"Let's go to grandpa and grandma's place," Zhi Xia said.
Gao Meiyun was already dead, and everyone had returned to their own life trajectories. She didn't want to continue struggling with the An Family and calculate who had a more important place in their hearts than Gao Meiyun.
She was content that Zhi Xia had lived another life, and for the rest of this life she just wanted to be good to herself and live well.
Pei Jing just nodded, choosing to respect her ideas without asking more.
The two of them carried their big and small packages next door. The old lady was happy on the surface, but worried in her heart. She hurriedly ordered Mrs. Zhou to go buy groceries.
Pei Jing was talking to the old man in the yard. Zhi Xia was pulled into the room by the old lady.
"How are things in their home? Are you used to it yet?" the old lady asked Zhi Xia.
Zhi Xia hugged the old lady's arm and nodded with a satisfied smile. "It's great. Pei Jing is very good to me. My sister-in-law and Xiang Xiang are also very considerate of me. Don't worry, grandma. I will definitely get better and better in the future."
"That's good, that's good," the old lady said.
Last night the old man had said he saw Pei Jing standing alone at the front gate smoking. His granddaughter had married into another family, and he was afraid of seeming overly dramatic, so he didn't dare go up and ask.
Only after he came back and said this, she had felt uneasy all night and barely slept.
Now, hearing this from Zhi Xia and seeing the smile on the girl's face, she seemed reassured at last.
The old lady took another package out of the cabinet and gave it to Zhi Xia. "This package contains the cotton jackets I made for you. I heard it's very cold over there. Don't think that just because it's started getting cold here, you might need the cotton jackets as soon as you arrive. There are also two pieces of thin cotton cloth. Your belly can't be exposed right now, so I was worried that making small clothes would lead others to speculate, so I could only prepare cloth for you. After you get there and a few months have passed, you can share your pregnancy. Then make clothes for the child yourself. Who knows when you'll be able to come back after this trip. The baby can't be born without clothes to wear. Your mother-in-law left early, and you're still young yourself. Your mother is unreliable. Never mind, I won't mention her. When you give birth next year, if my health is still good, I will come to help you through the month after childbirth..."
The old lady's rambling words sounded warm and touching to Zhi Xia. Her nose felt sour, and tears wanted to well up even though she tried to hold them back.
She wasn't sad, but felt distressed and satisfied at the same time.
But at this moment, no more words could fully convey her inner feelings. She could only hug the old lady tightly and murmur: "Grandma, you're so good to me that I don't even want to leave. I want to stay by your side forever."
"You're my granddaughter. Of course I should treat you well!" The old lady also held Zhi Xia tightly, distressed. "After you get there, don't forget to write grandma often, and don't forget to take care of yourself. Read more books and gain knowledge when you have time. It's always good. If you don't understand, ask Little Jing. He's been outstanding since he was little and is a responsible man. Your grandpa and I feel quite reassured about this. You should also be good and don't quarrel with him over trivial things. Discuss properly together..."
The old lady talked heart to heart with Zhi Xia for a while. Before leaving, she still said: "Zhi Xia, grandma knows why you came here today. Grandpa and grandma don't dislike you. We're only happy that you came. Grandma is also angry at how muddled your parents are, and understands that this situation isn't your fault. It's because they couldn't handle their own positions that they hurt you. Don't blame grandma for being long-winded. Standing in grandma's position, of course I hope that you and your dad don't become estranged. But I also don't want my granddaughter to always compromise herself. Your paternal grandparents will also scold him. You should...give him another chance, okay?"
The old lady kept watching Zhi Xia's expression. Just now when Zhi Xia came back, she was both happy and angry.
She was happy that her granddaughter and grandson-in-law had returned, but angry that her son and daughter-in-law had acted so foolishly that they had hurt this child in the end, and she didn't know if there was still room to reconcile.
Zhi Xia understood the old lady's meaning and didn't want to make it hard for her to be caught in the middle, so she nodded right away. "Don't worry, grandma. I'm not an unreasonable person. I still respect the monk though I can't respect the temple. You'll always be my good grandma."
But that didn't mean they would still be her good parents.
Zhi Xia could say these words only to comfort the old lady's heart. Actually, she was leaving this afternoon and wouldn't be back for a long time. She wouldn't have much connection with the An Family anymore.
But even for the sake of the old lady and master, she couldn't sever this relationship completely.
Zhi Xia didn't have the heart to let them worry about the relationship between her and her family at such an old age.
The old lady didn't actually feel comforted by Zhi Xia's understanding. On the contrary, she felt full of guilt.
Because she understood clearly that Zhi Xia wasn't willing to forgive An Jingzhi at all. She was only not taking offense for the sake of the old lady.
And she, under the guise of loving concern, had said these words to her, when in essence she also hoped Zhi Xia would forgive her father for her own face.
"Go back to your room and rest for now. Grandma will go see if Mrs. Zhou is back yet." The old lady left after speaking.
Zhi Xia also took the package full of love back to her room.
She took out the dowry box the old lady had given her from her space ring. She had to take it openly.
Pei Jing came in from outside and said to Zhi Xia: "I'll go back and pack our luggage first. Do you need help organizing things here?"
Yesterday when Zhi Xia came over she had brought two changes of clothes. Since it was close by and they were leaving this afternoon anyway, she just left them to pack today.
Hearing Pei Jing, she replied: "You go back and pack. I can organize things here myself. Oh right, I stuffed my pajamas in the cabinet this morning. Help me bring those, and the military uniform hanging by the door. Bring that too when you come back. I still have to return it to someone."
Pei Jing agreed to everything and then left.
Zhi Xia was still wearing that red cheongsam dress. The bright red color was very vibrant and festive. But thinking that she would take the train this afternoon, she had left a change of clothes while packing, planning to switch after eating.
Boarding the train in this bright red outfit would be too eye-catching. She didn't want that kind of attention.
As for luggage, it was better if she packed it herself so she'd have room to cheat. Pei Jing didn't know what she had, so there would be room to maneuver when she took things out after arriving.
Zhi Xia really didn't lack for things. Just the clothes the old lady had recently made for her, thick and thin together, were considerable.
The old lady had finally found something to do recently, using up the fabric ration stamps she had accumulated over a long time all at once. She had also exchanged a lot with others, and used it all on clothes and bedding for Zhi Xia.
Thinking of this, Zhi Xia felt even more reluctant to leave them.
