Chapter 30: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 30: Triumph and First Push, Please Collect
Li Zhong and his granddaughter settled down in the Mo family's home. During the day, Li Yan took care of her grandfather, keeping him company and talking to him to alleviate his boredom. At night, she slept in the same bed as Mo Yan and her sister. However, Li Zhong's condition remained unstable, causing a somewhat oppressive atmosphere in the house.
The misfortune of his daughter weighed heavily on Li Zhong's heart, making it impossible for him to let go. He felt that if he hadn't misjudged people and formed an alliance with the heartless Zhang family, his daughter would not have suffered abandonment. What troubled him the most was not knowing his daughter's whereabouts, whether she was alive or dead. Whenever he thought about these things, he wished he could end his own life.
Li Zhong's illness was primarily caused by his troubled mind. How could his body recover under such emotional distress? Each time his condition worsened, Li Yan became extremely anxious, wishing she could endure the suffering for her grandfather. Being still young, she didn't know how to console him. At night, she could only hide under the covers and cry silently.
After several days passed like this, Mo Yan couldn't bear it any longer. Although the two families were close, they were still outsiders. Some matters were difficult for her and her father to discuss. However, if things continued like this, Li Zhong might truly wear himself out.
"Grandpa Li, since you know you've wronged Aunt Li, why don't you try to get better soon and find her to make amends? If you continue like this, your health will only deteriorate. Yanzi is still young. Can you bear to let her live alone in this world? You've already wronged Aunt Li. Do you want to wrong Yanzi too, so that her parents can't rest in peace?"
Mo Yan's words were like knives, piercing Li Zhong's heart mercilessly. His face turned ashen, and his hands trembled uncontrollably, on the verge of collapse.
Watching her grandfather in such agony, Li Yan couldn't bear it. She knew deep down that although Sister Yan's words were harsh, they were for her grandfather's own good.
Mo Yan couldn't bear to see the old man in such pain either, but she tried to persuade him to open up and told him that Li Xiu's situation was not his fault. These words might work for those who were weak and liked to shift blame onto others, but for Li Zhong, who was deeply attached to his daughter, they were useless. Drastic measures were needed to make him realize the truth.
"It's all my fault, all my fault! If I hadn't insisted on emancipating ourselves and not returning to our ancestral home, we wouldn't have encountered the turmoil, wouldn't have encountered bandits while fleeing, and my son, daughter-in-law, and daughter wouldn't have died. My daughter wouldn't have married that beastly Zhang Ming. It's all my fault, all my fault..."
Li Zhong buried his face in his hands and cried out in agony, expressing his deep regret and pain.
Mo Yan stopped Li Yan, who wanted to approach, and shook her head. She didn't quite understand Grandpa Li's words, but she understood that his pain was deeper than she had imagined. It was better to let him vent now than to keep it bottled up inside.
Li Zhong's crying disturbed Xin'er and Zhen'er in the courtyard. They rushed into the room, feeling at a loss as they looked at Grandpa Li and then at their sister. Finally, they stood silently aside, saying nothing.
After venting for a while, Li Zhong became exhausted and gradually fell asleep. Mo Yan led the three children out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Li Yan also cried for a while, her eyes as red as rabbits'.
Mo Yan patted her shoulder and comforted her, "Don't be sad. Your grandfather has let out all the sadness and regrets in his heart. He will soon get better!"
"Yeah, I know. If it weren't for Sister Yan, I wouldn't have known that Grandpa has been blaming himself for my parents' death."
Wiping away her tears, Li Yan felt extremely guilty. She had been by her grandfather's side but hadn't noticed his inner turmoil. She was unfilial!
Mo Yan shook her head, listening to her words, only then did she know that Li Zhong was originally from a prominent family in the capital. Although he was only a mid-level steward in the prefecture, he lived much better than the average servant. At that time, he already had sons and daughters, his daughter was about to get married, and his grandson was about to be born. He didn't want his grandson to be a servant like him.
By chance, Li Zhong saved the only grandson of the master. The master was very grateful to him, so when Li Zhong proposed to emancipate himself, the master agreed and freed his entire family.
Li Zhong's family gained freedom, intending to return to their ancestral home and settle down. At this time, a friend of Li Zhong introduced his daughter, Li Xiu, to him for marriage, and the man she was marrying was Zhang Ming.
After some consideration, Li Zhong thought Zhang Ming was honest and had a rice shop, so they wouldn't have to worry about food and drink. Although he didn't like Zhang Ming's mother, his daughter was gentle, capable, and filial, so she should be liked by her in-laws. Moreover, with the help of his old friend as a matchmaker, he agreed to this marriage.
As a result, Li Xiu had a miserable ending; the family fled north, but his son and daughter-in-law were killed, leaving his daughter to marry someone worse than an animal. It was no wonder Li Zhong blamed himself and attributed his son and daughter-in-law's deaths and his daughter's misfortune to himself. Perhaps he thought that if he hadn't insisted on emancipating themselves, although the family were servants, they could still live safely, rather than being separated from each other and their whereabouts unknown.
Mo Yan sighed deeply. This was probably what people meant by "misfortune is the price of happiness, and happiness is the hiding place of misfortune"!
Gently rubbing the ancient jade mark in her palm, Mo Yan had a clearer goal in mind for what she needed to do in the future.
After this nap, Li Zhong slept for a long time and woke up only in the evening. Although he was still weak and needed assistance to get out of bed for meals, there was a different light in his eyes.
Mo Yan's words had ignited all of Li Zhong's willpower. From then on, he had a new goal in life: to take care of his granddaughter and find his missing daughter.
Mo Yan and Mo Qingze could feel Li Zhong's obvious change and secretly rejoiced for the old man and his granddaughter. They only hoped that their future days would be peaceful and that they wouldn't suffer any more torment.
Time flew by, and before they knew it, half a month had passed. Li Zhong's condition had improved greatly, needing only a little more time to fully recover. Lin Yong's situation was also smooth, with no one daring to cause trouble anymore, and the food produced in the space was enough to supply them. Xiner's needlework skills were becoming more exquisite, and the purses and handkerchiefs she embroidered could already be sold for money. Zhen'er was also diligent in his studies, reciting poems and stories effortlessly, and had started practicing calligraphy...
Everything was progressing in a positive direction. One day, Mo Yan took her siblings and Li Yan out shopping. They noticed that the streets were even more lively than usual. People's excitement and joy were evident on their faces. It wasn't until they passed by a teahouse that they learned the news: the southern army had won a decisive victory, and the rebellious refugees had been completely suppressed. It was said that many enemy spies had been captured, boosting the country's prestige, and the army would soon return in triumph...
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