allonlinenovel Chapter 197 Going Down to Find You
Chapter 197 Going Down to Find You
These words were like a good medicine to Aunt He, and her trembling body immediately stopped.
Yes, she was divorced by Qiao Jizhou, and she is no longer a member of the Qiao family.
Just then, she saw Qiao Qingshu and Xiao Zhijie come out, and excitedly rushed over to them.
Qiao Qingshu patted her back to comfort her.
“Aunt He, there’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s all over.”
After helping Aunt He into the carriage, Qiao Qingshu stuffed the land deed and silver notes that she had just snatched from Qiao Qingle into her arms.
“Aunt, I bought you a house, and the money is enough for you to live on. If you have any difficulties in the future, just come and find me.”
Aunt He clutched those things, tears streaming down her face. Her own daughter was not giving her a way out, but pushing her to the brink of despair.
If it weren't for the young lady's help, I would have died long ago.
Filled with gratitude, she suddenly knelt down inside the cramped carriage, ready to kowtow to Qiao Qingshu.
"Thank you so much, young lady, for saving my life. I will never forget it."
Qiao Qingshu quickly helped her up and waved her hand, saying,
“My aunt is sincere to me, so naturally I will treat her with sincerity in return.”
Aunt He was helped up and stared blankly at the land deed, lost in thought.
Qiao Qingshu asked with concern,
"Does Auntie think the money is too little? I'll send it again in a few days..."
Aunt He interrupted Qiao Qingshu with a wry smile,
"No, no, young lady, you've given too much..."
After a pause, Aunt He seemed lost in memories, and murmured,
“When I was a child, my family was very poor. There were ten siblings in my family, and I was the youngest. When I was eight years old, my father tied me up and took me to the market, intending to sell me to a brothel for money. We hadn’t eaten rice for three days and needed to exchange it for food. It was winter at the time, and I was wearing straw sandals and a cloth shirt. I was shivering from the cold as my father beat and kicked me as he sent me to the brothel.”
"Just then, I stumbled and accidentally knelt in the middle of the road. At that time, your mother was out shopping with the old lady and master of the Bai family. Your mother was being carried on the shoulders of master Bai like a fairy. She was a truly noble and precious fairy. When she saw me, she immediately told master Bai to buy me."
Aunt He raised her eyes and glanced at Qiao Qingshu, her eyes shining with a light she hadn't seen in years.
"From then on, I never suffered from the cold or poverty again. Behind closed doors, your mother would even share half of her food with me, always saying I was too thin and needed to eat more. That's how I never suffered a single day of hardship with your mother. Later, I came to the Qiao family as part of her dowry. That day, it was all my fault. I drank too much and let the master have his way with me. I felt so sorry for your mother, I even wanted to die to prove my innocence. But your mother was always so gentle and kind. She said she didn't blame me. Later, when she found out she was pregnant, she saved all the best food and drinks for me..."
At this point, Aunt He finally couldn't hold back her tears and burst into tears.
"It's a pity that she died young. Why did she leave us so early? I wanted to go with your mother, just like Huan'er, but I still have you. Shu'er, if it weren't for you still being in the Qiao family, I would have committed suicide long ago. I just wanted to protect you and treat you well in the Qiao family, so as to make up for my guilt towards your mother."
Wiping away her tears, Aunt He's eyes returned to their usual stagnant state.
"Now that you're married and the Qiao family is gone, I feel like I have no reason to live anymore. Being a person is so hard..."
After saying that, he pulled a silver hairpin from his hair and plunged it into his own throat.
Qiao Qingshu screamed, and Xiao Zhijie swiftly grabbed Aunt He's hand. The hairpin stopped at her heart, just a hairpin away from piercing it.
Qiao Qingshu cried out in fright,
"Auntie! What are you doing now!"
Aunt He wore a faint bitter smile, her hand still tightly gripping the hairpin, her eyes filled with despair.
“Good girl, if you truly care about me, then let me go down and reunite with your mother. I think she will be very happy to see me.”
Qiao Qingshu stepped forward and pried the hairpin out of Aunt He's hand one finger at a time, her face filled with anger. She breathed heavily as she lifted the curtain and gave orders.
"Let's go to the bamboo forest!"
As the carriage traveled deeper into the bamboo forest, Aunt He still looked ashen-faced.
“Young lady, I am all alone now, and there is little meaning in my life. I hope you will grant my request.”
Qiao Qingshu pouted and pushed her away unhappily.
"I'll grant your wish! Now get down!"
Aunt He was practically pushed off the carriage, and when she looked at the dense bamboo forest, she froze.
She rubbed her eyes, almost unable to believe what she was seeing.
Nestled in the bamboo grove before them was a small courtyard, where Jiu'er was hanging clothes to dry and Huan'er was watering flowers.
In the middle of the courtyard sat a woman, leisurely reading a book.
Aunt He's mouth dropped open, and she turned to look at Qiao Qingshu in disbelief.
"Am I dead? How can I see them?"
Qiao Qingshu shrugged and smiled.
Why don't you go up and take a good look?
Looking at these old friends she had been thinking about day and night, Aunt He showed no fear or apprehension, but instead walked forward slowly with hope in her eyes.
The closer she got, the clearer the scene became; she even heard familiar voices.
Huan'er was saying,
"How about we stew some mutton today?"
Jiu'er responded,
"Add some radishes to stew together."
Bai Chanzi, without even looking up, gave the order.
"Let's cook the two fish I caught yesterday as well."
That's Bai Chanzi's voice!
Aunt He's slow steps suddenly quickened, and she almost rushed in.
"girl!!!"
Bai Chanzi, Huan'er, and Jiu'er looked up at the door almost simultaneously, and were overjoyed to see that it was He'er. They all came out to greet her.
Aunt He almost collapsed into Bai Chanzi's arms, still bursting into tears.
"Girl! You're still alive! You're really still alive!"
The touch was warm, and Bai Chanzi's face was a bit rounder than when she was in the Qiao family, and her eyes were brighter.
This is Bai Chanzi, the girl she has served for many years! It really is!
She was crying so hard that tears and snot streamed down her face, and Bai Chanzi couldn't even lift her up.
Qiao Qingshu, who was walking slowly from a distance, spread her hands and said.
"Mother, I'm at my wit's end. Aunt He is threatening to kill herself and come down to find you."
Hearing this, Jiu'er and Huan'er couldn't help but chuckle, and quickly stepped forward to help He'er up.
"Alright, alright, we don't need to go down there anymore, we've found it up here."
"Yes, yes, stop crying, look at your face, it's all smeared."
Looking at her two familiar former companions, He'er couldn't help but hug them both.
"You two are both here, waaaaah..."