NOVPUB42: Chapter 42 Confronting Grandma I
42 -42 Confronting Grandma I
She’s everywhere, truly!
Second Aunt Huang Xiangwen and Grandma Huangshi were from the same village; many people in one village share the same surname, as they are related by blood for several generations.
Therefore, Youyou’s most beloved grandmother also preferred this daughter-in-law, Huang Xiangwen.
Youyou patted her hands and cleaned her mouth before slowly getting up to open the door with the support of a cane.
In fact, she no longer needed the cane to walk, but Jin Zijin always complained that her recovery was too swift, so in front of others, she still had to put on a show.
As the door creaked open and the cold wind gushed in, Youyou shivered from the chill, hurriedly moving behind the door.
“Why did it take so long?” Grandma Huangshi complained.
Although Youyou heard Grandma Huangshi’s voice countless times before, this was the first time she laid eyes on her.
She was in her fifties, but looked older due to the rustic life of a farmer, easily passing for someone in her sixties.
Her temples were frosted with gray, hair thinning, eyes set into an aged triangular shape—a common transformation with age.
Having stayed indoors for over a month, Youyou hadn’t seen Huang Xiangwen during this time.
Now suddenly seeing her, Xiangwen was surprised.
Because Youyou had gained quite a bit of weight compared to a month ago, and though still slimmer than most, her face no longer looked as frightening, but rather, there was a sickly beauty to it, accentuated by her fair and delicate skin.
After Youyou got married, Huang Xiangwen had encouraged Second Uncle Gui to question Old Master Gui about his decision to marry off Youyou.
Old Master Gui mysteriously credited the advice of a wise person, claiming that marriage could cure her illness.
It wasn’t clear whose advice he had received, but indeed, the marriage seemed to have an actual healing effect.
Retreating a few steps, Youyou found a chair and sat down, saying, “Grandma, I’ve been ailing and my legs aren’t so nimble; just standing up to open the door has exhausted all my strength.
Please don’t mind it.”
Disliking Youyou’s ‘haunted’ house, Grandma Huangshi hadn’t seen her for many years.
In her memory, Youyou was skinny and frail, too timid to speak, nowhere near her current articulate demeanour.
And now, she didn’t seem at all like the desiccated figure the Huang Family and the Meng Family described, who couldn’t even sit up.
Wasn’t she capable of opening the door with a cane?
Glancing over at Huang Xiangwen, who quickly said, “Youyou has gained quite a bit of weight this past month, and her complexion has improved a lot.
It seems Father’s decision was right.
Getting her married to boost her fortunes did indeed alleviate her illness!”
Grandma Huangshi was startled and eagerly asked, “Youyou, is your illness cured?”
After all, Youyou was her granddaughter, and naturally, she hoped her illness would be healed.
Smiling, Youyou replied, “Thank you for thinking of me, Grandma.
I’m much better than before, I can eat now.
It’s just that we don’t have much food at home, otherwise my recovery could be even quicker.”
Grandma Huangshi was taken aback, unable to muster a laugh, and Huang Xiangwen internally cursed their misfortune.
She had been waiting for her mother-in-law to return, hoping that the old lady would take some of the good things intended for Youyou back home.
She had also seen the old master stealthily carry a basket to Youyou’s house days before, surely filled with food items from their home, which she had mentioned to Grandma Huangshi as well.
Their visit today was intended to take back the items the old master had brought for Youyou.
But now, with Youyou’s comment, Huang Xiangwen wasn’t sure if Grandma Huangshi would still…
Despite her age, Grandma Huangshi’s eyes were sharp, immediately noticing the basket under the bed, and exclaimed, “Ah, isn’t that our family’s basket?”
