Novel Full Chapter 1761 - 1760: Life and Death are Hard to Traverse
Chapter 1761: Chapter 1760: Life and Death are Hard to Traverse
Zhuang Lühe’s words were ruthless and cutting. Qiao Changshun immediately responded in a fawning tone, “I’ll listen to you, I’ll do whatever you say. Whatever you say, goes.”
The work around the manor didn’t need him to intervene whatsoever. He had essentially become an idle landlord. Before, when Zhuang Lühe was managing matters for Charity Hall and running around everywhere, he had applied to follow her and help out. But Zhuang Lühe rejected him outright, saying she didn’t need a cripple meddling.
So he could only obediently stay at the manor, meeting with Zhuang Lühe only when the new year came.
Compared to the distant and strained relationship with his long-absent younger sister, Zhuang Lühe naturally mattered far more to him.
Qiao Changshun’s attitude made Zhuang Lühe roll her eyes. She ignored him and turned to Tong Sanlang instead, saying, “Sanlang, inform Left Prime Minister that we have nothing to do with Qiao Meipan over here. Unless the day comes when she’s dead, don’t bother bringing up any news about her to us.”
“Actually, forget even that—don’t mention her death either. We won’t be needing to deal with her corpse anyway.”
Tong Sanlang replied, “…Understood.”
He immediately glanced at Qiao Dami, but Qiao Dami pretended as though he hadn’t heard anything, keeping his head down and shoveling food into his mouth.
Qiao Xiaomai observed all of this silently. After the meal, she sought Zhuang Lühe out alone, wanting to have a conversation with her. Around children, it was important to curb excessive negativity.
After all, it wasn’t just the original person who was Zhuang Lühe’s child—Qiao Dami was too.
Listening to Qiao Xiaomai’s persuasion, Zhuang Lühe remained silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “Dami has already grown used to this. He knows I hate his father. At first, he’d try to act spoiled with me, sometimes even cry and make a scene. But this year, he hasn’t done any of that anymore.”
“This isn’t good for his emotional development,” Qiao Xiaomai interjected.
“You and Sanlang will be living in Capital City from now on. Let him stay there too. Being with you and Sanlang would be better for him than being around Qiao Changshun.”
“But you’re his biological mother.”
“You treat him wonderfully too. An elder sister can be as good as a mother. I, in this state… I really am not fit to spend much time with him.” As Zhuang Lühe spoke, a thin gloss of tears welled up in her eyes.
She knew she wasn’t doing the right thing. She knew she owed Qiao Dami. But the original person’s death and her own past loomed over her. She couldn’t overcome this hurdle.
Her heart was burdened with only anguish, and all she could see was suffering.
If it weren’t for the need to pray for the original person and wish them a better next life, she would have already bashed her head in and ended it all.
Someone like her, living, would only bring shame to Qiao Dami. She’d long since lost the desire to go on.
Her mindset was too damaged to be suitable for being near Qiao Dami.
“I just can’t get past this. Truly, I can’t.” Raising her hand, she wiped at her eyes, forcing back the mist of tears as best she could. “Meeting you is Dami’s fortune. Treat him well. I’m keeping my distance from him for his own good.”
“Everything I’m doing now is for him, to pray for his peace. I can only stay away from him. His life is in your hands now.”
Leaving these words behind, Zhuang Lühe strode out of Qiao Xiaomai’s room. Bowing her head, she quickly returned to her own courtyard.
She didn’t stay in the same courtyard as Qiao Changshun and Qiao Dami. She feared that her negativity would affect Qiao Dami.
Qiao Xiaomai stood there staring at the open door in a daze. She pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze.
Life and death—it was a hurdle truly hard to get past.
Especially since Zhuang Lühe couldn’t speak openly about it to Qiao Changshun and Qiao Dami. She could only grapple with the original person’s death alone. Bottling it all up for so long, her thoughts might become increasingly extreme…
Soon, Tong Sanlang walked in. He asked, “How did the talk go?”
“She entrusted Dami to me. She can’t get past this hurdle. Did I make a mistake by letting her take over managing Charity Hall’s business…”