Chapter 251: Wishing to See the Children
Since the old Wen residence had been turned into a workshop, the new house on this side was renamed the residence. From now on, the workshop was the workshop, and the residence was the residence.
Nanny Shi and Aunt Lu escorted Old Madam Luo inside, putting on an even grander display than Lady Liu behind them.
Since she had already stepped down from the horse carriage and Old Madam Luo was walking ahead, it naturally wasn’t appropriate for her to return to the carriage either. She could only follow behind, with the coachman leading the horse carriage at the very back.
Upon reaching the entrance, Old Madam Luo stopped, turned around, and pointed at the main gate and large courtyard behind her, saying, “We’ve moved. The old house was converted into a workshop. Come in and sit.”
Deep in her heart, Lady Liu was astonished. She had only been gone for two years, yet such a massive change had actually occurred in the Wen family.
Originally, when the Master came back and mentioned Wen Xiuyi’s name, she still hadn’t believed it, thinking it must be a coincidence. After all, having been husband and wife with that man for many years, how could she not know exactly what kind of virtue he possessed? How could he possibly cultivate new grains? When he was at home, he had never even done any work in the fields.
Having been married to Meng De for two years, there had been no movement in her belly. Thinking that she was getting older and could no longer bear children, she had targeted the young Datou.
Datou had been dull and sluggish since childhood, and he was still young. If she brought him to the capital to be raised at this age, he would forget the people over here after a long time. As long as the Master treated him well, this child would definitely filial to them in the future.
However, before they could set out, they heard that Wen Xiuyi from Gutong Village in Yunwu Town had cultivated new grains, and Prince Fu had personally presented them to the Emperor. This was no small matter; it was a grand event that benefited the nation and the people, a top-tier merit that could be recorded before the Emperor.
They also didn’t believe it could be that rogue Wen Xiuyi, which was why they had quickly taken a leave of absence to return and investigate the truth.
If it really was him, would she still be able to take Datou away?
For a moment, Lady Liu’s thoughts drifted far away.
“Madam,” the old nanny beside Lady Liu called out softly, pulling Lady Liu back to her senses.
Seeing Old Madam Luo still staring at her, she nodded. “Pardon the intrusion.”
Old Madam Luo cast a glance at her and let out a sigh. “There’s no need to be so polite. We were a family originally, after all.”
In the past, it was her own son who didn’t act like a human being, so Old Madam Luo couldn’t blame Lady Liu for leaving either. It was just that in her heart, she still harbored a bit of resentment toward this former daughter-in-law. However, Yao’er had also said that when she returned, treating her with courtesy would suffice.
Lady Liu followed Old Madam Luo inside. The brand-new courtyard carried the scent of a new house, and the flowers and trees planted in the flowerbeds still looked a bit withered, as if they hadn’t quite adapted yet.
Old Madam Luo took the initiative to explain, “This house was built not long ago.”
“Mm,” Lady Liu acknowledged. She followed Old Madam Luo into the side parlor, which was the place specifically used by the Wen family to entertain guests.
Once they were all seated, Aunt Lu served tea to the two of them.
Only then did Lady Liu slowly open her mouth: “Mother…”
Old Madam Luo waved her hand. “You and the eldest son have already divorced, so there is no need to call me Mother. Just call me Auntie.”
Lady Liu didn’t force it either. After calling her Auntie Wen, she asked, “Where is Datou? Why haven’t I seen him?”
Seeing Old Madam Luo shoot a glance at her, Lady Liu added a sentence: “And Yao’er and Little Jun, are they at home?”
Old Madam Luo answered, “Yao’er is at the winery, she doesn’t have time. Little Jun is studying medicine in the city, and Datou is also attending classes at the academy; none of them are at home right now.” Old Madam Luo couldn’t stop someone from seeing their children either, since the bond of blood and affection was there after all. But the people truly weren’t at home.
Wen Jun and Datou completely didn’t know that Lady Liu had returned, while Wen Yao had found out and straight up hid at the winery.
Lady Liu blanked out. What? Studying medicine and attending classes at an academy? Datou went to attend classes at an academy? Could that child speak now? Was the Wen family actually so willing to nurture her child? And Wen Yao—what winery? Was this girl working at a winery?
Lady Liu pressed further, “Little Jun went to study medicine? I wonder which physician he is following. And Datou—Datou, he, can he speak now?”
“Mm,” Old Madam Luo acknowledged faintly, replying, “He speaks quite fluently. The teacher has praised him plenty.” They had praised this boy so much his tail was about to go up to the sky.
A visible look of joy appeared on Lady Liu’s face. “Really? That is truly wonderful.”
Seeing that she actually hadn’t asked about her precious granddaughter, Old Madam Luo felt unbalanced in her heart and said directly, “Why don’t you ask how Yao’er is doing?”
Lady Liu blanked out before snapping back to her senses. She quickly shifted her attitude, speaking with quite a bit of displeasure, “You said just now that Yao’er is at the winery. Auntie Wen, how old is Yao’er? Letting her work at a winery, is that appropriate?”
Old Madam Luo lifted her eyelids. “Who told you she works at the winery?” Her tone was faint. Hmph, her precious granddaughter was incredibly capable.
Nanny Shi added from the side, “Madam Meng might not know, but the winery belongs to my family’s Young Mistress herself.”
What? Yao’er’s winery?
Lady Liu was shocked. During these two years that she was absent, what on earth had happened to the Wen family?
Without waiting for Lady Liu to recover from her surprise, Old Madam Luo, having received a hint from Nanny Shi, asked directly, “Is there some matter you came for?”
Lady Liu had originally wanted to ask what was going on with the winery, but being questioned by Old Madam Luo caused her to miss the opportunity to press further. She could only reply, “I came back to pay respects to my late father, and I want to see the three children.”
Learning from what Nanny Shi had taught her, Old Madam Luo picked up her teacup to take a slow sip before opening her mouth sluggishly. Her tone was flat and estranged, even carrying a trace of displeasure as she said, “Back then, you chose to leave the children behind and divorce, departing so resolutely. I won’t beat around the bush with you either. To speak from the heart of this old woman, I do not want you to see the three children.”
Seeing Lady Liu’s expression change drastically, Old Madam Luo continued, “They are the children of our old Wen family. Since you have stepped out of our old Wen family’s door, you no longer have any ties to them.
However, you are the birth mother of the three children after all, and we have shared a past as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Not letting you see them would make it seem like this old woman is bullying you. It’s just that right now, it isn’t that I’m not letting you see them, but rather that the three children truly are not at home.
If you had sent a letter in advance saying you wanted to see the three children, I would have had them wait at home. It is just unfortunate timing.”
The handkerchief in Lady Liu’s hand was almost torn to shreds. Ever since she entered the capital, relying on the Master’s methods and her own socializing, when had she ever suffered such humiliation? A country old woman actually used this kind of high-and-mighty tone to speak with her time and time again.
Suppressing the unpleasantness in her heart, Lady Liu shifted her demeanor, actually appearing somewhat aggrieved. She spoke up: “Auntie Wen, I know it was my fault for leaving the three children behind and departing, but I was also forced to the point of having no choice. That kind of life was truly unlivable. Now I have no other requests; I only want to see the three children and see if they are doing well.”
Looking at her like this, Old Madam Luo let out a sigh in her heart. It was just like in the past—as long as Lady Liu showed this kind of aggrieved appearance, she would soften her heart. For the sake of their mother and children, she had helped the eldest son fill his financial holes time and time again, because she had always felt that their family marrying a daughter from a scholar’s family was a high match for them, and they couldn’t wrong Lady Liu.
