After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 660 Small talk
Everyone sat down in the hall, and Zhuang Shitong ordered someone to serve tea.

Since there was no mistress in the Zhuang family, and Ma and Haitang were the only female guests among the visitors, Ma simply sat next to Zhuang Minyi, holding her hand, and kindly asked her about her experiences along the way, feeling sorry for the suffering she had endured.

Zhuang Minyi was only in her teens, with thin eyebrows, long eyes, fair complexion, and a gentle and graceful temperament. Now she still looked haggard and sad, and her figure was thin, which made her look even more slender and weak, with tears in her eyes, which made people feel pity for her.

But if you really think she is a dodder who needs to rely on others to survive because of her weak and innocent appearance, then you underestimate her. Her mother died suddenly, her father was seriously ill, and her uncle came to her house with bad intentions. She was able to deal with him tactfully and dispel his suspicion. She successfully escaped from the predicament with her father, servants, and valuables. She traveled more than a thousand miles in the middle of winter and arrived in Chang'an safely without losing a single person. How could an ordinary weak girl do this?

If someone looks down on her because of her appearance, they will suffer a great loss sooner or later.

In her previous life, she failed to escape and eventually died at the hands of her relatives and her husband's family. It was probably because all her family members had died. The only relative she could turn to for help was her distant uncle Geng Zehuai, whose status and power background were far inferior to the backers behind Zhuang Minyi's uncle. In order not to implicate this elder, she gave up the fight, right? Even so, she still helped the Geng family and Haijiao. It was not easy for her to achieve this, and we really couldn't ask too much of her.

However, Zhuang Shitong never encountered any misfortune in this life, and he still worked as the fifth-rank official of Chang'an Prefecture. His son Zhuang Qinghe was only seriously ill, but not dead. Zhuang Minyi still had her father and grandfather to rely on, and she escaped from her uncle's clutches in time, so she will definitely live a hundred times happier in the future than in her previous life.

Haitang quietly observed Zhuang Minyi and listened to her whispered conversation with Ma. Although Ma was not familiar with the Zhuang family, she had already developed a sympathetic heart towards Zhuang Minyi in the short time she had met her. Even if Haitang did not make any more suggestions, she had already made up her mind to take good care of this poor child.

She also whispered to Zhuang Minyi, "Your mother is buried in Datong. Whether to move her burial place back to her hometown in the future is up to your family to decide. But she died in her prime, and her family members plotted against her. She must have accumulated a lot of resentment. You'd better find a famous temple in Chang'an to perform a ritual for your mother and pray for blessings, so as to eliminate your mother's resentment and let her reincarnate as soon as possible. It's almost the Little New Year, and by the time of the New Year, no temple will have time to hold a ceremony for you. If you want to perform a ritual, it's best to go in advance. If you don't know which temple is good, just come and ask me. I'm very familiar with several famous temples in the city."

Zhuang Minyi had really not thought of this at first, and upon hearing this, she hurriedly thanked Ma and said that she would discuss the matter with her grandfather and father later, and would try to get it done before New Year's Eve.

Seeing that she was well-behaved and willing to listen to advice, Ma felt even more distressed, so she held her hand and continued to instruct her. How should this ritual be done, what are the rules in Chang'an City, which temple's prayer ceremony is famous, which temple's monks are virtuous... There are so many things, and she explained them very carefully, almost teaching Zhuang Minyi step by step how to handle the ritual for her deceased mother. Zhuang Minyi also listened carefully, fearing that missing a word would affect the spirit of her deceased mother in heaven.

Haitang listened quietly and didn't interrupt. She just secretly gave her brother Haijiao a look, telling him not to just look over here and ignore the conversation of the elders. If Zhuang Shitong or Geng Zehuai saw his intentions and became unhappy, it would add variables to his pursuit of his wife, and he would regret it too late!
Haijiao received the eye hint from his sister and with great effort he retracted his gaze, trying hard to control himself from looking at his lover and grandmother.

On the elders' side, Xie Wenzai was comforting Zhuang Shitong: "The doctor said there will be no danger. When the housekeeper comes back with the medicine, we can boil it for Qinghe to drink. Don't worry, take care of yourself first. Your family is in the current situation, with sick people and children, and we still rely on you to support the overall situation. If you collapse first, what will the children do?"

Zhuang Shitong sighed, "How could I not understand this? I just can't get around it. Qinghe's brother-in-law is a family acquaintance whom I watched grow up. After not seeing him for more than ten years, he has become so hateful and has even abandoned blood ties. How can we tolerate this?! Qinghe's wife has been virtuous and filial since she married into our Zhuang family. She has never made any mistakes and has served Qinghe very attentively. She was just too partial to her natal family and trusted her own brothers, but she suffered such a misfortune and died at a young age. As a father-in-law, I feel very sorry for her after hearing the news." "Just get through this winter first." Xie Wenzai advised him, "First cure Qinghe's illness and submit the evidence from Datong to Beijing. You just need to wait for news on the rest. Those who have made mistakes will eventually get what they deserve."

"I just hope things go well." Zhuang Shitong sighed and shook his head. Apart from this, he had no other way. He could write to his old friends in Beijing, but the people behind Datong were probably members of the Sun family. Getting other Wumen old students involved would only make the fight between the two sides more intense. Rather than involving his old friends, he might as well file a complaint to the emperor in Beijing through Tu Rong's channels. But considering the emperor's usual indulgence of Sun Ge Lao, he felt little confidence.

Cao Gengyun said: "Don't think too much. Think positively. The New Year is almost here. At least your family will be reunited and you won't have a lonely New Year." Zhuang Shitong now has his son and granddaughter around him, which is better than him being separated from his wife and children and having to spend the New Year with old friends.

Zhuang Shitong didn't think there was anything to be happy about this New Year. Although he had his son and granddaughter, he didn't have his daughter-in-law. But when he heard Cao Gengyun say that and thought about his situation, he felt that he was better than the worst. He didn't say much, but just smiled and nodded: "The chefs at home are here. Didn't you say last time that you missed the fish soup we used to make when we entertained guests? If you are free in the first month of the year, come to my house and I will have someone make it for you."

Cao Gengyun said: "I want to eat fish soup, but I won't eat it in the first month of the year. In the middle of winter, what kind of fresh fish can be bought in Chang'an? Let's wait until spring comes and flowers bloom."

Geng Zehuai interjected, "There are hot spring resorts in Nanshan that also ship fresh fish to the city for sale in winter. If you like fish soup, I'll send someone to buy it for you."

Lu Bainian laughed at him: "The county government just banned writing, so you are so free? If you really have nothing to do, why don't you come to our place and help teach the students?"

Geng Zehuai waved his hand: "Forget it, I haven't studied for decades. I can't compare with you old geniuses. Don't embarrass me."

Xie Wenzai felt that Geng Zehuai's attitude was a little off, a little too attentive: "Brother Geng, are you in any trouble? If you need any help, just ask."

Geng Zehuai hesitated for a moment and looked at Zhuang Shitong. Zhuang Shitong spoke for him: "My cousin's daughter married in Datong. When Minyi and her father escaped, they were unable to take her aunt and her son with them, so when they got home, they told us. My cousin's daughter and grandson are suffering in her husband's family! My cousin is worried and wants to find someone to save them, but he doesn't know who to find. Now he can only ask you for help."

(End of this chapter)