"I did not seek out the aged at the start of the Shao Shi era, nor did I learn from Kong Ming to eventually entrust my heir."
An An frowned at the character above, which he didn't recognize, and silently added learning to use a Xinhua dictionary to his to-do list.
Huo Rou's eyes instantly welled up, a tear tracing a path down her cheek.
Elder Wang was both a teacher and a friend, a guiding light and warmth in her darkness. She knew that Elder Wang's leaving this calligraphy for Qin Ning to hand over to his grandmother was partly due to her previous request to Elder Wang, and partly to protect her.
His grandmother would, to some extent, develop a favorable impression of her because of this calligraphy.
This was what she had always thought, but she never imagined Elder Wang would write down his thoughts and feelings directly into the scroll.
Grandma Liu murmured thoughtfully, "I did not seek out the aged at the start of the Shao Shi era, nor did I learn from Kong Ming to eventually entrust my heir."
Elder Wang's writing was powerful and permeated the paper.
Yet, this calligraphy was written when Elder Wang was already too weak to support himself.
Huo Rou tilted her head back, inhaling to suppress her tears.
At that time, Elder Wang could barely hold his brush steady; she couldn't imagine the willpower and method he used to control his hand, not only preventing it from shaking but also writing with such force.
The care and affection from Elder Wang sent a dull ache through Huo Rou's heart. He had always treated her like a daughter.
Qin Ning Yi looked at Huo Rou's red, tear-filled eyes and held her close. "I will take good care of you."
"And An An too." An An vaguely understood that Elder Wang's calligraphy had made Huo Rou sad as she thought of him. He also shuffled closer, taking Huo Rou's hand. "An An will stay with Mommy too. Mommy, don't be sad..."
As the scroll was fully unfurled, revealing Elder Wang's signature, a thin sheet of Xuan paper also slipped out.
A servant picked up the paper and handed it to Liu Yuxiu.
On the small Xuan paper, the neat regular script was slightly shaky, filled with the love and deep affection of a parent for their child. It was the last thing a helpless old man did for his beloved child.
Even in his absence, he wanted to offer his child a little more protection.
Liu Yuxiu placed the Xuan paper into Su Nian Zhu's hands. Her sharp eyes gave Su Nian Zhu a meaningful look, hoping she would read the contents of the letter carefully.
"This..." After reading the letter, Su Nian Zhu's eyes also reddened, and she was visibly touched.
Seeing her expression, Liu Yuxiu turned away with relief. She looked at Huo Rou, who was embraced by Qin Ning Yi, her eyes full of gentleness and affection.
"Put it all in my study," she said calmly.
To prevent Huo Rou from being reminded of her sorrow by these items, it was better to put them away.
"Xiao Rou." Liu Yuxiu looked at her grandson, who rarely showed his emotions, and her smile deepened.
She walked over and stroked Huo Rou's back. "Child, you have an elder who loved you dearly."
"You are also worthy of being liked, and Grandma likes you very much too," Liu Yuxiu said slowly, her words resonating with Huo Rou.
Elder Wang was a man of integrity. For him to write these words on his deathbed, how could she not be moved?
Besides, she truly liked Huo Rou as a granddaughter-in-law.
Huo Rou quickly masked the emotions in her eyes. She withdrew from Qin Ning Yi's warm embrace and smiled sheepishly, "You've seen me at my worst."
Liu Yuxiu looked at Huo Rou, who had already composed herself, and sighed, giving her a gentle hug.
She could see that this child had suffered.
"What do you like to eat?" Liu Yuxiu asked, pulling Huo Rou to sit down and changing the subject.
Qin Ning Yi answered immediately. His quick response made Liu Yuxiu laugh.
"You rascal," she chided with a smile. "Since you know so well, why don't you cook?"
"Alright, then for your birthday, I'll cook you a table full of dishes," Qin Ning Yi said, intending to lighten the mood, which earned him another teasing remark from Liu Yuxiu.
An An chimed in, "Great-Grandma, An An can cook too! Whatever you want to eat, An An can make it!"
"Oh, An An can cook too?" Liu Yuxiu chuckled, stroking An An's head. "Is this also a gift from An An for me?"
An An shook his head. "An An was going to play a guzheng piece for Grandma, but..."
But the guzheng had been put away, and he smiled sheepishly.
"Alright, Old Madam, I'll cook the meal!" Sister Zhou said, rubbing her hands as she walked towards the kitchen. "Little Master should stay here and play music for you!"
"Can you play for us this afternoon when your Great-Grandpa returns?" Liu Yuxiu earnestly discussed with An An.
Seeing their harmonious interaction, Su Nian Zhu leaned forward. She hadn't spoken to An An in a long time.
This time, An An didn't even look at her or speak to her. She felt flustered, wanting to approach but hesitating.
Liu Yuxiu keenly noticed her hesitation. She looked at Su Nian Zhu with amusement. "Nian Zhu, regarding what happened before, did you apologize to Xiao Rou after misunderstanding her?"
Su Nian Zhu's eyes darted around evasively.
She certainly hadn't. Ever since Huo Rou had taken An An away, Qin Ning Yi had sent her back, and she hadn't even seen Huo Rou again.
But apologizing to a junior as an elder, she found it difficult to do.
Huo Rou didn't really care whether Su Nian Zhu misunderstood or not. She wasn't someone who needed others' approval to live. As long as Qin Ning Yi didn't misunderstand her, and the people she cared about didn't misunderstand her, that was enough.
Moreover, because she had tried to take An An, Qin Ning Yi had sent Su Nian Zhu away immediately afterward. For a mother to be neglected by her son for so long, that punishment was already sufficient.
"It's alright," she said, fearing Liu Yuxiu might be unhappy with Su Nian Zhu. "I don't mind."
"Grandma minds," Liu Yuxiu said earnestly.
She knew the image Su Nian Zhu had of Huo Rou. Even if the person involved didn't mind, those who cared about Huo Rou certainly would.
She glanced at Qin Ning Yi's expression and sighed inwardly. Su Nian Zhu didn't understand that if she didn't apologize, her son would always have a lingering resentment.
Liu Yuxiu's gaze sharpened. She said unequivocally, "If you are wrong, you must apologize."
"I..." Su Nian Zhu looked at Huo Rou, then at her most outstanding son, and finally her gaze fell on An An.
An An was quietly looking at her, and she could still see a hint of expectation in his eyes.