Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?
Chapter 426: The Feeling of Home

Chapter 426: Chapter 426: The Feeling of Home

"You little rascal, how come you’re even harsher than your mom, throwing away all my fabric scraps like that."

Grandma was holding a big bag of fabric scraps, wanting to take them back home.

"What do you want these for? Who mends clothes anymore? If they’re torn, just buy new ones." Shen Siyuan reached out trying to snatch them from her.

Grandma immediately put her hand behind her back.

"I like mending things. You all don’t know how to be frugal at all."

In the end, Shen Siyuan couldn’t argue with her, and she took them back again.

Shen Siyuan didn’t realize it until he started tidying up; he was shocked by how many things from thirty or forty years ago she still kept.

For example, some old clothes, old shoes, and bed linens which they no longer use, but she washed them clean and pressed them at the bottom of the box.

Grandma, at first, watched him closely, like keeping an eye on a bad guy, monitoring his every move, which made Shen Siyuan laugh out of annoyance.

But when it was almost noon, Grandma finally let him off, preparing to make something delicious for her eldest grandson.

"Grandma, you’re coming back with me tonight."

"No way, I’m fine on my own."

"That’s not what I meant. Ruan Hongzhuang’s parents are coming tomorrow, and I want them to meet you."

"This is a big deal, your parents are unreliable, I have to step in." Grandma said proudly.

"Yes, I’ll have to trouble you, Grandma." Shen Siyuan replied along with her words.

He made the old lady so happy.

Truly, as people age, they become more like children; this saying makes so much sense.

"This time, her parents are coming probably to settle things between you two."

"I think so too."

Shen Siyuan wasn’t opposed to this; Ruan Hongzhuang had excellent prospects, and he was willing to marry her, plus he was of marriageable age.

"If you’re getting married, you can’t do it in the countryside. If it’s in Bin Hai, you’ll need to buy an apartment. I’ve heard housing prices are high now, but it’s not a huge problem. Your father has earned quite a bit over the years, and if it doesn’t work, I have some savings you can use..."

Grandma rambled while eating.

"Grandma, you don’t need to worry about these things. I have an apartment in Bin Hai. In a few days, I’ll take you to see my new place."

"Huh? When did you buy it? How come I didn’t know? Your parents didn’t tell me either, keeping such a big thing from me?" Grandma put down her chopsticks, rather unhappily.

To the elderly, in life, besides getting married, nothing is more important than buying a house. Not notifying her about such big news seemed very disrespectful.

"No, they don’t know either. The house was a gift from someone else." Shen Siyuan said.

"A gift? Why would someone give you a house?" Grandma became a bit anxious.

"Taking things from others for no reason isn’t good."

Shen Siyuan smiled and pointed at her, Grandma seemed to realize suddenly.

"Was it the Immortal Pill?" Grandma asked softly.

"Yes."

"Then that’s alright, it’s a good thing. To trade an Immortal Pill for a house, I still think it’s a loss." Grandma said.

"Do many people know about this?"

"Not many."

"That’s good. Don’t blab about it outside. There are lots of bad people out there; it wouldn’t be good if someone targeted you."

"I know, Grandma. You’re really wise."

"Of course, at this age, I’ve seen all kinds of people."

...

Shen Siyuan stayed at Grandma’s until dusk, then he wobbled back to Linjiapo with her.

The happiness of the elderly is simple; just someone to chat with is enough.

When they got home, Huang Huijuan was busy in the yard.

She was holding a kitchen knife, chopping bones on the cutting board.

"Mom, why are you here?"

"Miss Ruan’s parents are coming tomorrow, how can I not come?" Grandma said with great determination.

Huang Huijuan muttered to herself: "What’s the use of you coming here?"

But she dared not say these words aloud and said instead, "Are you staying here tonight then?"

"What, you want to kick me out before I’ve even entered?"

"No way, you’re the one who doesn’t want to stay here."

Grandma said no more after hearing this, glanced at the knife stuck in a bone, and sighed: "You seem to be struggling. Why aren’t you letting Jianjun do this?"

"He’s busy with other things in the kitchen, and I have nothing else to do, so I thought I’d give it a try."

"Let him do the heavy work." Grandma said as she walked into the house.

"I’ll go see if there’s anything your dad needs help with, you help your mom with the rest." Grandma said.

No wonder Huang Huijuan says she has a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Shen Siyuan bent down, reached to take the chopping knife from the bone.

Seeing his effortless manner, Huang Huijuan clapped her hands and said: "Men certainly have more strength. My palms have even gotten blisters."

She was about to show her palms to Shen Siyuan.

But Shen Siyuan disdainfully turned his head aside.

"Why show me? Show Dad, let him feel sorry for you."

"You little rascal, I’m your mom, what use are you for?" She punched Shen Siyuan and went inside.

Meanwhile, Shen Siyuan raised the chopping knife, and with a few chops, the big bones were sliced just like slicing cucumbers, without leaving a single mark on the cutting board below.

Shen Siyuan took the chopped bones to the kitchen, where Shen Jianjun was busy.

Only then did he realize that their rushed return from Grandma’s wasn’t just an excuse; the kitchen table was full of dishes.

There were fried, braised, and stewed dishes... it was more lavish than Chinese New Year.

"You prepared so much?"

"It’s their first visit, so it has to be ceremonious. Besides, Ruan Hongzhuang’s parents are distinguished people; it can’t be too shabby. Such fancy dishes can’t be prepared last minute by tomorrow, so I prepared in advance..."

Shen Jianjun and his wife had thought everything through thoroughly; they left no stone unturned in preparations.

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"No, just go outside and don’t get in the way." Shen Jianjun waved a hand.

Upon hearing this, Shen Siyuan didn’t insist, turned around, and headed upstairs.

He went back to his room to find himself a pair of shoes; being barefoot at home was a bit inappropriate.

Coming out of his room, he found his mom tidying Grandma’s room.

Since she didn’t visit often, the room left for her had gathered quite a bit of dust and clutter.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were tidying up while quarreling.

Grandma said she didn’t know how to run a household; she said Grandma was old-fashioned.

One moment the mom was giggling, the next, Grandma was sighing helplessly.

Shen Siyuan didn’t interrupt them until they started talking about Grandpa in Shanghai.

His mom, Huang Huijuan, had met Grandpa, but only once.

It was when she and Shen Jianjun got married, he hurried back from Shanghai to attend their wedding, bringing along the wife he remarried.

Since then, other than exchanging letters, he never returned.

PS: That’s all for today, I’ll continue tomorrow~