NOVPUB
Chapter 947: 230: The Truth Emerging from the Surface_7
Liu Qinian spoke earnestly, "What I’m doing is called ’casting a long line to catch a big fish.’ Do you think I can’t see what kind of person Ni Yang is? The car she drove today might have been funded by Zhao Shuyue. But some issues can’t be rushed. Looking at Zhao Shuyue’s attitude, it’s clear she hasn’t fully accepted us yet, so we must take it slow and not be too definitive in our approach."
Upon hearing this, Liu Ru instantly understood, "Dad, you are wise."
Jiu Wentang also smiled.
Liu Qinian continued, "Our family used to be very wealthy, the richest in the area, and, I heard from Zhao Shuyue’s father that to prevent our family from declining, our ancestors secretly hid a stash of gold, silver, and precious treasures during the Kangxi period..."
Before Liu Qinian finished his sentence, Liu Ru excitedly exclaimed, "Dad! Are you serious?"
She had thought that the jade bracelet was the most valuable treasure Zhao Shuyue had, but it turned out there was a gold mine in her hands.
Jiu Wentang was also excited, though she didn’t show it.
Liu Qinian nodded, "It’s true, otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone through such effort to find her. In any case, this treasure must not end up in Ni Yang’s hands. So, these next few days, we must visit her daily to try and find that treasure map sooner."
So many years had passed, and if Liu Qinian hadn’t suddenly remembered the gold mine, he wouldn’t have come looking for Zhao Shuyue!
He had a wife and children, living such a happy life, why would he bother stirring trouble?
As far as he knew, the gold mine that Zhao Shuyue possessed was enough to secure many generations of his descendants a carefree life.
Liu Qinian had even lined up foreign buyers.
"Hmm." Jiu Wentang nodded.
Just then, Liu Qi parked the car and walked in, "Mom, Dad, what were you just talking about?"
"Nothing," Jiu Wentang replied.
Her son was simple-minded, never engaging in anything underhanded. If he found out about the treasure map, the whole plan would be ruined!
Thus, she couldn’t tell him the truth.
After the Liu family left, Ni Yang, carrying the food, arrived at Zhao Shuyue’s home.
"Grandma Liu," Ni Yang knocked on the door.
Zhao Shuyue opened the door from inside, "Yangyang is here."
As the two of them entered, Ni Yang noticed a slight redness around Zhao Shuyue’s eyes and asked, "Grandma Liu, are you alright?"
Zhao Shuyue shook her head, "I’m already one foot in the grave, what can be wrong with me? But Yangyang, from now on, can you call me Grandma Zhao instead?"
"Huh?" Ni Yang was puzzled, failing to grasp Zhao Shuyue’s meaning.
Zhao Shuyue sighed, "Yangyang, actually, my surname is Zhao, my name is Zhao Shuyue..."
Ni Yang had known Zhao Shuyue for so long and only now discovered that her surname was not Liu, but Zhao.
Zhao Shuyue further explained why she had previously claimed she belonged to the Liu family, "Liu Qinian who visited today, he and I had gone through a wedding ceremony sixty years ago."
Mentioning it again, Zhao Shuyue was no longer resentful but spoke about it very calmly.
Ni Yang frowned slightly.
This was just like a real-life version of "The Story of Wang Baochuan and Xue Pinggui."
Wang Baochuan endured the bitter cold for eighteen years.
But Xue Pinggui lived a life of glory and wealth for eighteen years, and even enjoyed the carefree life of a royal consort.
This was just too unfair for Zhao Shuyue!
Sixty years!
A lifetime for a woman!
How could he do such a thing!
And he still had the audacity to acknowledge Zhao Shuyue!
"Grandma Zhao, are you really forgiving them?" Ni Yang found it hard to believe.
Zhao Shuyue smiled slightly, "The past is the past, I don’t have many years left to live anyway, why hold a grudge against them?"
It’s done.
This must have been a dream she had in this mortal world.
"Don’t you think this is too unfair to you? Wang Baochuan waited in the cold cave for eighteen years, but at least she ended up becoming the empress for eighteen days! What about you? What did you get? You lost a whole sixty years of youth! How many sixty years does a woman have?"
Ni Yang was really angry!
She was truly angry!
Why should such a good person like Zhao Shuyue suffer like this? Why should she endure all this pain?
As a woman from the 21st century, Ni Yang really couldn’t stand seeing this!
Zhao Shuyue patted Ni Yang’s hand, "Yangyang, I’m not angry anymore, you shouldn’t be either. Now I just think of that Liu Qinian as a naive younger brother, the Liu Qishan who married me in the ceremony long ago is already dead."
"Mrs. Zhao! He committed bigamy! He abandoned his lawful wife. He has to bear legal responsibility!"
Zhao Shuyue shook her head, "Yangyang, that all belongs to a past era for me. Now Jiu Wentang is his lawful wife. If it really came to investigating it, I’m the one who would be considered the home wrecker."
There were no marriage certificates in the old era, and they didn’t have children either; they are not protected by the laws of the new era.
Ni Yang sighed deeply, her eyes reddening, "But it hurts me to see what you’ve been through!"
Sixty whole years!
Zhao Shuyue had spent sixty years, just to end up with this result.
Feeling her nose sting, Zhao Shuyue reached out and hugged Ni Yang, "Silly child, Grandma is okay, I am living well, there’s nothing to feel sorry for. All my family died in the chaos of the old times; in a way, he is the only kin I have left in this world..."
With Grandma Zhao having said that, Ni Yang didn’t feel it was her place to say much more.
Some things, like a fish knows the warmth or coldness of the water, are known only to the individual.
"Mrs. Zhao, if his family ever dares to bully you or disrespect you again, just tell me. I’ll stand up for you!"
"Um, certainly," Zhao Shuyue nodded her head.
The next day, the Liu family came early, not bringing Liu Qi this time,
but just Liu Qinian, Jiu Wentang, and Liu Ru.
Liu Ru came carrying two big bags of clothes, saying, "Auntie, look, these are clothes I bought for you. Please go in and try them on to see if they fit well."
"Okay," Zhao Shuyue took the clothes.
With her conflicts resolved, Zhao Shuyue didn’t feel the need to show any displeasure towards Liu Ru.
Since it was the thoughtfulness of the child, she wouldn’t refuse.
Liu Ru exchanged a glance with Jiu Wentang, then continued, "Auntie, let me accompany you inside to change."
It wasn’t long before Liu Ru and Zhao Shuyue came out in the new clothes.
Jiu Wentang said with a smile, "Xiaoru has a good eye, just look at how fitting these dresses are for Sister."
Liu Qinian nodded, "Indeed, they are very fitting."
Zhao Shuyue continued, "Actually, you don’t need to buy clothes for me; Yangyang also often buys me clothes, and I can’t even wear them all."
Upon mentioning Ni Yang, Liu Qinian’s lips twitched, then he continued, "Shuyue, did you give our family heirloom to Ni Yang?"
Zhao Shuyue nodded, "Yes, Yangyang and I have a connection, and since you neither take the heirloom with you at birth nor can you take it with you in death, it’s better gifted to Yangyang."
That old hag, she actually really gave that bracelet to Ni Yang!
I wonder if she also gave that treasure map to Ni Yang.
Liu Qinian continued, "That bracelet is our family’s heirloom after all; how could you just casually give it away to an outsider?"
