Cheng Su looked at Liu Wenjing. If she remembered correctly, wasnât the woman before her not yet thirty this year? Yet she looked like a woman in her forties. It seemed that the year in the cave hadnât brought her much joy.
Indeed, after all, eloping with her uncle-in-law, the internal pressure must have been much greater than that of ordinary people.
Logically speaking, even if her mother was against her remarrying, or even forbade it, when it comes to getting married, who can stop it? If Liu Wenjing wanted to remarry, in terms of emotions, principles, and law, no one could stop her.
If she were a bit more heartless, she could take the child and leave, or just run away herself. Who would be able to do anything to her? Why carry a lifetime of shackles and guilt?
Of all people, why choose her uncle-in-law? And if she claimed it was for love, why then did her face look so haggard?
"Last month, Jin Sheng fell ill with pneumonia, and we spent all our money on treatment. And this month, there has been continuous heavy rain on our side, flooding the cave, leaving us no place to go. We didnât dare go home, so we thought of coming to you, cousin, and seeking refuge..." Deng Weixia finished speaking, then lowered his head, clasping his hands together.
Cheng Su noticed a scar on the back of his hand, fierce in appearance, likely from hunting in the mountains.
"How did you get here?" Cheng Su asked.
"We sold some old goods and mountain goods, just barely enough for the travel expenses." Deng Weixia looked up at her quickly before lowering his head again.
Cheng Su couldnât describe how she felt. She remembered this young man as timid, yet she couldnât believe he dared to elope with a child, and now, they even had a child together.
Looking at him now, he was still the same person, yet more worn.
Itâs no surprise, having done such a thing, that they could live with peace of mind; that would not be human.
If they dared to do it, they should have the ability to bear the consequences.
"What do you plan to do now that youâve come here? Whatâs your plan moving forward?" Qi Taiguo asked with a stern face.
Deng Weixia blushed, glanced at Liu Wenjing, and said, "I think the child is growing up day by day. We canât always stay in the mountains, and we canât go back home. I was thinking of finding a place to settle here and then get a job."
"What about your mother? What about Weiqiu?" Qi Taiguo glared at him.
"After settling down, if sheâs willing, I will go back and bring my mother here," Deng Weixia hurriedly added.
"Nonsense!" Qi Taiguo slammed the table in anger, "Youâve been gone for so long without any news. Your mother asked everyone to look for you, and now you donât plan on going back to apologize first before settling down?"
Deng Weixia flinched.
"Youâre in your twenties, yet why do you act without any sense? What a fool!" Qi Taiguo berated.
Cheng Su tugged at his clothes and said, "Speak nicely!"
Qi Taiguo was so furious he wanted to pin Deng Weixia to the ground and give him a beating.
"Since theyâre here and itâs getting dark, shouldnât we find them a place to stay for the night?" Cheng Su quietly reminded him.
Qi Taiguo glared at Deng Weixia twice more, stood up, and said to Cheng Su, "Iâll go make arrangements." He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he wouldnât be able to resist beating up this fool.
Cheng Su nodded. After he left, she said to the two of them, "Itâs getting dark. Make do for the night."
"Thank you, cousin-in-law!"
Cheng Su replied, "Iâm not sympathizing with you two but with the two children. You donât deserve sympathy!"
Deng Weixia and Liu Wenjing lowered their heads.