Chapter 72

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After Li Deshan woke up, he insisted on being discharged from the hospital.

“Now that you all know, I won’t hide it from you. The doctor said that I still have two months left, and I want to go back. I’ve been wandering about for most of my life, and I want to go home when it’s over,” Li Deshan said. “It’s just, Xianglan, I’ve wronged you. I picked you up and wanted to take care of you, but I didn’t take care of you for a long time. You are a good child. Huairou is a little dumb and a little lazy, but she’s not a bad person. You two sisters will be left to take care of each other in the future.”

“Uncle!”

“Dad!”

Mei Xianglan and Li Huairou cried.

“Alright! Pack up and take me back. After my burial, you two will come back,” Li Deshan said with a smile, patting the two sisters’ heads.

So, the Li family bid farewell to the people they knew, shut down the local shop, and set foot on a ship back to China.

A month later, Li Deshan died in his hometown, Suixi.

Mei Xianglan and Li Huairou buried Li Deshan next to the ancestral tomb of the Li family, leaving some money for the elders of the clan to help them burn some paper money during the festivals, fearing that the grave would be left desolate.

After that, the two went to Qingxi to visit Mei Xianglan’s parents’ graves.

As a result, while having something to eat in the town, they happened to hear some gossip about the Su family.

When Mei Xianglan was still with the Su family, although she’d helped with the Su family’s business, she’d always lived in seclusion, and not many people recognized her. In addition, she was wearing a black dress and a bowler hat, so no one could recognize her. Therefore, those who gossiped were even more reckless.

“Have you heard? That little grandson of the Su family is sick again.”

“How many times this month?”

“Oh, not only the little grandson, but Mr. Su is also sick. How pitiful. Madam Su can take care of the old but can’t take care of the young. Did you hear that? The Su family’s rice shop is also closed—what number of incidents are we even on now?”

“What about the Su family’s son? The house is in a mess, and he won’t be coming back?”

“I heard that he was chasing a female star? Chasing that female star all over the world!”

“Since their first madam divorced, the Su family has failed!”

Li Huairou looked at Mei Xianglan. Mei Xianglan lowered her head and said nothing. Li Huairou squeezed her hand. “Do you want to visit the Su family’s house?”

Mei Xianglan looked at Li Huairou. “I can go?”

“Why not? I’ll go with you!” Li Huairou said with a smile. “You can be considered as returning home in brocade clothes; just don’t walk in brocade clothes at night!”

[Going home after having won high honors and social recognition]

[Do not show the glory and wealth of your possessions]

Mei Xianglan smiled helplessly. She really hadn’t thought about it. In any case, during the three years that she’d been with the Su family, the two elders of the Su family had treated her well. So, she really wanted to go back and have a look. If she could help, she’d just help!

Li Huairou accompanied Mei Xianglan to the Su family house. When the housekeeper opened the door, he could hardly believe his eyes. “First Madam!”

Mei Xianglan smiled softly. “Uncle Su, I’m not your first madam anymore.”

“Yes, yes, I’m just confused. Miss Mei, why are you back?” The housekeeper lowered his head and wiped away his tears.

“I have something to do. I’m just stopping by to see you all. What about Mr. Su and Madam Su?” Mei Xianglan handed over the gift she’d brought in advance.

“They’re at home. Come in first, and I’ll report it right away,” the housekeeper said hurriedly.

Mei Xianglan walked all the way, frowning slightly. She had only been gone for a few years. How could the Su family be in such a state of dilapidation? Although the courtyard could not be described as overgrown with weeds, it was almost the same. The carefully-cultivated, precious flowers and plants were covered by weeds. She couldn’t see any servants either, so she guessed that they’d all been dismissed!

Li Huairou also sighed, “Sister, the Su family has lost. When I first came, the Su family wasn’t like this!”

Mei Xianglan sighed.

The first to come out was Madam Su. As soon as she saw Mei Xianglan, just as if she’d seen a relative, she jumped up, hugged Mei Xianglan, and cried, “Xianglan! Xianglan!”

Mei Xianglan helped her to sit down on a chair, wiped her tears, and patiently comforted her.

It turned out that after Mei Xianglan left, Su Zhe had ignored the family affairs, taken the money, and went to Peiping with Wen Xin. After that, he never came back, but his telegrams asking for money every month were very punctual. Later, he and Wen Xin divorced, and he sent the child back, took the money, and left.

As for the family’s property, because Mr. Su was sick and weak, he couldn’t support it, so he’d closed the door and sold it.

At the end, Madam Su began to cry again, “Xianglan! Come back! This family can’t live without you!”

She’d always known that Mei Xianglan was very important to this family, but she never thought that it was so important! After Mei Xinglan left the Su family, they could no longer function normally.

Mei Xianglan was also very uncomfortable. “Madam Su, your son and I have already divorced, and we can’t go back.”

Madam Su paused. As she looked at Mei Xianglan’s current dress, tears rolled down her cheeks again. “I know. You’ve improved now, so you don’t want to come back…”

“No, Madam Su, I don’t like hearing what you say. You asked my cousin to come back—for what reason does she need to come back? To raise money for your Su family’s children and work hard for them? Your wishful thinking is too good!” Li Huairou couldn’t listen anymore.

“I’m talking to Xianglan. What right do you have to interrupt?” Madam Su said angrily.

Mei Xianglan released her hand, took a stack of banknotes out from her bag, and put it on the table. “Madam Su, this is a little thought from me. Please accept it! I’m coming back this time to send my uncle back to his hometown for burial, and after everything is settled, I’ll go back. So, I’m helpless regarding the Su family. Madam Su should discuss it with your son.”

Madam Su’s eyes widened. “Your uncle is dead! That’s right, come back quickly! As for your cousin, have her come along too. It’s not like the Su family can’t afford idle people.”

Li Huairou laughed angrily, and just as she was about to speak, Mei Xianglan held her back. “It seems that I shouldn’t have come here today. Madam Su, farewell.” Then she took Li Huairou’s hand and left.

Madam Su wanted to stop her, but an old woman ran over panting, “Madam, the young master has a fever, you should go and take a look!”

Madam Su was stunned, and then an old woman came over, “Madam, the master fainted! You need to go and have a look!”

Madam Su was really about to cry. She looked at Mei Xianglan’s back with tears in her eyes and screamed, “Xianglan!” She wanted to impress Mei Xianglan.

Mei Xianglan’s footsteps paused, but after a moment of hesitation, she resolutely pulled Li Huairou away and left the Su family.

“Sister, I thought you would stay to help,” Li Huairou said with a smile.

Mei Xianglan smiled and said nothing. If Madam Su had had a little respect and regard for her uncle’s death in her words, she might really have stayed and helped. At the very least, she would have waited until the Su family’s situation stabilized before leaving.

“Let’s go!” Mei Xianglan said. The Su family had absolutely nothing to do with her.

At the station, Mei Xianglan and Li Huairou unexpectedly passed by Su Zhe. Mei Xianglan recognized Su Zhe, but Su Zhe didn’t recognize her at all. The person in the black dress was his ex-wife, who he had once disliked.

Mei Xianglan stopped, turned her head to look, and saw that Su Zhe was bowing his head and talking to a woman in a white dress beside him with a smile on his face and a gentle tone.

Such a smile, unfamiliar yet familiar. Unfamiliar because Su Zhe had never seen her like this; familiar because Su Zhe had worn the same expression when he’d looked at Wen Xin.

“What’s wrong?” Li Huairou stopped and followed Mei Xianglan’s line of sight. “Another one?”

Mei Xianglan retracted her gaze and laughed at herself. “Let’s go!” The two got on the train.

Watching the scenery passing by the window, Mei Xianglan was silent.

Li Huairou didn’t speak either. She knew that Mei Xianglan needed a little time.

Over there, Su Zhe returned home with his new girlfriend only to find that the house was a mess.

Jiang Lina was a little displeased. “Darling, do your parents dislike me? We’ve been here for so long…”

Su Zhe stood up. “Where are the people? Where have they gone? Housekeeper! Housekeeper.”

The housekeeper ran over, panting. “Young master!”

“What’s the matter? We’ve been back for a long time, but you haven’t even served a cup of tea. Where are my parents?” Su Zhe asked with a frown.

“Yes, yes, I’ll have someone serve tea. The master is sick, and your son is also sick. A foreign doctor is giving the young master an injection now, and the madam is worried and watching! Young master, you came back just in time. The master is sick, and the foreign doctor said that the master needs to take medicine, but it isn’t available here. Can you help me think of a way to buy it from outside?” the housekeeper asked.

Su Zhe frowned. He’d come back to tell his parents that he was going to remarry and take the money along the way. Buy medicine? “What medicine? Let me have a look.”

The housekeeper hurriedly took the doctor’s note out from his sleeve.

Su Zhe looked at it and breathed a sigh of relief. These kinds of medicines were not difficult to buy. “Okay, I understand. I’ll call my friend to buy them and send them back. How is my father?”

The housekeeper was about to speak when Madam Su came over. “A-Zhe!”

Su Zhe looked at Madam Su, who was crying in his arms, and felt ashamed in front of his lover. He hurriedly pushed Madam Su away. “Mother, you can slowly tell us about this matter.”

“A-Zhe, you finally come back. Your father is ill, and Bo’er has a fever again. I really can’t do anything by myself—this is the countryside, there aren’t any good doctors, and there isn’t any good medicine. Otherwise, take Bo’er to Peiping.” Madam Su said while holding Su Zhe’s hand and crying.

“Mother!” Su Zhe saw Jiang Lina’s frown when she heard about Bao’er; she suddenly looked a little unhappy. He’d come back to talk about marriage—why mention Bao’er?!

“Also, Xianglan was here today. She’s different now. She was very generous and gave me a thousand dollars! I originally wanted her to stay, but… A-Zhe, you and Wen Xin have divorced anyway. In any case, you should remarry Xianglan. You’ve seen the situation at home—it’s a mess. You need a mistress to be in charge…” Madam Su said.

When Su Zhe heard that his mother had spoken so highly of Mei Xianglan, he was immediately angry. He turned his head and saw that Jiang Lina’s expression was really ugly, so he quickly interrupted Madam Su. “Mother!”

Madam Su was stunned, her tears still hanging from her face.

“Mother, this is Lina, my lover. When I came back this time, I brought her to meet my elders. And by the way, I told the two elders that Lina and I were going to get married.” Su Zhe let go of Madam Su and put an arm around Jiang Lina’s shoulders, carefully introducing her.

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This translation is presented by Nocturne Translations.

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