Old Madam Zhu got off the carriage with the help of her son. She looked up at the door lintel with the elegiac couplet hanging on it and her eyes became red.
They were not only in-laws, they had known each other since they were daughters in her parents' home. She was two years older than her, so it was common for them to run into each other at various girls' gatherings. They were not close friends, but they were closer than the average person.
It was such a coincidence that after they got married, their respective husband's families turned out to be old friends. The more the two families interacted with each other, the closer their relationship became. It was also because she knew what kind of people each other was that she dared to marry her incompetent daughter to the Hua family.
But who could have thought that someone two years younger than her would suddenly pass away like this.
Suddenly, a loud cry was heard from the side. Mrs. Zhu turned her head and saw it was Hua Jing.
Realizing that she had been noticed, Hua Jing bowed deeply to her as a filial son. The old lady pretended to be polite but did not ask her why she was outside as she had wished.
Having lived to this age, Madam Zhu has seen too many things and has a deep understanding of the principle that abnormal things are demons, not to mention that she does not like Hua Jing.
Among the children of the Hua family, she looked down upon the eldest daughter who was so arrogant. Her daughter did not suffer much at the hands of her mother-in-law, but suffered several times at the hands of Hua Jing. If it were not for the close protection of her son-in-law, she would have been tortured to no end. She never talked about this matter, but she never forgot it in her heart.
At this time, Hua Zhi had already come out with her brother. The two of them knelt on the ground as soon as they crossed the gate.
The old lady had no idea who Hua Jing was. She quickly stepped forward and pulled each of them up with her hands, calling them her darling repeatedly, her heartache evident in her words.
Hua Zhiren talked to the old man for a while before greeting Zhu Haodong, "Second uncle."
"Stop being so polite." However, after not seeing each other for a few months, he could hardly recognize the two siblings. Compared to Berlin's change from being playful to being calm, he was more surprised by Zhier's change.
In his impression, Zhi'er was quiet and never talkative, and her words and deeds were a model for ladies from noble families. Now Zhi'er also behaves like a lady from noble families, but he could see that she was different. The determination and sharpness in her eyes were something she had never had before.
Or maybe they were all wrong.
The two siblings helped the old lady to the mourning hall to burn incense. The younger generations of the Hua family knelt down to express their gratitude. Noticing the vague and real figures behind the curtain, Zhu Haodong took a few more glances.
The old lady covered her face with a handkerchief and cried sincerely for a long time, then let the two siblings take them to the flower hall next door to rest, where Zhu was already waiting.
When Zhu saw her mother, she was like a fledgling swallow flying into the forest, crying her heart out.
Hua Zhi knelt down and bowed, "Grandmother and second uncle, please rest here. Bolin and I have to go to the funeral hall, so we won't accompany you."
"Don't worry about us, just go and do your own thing." The old lady did not ask the people she brought with her to help. She had been observing since she entered the door and found that everything in the Hua family was in order, without any panic, and did not need help from others.
"Stop crying." Madam Zhu signaled her son to close the door, half-embraced her daughter and sat down on the chair, lowering her voice and saying, "Tell me in detail what happened in the past two days. Who is in charge of the family now?"
"It's Zhier. My mother-in-law has handed the home over to Zhier." Zhu sobbed as she told him what had happened in the past two days, focusing on Hua Jing.
Madam Zhu was so angry that she slammed the table. "What a beast! What a beast! How could Wanniang treat her well? She protected her like the apple of her eye, and this is how she repays you? No wonder Zhi'er wouldn't let her in. Xia'er, I'm telling you, don't speak for her in front of Zhi'er. That would embarrass Zhi'er. If she doesn't have this kind of temper, how can she be the head of the family and convince others in the future?"
Zhu Xiuxia thought about what she had done before and lowered her head in guilt.
Mrs. Zhu saw that there was nothing she didn't understand. She was angry at her for not fighting back but couldn't really say anything harsh. She nodded at her forehead and said, "Didn't I tell you not to meddle in Zhi'er's affairs? You just do whatever she says. Why are you turning a deaf ear to her?"
Zhu's tears quickly fell, "But that's Zhi'er's aunt. If she goes out and says something unpleasant about Zhi'er, who wouldn't believe it? Wouldn't Zhi'er's reputation be ruined?"
Old Madam Zhu was speechless for a moment. Yes, when the aunt said something about her niece, people would not think that the aunt intended to ruin her niece's reputation, but that the niece was really that bad, and her daughter was right.
Zhu Haodong, who had been listening without interrupting, asked, "What does Zhier think?"
"Zhi'er said..." Zhu Xiuxia lowered her head and lowered her voice, "Zhi'er said she couldn't retreat. She said she couldn't let the Hua family end up like the He family."
The girl who usually had little presence actually understood things better than anyone else. Zhu Haodong sighed in his heart and felt that he had made a mistake. "If she quits, the Hua family might have to follow Hua Jing's surname Song in the future."
"But the Hua family has nothing left to gain now..."
Old Madam Zhu's face was filled with helplessness. It was all her fault as a mother that her daughter grew up like this. It was her fault that she did not teach her daughter well.
Zhu Haodong explained to the youngest sister, "The Hua family's name is enough to attract people. You can't imagine how big a network of connections the Hua family has built over a hundred years of operation. Even though they are not showing up now, it's because they are not needed. No one would come up to the women of the Hua family at this time. That's not helping, it's harming. There is another reason, which is that everyone doesn't want to confirm the accusation that Old Master Hua is forming a clique for personal gain."
Zhu Xiuxia still didn't understand, "But no lady has ever come out to help us..."
Before helping others, you have to protect yourself first. Zhu Haodong shook his head and stopped talking about these complicated interpersonal relationships. He just made a note in his mind that he would talk to Zhier about it after this matter was over. The Hua family not only has old friends, but also many political enemies. In addition, Grandpa Hua values talents, and many scholars have benefited from him. But it is also because of this old man Hua that he has offended many people. Adding the two together, when the Hua family gradually loses attention, I am afraid that someone will do something small.
"Just listen to Zhi'er. No matter what decision she makes, you just need to stand on her side. Don't try to dissuade her. Even if you think it's not good for her, don't try to dissuade her. She knows what she's doing. Even for you and Berlin, she won't really let herself suffer. Do you understand?"
Zhu Xiuxia nodded repeatedly, "I remember it."
Old Madam Zhu was more concerned about the reactions of the other members of the Hua family. "Do your sisters-in-law have any objections to Zhi'er being the head of the family?"
"I'm not sure about the other two, but my fourth sister-in-law should have no objection. She has always had a good relationship with Zhi'er. Zhi'er has been making arrangements these past two days, and my fourth sister-in-law listens to her."
Finally, there was someone who could help. The old lady breathed a sigh of relief for her granddaughter. "I can't interfere in the affairs of the Hua family, lest others gossip. I have seen Zhi'er's character. She is strong and capable. She won't ask for help easily. You have to keep an eye on her. If she encounters difficulties, ask Lin Shuang to find me. I will do my best to help her as long as I can."
It was her, not the Zhu family. The old lady also left room for them. Zhu Xiuxia couldn't hear it, but Zhu Haodong heard it clearly. Seeing his youngest sister nodding with a look of trust, he couldn't help but turn his eyes away.
Old Madam Zhu was also saddened when she saw her son's reaction, but it was the only way she could do. She was first the mistress of the Zhu family, and only then could she be Xiuxia's mother.
PS: muah girls.