85 Chapter 85. She is Very Interested in This Woman
Su Qing raised her head and looked out of the car. She saw the big silly Zhong Yong that had fought with Ji Shuisheng last night. He was carrying a bag on his left and right shoulders and a thin woman on his back. Zhong Yong’s hand, which was carrying his mother, was also carrying a huge bag.
Zhong Yong had been waiting an entire morning, and his hair was covered in water vapor. Su Qing had used the dew to store water that morning, using bamboo tubes to collect the condensation to drink on the road.
When Zhong Yong saw Ji Shuisheng, he was afraid that Ji Shuisheng would not be able to see him. He used his explosive and loud voice to shout at Ji Shuisheng.
“Big brother, I’m here.”
Zhong Yong’s mother whispered into her son’s ear,”
“Yong’er put mother down. Mother doesn’t want to drag you down!”
“Mother, Yong’er is your son. I have to take you with me wherever I go.”
Zhong Yong stubbornly said to his mother,
“My big brother won’t despise you. He agreed to let me bring you here.”
When Ji Shuisheng arrived in front of Zhong Yong, he happened to hear Zhong Yong’s words. The corner of his mouth twitched, but he did not say anything. His eyes sized up the woman on Zhong Yong’s back.
Although Zhong Yong’s mother looked haggard, and her hair was white, her face had few wrinkles. She had delicate features; one could tell she must have been a beauty when she was young.
However, her eyes stared ahead in a daze as if they were out of focus. He had already walked before her, but the old lady didn’t seem to see him.
Zhong Yong did not inherit his mother’s looks at all. His facial features were big, and his mother was petite, but he was more than two meters tall. He had thick eyebrows, tiger eyes, a lion’s nose, and a leopard’s mouth.
“Mother, this is my big brother.”
When Zhong Yong saw that Ji Shuisheng had come over, he proudly introduced him to his mother.
“Last night, when Yong’er returned, he told me he found a big brother and said he’ll take us to find a way out. He admires you a lot and keeps talking about how heroic and capable you are. Although I haven’t met you, I’ve already heard about you.”
Zhong Yongniang was facing Ji Shuisheng’s direction. Even though her eyes couldn’t see his lips, she still had a gentle smile, and her words caused Ji Shuisheng to cast a sidelong glance.
This was not an ordinary old lady from the village. She spoke calmly and steadily. Her language was also different from ordinary village women. She was orderly, and her words were pleasing to the ear. She was like a wealthy family matriarch with proper behavior and a sense of decency.
“You’re too kind. Based on my relationship with Zhong Yong, I should address you as godmother. It’s also my honor to acknowledge Zhong Yong as my sworn brother. I hope that you can accept me as your godson.”
Ji Shuisheng bowed to the old lady. Although she couldn’t see the proper etiquette, Ji Shuisheng still had it.
“Big brother!”
Zhong Yong was so touched that his eyes were brimming with tears. Big brother was giving him too much face.
“Alright, as long as you don’t mind me being poor, I’ll accept you as my godson.”
Zhong Yong’s mother smiled as she spoke in Ji Shuisheng’s direction. Her voice was timid and gentle, which could calm the restless hearts of those who heard it.
Su Qing sized up Zhong Yong’s mother as she sat in the carriage. Even though her clothes were tattered and her hair was white, her clothes were clean, and her back was straight. She was neither haughty nor humble. Even though she was poor, she did not lose her bearing.
It seemed she couldn’t see, and Su Qing wanted to improve her medical skills. She should be able to level up once she has cured her eyes.
Moreover, she was interested in this woman and wanted to know their true identity.
“Shuisheng, let the old woman sit in the carriage. If you carry her on such a hot day, it’s easy to get a heat stroke.”
Su Qing shouted at Ji Shuisheng. This was beyond Ji Shuisheng’s expectations.
He didn’t even dare to think of letting Zhong Yong’s mother sit in Su Qing’s car. With one more person, it would be too crowded and stuffy. With her personality, she could drive people out of the vehicle. He didn’t expect Su Qing to take the initiative to let her sit in the car.
When he heard Su Qing asking his mother to sit in the car, Zhong Yong ran over with his mother on his back. The way he ran was very comical. The bags on his shoulders were dancing one after another, but his mother was carrying them steadily.
“Brother, thank you.”
Zhong Yong recognized Su Qing as the man who had knocked him down last night. He respected those stronger than him from the bottom of his heart. He called him ‘Big brother’ and grinned from ear to ear.
“…..”
Su Qing saw Zhong Yong’s teeth. It was dark the night before, so she could not see them clearly, but today, she could see them. His teeth were snow-white, and it was obvious that he brushed his teeth every day. Such a good habit must have been developed since he was young. Zhong Yong’s mother was not an ordinary village woman.
Ji Shuisheng took the bag from Zhong Yong’s hands and helped him remove the bags from his shoulders. Only then did Zhong Yong carefully put his mother into the carriage? Ji Xiaoying was a kind lady. When she saw that Zhong Yong’s mother’s eyes were not convenient, she quickly came out to pick her up and helped her into the car.
The weather was hot, and the carriage was already very hot with two adults and four children. The sudden appearance of an adult made the temperature rise by a few degrees.
Ji Xiaoying helped Zhong Yong’s mother to sit beside her. Zhong Yong’s mother, Madam Li’s nose twitched slightly, and she patted Ji Xiaoying’s tiny hand,
“Miss, thank you.”
Ji Xiaoying’s eyes widened in shock. She mouthed,
“How did she know that I’m a woman?”
Ji Xiaoying’s cute look amused Su Qing. She saw that Madam Li’s expression was not good. She was sallow and so thin that she was only skin and bones. Her lips were so dry that the skin had been peeled off. This look was all too familiar. The disaster victims she had seen along the way were all like this.
Su Qing handed the bamboo tube over. Madam Li touched the bamboo tube with her hand and thanked her. Ji Xiaoying quickly helped her unplug the bamboo tube and reminded her,
“Drink slowly.”
“Thank you,” she said.
Madam Li thanked her again and began to drink from the bamboo tube. She must be thirsty, but her drinking action was still elegant. No matter how miserable her life was, she did not show vulgarity. This education had been engraved in her bones since she was young.
Su Qing was even more interested in her. He looked into Madam Li’s unfocused eyes and asked,
“How can your eyes not see?”
She wasn’t good with polite words, so Madam Li was invigorated after drinking the water. She answered Su Qing’s question with a sad expression,
“After Yong’er’s father fell sick and passed away, I cried day and night until I was blind. I was a burden to the child.”
“A loving couple.”
Su Qing nodded to show that she understood. There were indeed infatuated women in this world. Su Qing tried to test the waters and looked at Madsm Li’s face.
“Have you been living in Tiegang mountain all this time?”
Madam Li’s face flashed with nervousness. She paused for a moment before quickly saying,
...
“… Yes, we’ve always lived in Tiegang mountain and have never left.”
She seemed hurried to explain herself and babbled, afraid that Su Qing would not believe her.
Su Qing was even more suspicious of Madam Li now, but there was no hurry. She was wary of everyone now and would ask after a few days when she let her guard down.
“Sister, can I give her a piece of cake?”
Ji Xiaoying mouthed the question to Su Qing. She felt close to Madam Li. She had no mother since she was young, and she yearned for maternal love. Since her big brother had called her godmother, she also wanted to acknowledge Madam Li as her godmother.
Su Qing nodded. Those cakes were for Xiaoying. She could give them to whoever she liked.
After receiving Su Qing’s nod, Ji Xiaoying happily opened the basket and took out a soft cake, placing it in Zhong Yong’s mother’s hands.
“Juan Zi, have some pastries!”
Madam Li touched the pastry and smelled the sweet fragrance. She was in a daze, and her eyes reddened.
