As people age, they treasure their time dearly.
Now, asking for nothing else, they just hope to have someone to talk to, someone who will pass them water when they have a headache or fever.
These tasks could be done by a servant, but it’s never the same as being with the person you depend on for life.
After breakfast, Shi Lan and Old Mrs. Chen went to Yide Art Gallery together. The master had said that Shi Lan was welcome to visit and study anytime. Their craftsmanship was already top-notch, so Shi Lan didn’t want to miss such an opportunity.
Now as a teacher, Old Mrs. Chen dressed much more appropriately than her previous simple attire, looking more elegant and noble than before.
Both of them entered the art gallery, and the staff members treated her with great respect.
Perhaps, this was the good fortune that comes from steadfast kindness, even if it came late. Shi Lan knew that Mrs. Chen would no longer live under someone else’s roof nor be looked down upon. In her later years, she would reap the happiest life.
"Little Anlan, Yide is inside; you go and find him. I don’t understand what you two talk about, so I’ll just stay outside and instruct the children on their embroidery work," Old Mrs. Chen said to Shi Lan.
Shi Lan nodded and knocked on the master’s study door.
Before long, an art gallery staff member went to the workspace and said to Old Mrs. Chen, "Teacher Chen, there is a lady outside looking for you."
"Okay, I’ll be right there." Old Mrs. Chen put down her needle and thread, walking out with a smile on her face.
However, when she saw Lian Yinseng’s wife at the steps, her emotions suddenly tensed, and her hands began to tremble.
At that moment, Lian Yinseng’s wife also saw Old Mrs. Chen. She walked over quickly and said, "Auntie Chen, it’s really you."
Old Mrs. Chen’s expression grew grave as she asked, "I’ve already left the Lian Family; what more do you want?"
Lian Yinseng’s wife, looking at Old Mrs. Chen’s attire, found it somewhat laughable and said, "You are a servant, doing cleaning here; do you need such an attire?"
"The Lian Family has treated you well. I’ve come today without mincing words. We let you go because you disrupted Yinseng’s relationship with his mother. Such behavior wouldn’t be accepted by any employer, right? Don’t display a pitiful, bullied face and badmouth Yinseng around town. I’m warning you, if I ever hear of it, I won’t let you off."
After hearing this, Old Mrs. Chen finally retorted, "What about the life of Yinseng that I saved?"
"All these years, you’ve eaten and lived off the Lian Family; what about that?"
"I helped to take care of you siblings for Madame; that was my due."
After hearing this, Lian Yinseng’s wife snorted coldly, crossing her arms and saying, "It seems you’ve grown a backbone since you left. Don’t think that just because you work as a cleaner in the art gallery, you are an artist now. I’ll have you fired from the art gallery right now."
Seeing the situation turn sour, the art gallery staff member quickly went to the master’s workspace and informed Shi Lan and Zhong Yide about someone coming to cause trouble.
Upon hearing this, both of them got up from their chairs and walked out of the workspace.
Shi Lan moved swiftly, stepping out ahead. In just a few strides, she reached the old lady’s side and saw Old Mrs. Chen with tears in her eyes.
The elderly are honest all their lives, and yet, when it comes to times like these, they still face door-to-door bullying.
"What’s going on?" Shi Lan asked urgently, coming online as the boss.