Chapter 25
Shu Yu climbed onto the ox-cart, placed the rice and flour next to her, and the cart departed back to Shangshi Village.
Daniu’s personality was shy and introverted, but unexpectedly, he was quite an entrepreneur.
Along the way, he would pick up a few villagers who were also heading towards Shangshi Village, and collect one coin each from them as a transportation fee.
After all, even though the ox cart was borrowed, they had to pay rent. A round trip cost ten coins.
The old lady’s heart ached for the rent.
Da Niu thus earned four coins on the way back and was quite happy.
When the ox cart arrived at Shangshi Village, only Daniu, Shu Yu, and another woman from the village were left on the cart.
Just as they entered the village, a villager ran up to them and asked, “Daniu, you’re back? Where’s your grandma and second uncle?”
Daniu was taken aback and said, “My second uncle is treating his leg in the county and can’t come back for the time being. My grandma is taking care of him there. What’s wrong, Aunt Fang?”
“Gosh, something happened at your second uncle’s house.”
Before Daniu could say anything, Shu Yu frowned and asked, “What happened?”
Aunt Fang didn’t notice who had asked the question and immediately answered, “The old hag from the Ruan family is here again. This time, she brought a girl back, saying that the girl is Erya whom she brought away and sold off that year. She claims that she’s found the girl now, and they’re all at your second uncle’s house.”
“What?” Shu Yu jumped down from the ox-cart, “You’re saying that she brought Erya back?”
Only then did Aunt Fang notice her strange attitude. However, she still nodded subconsciously, “Yes, yes.”
Shu Yu immediately said to Daniu, “Please help me bring the things back. I’ll go and take a look first.
Without waiting for a response, she headed straight for the Lu family.
Daniu couldn’t even react in time. By the time he came back to his senses, Shu Yu’s figure was gone.
He didn’t think too much of it and quickly pulled the ox-cart into the village.
By the time Shu Yu arrived at the Lu family’s house, many villagers were already surrounding the house.
With a single glance, she saw Third Lu and his wife standing at the entrance of the courtyard, watching the commotion.
The corners of Shu Yu’s mouth twitched. She squeezed through the crowd and the scene in the courtyard was clear at a glance.
An old lady with peppered hair was sitting on a stool, wiping her eyes and crying. As she cried, she howled, “My daughter, I have let you down. I was possessed back then, that’s why I did all those evil things and made you suffer for so many years. In these ten years, you did contact with your family at all. My heart aches!”
Madam Ruan was dumbfounded. Dahu and Sanya stood on either side of her, holding her hand tightly. They were obviously afraid of the old woman.
Dahu pursed his lips tightly, looking at Madam Ruan, then at the old woman.
The old woman was still crying, and her voice was quite loud, “All these years, I have been thinking of ways to make it up to you, but I know that unless we find Erya, you will never forgive me. Before that, I didn’t have the face to come to your door. But now, I’ve found Erya for you. Since the two of you are reunited, we should also reconcile.”
As she spoke, the old woman pushed the thin girl next to her forward, “This is Erya, your daughter. My daughter, take a look for yourself. Don’t you think she looks quite similar to you and your son-in-law?”
Shu Yu narrowed her eyes and glanced at the girl.
Similar, my ass. Not a single part of the girl’s face, including her eyes, nose, and mouth was similar to Lu Erbai or Madam Ruan.
Madam Ruan raised her head and looked at the girl in a daze.
The girl suddenly rushed forward and knelt in front of Madam Ruan. Then, she raised her head and cried, “Mother, I’ve finally found you.”