Ji Shisu's words hit right at the core of Zhao Luoning's heart.
Zhao Luoning felt guilty towards Zhao Luojing.
Over the years, this guilt had never faded away.
But Ji Shisu offered her a new perspective.
Who could really know what happened when they were still in their mother's womb?
Rather than living with guilt, it would be better to live with love.
Only in this way could she live up to Luojing's intentions.
Zhao Luoning looked at the two betrothal records in her hands and nodded.
"Yes, he must be very happy now."
Ji Shisu let out a soft sigh.
Zhao Luojing was a knot in Zhao Luoning's heart.
He didn't know when this knot would finally be untied.
But it didn't matter. He would always be by her side.
...
Zhao Luoning returned to the Bai Mansion with Luojing's baggage.
The ledger had been given to Guisu to take to the Jun Family's ancestral shrine for disposal.
Zhao Luoning didn't care about those things, nor did she care whether the Jun Family would accept her or not.
But the things that belonged to her grandfather, she must get them back.
Even if she used them to build bridges and repair roads to do some good deeds, it would be better than leaving them in the hands of someone like Jun Huaijian.
After returning to the Bai Mansion, Zhao Luoning sent a letter to Zhao Luoyu.
Zhao Luoyu had been tired of staying at the Ji Family, facing Mrs. Ji every day. As soon as she received the letter, she set off immediately.
She happened to arrive at the Bai Mansion in time for dinner.
Her speed surprised Zhao Luoning.
"Did you fly here?"
Poor little Jijianhui immediately hugged Zhao Luoning's thigh and begged for a hug as soon as he saw her.
"Auntie, my mother drove too fast. I was so scared."
Zhao Luoning led Jijianhui and gave Zhao Luoyu a disapproving look.
"Don't be so reckless. Don't scare the child."
Zhao Luoyu protested.
"This little guy knows how to play the victim in front of you. I don't know who he learned it from! He was so excited when I was driving. He kept shouting 'faster, faster'. The carriage was almost falling apart."
Jijianhui quickly buried his head in Zhao Luoning's arms and didn't say a word.
Seeing his reaction, Zhao Luoning knew that Zhao Luoyu was telling the truth.
Ji Shijun was really something. He knew that both the big and the small were like kids, but he still let them come out alone.
However...
Zhao Luoning glanced at Zhao Luoyu.
She had seen Zhao Luoyu's tricks. When she pretended to be an innocent little rabbit, she was really convincing.
Ji Shijun didn't look very smart. Maybe he really didn't notice the rebellious side hidden under his wife's personality.
Zhao Luoyu took a few mouthfuls of food casually and then excitedly came up to Zhao Luoning and asked, "Sister, you said you wanted me to come and divide the treasures. Did you get all the money from the Jun Family back?"
The Zhao family were merchants at heart. Even Zhao Luoyu, who had little to do with business, got excited when she heard the word "treasures".
"It's not that easy to get the money from the Jun Family back."
"You're right. A whole house of scoundrels. It's a headache."
"Anyway, I sent Guisu to their house. Now that we've branched out from the Jun Family, the ledger stamped by the government clearly states the things. Jun Huaijian has to pay even if he doesn't want to. If he tries to renege, Guisu will surely have a way. You can rest assured."
The county magistrate had already come to see Zhao Luoning.
As long as Zhao Luoning didn't go too far, they would turn a blind eye.
For the sake of money, Zhao Luoning certainly wouldn't kill anyone.
But the name Guisu wasn't for nothing. He had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Even if the money couldn't be retrieved, he could still make Jun Huaijian's life a living hell.
Zhao Luoyu nodded after listening.
"Since it's not from the Jun Family, what treasures do you want to show me?"
Zhao Luoning waved to Zhao Luoyu and invited her into the inner room.
Zhao Luoning took out a package from the wardrobe and spread it out on the table.
There weren't many things in the package, but Zhao Luoyu got excited as soon as she saw them.
"Hey? Isn't this the jade buckle I liked so much when I was a kid?"
"This one, this one. I remember. I even exchanged my New Year's clothes for it! Sister, how come you still keep all these things?"
As Zhao Luoyu rummaged through the things, she suddenly felt something was wrong.
"Sister... weren't these things given to Luojing to pawn back then?"
"Yes. I got them from the pawnshop yesterday. And this." As Zhao Luoning said, she took out the betrothal record from under the dressing table.
"This one is yours."
"This..."
"Luojing kept them all for us."
Zhao Luoyu looked at the betrothal record in her hand and then at the "treasures" on the table.
She choked back her sobs and nodded.
"Okay."
Zhao Luoning had cried once before, so she was calmer than Zhao Luoyu at this moment. She comforted her softly.
"Luoyu, don't cry. Luojing is watching over us from the back mountain."
Luoyu sniffed and nodded.
She put the betrothal record into her bosom and said, "Yes. It's so embarrassing to cry in front of my younger brother. Luojing was so thoughtful and good at tidying up. If this betrothal record were in my hands, with my careless personality, I might not even be able to find it. I'll go back and check with Shijun to see if our horoscopes don't match. Otherwise, why do those old folks in the Ji Family just not get along with me?"
"Don't say such things in front of the child. You're not afraid of affecting him." Zhao Luoning scolded her gently and said, "It's not just you. The Ji Family is like that. They don't get along with anyone."
Zhao Luoyu nodded and said, "You're right."
Zhao Luoyu turned her attention to the pile of small jewelry on the table and picked out the red coral from it.
"Sister, since you said I could pick the treasures, I won't be polite."
Zhao Luoning looked at her with a smile and said, "Go ahead."
Zhao Luoyu picked up the red coral and pushed the rest towards Zhao Luoning and said, "Sister, you can keep these."
"What for?"
Although the things in there weren't very valuable, each one was a memory from their childhood. Didn't Luoyu like them?
"Please keep them for me first. When I'm kicked out of the Ji Family, I'll come to you. I'll leave these here for now."
Zhao Luoyu usually acted so proper, but when she was with her, she always talked nonsense.
Zhao Luoning knew very well that now Ji Shijun was the only pillar in the Ji Family. No matter how unreasonable Mrs. Ji was, she wouldn't kick Luoyu out.
It was probably Luoyu who was causing trouble for the two old folks in the Ji Family.
As Zhao Luoyu was talking, she handed the red coral to Jijianhui beside her.
She squatted down and said to little Jijianhui,
"Hui'er, take this. This was given to you by your Uncle Luojing. You have to remember Uncle Luojing."
Little Jijianhui liked these small red things the most. He happily played with the red coral and asked, "Where is Uncle Luojing?"
"Your Uncle Luojing has gone to a very far place."
"Will he come back to see Hui'er?"
"Of course. Luojing will surely like Hui'er very much."
Children didn't know about life and death. When he heard what his mother said, he was overjoyed.
He suddenly seemed to realize something and asked, "Will Uncle Luojing also like the two little brothers as much as he likes Hui'er?"
"Of course. Why, is Hui'er jealous?"
Jijianhui shook his head and said, "There are two of them, but there's only one of me. If Uncle Luojing likes them as much as he likes me, then I've made a profit."
Jijianhui's innocent analysis made Zhao Luoning and Zhao Luoyu burst out laughing.
Zhao Luoning covered her stomach and laughed so hard that she couldn't straighten up.
Just as Ji Shisu walked in, he happened to hear Jijianhui's words and joked with a smile.
"It seems that the Zhao family's genes are really strong. This little guy doesn't even need to learn to be a shrewd merchant."
After Jijianhui bowed to Ji Shisu, he calmly argued, "What's wrong with being a merchant? My mother said that as long as you earn money by your own efforts, it's all aboveboard!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Ji Shisu quickly agreed.
The Zhao family were all good at arguing. He was willing to admit defeat.
Seeing Ji Shisu, Hui'er thought of his two little cousins. He shouted that he wanted to show his new toy to them.
Zhaomo and Zhaoyan were still so young. How could they understand these things? Zhao Luoyu was afraid that Jijianhui might accidentally hurt the two children, so she quickly chased after him.
Ji Shisu said with a smile, "This kid, Hui'er, is quite naughty. He's a bit like Zhaomo."
Ji Shisu turned around and found that Zhao Luoning was sitting upright, looking out into the yard with a calm and warm smile on her face.
"Ning'er, what are you looking at?"
What was she looking at?
She saw her elder brother busily working on the remaining projects of the Bai Mansion. He looked so high-spirited. There was no trace of the loser who had been scolded by their father before.
She saw her sister-in-law and Huaci teaching Jianwen how to weave flower baskets. The little guy was so clumsy. He didn't manage to weave a flower basket, but only a small flower crown. He looked at it and then put it on Yarong's head. Although he couldn't hear or speak, it didn't stop him from expressing his love.
She saw Luoyu chasing after Hui'er in the yard. The mother and daughter were laughing and running happily. The once rebellious little girl had grown up. She could laugh freely and also knew how to protect herself.
She saw Jingsu and Guisu huddled under the peach tree, whispering to each other secretly. They were probably gossiping about Ji Shisu again.
She saw Mrs. Zhao no longer sticking to the etiquette of a wealthy lady. She was sitting on the threshold, fanning herself and smiling happily at her children and grandchildren.
She saw that everyone's face was filled with smiles.
So, she also smiled.
Ji Shisu followed her gaze and understood what made her happy.
He waved to her and said, "Ning'er, come here quickly."
"Okay!"
Zhao Luoning stood up with a smile and placed her hand in his.
Just like every other time.
She let him lead her and followed him into this warm, lively and loving world.