Chapter 497: Chapter 484: As Close as Sisters

“Of course, how well do I know your thoughts?” Mrs. Li reached out and poked Cheng Ruize’s forehead, smiling with affection. “All right, you’ve been outside in the cold again after a long talk, it’s time to rest.”

“First, go to the small ancestral hall and visit Aunt An. We’ll have dinner together when it’s ready.”

Every time Mrs. Li came to visit Cheng Ruize, she would always make a point to visit the small ancestral hall, where she would stay for a long time.

Each time she left the ancestral hall, her eyes were swollen and red.

No wonder, prior to becoming Aunt An, she was Mrs. Li’s personal maid.

The two had grown up together, and it wouldn’t be an overstatement to describe their relationship as sisterly even off the record. Although Mrs. Li was married into the Cheng family, with many maids and servants at her side, only Aunt An attended to her closely.

Whenever Mrs. Li was upset or unable to figure things out on her own, she would only listen to Aunt An.

Generally, personal maids could leave the house to marry freely when they grew up, but Aunt An did not want to leave. She wanted to stay with Mrs. Li, who also wanted Aunt An to stay, and after discussing it, they decided to elevate Aunt An’s status.

Not long after, Aunt An fell pregnant and gave birth to Cheng Ruize the following year.

Aunt An naturally had a frail constitution. Despite Mrs. Li’s careful nurturing during the pregnancy, the fetus grew too large. As a result, during labor, complications arose due to the baby’s large head, causing a difficult and prolonged birth.

After enduring for more than a day and a night, Cheng Ruize was finally born, but this was followed by Aunt An’s massive postpartum bleeding, and she passed away that night.

Cheng Ruize, who had never tasted his mother’s milk, seen her face, or even heard her voice, became a child who only had a father but no mother.

Mrs. Li grieved deeply over Aunt An’s death and pitied Cheng Ruize’s predicament. From the moment Cheng Ruize was born, she had taken care of him personally, even at night, she would stay by his side rather than leaving him with a nursemaid.

All these were told by Cheng Ruize’s grandmother, Madam Cheng.

As far as Cheng Ruize could remember, he had always felt the love and care Mrs. Li showered upon him, to the point that for a while, his two elder brothers were even arguing about what made them less likable.

Therefore, Cheng Ruize had a profound respect for Mrs. Li.

Now that Mrs. Li proposed to visit the small ancestral hall, Cheng Ruize recalled what Madam Cheng told him about the close relationship between Aunt An and Mrs. Li, and his heart warmed even more. “Alright mother, you may go.”

“You should rest for a while.” Mrs. Li stood up as a maid draped her in a cloak.

Mrs. Li lifted the curtain and went out.

After she let the curtain fall and it swayed for a moment, she lifted it again.

Mrs. Li peeked out from behind the curtain, “Rest well, you are to stay here in the Nuan Pavilion and not go out.”

“Alright.” Cheng Ruize leaned into the soft couch and picked up a book from the side table, signaling to Mrs. Li that he had no intentions of going out.

“Reading is tiring, put the book down.” Mrs. Li instructed again.

“Then I…”

“Close your eyes and lie down properly.” said Mrs. Li.

Seeing that Cheng Ruize seemed to be unwilling to obey, she was ready to unbuckle her cloak and come to lay him down.

Cheng Ruize, “…”

He had about a hundred reasons for not wanting to comply, but the word of his mother was law.

So Cheng Ruize obediently lay down as Mrs. Li told him, and closed his eyes.

“That’s my good boy.” Mrs. Li smiled, finally relaxed, and left the room for the small ancestral hall.

As a maid waited at the door, Mrs. Li entered the small ancestral hall alone.

Upon seeing the ancestral tablet of Mrs. An placed properly on the altar, Mrs. Li’s eyes were already red.

“Qingyun, your sister has come to visit you…”

Choking on her words, Mrs. Li had already broken into sobs.

—–

“Sister Qingyu, madam has asked you to choose some items to send to Manager Zhuang. What are you planning to pick?” Fang Hou asked with a eager smile on his face.

“Why ask such a thing all of a sudden?” Qingyu glanced at him. “Whatever I choose for Madam, considering her belongings, could there be something of little value?”

“Keep your mind at ease, Manager Zhuang is the one who saved Third Young Master’s life. These items, I will certainly choose the best ones according to Madam’s instructions.”

Fang Hou couldn’t help but pull a face.

Isn’t this exactly what he was worried about?

Given Madam’s nature and Qingyun’s taste, the gifts would definitely be the most plain…silverware.

Like silver chopsticks, little silver bowl, silver cup, silver spoon, and so on. If it were for a young lady, probably some silver hairpins and silver bracelets.

As Fang Hou was lost in thoughts, Qingyu pulled out a brocade box from among the cases brought today, opened it for Fang Hou to see, “How about this one, a lucky lock? You just mentioned Manager Zhuang has a little sister, this Ruyi lock is perfect to give to Manager Zhuang’s younger sister.”

The delicate looking lock with a little silver bell hanging beneath it seemed quite attractive.

“Not bad.” Fang Hou nodded in approval.

“See, I told you that Madam is always thorough in her considerations, could she let you find anything amiss?”

Qingyu glanced at Fang Hou, “Do you really think that Madam only knows how to give extravagant gifts of gold or silver?”

Fang Hou was stupefied.

Why do these words sound so awkward?

Isn’t this Ruyi lock also made of silver?

But well, at least it’s plain and unadorned…

He could only wonder how Manager Zhuang would react when he saw these items.

“Didn’t Manager Cheng give his thanks already? Why are you thanking him again?” Zhuang Qingning asked in surprise as she watched Fang Hou and Qingyu unloading gifts from the carriage.

“Please understand, Manager Zhuang, last time it was Third Young Master’s gratitude, this time it’s our Madam’s gratitude.”

Qingyu bowed to Zhuang Qingning and crisply explained, “Our Madam came to visit Third Young Master specially after hearing about his accident. Knowing that it was Manager Zhuang who had saved Third Young Master’s life, she was deeply grateful and specifically instructed me to bring some items for Manager Zhuang as a token of her gratitude.”

So that’s why.

Cheng Ruize had told her before that although he was a child born out of wedlock, his parents dote on him a lot. Now seeing that Mrs. Cheng is sending a gift to express her gratitude, it is apparent that he is deeply cherished at home.

“I appreciate Mrs. Cheng’s kindness. As a medical practitioner, it’s my duty to help patients, so there’s no need for such courtesies.” Zhuang Qingning refused politely.

This Cheng Ruize is well cared for in his family. This time it’s Mrs. Cheng delivering the gifts, next time will it be Mr. Cheng, and then possibly his elder brothers?