Chapter 696 - 696 Pleasing

696 Pleasing

When Hu Changshou saw the house from afar, he could no longer control the excitement in his heart and shouted, “Grandma, Yang, I’m back.”

Hu Changshou’s voice choked at the end.

He had returned. He had returned alive. He had encountered many dangers along the way. It had not been easy for him to return alive.

Madam Cao was starting the fire, Hu Changyang was weaving a basket, and Su Xiaozhi was cutting vegetables. When they heard the sound, they were all stunned.

Su Xiaozhi accidentally cut her finger. She swallowed nervously and ignored the blood on her hand. She subconsciously clenched her fists.

Hu Changyang had already thrown away the basket and was running towards Hu Changshou. As he ran, he shouted in a choked voice, “Brother—”

Madam Cao’s eyes turned red. She put down the tongs and got up to welcome him. Her eldest grandson had returned alive.

Hu Changyang had already run away and hugged Hu Changshou tightly. “Brother, you’re back.”

Hu Changshou also hugged Hu Changyang back. The two brothers were both emotional. They let go and looked at each other. Their eyes were red.

There were not many greetings, but they understood each other.

Hu Changshou looked at Madam Cao, pursed his lips, and smiled. “Grandma, I’m back.”

Madam Cao walked up to him and examined Hu Changshou from head to toe. She reached out and carefully checked before sighing. “It’s good that you’re back. You’ve worked hard.”

Madam Cao did not ask Hu Changshou how much hardship he had experienced. She was afraid that her heart would ache if she knew.

It was good as long as he returned safely.

Madam Cao held Hu Changshou’s hand and Hu Changyang’s hand. She instructed him carefully, “Yang, now that the world has changed, don’t be anxious. A scholar will always be needed by the world. Study hard and always remember the kindness of your cousins. Even if they don’t need us to repay them, we can’t forget it. In the future, when you start a family, you have to tell your descendants. When you’re rich, many people will care about you. When times are difficult, it’s rare for people to lend you a hand, understand?”

Hu Changyang nodded solemnly. “Yes, don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll remember. I won’t forget. I won’t embarrass Father and you.”

Madam Cao looked at her two grandsons, feeling at ease.

As long as a person had a grateful heart, they would not take the wrong path no matter what.

Su Xiaozhi watched in a daze. She wanted to hide, but there was nowhere to hide.

As soon as Hu Changshou entered the house, he saw Su Xiaozhi.

Su Xiaozhi did not dare to look at Hu Changshou. She did not speak.

Hu Changshou stared at Su Xiaozhi coldly.

Madam Cao sighed and said, “Shou, your mother is home. This time, she won’t make you brothers sad anymore. Just… trust her again. She’s not bad. She’s alone now. Your father passed away early, and she has no other choice. Sigh…”

When Su Xiaozhi returned this time, Madam Cao knew that she had something on her mind.

Now that Old Master Su and Madam Wang had already passed away, Su Xiaozhi was still the mother of the two children. When Hu Daniu was alive, Su Xiaozhi was led by Hu Daniu. When Hu Daniu passed away, her world collapsed. She was originally like duckweed, so how could she have her own opinions?

Her marriage with Hu Daniu was also fought for by Su Sanlang for her. Otherwise, how could she have married into the Hu family? Su Xiaozhi could not escape Madam Wang’s control. She was so passive. Madam Cao did not blame her because she understood this.

Hu Changyang looked at Hu Changshou. He didn’t say anything. Anyway, he would listen to his brother.

Hu Changshou looked at Su Xiaozhi. His mind was filled with those memories.

Su Xiaozhi kept her head lowered. She was too ashamed to look at Hu Changshou. From that day onwards, she was too ashamed to see her son. She was here to atone for her sins. Even if her son chased her away, she would not leave. She did not ask her son to take care of her. She only wanted to do what she could in her lifetime.

No matter what, she would not leave.

If she couldn’t stay at home, she could stay in the cowshed.

Hu Changshou saw Su Xiaozhi’s tears fall. He looked down and saw blood on her hand. Hu Changshou pursed his lips and swallowed before saying, “If she wants to stay, so be it.”

He turned around and said coldly, “There won’t be a next time.”

The first sentence was to express his stance so that Madam Cao and Hu Changyang could be at ease.

The second sentence was for Su Xiaozhi. He knew she understood.

There was no going back to their mother-son relationship. He could forgive Su Xiaozhi for neglecting them for her parents, and he could accept Su Xiaozhi making him sad countless times. He could even accept that Su Xiaozhi had cut off his life, but only once.

He would not give Su Xiaozhi a chance like that again.

Madam Cao heaved a sigh of relief. She thought that Hu Changshou was referring to Su Xiaozhi contacting her parents.

Hu Changyang thought so too. However, when he looked down and inadvertently saw Hu Changshou clenching his fists so tightly that his joints turned white, Hu Changyang realized that things were not as he thought. There was something that he and his grandmother did not know.

At this moment, Hu Changyang became cold to Su Xiaozhi. He didn’t need to know what had happened. He only knew that he would always believe in his brother.

“Why is your hand bleeding? Go and treat it. Shou is home now. Let’s eat something good today. There’s still time to kill a chicken.”

Madam Cao said gently to Su Xiaozhi.

Su Xiaozhi nodded and left.

After Su Xiaozhi left, Madam Cao sighed and shook her head. She turned around and smiled kindly at her two grandsons. “I’ll burn incense for your father.”

After Madam Cao left, Hu Changyang looked at Hu Changshou and asked softly, “Brother, did she… do something bad?”

Hu Changshou shook his head. “It’s all in the past.”

Hu Changshou had no intention of saying anything, so Hu Changyang didn’t ask further.

Madam Cao entered the house and lit incense for Hu Daniu. She sighed and said in a low voice, “My son, don’t blame her. It’s not up to her to decide where a rootless duckweed floats. It’s already hard to be a woman. My grandsons aren’t stupid people, so there’s nothing to worry about. When she came back this time, I kept feeling that she had been enlightened. Please don’t blame her.”

Madam Cao muttered as she inserted the incense. She smiled again. “I’ll bring you a cockscomb later. Life is good now. Don’t worry.”

After Madam Cao finished, she went out to help Su Xiaozhi.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law did not speak. Su Xiaozhi was agile, so Madam Cao let her work.

During dinner that night, Madam Cao asked Hu Changshou, “Shou, where’s Xiaolu? How is she?”

Su Xiaozhi slowed down.

Hu Changyang also put down his chopsticks.

Hu Changshou smiled and said, “Xiaolu is very good. It’s all thanks to her that I came back alive this time.”

“Grandma, I’ve decided to join the army. After I settle you guys down, I’ll join the army. Don’t worry, I have the ability to protect myself. In another two years, when I’m free, I can bring my younger brother along. The noble Young Master in the capital told me that the current scholars haven’t fallen behind in martial arts.” Hu Changshou told Madam Cao about his plans. He was now strong and had superpowers. He was even more unwilling to be useless.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you. Do whatever you want.” Madam Cao did not ask further or object. She supported him with a smile. Her eldest grandson had ambitions. How could she break his wings?