Chapter 102: Grandpa Arrives

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“Big sister, what did you just say?” Tang Bansha rubbed her ear, half convinced she had misheard.

Tang Xinyi, who could not stand to see her this useless expression, grabbed her ear and said sharply, “Grandpa has come to see you. Did you hear me clearly?”

Tang Bansha carefully freed her ear. “Yes, clearly.”

Tang Xinyi shot her a hard look. “Then why aren’t you moving?”

“I’m coming. Right now.”

“Xiao Bai, bring the medicinal wine I brewed for Grandpa, and the wolfskin rug.” Tang Bansha turned aside, packing as she gave instructions.

Wen Mubai obeyed.

Seeing this, Tang Xinyi seemed satisfied and told the two sons to pack as well. “Go. Your school is all arranged. You’ve had enough of all this; go back with me.”

Moshengning’s face sagged, but she obediently took her brother’s hand and went to pack.

As for Tang Bansha and her husband, Tang Xinyi added, “Bring a few extra outfits. You’ll stay in the county town for a few days. Grandpa misses you badly.”

Tang Bansha could only be obedient. “Xiao Bai, go ask Accountant Hu for leave for both of us.”

After handling the errands, the six of them climbed into a small car and drove out of the village.

The villagers who saw the scene were, in a word, envious.
Especially Liu Liyun; when she saw Wen Mubai beside her inside, something flashed in her eyes, and a smile tugged at her lips.
Xu Guiming, on the other hand, was jealousy to the sky.
If it weren’t for Wen Mubai, all this should have been his.

Tang Bansha had no idea what the two were thinking, or she’d be miserable at once. With Asu in her arms, she asked softly, “Sis, Grandpa’s come for the medicine business, right?”

Tang Xinyi in the front seat asked, “What do you think?”

“What do you think I think?” Bansha peered at her with wide eyes.

“Silly one.”

No mercy in Tang Xinyi’s rebuke.

Bansha made a face. “Sis, stop picking on me. You know I’m not that sort.”

Tang Xinyi lifted her brows. “Now you are our family’s great achiever—how could I dare mock you?”

“Sister~” Bansha pouted. “If you do this again, I’ll be angry~”

“I’m scared, I am~” Tang Xinyi crossed her arms and looked down on her.

Bansha pinched her lips and did not dare provoke her.

Tang Xinyi saw her like that and grew even more annoyed. “What is this shrinking around like that? Where’s the old fire you used to have at home?”

Bansha gave her a wounded look. How could it be the same now? At home only the eldest sister would roughhouse her into obedience—how could she not be this meek?
From that look, Tang Xinyi understood too much and could not hold back, her laughter coming out in tremors.

From the driver’s seat, Mo Ling said with fondness, “Careful.”

Wen Mubai watched in amazement. This was the first time he saw his wife caught in such a mess.

Among everyone in the car, only Tang Bansha reached the true peak of displeasure.

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The car rolled onward and stopped at Tang Xinyi’s residence.

It was a low single-story house. She pushed open the door, and in the courtyard stood a vigorous old man, smiling as he looked at the party before him.

Tang Bansha’s steps halted. Grievance rushed over her at once, and her eyes reddened suddenly.

Grandpa Tang could not keep his smile at bay. He moved quickly and pulled her into his arms. “My child, I’m sorry you’ve been wronged.”

In that not-too-wide embrace, all kinds of feelings surged through Tang Bansha.
In that instant she was again Tang Bansha, the girl who had grown up with Grandpa Tang and Grandma Tang.
“Grandpa~” she cried, wounded, and tears slipped down.

Grandpa’s heart ached. “My poor child has suffered.”

Tang Xinyi leaned by the doorway watching the scene, feeling a sharp sting in her chest; this brat had never received such tenderness from him before.

When the emotion settled, everyone followed Grandpa inside.

After they were seated, Grandpa first looked at Wen Mubai. Wen felt a bead of sweat rise as he met Grandpa’s discerning gaze and straightened his back. “Grandpa, good day. My name is Wen Mubai. I am Bansha’s husband.”

Grandpa gave a mild, noncommittal hum and said nothing more.
Instead he reached for Tang Bansha’s hand. “My child, Grandpa heard that you’ve been wronged a lot in the countryside.”

Before Tang Bansha could answer, he went on to Wen: “About you and Bansha, I’ve heard the general story. In the beginning, it was Bansha who wronged you. Now I have prepared a position for you. You may return to the city anytime.
If you have any demands, bring them all forward; think of it as our family compensating you.”

What did that mean?
Not only Wen, even Bansha stood stunned, watching Grandpa’s weathered profile in silence.
Wen reacted quickly. “Grandpa, although our marriage did not begin beautifully, I truly care for her. I know I have no right to speak so, but please entrust Bansha to me. I will guard her, love her, and never fail her.”

He had found it hard enough to have a wife. Why was everyone so eager to tear them apart?
Even though Wen Mubai had weathered many battles and his heart was once like steel against blades and spears, even now he felt a faint sting of grievance.
He shot Bansha a resentful glance.

Tang Bansha: ....
How unfortunate—she truly could not resist the charm before her.
“Grandpa, what are you saying? Xiao Bai and I are perfectly fine~”

Tang Xinyi gave her a stare of exasperated disbelief. Unpromising child!

“Bansha, do you truly think so?” Grandpa asked seriously. “Even if he has much he has hidden from you?”

Wen Mubai’s heart lurched.
“What could he hide from me?” Bansha said, as if it were nothing.
Wen swallowed bitterness; he felt the wound rising.

Yet Grandpa gave him a meaningful glance, and though he did not expose anything, he only said, “As long as our child is happy, that is enough.”

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“If she is not happy, don’t be afraid. Grandpa is here. No one can bully you.”

Everyone understood this was meant for Wen.

“Grandpa, please rest easy. I will never betray Bansha. If I break my word, let thunder and lightning strike me!”

Wen stated it with grave solemnity.

Grandpa snorted, neither accepting nor dismissing him.
Then he turned and saw Bansha’s face full of emotion, and his annoyance deepened. “My child, your grandmother asked me to bring you a gift.”

Bansha was truly distracted.

Grandpa’s smile edged upward, almost imperceptibly. “Xiao Xu!”

A tall, straight young man stepped in from outside and said, “Commander.”

“Bring the things.” Grandpa ordered.

Xiao Xu saluted, then turned to carry them.
Mo Ling, reading the room, said, “I’ll help.”
Wen followed, like an elder’s lesson learned.

Soon the living room was stacked high with large and small boxes.
Grandpa said, “Look. It’s all yours.”

Tang Bansha’s eyes went wide. “All of this is mine?”

Grandpa nodded with a small smile.
She opened the nearest box and her smile hardened.

They were books.
Medical books.
A whole crate of medical classics.

She opened another—still books.
Another—medical books.
Again and again, until the last box, where something else appeared: a set of used silver needles.

“These were your grandmother’s,” Grandpa said. “Now they are yours.”

Tang Bansha: ....

Thank you—but she was not really happy at all.

The sight brought back that dark stretch of her former life, when she had been forced to memorize medical texts.
Still, from the yellowed pages she could tell they were old.
She was no fool who fails to appreciate kindness; she closed the boxes neatly and thanked him with seriousness.

Grandpa was deeply satisfied.