This is almost three Chapters combined; I’m sending them together, dear ones, don’t forget to vote~
----------------------------------------------------
"Sister-in-law, Qihui has become much brighter, and besides, she’s always been a quiet person, not like Chuxia, who has been a naughty monkey since she was little," knowing that Li Aiyuan was worried about Zhao Qihui, Zhao Yulan whispered to comfort her.
"With the New Year approaching, she’s going to be another year older; how can I not worry?..." Li Aiyuan couldn’t help but sigh, "We can’t let her see our urgency, but if we delay another year or two, what to do then?"
After the New Year, Zhao Qihui would turn twenty-four (by traditional counting), finding someone suitable and likable is quite difficult. Zhao Yulan didn’t know how to comfort her, except to sigh as well.
The look on the sisters-in-law caught Qiao Ying’s attention, and she asked with curiosity, "What’s troubling you and Aiyuan, sister? If it’s okay, tell us, and we may help with some ideas."
Jiang Xinwan, who had just finished placing the dumplings on the cover, also added, "Yes, we are all family here, let’s solve any problems together, don’t keep your worries to yourself."
"This is something no one else can help with, it’s up to the child herself..." Li Aiyuan hesitated a moment before revealing the situation with Zhao Qihui and Zhao Yuanbao,
Of course, she didn’t speak honestly about Zhao Yuanbao’s character. Everyone was gone, and she didn’t want to speak ill of someone from her own mouth; if others chose to spread it, that was on them, but it wouldn’t be proper coming from their family.
Speaking of which, Yuanbao’s parents were quite pitiable too. Ever since Yuanbao passed away, they lost their spirits. The couple, just in their fifties, looked like they were in their sixties or seventies. Were it not for their married daughters visiting occasionally, it was hard to say if they could keep going.
Moreover, there was an old lady in her seventies lying on the kang (traditional heated bed). Looking at the whole family, pity could be felt everywhere, so she indirectly forgave what Yuanbao had done. After all, what’s the use of hate when the person is gone? The living are already heartbroken; why add salt to their wounds?
The problem was, by concealing the truth , Qiao Ying and Jiang Xinwan, not knowing the reality, naturally attributed Zhao Qihui’s unhappiness to her lingering feelings for Zhao Yuanbao.
This indeed made them concur with Li Aiyuan’s statement that "no one else can help, it’s up to the child herself," and they also sighed wistfully.
Zhao Yulan watched from the side, feeling helpless, but since she wasn’t very close to Qiao Ying and Jiang Xinwan, she didn’t feel it was her place to speak the complete truth. However, she did come up with an idea and planned to discuss it with Lin Baohe later.
Just then, Zhao Qihui returned from outside. Seeing everyone busy making dumplings, she felt somewhat embarrassed. After greeting them, she hurried to wash her hands and help, "Where’s Chuxia?" she asked Zhao Yulan.
Zhao Yulan nodded toward the inside of the house: "She’s inside, just making a fuss with Miaomiao a moment ago."
"She’s probably mad at me." Zhao Qihui then smiled appeasingly at Zhao Yulan, "Little aunt, can you say a few good words for me, please?"
"What happened?" Zhao Yulan asked, puzzled, "She didn’t seem angry when she came back just now."
"When Chuxia went to my grandmother’s village to pick us up this afternoon..." Zhao Qihui began recounting the afternoon’s events to the others, hoping to hear their advice. Su Qin was now completely trustful of that man, and she herself was unsure.
However, she trusted that Lin Chuxia knew more about Chuxia than they knew about Yao Xinshan, so she cautioned Su Qin to be careful, but Su Qin was beyond persuasion. After much argument, she only became more determined, leaving Qihui no choice but to return home.
It wasn’t that she liked to meddle, but they had grown up together and were good friends. She didn’t want to see her friend deceived. If things were as Lin Chuxia had described, Yao Xinshan definitely had character issues. Such a man might treat Su Qin well initially for his own benefit, but as time passed, especially when children came into the picture, his true nature would likely reveal itself. By then, regret would be too late, and a lifetime could be ruined.
Hearing her explain the situation, Li Aiyuan was the first to voice her opposition: "Regardless of the truthfulness of what the girl, who shares a name with our Xia, said, just from his eagerness about Xiao Qin getting a factory job in the county, you can tell he’s no good."
"Yes, that’s the idea." Zhao Yulan sighed, "People easily make such mistakes when they’re young. Qihui, wait a few days before you try persuading her again. Right now, she probably won’t listen to anything you say."