Xiao Changyi said, "I didn’t see her last time I came, so I don’t know if she is the one."
An Jing then smiled and called out to the elderly woman in the courtyard: "Dame, I am Xiao Lan’s close friend; my name is An Jing, and this is my husband Xiao Changyi. We came to see Xiao Lan today because we have a little matter to discuss with her. Is she at home?"
The elderly woman was not very sprightly and it was evident that she was unwell, but upon hearing An Jing’s words, she stood up excitedly, her old eyes brimming with hot tears, and hurried over to An Jing and Xiao Changyi, mumbling, "Benefactors, my benefactors..."
As she reached An Jing and Xiao Changyi, the elderly woman tried to kneel before them, but fortunately, An Jing supported her in time, preventing her from kneeling.
"Dame, what are you doing? This is too much for us!" An Jing said. They couldn’t bear such a gesture from this elderly dame, who clearly seemed like a kind person.
However, she could confirm now, this must be An Fu’s mother—Yun Dame.
Yun Dame’s tears were flowing freely: "I heard from Xiao Lan and Fu Zi that it was you who helped us. Last time Benefactor Changyi visited, I was not at home and didn’t see him. Today, you must let me bow deeply to you. Our family can still survive, all thanks to you two benefactors."
As she spoke, she tried to kneel again, but of course, An Jing wouldn’t let her.
"Dame, please don’t do this. Xiao Lan helped me a lot when she was a young girl; it’s only right for me to help her now. We’re not benefactors; please, don’t say such things anymore, it’s too formal."
After a pause, An Jing put on a stern face and said, "Or are you suggesting that you and your family no longer wish to associate with my husband and me? By repeatedly calling us benefactors, are you trying to embarrass us, so we won’t come again in the future?"
Upon hearing these words, Yun Dame immediately became frightened and waved her hands in panic: "No, no, no, that’s not what I meant. Don’t misunderstand, don’t misunderstand. I won’t call you benefactors, that’s all."
Only then did An Jing smile and say, "From now on, Dame, just call me An Jing. As for my husband, you can call him Changyi, it’s more affectionate."
"All right, all right." Yun Dame had no reason to disagree and had just consented when Shi Xiaolan, An Fu, and An Hegui, attracted by their talking, came out.
An Hegui was An Fu’s father who, along with Yun Dame, originally had three sons. An Fu was the youngest; unfortunately, the two older sons had both passed away early, leaving only An Fu.
Given that An Fu was born when Yun Dame was thirty-five years old, both Yun Dame and An Hegui were rather advanced in age by now.
Shi Xiaolan was pleasantly surprised to see An Jing and Xiao Changyi: "An Jing, Brother Xiao, what brings you here?!"
An Fu was also quite surprised.
As for An Hegui, upon hearing the names called out by Shi Xiaolan, he knew that the benefactors of his family were the young couple before him and, just like Yun Dame earlier, came over and tried to kneel before An Jing and Xiao Changyi.
An Jing felt helpless; why did this family keep trying to kneel before her? An Fu and Shi Xiaolan had already knelt before her once before, but she still quickly helped An Hegui to his feet to prevent him from kneeling.
Then, she spent some time talking An Hegui out of the idea, just as she did with Yun Dame.
"An Jing, Changyi, please come inside and have a seat!" As soon as An Hegui dismissed the thought, he invited An Jing and Xiao Changyi into the house with utmost enthusiasm.
Everyone went inside together.
And as soon as An Jing entered the house, she saw a cute little toddler girl, wobbling along while holding onto a long bench for support.