Indeed, Shu City is different from the Capital; once the old lady’s funeral was over, everyone in the Xiao family felt utterly exhausted.
Especially Chun Nuan, visibly thinner, and her face did not look good at all.
"Nuannuan, you should rest for a while." Mrs. Xu herself was also exhausted to the point of falling apart. She had been in charge of a household and deeply understood how much Chun Nuan had contributed during this ordeal: "Your grandmother is gone, and from now on, there will be one more person to remember in this home."
Mrs. Xu’s words made everyone’s noses sting and their eyes redden.
"Grandmother always wanted us to strive, and when we grow up and have skills, we could return to the Capital. I even said I would bring grandmother back to the Capital..." Chun Qiang said with a choked voice.
The Capital, where they were born and raised, now felt so distant.
Mentioning the Capital, Mrs. Xu remembered that this matter should be conveyed to her eldest sister and relatives in the Northern Desert.
"Nuannuan, when you write the letter, inform them,"
They surely will be saddened, but life has to go on; we can’t keep it concealed forever, can we?
"No hurry, grandmother’s funeral is done, but her vengeance hasn’t been avenged." Chun Nuan said, "Once that’s done, I’ll write to tell them."
After sadness and grief, there ought to be some consolation, or else they will be even more upset.
Meals are eaten one bite at a time, and things are handled one issue at a time.
Chun Nuan asked Chun Ning in detail about the situation at the government office.
"The day the County Magistrate wasn’t present, the person was handed to an officer surnamed Yu, who ignored us." Chun Ning said, "The officer acts indifferent towards me. Sister, I’ll go to the county office tomorrow to inquire about the progress of the case."
Chun Ning even worried those people might have already been released.
"I’ll go with you."
Chun Nuan knew well that, in Changzhou, given their current circumstances, nobody would take this case seriously.
"Sister, should we find Brother Zhao..."
Zhao Minghua, who arrived at the courtyard gate, laughed in annoyance upon hearing Chun Ning’s change of title—when there’s an issue, it’s brother-in-law, and when not, it’s Brother Zhao.
Wait, doesn’t he also come to find him when there’s an issue?
This kid, his tongue is as nimble, moving as he talks.
Chun Ning suddenly felt a gaze on him, looked up, and there he was, speaking of the devil.
"Brother Zhao, you’re here."
Zhao Minghua patted his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "I still prefer you calling me brother-in-law."
"Then go ahead, marry my sister soon."
Chun Ning replied with a smile.
"You think I don’t want to?" Men should marry, and women should wed; seeing there’s a year and a half left before Chun Nuan’s mourning period ends, and now the old lady passed away again: "I still have to wait three years now."
"Why?"
Chun Ning asked puzzled.
"Why are you dressed so plainly?" Zhao Minghua pointed at his clothes and asked.
"Observing mourning for my grandfather and grandmother."
Zhao Minghua shot him a look, telling him to figure it out on his own.
Chun Ning... alright, I forgot, sister also needs to observe mourning. During the mourning period, she can’t discuss marriage.
But, sister is already sixteen this year, another three years of mourning, wouldn’t she be nineteen by then; in this era, a nineteen-year-old not yet married is considered an old maiden, and if anything goes wrong with the groom’s family, it would delay a lifetime.
"Brother Zhao, you wouldn’t hold it against my sister, would you?"
Which family would want to marry a bride who’s almost twenty?
"What nonsense are you talking? Am I that kind of person?" Zhao Minghua almost wanted to hit him: "My parents even worry your sister might not want me."
"That’s true, my sister is so good, whoever marries her is fortunate." Chun Ning solemnly addressed Zhao Minghua: "You must treat my sister well, or I won’t be polite towards you."
No matter whether I can beat him, the momentum must be right!
The two were whispering at the side, and Chun Nuan couldn’t bear listening anymore.
"What are you two talking about?" Chun Nuan asked Brother Zhao Mingyuan: "Did you come to see us for something?"
"Can’t I come if there’s nothing? Isn’t it permissible to see my fiancée?" Having said that, he handed the several packages of pastries he carried to her: "Our home has a new cook from Jiangnan, she made these flower cakes, I think they’re good, try them."
Chun Ning... while chatting, the two started spreading dog food.
Even as a brother-in-law, it’s uncomfortable to stay here.
Just as Chun Ning was about to leave, Chun Nuan stopped him.
"I’ll keep one package of pastries; deliver the rest to aunt, third aunt, and mother for them to taste."
Zhao Minghua handled things with care, every time he brought gifts, it was always in enough quantity, having considered the elders and younger siblings.
After Chun Ning took away the pastries, Chun Nuan directly asked Zhao Minghua about his business.
"Haha, giving pastries is not a matter?"
"That’s certainly not your style, tell me, what’s the situation?"
"You’re truly too smart." Zhao Minghua looked indulgently at the slim figure in front of him: "You tired yourself out in these few days."
Waiting for you to speak about what’s important, what’s with the sentiments here?
"Those people have escaped."
What?
"Rather than saying they escaped, it’s more accurate to say they were bribed and released by someone sent by Xiao Changfa."
Chun Nuan laughed in anger, indeed money can move the devil.
This is what happens when power is unused; it expires. As long as there’s money, many things can be resolved; even prisoners sent away can be freed, what can’t be done then?
In places far from the Emperor’s rule, having a bit of power becomes the law, regardless of if you’re the plaintiff or defendant, as long as he has his pockets full, it’s enough.
"Does that mean I can do nothing about them anymore?"
Such a powerful Xiao family, in the realm of Changzhou, truly capable of overshadowing everything.
"There’s still a way."
Zhao Minghua suddenly smiled mysteriously: "First, tell me your plan?"
"I want to use their own tactics against them, since even the government office can’t uphold justice for me, I’ll seek justice myself."
"I support you." Zhao Minghua said: "Those people have been caught by my men again, you have two choices, either resend them to officials, or use them for whatever you plan to do."
Chun Nuan was stunned, looking at Zhao Minghua.
Zhao Minghua nodded his head.
"Just as you thought."
"Can they really be used by me?"
"People die for wealth like birds for food; enough money, why not?"
"Great." Chun Nuan decided to spend a good sum to vent her anger: "Then we’ll deal with the Xiao family the same way, won’t she miss her money?"
"What are you talking about?" Looking at Chun Nuan’s blinking eyes, Zhao Minghua felt incredibly soft-hearted; this girl appeared tough as steel but in reality, her heart was so playful and adorable: "I only care for my fiancee."
Suddenly filled with sweet words, Chun Nuan’s face instantly turned red to the roots of her ears.
Such moments made Zhao Minghua all the more captivated by Chun Nuan.
"Why couldn’t the old lady witness our wedding?"
Zhao Minghua almost said the old lady died untimely, but that would be disrespectful. He quickly changed his tune: "Not receiving her elder’s blessing is our loss."