Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 136

“Father, did Grandpa really say that?” Shen Changyun stared at Shen Hefu in disbelief, his face full of shock and hurt.

Shen Hefu squatted by the courtyard gate, silently nodding.

“When the family split, Grandfather already gave us this rundown place. The two mu of land were also the worst, and for the past two years there was hardly any harvest. Father, you went door to door begging for manure to enrich the soil, and now that the fields are finally starting to produce, he wants to take them back? And he even wants us to pay for this shabby house?” Shen Changyun’s face was filled with anger. He suddenly stood up, pulled open the courtyard gate, and strode out.

Shen Hefu quickly stood and grabbed him, lowering his voice, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to the old house to ask my grandfather if he really intends to drive our family to our deaths!” Shen Changyun said, his neck stiff with rage.

Shen Hefu dragged him back into the yard and said: “Keep your voice down. Don’t let your mother hear about this. Her health has only just recovered a little. Let’s think of another way. If worst comes to worst, we’ll borrow some money and buy the house and the fields outright. Then we won’t owe the old house anything and won’t have to deal with them anymore.”

“This house was already given to us when the family split, and the fields are ours too. Why should we pay? Father, you’re also Grandfather’s son. No matter how biased he is, there has to be a limit. After all, you’re his own son, and my sister is his own granddaughter. Her coming home should be something good, yet how can he be so heartless…”

At this point, Shen Changyun noticed his father’s dark expression and realized that he, too, was hurting. He quickly stopped speaking.

Shen Hefu sighed softly and said, “Your grandfather said your sister carries bad luck. After her short stay in the village, your third aunt’s child, Yueya, broke out in a rash. If we insist on bringing your sister back, your grandfather says she has to go up to Yuntai Temple on Yunwu Mountain and kowtow to the Buddha to dispel her ill fortune.”

Shen Changyun’s anger flared again, and he said furiously: “He wouldn’t dare! I don’t want to acknowledge this grandfather anymore! If he wants to cut ties with us, then what right does he have to control my sister? Her return home is a blessing. Who knows how much suffering she has endured all these years? Now that she’s back, no one is going to mistreat her! If anyone thinks they can force my sister to kneel at Yuntai Temple, it’ll be over my dead body!”

“Your grandfather is stubborn. I was thinking, let’s just buy the land and house. Once that’s settled, we won’t have to interact with the old house again. If your sister does come back, I will never allow her to suffer grievances. If we keep tied up with the old house, she’s bound to be bullied.”

Shen Changyun was silent for a while, then nodded. “Don’t tell my sister about this. If she knows how Grandfather is, she’ll only be upset.”

“I know. Last time your sister gave us quite a bit of silver. I calculated it out, if we buy the land and this property, we’ll still have enough to build a house. If we hire fewer laborers and the two of us work harder, it’ll be fine.” Shen Hefu said.

Shen Changyun nodded. “Then, Father, you should go to the old house and buy the deed to this land. The sooner we finish building, the sooner we can bring Sister and the child back home.”

Shen Hefu went inside to fetch the silver, tucked it into his chest, and left.

On his way to the old house, he ran into Er Ya from the village. Usually, Er Ya looked down on Shen Hefu’s family, but today, the moment he saw him from afar, he hurried over with a big smile and greeted him enthusiastically, “Er Shen, did you hear the news and head to the old house? You’d better hurry! It’s been so many years, and now you and Sister-in-law have finally seen better days, your Changge has made something of himself!”

Shen Hefu didn’t like Er Ya much and only replied faintly before walking on. But after taking a few steps, he realized something and turned back to ask, “What did you say? What about Changge?”

Seeing that Shen Hefu clearly didn’t know, Er Ya quickly tried to ingratiate himself, “Your Changge has come back! He’s at the old house right now! He’s really accomplished, word is he even became an official out in the northwest!”

Shen Hefu’s heart leapt, excitement flooding his face. Without another word, he hurried down the road to the old house, his steps uneven with urgency.

As he reached the front gate, he heard lively chatter and laughter coming from inside, it was bustling.

Thinking only that Changge had returned, and seeing the gate was only loosely closed, Shen Hefu pushed it open. The moment he entered, the courtyard fell silent. Everyone stared at him in surprise.

Eldest brother Shen Heju’s face darkened, and he shot a sharp look at his third brother’s wife, Wang Chunlan, as if blaming her for spilling the news of Changge’s return.

Wang Chunlan glared back defiantly and muttered under her breath, “Why are you glaring at me? I haven’t even stepped outside the yard, who could I have told?”

Seeing Shen Hefu walk in uninvited, Old Master Shen’s face immediately sank. Standing beside him, the old madam nudged him with her elbow. Considering that Changge was there, Old Master’s expression softened slightly.

The old madam, however, put on a kindly smile and said, “We were just about to have Xiuer go call you over. Didn’t expect you to come yourself.”

Shen Hefu’s eyes had already found Shen Changge standing in the courtyard.

He was half a head taller than five years ago, and perhaps from years in the army, his face had grown rougher, his features sharp and strong. His frame was tall and broad, a true man standing proud and imposing, standing out clearly among the others.

When Shen Changge saw his father step through the gate, his eyes immediately reddened. In the harsh and bitter northwest, after countless battles and killing on the battlefield, his heart had grown hard and numb to life and death. Yet now, his heart was aching, his nose sore.

“Father…” Shen Changge took two steps forward and dropped to his knees in front of Shen Hefu, tears spilling from his eyes. Overcome with emotion, he choked out, “This son has been unfilial! I left for five whole years, Changge has wronged you and Mother! I am unfilial…”

Shen Hefu’s eyes reddened as well, but he forced himself to stay composed. He quickly pulled Shen Changge up and said, “You’re back, that’s all that matters. You’re back…”

For five years, there had been no word. The villagers all said Shen Changge had died in the northwest. Though Shen Hefu and his wife never gave up hope, deep down, they had known it was likely true.

Now, seeing their son standing alive and whole before them, grown into a man without missing limbs, Shen Hefu felt heaven had shown him mercy. His son and daughter had both returned, his heart brimmed with joy, his lips unable to stop smiling.

“Come, let’s go home! If your mother knows you’re back, she’ll be overjoyed. Let’s go home…” Shen Hefu tightly held Shen Changge’s hand, pulling him toward their house.

Hearing this, Shen Old Master frowned and gave a heavy cough. “Second, Changge has just returned. The meal’s already prepared in the kitchen. Let’s all eat here together.”

“Father, did you move out of the house?”

Shen Changge’s gaze sharpened. Though he’d been hardened by five years at the frontier, he wasn’t a fool. The moment he returned home and didn’t see his parents or Changyun, he had asked several times, only to be brushed off by his grandfather, uncle, and third uncle.