Jiang Yiru looked at Jiang Xun and smiled warmly. “I didn’t know Second Cousin had two grandchildren. What a pity! I have fallen into such dire straits that I myself have to depend on your young aunt! I have no way to take care of you children.
“In the past, when I was the head of the Jiang family, I would never have allowed you to suffer. What a pity! Times have changed, and the Jiang family… is no more!”
Jiang Xun hurriedly replied, “Great-aunt, there’s no need to be sad. We’re doing very well. Now we have Grandma Mo and Young Uncle to take care of us. And there’s Young Aunt too. She’s very nice and takes good care of us.
“I’m grown up too and can take care of myself. I don’t need you to take care of me. It’s wonderful that we have managed to meet. In fact, as the younger one, I should be showing you filial piety.”
Jiang Yiru immediately laughed, “I don’t need you to show me filial piety. Your young aunt is enough. Your great-uncle and I can still move. But you! All you have to do is take good care of your younger brothers.
“If you have any problems in the future, you can tell me. If I can help you in any way, I will.”
Jiang Xun was very moved.
When Gu Qingyao heard the news, she was amazed!
“Wow, is that possible?” She felt rather incredulous.
Jiang Xun laughed. “I was surprised too. I’m actually related to Grandma Jiang. She said I looked familiar, and when she asked me about it, I showed her my grandfather’s photograph, and that’s how she realized who I was.”
Jiang Ping was also rather emotional. His face was flushed.
Jiang Yingqiu laughed, “That’s wonderful news. Also, it must be fate. Yao Yao, you are her disciple and Jiang Xun is her grandnephew. Our Little Jing and Mu Mu are related to the Mo family. It is all fated!”
Gu Qingyao chuckled. “That’s right, it’s fate! Jiang Xun, you have another relative now. You were so lucky to be able to encounter her in this wide world.”
Everyone rejoiced over the news. Gu Qingyao even especially made a few nice dishes and brought them to the cowshed for a celebration.
The spring planting arrived, and the entire Qing River Brigade was busy. The Gu family also began to work. The main force was Gu Yunshen and Gu Yunshuang. Little Six and Little Nine were still young. Little Six was alright, but Little Nine was too young.
Gu Qingyao also needed to work. But Wang Mingtao and Wang Qingshan did not roster her for heavy labor. She only had to help out at the cooking area and take care of the children.
Gu Fangting, Little Six and Little Nine mostly followed Gu Qingyao around.
In May, they received a letter from Eldest Uncle’s family.
Besides saying that they were safe and well, there was also good news, which was that Eldest Cousin had made a match. Everyone was very pleased, and they were preparing to marry in autumn.
The girl was twenty-four years old and came from a scholarly background. Her family fortunes had declined, and they had ended up in the northeast.
The girl was quite pretty and very gracious. Most importantly, she was good-tempered and got along well with Eldest Cousin. Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt and Eldest Cousin were all very pleased, and they were planning to get married before the end of the year.
This was wonderful news for the Gu family.
Eldest Brother was of marriageable age, and when he first moved to the north-east, everyone had been worried about his marriage. Now that it was settled in such a satisfactory manner, everyone was pleased.
The Gu family’s eldest grandson was finally getting married.
Eldest Uncle’s family was in a tough situation. They had only been there for a year, and their condition had not improved by much. They were not able to obtain anything for Eldest Cousin’s wedding.
They had written, hoping that the family could help them and find some way to send them things for the wedding.