Chapter 236: Secrets
Su Yaoguang nudged Zhou Wangshu, signaling him to look at Zhaodi opposite them.
Zhaodi had been poking at the rice grains in her bowl for a long time, not even eating a single bite of vegetables, looking preoccupied.
“Mom, are you feeling unwell somewhere?” Zhou Wangshu asked.
Zhaodi shook her head: “No, I’m just thinking that business has been pretty good lately, and wondering whether to buy some farmland.”
“Instead of buying farmland, it would be better to open more branch stores.” Zhang Pandi said, “Today a Hu merchant came, and he was very interested in our business. He said that if they had a shop like ours there, it would definitely prosper.”
“The Hu merchant’s place is too far away. We could consider nearby big cities. We have plenty of old shop assistants, so we can promote these old shop assistants to manage the new shops. At that time, give them a thirty percent dividend of the earnings. I believe many people will scramble for the opportunity.”
“This idea is good…” Zhang Pandi said, “I’d be willing to go too! With you all watching things here, I can watch over the branch store.”
Su Yaoguang and Zhang Pandi were talking about business matters, while Zhou Wangshu kept watching Zhaodi. Seeing Zhaodi go out, he followed her.
“Mom…” Zhou Wangshu chased after her. “Do you have something on your mind that you can’t tell us? No matter what happens, our whole family can face it together. If you keep it to yourself, we’re all worried for you. Wouldn’t that make everyone uneasy?”
“Wangshu, Mom does have a question in her heart, but this question is too unbelievable. I don’t know how to say it.”
“As long as it’s something Mom says, we’re all willing to listen. No matter how unbelievable it is, we can accept it.”
Zhaodi turned back and saw the others standing in the doorway, all looking this way. Clearly, everyone had noticed her abnormality, and at this moment, they were all waiting for her to speak.
“Alright, I’ll say it.” Zhaodi returned to the dining hall. “Do you all still remember General Su?”
“Yes, we do!”
“Pandi, Yingdi, do you still remember what your brother-in-law looked like?”
Zhang Pandi and Zhang Yingdi looked at each other and shook their heads at the same time.
“We were still young when you got married, and we didn’t see him many times.”
“That General Su looks exactly like Yaoguang’s dad.” Zhaodi said, “I originally wanted to check if he was that bastard, but General Su’s body is covered in wounds everywhere, so I couldn’t tell if he originally had a birthmark. When he enlisted, I made him several pairs of shoes. One pair was only halfway done and couldn’t be finished in time, so it was left at home. Later, I slowly finished it. I compared it with that pair of shoes, and the shoe size didn’t match. My husband’s shoes were one size smaller than the ones General Su wears. So I think I must be overthinking it.”
“Mom, does he really look that similar?” Su Yaoguang asked curiously.
“Actually, he’s not particularly similar!” Zhaodi said, “Your dad didn’t have his dignity or vigor.”
Su Yaoguang thought about the events from her previous life. In her previous life, she had no opportunity to meet General Su. Therefore, in her previous life, she hadn’t experienced these things and had no way to verify them.
In her previous life, Zhaodi also had no opportunity to enter the capital. She died on the way. If General Su really was her dad, in her previous life, if Zhaodi had had the chance to enter the capital, would she have had the opportunity to see her husband who should have disappeared long ago, and would she herself not have died so miserably?
No, that’s not it. These are all guesses. Perhaps Zhaodi really is overthinking it. There are many similar-looking people in the world, and besides, Zhaodi and her husband have been separated for over a dozen years. Even her memories are probably fuzzy. Maybe she remembered wrong.
“Whether he is or not, we can find out by investigating.” Zhou Wangshu said, “Leave this matter to me. I’ll investigate it.”
“You boy sure talk big. His brain has suffered a severe blow, and even he himself doesn’t know who he is. How can you find out?”
After Zhaodi spoke her worries, although it wasn’t resolved, she felt much more relieved. It turns out that when you don’t have to bear it alone, no problem is too big. Her greatest blessing was having so many family members around to share the burden.
General’s mansion. Su Rende sat in the main seat, with Pang Shi and the old woman servant Tang Pozi, who should have left long ago but hadn’t, standing below.
“General…” Pang Shi felt guilty and didn’t dare to look at Su Rende.
Su Rende lightly tapped the desk, his gaze fixed on Pang Shi, and said: “Now I’ll give you two choices. One is that I provide a dowry and marry you off, which can also be considered an explanation to your husband. The other is that you move out of the general’s mansion and go to the countryside manor to retire.”
“General…” Pang Shi looked at him resentfully, “Why are you treating me like this? What did I do wrong?”
“What did you do? Do I need to remind you, General?” Su Rende looked sharply at Pang Shi, “For your husband’s sake, I’ve been supporting you and your daughter. These years you’ve lived without worry for food or clothing. Even when you bullied people outside using my name, I cleaned up your messes. Now, you’ve even set your sights on me. Didn’t I say you were just a guest I’m keeping here?”
“Since you’re not content, and after enjoying glory and wealth you still want status, then don’t stay in the general’s mansion anymore. Someone come…”
“General…” Pang Shi knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Su Rende. “I was wrong. I won’t dare again. Please don’t drive me away. I was really scared, worried about living in the general’s mansion without proper status and people gossiping. I won’t do it again.”
“I have a deputy general in hand, about the same age as you. If you’re willing to marry him, you’ll be a proper madam.”
“I’m not willing.” Pang Shi wiped her tears. “My heart only has my deceased husband. Even that foolish thing before was because I was too scared. The general also said you would always support us mother and daughter, just to repay my deceased husband’s kindness. Then I won’t do anything foolish again.”
“If you offend again, what then?”
“If I offend again, I’ll leave with Qing Yan.”
“Alright, I’ll give you one more chance.” Su Rende frowned, “In the future, without my instructions, you don’t need to come find me specially.”
“Yes.”
Pang Shi wiped her tears and left with Tang Pozi.
Su Rende said: “This Tang Pozi must be sent away. If you don’t send her, then I’ll sell her off.”
“General, please calm your anger. This old servant will leave shortly.” Tang Pozi said hurriedly.
After Pang Shi and Tang Pozi went out, Pang Shi’s legs went weak, and Tang Pozi quickly supported her.
“Madam, are you really willing to just let it go like this?” Tang Pozi said, “If you get pregnant with a child, he can’t shirk responsibility.”
“But you saw it too. I gave him such a strong drug, yet he preferred to push me away and run out rather than touch me. These past few days, who knows where he went. Now he’s acting like nothing happened. It must be because he fell for some cheap vixen.” Pang Shi said angrily.
