Chapter 145: It’s All Mine, All Mine!
“Alright, stop talking about longevity and all that. I know my own body well. My time is running out.”
Speaking of his own impending death, Old Master Rui took it quite openly, showing no fear or terror, but rather a relaxed expression.
“Everyone has that day. In this life, I’ve enjoyed what I should have. It’s not exactly descendants filling the hall, but the heritage is in order. When I meet the ancestors below, I’ll have something to report.”
“What I’m most worried about now is you, Qiulan. Once you’re married off, I won’t have any lingering concerns~~”
“Qiulan, you won’t let me go with regrets, will you?”
These words moved Ru Qiulan deeply; tears welled up in her eyes as she choked out: “Father-in-law, please don’t say any more. I… I’ll listen to you.”
Seeing that the emotions had been stirred up just right, a glint flashed in Old Master Rui’s eyes, and he smiled kindly:
“That’s good then, Qiulan. Your father-in-law wouldn’t harm you.”
“You just met that Cao Weida. What do you think?”
Ru Qiulan’s face froze, the tears in her eyes pausing. “Father-in-law, your… your meaning is that he’s the one you’ve chosen for me?”
“What, not satisfied?”
“No, how could I be? It’s just too sudden, a bit unexpected.”
Cao Weida’s face appeared in her mind. Though not a peerless beauty, he was quite handsome, tall and slender, and especially his gaze and movements just now were quite comfortable.
Women mature earlier anyway, and having been confined early in this deep courtyard house, she too had times of emptiness, loneliness, and coldness, with fantasies popping into her mind.
If it’s him, it seems quite good.
Old Master Rui pulled her to sit down and introduced: “Let me tell you, he’s no ordinary person.”
After rattling off a bunch of details—Fifth Master had basically told him all of Cao Weida’s background, and he’d verified it sideways—it was indeed just as Fifth Master said, so introducing it now came naturally.
Finally, he added: “Of course, that’s not the main point. The most important is that his character is solid, especially when it comes to his own women.”
“Qiulan, your father-in-law won’t harm you. If you go with him, just wait to enjoy happiness.”
Ru Qiulan’s face flushed slightly. After all, she was Rui family’s daughter-in-law, and her father-in-law arranging a man for her so bluntly made her touched but also somewhat shy.
Thinking about all the aspects her father-in-law had just described, if she really went with him, it did seem quite good.
Moreover, her father-in-law was right; she knew her big brother and eldest sister-in-law’s characters all too well. If her father-in-law really passed away, how could she have it good?
Finding a reliance sooner seemed like a good choice.
What’s more, as a woman, she wanted a reliance, a strong arm to protect her, and a child to continue the descendants.
So, bashfully, she said: “I’ll listen to you, Father-in-law. It’s just… just that Qiulan can’t bear to part with you.”
“Hey, what’s there to bear or not? Can I accompany you for a lifetime?” Old Master Rui chuckled and patted her hand reassuringly. “Then it’s settled. Prepare yourself these next couple of days.”
“Ah? So soon?” Ru Qiulan was clearly caught off guard; this was too rushed.
“It’s a bit rushed, but I want to get things done early so my heart can settle early.” Old Master Rui shook his head, showing sadness as he cried: “This body of mine, who knows how long it can hold out.”
“Actually, since the fall of the Qing Dynasty, I should have died.”
“Father-in-law, what are you saying?”
“Since you entered this house of mine, you haven’t enjoyed a single day of fortune.”
Ru Qiulan listened, tears streaming down. Back then, her father, who curried favor with nobles, sent her into the Ruizi Mansion as the Second Prince’s child bride, but shortly after marriage, the Second Prince died.
She had guarded widowhood in this deep courtyard house for over ten years, enduring white eyes from all sides; only she knew how hard it had been.
It was thanks to her father-in-law having a conscience, protecting her everywhere, that she had a place to stay in this home.
Without her father-in-law’s protection, she couldn’t even stay a day in this courtyard.
With no family support, if driven out of the mansion, she wouldn’t even have a place to live.
So, from the bottom of her heart, she respected and was grateful to her father-in-law.
But now, her father-in-law’s health worsened day by day, on the verge of not holding out, yet still considering her future—how could she not be moved?
“Father-in-law, please don’t say more. The daughter-in-law doesn’t feel it’s been hard.”
“Whether it’s hard or not, this father-in-law’s eyes aren’t blind, ears aren’t deaf; I can see and hear.” Old Master Rui wiped his tears. This was not just acting but true feelings; he truly felt the Rui family owed Ru Qiulan too much.
Now, having settled things, but scheming against Ru Qiulan once more, he felt even more guilty and didn’t dare look her in the eye.
“Years ago, I bought a two-courtyard house outside, left two big wooden boxes there. In those two boxes, I left things for you—playthings given by His Majesty when he was pleased. I don’t know if they’re valuable. The property deed and key are right here.”
He pulled a property deed and a key from his bosom and handed them over. “Keep them safe; these are your private things from now on. Protect them well.”
Ru Qiulan, eyes full of tears, took them. This was her father-in-law’s intention; she had to accept.
Seeing her accept, Old Master Rui apologized inwardly: “Consider it compensation for the second son dying early!”
Ru Qiulan’s heart ached even more; she realized her father-in-law was arranging his final affairs.
Shortly after Old Master Rui arranged things for Ru Qiulan in the room, Cao Weida returned to the Ruizi Mansion gate, hauling several rickshaws.
After leading the men inside, the eldest daughter-in-law stepped forward in shock to block: “Hey, Master Cao, what do you mean by this?”
“You’ll know soon enough.” Cao Weida chuckled lightly, cupped his hands at the guest hall door:
“Old Master Rui, everything prepared?”
Old Master Rui stood up shakily. “All prepared. The things are next door. This old man thanks you first.”
“All in order. Sorry for the intrusion.” He waved to the rickshaw pullers. “Go in and move them!”
The rickshaw pullers obediently rushed into the house. Master Cao had said they’d help move things here, and for triple fare, what was moving a bit of stuff? They were all extra eager.
Boxes were carried one by one to the rickshaws. Though many servants stood around, none dared block.
Didn’t you see they’re in uniform?
But the eldest son and eldest daughter-in-law couple panicked, scurrying like ants on a hot pan after the pullers. “Master Cao, Master Cao, what are you doing!”
Rui Dajia even blocked in front of a puller, shouting at Cao Weida: “Cao, what do you mean? Why move our family’s things!”
Cao Weida glanced indifferently, too lazy to bother with him, and told the pullers: “Ignore him, keep moving! Be careful, don’t bump or scratch—these are all fragile things!”
Alright, with the employer saying so, the pullers obeyed; after all, Cao Weida was the one paying!
Seeing they couldn’t stop it, Rui Dajia panicked and yelled at Old Master Rui, his father:
“Dad, make them stop! These are all mine, all mine!”
Old Master Rui pretended not to hear, turning his head aside.
Rui Dajia, seeing this, panicked more, rushing to the room door, blocking it with outstretched arms:
“No moving! Put them all down, down!”
With the door blocked, the pullers looked to Cao Weida for help.
Cao Weida smiled, walked over, patted his shoulder. “Young Master Rui Da, you sure you want to stop my men from moving?”
“What stop, what stop! These are our family’s things. You start moving without my permission—that’s outright robbery! Believe it or not, I’ll sue you!”
Rui Da Xifu’er immediately chimed in: “Exactly! And you’re a patrol officer? This is breaking the law while knowing it!”
Cao Weida’s face hardened. “Get aside. Men are talking—do women butt in? Or is this the Rui family upbringing?!”
“You!!”
“You what.” Cao Weida’s face darkened, glaring unkindly. “You know I’m a patrol officer, yet dare point at me? What do you want?”
Rui Da Xifu’er was intimidated by his gaze, quickly lowering her hand, avoiding his eyes, bluffing weakly: “I… I didn’t. Don’t wrong me.”
“Hmph, better be so.” For a woman, Cao Weida didn’t bother arguing, pulled a paper from his bosom, unfolded it, held it before Rui Dajia’s eyes, and said coldly:
“Open your dog eyes and look clearly. Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance!”
“If you block again, I won’t take these things—I’ll arrest you all for strict interrogation!”
Rui Dajia was startled back a few steps by his actions, then had time to look at the paper.
But after just two glances, cold sweat poured down his forehead; he was nearly scared silly, legs weakening as he said:
“Impossible, this is fake. How come I never knew our family had Kuomintang ties!”
“You… you’re slandering! Right, slandering!”
He lunged to grab the paper, trying to snatch it.
Cao Weida dodged back, saying coldly: “What are you doing, destroying evidence? Some nerve!”
“Don’t talk nonsense, I didn’t! Your evidence is obviously fake!”
Rui Dajia clearly wanted to deny to the end, but would that work? Ridiculous!
Actually, even he didn’t know if the evidence was real, but with Old Master Rui’s handwritten signature and seal, and Cao Weida testifying, even fake became real!
