Second Uncle Han was shocked when he saw Han Ruochen standing at the threshold of his house. He knew very well that this niece of his who worked in the commune school was someone who would turn her nose up in disgust every time she saw him and his family. Why did she come here?
Even Grandma Han was shocked; she knew that her eldest daughter-in-law had ruined all of her children; thus, she didn't have much expectation from Meng Yunhan's children. She even let go of her worries regarding Han Yichen because that fool was simply too big a workaholic to see what kind of mess Meng Yunhan had made of his family. In the past, she did try to help her eldest son and his children, but Meng Yunhan was just too slippery and sly.
An old woman like her, who lived in a village and lived a simple life, could never be a match for Meng Yunhan and her sly schemes. Especially a woman who would hurt herself and miscarry her child just for the sake of kicking an old woman like her out of her house and driving a wedge between her and her son.
"Ruochen, what are you doing here?" It was Second Aunt Han who broke the silence.
Han Ruochen sighed; she was not even surprised that her presence was not welcomed at the house of her second uncle. She simply smiled at her uncle and aunt before saying, "What's the matter, Second Aunt? Do you not welcome me here anymore?" As she spoke, she didn't forget to flash a sweet smile at her elders.
Grandma Han frowned. She had a feeling that her second granddaughter had changed a little. She didn't say anything but instead turned to look at her second daughter-in-law.
Second aunt Han understood what her mother-in-law wanted to say and immediately turned to look at Han Ruochen. She said to her, "How can this be? Come inside. It's your home. You can come to look for us any time."
Han Ruochen smiled at her second aunt and then helped her brother to the ground. She pointed at her two cousins, who were hiding behind their father and said to Han Beijiang, "If you want, you can play with your cousins, and if you don't like playing, then you can sit next to grandmother and read your book."
It wasn't a surprise that Han Beijiang chose to sit next to his grandmother and read his book. When Grandmother Han saw the little boy sitting next to her, her eyes couldn't help but turn red. In the past, she told Meng Yunhan to take Han Beijiang to the city and get him tested. She told that woman that Han Beijiang was not a fool. And that he could understand them just fine, but Meng Yunhan was as stubborn as a mule. She said that Han Beijiang was a disabled child through and through, and there was no way she was going to waste her family's money on treating a disabled child.
Did this child look like he was disabled? He could understand everything so easily! How could he be disabled?
"Second uncle, I am here because I want you to take a look at the seafood that I have caught. Can you tell me how much you can sell it for?" Han Ruochen asked with a calm expression. She was neither arrogant nor humble, which made Second Uncle Han's expression a bit better. He nodded and took the bucket from Han Ruochen, thinking that his niece might have caught some clams or something. Because if she had caught something good, then she would have taken it all back and given it to her mother, who, in turn, would send everything to her mother's family.
However, as soon as he took the bucket from Han Ruochen, his eyes widened in surprise. This?
"This!"
He exclaimed so loudly that everyone in the house except Han Ruochen jumped. Old Madam Han turned and glared at her second son. "Why are you yelling so loudly? Are you trying to wake your late father up?"
"Mom..mom.. It's not my fault. Ruochen brought a peacock mantis shrimp!"
Old Madam Han was stunned. At first, she thought that her son was dreaming with his eyes open, but when she saw that neither Han Ruochen nor her son said anything, she jumped to her feet and then walked to the bucket. When she saw the fresh peacock mantis shrimp in the bucket, she was so surprised that her eyes turned as wide as saucers. She looked at the mantis shrimp and then turned her attention to her second-oldest granddaughter.
"You – you want to sell them?"
Han Ruochen nodded. "That's right. I dare not take these things to the city because I am sure that the suppliers would try to cheat me. So I can only bring these to my second uncle." She turned and looked at her second uncle before saying to him, "Second Uncle, I know that I was insensible in the past. But please don't turn me away. It was my mother who kept telling me that you and your family were targeting our family and pig farm because you could not earn much money with your small job in the village. She had told these things to my siblings since we were young."
Han Ruochen smiled wryly before continuing, "It's not that we don't trust you, uncle, but if grandmother kept saying such words to you since you were a child… in the end, even you would start believing that my father was not a good man. Even when he is your brother."
After living a life in hell, Han Ruochen seemed to have understood that there was no point in trying to hide the misdeeds of her mother from her uncle and grandmother. In the past, her mother often told her that her grandmother wanted to chase her away, and if they didn't want to lose their mother, they might as well stay quiet and not say a word to their uncle and aunt. But now – heh – she would rather see her grandmother kicking Meng Yunhan out!