Chapter 187: The Old Lady Has a Stroke
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Chao Chao was puzzled. “Huh? Why did that old man run off crying? Was it just because my dog went missing?”
In the dead of night, a baby emerged from a mass grave, ghostly pale, pointing to an empty space and shouting, “My friend isn’t human!”
Anyone would be terrified.
Unperturbed, Chao Chao crawled back into the grave, snuggling into Chasing Wind’s fur under a small blanket, warm and snug. The wind itself seemed to soften, careful not to disturb her sleep.
The next morning dawned bright and early.
“Chao Chao… Chao Chao, my little potato, wake up…” she heard her mother’s voice as she waved her hand.
Before she could respond, she was scooped into a warm embrace, recognizing the familiar scent immediately.
[Am I dreaming about Mommama?]
[No, I’ve never dreamed about her before.]
[My dreams are usually about chicken drumsticks.]
Madam Xu was at a loss for words.
Chao Chao pried her eyes open to see her mother smiling down at her. “Mama!” Her eyes sparkled as she hugged her mother’s face, planting a big kiss.
[Mommama smells so good…]
“Mommama, why are you here? Are you coming to stay with me too?” Chao Chao’s eyes gleamed with hope.
Madam Xu sighed, “Momma doesn’t wander like you do. I’m here to take you home. It’s been three days; don’t you think it’s time to return?”
Chao Chao hesitated.
[But I was going to be the boss today! What should I do?]
“Momma has spoken with His Majesty. How about we delay school for another month? You’ll only attend half days,” Madam Xu suggested gently.
Chao Chao considered this.
“And you’ll get a snack during every break.”
“Okay, Mommama, I’ll go home right now,” Chao Chao agreed quickly, fearing her mother might reconsider.
“Fierce Bun! Fierce Bun!” Scar and his crew called out as Chao Chao prepared to leave.
Chao Chao paused, “Mommama, I need to say goodbye to my friends.”
Madam Xu nodded in approval.
Chao Chao handed a small package to Scar. “This is the money I’ve collected. Use it to look after the brothers.”
“I’ll visit you guys…”
Scar accepted the package and declared, “Boss, don’t worry. I, Scar, will take care of the brothers. You’ll always be our boss!”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Chao Chao climbed into the carriage, looking back repeatedly.
Madam Xu asked, “Little Potato, why do they call you Fierce Bun?”
Sitting cross-legged in the carriage, Chao Chao appeared innocent. “Momma, I don’t know. I’m just a little potato.”
Within just three days, the legend of Fierce Bun had spread far and wide.
As they passed through the commoners’ district, they overheard a man lamenting, “My dear, I’ll never go fishing again. Never in my life!”
“The mass grave is haunted. She was holding an iron chain, searching for a scapegoat to drag to the underworld!”
Chao Chao, peeking out of the carriage window, thought the man seemed familiar.
Upon their arrival home, Yuhua was in tears.
“Little miss, you’ve lost weight! How could you leave without me?” Yuhua embraced Chao Chao, her eyes red from crying.
“Chao Chao, you’re back from your adventures?” That evening, Lu Zheng Yue greeted her with a smile, “How was it? Any gains from your adventure?”
Chao Chao hesitated briefly. “Second Brother, I made more money in three days than you did in six months of adventuring…”
[Sigh, Second Brother’s earnings from half a year aren’t even enough for three days of my begging…]
[Oh well, he’s a bit slow. I’ll take care of him.]
[At least he can be a lucky charm.]
Lu Zheng Yue’s smile faltered. [Why did I ask? It’s so humiliating!]
Just then, Lu Yuan Xiao entered, silently smirking, enjoying his brother’s discomfort.
Later, when Lu Yan Shu returned, the family gathered for dinner.
After the meal, a servant rushed in, visibly shaken. “Madam, something’s happened.”
“What is it? Don’t cause a panic and disturb the lady and madam,” Deng Zhi scolded the servant.
“Sister Deng Zhi, it’s urgent,” the servant replied, wiping his sweat.
“Madam, there’s chaos at the marquis’ residence. The old lady suddenly collapsed, unconscious, drooling, and unable to speak. It seems like… a stroke.”
The Lu household was stunned.
[Did the old witch get scared to death?] Chao Chao suddenly sat up.
[If she dies, will there be a feast?]
[I don’t want to be a filial granddaughter, but I wouldn’t mind a feast. I heard rich families have grand feasts when the old lady dies.]
Chao Chao rubbed her belly. To prevent nighttime stomachaches from overeating, Madam Xu now controlled her diet.
Madam Xu nearly burst into laughter at her daughter’s thoughts.
“What happened? Tell me in detail,” Deng Zhi asked urgently, sensing the gravity of the situation.
The servant continued, wiping his sweat, “The marquis’ residence has been struggling recently.”
“Madam Pei has been transcribing scriptures in the small Buddhist hall, praying for the family. She’s been staying there overnight for half a month.”
“Last night, the old lady went to the hall to offer incense without telling anyone.”
“Nobody knows what she saw, but she screamed and collapsed, hitting her head on a table and bleeding.”
“When she woke up, she was drooling, unable to speak, and half of her body was paralyzed. It’s a stroke!”
Everyone was stunned.
“Serves her right, deceiving Momma for eighteen years. This is karma!” Ten-year-old Lu Yuan Xiao couldn’t contain his anger and blurted out.
Madam Xu shook her head slightly. “Yuan Xiao, it’s one thing to curse at home, but don’t do it outside.”
“You’re aiming for the royal exams. You can’t give others any reason to criticize you.”
Outside cursing was one thing, but if her own grandson did it, it would be a disgrace.
That’s how the world worked.
[Oh, I heard Madam Pei shaved her lover’s head and made him pose as a monk to live in the house! Did the old lady catch them in the act?] Chao Chao chuckled to herself. [I want some juicy gossip, so bad…]
Chao Chao wasn’t the only one. Madam Xu bit her handkerchief, trying hard not to laugh.
She cleared her throat and put on a solemn expression, her voice tinged with sadness. “Although we’ve been expelled and removed from the family registry, the world still sees us as having been raised by the old lady.”
“If she’s in trouble, visiting her will silence the gossip.”
Madam Xu sat up straight, looking very serious.
“Yan Shu has exams soon, Zheng Yue just joined the army, and Yuan Xiao has his royal exams next year. They need time to study.”
“So…”
“I’ll go on your behalf.”
Madam Xu’s eyes twinkled. [Gossip, here I come!]
Sigh, what’s the point of living if you don’t return home in glory or kick someone when they’re down?