CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER 146: VISITING GRANDMOTHER

148 Visiting Grandmother

Both of them held the cabbages as if they were precious treasures, joyfully bidding farewell as they left.

The two honored guests had departed, and the sky was growing dark. Instead of resting, Zhao Dong and Sun Mei hurried home. They packed some items, including a few vegetables, preparing to visit Sun Mei’s maternal grandfather and grandmother.

Zhao Zhitong also knew her grandmother was bedridden. With a thoughtful heart, she ran to the kitchen and quietly poured her favorite milk into a bamboo tube to take to her grandmother.

Worried that Mrs. Wang’s family might come for the vegetables again, Zhao Cheng, Zhao Yu, and Zhao Ya all stayed behind to look after the house instead of going with them.

After Sun Mei carefully instructed them, she locked the front door of the courtyard and headed towards Sun Village.

It was quite late now. The evening in ancient times was not as brightly lit as in modern cities. It was so dark that you could hardly see your hand in front of your face.

Only the half-moon in the sky emitted a faint silver light. Sun Mei held a lantern for illumination, and the three of them walked very slowly. It took almost two quarters of an hour to reach Sun Village.

When they arrived at her grandmother’s house, Zhao Zhitong squirmed to be let down from Zhao Dong’s arms.

Sun Mei gently knocked on her grandmother’s door.

Zhao Zhitong, unlike usual, didn’t loudly call out to her grandfather and grandmother once she was at the door. Instead, she quietly stood at the entrance, waiting.

His daughter was so sensible and caring; Zhao Dong couldn’t help but affectionately rub her little head.

Zhao Zhitong looked up at her dad.

At this point, the main gate opened. Eldest Aunt opened it, and she was surprised to see the visitors, "Mei? Son-in-law? Why are you here? It’s so late!"

Sun Mei spoke softly, "I’m worried about Mother, so I came to visit. Is she feeling better now?"

Eldest Aunt Miss Zhao nodded. "She’s much better. After learning your family was safe, she fell asleep. She just woke up, and Aunt Liu is cooking porridge for her."

"Come in, come in."

Miss Zhao ushered the three of them into the courtyard, then closed the main gate. "Your grandmother will surely scold you for coming so late," she said.

Aunt Liu, who was cooking porridge in the kitchen, heard the commotion in the courtyard and stuck her head out. Like Eldest Aunt, she was also surprised, "Mei, Son-in-law? Why have you come over so late?"

Sun Mei said, "I’m worried about Mother, so I came to visit."

Aunt Liu replied, "Alright, Mother is lying in her room. Go on in. I’m making her porridge."

After speaking, Aunt Liu returned to the kitchen to continue her work.

At this time, Sun Daji and Sun Daqing ran out of the room, sweetly calling out, "Aunt, Uncle!"

Then, they grabbed Zhao Zhitong’s little hand and led her toward the room.

As they walked, Sun Daqing kept chattering, "Little Cousin, you really scared us today! When you went to the County Government Office, did they spank you?"

They had heard from neighborhood busybodies that those taken to the County Government Office would be beaten with a wooden plank!

Seeing the worried look in their eyes, Zhao Zhitong shook her head and said in a childlike voice, "No, Daddy, Mommy, and I were locked in prison. The County Magistrate questioned us, but we didn’t get spanked. However, Wang Xiao’er was beaten twenty times with a heavy plank by the County Magistrate, and his bottom was bleeding!"

"AH!" Sun Daqing and Sun Daji stared wide-eyed upon hearing this.

As they spoke, they had already entered the room. Grandmother was half-lying in bed, a small oil-saving lamp lit on the table beside her.

Grandfather was taking her pulse.

Upon seeing Sun Mei, Zhao Guifen started to gently scold her, though her words were filled with concern. "You silly girl, what are you doing bringing the family over so late at night? It’s so dark outside."

Sun Mei took Zhao Guifen’s hand and sat down on the edge of the bed, tears welling in her eyes. "Mom, we were all worried about you. How are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

Zhao Guifen patted Sun Mei’s hand. "You, ah, what’s there to worry about with me? Your father is a physician, and he’s right here with me. How could anything be wrong? Look at my complexion; there’s not a single problem. It’s you all I’m worried about. How did you manage to offend Landlord Qin?"

"Mom, it’s a long story." Sun Mei recounted the recent events, focusing on the main points but omitting the detail about using Spiritual Spring water for the vegetables. She only mentioned that their vegetable patch was a blessed land, producing delicious vegetables that could also strengthen the body, which had attracted Landlord Qin’s covetous gaze.

"Then, Landlord Qin used his old tricks, trying to seize our property by fabricating a story about stolen design plans. Fortunately, we encountered some kind-hearted people who helped us escape the danger."

Zhao Guifen listened with lingering fear. "My silly daughter, we’re just a farming family! If word gets out that you have such a treasure of a place, it’s like a three-year-old child walking down the street carrying a gold ingot!"

Sun Mei nodded repeatedly. Who could argue with that? Although they had received help from influential people this time, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t be troubled by villains in the future. Therefore, they had to find a way to suppress the news about the treasure land at their home.

Having forewarned her daughter and son-in-law, Zhao Guifen then looked lovingly at Zhao Zhitong beside her. "My poor little granddaughter," she said with compassion, "so small and already dragged to the County Government Office. That heartless Mrs. Wang is truly awful! My dear granddaughter, were you frightened?"

Before Zhao Zhitong could speak, Sun Daqing chimed in, "Grandma, our little cousin isn’t any ordinary little cousin! She’s amazing! She wasn’t scared at all in the prison; she even said she wanted to go back a few more times! Right, Little Cousin?"

Zhao Guifen tapped Sun Daqing’s head. "Nonsense! What are you babbling about? That’s no place to visit repeatedly!"

Sun Daqing immediately clutched his head, aggrieved. "Grandma, Little Cousin said it, not me!"

Zhao Guifen was about to give Sun Daqing another swat on his bottom, but Aunt Liu acted first, slapping his rear. "Always causing trouble!" she said, annoyed. "Go play outside; don’t disturb your grandma’s rest."

Sun Daqing, feeling wronged, reluctantly went out, looking back at his little cousin every few steps.

Aunt Liu said, "Mom, I’ve cooked porridge for you. Have some."

As she spoke, Aunt Liu brought the porridge to Zhao Guifen. Zhao Zhitong eagerly wanted to feed her grandmother.

But Sun Mei naturally took the bowl. "No, it’s too hot, and you can’t hold it properly. Let Mommy feed her."

Zhao Zhitong could only nod obediently. She then leaned against the bedside, staring at her grandmother with wide, round eyes.

After her grandmother finished the porridge and they chatted a little longer, they saw it was getting very late and knew they had to leave. So, Zhao Zhitong quickly offered the milk she had brought to her grandmother. "Grandma, this is my favorite milk! Tongtong is giving it to Grandma to drink. After you drink it, you’ll be strong and won’t get sick anymore!"

Tears welled in her grandmother’s eyes as she hugged Zhao Zhitong. "You truly are Grandma’s good girl. But Grandma won’t drink it. You take it back and drink it. As long as you grow up strong and healthy, Grandma will be fine."

Zhao Zhitong shook her head insistently. "No, it’s for Grandma to drink! Tongtong wants Grandma to be healthy too, okay?"

With that, she climbed off the bed. Her two little hands even tucked in the corner of her grandmother’s quilt, acting like a little adult. "Grandma, you must rest well, okay? Tongtong will come see you tomorrow."