CHAPTER 330: CHAPTER 329: LAID TO REST

"I said just that at the time! Uncle kept bargaining, and I just said we wouldn’t pay a single cent! Let him sue us! We’ll pay whatever the court decides!"

Zhen Yu widened her eyes, "Wow, you’re awesome, my brother!"

"That’s, well, learned from you..."

Zhen Yu: "..."

"Anyway, in the end, it was settled that no family would pay more than US$ 1,500! I don’t care how much the others pay, I gave Uncle US$ 1,500 right in front of Uncle Four and Uncle Five this afternoon! Okay with you, little sister?"

"Sure! Of course it’s okay!" Zhen Yu was quite satisfied with what her brother had done. "They would definitely try to ask us for the maximum amount anyway! But it’s fine, after all this is the last time we deal with them. It’s okay to suffer a little loss! Once grandma’s affairs are settled, we’ll have nothing to do with those six Chengs!"

"Right! I brought the bankbook home! I just left some money for Mom to buy food and drinks! After this matter is over, if they even dream of getting a penny from our family, they’re delusional! I would rather give it to a beggar than to them."

Deep down, Zhen Yu hoped that her brother would stay as kind and optimistic as he always had been, and not be led astray by her.

So when he uttered those harsh words, she immediately changed the subject. "Enough, you’ve had a busy day, go upstairs and rest after dinner!"

"Mhm." Zhen Yan agreed and continued to eat. Finishing his meal, he picked up his bag to go upstairs but suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Here! I don’t know why Han Mingyue insisted on me bringing a magazine for you!" Zhen Yan handed his sister the magazine and complained, then turned and went upstairs.

"Selected Novels?" Feeling a connection, Zhen Yu quickly flipped through the pages and soon found the pen name she was looking for—Ye Yueming.

"Nice one, Han Mingyue! You got your work published in here! ’June’s Waiting’..."

"...Ha! This guy! He’s even written his love letter here!"

---

After spending a Sunday at the store, Zhen Yu had a clear idea of the 24-hour turnover.

So starting Monday, the store was completely entrusted to Zhang San and Li Si! Zhen Yu didn’t interfere and would just wait for Mrs. Zhen to return for reconciliation.

Mrs. Zhen came back three days later.

Zhen Yu returned home from school at noon and saw her mother busily working in the kitchen.

"Mom!"

"Ah! Go wash your hands first, lunch will be ready soon!" Although Mrs. Zhen was talking to her daughter, she didn’t turn around.

Zhen Yu’s gaze dimmed, she didn’t say anything, and obediently went to the bathroom.

It was no surprise to Zhen Yu when she saw her mother’s swollen, red eyes as the three of them sat down at the dining table.

After exchanging glances with her brother, the siblings tacitly ate quietly.

In the end, it was Mrs. Zhen who couldn’t hold back. After shedding a few tears, she began to tell her children.

"My brothers are inhuman! They aren’t acting like humans at all! I made at least ten phone calls! Those three from out of town, only one came back! And he arrived only after your grandma passed away! The person she yearned for, the last one she mentioned as she was taking her last breath—Uncle Six! Later, he wouldn’t even pick up my calls anymore!"

"Your eldest uncle! After taking so much money from the other families, the funeral banquet was stingy, but I guess he’s made up for the gifts he’s given out over the years by now! Said he would give your grandma a burial, but ended up cremating her first! After cremating, he found some random people, buried her in a desolated hill in a dug-up hole, with nothing but a tombstone! It’s just a mound of dirt!"

"What was your grandma thinking in her life! Sigh..." Mrs. Zhen slapped her thigh and, unable to contain her sorrow, burst into tears in an instant!

Zhen Yan’s first reaction upon hearing this was—Is Mom afraid? Afraid that she’ll end up in the same situation!

Is this what they call the sorrow of seeing another’s misfortune? Then he should quickly show his stance! "Mom! Rest assured! I will definitely be filial to you! I promise to take care of you until your last day!"

"Hmm! Mom believes you! Mom’s eldest son is definitely not heartless like a wolf or a dog! Mom hasn’t taught you to be unfilial these years, and I don’t know who your uncles have been following!"

Observing the affectionate mother and son before her, Zhen Yu suddenly said faintly, "I’m not sure whom the uncles take after, but they all have sons! Like father, like son, huh!"

Zhen Yan promptly responded with a scoff, "Right! If the beam is crooked, the lower ones will be aslant! Mom, just wait and see! Sooner or later, they’ll reap what they’ve sown!"

"Yes! Mom wants to live longer!" Mrs. Zhen said bitterly as she wiped away tears, "I’m just waiting to see the day they sit on the fence!"

—

Zhen Yu originally thought that her mother might be grieving for quite some time.

But just a few days later, she noticed a smile on her mother’s face again, and she was back to being optimistic and positive.

Even though Zhen Yu didn’t understand the reason, she was happy to see Mrs. Zhen recovering from the grief of her mother’s passing so quickly.

The passing of their grandma did not affect the emotions of Zhen Yan and Zhen Yu, who continued with their usual diligence in their studies and martial arts training.

Aside from these deep-seated activities, what Zhen Yan thought about most might also include Gu Qing.

Just as Zhen Yu’s thoughts were always fixated on Han Mingyue!

Sadly, while Zhen Yu’s feelings for Han Mingyue were mutual, Zhen Yan and Gu Qing were like the unrequited love of flowing water for a fallen flower.

Gu Qing still had eyes only for the arrogant and immature Lu Huai, and she was completely indifferent towards the robust and masculine Zhen Yan!

Every day, Zhen Yu could tell from her brother’s expressions whether he had interacted with Gu Qing.

Because every time after they met, Zhen Yan looked visibly downcast.

—

December 7th was a Sunday, the day of the heavy snow according to the traditional Chinese calendar, and it snowed heavily throughout the sky.

Not long after lunch, Zhen Yan suddenly rushed upstairs from below, making a ruckus as he shouted, "Little sister!"

Zhen Yu, who had her period only once every two months, was now leaning against the bed and reading. When she heard the commotion and looked towards the bedroom door, she noticed Zhen Yan rushing in without even brushing off the snow on him.

She frowned and asked, "Is the sky falling?!"

"Pretty much the same!" Concerned about his sister’s aversion to the cold, Zhen Yan stayed away from the bed after entering the bedroom and replied from the door.

"Speak!" Zhen Yu’s brows furrowed even tighter.

"I saw mom and Uncle Gu staying alone in a private room!!!" Zhen Yan’s tone was extremely complicated, "The moment our eyes met, both of them were in a panic! There’s definitely something going on!"

"..." Zhen Yu had been mentally prepared for something like this and relaxed her brows upon hearing it was this matter.

"Won’t you say something?" After a long wait for his sister to speak, Zhen Yan couldn’t help but urge her.

Zhen Yu calmly blinked and asked with an expressionless face, "What do you want me to say?"

"Eh? You didn’t already know, did you?" Zhen Yan suddenly became suspicious.

"I guessed a bit."