CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 044: WON’T LET YOU BE WRONGED

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"I won’t go back there, I’ll listen to Great Aunt," said Zhang Shanni, wiping away her tears and nestling up to the slightly corpulent body of the elderly woman, coquettishly. "Welcome, of course you’re welcome, don’t listen to your Great Aunt, I’ll have Aunt Zhi Ming make you something delicious!" Seeing his grandniece show her girlish charm, Zhang Hongqiang immediately spoke up, cutting in front of his wife.

"You old man, is there any need to snatch the conversation like that!" Zhou Dahua helplessly patted her husband on the shoulder, then turned back to pat Zhang Shanni comfortingly on the back, finally sighing: "Silly Ni, it’s better not to come back to Shanglin Village for the next couple of years. Wait until they have accepted the reality before you do. You are now Mrs. Xie, don’t take the matters over there to heart, understand?"

Zhou Dahua knew that Zhang Shanni was talking about the custom of returning home after marriage, but she had declined it. If Zhang Shanni really did go to their house during her return visit, it was inevitable that Zhang Zhiguo’s family would make a scene. On such a joyful occasion, she truly didn’t want to bring about such distressing issues.

"But..." Zhang Shanni didn’t think as much as her Great Aunt. With her capability, where couldn’t she go? However, after all, her Great Aunt was a shrewd person living in this era, and her thoughts represented the mindset of most rural women of the time.

She wasn’t afraid of trouble, but who would seek it out if it could be avoided?

"Right, right, Shanni, don’t listen to Uncle. For the next two years, don’t come back to Shanglin Village. After things have calmed down in a couple of years, your uncle will personally come to invite you, so as to not give them the opportunity to gloat!"

Zhang Zhiming, who could take over as village head in his old age, had both the mentality and ability. Therefore, he thought more than his father.

Zhang Zhiguo, that bastard, might be afraid of his old man, but his wife was not an easy one to deal with. The old lady simply didn’t want to stir up annoying issues on Shanni’s day of great joy.

So, he completely agreed with his mother.

"Silly little girl, if you can’t go to your Great Aunt’s, can’t your Great Aunt come here? When you’re free, Great Aunt will come over to visit. Don’t mind these small details. Once you’ve settled down, don’t find the old lady bothersome."

"Of course not~ Uncle, Great Aunt, and the family, you are all Shanni’s last kin!" Zhang Shanni, unable to argue with the elders and knowing they were looking out for her best interests, eventually agreed to their words, promising not to take the initiative to go there for the next two years, which made Zhang Hongqiang’s family happily leave.

They even refused to stay for dinner, saying that they did not want to give gossips an opportunity to carry tales.

Zhang Shanni knew Great Aunt was referring to Zhang Zhiguo’s whole family.

Before leaving, Great Aunt privately gave her an old wallet, saying it was the dowry left by the original grandmother. Zhang Shanni couldn’t refuse because it was an heirloom from the original grandmother, which Great Aunt was only responsible for keeping safe and had no right to dispose of.

In the afternoon, the old ladies of the Xie family who shared the same household came one after another to help wash the dishes and wipe the tables. No matter how much Zhang Shanni pleaded for them to stay for a meal, Zhang Hongqiang’s family still left.

Zhang Shanni had strong manual skills; before Uncle’s family came over, she had already finished making all the required bedding covers and other household items. Now, her mood not being high, she stayed in the left wing and did not return to the front courtyard.

Zhou Xiuhua knew that her daughter-in-law San’er was not in high spirits. With such a natal family, one couldn’t feel happy. Her biological parents were not as good as a cousin uncle from the next room, which was simply upsetting to think about.

She sighed and patted her hand, letting her rest quietly in her own room.

Zhang Shan Ni held the old wallet in her hand, and with just a squeeze, she knew - inside must be jewelry. Looking at the two large trunks piled in her bridal chamber, a mixture of sour, sweet, and bitter feelings welled up in her heart.

At this moment, she couldn’t help but recall the time before the apocalypse, when her parents, just like now, were preparing her dowry, mentioning that some old traditions could not be abolished. No bride could be without a dowry, and how could there be a bride without jewelry...

At the same time, she remembered from the original host’s memories that when her grandmother was on her deathbed, she handed a delicate, extremely fine ring to the original host. It was much smaller than those given to her older sisters, not by just a little.

However, the original host remembered her grandmother grasping her hand, telling her not to panic, even if the ring was seized. She had prepared another dowry for her that would surely not be worse than those of her older sisters...

The original host’s grandmother was wise, knowing that of all the grandchildren, only the little granddaughter was capable of bearing the burden. On her deathbed, she held the original host’s hand, urging her not to forget her roots and help shoulder the Dongliang if she had the means...

"Whoo-whoo..." Zhang Shan Ni buried herself in the cotton quilt on the kang bed, the pent-up discomfort in her heart finally breaking out into tears, while muffled sobs resembling those of a small animal emerged faintly from the quilt.

Xie Jingchen had just returned home and set down the prey in his hands when he was reminded by his mother. Upon entering the room, he heard such a sound.

Regarding his little wife’s family, he had decided decisively, but he had forgotten that his little wife had lived there for eighteen years after all. Now faced with such a situation, how could she not feel sad?

To be honest, Xie Jingchen, hearing his little wife sobbing so sadly, felt a twinge of regret. However, this slight regret was instantly discarded after he fully understood the true colors of Zhang Zhiguo’s family.

"Little girl, don’t cry. I’ll be good to you." Xie Jingchen silently took a seat next to Zhang Shan Ni on the bed, pulling her small body, buried in the quilt, into his arms as he comforted her.

"..."

Zhang Shan Ni, absorbed in thoughts of her loved ones from her past life, wept so intensely that she didn’t even notice Xie Jingchen’s arrival. These days, she was still adapting to her new body, her spiritual power was much depleted, and her guard was down. Only when he embraced her did she jump in surprise.

There was a smell of sweat and grass, mixed with the scent of blood.

"Believe me, I’ll be good to you. I won’t let you be wronged." Xie Jingchen said as he comforted her, stroking her small head beneath his large palm. It was indeed his first time comforting a woman, and he could only think of such simple words which were also his true feelings.

"Xie Jingchen..."

Zhang Shan Ni grasped the cloth of his coat, tears still dripping down, each one soaking into the fabric of his chest, the damp warmth like fire burning against the skin where the two were touching.

Zhang Shan Ni felt embarrassed; she was well over thirty to still be crying in a man’s arms - the shame could kill her! Yet, within that embarrassment, she clung tightly to his strong body. Unless something unforeseen happened, this man was destined to be her harbor for this lifetime.

Xie Jingchen felt warmth; in his twenty-eight years of life, this was the first time he was so close to the opposite sex. He felt the temperature of her tears, burning like fire!

"Don’t be afraid, I am here."

Surprised by the strength of the little woman’s embrace, Xie Jingchen continued to soothe her, rubbing her small head against his chest, the tender feeling in his hand making him very fond of the action.

Zhang Shan Ni rubbed against his chest, gradually quieting her sobs and burying the longing for her relatives from her past life in her heart.

That’s how misunderstandings are formed, wild imaginations are really no good.