27: Chapter 27: Mustering the Troops to Question the Guilty 27: Chapter 27: Mustering the Troops to Question the Guilty The old grandmother with graying temples looked over, and Wufu’s eyes met hers as expected, with no surprise, disdain was apparent in those indifferent eyes.
Madam Zhou had already stepped forward to support Old Lady Zhou’s arm and asked, “Mother, have you been waiting long?
We went to the town today.” Then to her daughter she said, “Wufu, come here, greet your grandmother.”
Wufu took two steps forward, imitating the etiquette Madam Zhou had taught her, and bent her knee slightly: “Grandmother.”
Old Lady Zhou glanced at her briefly, withdrawing her hand from Madam Zhou’s grasp, and frowned, “Why did it take so long?”
“We bought quite a few things today.” Madam Zhou said with an accommodating smile, hastily taking out a key to unlock the yard gate and inviting her mother inside.
Old Lady Zhou saw that Wufu had already straightened up, her face even colder, she snorted and walked into the yard.
Madam Zhou, lagging two steps behind, whispered urgently in Wufu’s ear: “Wufu, don’t anger your grandmother; she seldom visits.”
Wufu’s eyes narrowed slightly, watching her mother’s pleading look, and slowly nodded.
In her memory, this grandmother had always looked down on them, mother and daughter; since they had moved here, the number of visits could be counted on one hand.
Old Lady Zhou didn’t like them, mother and daughter, nor did she like others fraternizing with them, as if they were plague-stricken.
But since the passing of Old Scholar Zhou, Old Lady Zhou had not been able to make all the decisions, so she had to turn a blind eye, though liking them was out of the question.
So, was this sudden visit without cause or was there no smoke without fire?
“Wufu, go boil some water and bring your grandmother some tea,” Madam Zhou commanded as she welcomed her mother into the house and then solicitously invited, “Mother, why don’t you stay for dinner before going back tonight?”
Old Lady Zhou halted in her step, turned around, and said, “No need; I’ll leave after saying a few words.”
Madam Zhou’s heart skipped a beat, her face grew somber, “Mother, what do you want to talk about; please, have a seat?”
As she asked, she went over quickly in her mind: What had she done wrong?
But Old Lady Zhou’s gaze had turned sharp, as she stared at the mother and daughter and demanded, “Today, did you go past the Lai Family’s gate?”
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhou’s heart leapt, and she turned toward Wufu.
Had Lady Guiniang from the Lai Family complained to her parents?
If so, that would be troublesome.
Wufu calmly set down the basket she was carrying on her back, silently listening.
Seeing this, Madam Zhou had no choice but to brace herself and said, “Yes, Mother…”
“So, it’s true that Wufu shattered someone’s wooden basin?” Old Lady Zhou’s face grew colder.
Here it was, a summons to account for actions!
“Mother, that––” Madam Zhou began anxiously, trying to explain, but Old Lady Zhou cut her off.
“You, so capable, huh?
Now even daring to attack others, where do you get such courage?” Old Lady Zhou rebuked them coldly.
Madam Zhou was so frightened she nearly collapsed at her mother’s feet.
Wufu quickly upheld her and pulled her behind herself, facing Old Lady Zhou.
“Before I answer your question, may I ask who you are?”
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhou quickly tugged at Wufu’s sleeve; what had gotten into the child, had she been scared witless?
Old Lady Zhou’s expression was equally ugly; what kind of question was that, who was she?
Truly a person unfit to be seen in public, ill-mannered, a wretched creature.
Back in her mother’s womb, she should have been taken care of with a bowlful of medicine.