Zhao replied with a smile.
At the end of the day, Eldest Brother Shen had already set up the carriage.
‘Mother, shall I send you and Third Sister-in-law off? The roads are slippery in this snowy weather. I’m worried about the two of you going out.” There was a simple and honest smile on Eldest Brother Shen’s face, but his tone was firm.
‘Alright.” Zhao Lanhua naturally would not refuse her son’s filial piety.
After getting into the carriage, Zhao Lanhua lowered her eyes to hide the worry in them.
Ji Zhao thought for a moment and took out an oil paper bag from her pocket.
‘And this is?”
‘Mother, it’s your favorite egg yolk peanut!” Ji Zhao said with a smile. “I specially made some this morning. Do you want to try it?”
‘Girl, didn’t I tell you to rest more?” Zhao Lanhua tapped her forehead angrily, but her beautiful eyes were clearly smiling.
‘Mother, why do you like peanuts so much?”
“1 probably took after your maternal grandfather.” Zhao Lanhua laughed bitterly. “Your maternal grandfather’s egg yolk peanuts are really delicious, but…”
“Third Brother told you about Mother, right?”
‘Yes.” Ji Zhao nodded slightly. “Shen Yao only mentioned it briefly. However, Mother, do you really not hate Grandfather?”
“I’ve never resented him,” Zhao Lanhua said softly. “1n fact, I’m very grateful to your maternal grandfather. Do you think that Mother is very foolish and filial?”
Ji Zhao subconsciously pursed her lips and shook her head gently.
‘Actually, Mother was quite lucky when I was young. Your maternal grandfather would always bring me beautiful silk flowers and beautiful dresses when he returned home during the holidays. Compared to other girls, I’m considered the more special one. Your maternal grandfather actually dotes on me very much.”
“It’s just that what the traveling Daoist priest said later…” Zhao Lanhua laughed bitterly. “Forget it, let’s not talk about the past.’
‘Mother, in fact, some traveling Daoists aren’t experts at all. Instead, they use the name of experts to swindle others!” Ji Zhao said angrily.
‘Maybe, but that’s not important anymore.” Zhao Lanhua combed the loose hair at her temples and asked with a smile, ‘Ah Tao, look, did Mother dress up well today?”
‘You’re beautiful!”
‘That’s great! It’s not easy for me to come back. I can’t let Tian Xiu’e look down on me!”
‘Tian Xiu’e?”
‘Your grandfather’s second wife.’
The carriage swayed all the way and finally arrived at the Tian Family Village before noon.
‘Mother, the road ahead is a little narrow. I’m afraid it’s not easy for the horse to move forward.” Eldest Brother Shen, who was driving the carriage, hurriedly stopped and asked anxiously.
“Then let’s walk over.” Zhao Lanhua quickly jumped off the carriage. ‘Son, find a place and tie up the carriage.”
‘Mother, why don’t we let Eldest Brother go back first?” Ji Zhao hurriedly said, “Firstly, Eldest Brother’s carriage is also rented. It won’t be good if someone steals the carriage! Secondly, Eldest Sister-in-law is still pregnant. Why don’t we let Eldest Brother go back first?”
‘Ah Tao, I want to stay…” Just as Eldest Brother Shen was about to explain, he saw Ji Zhao winking at him..