Chapter 750: Lesson Learned

"After thinking so much, have you come to any conclusions? Are you satisfied with how I’ve handled it? If not, I’ll go back and tell them to withdraw the report and let He Caixia go."

Old Master He glared at her, "You know full well I didn’t mean it that way. The way you handled it is just fine, it taught her a lesson..."

Though he didn’t finish, Lin Chuxia understood.

That was also why she handled it that way.

If it had been handled by the book and He Caixia was locked up for a couple of years, most likely that would have been a hurdle Old Master He couldn’t overcome in his heart.

...............

Old Master He rarely came back, and after leaving the police station, he went home.

The house was emptied, and the things were all turned over.

Already knowing in the police station that Lin Chuxia had shown leniency, even the slight guilt he felt was now completely gone.

How could this be his own daughter? If she had even the slightest sense of father-daughter bond, she wouldn’t have ransacked the house like a robber.

Gu Peng, after leaving the police station, went to Daqing Mountain Village to discuss road repairs with Village Chief Sun.

Su Wensong was with them, and without a word, Lin Chuxia and Su Wensong started tidying up.

After the house was set in order, it was almost noon.

Having not returned to Ancheng County for a long time, Old Master He went to the Bun Shop near the train station for lunch.

Seeing Old Master He and Lin Chuxia arrive, Sun Lanlan was happier than anyone and went to inform Granny Su.

Granny Su was in the yard soothing her little great-grandson.

Su Wensong and Sun Lanlan’s son, Su Yian, was already over two years old.

The little guy was chubby and strong like a young bull, running around the yard restlessly.

At this moment, he was holding a small shovel, digging soil in Granny Su’s flower pot.

As soon as Sun Lanlan entered the yard, she saw her son was digging at her grandmother’s peony, which she had grown for many years, and Grandma not only didn’t stop him but watched him with a loving smile.

Granny spoils this little rascal, but she doesn’t. She stepped forward and lifted him by the scruff of his neck.

"You little rascal, are you trying to defy the heavens? Peonies are most afraid of root damage. If you dare dig randomly again, watch out for your bottom."

Granny Su waved her hand with a smile, "It’s okay, how much strength could he have? Loosening the soil is just fine."

Before Sun Lanlan could speak, a teasing voice came.

"Oh my, I’ve seen everything today. When did you, Lady Su Senior, ever say such lies with your eyes open? The soil in the pot is almost all gone, and you call this loosening the soil. It’s really something new."

Granny Su was surprised to see it was Old Master He but she was still sharp-tongued.

"I just like letting my little great-grandson dig, so what? No matter how pretty the flowers, they can’t compare to making my grandson happy, are you jealous, old thing?"

"Me, jealous of you?" Old Master He grunted, "A mischievous brat, what is there to be jealous of? You haven’t seen my little apprentice granddaughter, she looks like a snow doll, really pretty and sweet, calls me grandpa, can’t tell you how precious she is."

"Yes, your little apprentice granddaughter is the best," Granny Su knew Old Master He was talking about Lin Chuxia’s daughter, "For us, as long as we see our children and grandchildren’s days getting better and better, we are happy. Now, seeing the children grow up without worrying about food or clothing, I sometimes feel like living to such an age is a bonus."

Old Master He deeply resonated with these words from Granny Su, "Who wouldn’t agree? Ten years ago, I never expected we’d see days like these."

"Is it just you who couldn’t imagine? If you ask me, people should cherish the now. I heard you haven’t been in Yan City for the past half a year. We’re getting old, don’t trouble the children and make them worry."

"Yeah, no more trouble," Old Master He said, his cloudy eyes dimming even more, "Just now when I came over, I saw some grains at Mr. Shi’s house..."

His voice grew lower and lower.

Lin Chuxia heard this and looked over too.

She also saw the grains at Grandpa Shi’s house entrance.

It was a local custom that after a person passed away, the pillow they used in life was burned at the entrance.

According to their ancestors’ beliefs, a pillow was one of the most important belongings to a person, and many people got used to sleeping with the same pillow. Switching to another could take a lot of time to adjust.

And a pillow, being one of the objects closest to a person.

Ancient people believed that life’s essence harbored a spirit; once deceased, if they still longed for life, they might leave that longing on the pillow.

Burning the pillow at the entrance severed the deceased’s attachment to the mortal world, allowing them to quickly enter reincarnation, and also notified others of the death in the family.

Granny Su nodded, "Yes, it was Old Stone, happened last week. He hasn’t been well for the past couple of years. The doctor had long advised him to drink less, but he had a penchant for sneaking out to drink. I heard his daughter came and he drank a few more out of happiness, then didn’t wake up after sleeping that night."

She then warned Old Master He, "You need to take care too, we’re not as young as we used to be, can’t be too indulgent."

Old Master He’s mood seemed heavy, "I know, I know, I’m not going to be like Old Stone, doing everything without limitations. Seeing life getting better, I want to live a few more years to enjoy it."

"That’s the right way to think. When I think of the past, we’ve come through so much. We should cherish the good times now."

............

After lunch at the Su Family, Su Wensong personally sent Old Master He and Lin Chuxia back to the city.

Passing by Grandpa Shi’s house once again, Old Master He stared at the trampled grain at the entrance for a long time.

Lin Chuxia knew that Old Master He and Grandpa Shi had a close friendship.

After she became his apprentice, Old Master He stopped going to the train station, but he often went to Qin’s Buns Shop by the station to eat and have a drink. He had frequent exchanges with Grandpa Shi, a regular at the Bun Shop.

It was only after moving to the city in recent years that he had no chance to meet.

Today, Old Master He had initially planned to visit his old acquaintances, but instead found himself separated by life and death.

Lin Chuxia kept trying to start a conversation to shift Old Master He’s focus.

Eventually, Old Master He noticed her intent, "Alright, girl, you don’t need to comfort me anymore, I’m fine. I suddenly feel that in this life, whether long or short, in the moment of passing, who knows what the point of it all was."

He even looked at Lin Chuxia approvingly, "You’re doing great, leading Qin Family Village folks to grow greenhouse vegetables, so many people can eat fresh greens in winter, helping Daqing Mountain Village folks plant yellow peaches, getting these people prosperous, and those factories you opened, providing so many people with livelihoods. Master can’t compare to you..."