Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

Feng Wanru shook her head with a wry laugh and said, ”Of course I’ve heard. In my department, a colleague is pretty close to the Guo Family, but she’s always badmouthing them behind their backs, so I’ve naturally heard a few things. They say Guo Dongmei is trying to force a marriage to get into the Li family. She staged a scene where they were ’caught in bed,’ and now many people have seen her and the Li family’s second son sleeping together.”

”Heh, so you’ve heard too,” Hua Yufen said with a light chuckle. ”This should have been a private scandal—you don’t air your dirty laundry in public. But the Guo Family is something else, broadcasting it everywhere until everyone knows. I wonder if the Li family will even let Guo Dongmei through their doors. If she doesn’t get into the Li family, the Guo Family’s reputation will be utterly ruined.”

Feng Wanru thought for a moment, then said, ”The Li family is far beyond what the Guo Family can compare to. They can go toe-to-toe with Elder Gu, so the Li family patriarch is no pushover. Guo Dongmei’s little scheme is likely doomed to fail.”

Hearing this, Hua Yufen couldn’t help but gloat a little. ”That’s right. The Li family clearly looks down on the Guo Family; otherwise, this wouldn’t have dragged on for so long. When Guo Dongmei doesn’t get her way, she’ll regret it sooner or later.”

”Regret won’t do her any good. Your big brother is already engaged to Nuanyue. It has absolutely nothing to do with that Guo Dongmei anymore,” Feng Wanru said resentfully. She had never forgotten the humiliation the Guo Family had put her through.

’Now that there’s a chance to see the Guo Family become a laughingstock, how could I possibly pass it up?’

”Heh, Mom, I actually think my sister-in-law is wonderful. At the very least, she’s much better than Guo Dongmei,” Hua Yufen said with a light laugh. ”Look how happy Big Brother is every day. In our family, everyone is working hard. So, we should just ask Father not to interfere in our marriages. After all, his judgment in these matters isn’t the best.”

Hearing her daughter’s words, Feng Wanru shook her head with a wry laugh before her smile turned bitter. ”Sigh, your father just puts too much stock in keeping his word. Doesn’t he know that in this day and age, blindly honoring promises without distinguishing right from wrong will only get you deceived? Luckily, your dad is starting to move with the times and is slowly becoming less old-fashioned and stubborn. It might have been your big brother’s ordeal that made him see things more clearly. Your sister-in-law’s deep sense of loyalty and affection also showed your father the importance of genuine feelings. Otherwise, do you really think he would have agreed so easily to you breaking off the engagement with the Zheng Family?”

”I really thought Father would fly into a rage, or even try to stop me. I never expected him to agree,” Hua Yufen said with deep emotion, her heart full of gratitude. ”Thank you, Mom. And please thank Father for me, too.”

”Heh, you’re our daughter. Of course we love you,” Feng Wanru said, squeezing her daughter’s hand. ”Besides, your father has also seen the Zheng Family’s true colors and is disappointed in them. What’s more, you’re right—Xiao Si is only twenty this year and has already been abroad for three years. If you go, you two can look out for each other. You still have your two older brothers here in the country, as well as us, so we’ll always be your foundation. When you’re out there, act with a calm and steady hand. There’s no need to be timid or hesitant.”

”Yes, Mom. I will,” Hua Yufen nodded, her eyes glistening with tears of gratitude.

Just then, Zhao Nuanyue’s clear voice rang out from downstairs. ”Little Red Carp, time to eat!”

”Coming!” came the sweet reply from Little Red Carp.

”Slow down, don’t fall,” Hua Yulin called from behind her. He was worried that if she fell, he’d have a hard time explaining it to his sister-in-law.

Hearing Little Red Carp’s cheerful laughter and her second brother’s happy, concerned voice, Hua Yufen smiled. ”See, Mom? Having a child in the house makes everything so lively. And this is just my sister-in-law’s sister. Imagine how much livelier it would be if it were Big Brother and her child.”

”Yes, yes,” Feng Wanru agreed, her heart stirring. ’If only Little Red Carp were my granddaughter, that would be wonderful.’

’That little girl is so impish and adorable.’

When she first met Little Red Carp at the hospital, Feng Wanru had been in a terrible mood because her son was unconscious. She hadn’t been kind to Zhao Nuanyue, and Little Red Carp, in turn, hadn’t liked her. Thankfully, they had since reconciled, and Little Red Carp had come to accept her.

”Let’s head down too, so my sister-in-law doesn’t have to call for us again,” Hua Yufen said with a light chuckle, taking her mother’s arm as they went downstairs together.

Hua Yusen was just about to head upstairs to call his mother and sister down for dinner when he saw them coming down.

Hua Yusen went to his mother’s other side and took her arm. ”Mom, your daughter-in-law’s cooking is absolutely top-notch. She hasn’t had a chance to cook for you before, but she finally does today. You have to give it a good try.”

”Heh, I haven’t even taken a bite, but just from the smell, I can tell it’s amazing,” Hua Yufen laughed, putting in a good word for Zhao Nuanyue.

’I’m leaving soon,’ Hua Yufen thought. ’I don’t want any conflict between Mom and my sister-in-law. It would put Big Brother in a difficult position and disrupt the peace of the household.’

”Alright, I’ll be sure to give it a proper taste,” Feng Wanru smiled. ”Oh, that’s right. Yu Sen, go to your father’s study. He has some good wine in there. Bring it out. We should all have a little today for our Yu Fen’s farewell.”

”You got it,” Hua Yusen grinned, eager to comply. ”I’ve been wanting to try Father’s private collection for ages.”

Hua Yulin came inside with Little Red Carp, who immediately ran to her sister’s side. ”Sister, Big Dog is so obedient! He’s so much fun to play with! When I tell him to go east, he doesn’t dare go west.”

’Of course Big Dog is afraid of you,’ Zhao Nuanyue thought. ’You’re a Carp Spirit! He’s just a normal, brave dog!’

”You’re so amazing, Little Red Carp,” Zhao Nuanyue laughed. ”Come on, I’ll take you to wash your hands. It’s time to eat.”

Little Red Carp smiled, then looked toward Feng Wanru and Hua Yufen and said in a bright voice, ”Aunt Hua, Ms. Fenfen, I’m going to wash my hands. I’ll play with you in a little while.”

”Such a good girl, Little Red Carp,” Feng Wanru praised. She was so polite. Thinking of the hellions in the residential compound, each one more of a terror than the next, she realized they were nothing compared to Little Red Carp.

’If my own grandchildren could be this well-behaved, I’d be smiling in my dreams.’

When Zhao Nuanyue came out of the bathroom with Little Red Carp, she took a child’s smock from her bag and put it on her. Then she lifted Little Red Carp onto a chair, filled a bowl with rice for her, and added some dishes to it.

Hua Yusen poured wine for everyone, even filling Zhao Nuanyue’s glass halfway.

”Mom, Dad, this is a small reunion for us today. When Xiao Si finishes his work and returns, our whole family can have a grand reunion,” Hua Yusen said, raising his glass. Though there was a hint of regret, he was also overjoyed. After all they had been through, it was no small feat for the Hua family to get back on its feet.

’But,’ Hua Yusen believed, ’the Hua family’s future will be even more brilliant.’

”That’s right. Come, let’s raise our glasses. I hope we can all continue to strive and work hard for that future grand reunion,” Hua Zhiqiang said with feeling. Everyone stood up and raised their glasses in celebration.

Little Red Carp, holding her glass of juice, copied them and piped up, ”Cheers!”

After the toast, everyone sat down again and began to eat.