Chapter 382: Chapter 382: Auspicious Words
Xie Kun and Mrs. Ma were choked speechless, but it was impossible for them to just give up.
Seeing that throwing a tantrum wasn’t working, the couple played their final card. They dropped the matter of getting work and instead said they wanted to take their old mother home.
’Now that the topic has shifted to family matters, that Ji Huan can’t interfere anymore, can she?’
In an era where filial piety was paramount, it was only right and proper for a son to care for his parents. An outsider really had no grounds to interfere with that.
But given Xie Kun’s atrocious track record, it wasn’t as if there were no ways to deal with him.
Ji Huan looked at Widow Xie.
Widow Xie, naturally, would never agree to let them take her mother back.
Xie Kun declared that there was no precedent under heaven for a daughter to be the one to support her mother in old age. If it came to it, they could go to the county government and let the County Magistrate settle it.
The moment his voice fell, someone shouted that Granny Xie was back.
Ever since getting the wheelchair, Hu Ximei would push Granny Xie out for a stroll every day to get some fresh air. They had only been out for a short while today when they heard someone was causing trouble at their home and hurried back.
The threshold of the courtyard gate was a bit high, so a few young men nearby helped lift the heavy wheelchair inside.
It had been over a year since Xie Kun had last seen his own mother. At first glance, he almost didn’t recognize her.
Granny Xie sat upright in her wheelchair, her legs covered with a small, square quilt. She wore clean, respectable clothes, and her graying hair was neatly combed and adorned with a silver hairpin. The woman who had once been so thin she resembled a shriveled corpse now had a rosy complexion and had even put on quite a bit of weight.
Mrs. Ma stared daggers at the silver-plated hairpin on her mother-in-law’s head, seething with resentment. ’That old hag! She knows how to enjoy life better than I do!’
Granny Xie didn’t look at Mrs. Ma. Trembling, she raised a hand and reached toward Xie Kun.
Xie Kun was overjoyed, thinking his mother was still on his side. "Mother!" he cried excitedly, rushing forward and dropping to his knees with a THUD in front of Granny Xie.
"Oh, Mother, I’ve missed you so much all this time! I’m here to take you home. See if there’s anything you need to take or pack, and I’ll have Mrs. Ma go inside and help you get it..."
Granny Xie shook her head and laboriously squeezed out three words: "To... the... government... office..."
Back when Granny Xie was still in Xie Ditch, the long-term abuse from her son and daughter-in-law had nearly robbed her of her ability to speak.
After being brought to Dafeng Village, more than a year of meticulous care had not only significantly improved her physical condition, but she could also speak again. Her words were just a bit slurred, and one had to listen carefully to understand.
When Xie Kun heard his mother say she wanted to go to the government office, he shot a deliberate glance at Widow Xie.
’No matter how much of a scoundrel I am, Mother will always favor me. Who can argue with the fact that I’m the son, the one who can carry on the Xie family name?’
He feigned a placating tone. "Mother, even if my older sister has done some wrong, we’re still family. It wouldn’t look good to drag this to the government office..."
Mrs. Ma chimed in, "That’s right, that’s right. We know you’ve been wronged here. Since we’ve come to get you, our older sister won’t dare stop you. We won’t ask her to put in any effort. As long as she contributes financially, we won’t sue her. From now on, Xie Kun and I will take care of you in your old age..."
Old Mother Xie slowly shook her head, pointing a finger at Xie Kun. "Sue... you..."
Xie Kun froze.
He never would have imagined that his own mother, who had always doted on him the most, actually wanted to go to the government office to sue him.
He shot to his feet, his expression changing completely.
"Mother, have you gone senile? I’m your son! You’re going to sue me? Where in the world is there a mother who sues her own son? Was it my older sister who put you up to this? Was it..." As he spoke, he started to shake the wheelchair.
Hu Liang moved to stop him. The two of them scuffled, and after a few exchanges, Hu Liang threw Xie Kun to the ground.
The moment Mrs. Ma saw her man get beaten, she flew into a full-blown fit.
"You old hag! You live a few good days and forget who you are? Fine, let’s go to the government office! Even if we let the County Magistrate decide, you’ll still have to come back with us in the end! It’s the natural order of things for the elderly to live with their sons!"
’Heh! So *now* she knows about the "natural order of things." Where was this talk before?’
Widow Xie was about to argue with Mrs. Ma when she noticed her mother’s chest heaving more rapidly. Fearing the anger would make her sick, she rushed over to soothe her.
Ji Huan blocked Mrs. Ma, who was about to lunge forward and cause more trouble.
"I’ve heard of people who are tired of living, but never people who seem to have too many lives to spare. Since you’re so determined to court death, we won’t stand in your way. Weren’t you the ones who wanted to go to the government office? Let’s go."
’What’s all this about lives being too long or too short?’
Mrs. Ma was alarmed and uncertain. "What do you mean?"
"The crime of unfilial conduct is chief among the Ten Abominations. How could you not know that? Beating, cursing, or reviling your own elders... all such acts are considered equal to treason and rebellion. They are unpardonable capital offenses. You haven’t forgotten what you’ve done, have you? It’s fine if you’ve forgotten. I, an outsider, witnessed quite a show last year, and I remember every detail clearly. And what about the people from your own village? I imagine quite a few would be willing to testify in court for Granny Xie... My advice to you is, if you have any last wishes, you’d better hurry up and fulfill them. And those children of yours, you should make arrangements for them in advance. Decide whether to give them away or... After all, they’re about to be orphans. How pitiful."
The couple exchanged a look. Their instincts told them Ji Huan was telling the truth, but they couldn’t bring themselves to believe it.
This time, Xie Kun was truly hurt.
"Mother, is what she said true? Do you really want me to die?!"
Granny Xie opened her eyes again. She looked at the son she had raised with her own hands, her lips moved slightly, but in the end, she just turned her head away.
The color drained from Xie Kun’s face.
As the two sides were locked in a stalemate, Village Chief Meng appeared.
"You, her son, abandoned your own mother. The fact that Granny Xie hasn’t sued you is already more than you deserve. Since Widow Xie has brought her to Dafeng Village, she is now one of our own. I cannot stand by when something happens to her. I am also acquainted with the village chief of your Xie Ditch. If you don’t want to be driven out of your own village, then you’ll scram back home and live your lives in peace. Don’t come looking for trouble again."
Seeing that even the village chief had stepped in, Xie Kun and Mrs. Ma were terrified. They feared being dragged to the government office and sentenced to death, and they feared being cast out of Xie Ditch with nowhere to go. They didn’t dare act so brazenly anymore and scurried away in disgrace.
As they passed by Ji Huan, she reminded them with a beaming smile.
"Weren’t you just saying you were going to spread the word about me? Go right ahead. All of this is headed for the military barracks. You’ve already caused a half-day delay. If there are any more problems because of you, I’ll have the army pay a visit to Xie Ditch to settle the score."
Watching Xie Kun and Mrs. Ma flee, each one faster than the last, the atmosphere in the courtyard finally relaxed.
Old Mother Xie gripped Widow Xie’s hand tightly, her face filled with heartache for her daughter’s difficult life. "...Hard... on you..."
Widow Xie shook her head. "It’s not hard, Mother. From now on, you’ll live with me. I’ll take care of you in your old age..."
Just a moment ago, she had thought her mother would choose to go back with Xie Kun. After all, although her mother loved her, like most mothers in the world, she still valued her son more.
’Thankfully... she chose her daughter in the end.’
The mother and daughter clasped hands, their eyes slowly welling up with tears.
The workers returned to their posts, and the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed. Ji Huan thanked Village Chief Meng and asked curiously why he had come over.
Ji Huan had provided a livelihood for more than half the families in the village, and the dehydrated vegetables were being sold to the military barracks. How could Village Chief Meng not pay close attention?
He had some time today, so he took a stroll around the production site at West River Gully. He was just about to drop by the Hu Family’s home when he ran into the commotion.
"Wuan, I have to thank you. You’ve brought me a great deal of honor... If you run into any trouble in the future, just let your Uncle Meng know. I’ll support you in every way I can."
Ji Huan knew in her heart that the prerequisite for his "support in every way" was her ability to provide more jobs for the villagers and help them all live better lives.
Still, as the village chief, it was perfectly understandable for him to think that way. The fact that he had such foresight was already quite remarkable.
"Then I’ll be sure to trouble you a lot in the future."
The two chatted for a while. When the topic of the delivery date came up, Village Chief Meng slapped his forehead with an "Aiya!"
"The provincial examinations start tomorrow! I wonder how Song Jing..."
He belatedly cut himself off.
Ji Huan’s expression remained unchanged, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Ah, the provincial exams? So soon. But I don’t think you need to worry at all, Uncle Village Chief. People speak of ’a talent of eight pecks,’ but Song Jing is so full of knowledge, he must have at least ten. He’s sure to be on the list of successful candidates this time. As his uncle, you can go ahead and prepare a grand gift in advance."
Seeing her act as if nothing were wrong, even able to joke with him so casually, Village Chief Meng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
’He was right. Why am I being so cautious? Both of them have their own families now. Whatever happened between them is all in the past.’
"Then I’ll take that as your blessing!"
After seeing the chuckling Village Chief Meng off, Ji Huan stood in the courtyard for a while longer. She didn’t turn to go back inside until Hu Ximei called for her from the main hall.
"Hey! Coming!"