The sky finally turned dark.
In the hall of the Old Zhao Family’s rear courtyard, a round table was set, covered with a red cloth. Utensils and wine cups were neatly arranged around it, with eight cold and eight hot dishes in the center.
The hot dishes and wine, if left for too long, would cool down, but they have to be reheated only after the guests arrived.
The ancestor of the Old Zhao Family, Zhao Juanhua, sat in the accompaniment seat, her head slightly lowered, her face somber.
There were other elderly women of her age in the village, but each was already hunched and bent, looking very old. Yet her face barely showed deep wrinkles.
However, when one reaches a certain age, no matter how well-maintained, will still show the signs of that age. To forcibly counteract it would seem unnatural.
Zhao Juanhua’s face was excessively white, her forehead protruding, chin jutting forward, lips and nose thick and heavy, making her overly defined features appear out of place.
She seemed not meant to roam this world, but to be placed in a temple for offering instead.
In her hand, Zhao Juanhua fiddled with a string of black prayer beads, reciting the Heart Sutra, yet her inner unrest was not soothed by the scriptures, but rather, grew more anxious.
Meal time had passed, and without anyone arriving, it meant perhaps they never intended to dine and connect with her side.
Could it be, even if she wished to kneel, there was no one to whom she could kowtow?
Her son, until now, had been missing for another day. He likely was truly gone.
Zhao Juanhua silently looked at the pair of great-grandchildren standing by her side.
Zhao Xilu stood there respectfully, almost motionless.
Zhao Mengyao’s cheeks still bore shades of red and purple, unable to stand or sit properly.
Actually, it was this great-grandson who most resembled her.
Even, compared to her, he was more outstanding.
He was dark-hearted from childhood. As a child, when his mother lay in bed, skin and bones, she struggled to rise, held his hand, and said: "I was killed by your great-grandmother!"
He turned around and called for her, telling her what his mother had just said.
Zhao Juanhua still remembered the look of despair on the child’s mother’s face at that moment.
When his mother passed, young Zhao Xilu even asked her: "Great-grandmother, can you teach me this life-prolonging skill?"
Listen, at such a young age, he was already thinking about living a long life.
Unfortunately, this Old Zhao Family was excessively drained by me.
During the Republic era, when local warlords collected taxes, extending them decades ahead at a time, I wasn’t that exaggerated, but it was close.
That woman’s two subsequent children born to the great-grandson both died early. It was as if heaven was collecting debts from me.
Zhao Xilu was also aware of this, understanding clearly that as long as I lived, he wouldn’t be able to have offspring.
He pretended not to care, after all, he was still young, though he already appeared overly mature.
Zhao Juanhua admired this great-grandson, yet felt a bit apprehensive towards him.
She hadn’t lived enough, so she needed to subdue him.
Conversely, she had always placed her hopes on this great-granddaughter, hoping she could go out and bring a new blessing to the nearly dead well of the Old Zhao Family.
The Old Zhao Family reached this point, where relying solely on parental matchmaking was no longer viable. Her "parental blessing" brought no fortune either.
Only by casting the fishing rod far, relying on chance and fortune, to catch one back from afar.
Before Zhao Mengyao filled out her application, Zhao Juanhua specifically fasted for three days and divined a fortune.
The divination’s three words delighted her greatly.
Zhao Juanhua was almost ecstatic to tears and set her great-granddaughter’s ambition to Jinling City, Haihe University.
Good fortune in Jinling,
Destiny arises from the Jianghu,
Transforming a serpent into a dragon.
One could say, after the great-granddaughter started school, Zhao Juanhua was at home, peacefully and confidently waiting for the day her great-granddaughter...
Brought home a dragon-riding son-in-law!
A muffled sound rang out.
The beads in Zhao Juanhua’s hand scattered to the ground, she raised her head suddenly, asking, "Where did something happen?"
Zhao Xilu: "Seems to be at the ancestral hall."
"Go quickly to check it out!"
"Yes, great-grandmother."
Zhao Xilu immediately ran out.
"Mengyao, come here."
Seeing her great-grandmother’s kindness restored towards her, Zhao Mengyao suddenly felt aggrieved and walked forward proactively.
In the next instant, her neck was gripped by a tremendous force, lifting her up.
Zhao Juanhua carried her, ready to dash through the archway into the front yard. Her step suddenly slipped as if the scenery was moving.
The old woman’s eyes bore astonishment,
Who could cause the Array she arranged to betray her?
Unable to advance, Zhao Juanhua grabbed Zhao Mengyao again and leapt towards the west side, kicking against the wall with one leg, using one hand to grip, lifting them over the wall.
But upon seeing the fields outside the wall, her view shifted again as if the wall had risen, trapping them inside once more.
Zhao Juanhua fell to the ground, releasing Zhao Mengyao, who rolled several times on the ground, her elbows scraped and bleeding. At this moment, she clutched her wounded areas, sobbing softly.
Zhao Juanhua also cried.
Clearly, her family had already lost someone first, her own biological son, and she not only didn’t mind, but prepared wine in advance in the hall, ready to sincerely apologize.
But how could they be so unreasonable and inhumane?
Not entering through the gate, not sitting at the table, controlling the Array, catching them like turtles in a jar, it was clear, there was no room for negotiation, determined to end the Old Zhao Family!
Several movements earlier had caused Zhao Juanhua to sweat, yet her sweat was different from ordinary people, it was black, exuding a sticky fishy odor.