Chapter 708 - 481: This Is No Dream
The Second Mistress was nearly sold and married off to Jiang Hu. At home, she didn’t have a name, and when she married into the Jiang family, she was called the Jiang Family’s Second Mistress, because Jiang Hu was the second in line.
Back then, because Jiang Hu’s parents were unkind, they thought of selling off Xiaoxue and abandoning her and the child in her womb during their escape. Jiang Hu found out and secretly led the four of them along a different path, finally arriving at Fu’an Village.
They parted ways for a full seventeen years.
During these seventeen years, except for when she first gave birth to Xiaomi and Xiaowei, she inquired about some news from the eldest, but after that, she never mentioned the people and things from the past.
After all, the news she got from the eldest back then would occasionally resurface, reminding her every time she saw the children.
This was the first time in seventeen years that she took the initiative to bring it up.
Perhaps because she was getting older, the Second Mistress felt that’s why she remembered some things from the past.
Who knew Jiang Hu would frown upon hearing the question.
"Second Mistress, has someone said something to you?"
The Second Mistress was surprised: "What did they say to me?"
Then she reacted, slightly widening her eyes: "Do you know news about them?"
Otherwise, why would he say that?
Jiang Hu looked around, making sure no one else was nearby, especially the children.
Then he lowered his voice: "The eldest told me this three years ago, saying that Liu Shu told him someone came to Cheng County looking for us, claiming to be the children’s grandparents, uncle, and third uncle’s family, over ten people."
The Second Mistress covered her mouth in surprise: "Something from three years ago, how come I didn’t know."
Jiang Hu chuckled wryly: "I only found out afterward too."
The Second Mistress was even more confused, so Jiang Hu patiently explained.
"When the eldest told me, it was after Xiaoxue and Xiaoze got married and we returned to Anning Village."
And Liu Shu told him during the first year they settled in Anning Village.
"He said it was before the New Year, a group of people brought their families to Xiangmu Village looking for us, claiming it was father, mother, and the elder brother. Not just them, but also the husband’s family of the nieces and the family-in-law, altogether three to four dozen people."
The Second Mistress was somewhat taken aback and gasped: "So many people!"
Jiang Hu was speechless, but he nodded: "Yes, and reportedly those people were aggressive and spoke very unpleasantly."
Precisely what was said, only Liu Hongcai probably knows, and the eldest might know some. Anyway, at that time when the eldest told him, he didn’t look pleased.
By now, the Second Mistress was no longer shocked but rather curious.
"So what happened later? How come we didn’t hear anything when we returned?"
They came back and prepared for Xiaoxue and Xiaoze’s wedding, staying for over a month, always moving around the village but never heard about it.
"It’s said that they wanted to forcibly break into our home but were directly detained by Liu Dagel and his people, because we’ve never mentioned them, he wrote a letter asking the eldest."
"The eldest knew things early, and given his age at the time, he knew all about the past, and didn’t even explain but directly told Liu Dage that his grandparents and the others perished during the escape."
"Liu Dage then dealt with those people, treating them as swindlers and scam artists."
Talking about this, Jiang Hu felt some emotions; when he heard about it from the eldest, he felt a bit disturbed in his heart.
After all, it was his own parents; now that the family was doing well, he didn’t know their situation anymore.
However, the eldest also told him at that time how they worked like cattle and horses at home and never got a good word, with Xiaoxue and Second Mistress nearly being sold.
Second Mistress was pregnant then, which meant three lives at stake.
Just for this, all the affection between them was severed completely.
And the eldest also told him, considering the personalities of those grandparents, uncle, and third uncle, if they were truly found, they might never shake them off all their lives.
Judging from them bringing their sons-in-law’s families and daughters-in-law’s families over to find them, you could see.
If recognized, the family would only end up supporting dozens of grandmas, not to mention ruining the family’s reputation. Second Mistress and the children might still suffer grievances.
It was precisely after hearing the eldest’s analysis that Jiang Hu gave up the idea.
The eldest was right; back then, he did so much for family harmony, almost ending with his family torn apart, and it was only by hardening his heart and leaving with wife and children that they have their current life.
How could he not know his family’s nature? Why would they be courteous just because he now holds a title?
No way, judging from them brazenly and loudly finding Xiangmu Village, speaking harshly, it’s clearly impossible.
It’s even absurd, possibly thinking it was because of their deeds back then that the Jiang family is thriving now.
Thinking about it is terrifying.
Thinking this matters nothing, since Liu Dage dealt with it, and years ago when they separated, he took nothing, just considering himself dead to them.
Originally it was a desperate attempt, thinking that even if they died, they’d do it together, which is why they left.
So there’s no need for further acknowledgment.
Thinking it through, he simply put this matter aside, and naturally there was no need to mention it, avoiding troubling the family.
If the Second Mistress hadn’t brought it up today, he might have forgotten.
After hearing all this, Second Mistress didn’t know what to say at the moment, but seeing Jiang Hu’s normal expression, she felt relieved.
She didn’t have many thoughts, privately hoping never to see those people again.
It wasn’t worrying about her man’s inner unresolved matters, but apparently, she overthought.
If Jiang Hu was truly someone who couldn’t let go, he would have looked for them early in life when things started looking up, not waiting until now.
But Jiang Hu was curious: "Why did you suddenly ask about them, did you recently hear about this?"
The Second Mistress shook her head: "No, it’s just that last night I had a dream about past events, and upon waking, reflecting on now, it felt like now was the dream."
A country girl with no name, treating her as worthless, suddenly became the marquis’ lady through time, how could it not feel surreal?
"Dad, Mom, hurry up, we’re about to leave the city!"
Up ahead, Xiaomi turned around, waved energetically at them, urging them to speed up.
Jiang Hu grasped Second Mistress’s hand and picked up the pace: "Alright, the children are grown, we even have granddaughters now, what dream could be so long?"
The Second Mistress couldn’t help but laugh: "That’s true."
