Chapter 15 Discuss (3)

Old Uncle Qi's proposal also left Ye Xinyan puzzled, "Why do you want us to accompany you back? Since you regard us as master and servant and say we have run away, aren't you afraid of getting involved in a lawsuit?"

Qi Younian gave a wry smile, "I have no choice, do I? For one thing, I've been out for many years, and returning alone would be too desolate. More importantly, I'm not sure my old bones can withstand the long journey. If something unexpected happens on the way, not only will I not be able to return to my homeland, but I might even die unburied in the wilderness."

Ye Xinyan's eyes widened in even more confusion, "But traveling with us... it won't be any more comfortable, the journey will be just as rough." Ye Xinyan felt too embarrassed to say out loud that if something happened to you on the road, wouldn't you still be unable to return to your homeland?

Qi Younian laughed, "If I'm with you, even if I breathe my last on the road, you could cremate me with a fire. As long as you can bring back even a piece of my old bones, this old man would die content."

"However, you and your mother-in-law can rest assured, even if I am no longer around, with my token, you can still be registered in the household registry, and you'll be able to settle down in Clear Water Village of Eastern Yu," Qi Younian added.

Ye Xinyan pondered for a moment and nodded, "Alright, if that's the case, you are helping us even more. I'll discuss it with my mother-in-law, and we will give you an answer later."

Qi Younian had prepared many more arguments to reassure the young daughter-in-law, never expecting her to agree so readily.

It was just a matter of discussing it with her mother-in-law, but as far as Qi Younian was concerned, as long as Ye Zi made up her mind, this matter was basically settled. At most, it was a matter of giving her some time to consider the details.

Ye Xinyan didn't think too much about it; as soon as she returned, she relayed Qi Younian's ideas to Nanny Jin.

Nanny Jin was a bit uneasy. The journey to Eastern Yu was long, and although Old Uncle Qi looked alright, she felt they hadn't known him long enough to fully understand his character.

But thinking it over again, they had no other choice at present. If everything Old Uncle Qi said was true, this plan was indeed workable. These days, the court's management of the population was becoming stricter. For those who had escaped, having a reliable household registration was not easy. As two women on their own, if they could have a legitimate identity, it would be like having a safeguard for themselves.

Compared to the concern for household registration, Nanny Jin's unease was just a minor part of her inner turmoil. The reassuring aspect of the proposal was what truly mattered. After Ye Xinyan persuaded her a bit more, the matter was decided.

Nanny Jin also told Ye Xinyan that recognizing a granddaughter was a serious matter and could not be handled carelessly.

Ye Xinyan thought for a moment; although what Nanny Jin said was true, with their current situation, it was difficult to discuss their issues openly, and they naturally couldn't hold a grand ceremony for recognizing ancestry. The ceremony of recognizing their relationship with their ancestor was a matter to be discussed further with Old Uncle Qi's opinion in mind.

Since they would be addressing each other as grandfather and granddaughter from then on, it was better to treat each other sincerely. Therefore, Ye Xinyan did not leave Qi Younian hanging. On the third day of the new year, after breakfast, she found Qi Younian and told him her and Nanny Jin's decision.

Qi Younian was still thinking that this was a big decision; surely, the mother and daughter-in-law would need a couple of days to ponder it over. He had not expected to get an answer the very next day after he had spoken.

Qi Younian, upon hearing these words, was overwhelmed with emotions. Now, not only could he return to his hometown after decades away, but he also had two family members to accompany him on the road, no longer needing to worry about the panic of nearing home.

The heart of Qi Younian, long indifferent, suddenly felt warm and secure.

Having drifted about for years and suffered a great loss at his brother's hand, Qi Younian considered himself to be rather cautious and insightful in judging people. Ye Zi, the young lady, was clever and steady, not the impatient type. Her quick response showed that she wasn't playing mind games with him, and was sincere. He hadn't misjudged her.

With these thoughts, Qi Younian's eyes became moist. He said emotionally, "Ye Zi, you and your grandmother don't treat me as an outsider, and I will certainly be sincere with you too. My family is full of honest people. It was one thing for me not to return, but as long as I or my descendants do, the Qi family, though poor, will always be able to spare something. Even if I meet an unexpected end, you and your grandmother will certainly have a place to live and provide for yourselves."

Ye Xinyan smiled and said, "Old Uncle, you shouldn't be so pessimistic about things. You look robust, and I'm sure we will return safely. Having not returned for so many years, let's not ask the Qi family for any property. From now on, it will just be the two of us, grandfather and granddaughter. Whether or not there is an inheritance, as long as I have food to eat, neither you nor grandmother will go hungry."

Ye Xinyan was right. From what Qi Younian had spoken of, he left home at the age of fifteen. In these forty years, he had not been able to fulfill his filial duties. To go back now and divide the family property with his brothers, that just wouldn't be right.

"Ah," Qi Younian sighed with contentment, but when he thought of the travel expenses for the road ahead, he couldn't help but sigh again and pulled a small bundle out of the cabinet by the Kang bed, "I never thought I would have the day to return. If I had known earlier, I could have saved more silver, and we would suffer less on our journey."

He wasn't lying. In earlier years, he didn't have such a strong longing to return. He always thought that even if he did go back, he would only bring shame to his parents and brothers, better to just let his bones lie abandoned. With a live-for-today mentality, how could he have saved any money?

When he started to think about returning these past couple of years, his aging body no longer allowed him to travel alone, nor did he have the strength to do much work to earn money.

During this time, he had been in despair, thinking who would leave their home, travel thousands of miles, and accompany a stranger back to his ancestral land. Unexpectedly, just when he had given up hope, such an opportunity presented itself. Fate had not been unkind to him.

Qi Younian opened the small bundle, and inside were several pieces of silver, looking to be about ten taels. For an ordinary family, about ten taels of silver was a considerable saving. However, if it were to be used for the travel expenses of three people traveling a thousand miles, it didn't seem like nearly enough.

Qi Younian passed the silver across the Kang table to Ye Xinyan, "I thought I would never have the chance to go home, and I hadn't considered saving for travel expenses. Now, this small amount of silver is all I have. Take it for now, so you can plan for whatever we need on the road. If it's not enough, we can delay our departure until the weather warms up. I can do more work and earn some more silver for the journey."

Ye Xinyan quickly pushed the silver back, "Please put the silver away, sir. I cannot accept this money. That you are willing to trust two people of unknown status and provide us with a safe place to stay has already been a great help. How could I take your silver as well?"

Qi Younian's voice carried a hint of reproach as he pushed the bundle back to Ye Xinyan, "Child, we will be grandfather and granddaughter from now on; we shouldn't be so formal. Please take it. In the future, there will be many occasions to use money. I truly feel it is not enough."

Ye Xinyan smiled, "Since you're my grandfather, naturally it should be the granddaughter showing filial piety to the grandfather. How could I let my elderly grandfather make money for me to spend? If we really need to earn money, it should be me figuring out a way, not you working. Please keep the silver. If we really run out of options, I will ask you for it then."