Re-embroidering life

Dengcao Hutong, in front of the Zhao Mansion.

Looking at the facade that was much more luxurious than the Chen Mansion, Han Qiu shrank himself up out of habit, looking at his toes.

"Hanqiu, you are the future mistress of the Chen family and you represent the Chen family. Show your might." Shui Qinghua said softly.

Can she really represent the Chen family? Han Qiu thought about it and straightened his spine unconsciously.

The concierge looked at them with disdain. One of them claimed to be a master, but no one knew where she came from. The woman curled up in a ball, shaking like a sieve, was she the grandmother of the Chen family? What a joke.

Shui Qinghua understood that it was easy to see the King of Hell but difficult to deal with the little ghosts, so he handed over an ingot of silver and said a few nice words, and the doorman reluctantly went in to report.

It was still the same upper room as yesterday, and Madam Zhao was still sitting in the main seat. She was a little impatient: "Madam Shui, are you here to comfort Jin Lan again today?"

"Today I am here to accompany the eldest lady of the Chen family to visit my sister. Madam, please call Jinlan out." Shui Qinghua said.

Mrs. Zhao's face suddenly darkened: "One after another, what does this mean? Are you worried that the Zhao family is treating Jinlan harshly?"

"I dare not. I met Jinlan yesterday. She has come to terms with it a lot. She also said that her mother-in-law has always treated her very well." Shui Qinghua saw that Mrs. Zhao's face had improved a little, and then said, "It was Mrs. Chen who hadn't seen her daughter for a long time and missed her very much. She wanted Jinlan to stay at her parents' home for a few days, so she sent the grandmother to pick her up."

Madam Zhao just refused: "After a woman gets married, she won't go back to her parents' home for no reason. Tell Madam Chen that Jinlan is fine, and I will take care of her."

Han Qiu, who had been silent and seemed non-existent, finally plucked up the courage to speak timidly after receiving Shui Qinghua's gaze: "Since everything is fine, please ask Madam to call Jin Lan out so that we can meet." After saying that, she immediately lowered her eyelashes to hide her panicked eyes.

Mrs. Zhao was angry and looked down on the eldest grandmother of the Chen family, but she was, after all, the legitimate sister-in-law of her daughter-in-law and a legitimate relative of the Zhao family. Her status was much more important than that of a master of unknown origin.

Considering the relationship between the Zhao and Chen families, Mrs. Zhao didn't want to make things too embarrassing, so she asked someone to invite the young mistress over.

Soon, Jin Lan came in with the maid. Compared with yesterday, she was in much better condition, her hair was neatly combed, and her eyes were a little lively. In Han Qiu's eyes, it was still no less than a heavy blow. She knew that her sister-in-law was in a bad situation in her husband's family and would be beaten, but hearing it a hundred times was not as good as seeing it with her own eyes. This thin woman who seemed to be ten years older was actually her sister-in-law!

Jin Lan had been with her for less than a year, and she was the best person in the Chen family who treated her the best. She was kind-hearted and pretty, and should have married the best man in the world, but she fell into such a den of tigers and wolves. All this was for her husband...

"Sister-in-law?" Jin Lan's eyes lit up when she saw Han Qiu. "Did mother send you to pick me up?"

Han Qiu hesitated for only a moment, then nodded heavily: "Yes, I'll take you home."

Jin Lan didn't hear the difference and tears rolled down her cheeks.

Han Qiu turned and looked at Madam Zhao. She suddenly felt that she was not afraid at all: "Madam Zhao, my mother-in-law misses her daughter. You are also a mother. I believe you can understand."

Madam Zhao was displeased: "Didn't she go back to her parents' home when she returned home? It's only been a few months. It will be the Chinese New Year in a month or so. On the second day of the Chinese New Year, I'll let Jun'er go back with her. Is that okay?"

After more than a month, I don’t know whether Jinlan is still there.

Han Qiu was speechless, not knowing what to say. Shui Qinghua quickly replied, "Mrs. Zhao, you don't know that Jinlan grew up under the care of her grandmother. Old Madam Chen is going back to Beijing for the New Year, and she will be here in a few days. That's why Mrs. Chen wants to take her daughter home to welcome her grandmother."

Han Qiu lowered his head deeply, trying not to show any sound, but was inwardly surprised at Shui Niangzi's boldness.

Shui Qinghua also felt sorry for using Madam Chen as a shield. She would apologize to the old lady in person when she had the chance in the future.

Madam Zhao forced a smile and said, "Since you said so, it would be inappropriate for me to stop Jinlan from fulfilling her filial duty. But when Madam Chen returns to Beijing, Jinlan has to return to the Zhao family. She is the young mistress, and she still has to take care of the family affairs."

Shui Qinghua naturally agreed.

Mrs. Zhao changed the subject: "If Old Madam Chen hadn't returned to Beijing, I would have had to go and ask Madam Chen what she thought of our Zhao family." As she spoke, her eyes were full of sternness.

Han Qiu's head was almost lowered to the dust, but Shui Qinghua was still standing steadily, with no fluctuation in his expression.

Until she walked out of the Zhao residence and got on the carriage, Chen Jinlan still couldn't believe that she had really walked out. She thought that in this life, she would die quietly in the small courtyard of the Zhao family.

She looked at Han Qiu huddled in the corner of the carriage, looking down with a guilty look on his face, and smiled sadly: "Sister-in-law, mother didn't send you here, did she?"

Han Qiu pulled his shoulders inward a little tighter and said nothing.

Jin Lan looked at Shui Qinghua: "Thank you, Master." She understood everything.

Shui Qinghua nodded gently: "Jinlan, today's solution is just a temporary solution, the problem has not been truly solved. You have to make your own decision on how to proceed from now on."

Jin Lan's face was full of determination: "I will never set foot in the Zhao family again. I want to divorce that beast! Master, please help me."

"What? Divorce!" Han Qiu was extremely shocked. "Aunt, mother won't agree to it!"

Jin Lan didn't say anything. Han Qiu saw her expression and knew that there was no turning back. She couldn't help but tighten her clothes.

The carriage galloped all the way and soon arrived at Chen's house. The doorman was so surprised to see the eldest lady helping the young lady get off the carriage that he immediately ran in to report it.

As the group was walking towards the inner courtyard, they heard a loud shout: "Stop!"

Madam Chen was supporting her maid, standing not far away with a frosty face.

Han Qiu's body began to tremble.

"Madam Shui, you should explain yourself." Madam Chen stared at Shui Qinghua with anger in her eyes, "Not only have you led Jinlan astray, but now you're dragging Hanqiu into this."

"Madam Chen, I think the most urgent thing is to find a doctor for Jinlan. She has scars all over her body, both internal and external. As for me, it won't be too late to scold her after we see the doctor." Shui Qinghua supported Jinlan with both hands. She was very weak and was about to fall.

Madam Chen looked at her daughter with a trace of pity on her face. "Jinlan, don't be afraid. I will personally send you back to the Zhao family. I will tell your mother-in-law to discipline Jun'er. He won't dare to hit you in the future."

"mother!"

"Mrs. Chen!"

Han Qiu and Shui Qinghua spoke at the same time, both with shocked expressions on their faces.

On the contrary, Jin Lan seemed to have anticipated her mother's reaction and her face remained calm. "Mom, am I really your biological daughter?"

After hearing this, Madam Chen couldn't help but wipe away her tears: "Jinlan, what you said is really heartbreaking! I'm your mother, how could I not do this for your own good?"

"The Zhao family has been a noble family for generations, but now it is not what it used to be. Even so, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Your mother-in-law is kind and will not treat her daughter-in-law harshly. It's just that your husband is a little confused, but that's not a big deal. Whether a woman lives well in her husband's family depends on her mother-in-law, not her husband. You just have to go along with him. Your mother has put a lot of thought into you marrying into the Zhao family. It's your blessing." Madam Chen said while crying.

"Good fortune!" Chen Jinlan laughed, with a hint of hysteria on her face. "This blessing is for mother, do you want it?"

She lifted her sleeves, revealing her arms covered with pus and scabs. Han Qiu saw it for the first time and screamed loudly. Madam Chen cried silently, and several maids could not bear to watch any longer and turned their heads away.

"This blessing is given to you, who wants it!" Chen Jinlan yelled.