Chapter 39 - I Will Follow You in Life and Death
Chapter 39: I Will Follow You in Life and Death
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Madam Zhao did not know what Su Sanlang had experienced when he went to the Su family. She only knew that from the moment she saw Su Sanlang, his body seemed to have suffered a heavy blow, and his footsteps were heavy and staggering.
He raised his hand from time to time. Although she did not see it, Madam Zhao knew that he was wiping his tears.
She did not see him cry on the day they moved, but this time, his tears did not stop. Madam Zhao’s heart ached. She wanted Su Sanlang to know that she would be by his side no matter what.
Su Sanlang’s cold heart warmed for a moment. He returned Madam Zhao’s grasp and choked, “Darling, it’s been hard on you. I’m incompetent. I’m sorry. They’re going to remove us from the family tree. I’m sorry.”
Madam Zhao shivered and instantly teared up.
She understood what it meant to be removed from the family tree.
She raised her hand to wipe her tears and forced a smile. “Sanlang, it’s fine. Let’s eat first. I stewed chicken and rabbit. They’re very fragrant.”
“Sanlang, I’m not afraid, and you don’t have to be either. You’ve done so much for us, and I’m already unable to repay you. As long as you don’t despise me, regardless of life or death, our whole family will follow you, okay?”
Madam Zhao was prepared for the worst. She was not afraid. The worst outcome was to end her life.
She wasn’t afraid of death, but the thought of her child made her heart ache.
Without her and Su Sanlang, it would be torture for Su Chong and Su Hua to live. If they left, they would definitely have to bring their two silly sons with them. As for her two daughters, she was also afraid that no one would treat them well and leave them in this world to suffer till the end.
Therefore, if they were to leave, the family would leave together. They would have nothing to worry about and would never be separated.
“Okay.”
Su Sanlang replied with a single word. It was soft, but it was meaningful.
They held hands, wiped away their tears, and went into the house, smiling.
As soon as they entered the house, Su Sanmei came out with Su Xiaolu, Su Chong, and Su Hua.
Su Sanmei looked at Su Sanlang uneasily and then at Madam Zhao. She called out timidly, “Father, Mother.”
Su Chong and Su Hua did not know anything, but the atmosphere in the house was clearly different. The two of them were very nervous and afraid. After greeting their parents with Su Sanmei, they stood obediently.
Su Sanlang felt a stinging pain in his chest. These were his children. Their every move touched his heart. How could he cut them off? Even if he died, he would still worry about them.
Madam Zhao’s tears started flowing again.
She walked over and gently stroked Su Sanmei’s hair. She said in a trembling voice, “Sanmei, be good. Sit down. I’ll scoop some rice for you.”
Su Sanlang hugged his two sons and felt them trembling in fear. Su Sanlang’s heart ached. He said with difficulty, “Chong, Hua, don’t be afraid. Father and Mother are here.”
“You must be starving. Let’s eat.”
Su Sanlang pulled his two sons to sit down. Looking at the bowl in Madam Zhao’s hands, which was filled with meat, pain flashed across Su Sanlang’s eyes. He swallowed and said nothing in the end.
Su Chong and Su Hua’s nervousness and fear vanished in the face of this fragrant food.
“Father and Mother, eat. Sister, you should eat too. It smells good.”
Su Chong looked at his parents and Su Sanmei. Seeing that everyone had the same amount of food in their bowls, he felt relieved and started eating.
Su Sanmei was still scared. She stole a glance at her parents, as if trying to read their expressions. However, she was still a child. No matter how sensible she was, she could not understand the struggles of adults.
Madam Zhao stroked Su Sanmei’s hair and said gently, “Sanmei, eat more. I’ll cook for you again tomorrow. Our whole family will be full.”
Su Sanmei pursed her lips and nodded.
The chicken and rabbit were stewed together. The taste fused and had an indescribable fragrance and freshness.
Seeing her parents eating meat in big mouthfuls, Su Sanmei temporarily forgot her fears and started eating.
Madam Zhao held Su Xiaolu in one hand and ate with the other.
Su Xiaolu sighed lightly.
The family ate the entire pot of meat cleanly, but they ate very little rice.
After washing up, Su Sanmei, Su Chong, and Su Hua fell asleep. Only then did Madam Zhao gently touch Su Sanlang’s hand and say, “Sanlang, when we are removed from the family tree, will we be unable to keep these things?”
Madam Zhao had already accepted this matter. She was not very sad, but her heart ached when she thought that her children might die with them this winter.
Su Sanlang replied softly, “Yes, this house and land were left behind by our ancestors. Father is in charge now. If I am expelled from the family tree, these won’t belong to me anymore.”
Su Sanlang opened his eyes and looked at the thatched roof. His heart did not seem to ache anymore, but he still felt indignant when he thought of his wife and children. He secretly asked the heavens why they had to let him, Su Sanlang, suffer so much. He had been given hope, before it was taken away again.
Madam Zhao sighed. “So be it. If we really can’t go on, we’ll leave this world together as a family.”
Su Sanlang turned around and hugged Madam Zhao. He replied lightly, “Yes.”
Su Xiaolu, who was also awake, sighed quietly.
She really hadn’t expected anything like this.
In ancient times, being expelled from the family tree was a serious matter. It meant to be completely abandoned and not acknowledged by their ancestors.
All that aside, how were they going to get through this cold winter with no shelter and nothing left?
From what her parents said, it seemed like they really couldn’t live on. If they couldn’t survive, they would buy some drugs and the entire family would die together.
Su Xiaolu could only feel sad. She was a baby and could not walk or speak. She had no choice. She was not afraid of death, but she felt that it was unfair.
Everything was so worrying, but there was nothing she could do.
In the latter half of the night, Madam Zhao suddenly said to Su Sanlang, “Sanlang, send the rice and flour that we bought to Huzi’s family while it’s still dark. With so much food, their family will definitely be able to eat well. Just treat it as repayment for his kindness. Send them ten taels of silver too.”
Madam Zhao had always remembered Chen Hu’s help. Thinking that she might not have the chance to repay it in the future, she quickly asked Su Sanlang to send food over.
Su Sanlang nodded and immediately got up to carry the rice and flour he had bought. He went to Chen Hu’s house in the dark. Chen Hu’s house was by the west side of the house. Su Sanlang knocked on the window and imitated the chirping of birds.
Chen Hu heard a noise and woke up in a daze. He recognized the bird’s cry as a signal that Su Sanlang had once agreed with him. He was instantly awake and gently got out of bed to open the window. “Sanlang, is that you?”
Su Sanlang said softly, “Huzi, it’s me. I don’t have time to explain to you. Don’t ask me why. My father is going to remove my family from the family tree tomorrow. Our family might leave Southern Mountain Village, and we might not have a chance to see each other again in this lifetime. Take these and keep it quietly. Find a chance to cook them for the children to eat.”