Chapter 63: Chapter 63: The Best Soul Medicine in Time
After dinner, Xuexue cleared the bowls and dishes, setting aside the leftover food so that Chuner, once awake, could warm it up with boiling water and not go hungry.
Normally, patients with injuries, having weak digestion, are better suited for porridge, which is easier to digest, but in the Mo family’s household, where one had to always watch others’ faces to get by, it was already a great fortune not to starve and resort to drinking cold water to fill one’s belly. Madam Xie dared not make a fuss.
Having put away the bowls and dishes, Xuexue returned to the room and sat down in front of Madam Xie, her attitude very serious.
“Xuexue, what is it?”
“Mother, we have to move to the old residence tomorrow.” Xuexue decided to tell her sooner rather than later, so Madam Xie could be prepared for the news that was inevitable.
“That old residence?” As if she had anticipated it, Madam Xie seemed somewhat calm.
“The Mo Family Ancestral Home. Grandfather even gave me the House Deed.” As Xuexue spoke, she pulled a few sheets of paper from her bosom, picked one out, and handed it to Madam Xie: “See, this is the House Deed.”
“Eh.” Madam Xie took the House Deed, glanced at it indifferently, and said nothing more.
“Mhm.” Madam Xie, head bowed, murmured a response.
“Here is also Father’s divorce document.”
Xuexue stole a cautious look, her words even more careful. Even though she was loath to hurt her foster mother, she had to let her know this: being divorced by her husband was far better than being murdered by Auntie Sun in her previous life.
“What? Is he really so heartless as to divorce me?” Madam Xie suddenly looked up in disbelief at the divorce document in Xuexue’s hand, her face already streaming with tears.
“Mother, you have to be strong. Chuner and I still need you to take care of us.”
Trembling hands taking the divorce document from Xuexue, Madam Xie seemed not to hear her speaking, as she looked intently at the document, tears dropping on it until it was nearly soaked through. She murmured in a low voice, “Husband, how heartless you are, to have actually written the divorce document by hand.”
Though Madam Xie did not recognize a single large character, she was very familiar with her husband’s writing after sharing over a decade of life with him.
Xuexue knew that any consolation at this moment would be futile, and time would be the best balm for the soul. Her foster mother would surely endure for the sake of her and Chuner.
“Mother, don’t be sad. I’m going to fetch some hot water for you to soak your feet in. Rest early, as we have to move house tomorrow.”
“Mother is fine. Chuner’s fate is uncertain; Mother needs to watch over her.” Madam Xie sniffled, wiping the tears from her face with her sleeve, her voice full of determined strength.
Xuexue looked at Madam Xie with concern: “I will watch over Chuner tonight. Mother, you are distressed; better you go to sleep first.”
“No, Chuner isn’t better yet, Mother must watch over her.” Normally timid and afraid of causing trouble, Madam Xie was heartbroken and desperate at that moment, but for the sake of her daughter, she insisted on staying strong and watching over Chuner personally.
Seeing this, Xuexue stopped trying to convince her and instead went to the kitchen to fetch a basin of hot water.
After helping Madam Xie soak her feet, Xuexue helped her onto the adjacent bed and tucked her in with a quilt: “Mother, it’s cold at night. Just sit on the bed and watch over Chuner with the quilt on. If you get sleepy, come and call me. Don’t wear yourself out.”
There were two wooden beds in the room, which is where Chuner and Madam Xie usually slept, and Xuexue’s room was right next door.
Madam Xie, feeling downcast, kept her head lowered and remained silent.
Xuexue knew that having received the divorce document, her mother’s mood must be terrible. After making sure she was well covered, Xuexue said a few words of comfort and returned to her room.
After an exhausting day at the market, and another evening of upheaval, she was quite worn out. She needed a good rest, especially since they would be moving the next day. Thinking of how smoothly everything had gone made Xuexue feel somewhat pleased.