The Art of Teasing - Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Relatives who hadn't been in contact for over twenty years were little more than strangers with an added layer of blood ties. Yet these blood ties were an innate bond, difficult to sever or cast aside. She was intensely curious about her mother. In this world, the people closest to her mother were her maternal grandparents and her mother's twin brother. Though she was her mother's daughter, she knew almost nothing about her mother—all she had was a single photograph, the date of the photograph and her mother's name written on the back, a few words her second aunt had once mentioned, and that one time when she was a child. Back then, she was young and always wanted to find her mother. She asked her grandparents, but they said nothing. During the New Year family reunion, seeing everyone else had a mother and she didn't, she asked Mr. Wen Shiyi about it again. Mr. Wen Shiyi's face immediately darkened. He scolded her, she talked back, and Mr. Wen Shiyi raised his hand and slapped her. That was the only time she was ever struck. Her grandmother, usually so gentle, was furious then. She held her close and shouted at Wen Shiyi: "You brought this calamity upon yourself, and you still have the face to strike the child!"

Though young, she vaguely understood that her lack of a mother was connected to her father. Later, when she was a bit older, she asked her second aunt again, and only then did her second aunt briefly tell her a few things.

She had the love of her grandparents, but where parental bonds were concerned, what remained was a void that could never be filled.

As a child, on countless nights, she would hide under the covers, clutching her mother's photo as she fell asleep.

Her father was away from home year-round. At the very beginning, there was a small bed for her in her grandparents' room. When she was a little older, she got her own room and slept alone. Waking in the middle of the night, the silence was terrifying; her only companion was her mother's photograph.

Now she had long since passed the age of needing parental affection and protection. She no longer fixated on being motherless, yet that pull from blood ties still made her very much want to meet her maternal grandparents and her uncle.

In a way, this could be considered going to acknowledge family, and a first meeting at that. Add to that the matter of her mother, Wen Zhengyu didn't want to create a sorrowful atmosphere, didn't want them to be struck by grief at the sight of her. So she dressed with sharp, neat precision before heading out.

She always liked to arrive precisely on time for appointments. This visit to meet her elders, however, wouldn't be suitable for cutting it that close, so she deliberately arrived over ten minutes early.

She was early, but they were even earlier.

The server pushed open the private room door, and she saw three people seated inside. Two were an elderly couple, and the third was a man in his early fifties, tall and lean but very spirited-looking.

The old couple had been speaking in hushed tones. The moment she appeared in the doorway, they immediately turned their heads to look at her, their gazes landing on her face and not shifting for a long while.

Wen Zhengyu froze on the spot.

That Old Master Lian—she recognized him.

It was several years ago. She had submitted a painting to an exhibition and had chatted with this old gentleman for a long time in front of her artwork. The old man's robust bearing made him seem like he had served in the military. One of his legs had limited mobility, and he used a cane, but his conversation was remarkable. He had left a very deep impression on her.

Lian Huaixin walked toward the door, greeting her: "What are you doing, frozen at the door? Come in. Though this is a first meeting, we're family—don't be nervous." As he spoke, he guided Wen Zhengyu inside.

Wen Zhengyu called out: "Uncle." She entered and addressed the elderly woman, who was staring at her without blinking: "Grandmother." The old woman looked about the same age as her grandfather. The years had carved deep lines into her face, but her facial features and bone structure bore some resemblance to her, and to her mother. The old woman was very dignified. Even at her age, there was still a sharp edge between her brows. Her eyes were clear and piercing, carrying an intimidating, commanding presence when she looked at someone. From that single meeting of gazes, Wen Zhengyu knew this was a formidable old lady.

Wen Zhengyu then addressed Old Master Lian: "Old Master Lian, Grandfather." This meeting was somewhat different from what she had imagined. She had thought that even if it wasn't a scene like Grandmother Jia meeting Lin Daiyu, there would probably be some measure of sorrow, perhaps a hand-clasping, tearful exchange. She hadn't expected to encounter these two elders, so stern they seemed ready to convene a tribunal. Wen Zhengyu couldn't help but think: "Is this looking at a granddaughter, or examining the evidence for the person who caused their daughter's death?" She figured it was likely both.

Lian Huaixin gestured. "Sit." He seated her next to the old woman.

The old woman asked: "Is your father still abroad?"

Wen Zhengyu understood immediately that there was still unspent resentment here. She nodded gently and said: "He hasn't returned."

The old woman sighed heavily and said: "I bore three sons and longed for a daughter. It wasn't until the fourth pregnancy that I finally, with great difficulty, had them, the twins..." Tears welled in the old woman's eyes as she choked with emotion.

The old man took hold of his wife's hand.

Wen Zhengyu remained silent. Her mother's death meant, for the Wen family, that she had lost her mother. But for the Lian family, and especially for the woman who had given birth to her, it was equivalent to having flesh carved from her heart. She suddenly understood a little why the Lian family had not kept in contact with her. After all, seeing her brought to mind her mother's passing, brought to mind her good-for-nothing father. Meeting was worse than not meeting.

This is what blood kin was—her mother's family. Here, her mother was no longer a person people avoided mentioning, no longer a past chapter her elders found difficult to speak of.

What she had lost was her mother. What her grandmother had lost was the daughter she had painstakingly raised.

The old man said: "Look at you. One word and you've made the child cry."

It was only upon hearing the old man's words that Wen Zhengyu realized tears were streaming down her face. She hastily wiped them away and said: "Grandfather, I'm fine." She quickly changed the subject. "I have a photo of my mother." She finished speaking and took out the only photograph of her mother that she possessed. The photo was many years old, already yellowed and faded, but she had always kept it with great care, preserved it very well. When she was little, afraid of damaging it even while holding it during sleep, she would place it carefully against her chest and didn't dare turn over. She disliked keeping the photo in a frame. She had specially made a hard case the exact size of the photo to store it. When she wanted to look at it, it was easy to take out, and even carrying it in a bag, she didn't have to worry about the photo getting bent or damaged.

She handed the photo to the old woman.

The old woman took the photo, stared at it for a long time, then said: "Back when Jin'er passed away, we moved all her belongings out of the Wen family home. Where did you get this photo?"

Wen Zhengyu said: "Second Aunt gave it to me. I asked Mr. Wen Shiyi about my mother, and he... we had a bit of an unpleasantness. When Second Aunt was comforting me, she gave me the photo."

The old woman sighed with emotion: "That little fox!" She returned the photo to Wen Zhengyu.

Wen Zhengyu put it away carefully.

She refilled the tea for the two elders and her uncle. Seeing the server begin to bring out the dishes and place the soup on the table, she ladled a bowl of soup for each of them.

The old woman asked her: "Has this past year been very difficult?"

Wen Zhengyu replied: "It's been quite good. I've learned a great deal, met many, many people, and gained a lot of experience."

The old woman nodded. "If you encounter any difficulties, seek out your uncle."

Wen Zhengyu acknowledged this. She then asked Old Master Lian: "Old Master Lian... Grandfather, that time at my art exhibition, was that... a chance encounter, or..."

Old Master Lian said: "A chance encounter. I saw that face of yours and recognized you." He suddenly seemed to recall something and asked: "You still remember?"

Wen Zhengyu said: "Your bearing and conversation were extraordinary, very memorable. Does your leg still hurt?"

Old Master Lian said: "When it's windy or rainy, it still aches a bit. But after seeing that old Chinese medicine practitioner you recommended, it's much better. It doesn't hurt anymore."

With that, the conversation naturally turned to family matters.

Wen Zhengyu's understanding of the Lian family members had been limited to the names of her maternal grandparents and her uncles that Wen Shishu had once told her. Now, talking with them, she began to gain a rudimentary grasp of the Lian family—at least she knew roughly how many members there were now.

She also spoke a little about her own recent circumstances.

The meal passed in this effortless flow of conversation.

Wen Zhengyu noticed that her grandparents' relationship was exceptionally good. The old woman barely reached out her chopsticks to take food for herself. Any dish she liked, the old man proactively placed it into her bowl. Their every gesture revealed a seamless, wordless understanding.

Watching them, she felt that even the phrase "mutual support through hardship" was insufficient to describe that kind of affection.

She found herself momentarily lost in thought.

Old Master Lian noticed and asked: "What are you daydreaming about?"

Wen Zhengyu, somewhat sheepishly, withdrew her gaze and said: "Grandfather and Grandmother's relationship is truly wonderful."

The old woman said dismissively: "Your grandfather is long-winded. I just can't be bothered to quibble with him."

Wen Zhengyu couldn't help but smile at that.

Lian Huaixin said to Wen Zhengyu: "Come back for meals often from now on. Once you see it more, you'll get used to it."

The meal, all told, was a rather pleasant and harmonious affair.

After the meal, Wen Zhengyu wanted to help Old Master Lian.

As it turned out, the old man had his cane in his right hand and the old woman on his left arm; he didn't need her at all. As for the old woman, serving as a human cane, she had no time to pay her any attention either.

The old woman, supporting the old man as they reached the restaurant entrance, said to her: "You should head back now. Did you note down my address? Come by and visit when you have the time."

Wen Zhengyu nodded in acknowledgment. She observed that the old woman's speech and mannerisms were of a rather firm, rigid type—not someone who outwardly displayed emotion. For someone so strong to be unable to control her grief upon seeing her, upon mentioning her mother, showed just how deeply Lian Huaijin's death had wounded her, how difficult it was to come to terms with.

Mr. Lian Huaixin lingered a few steps behind. He waited until he saw Wen Jing pull the car around before saying to Wen Zhengyu: "Get in the car first."

Wen Zhengyu said: "Goodbye, Uncle." Only then did she get into the car.

She sat in the car. Only after it had driven off did she close the car window, sigh softly, and stare blankly out the window.

She could sense the profound love they held for her mother, and she could also feel their conflicted feelings toward her. They wanted to be close, yet her birth was inextricably linked with Lian Huaijin's death. They wanted distance, yet she was the child Lian Huaijin had brought into the world.

Facing the Lian family, there was no one to shield Mr. Wen Shiyi, no one to deliberately avoid the things he had done. What he bore on his shoulders was a blood-soaked debt of human life.

Wen Zhengyu sat in a daze for a long time. She used her phone to send Mr. Wen Shiyi a text message: "I met my maternal grandparents and uncle today." She wanted to ask Mr. Wen Shiyi: Don't you feel any guilt toward them?

Very quickly, Mr. Wen Shiyi sent her a reply.

Wen Zhengyu was stunned when she read the message: "They're going to give you the dowry your mother left behind?"

Her mind buzzed, and for a moment the world spun. She felt as if her head was about to explode with rage.

Soon, another text came from Mr. Wen Shiyi: "Besides some jewelry and items from the bottom of her trousseau chest, she also had several dowry residences and ten shopfronts. Your grandfather compensated at double the value of the dowry at the time, converted to cash, amounting to..."

Wen Zhengyu didn't finish reading. Consumed by fury and grief, she replied to Wen Shiyi with three words: "Go to hell!" After sending it, she was so angry that her vision swam with vertigo and her whole body trembled.

The car arrived home. Wen Zhengyu still couldn't control her trembling. Her hands and feet were weak; she couldn't get out of the car.

Wen Jing, seeing that something was off with Wen Zhengyu, went to call Wen Shishu over.

Wen Shishu came to the car and asked: "What happened? Did they give you a hard time?"

Wen Zhengyu unlocked her phone and showed Wen Shishu the text messages.

After reading them, Wen Shishu cursed angrily: "That wretched, worthless thing! He's becoming more and more outrageous!" She told Wen Jing to help her assist Wen Zhengyu out of the car, then said to Wen Zhengyu: "Don't be angry. Let me help you inside."

They helped Wen Zhengyu to the sofa and sat her down.

Wen Shishu poured water and handed it to her, then rubbed Wen Zhengyu's back to help her calm down. Seeing Old Master Wen sitting beside them, looking worriedly at Wen Zhengyu, and fearing he might misunderstand, she shook her head slightly and silently mouthed two words: "Third Brother."

Old Master Wen's expression immediately darkened.

Wen Zhengyu finished the water and only then managed to suppress her emotions. She said, as evenly as she could: "I'm fine now." After all these years, she knew full well what kind of man he was.

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