Chapter 49: Meeting old friends.

Leaving the Liujiacun, Liu Yu pondered on various possibilities for her destination. The one thing she had not considered was that today she would embark on the journey back to Liujiacun.

The mule carriage raced ahead, the sounds of hooves, whip cracks, and wheels rolling on the cobblestone road blended into a symphony of noise in the mundane world. Amidst this peculiar and surreal atmosphere, she found herself surrounded by a group of flesh-and-blood relatives, a revelation she had never dared to imagine in her seventeen years spanning two lifetimes.

However, Liu Yu knew that what propelled her to return to the Liujiacun was not these newly acquainted possible relatives, nor was it the sense of justice and security embodied in Liu Yanqing’s public service. It was the mystery that would soon unveil the final layer and the truth that would emerge behind that veil—a truth of being mistreated in two lifetimes.

The words of Liu Dalang still echoed in her ears, selling her to a wealthy family in the county to become a concubine. Wang Shi objected, Liu Kangsheng disapproved. Despite the blood ties she shared with Wang Shi, what did Liu Kangsheng have? Moral values, principles, and ethics?

After encountering the Liu Family, Liu Yu gradually understood that they feared the Liu family of Anyi County.

But looking at the attire of the Liu family, they did not seem like an exceptionally wealthy household. Liu Yanqing was just a constable. So, why would Liu Kangsheng fear them to such an extent?

The words of the village head’s wife lingered in Liu Yu’s mind, questioning the origin of Wang Shi. Was she a runaway concubine? Or was she a child stolen from somewhere? If Liu Dalang looked at her as if she came from a wealthy family, she wouldn’t believe it, but it was clear that she didn’t.

With countless possibilities swirling in her mind, she realized that asking Aunt Liu directly would be more straightforward. However, sitting beside her, Liu Yu noticed that Aunt Liu was immersed in an emotion even more painful than hers.

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According to tradition, the left side was considered more honorable. Liu Kangsheng and Wang Shi sat at the head of the Eight Immortals table. With Liu Dalang absent, the left uppermost position was reserved for Liu Kangsheng to call Liu Tianbao to sit. On the left lower side was Wu Shi. On the right upper side were Liu Sanlang and below was Wen Shi. The last two positions were for Liu Yan and Liu Er Ya.

Normally, Liu Er Ya should have sat close to her mother, Wen Shi. However, on this day, Liu Yan somehow took the initiative and grabbed the seat close to Wen Shi, leaving the other side next to Wu Shi empty.

Liu Er Ya, confused, rarely being able to sit at the table, was quite happy about it. She sat down cheerfully, burying her head in the bowl and eating heartily.

The atmosphere during this dinner at the Liu family was unusually quiet. Liu Yan, who was usually noisy, seemed like a mute today, burying her head in the bowl almost as if she wanted to disappear. She barely took a few bites and then returned to her room.

Wen Shi, looking pensive, glanced at Liu Yan’s retreating figure but remained silent.

Inside her room, Liu Yan sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the makeshift bed against the opposite wall. It remained motionless for a long time, and as the room gradually darkened, Liu Yan suddenly shivered. She kicked off her shoes, curled up in bed, and pulled her knees to her chest, forming a tight ball.

~

Under the moonlight, two mule carriages entered the Liujiacun, stopping only when they reached the front gate of the Liu family courtyard. There was still a faint candlelight inside the courtyard, indicating that the owner of the house had not rested yet.

Aunt Liu, with the support of Liu Yanqing, got off the carriage, gazing at the farmhouse in front of her. Behind the thin wooden door, it seemed as if she had locked onto an enemy who had been hiding for fifteen long years.

Fifteen years.

She closed her eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and then looked at Liu Yanqing.

Liu Yanqing understood and took a step forward, knocking on the door of the Liu family courtyard.

At this time, the sky had just darkened, and everyone returned to their rooms, but no one had truly rested yet.

On the Liu family’s side, Wang Shi couldn’t sleep tonight. She hadn’t even entered her room when the courtyard door was knocked. She was sitting by the doorway, avoiding facing Liu Kangsheng. After the door was knocked, she was sitting there in a daze. After a while, realizing that the knock was on their own courtyard door, she stood up and walked over, asking loudly, “Who’s there?”

With just this one voice, Aunt Liu’s body outside the courtyard shook.

Despite the added years of hardship, this voice belonged to the owner of the house. Even if the voice had become a bit more aged, she wouldn’t forget it, even if it turned into ashes.

The courtyard door creaked open, and Wang Shi peeked outside. Amidst the candlelight and moonlight, when she looked up and saw Liu Yanqing’s face, she screamed and rolled backward, shouting, “Ghost, ghost, don’t come near!”

This reaction was unexpected even for Liu Yanqing.

Liu Yanqing didn’t know, but Aunt Liu standing behind him knew very well. Among her three sons, the eldest and her husband looked the most alike.

On this night when she had just sold her own daughter, Bao Shi (Wang Shi’s real name), suddenly seeing his face, might have thought that the Liu family was coming back for some kind of retribution.

Wang Shi’s scream alarmed everyone in the Liu family. While the women hesitated, Liu Kangsheng and Liu Sanlang had already rushed out wearing their coats. Seeing a constable standing at the courtyard entrance, it was clear he was a person, not a ghost. Their hearts settled.

Liu Sanlang, unaware of what his family members had done, had no guilt. However, people in the neighborhood always had to be cautious in front of authority figures. Even though a constable didn’t count as an official, it was enough to intimidate ordinary people. He went to help Wang Shi and whispered, “Mom, you’re mistaken.”

Liu Kangsheng’s throat tightened as his mind raced. Selling his daughter might not be a violation of the imperial laws, but his courage was bolstered nonetheless. He began, “Constable, this late at night…”

Before he could finish speaking, Aunt Liu emerged from behind Liu Yanqing, glanced at Liu Kangsheng, and then stared straight at Wang Shi, who had just been helped up by Liu Sanlang. Each word she uttered was deliberate, “Let’s have a meeting with an old friends.”

Just as she recognized Wang Shi’s voice, Wang Shi, upon hearing Aunt Liu’s voice, trembled. Seeing that face marked by the passage of time, Wang Shi shivered, unable to articulate a word. She collapsed like a sack of flour, and not even Liu Sanlang’s attempts to pull her up were successful.

For fifteen years, Aunt Liu had thought many times about how to confront Bao Shi. However, seeing her in this state and thinking about her niece outside the courtyard, she suppressed the hatred within.

Witnessing Wang Shi’s reaction, Liu Kangsheng felt a chill in his heart. Looking at the newcomer, he finally realized something.

Aunt Liu took in Liu Kangsheng’s expression and understood that he was aware of the situation. She smiled wryly, “Please, let the family step aside, and make room for a conversation.”

This unexpected turn left Liu Sanlang fuming, “You!”

“Third Brother!” Liu Kangsheng quickly interrupted him, “Take everyone in the family outside.”

“Dad!”

“Listen to me, all of you, go outside,” Liu Kangsheng continued, adding, “Don’t make a fuss.”

Apparently, he was being manipulated by someone.
Liu Sanlang gritted his teeth, but said no more. He turned and went to his own room first, informing Wen Shi, and then knocked on Liu Yan and Wu Shi’s doors. Taking everyone, young and old, out of the house.

Wu Shi and Liu Yan, upon seeing the constable, shrunk back, unaware of what had happened. Seeing Liu Kangsheng remain silent, the women in the family also kept quiet. When they walked out of the courtyard and saw Liu Yu standing outside, the entire group was dumbfounded. Liu Yan was astonished, and after the astonishment came a happiness that she herself hadn’t noticed. Her nose felt a bit sour, so she quickly turned her face away.

Wen Shi was purely delighted, while Wu Shi trembled with fear, “You, how…?”

“How?” Liu Yu looked at her coldly, “Didn’t get what you wanted, so you came to collect eighty taels of silver instead?”

Even though Wen Shi had anticipated something, hearing the mention of eighty taels made her heart skip a beat. Eighty taels—there was no way this was related to a positive outcome. Liu Sanlang, on the other hand, was stunned, gaping at one person and then another. Finally, he looked at Wen Shi. She pulled him, and he reluctantly closed his mouth.

Liu Yu no longer paid attention to them, walking into the Liu family courtyard.

Seeing Liu Yu, Liu Kangsheng’s shock was no less than Wu Shi’s. However, he quickly grasped one thing faster than Wu Shi—this family was brought here by Liu Yu!

Liu Kangsheng clenched his fists, looking at Liu Yanqing, who was a head and a half taller than him, but he didn’t dare to move.

However, while Liu Kangsheng hesitated, Wang Shi, who had been terrified by Aunt Liu earlier, erupted in this moment, “It’s you! It’s you! It’s actually you! I let you go, I let you go, why harm me? Why did you have to harm me!”

She rushed towards Liu Yu like a madwoman, raising her hand to strike.

“Bao Shi!” Aunt Liu, with sharp eyes and quick hands, restrained her and delivered a slap.

Wang Shi was dazed by the slap, and upon hearing the name “Bao Shi,” Liu Yu painfully closed his eyes.

This was truly her biological mother.

Bao Shi, Bao Cuiyun, a name that hadn’t been mentioned for a long time.

Wang Shi, as if struck by that command, seemed to be snapped back fifteen years ago.

“Yanping, you and your older brother, go invite the village head over.”

“Yanqing, close the door.”

Aunt Liu gave these instructions with two commands, then led Bao Cuiyun into the Liu family’s main hall.

Upon hearing the request to invite the village head, Liu Kangsheng’s legs began to tremble.

It can’t be hidden anymore.

However, looking at three constables and two tall and sturdy young men, he couldn’t summon any thoughts of resistance. He slumped in the courtyard, paying no attention to what Wang Shi would face after being dragged into the hall. He was just desperately thinking of a way to extract himself from this situation.

The Liu family’s courtyard gate closed, and the door to the main hall was also shut. At this moment, Aunt Liu showed her determination, turning around and delivering another resounding slap to Bao Shi.

A loud sound echoed in the hall, “This slap is for my niece; you don’t deserve to be a mother!”

Another thunderous slap, “This slap is for my younger brother; you can’t compensate for his life!”

With each resounding slap, a life was lamented – that of her brother-in-law, her husband, and her mother-in-law, depicting a tragic tale of a shattered family and death.

Hearing the unexpected revelation, Liu Yu’s body went weak, and he slumped into a chair.

Wang Shi, covering her fiery face from the slaps, paid no attention to Liu Yu’s reaction. When she heard that Old Mrs. Liu also had passed away, she was momentarily stunned. Then, she abruptly raised her voice to retort, “Wei Shi(Aunt Liu), I admit my guilt, but just because I harmed myself doesn’t mean you can pour all the blame on me!”

Wei Shi, also known as Aunt Liu, stared at her with bloodshot eyes, “Not your fault? Back then, you caused the death of both brothers, and their mother fell seriously ill and never recovered. You were even more heartless. Taking advantage of the chaos in the family, you kidnapped my niece and fled. You made my mother-in-law endure the pain of losing her sons in just a few days, and then she lost my younger brother’s only remaining bloodline. She, my elderly mother… couldn’t hold on for even a month and passed away. She couldn’t even close her eyes in peace until her last breath. Not related to you? Bao Cuiyun, I wish I could cut you to pieces with a thousand knives!”

Sansukini: So I compared this novel before to Serendipity, just cause of the accidental meetings. Like accidentally meeting Lu Chengxiao first, accidentally bumping into Aunt Liu while running for her life, and there will be one more serendipitous meeting a few chapters later.

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