Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Han Qiao looked at Heng Yi in surprise.
Heng Yiâs expression was as calm as usual.
âFather, Mother,â Han Qiao was still polite and kind.
There was a faint smile and gentleness on her face.
âDaughter-in-law,â Old Woman Heng hurriedly replied.
Old Man Heng nodded dryly.
âWhat brings you here? Oh, have you received the New Yearâs gift that I asked someone to send to you?â
Old Woman Heng and Old Man Heng both looked at Han Qiao, âYou sent someone to send something to us?â
âYes, I sent it to Heng Family Village. Itâs been a few days now.â Han Qiao asked in surprise.
Old Woman Heng and Old Man Heng licked their lips.
They didnât go to Heng Family Village at all.
The houses in the town were all torn down after being sold to Heng Yi. They were now living in Zhen Niangâs house.
âWe also sent the filial piety silver to Heng Family Village, but Father and Mother didnât receive it?â
âOh, right, 1 also sent the gold bracelet to you.â
When Old Woman Heng heard this, she couldnât sit still anymore.
âY-you sent them all?â
âYes. I thought Father and Mother had already received them.â
âW-we havenât returned to the Heng Family Village,â Old Woman Heng whispered.
âOh, 1 see.â
Han Qiao didnât care where they went.
After all, Heng Yi wasnât the only one who cared about his life.
âT-then w-weâllâ¦â Old Woman Heng was eager to return home.
All she could think about was the gold bracelet and one tael of silver waiting for them at home.
They had been living with Zhen Niang for the past few days, and there were no children or grandchildren by her side. They let their pocket loose, and they could spend their money everywhere. The old man even went to the tavern to drink every day.
Silver flowed out like water, and every time they thought about it, their heart ached.
ââ¦â Old Woman Heng looked at Han Qiao.
She wanted to live in this big house.
But then, she looked at Heng Yi, who had a dark look on his face.
âOld man, letâs go back.â
Old Man Heng was silent.
How could he not want to stay?
However, Heng Yi and Han Qiao didnât have any intention of keeping them.
He could only nod.
âFather, Mother, take care. Heng Yi and 1 wonât send you off.â
They didnât let the two of them take anything from them.
Looking at the closed door, Old Woman Heng and Old Man Heng looked at each other.
What were they doing here?
Why did they come here?
âLetâs go back to Heng Family Village.â
The golden bracelet that she had been longing for her entire life was now in Heng Family Village.
Meanwhile, back in Heng Manor, Han Qiao scoffed.
She didnât send anything to Heng Family Village at all.
Since the old couple loved to walk around and make a scene so much, they could walk back and forth as much as they liked.
Old Woman Heng and Old Man Heng walked back to Heng Family Village on their two legs. By the time they arrived, the sky was almost dark.
The two of them were cold and hungry. This time, the mud all over their body and the miserable expressions on their faces were not fake.
Among the four brothers of the Heng family, Heng Silang was doing business in the county town, and the whole family didnât come back for the new year. The other three brothers also didnât get along on the surface, and each of them had their own plans.
They had almost fought over the wooden planks and tiles in Heng Yiâs two houses.
Now that they were separated, Old Woman Heng was going to live in Heng Dalangâs house.
The two of them headed straight for their eldestâs house.
Heng Dalangâs family was now living under a thatched shed, and their new residence was next to it.
Because the brothers werenât united, the cousins werenât willing to help, so they cultivated slowly.
Now, the foundation had been dug out.
Heng Erlangâs house was next door, but it wasnât much better.
Heng Sanlang was quite shrewd. He had asked his wifeâs family to help him, and he had built quite a lot, but he was still far from being able to live there.
Looking at the couple at the door, Heng Dalang was extremely surprised. âFather, Mother, why are you back?â
In terms of resentment, Heng Dalang was on the end of the spectrum.
They ate chaff in the countryside while his parents ate big meals in town.
âI came back to get my gold bracelet.â
âWhat gold bracelet?â Heng Dalang stomped his feet. âMother, are you old and muddle-headed? Where did you get the gold bracelet? Fifth Sister-in-law didnât give you the gold bracelet that she promised you.â
âHan Qiao said she sent someone to send Heng Family Village over.â Old Woman Hengâs face was like a tigerâs.
She was thirsty and tired from her journey.
And, she was still angry.
âMother, Heng Yiâs wife must be lying to you. No one came to our house. If you donât believe me, come in and take a look.â
The thatched cottage was small and cramped, so it was easy to see what was inside.
A family of several people living in one room, fighting until they were about to get married, was not something that could be helped.
Old Woman Heng looked around and searched, but the gold bracelet was nowhere in sight.
Suddenly, she understood, âThis damn b*tch lied to me.â
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and her heart trembled.
Old Man Heng sat on the side, telling First Sister-in-law Heng to cook something.
First Sister-in-law Heng knew that her parents-in-law had money, so she didnât dare to delay and quickly went to cook a bowl of oil soup noodles.
The starving couple wolfed down the food. As they ate, Old Woman Heng felt a little uncomfortable.
âWe are suffering. While theyâre eating well in the county town, weâre drinking white water here.â
ââ¦â Old Man Heng said nothing.
He thought of a plan.
Letâs go back to the county town.â
He wanted to see if Heng Yi dared to kill him.
âOld man, Heng Yi, he-â
âLetâs go.â
Old Man Heng wanted to go to the county town, so Old Woman Heng had to follow him.
Heng Dalangâs family did not stop them.
Back in the Heng Mansion, Heng Yi was studiously reading and writing the Three Character Classic after dinner.
Han Qiao was also writing by his side.
She wrote better and faster than Heng Yi.
Heng Yiâs handwriting was so big. He looked at Han Qiaoâs handwriting with envy.
He started writing on the paper a second time.
A piece of white Xuan paper was completely black before it was replaced by another.
After practicing a few times, the words became neater and could be read.
It was said that one could draw a picture from a gourd. This saying was not wrong.
After a few times, Heng Yi was able to write the Three Character Classic down.
Han Qiao went to warm herself by the fire and rest.
She wouldnât work as hard as Heng Yi, because she would.
When the oil lamp crackled and the room darkened, Han Qiao took a pair of scissors to cut off the burnt wick. âHeng Yi, go to sleep.â
âAlright.â
Heng Yi finished writing the last few words.
He put down the brush and admired it seriously for a moment.
He felt a sense of accomplishment.
After Han Qiao came out of the bathroom, she said, âSister Ah-Qiao, come and take a look.â
Han Qiao went forward, picked up a red pen, and circled a few words that were written very well, neatly, and very perceptive.
Heng Yi was even more satisfied.
âIâll put this one away.â
âAlright,â
Han Qiao had prepared a box for him to store some things that he felt were important.
Everyone in the family had this kind of box. It was everyoneâs secret and something they cared about.
After the lights were out, the couple hugged each other to sleep. It was quiet, warm, and sweet.
However, for Old Man Heng and Old Woman Heng, who was traveling at night in the middle of winter, it was truly torture.
They had only walked for a short distance, but both of them were filled with regret.
Why did he have to take things too hard?
It was such a cold day, especially today as the snow started to fall.
âOld man, I canât walk anymore.â
Old Man Heng also felt that he was about to die.
His chest felt stuffy and he could not catch his breath.
âOld man, letâs find a house to stay for the night. If this continues, we wonât be able to reach the county town.â
Old Man Heng glanced at his wife.
He couldnât see her face clearly, but he could feel her pain.
âAlright..â