In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 891 - 896 Old Dreams

Chapter 891: Chapter 896 Old Dreams

"Pan’er greets Grandfather!"

Su Pan’er’s heart leaped with joy as she hastened forward to greet him.

"Very well, my old bones can still hobble around with a cane, quite healthy indeed!"

Old Patriarch Su’s face was all smiles. He had suffered a minor stroke back then, but after a few years of careful recuperation, Old Patriarch Su walking with a cane was no big deal.

"It is a blessing that Grandfather is in good health."

Su Pan’er smiled and turned to greet Old Xue, "Did Old Xue and Eleventh Uncle sleep well last night?"

"Yes, very well."

After a night’s rest, both Old Xue and Eleventh Uncle looked significantly more spirited, though Old Xue’s face still bore the pallor of someone who had been seriously ill.

Old Xue smiled gently, "And you, child, nothing wrong, I hope?"

"Nothing, he has been very well-behaved."

Su Pan’er gently touched her swollen belly. This child was commendable; it knew its mother had a hard time, and during the journey, it had stayed quietly in her womb without causing any trouble.

"That’s good."

Old Xue also breathed a sigh of relief, "Lord Marquis entrusted you to me when he left. Fortunately, both mother and child are safe; otherwise, how would I face Lord Marquis!" Old Xue sighed with particular emotion.

Old Patriarch Su squinted his eyes and soon after burst into hearty laughter.

He reached out to pat Old Xue’s shoulder and showered him with praise, "Foolish girl is a bit simple-minded, and I’m afraid she must have troubled you quite a bit on the journey. I’m truly grateful. If it weren’t for your miraculous medical skills, she wouldn’t be standing here completely intact."

Everyone loves to hear kind words, and a smile couldn’t help but appear on Old Xue’s face, "You’re wrong there, Brother Su. It’s the ugly girl who is truly capable. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to escape at all."

"Oh? There’s more to it?"

Old Patriarch Su’s eyes rolled, and he seized the moment to ask, "Old Brother, what exactly happened?"

Seeing the conversation dragging on, Su Pan’er quickly steered the topic elsewhere, "Grandfather, Old Xue, let’s talk inside the house instead."

Naturally, no one objected, and only after they returned to the house did they briefly go over what had happened.

Su Pan’er rested for half a day and also met with the rest of the family. Zhou Ning, who had originally been helping out with miscellaneous affairs in Changze County, ended up taking a liking to Xiren, who stayed to take care of Mrs. Su-Hua. They now had a son and a daughter. Additionally, the several long-term workers who had stayed at Qin Mansion, under Mrs. Su-Hua’s arrangement, had either gotten married or betrothed, and now mostly had children of their own.

After lunch, Su Pan’er took some modest gifts and paid a visit to the Qin Family.

The Qin Family had changed a great deal over the years.

Originally, with the unexpected death of Su Sikong and the disappearance of Su Yue’er, the senior branch of the family had lost its lineage. Moreover, because Su Pan’er and the others had left the Qin Mansion in the care of the Su Family when they departed, there had been quite a few disputes between the Qin and Su families. The Su Family had the land deeds in hand, and after much turmoil, they arranged for the Qin Family to acquire a new three-section mansion in the county city, which finally calmed the situation. After such turmoil, the Qin Family had lost face to continue living in Luoyan Village and thus moved as a whole to the county city.

Unexpectedly, just two years after settling in the County Town, no sooner had Qin Yi’s fourth brother married and had a child, the three brothers clamored for a separation. Old Qin and Mrs. Qin-Li were then sent back to the old mansion by Qin Xiao and had since lived there for many years...

These were the details that Xiren had told Su Pan’er, "Young lady, you are unaware. The matter of the Qin Family’s splitting was a great commotion. Not only was the clan leader of the Qin Family alarmed, but even the provincial magistrate was disturbed. Fortunately, Qin Da is a reasonable man; otherwise, the elders might not have had a place to stay."

Seeing the Qin Mansion drawing nearer, Su Pan’er stopped in her tracks, "It’s better for Father-in-law and Mother-in-law to be with Big Brother. At least Sister-in-law won’t mistreat them. By the way, didn’t Fourth Brother get married? Didn’t they have some arrangement?"

"...The lady Fourth Master married speaks and acts with propriety..."

Xiren hesitated to continue.

Concerned with propriety?

Su Pan’er smiled. Was she unable to endure the elders’ ways?

Recalling Mrs. Qin-Li’s penchant for making a scene, Su Pan’er said no more. With one hand supporting her swollen belly and the other leading Little Yanyan, they walked toward the Qin Family’s courtyard.

As they encountered some familiar faces along the way, people turned back and looked at Su Pan’er and Qin Yanyan with surprised and inquisitive gazes. Seeing Xiren accompanying them, they couldn’t help but ask questions. Xiren, not one to talk unnecessarily, simply smiled without offering introductions. When Su Pan’er recognized someone, she would casually engage in conversation.

Once people finally recognized her, word spread quickly. Before long, nearly everyone in Luoyan Village and surrounding hamlets knew that Miracle Healer Su had returned!

Su Pan’er, leading Yan Yan, arrived at the Qin Family’s courtyard.

Despite the passing years, the Qin Family’s courtyard seemed unchanged; if anything, it appeared more desolate than when Su Pan’er first laid eyes on it and could hardly be called a courtyard anymore.

"Young lady, let your servant knock on the door," Xiren offered, stepping forward to take the initiative.

After knocking for quite a while, a faint rustling came from the yard, and after waiting for a good long time, a weak and listless voice could finally be heard from inside.

"Who is it?"

Xiren hastily raised her voice, "Old Mrs. Qin, your servant Xiren here. The young lady has returned with the little young lady! Please open the door for us."

From inside the yard suddenly came a burst of chaotic noise, and it seemed that faint cursing could be heard as well.

Su Pan’er narrowed her eyes and calmly watched the door, holding Yan Yan’s hand.

Fragments of the past flickered before her eyes like a waking dream.

After a moment, the great door creaked open a crack, and an aged face appeared. The dim eyes swept over and locked onto Su Pan’er as soon as they met her gaze.

She ground her back teeth, "It really is you!"

A smile played at the corners of Su Pan’er’s mouth; leading Yan Yan forward two steps, she bowed lightly, "Mother-in-law, your daughter-in-law has brought Yan Yan to greet you."

Mrs. Qin-Li stared unblinkingly at Su Pan’er for a long time before finally turning her gaze onto Qin Yanyan.

Qin Yanyan, seemingly frightened by her gaze, instinctively moved closer to Su Pan’er.

The expression on Su Pan’er’s face remained unchanged, still looking at her calmly.

After a long while, Mrs. Qin-Li retracted her gaze and slowly made way, "Come in."

Was she just going to let her off so lightly?

Su Pan’er raised an eyebrow but still led Yan Yan through the gate.

The Qin Family’s house seemed even more dilapidated, the courtyard was a mess, and so quiet there was not a hint of life. The firewood room where she and Qin Yi had spent their wedding night had collapsed in half, allowing a clear view of the few bundles of firewood inside.

Stepping into the main house, a chill and dismal air hit them in the face.

"Sit down. The old man has gone to the fields; I’m afraid he won’t return until evening," said Mrs. Qin-Li, her voice tinged with loneliness.

Su Pan’er sat as told and looked around. The main house was barren, and the Fortune and Prosperity talisman hanging in the center was old and evidently hadn’t been replaced for years. In the middle of severe winter, no charcoal was burning in the house, and just sitting down, the cold seeped into their bones.