673 She Won 2
Su Xiaozhi calmly picked up the gold and put it away. She knew that she had won. She looked at the two families who had treated her as an enemy and said calmly, “None of us knows the truth about last night. Only your families know. However, I, Su Xiaozhi, have a clear conscience no matter if it’s in the past or in the future. When Father and Mother were alive, I did everything I could and couldn’t do. No matter how many years have passed, I’m not afraid of anyone talking about me, Su Xiaozhi. However, there are gods everywhere. People can’t see, but gods can.”
Su Xiaozhi smiled. She looked at Su Dalang and Su Erlang’s families and swept her gaze across the familiar faces. She swallowed and said again, “I’m like this. I hope you’re the same. It’s best if Father and Mother died of illness. If not, there will be retribution one day.”
Su Xiaozhi’s words sounded like the truth, but also like a curse.
People looked at Su Dalang and Su Erlang with complicated expressions.
Old Master Wang couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh. It was sad to raise a son like this.
“Of course Father and Mother died of illness. We misunderstood you previously and it’s our fault. Now that the misunderstanding has been explained and the gold has been returned to you, if you say those words that will cause criticism, don’t blame us for being rude to you.”
Madam Li said angrily. She did not get the gold, so it was blinding to look at Su Xiaozhi.
Everyone looked at Su Xiaozhi. The Su family was staring at the gold in Su Xiaozhi’s hand. If Su Xiaozhi took out the gold now, they would still be willing to acknowledge her.
Su Xiaozhi did not look at the Su family. She turned around and bowed deeply to the village chief and the others. “Thank you for coming to seek justice for me. Thank you.”
“Village Chief, I want to sell my house. If the villagers need it, 15 taels of silver will do.”
Su Xiaozhi said that she wanted to sell the house. A few years ago, when she settled down, the house was built quite well. Coupled with the foundation and the surrounding fields, it was worth far more than 15 taels.
As soon as Su Xiaozhi said this, someone chimed in, “Xiaozhi, is what you said true? I want to buy your house. Are you really going to sell it?”
Su Xiaozhi nodded. “Yes, I’m going to sell it.”
Su Xiaozhi looked at the village chief and said, “Uncle, if your family needs it, I’ll sell it to you first.”
This time, she was ready to go back. And she was never coming back.
Old Master Wang was indeed a little moved. He looked at Su Xiaozhi. “Xiaozhi, thank you. If you’ve really considered it, my family is willing to buy it.”
Su Xiaozhi smiled. “Then please follow me, Uncle.”
Old Master Wang nodded.
Su Xiaozhi looked at the grandmasters in the family again. She bowed respectfully and said, “Thank you, grandmasters. Please be witnesses today. From now on, I, Su Xiaozhi, will have nothing to do with Su Dalang and Su Erlang’s families. From now on, we will never interact again.”
Severing ties between siblings was much simpler than severing ties between father and son.
Usually, after establishing it, they really didn’t interact anymore.
Even if they were not far apart, they would never see each other again.
After Su Xiaozhi left, the onlookers dispersed and got busy with their own work.
Everyone knew that Su Xiaozhi had taken back that piece of gold.
People guessed that Su Dalang and Su Erlang were guilty and did not dare to go to court with Su Xiaozhi, so they compromised.
No one knew the truth. They could only sigh.
Su Xiaozhi did not attend her parents’ funeral and sold the house for the money. She packed her things and left Southern Mountain Village.
She walked in silence. By the time the others realized what was going on, she had been gone for a long time.
Su Xiaozhi returned to Xiaohu Village. As she became more and more familiar with the surroundings, she gradually teared up.
She was uneasy.
Seeing smoke rise from the once-familiar house, Su Xiaozhi’s footsteps gradually became heavier.
When she reached the house, she did not dare to show herself.
Madam Cao opened the door and came out. When she saw Su Xiaozhi, the basin in Madam Cao’s hand fell to the ground.
Su Xiaozhi knelt down and kowtowed to Madam Cao.
“Mother, I’m sorry. I’m here to atone for my sins.”
Su Xiaozhi was afraid that Madam Cao would not accept her.
Madam Cao only sighed faintly and reached out to help Su Xiaozhi up. Madam Cao did not say anything and pulled Su Xiaozhi into the house to eat.
Hu Changyang saw Su Xiaozhi. He was not as kind as Madam Cao. His face was cold. He did not greet his mother or speak.
Su Xiaozhi’s heart ached, but she knew that she deserved this. She owed her children too much.
Madam Cao had been observing Su Xiaozhi. Su Xiaozhi’s change was beyond her expectations, but how long would it last?
She was old, and her body would only get worse. She might collapse one day.
Hu Changshou had gone into the fog. She did not know if he could come out safely. If Su Xiaozhi came back, she could more or less help support the family.
After all, she was the children’s mother. How bad could she be? Although she didn’t know what had happened, it was good as long as Su Xiaozhi realized her mistakes.
Madam Cao picked up some food for Su Xiaozhi. “Eat more.”
Su Xiaozhi’s tears fell like rain as she ate in big mouthfuls.
At night, Hu Changyang washed up and went back to his room to sleep.
Su Xiaozhi and Madam Cao shared a room.
She personally washed Madam Cao’s feet. Madam Cao didn’t want her to, but she couldn’t dissuade her.
After lying down, Madam Cao sighed and said, “Xiaozhi, don’t leave after coming back this time. Don’t blame me for being nosy. Shou and Yang already have their own plans. They have a balance in their hearts. Some things are gone after they’re used up.”
Tears welled up in Su Xiaozhi’s eyes. She nodded in a choked voice. “I understand. I know what I have to do.”
She knew that she was not a determined and decisive person. Now that she had come to her senses, she would use the rest of her life to atone for her sins. She would shut her heart and her mouth.
Su Xiaozhi took out gold and silver and handed them to Madam Cao. “Give them to Shou and Yang.”
Madam Cao held the heavy gold and silver and had mixed feelings.
In the end, Madam Cao accepted it and said softly, “Alright, go to sleep. In a few days, we’ll go and offer incense and pray for Shou to return safely.”
Madam Cao’s tone was pious. That was her eldest grandson, the eldest grandson of the Hu family. She was willing to lose ten years of her life in exchange for her grandson’s safety.
Su Xiaozhi closed her eyes. She could not absolve herself of the blame for the sins she had committed.
If the heavens were on her side, she hoped that they could bless her son’s safety, even if she had to exchange her life for it.
Hu Changshou walked into the fog alone. He was very vigilant. His breathing became lighter, as if he was worried that he would alarm something.
When his vision became better, he was shocked by the dense forest. This was the foreign world. It was very different from the outside world. It was more comfortable to breathe, and the trees were larger. Everything was full of vitality.