"They say one shouldn’t cry, yet she couldn’t help but burst into loud, uncontrollable sobs."
"Shunzi came over, gently consoling her, ’Big Sister said you can’t get too agitated, you mustn’t cry.’"
After crying for a good while, she finally nodded her head and gradually stopped.
"Big Sister, everyone says that my dad caused the death of my uncle and aunt. I thought you would hate me to death after finding out, but it turned out you’ve been looking after us all along. If it weren’t for you, I might have followed mother to Qingshui River and not be alive today."
In the past year or so, Jin Zijin had been corresponding with Qin Changlin, looking after the two siblings on behalf of Gu Youyou.
Shunzi also said, "Yeah, if it weren’t for you guys, we wouldn’t even know where we’d be right now."
Gu Youyou glanced at the neatly tidied yard and smiled, "We didn’t really help much. You did all of this by yourself. Shunzi, it’s been you who’s been taking care of our vegetable garden and medicine field all along."
"Heh heh!" Shunzi, not good with words, just gave a simple, honest laugh and scratched his head.
Sanbao still stood timidly off to the side. Gu Youyou gestured for him to come over, and hesitantly, he walked over and they entered the house together.
Shunzi was a diligent and capable individual. Once they began treating this place as their home, they expanded the house and added an extra room in the back.
It was rather fateful – the house was originally built by Shunzi and Jin Zijin. Shunzi, considering for Jin Zijin, said that they would have children in the future and must build an additional room.
Jin Zijin was very clear in his heart whether he and Gu Youyou would have children or not, so he stubbornly refused to build it.
Shunzi kept this in mind and prepared the stakes for another room, planning to build it once Gu Youyou got pregnant. However, he never expected that he himself would move in and make use of it.
They gathered around for a meal and, unexpectedly, there were fish on the table. Although it wasn’t as delicious as the ones Gu Youyou made, at least it wasn’t fishy.
They did not mention those distressing issues, all the way until the meal was over.
Gu Youyou stood up, patted Erya’s shoulder, and said, "Don’t worry, Big Sister will seek justice for you."
"Big Sister!" Erya, however, hung her head and said hesitantly, "There’s no need. After all, we’ve gotten used to it. And indeed, my dad did do that thing. I was by grandfather’s side the whole day." She glanced at Shunzi and added, "It’s just that Shunzi also has to endure being looked down upon because of us."
"Why are you bringing this up again? Didn’t we agree not to talk about these things!" said Shunzi.
Gu Youyou smiled and replied, "Shunzi is a man of warmth and loyalty. If you keep bringing up these matters, it would be a disservice to his kindness. Besides... they’re not worth it."
Erya lifted her head, looking at Gu Youyou with confusion. "What?"
Gu Youyou just smiled and said, "You’ll know tomorrow."
That afternoon, Gu Youyou and Jin Zijin returned to Qingshui Town. By the time they finished dinner, night had already fallen.
They had grown accustomed to huddling together in the dark, lying on the bed and talking about things, and today was no exception.
"Zijin, thank you for the past year, you’ve managed everything so well," she said.
But Jin Zijin replied, "I was only following your wishes. Why thank me?"
"My wishes?" Gu Youyou was slightly taken aback.
She was completely unaware of the happenings in Qingshui Town for the entire year.
Jin Zijin smiled and said, "Do you remember I asked you some questions before? I once asked you if one person had a grudge against another person’s parents, does it mean she holds a grudge against that person too?"
"Huh?" Gu Youyou felt that his question sounded familiar.