Chapter 63: Terrified, That's All

Wenyao sat up and leaned against the old lady’s shoulder, acting coy. “Grandma, it’s nothing, just a few blisters. They’ll heal in a couple of days.” As she spoke, she reached for her socks.

Mrs. Luo slapped her hand away. “Wait.” She got up, went to the cabinet, and fetched a needle. Grabbing Wenyao’s foot, she prepared to pierce the blisters.

Wenyao shrank back in fright.

“Why are you dodging? If I don’t break them, they’ll hurt even more tomorrow.”

Under Mrs. Luo’s firm hands, the little blisters on Wenyao’s feet were all burst. Whatever ointment Mrs. Luo used, once applied, it truly didn’t hurt.

Curious, Wenyao sat cross-legged, examining her foot.

Mrs. Luo gave her a smack. “Can’t you sit properly? If your mother were still here and saw you like this, she’d break your legs.”

Wenyao grinned and put her foot down. Mrs. Luo looked at her shoes, frowning. There’s not enough time to make a new pair, and tomorrow was another busy day. What to do?

After pondering, the old lady went out again, returning with a pair of shoes in hand.

“They’re Wendi’s. Try them.” Wendi had worked in the fields for years; her feet were likely bigger than Wenyao’s.

Wenyao didn’t care if they were old. She slipped her feet in—they fit perfectly and were far more comfortable than the ones that had rubbed her raw.

Mrs. Luo sighed in relief. “Wear these tomorrow for now. When you get back, I’ll make you a new pair.”

Wenyao looked up. “What about her?”

Mrs. Luo rolled her eyes. “You think everyone’s like you, with only one pair of shoes?”

Wenyao pursed her lips. It wasn’t her fault—there had been shoes before, but they were made for the original owner. Since she arrived, she hadn’t made any herself. With better food lately, her body had grown quickly, and her feet got bigger, there was nothing she could do about it.

Still, from now on, she’d have a grandma who cared for her.

“Grandma, Dr. Jin has seen Da Tou.” Knowing what weighed on the old lady’s heart, Wenyao decided to cheer her up.

As expected, Mrs. Luo’s eyes brightened. “What did Dr. Jin say? Can Da Tou’s illness be cured?”

Wenyao sat cross-legged again and replied, “Dr. Jin said Da Tou isn’t sick at all. He just doesn’t want to talk.”

“What? He doesn’t want to… Why doesn’t he want to speak?” Mrs. Luo was puzzled.

Wenyao had thought about this too. “Why else? My father was like that, and my mother was always blaming herself, ignoring us and Da Tou. Every time Father came home, they’d fight. Afterward, she’d smash tables and bowls, scaring him.

Later, my mother left without a backward glance. How could Da Tou handle it? No wonder he stopped talking.”

Da Tou’s issue was psychological—he was lucky not to have become completely withdrawn. If he could be made happy, he’d naturally start to speak. In the original story, Da Tou began talking when Mrs. Liu took him in, probably because he felt she hadn’t abandoned him, and found hope again. Little did he know, that was just the beginning of his tragic fate.

Mrs. Luo fell into silence.

After a long while, she spoke slowly. “Your mother never liked your father, nor our family. But parental orders and matchmakers’ words, she couldn’t resist then. Later, your father… So her heart was never in this family; nobody could stop her.”

If Mrs. Liu had cared, or thought about her three children even a little, she wouldn’t have left with that Meng as soon as he returned, without a backward glance, not taking a single child.

Even if Wenyao and Wenjun were grown, Da Tou was so young—what harm in taking him? But she hadn’t, and disappeared without a trace.

Mrs. Luo glanced at Wenyao's face; seeing no emotion, she went on. “Don’t blame your mother. Everyone has their own ambitions. If she found somewhere better, it’s not wrong. Fortunately, your father has returned to the right path, and he’s made it up to you three.”

Thinking of Mrs. Liu coming back for Da Tou, Wenyao’s eyes shifted, and she suddenly said, “Grandma, what if—just what if—my mother came back to take Da Tou away?”

Mrs. Luo straightened up instantly. “She wouldn’t dare. When she divorced, she said she didn’t want any children. Da Tou is a Wen family child—why should she take him? If she wants to, she’ll have to step over my old body first.”

Wenyao was genuinely moved—the old lady truly protected the three siblings with all her heart.

“Right, Grandma. Even if she comes back, we won’t go with her.” Wenyao was resolute.

Mrs. Luo was amused, shaking her head. “No matter what, she’s still your mother. If she really comes to see you, you must see her, understand? Otherwise, outsiders will call you unfilial.”

If they were labeled unfilial, their reputation would suffer.

Wenyao agreed absentmindedly. She didn’t want to deal with Mrs. Liu, but as long as the old lady was happy, she’d go along.

After their conversation, Mrs. Luo went out again. The next day, before dawn, Wenyao saw an ox cart parked at their gate, with Wen Xiuzhu feeding grass to the ox.

Wenyao ran over, circling the cart. “Second Uncle, did our family buy an ox?”

Oxen were very expensive at this time. They had considered buying an ox cart for travel, but at the livestock market, a single ox cost sixteen or seventeen taels of silver. Her plan to buy a “cart” ended before it began.

Wen Xiuzhu smiled honestly. “Buy what? I rented it from the village chief for thirty coins, just for today. Your grandma was worried you little ones would struggle with the journey, so she told me to rent it. We have to return it tonight.”

Wenyao suddenly felt something stir inside her. The shoes fit perfectly, but the spots where the blisters were lanced still ached faintly. She glanced at the old lady in the courtyard, hands on her hips, urging everyone to hurry up. Then she ran over and hugged the old lady’s waist, resting her head on her back.

“Oh my, who’s this little rascal?” Mrs. Luo was nearly knocked over by the sudden hug. She turned and saw Wenyao clinging to her, looking as if she were about to cry.

Mrs. Luo frowned. “Hold it in.”

Wenyao thought, “Hold it in?” Was that even possible?

But, thanks to Mrs. Luo’s interruption, Wenyao really managed to hold back her tears.

She switched to looping her arm through Mrs. Luo’s, saying, “Grandma, someday I’ll earn money and buy you a fine carriage, and hire a driver just for you, so all the old ladies in the village will envy you.”

Wenyao truly adored the old lady now.

Mrs. Luo rolled her eyes and reached out to feel Wenyao’s forehead. “No fever—so why are you talking nonsense? Hurry and bring your things. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late. If the bridal procession sets off and we’re not there, your aunt will have words with you.”