R70 Chapter 77

Good Son-in-Law

The crisp sound of the dagger falling to the ground seemed to still echo in her ears. Wu Yunzhu stood at the gate of her family’s courtyard, yet hesitated to push open that weathered wooden door.

Yuan Ye stood behind her, gently gripping her trembling shoulders.

“It’s all over,” Yuan Ye’s voice was tender yet firm. “Go in. Mom and Dad are waiting for you.”

Wu Yunzhu took a deep breath. The moment she pushed open the door, Sun Hongying, who was hanging laundry in the courtyard, suddenly turned around. The wooden basin in her hands clattered to the ground.

“Yunzhu!” Sun Hongying’s tears burst forth as she rushed over in two or three strides and pulled her daughter into her arms.

Wu Yunzhu caught the familiar scent of soapberry on her mother’s body and suddenly began to cry like a child.

“Mom, I found it, I found the evidence,” Wu Yunzhu sobbed incoherently. “Liu Dashan has been arrested. That dagger—Kang Danian has confessed everything.”

Sun Hongying’s trembling hand passed over her daughter’s thin face, only then noticing the fine lines at the corners of her eyes and the new calluses on her hands.

Over the past six months, her daughter had suffered so much trying to clear her father’s name.

“Silly child.” Sun Hongying was so heartbroken she couldn’t speak, only stroking her daughter’s hair over and over.

The curtain of the main room was pushed aside as Wu Jianguo walked out.

Wu Yunzhu looked up to find her father’s eyes red-rimmed, yet his lips bore a gratified smile.

“Dad!” Wu Yunzhu broke free from her mother’s embrace and dropped to her knees before her father with a thud. “I’m sorry for letting you suffer all these years.”

Wu Jianguo tossed aside his cane and cupped his daughter’s face with his rough, large hands. “Get up quickly, the ground is cold.”

His voice was hoarse beyond recognition. “It’s Dad who has wronged you, making you at such a young age…”

Yuan Ye stood to the side, watching this family embrace and weep together, his own eyes moistening.

He quietly wiped the corner of his eye and was about to retreat outside the courtyard when Sun Hongying grabbed him.

“Xiao Yuan, come inside!” Sun Hongying pulled his arm toward the house. “This time, thanks to you helping Yunzhu, otherwise…”

Her voice choked up. “Otherwise, Old Wu’s injustice would have…”

In the main room, Wu Jianguo had already pulled his daughter down to sit and was using his sleeve to wipe the tears from her face.

Seeing Yuan Ye enter, the old man struggled to stand. Yuan Ye quickly stepped forward to support him.

“Uncle Wu, don’t move. Your leg injury hasn’t fully healed yet.”

But Wu Jianguo insisted on standing straight and solemnly bowed to Yuan Ye. “Xiao Yuan, great kindness needs no words of thanks. If it weren’t for you and Yunzhu persisting with the investigation, for the rest of my life I would have…”

Yuan Ye awkwardly supported the old man. “Uncle Wu, please don’t do this! This is what I should have done.”

He stole a glance at Wu Yunzhu, his ears turning slightly red. “Yunzhu and I, we…”

Wu Yunzhu broke into a smile through her tears and walked over to naturally link her arm through Yuan Ye’s. “Dad, Mom, Yuan Ye and I will be together from now on. We might trouble you quite a bit.”

Sun Hongying exclaimed “Aiya!” and slapped her thigh. “What kind of trouble is that? This will always be your home!”

She happily pulled Yuan Ye down to sit. “Xiao Yuan is such a solid young man, and he treats Yunzhu so well. Your dad and I are completely at ease!”

Wu Jianguo also showed a gratified smile, but then it dimmed. “It’s just that you two have offended quite a few people because of my case. Liu Dashan may have been arrested, but what about all his connections?”

“Dad, don’t worry.” Wu Yunzhu gripped her father’s hand. “Secretary Chen has already submitted a report to the county. Everyone who covered up for Liu Dashan back then will be investigated. And…”

She glanced at Yuan Ye. “Yuan Ye’s uncle works at the provincial newspaper office and has agreed to help us write a report.”

Yuan Ye nodded. “Uncle Wu, this matter has already blown up big. No one dares to suppress it anymore. Your Party membership and reputation will both be restored.”

Wu Jianguo let out a long sigh, tears silently sliding down his weather-beaten face.

Sun Hongying wiped her tears and went to the kitchen, bringing out a steaming basin of dumplings. “All right, all right. Today is a joyous day. Our family is finally reunited. Let’s eat!”

At the dinner table, Wu Jianguo, for the first time ever, poured four cups of baijiu.

He raised his cup, his hand still trembling slightly. “This first cup is to Xiao Yuan. If you hadn’t protected Yunzhu, you children would have suffered who knows how much.”

Yuan Ye quickly stood up. “Uncle Wu, you’re too kind.”

“This second cup,” Wu Jianguo’s eyes glistened with tears, “is to my daughter. Dad never imagined you’d turn out so capable—not only clearing up the truth, but also…”

He choked up for a moment. “Also finding me such a good son-in-law.”

Wu Yunzhu’s tears fell again, dropping into her wine cup and creating small ripples.

“This third cup,” Wu Jianguo took a deep breath, “is to your mother. All these years… she’s suffered so much.”

Sun Hongying could no longer hold back and collapsed against her husband’s shoulder, sobbing. Wu Jianguo gently patted his wife’s back, his own tears flowing unchecked.

Yuan Ye quietly grasped Wu Yunzhu’s hand under the table and found it ice-cold.

He squeezed it hard, transmitting his warmth. Wu Yunzhu turned to look at him, finally showing a smile in her red, swollen eyes.

“Let’s eat. The dumplings are getting cold.” Sun Hongying dried her tears and served dumplings into everyone’s bowl. “Xiao Yuan, eat more. Look how thin you are.”

After dinner, Wu Yunzhu walked Yuan Ye out for a stroll. Under the moonlight, their shadows overlapped.

“Thank you,” Wu Yunzhu said softly. “If it weren’t for you…”

Yuan Ye gently pressed his finger against her lips. “Don’t say such things.”

He hesitated, then suddenly pulled out a small cloth bundle from his pocket. “This is for you.”

Wu Yunzhu opened it to find an exquisite silver ring with delicate patterns carved on it.

“This was left by my grandmother,” Yuan Ye’s voice carried some nervousness. “She said to give it to my wife.”

Wu Yunzhu’s face flushed red all at once, looking especially enchanting in the moonlight. She carefully placed the ring on her ring finger—it fit perfectly.

“I’ll treasure it well.” She stood on tiptoe and planted a light kiss on Yuan Ye’s cheek. “See you tomorrow.”

Returning to the house, Wu Yunzhu found her parents still sitting in the main room waiting for her. Sun Hongying’s sharp eyes immediately spotted the ring on her daughter’s hand.

“Aiya!” She excitedly grabbed her daughter’s hand. “Xiao Yuan gave you this?”

Wu Yunzhu shyly nodded. Wu Jianguo smiled with gratification. “Good, very good. Xiao Yuan is a dependable young man.”

The sound of her parents’ low conversation came from next door. Wu Yunzhu quietly walked to the door.

“Old Wu, your leg needs to be checked at the county hospital tomorrow.” Sun Hongying’s voice was full of concern.

Wu Yunzhu covered her mouth and laughed, yet tears welled up once more.

She tiptoed back to bed, touching the ring on her finger, her heart full of sweetness.

Early the next morning, Yuan Ye went out and returned with a large package of nutritional supplements.

Sun Hongying’s smile couldn’t be contained as she bustled about preparing breakfast.