153, The Last Time (3rd Update)
Donghua hurried out when he heard Xie Zhinuan call his name, “Grandpa, indeed, the lady’s words were quite harsh at the beginning. Several head chefs were so angered they wanted to leave collectively, and later, grandpa found out that the lady’s family had contacted a few chefs who were willing to work for very low wages…”
In these days, the grandpa and lady quarreled every day because of this.
Grandpa complained that the lady was shortsighted, and the lady resented her family for harming her.
“This disaster is brought upon by the Yuan Family itself, what does it have to do with me? And as for those I taught, so long as your eldest son manages them carefully, within three years, the Yuan Family will certainly become a major household in the county. It’s your family’s misfortune, why blame me?” Xie Zhinuan continuously rebutted.
Then she added, “When you initially wanted to send me away, using the deed of saving a life as leverage, what did I say afterward? I treated your elders no differently than before, personally delivering tasty food to your door. I might not have cozied up to you, but I’ve been more than generous. Now that your family faces trouble, you push the blame onto me. Why don’t you think, it’s your own family’s wrongdoings coming back to haunt you?”
Yes, some incidents within the Yuanji were indeed schemed by others, and she felt guilty in her heart.
But she, Xie Zhinuan, was not a pushover to be manipulated as they pleased.
Old man Yuan had long known that Xie Zhinuan was not easy to manipulate, now seeing her sharp-tongued defense.
“You, you…”
Old lady Ni knelt down, “Zhinuan, I beg you, please help us, Wang’er, Xier… it was not intentional…”
Xie Zhinuan looked at her, her expression growing colder.
“You play the bad cop, and the other plays good cop…”
Only after a while did she say, “You should go back, as of now, I am unable to help you!”
She turned around and had Dumbo close the door.
The door was closed.
Only then did old man Yuan belatedly go to pull up old lady Ni.
Old lady Ni cried inconsolably, “What to do? What to do?”
She knew Xie Zhinuan wouldn’t agree to help.
Old man Yuan having pulled old lady Ni up, “Let’s discuss this back home!”
Donghua watched, sighing.
And followed them.
Inside the courtyard, Xie Zhinuan sat on the steps, her gaze deep and distant.
“Dumbo, tell me, is this incident an accident? Or did someone deliberately orchestrate it?”
“…”
Dumbo didn’t understand.
Xie Zhinuan thought for a moment then said, “If it wasn’t your family, grandpa, who orchestrated this, then it must be an accident. But I always feel, it’s unlikely to be a mere accident!”
She had met Yuan Wang, a very gentle and shy young man who rarely spoke loudly. He wasn’t much like his mother, madam Yuan, but rather resembled his father, Yuan Cheng, or perhaps his grandparents.
“Grandpa’s words today were decisive, as if pushing me out, not wanting me to meddle in his family’s affairs anymore, he has been avoiding me since coming back from the county town…”
Xie Zhinuan spoke softly, “I still don’t believe he is a heartless man, otherwise he wouldn’t have saved me back then!”
One thing is certain, if Old man Yuan hadn’t saved her, perhaps none of these incidents would have occurred.
Yuan Wang was soon to take the imperial exam, and if missed, the next opportunity wouldn’t be for another three years, by which time too much would have changed.
“Dumbo!”
“Miss…”
“I think, I want to do one last thing for grandpa and grandma!”
It would be the last thing.
Dumbo looked at Xie Zhinuan, “Miss, after how they’ve treated you, why would you still want to help them?”
“When I first awoke, unable to fend for myself, it was grandma who bathed me, fed me medicine, and porridge, just like caring for a baby. I am a human, not a beast. Even beasts know to repay a kindness. Yuan Wang is the lifeline of grandpa and grandma, if something really happened, the two old people…”
Xie Zhinuan left the sentence unfinished.
The only person she could ask now was young master Li from across the street.
It’s the middle of the night now…
Chapter 155