Cheng Ningning was very angry after hearing this. She went back to the house and rummaged through the cabinets to find clothes. She changed out of the floral skirt she was wearing, but no matter which one she changed, when she looked in the mirror, she felt uncomfortable.
Back in the living room, my mother-in-law had come back. Those people were sitting drinking tea and comparing themselves to each other.
This son bought a bracelet, and that daughter bought a necklace.
My daughter-in-law bought me new clothes.
My mother-in-law just smiled and didn't say anything.
Someone said to the mother-in-law: "Sister Gu, now that you are married to your daughter-in-law, you have to take a good rest and let the children be filial and filial."
The mother-in-law smiled and said, "The children have their own lives. Lao Gu and I both have wages and can be self-sufficient without bothering the children."
"What do you mean by that? Isn't raising children just for old age? Your daughter is married far away, so my daughter-in-law here shouldn't treat her like a girl."
"That's right, if you love your daughter-in-law, she must love you too. By the way, Sister Gu's birthday is only a few days away. Wife-in-law Qingming, have you prepared any birthday gifts?"
Cheng Ningning, who was in a daze on the side, was suddenly called on. He was stunned and said with a dry smile: "Get ready, get ready."
The mother-in-law turned back and smiled at her but said nothing.
In fact, Gu's mother felt bitter in her heart. In the past few years, she had been ostracized and ridiculed by the family members around her because of her background.
Fortunately, Gu Yangtian took her to heart and protected her at all times. She was also low-key and unassuming. After the policy was slowly relaxed, the label on her body was torn off, and she had more contact with everyone.
In fact, these people rejected her, ridiculed her, and envied her. After all, this woman was a prominent figure in the military region at the time. Her education, appearance, and dress were all outstanding. She was also the target of comparison for many women by their husbands.
But now that we are over fifty, everyone is getting older, and looks no longer have the upper hand.
It is children who everyone starts to compare with.
Most of the children around me grew up in compounds, and basically followed in their parents' footsteps and joined the army.
When everyone gets together, they can’t help but compare themselves: whose family has been promoted to the regiment, whose family has been admitted to the military academy, and whose family has received military medals.
As for the Gu family, their daughter joined the army, and there was such a scandal when they got married. Although they were not in the same city, there was no airtight wall in the world. It has already been widely circulated.
As for my son, he has no ambition to join the army and only wants to do business. I am afraid that the road to Jiangmen's family will be ruined in his hands sooner or later.
If you can marry Cheng Xiang, you will at least be involved with the Jiang family and the Cheng family, and everyone will be the horns of each other and take care of each other.
But he happened to pick up a stepdaughter, who had a bad reputation and was pregnant before marriage.
Thinking about it is really overwhelming.
Cheng Ningning also knew all this. Although this marriage was not a willing one, putting aside love, this choice was the best choice for her.
Since you can't ask for love, then stabilize your position. At least this home is still yours.
So she planned to start with her mother-in-law, thinking about giving her something so that she could feel proud in front of others, and she could also win her favor.
After thinking about it, I found that I had nothing to offer, and suddenly I thought of a Ganoderma lucidum grass that Old Man Zhang had shown me when I was a child. At that time, he said that he would give it to me as a dowry when he got married.
Cheng Ningning's heart moved, and she planned to take the opportunity of going home to visit Old Man Zhang to take the Ganoderma lucidum back.
In the end, Cheng Xiang got the first advantage, but she couldn't understand when did Old Man Zhang and Cheng Xiang get so close to each other?
Cheng Ningning and Su Qing walked back depressedly.
Occasionally passers-by in the village recognized them.
"Isn't that the woman in front of the mute?"
"Yes, yes, it's her. Her appearance hasn't changed much after so many years."
"Yeah, it looks better."
"The water in the city nourishes people."
"Why are you back? Are you here for a funeral? No, the mute was buried for several days before you came here?"
"Hey, I seemed to have seen this woman in front of the mute's house a few days ago."
"When?"
"On the day the mute died."
"Yeah?"
On the bus back to the city, Su Qing was silent all the way. Cheng Ningning glanced at her a few times, but she was still in a daze.
"Mom, what's the matter with you? Why did you give the thing away so easily? I have use for that thing." Cheng Ningning complained.
Su Qing said: "Isn't it just a gift for your mother-in-law? Mom also has other good things. If you give them to your mother-in-law, she will definitely be satisfied."
"Are you hiding something from me?" Cheng Ningning looked at Su Qing suspiciously.
"What can I hide from you?" Su Qing said while avoiding her eyes.
"Have you been back before?" Cheng Ningning vaguely heard the villagers talking just now.
Su Qing seemed to be relieved and said: "Yes, I have been here. Isn't that bastard always looking for you? I was afraid that he would cause trouble for you, so I wanted to come back and check on him for you and let him take care of himself." , don’t bother you anymore.”
"That's it?" Cheng Ningning asked questioningly.
"Yes, that's it. Who knows if the old man says it's gone, it'll be gone. It's okay if it's gone, so you don't have to worry." Su Qing said in a low voice.
Cheng Ningning said nothing more. The car was crowded, and the mixed smells already made her stomach churn and make her want to vomit. She leaned against the window, closed her eyes, and didn't want to think about anything else.
Su Qing looked at Cheng Ningning with her eyes closed, feeling a little more at ease.
After Cheng Ningning's wedding, she did come back.
Zhang Qingxiang's constant harassment in the city and the words he said really made her feel uneasy.
For the sake of her daughter and herself, she must come back and meet the old mute.
That day she took advantage of the fact that there were few people in the village at noon and entered the village.
Walking to the door of Zhang's house, it was quiet inside.
Pushing the door open, the room was dimly lit and smelled muddy.
It made her cough lightly.
When the person on the bed heard the sound and turned around to see her, he squinted his eyes and was stunned for a long time.
When he saw her appearance clearly, his face was full of surprise, and he struggled to sit up.
Su Qing has been away for more than ten years. After entering the city, she has not been exposed to wind or sun, and her appearance has basically not changed, no matter how well she takes care of herself.
Therefore, Old Man Zhang recognized her easily, but was surprised as to why she appeared here.
He thought she had come back with Cheng Ningning to visit him. He raised his head and looked outside for a while. When he found no one, he stared at Su Qing and gestured: "Why are you here?"
Su Qing covered her nose with her hands and fanned the smell: "Don't you always ask people to find Ning Ning to see you? She doesn't have time, and neither do I. What's the matter with you?"
A trace of disappointment flashed in Old Man Zhang's eyes, and he gestured: "I heard that Ningning is getting married, and I want to give her something."
After living with Old Man Zhang for so many years, Su Qing actually didn't understand sign language. When she was pregnant, her father beat her up when she found out. Her mother was also very angry and she didn't dare to abort it. Once Cheng Wanshan left, she was gone. After hearing the news, she lost all hope and walked to the river to think about it.
She was rescued by Old Man Zhang. In fact, she regretted halfway through. She didn't want to die, she wanted to live. Old Man Zhang rescued her and asked her where her home was. She didn't say anything either.
In desperation, Old Man Zhang took her home and took care of her for a few days.
Seeing that old man Zhang was honest, skilled, and considerate in taking care of others, but he was a little older and decent-looking, Su Qing started to think about it. The most important thing now was to find an honest person to take care of the child.
So, one day, after a glass of wine, Old Man Zhang lay on Su Qing's bed.
After that, they got engaged and got married, which was a matter of course. Everyone said that old man Zhang was very lucky, and he found a beautiful girl after eating young grass.
But when the baby was born seven months later, there were rumors in the village, but Old Man Zhang turned a deaf ear and held the delicate baby girl in his arms with eyes full of love and treasure.
From then on, Old Man Zhang worked harder. Su Qing kept her fingers clean. Old Man Zhang took care of her like a queen and didn't let her do anything. She just took care of the child. Cheng Ningning was like the eyeball of Old Man Zhang. Who could Not to be touched or messed with.
When Cheng Ningning was a child, he got into a fight with other children and hit his head. Old man Zhang, who had always been honest and honest, became furious and ran to someone's house with a hoe, almost fighting them to death.
But Su Qing had no feelings for him. After giving birth to the child, she never let Old Man Zhang touch her. Old Man Zhang looked at her with disgust and knew it. From then on, the two of them got along like neighbors under the same roof.
Until an encounter with Cheng Wanshan in the city, the two renewed their relationship, and then left resolutely with Cheng Ningning.
When she saw Old Man Zhang again many years later, he was already a dying man. She could no longer understand many of the gestures he made.
Su Qing said impatiently: "Stop gesticulating, I can't understand. I'm just here to tell you, don't let that bitch bother Ning Ning anymore. Ning Ning is married, her husband's family is powerful, she needs A decent mother-in-law comes to maintain her face in her husband's family. Why do you always bother her?
I know you have given her money all these years. Are you just hoping that one day she will come back to support you in your old age? "
After hearing this, Old Man Zhang shook his head repeatedly, talking and gesturing with his hands.
Su Qing didn't pay attention to what he wanted to express, and just continued: "Zhang Muba, you saved me more than ten years ago, and I repay your kindness by being your daughter-in-law for a few years, but you can't give me what I want." Life, I can only leave, Ningning is my daughter, I naturally want to give her a good life, so don't hate me if I take her away, because you can't give her the life she wants."
"She is also my daughter, I hope she is well." Old man Zhang gestured with desolate eyes.
Su Qing stared at him for a moment, seemed to have made some determination, and said quietly: "She is not your daughter."
Ignoring the shock in Old Man Zhang's eyes, Su Qing continued: "I was already pregnant when I married you. I jumped into the river when I had no other way to go and was saved by you. Later, I didn't want to die anymore, so I let you... You have a ready-made father, Zhang Duba, but all these years, you have loved other people’s daughters.”
Every word Su Qing hit was like a heavy hammer on Old Man Zhang's heart.
He pretended to ignore the rumors in the village for so many years and only valued Ning Ning like a ball in his eye.
Now that Su Qing had spoken out, all the hope in his heart was gone, and there was only despair in his eyes.
"Does she know?" Old Man Zhang slowly raised his hand and gestured.
"Of course I know." Su Qing said.
Old man Zhang's eyes became darker and darker. He wanted to say something, raised his hand, and then lowered it feebly.
Su Qing took out a few big unity cards from her bag and put them down in Old Man Zhang's hand: "She is married and pregnant with a child. Her husband's family is in good condition. She needs a well-matched in-law. What can you give her?
In fact, she has been separated from you for so many years, and she has no feelings for you for a long time. Besides, she knows that you are not her biological father, so how can she come back? Ning Ning will get better and better in the future. Don't drag her down. From now on, we can live our own lives independently of each other. "
Su Qing left after finishing speaking.
Old man Zhang sat blankly, feeling the blood and blood surge in his chest. He coughed, and there was a smell of blood in his mouth. He didn't spit it out. He must have swallowed it alive. He closed his eyes for a while, then opened his eyes and saw Cheng Xiang walked in.
Su Qing guessed that Old Man Zhang's sudden passing might have something to do with what she said. She was not surprised because that was the purpose of her meeting him.
At night, in the bedroom, Cheng wanted to put the Ganoderma lucidum and the prescription on the table and looked at it in a daze.
"He said this is what he owes you." Cheng Xiang thought about Zhang Qingxiang's words.
What does Old Man Zhang owe to the original owner? They should be strangers to each other.
Cheng Xiang thought about what Zhang Qingxiang said to Su Qing on the day of Cheng Ningning's wedding, mentioning the original owner's mother. Could it be that there was something fishy about the death of the original owner's mother? Does it have anything to do with these people?
Cheng Xiang tried hard to search for the memory of the original owner. On the day her mother had an accident, she ran out and was hit by a car. In a trance, she seemed to see a familiar figure standing in front of her mother lying on the ground.
Who is it? Su Qing?
Cheng had a headache thinking about it, so he closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Zhou Tianlei asked with concern when he saw Cheng Xiang's look when he came in.
Cheng Xiang looked up at him, shook his head slightly and said, "No, I'm a little sleepy."
Zhou Tianlei reached out and touched her cold face, and said softly: "Then go to bed early."
Cheng thought: "Something happened today, and I wanted to wait for you to come back and tell you about it."
"What's the matter? Tell me." Zhou Tianlei reached out to Cheng Xiang and picked her up from the stool, put her down on the bed, covered her with a quilt, and then sat down next to her.
Cheng wanted to point to the things on the table: "Which one are you looking at?"
Zhou Tianlei glanced at it: "Well, I saw it, where did it come from?"
"Ganoderma lucidum, aren't you surprised?" Cheng Xiang asked depressedly after seeing his mediocre reaction.
Zhou Tianlei: "... Such a big Ganoderma lucidum, where did it come from?"
Cheng Xiang glanced sideways at him and gave his reaction a negative mark.
Deliberately angry, he said: "Zhang Qingxiang gave it to me." Then he turned away like an old man.
"Why did he give this to you? Why did he give it to you?" Zhou Tianlei stared at Cheng Xiang and asked again and again.
"Why are you so reactive? Why can't he give me this? Am I not worthy of receiving such an expensive gift?" Cheng Xiang started to talk over tea.
Zhou Tianlei frowned helplessly: "Think about it, stop making trouble, what's going on?"
Cheng Xiang stopped teasing him and told him the cause and effect of the matter.
Finally, he said: "Actually, I shouldn't have accepted such a valuable thing, but the attitude of that mother and daughter is really unbearable to me. They came all the way back, not for a visit or a funeral, but they came here just for this thing. Yes, I don’t have to take it, but if others want to snatch it, there’s no way, so I have no choice but to bring it back.”
