Chapter 268: Joy and Sorrow

On a day like this, Zhang Jiangqing would definitely come.

He wasn’t a high-ranking official, so he didn’t have a good seat. But this was exactly what he wanted. He brought two of his brothers, and they were in a corner on the first floor, just getting ready to enjoy a feast, when work came their way.

He was unhappy in his heart, but when he stood there with a sullen face, he actually had a bit of imposing manner.

“What happened?!” he asked.

Old Madam Wen shrieked, “Someone kidnapped my servant, in broad daylight! Quickly arrest the thief and the murderer!”

“Who is the thief!? Who is the murderer?”

“She is the thief…” The old lady pointed at Yan Zhu. But as for the murderer… she didn’t even see clearly before the person was gone, so she pointed at Wen Yu, “The person was killed in this shop, go ask her!”

Wen Yu said, “Magistrate Zhang, Old Madam Wen lost a family heirloom in the shop, why don’t you start investigating from here!”

Zhang Jiangqing’s brothers followed behind him. He gestured, one took out a sheet of paper he carried with him, another set up the table and chairs, and then went to ask for a brush and ink.

Wen Ruoqing walked to Yan Zhu’s side, “Zhuzhu, I’m sorry. This matter is directed at me.” He gave a wry smile, “I haven’t received any benefits from acknowledging me as your godfather… instead, I’ve brought you a lot of trouble.”

With Wen Yu and Gu Yue by her side, Yan Zhu wasn’t afraid, she just shook her head gently.

Hu Fei chuckled, looking at Yan Zhu with an “I told you so” expression.

Wen Ruoqing was filled with anger and glared at him fiercely. He’ll settle accounts with him later!

Zhang Jiangqing sat down, picked up his brush, and prepared to start recording, “Who is the plaintiff? What is the matter?”

Old Madam Wen hesitated.

She just wanted to make a scene, disrupt this whole acknowledgment ceremony, splash dirty water on them, and make them sick to their stomachs. But she never thought about going to court! There were so many matters among families in the capital, how could they involve the court?

Wouldn’t it be utterly humiliating to have this public questioning and answering?

Seeing her not speaking, Zhang Jiangqing asked again, “Plaintiff, state your name!”

“You’re not arresting anyone or catching them red-handed, why are you asking me! My servant…”

“Madam, whenever there is a matter of theft or murder, it’s unavoidable to involve the court. Please state your name, your identity, your address, and the matter at hand!”

Zhang Jiangqing was full of imposing manner!

Wen Yu watched, quite pleased.

Seeing Old Madam Wen hesitating and not speaking, Old Master Wen pulled her, “Magistrate Zhang, this old woman had a bit too much to drink, so she’s a little confused, talking nonsense, there’s nothing going on. We apologize to everyone, Ruoqing… you all continue!” After saying that, he tried to pull the old lady away.

“Hold on!” Wen Yu and Wen Ruoqing spoke simultaneously again. They looked at each other, and Wen Ruoqing said, “Yan Zhu is innocent, she’s just implicated because of me. This matter must be cleared up!”

“Yes!” Wen Yu said coldly, “Words have been spoken, there must be a conclusion. Otherwise, with such accusations against her, how can Zhuzhu live on! The old madam has a guilty conscience and is afraid of the court. She’s stalling and refusing to speak… But the food and wine are ready in the back kitchen, and we shouldn’t waste everyone’s time. How about letting Magistrate Zhang be a witness! As for the Wen family heirloom… It’s not that Zhuzhu is boasting, but she really wouldn’t look down on it!”

Old Madam Wen was secretly delighted and immediately said loudly, “Just you? You open a restaurant and a dim sum shop and think you’re something?”

She took out a piece of jade and placed it on the table in front of Zhang Jiangqing, “This is the Wen family treasure. It was bestowed upon Princess Xian’an by Emperor Huiren when she married. There are two pieces, the front patterns are the same, the back inscriptions are, one is ‘Stars Arching North’, the other is ‘River Flows East’!

Today, this old woman chatted with Yan Zhu for a while, and when I looked back, one piece was missing. I don’t know if she stole it. Just now, my servant heard about it from someone. Now, just look at her neck, isn’t that the piece with ‘Stars Arching North’?”

When Yan Zhu saw Old Madam Wen take out the jade, she was really startled, thinking she had lost her jade, and quickly took it out to look. It was still there!

Old Madam Wen had sharp eyes, “Look! She took it out! This is the one!” She rushed forward, trying to catch her red-handed.

Just as she reached out her hand, her arm went numb, followed by piercing pain, “Ah?” She had never experienced such pain before! She immediately held her arm, screaming and jumping.

When the old lady took out the jade, Wen Ruoqing’s vision darkened. He quickly sat down, and when he saw Yan Zhu take out her jade, his head started to ache… Sweat broke out all over him.

Old Master Wen hurried over to support his wife, and Old Madam Wen burst into tears, crying to him, “They hit me in broad daylight! Can I still live? How much have I suffered following you all these years!”

Old Master Wen had never experienced this either. Although he was incompetent, he had always lived a life of leisure and wealth. Now, in his old age, he was subjected to such humiliation in front of everyone…

He listened to his wife’s complaints and murmured, “Suffered following me? Then don’t follow me anymore. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, do as you please!?”

After saying that, the old man actually turned and left…

“You’re leaving?!” The old lady looked at him tearfully. “No! You can’t leave!” If he left, what would she do?

The old lady stumbled after him.

Everyone looked at Wen Ruoqing in unison. He was sweating profusely, stood up, and walked unsteadily to the table, picking up the jade. He looked at Yan Zhu, who quickly took off her jade and handed it to him.

He carefully examined both pieces, closed his eyes, and his body was still swaying.

Yan Zhu quickly supported him, “Father…”

✿✿✿

Hu Zi panicked, “Master, you mustn’t fall ill!”

Wen Ruoqing opened his eyes again, tears streaming down his face.

Everyone was stunned. What did this mean? Could it be that this jade really had something special about it?

“Yan Zhu, did you… take your mother’s surname? Is your mother… called Yan Hui Xin?” His heart ached terribly.

Both Wen Yu and Yan Zhu were stunned. Hu Fei thought to himself: This is bad!

“How do you know?” Yan Zhu blurted out.

Wen Ruoqing started sobbing… unable to speak.

His crying was really ugly, a grown man crying like this! And then they thought of his usual arrogant manner, how he bullied everyone.

Everyone finally felt a sense of satisfaction: You finally got your comeuppance, see if you’ll still be arrogant in the future!

“Oh my god! I…” It was as if something had pierced a layer of window paper in Wen Ruoqing’s mind, and light shone through. He saw everything clearly inside.

“Zhuzhu, where’s your mother?!” he asked anxiously.

Yan Zhu was dumbfounded, “My mother… has already passed away.”

“Passed away… really?!” Wen Ruoqing’s tears flowed even more freely.

Wen Yu had completely understood. She couldn’t help but sigh, the Creator always gives people unexpected surprises, “Magistrate Wen, eighteen years ago, my grandmother and mother rescued a pregnant woman, four months along, from a flood. Her name was Yan Hui Xin.

She said she was going home to her husband, but they were separated when a dam burst during the flood. My grandfather had people post missing person notices all around, but there was no news. Initially, my family wanted to provide financial assistance and send her back to her parents’ home or to her husband’s.

But she said that she had only her father to rely on, and after he passed away, there was no one left in her family. As for her husband, they had left home due to a conflict with his family. She was afraid her husband’s family didn’t know he had married her, and if she went to them, they probably wouldn’t acknowledge her. So, she stayed with my mother. Later, she and my mother passed away from an illness…”

Old Madam Wen, who had been listening from the crowd, was scared to death. After so many years, why couldn’t the past be forgotten!

She carefully recalled the past, thankfully, thankfully, her family hadn’t mistreated Yan Zhu. Then, what should she do?

She was a very astute person, always knowing how to seize the opportunity. She immediately rushed out, “Magistrate Wen, I’m Wen Yu’s grandmother. I didn’t know about the first part of what Wen Yu said, about her grandmother rescuing someone. But the latter part is absolutely true.

When Wen Yu’s mother married into our family, she brought Yan Zhu’s mother with her. The Wen family arranged a small courtyard for them to live in. Speaking of which, Miss Yan Zhu was actually born in the Wen family! Yan Zhu’s mother…”

Old Madam Wen carefully recalled and finally remembered some details, “She was a wonderful cook. Wen Yu’s mother was a very picky eater when she was pregnant with her. Fortunately, Yan Zhu’s mother was there to accompany her… they were very good friends!

Later, there was an epidemic in our area, and my daughter-in-law and Yan Zhu’s mother both passed away. From then on, the two young ladies were like sisters, eating and living together. Miss Yan Zhu attended classes with my granddaughter! She is literate and a skilled embroiderer. She also inherited her mother’s talent, making those pastries and small dishes! Tsk tsk, that’s how this shop came to be…”

Magistrate Wen listened, his chest heaving even more, “Then there’s no mistake! Hui Xin, she was a natural cook. That year, I was young and impulsive, and left home to travel. I ended up wandering around Jiangzhou. Hui Xin’s father was the financial and grain advisor at the prefectural government, and they only had each other.

One day, her father was going out with the account books, and his cart overturned in a ditch. I happened to be passing by and helped him, working quickly to organize the accounts. He was very grateful and invited me to dinner. I thought I was going to some restaurant, but he actually invited me to his home.

That day, I ate the most delicious meal of my life… hehe, I actually stayed in that area because of it. I would go to their house every few days to freeload.

Later, I learned that the dishes were not made by a cook, but by his daughter. I was very embarrassed and bought all sorts of things from the market to send to their house before I finally met her. Then… Master Yan married his only daughter to me!”

His tears hadn’t dried yet, but his face flushed.

It wasn’t that easy for her to marry him! His current thick skin was developed during that period!

“Later, Hui Xin became pregnant, and her father passed away. I thought, I have to give the child in her belly a proper status. So I planned to take her home. Zhuzhu…” He grabbed Yan Zhu’s hand, “You are my biological daughter! Heaven has mercy, I have a biological daughter.”

He sobbed loudly.

Yan Zhu was even more excited, “Is this real? Ah Yu, Gu Yue, I’m not dreaming, am I!? Is this real?”

Wen Yu also burst into tears, “You’re not dreaming, Zhuzhu, you’ve found your father! You have a father!”

Hu Fei’s face was a kaleidoscope of colors. He wanted to say you’re dreaming, this is fake!

But what he thought more was: This is really bad.

The last day of February, father and daughter were reunited.

Great joy for everyone!

There are some things going on at home, so I’m not satisfied with what I wrote. I apologize…