Yuan Huiru clutched Zhao Pan's hand tightly.
Ji Taoyu had anticipated this. Gently, he urged, "It’s too crowded here. Let’s go back and talk properly, alright? A-Pan must be tired after the long exam."
Yuan Huiru nodded.
They headed to Wu Lianhe’s current residence together.
Zhao Pan remained quiet most of the way.
Perhaps worried his mother didn’t know about this, he was relieved to see her preparing a feast upon arriving home—clearly, this had been arranged in advance.
Wu Lianhe came out at the sound of their return. Wiping her hands on her apron, she studied her son’s expression and asked, "A-Pan, did you greet everyone?"
Yuan Huiru had come before dawn and already shared tearful words with Wu Lianhe.
The two women had wept until their tears ran dry, their shared grief forging an immediate bond between them.
Zhao Pan gave a silent nod of acknowledgment.
Now that they were home, where they could speak freely, he felt oddly hesitant.
Though bound by blood, at eleven or twelve years old, this was Zhao Pan’s first time meeting this grandmother.
Yuan Huiru felt the same, but her heart ached with pity. She took the initiative: "A-Pan, come. I brought you some gifts. See if you like them."
Having lived frugally most of her life, even after Huo Shu gave her the savings he’d accumulated over the years, she never spent extravagantly.
This time, she’d bought Zhao Pan two sets of writing brushes and ink, along with hand-sewn winter knee pads and gloves—items she’d started making as soon as she learned he was her grandson.
She’d also brought gifts for Wu Lianhe.
Seeing Yuan Huiru’s aged face and her kindness, Zhao Pan felt warmth surge in his chest. "Thank you, Grandmother."
Noticing the two gradually warming to each other, Ji Taoyu went to help in the kitchen.
That morning, the family truly gathered together for a complete meal.
Huo Shu also poured out wine in memorial for Zhao Changsui.
Grief had become a thing of the past. Now that the family was reunited, nothing could be better.
No one dwelled on the hardships of before to avoid stirring up sadness. Instead, they chatted idly, just like any family that had lived together for years.
“A-Pan, how did you feel about the exam this time?”
Zhao Pan was indeed quite hungry. Before the exam, he hadn’t dared to eat too much for fear of drowsiness, and at noon, he had barely taken two bites.
Now, with a table full of delicious dishes, his mother kept serving him food, Uncle Taoyu also piled his bowl high, and now even his grandmother was adding more.
Throughout the meal, he hardly had to reach for his chopsticks—his bowl never lacked for meat or vegetables.
For a moment, it felt as if he were surrounded and cherished by his family. For a child who had spent his early years hiding and concealing himself, the emotions were indescribable.
“The exam questions were all within what I’ve studied, nothing too obscure. I just don’t know if my answers will satisfy the examiners.”
Zhao Pan spoke honestly about the preliminary imperial exam.
“It’s alright. This is your first time sitting for the exams—just testing the waters. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
Zhao Pan nodded. “I know. My teacher said the same.”
The meal started early but lasted a long time.
By the time they finished, it was already quite late. Zhao Pan, who had been tense for days, was now drowsy. Yuan Huiru urged him to go rest.
Once the child had gone to sleep, the adults continued talking for a while.
“Now that we’ve reunited, should we proceed with having A-Pan formally recognized into the family?”
Ji Taoyu asked tentatively.
Wu Lianhe’s face showed hesitation. Back then, Zhao Pan had been born without a proper marriage or betrothal. If she suddenly brought him back now, with the villagers still recognizing her, she could only imagine how vicious the gossip behind her back would be.
Illicit relations, shamelessness, wanton promiscuity…
Her parents’ family would be shamed, and it might even affect the marriages of her younger siblings.
She had already caused her family enough trouble. Now that her parents were elderly, she couldn’t bear the thought of them enduring village gossip. She didn’t know what to do.
Truthfully, over the years, she had been too busy making a living to think much about formally recognizing Zhao Pan into the family. But whenever she did, waves of unease would rise in her heart.
Yuan Huiru noticed Wu Lianhe’s worries and said, “Though I would like the child to be recognized—after all, he’s the only bloodline left in the Zhao family—I’ll defer to Lianhe and the child’s wishes.”
“All these years, hiding his name, raising him alone until now—A-Pan has grown up literate and well-mannered, but he’s already suffered too much hardship. As long as the child can live peacefully, nothing else matters.”
Wu Lianhe was deeply moved by Yuan Huiru’s understanding.
“Thank you, Mother.”
Huo Shu and Ji Taoyu naturally had no right to interfere in their decision.
After some discussion, they decided to wait until Zhao Pan was older and had achieved some scholarly honors before addressing the matter.
Huo Shu and Ji Taoyu also thought that by then, if their business flourished further and the family’s status rose, people wouldn’t dare speak so harshly and would think twice.
Before parting, Yuan Huiru gave nearly half of the money Changsui had brought back to Wu Lianhe.
“Mother, I can’t take this money. A-Pan and I haven’t been able to serve you, and I already feel guilty.”
“The guilt lies with the Zhao family—Changsui is the one who failed you and your child. Back then, the family was poor and couldn’t afford to educate Changsui. Now, A-Pan studies diligently and strives for progress. The imperial exams will require plenty of silver in the future.”
After some back-and-forth, Wu Lianhe tearfully accepted the money.
“The household is well taken care of by me and A-Shu. Third Sis… sister-in-law?”
Ji Taoyu paused mid-sentence, realizing he should probably call Wu Lianhe “sister-in-law” now, but given their ages and long-standing habit of address, it felt awkward.
The others laughed at Ji Taoyu’s hesitation. “Just keep calling her as before.”
Ji Taoyu smiled and agreed. “Third Sister Wu, don’t worry about the family.”
“Alright.”
Leaving Wu Lianhe’s place, a weight lifted from their hearts.
The matter had finally reached some resolution.
After that, Yuan Huiru came to the town even more frequently—ostensibly to help at the shop, but in truth, to see her eldest grandson.
Two days later, the horseback archery range hired four new instructors, and Jiang Yuhou also started work. As expected of someone who had managed the prefecture’s finances, he quickly got the hang of the accounts.
With the new hires, Huo Shu and Ji Taoyu found themselves with much more free time.
Apart from his scheduled duties on the 1st and 6th of the month, Huo Shu had little to do—Uncle Fan and Huo Shou managed the horseback archery range so well that they hardly needed his input.
Though he should have been idle, Huo Shu wasn’t.
At the end of the lunar month, Huo Shu had Ji Taoyu write up a sign, set up a mobile cart, and called over Tian Xiaodian, an assistant from the archery workshop, to start buying grain at the entrance of Xinjie Street.
Thank you for the update!!!
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