AFMUH Ch 52

Chapter 52: A Family Feast

 

The next day at noon, Qingyan went to the town’s cooked food shop and bought some meat such as braised pig’s trotters and sausages. Together with Qiu Henian, who rushed back from his shop after tidying up, they went to Aunt Li’s house.

 

At Aunt Li’s house, both stoves were lit up, with big pots emitting steam. The outer door was open, and both inside and outside the house, the air was filled with smoke and the aroma of meat.

 

Qin Lan was helping Aunt Li wash and prepare vegetables. Qin Liangchuan had changed out of his robe and was wearing casual clothes, working the bellows. Nannan was a bit hyperactive, running around the group, with Ren Xiao following closely, bent over and jogging after the child, hands poised behind her in case the little dumpling fell.

 

As soon as Qingyan and Qiu Henian entered, they saw this lively scene of their family.

 

Seeing them arrive, Aunt Li hurriedly asked Qin Lan to invite them in and take a seat.

 

Qin Liangchuan stood up, smiling and bowing to the two who had just entered, saying, “Yesterday, Xizhen and Lanzi mentioned you both. Thanks to you, our family can reunite. You’ve taken care of them both these days.”

 

Qingyan also smiled and said, “Uncle Qin, there’s no need to be polite. Aunt and Lan have often helped us. It’s what we should do.”

 

Standing beside them, Qin Lan said, “Just fry a couple more vegetable dishes, and then let’s all go inside.” 

 

She turned to Qiu Henian and added, “Ah Xiao brought some good wine. You two should have a good drink later.”

 

With that, everyone entered the house. Qin Lan happily accepted the cooked food Qingyan brought and exclaimed, “This sauce is from Risheng Zhai’s* braised meat. Just what I was craving. I’ll go cut it up.”

 

*T/N: A shop

 

Ah Xiao first cut a piece of sausage for the child, who sat down obediently, eating along the edge of the bed, while he made tea for the guests. Qin Liangchuan also took the lead as the head of the family, offering them tea.

 

Nobody noticed that Qiu Henian had been staring at Qin Liangchuan since he entered the house and had not spoken a word for a long time.

 

When the dishes were ready, several men cleaned up the tables in the house and moved them to the center. Qingyan went to the outer room to help with serving.

 

Including the cooked food brought by Qingyan, there were a total of twelve dishes, including rare seafood from the north. Aunt Li had indeed put a lot of effort into this meal.

 

Everyone sat around the table. Qin Liangchuan sat at the head, with Aunt Li and Qiu Henian and Qingyan on either side. Qin Lan and Ah Xiao sat next to Aunt Li, and the child sat beside her father, swinging his little legs and eating happily.

 

Seeing this scene, Qin Liangchuan’s eyes reddened. 

 

He said, “Back then, when the incident happened, I never imagined I could have today. Those bandits knocked me unconscious and took me away. Occasionally, I was conscious and thought, Xizhen and Lanzi are still waiting for me to come home for the New Year. I can’t die in their hands like this. But who would have thought, I managed to save my life, and now, after so many years, we can meet again.”

 

Aunt Li patted Qin Liangchuan’s arm and her eyes also moistened.

 

Qin Lan wiped her tears and Nannan, holding a chicken leg, asked in her childish voice, “Mom, why are you crying? Nannan’s chicken leg is for you, don’t cry.”

 

Qin Lan laughed again, took a bite of her daughter’s chicken leg, and said, “Mom’s not crying. Mom is just very happy.”

 

She looked at her father and said, “Dad, Henian and Qingyan are like family. Our big family is finally reunited. Let’s raise our glasses.”

 

Qin Liangchuan nodded excitedly, “Yes!” 

 

He stood up, raised his glass and said, “Thank you, God, for sparing my life. Thank you to Little Brother Qiu and Little Brother Qingyan for their help.” 

 

He looked down at his side, “Thank you, Madam, for raising Lanzi through thick and thin, and for finding Ah Xiao for her. Our Nannan is also clever and smart. This is the blessing I’ve accumulated from my previous life!”

 

With a drink downed, the atmosphere at the table became even more relaxed. Everyone sat together, drinking, eating, chatting, and laughter erupted from time to time, with both guests and hosts thoroughly enjoying themselves.

 

Qin Liangchuan was used to the ways of the officialdom, and within the time of a meal, he made sure to attend to everyone, handling conversations and tasks with skill.

 

He frequently invited Qiu Henian and Qingyan to try the dishes, did not neglect his son-in-law Ah Xiao, and occasionally helped Aunt Li with her food, smiling gently and saying, “You love this.”

 

Qin Lan chimed in occasionally, mentioning how her father remembered what her mother liked to eat or how her mother specially made a dish that her father loved.

 

Aunt Li didn’t say much during the meal. Qin Liangchuan helped her with her food, and she occasionally helped him. Qin Lan said something, but Aunt Li remained silent, just smiling warmly.

 

As an observer, Qingyan always felt something was amiss but couldn’t pinpoint the exact issue.

 

Today, Qiu Henian was unusually quiet, even more so than usual.

 

It wasn’t until the wine was nearly finished that Aunt Li stood up with her wine glass, and Qingyan’s heart trembled slightly, sensing something.

 

Qingyan knew Aunt Li didn’t usually drink, not even mild rice wine, without chasing it down with water. Today, she had already had three or four cups.

 

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but her eyes were clear. As she stood up, everyone at the table quieted down and looked at her.

 

Under the gaze of so many eyes, Aunt Li, somewhat unaccustomed, cleared her throat and said, “I’ll also make a toast. Thank you, Henian and Qingyan, for calling me Auntie. It’s my blessing. I also thank Lanzi. Others say she’s been raised with so much effort, but actually, you know, without her, I wouldn’t have been able to keep going.”

 

She continued, “Finally, I want to thank Liangchuan.”

 

Qin Liangchuan sighed and shook his head. 

 

Aunt Li raised her wine glass higher and brought it to her lips, saying, “Thank you for coming back from afar to visit me and Lanzi.”

 

After saying that, Aunt Li tilted her head back and drank the wine.

 

There was something unsaid in her words, and Qin Liangchuan’s face changed. Qin Lan’s action of drinking suddenly stopped.

 

After finishing the drink, Aunt Li closed her eyes and took a breath. She didn’t sit down, obviously having more to say.

 

At this moment, Qin Lan suddenly stood up and hurried over, saying anxiously, “Mom, you’ve had too much to drink. Let me help you back to bed.”

 

Aunt Li gently patted her daughter’s hand and said, “Mom has something to say.”

 

Qin Lan shook her head, tears in her eyes. 

 

“Mom, I beg you…”

 

Aunt Li didn’t shed a tear. Instead, she had a faint smile on her face. 

 

“Lanzi, Mom must say.”

 

Ah Xiao quickly got up and helped his wife back to her seat. After Qin Lan sat down, she supported her head with one hand, blocking her tears.

 

Qin Liangchuan also stood up, facing Aunt Li.

 

Aunt Li said, “The reason I invited Henian and Qingyan here today is that they are like my relatives. Sooner or later, they should know about this. Also, Liangchuan, your return this time was made possible by their help. It’s only fair to give them an explanation, so I won’t avoid mentioning it in front of them.”

 

Qin Liangchuan nodded solemnly.

 

Aunt Li glanced out the window and said, “You came back at this time yesterday. It’s been almost exactly a day now. I haven’t said something all day because this place is also your home. You’ve been away for many years. I thought you needed time to reflect on and savor your past.”

 

“On this day, it’s a return for all those years. We’ve endured and supported each other as a couple, and also, back then, I sent you out to sell leather. You didn’t want to go, but you ended up encountering that incident. Every time I think about it over the years, I’ve regretted and felt guilty.”

 

Qin Liangchuan’s lips moved, wanting to say something, but Aunt Li stopped him, saying, “Let me finish first.”

 

“We’ve been apart for many years. Lanzi’s children are already so big, and you have your own life now.” Aunt Li paused here. 

 

Qin Liangchuan lowered his eyelids, and Aunt Li continued with a smile, “I’ve also gotten used to the days without you. I heard from Ah Xiao that you’ve done well as an official in Nanhui, loved and respected by the local people. It’s also a blessing for the local people to have you.”

 

At this moment, Qin Lan suddenly looked up and said, “Dad, express your stance. You can quit your official position and not want that woman. I’ll raise the child for you. Come back!”

 

Qin Liangchuan looked at his daughter with a complicated expression on his face. 

 

His lips moved and he said, “Lanzi, you… sigh.”

 

Qin Lan burst into tears even more violently. 

 

“Dad, say something!”

 

Aunt Li sighed, shook her head, and said tenderly, “Lanzi, I understand your thoughts. But you have to understand, your dad is not heartless. A woman who has been with him for so long, taken care of him for so long, and even given birth to his child… he’s unfamiliar over there, and these years they have supported each other. If you ask your dad to abandon her and take away her child, as a mother yourself, do you think this is fair?”

 

Qin Lan’s lips trembled, unable to speak.

 

Aunt Li turned to Qin Liangchuan, raised her hand to straighten his collar, then withdrew it and said, “Liangchuan, our fate in this lifetime ends here. If you’re free tomorrow, let’s go to the government office to sign the divorce papers.”

 

“Xizhen…” 

 

Qin Liangchuan covered his face and began to cry.

 

Aunt Li’s gaze was gentle, her face clean and dry without a single tear. 

 

She asked softly, “They wouldn’t tell me whether your child is a boy or girl, and what his or her name is.”

 

Qin Liangchuan put down his hand, looked at her, choked with emotion as he replied, “He’s a boy, named Jingxing.”

 

Aunt Li nodded, saying, “As lofty as the mountains, Jingxing’s actions will be noble. Qin Jingxing, a good name.”

 

With that, she went into the inner room for a moment, and when she came out, she had a longevity lock in her hand, which she handed to Qin Liangchuan, saying, “This is a token of my affection.”

 

Qin Liangchuan gripped the longevity lock tightly, veins standing out on the back of his hand.

 

Aunt Li finally said, “You may leave now.”

 

Qin Lan suddenly burst into tears. Nannan looked around in confusion with her mouth open, and started crying too.

 

Aunt Li looked at her son-in-law and said, “Could you please escort Liangchuan part of the way back to the county? Tomorrow, I will meet him there.”

 

“I see the carriage waiting outside, go ahead.”

 

Qin Liangchuan wanted to say something more, but Aunt Li had already turned away her back to him.

 

Ren Xiao held the child and embraced his wife, looking towards him.

 

Qin Liangchuan stomped his foot and said, “Xizhen, I’m leaving. See you tomorrow. There’s something I still need to tell you.”

 

Aunt Li didn’t move.

 

Qin Liangchuan sighed deeply, nodded to Qiu Henian and Qingyan, gritted his teeth, and left with his daughter and son-in-law.

 

The house became quiet. Aunt Li turned around, and at that moment, tears filled her face.

 

Qingyan hurried over with a towel to help wipe her tears. 

 

Aunt Li looked at him and Qiu Henian, saying, “I’m sorry you had to witness this today.”

 

Qiu Henian shook his head. Qingyan’s eyes were also red, sighing deeply.

 

Originally intending to help Aunt Li tidy up the dishes and chopsticks, Aunt Li didn’t let them, saying that there were other things to do and it wasn’t easy for her to be distracted.

 

Qingyan still wanted to accompany Aunt Li, afraid she might not take it well. 

 

Aunt Li said, “I’m fine, don’t worry.”

 

“Qingyan, you don’t know, ever since his accident, a big stone has been weighing on my heart. Now, finally, it has been moved away.” 

 

Aunt Li said with a smile, “My heart has never felt so light.”

 

Spoiler for the Next Chapter: 

After a moment of silence, Qingyan smiled and said, “So, you might be a young master from a wealthy family, Mr. Qiu?”