Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Winning People’s Hearts

This time, Zhao Nuanyue had no intention of letting the matter slide. Since she had decided to protect and help these people, she would seize every opportunity to create favorable conditions for them.

"Uncle Miao, even if they’ve made mistakes in the past, they’re good people as long as they’re trying to make amends," Zhao Nuanyue said earnestly. "Everyone has seen for themselves what these five have done and how much work they’ve put in since the spring planting began. Take this elderly woman, for example. She gathers no less than one hundred and eighty bundles of grass every day. I did that work for a few days last year, so I know how exhausting it is. We young people can barely manage two hundred bundles a day, and other elderly folks can do one hundred and fifty at most. But she has been managing one hundred and eighty, sometimes even two hundred bundles."

"That’s right. I was the village’s model worker last year, and my personal best was only two hundred and sixteen bundles in a single day. I was so exhausted I couldn’t move when I got home," a tall woman from the village stood up to say, validating the elderly woman’s efforts. "It’s truly incredible that she can do that much."

People aren’t made of stone. They all understood how immense the workload was and how exhausting it must be for an old woman to do so much. The villagers were simple, kind-hearted folk who trusted what they saw with their own eyes.

This was the simple, honest nature of Nianqiao Village.

"That’s right, we shouldn’t be so harsh. She’s getting on in years, after all. It’s impressive she can do that much," the crowd murmured in agreement, acknowledging their hard work.

Seeing his chance, Hua Yusen lifted Old Madam Qian onto his back. "She’s fainted, so she can’t work anymore," he announced. "I’ll take her back to rest."

Miao Cunzheng wasn’t about to let Wang Dadan and Li Siming off the hook either. "Those wicked men! Wang Dadan and Li Siming have gone too far, laying hands on an old woman. We can’t forgive them this time. I will personally write a report and submit it. We must ensure they’re severely punished for their evil deeds. Mr. Hua, Mr. Zhao, please take the old couple back to rest. Uncle Sun, you go along as well and see to her."

Miao Dahai knew that the various herbs Sun Haoran prepared could be sold for a high price, from which he deduced that Sun Haoran must be a renowned doctor, and one from Jincheng City no less.

He was far better than the traveling quacks and barefoot doctors in their village, so Miao Dahai was always very polite to him. Miao Dahai didn’t know why Sun Haoran had been sent here, but he knew that everyone gets sick eventually. Being respectful to a doctor was the same as valuing his own life and the lives of everyone in Nianqiao Village.

"Yes, Uncle Miao. We’re on it," Zhao Nuanyue replied crisply. The matter was partially resolved for now, so there was no point in lingering. ’We need to get Grandma Qian back so she can rest.’

Seeing how disheartened Old Sir Qian was, she knew she would have to console him later. ’I need to help him see things more positively. He can’t give up on life just because of one setback.’

As he watched Zhao Nuanyue and Hua Yusen lead Old Sir Qian and Old Madam Qian away, Miao Dahai felt a complicated mix of emotions. The situation in the village was growing more and more chaotic.

’It’s obvious someone is pulling the strings behind those two. If they aren’t taught a lesson, they’ll never behave.’

’But for now, I can’t think of a good way to punish them. For one thing, we’re all neighbors here. If I’m too harsh, it will certainly make the other villagers uneasy. For another, there’s someone backing Li Siming and Wang Dadan. If I take them down, won’t their patrons just send someone else to Nianqiao Village to cause more trouble?’

This was the biggest reason why Miao Dahai hesitated to act decisively, fearing the collateral damage. He couldn’t just take down Li Siming and Wang Dadan in one fell swoop.

「At the Dragon King Temple.」

Sun Haoran pressed a few acupressure points on Old Madam Qian’s philtrum and the back of her head, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Zhao Nuanyue quickly poured some warm water from a thermos. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she helped Old Madam Qian take a sip. "Grandma Qian, drink some water. Slowly, now."

Old Madam Qian’s murky eyes scanned her surroundings. She only relaxed a little when she saw her husband sitting nearby. She then turned to Zhao Nuanyue but didn’t drink, asking softly in a hoarse voice, "Where... where is this?"

Old Sir Qian, who knew his wife’s condition better than anyone, was stunned. Hearing her speak a complete sentence, her eyes looking clear, he immediately replied, "This is the Dragon King Temple in Nianqiao Village!"

"Oh, so this is where we are." Old Madam Qian took the cup from Zhao Nuanyue, drank a few sips, and said calmly, "Thank you."

Zhao Nuanyue froze, studying Old Madam Qian intently. Then, a pleasant surprise flickered in her voice. "It seems... it seems Grandma Qian has come to her senses..."

"Yes, I think she’s different from before." Old Sir Qian was too overcome to feel his earlier sorrow. His wife had been driven mad by a traumatic event. Even though she had improved enough to work, her mind was never clear. To see her speaking in full sentences, responding coherently, with such clarity in her eyes—it was all proof that she was recovering.

Old Madam Qian reached out with her thin, withered hands and clasped her husband’s. "It’s been so hard on you..." she choked out.

"Not at all, not at all..." Old Sir Qian’s eyes filled with tears. He could no longer hold them back, not now that his wife had finally come back to him.

Just then, Hua Yusen came in from outside holding a letter. "Uncle Qian, Aunt Qian," he said, "I just received this. I took a quick look, and it says they’ve found your daughter-in-law and grandson. They’re not in Jincheng City. They’re on a farm in the Su Domain..."

Upon hearing news of his daughter-in-law and grandson, Old Sir Qian was dumbfounded. He snatched the letter at once. "Let me see..."

After reading the letter, tears streamed down Old Sir Qian’s face. "Rose! Rose, look!" he exclaimed emotionally. "We have news of Xiao Fen and Yifeng! It says their lives are relatively stable."

They had been constantly worried about their daughter-in-law and grandson. It was a sickness in their hearts, a weight pressing down on them every moment of every day.

Old Madam Qian took the letter. After reading it, she nodded. "Good, good. As long as they’re alive, that’s all that matters. As long as they’re alive."

The old couple clung to each other and wept, releasing all the pent-up injustice, longing, and grief over the cruel turns of fate.

’Rose?’

Zhao Nuanyue was surprised. ’So Old Madam Qian has such a beautiful name.’ Her youthful beauty was gone and life had been cruel, but she was fortunate to have a devoted husband by her side, one who had weathered every storm with her and would stay with her until their hair turned white.

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