Volume One, Chapter 18: What a Filial Granddaughter-in-Law I Have!

As luck would have it, Sang Haining no longer needed to go to the office to deliver meals to Rong Shaoqin. She finally had the time to travel to the countryside to find that old man, Grandpa Sun.

However, Sang Haining did not want anyone to know about this. If she succeeded, that would be fine, but if she failed, she feared she would become the laughingstock of the Rong family elders. There was no helping it; she was a person of little influence and no background, yet because Grandma Rong doted on her, she inevitably attracted jealousy. Therefore, it was best to go to the countryside quietly without alerting anyone.

"I won't be coming to bring you meals for the next few days," Sang Haining said. "I'm heading out."

Rong Shaoqin felt a sense of stifling gloom in his heart. Yet, it was he who had suggested she stop bringing him food. Why was he feeling so awkward?

"Go on, then," he said, taking a deep drag of his cigarette, his tone cold.

"Smoke less," Sang Haining urged. "It's not good for your health."

The gloom in Rong Shaoqin’s heart dissipated for no apparent reason. He looked down and stubbed out his cigarette. "I know."

Sang Haining turned and left, heading back to the old family estate. She only confided in Grandma Rong about her plan to find Grandpa Sun.

Grandma Rong did not approve. "You are a young woman; it’s not safe to go to the countryside, especially to deal with that old man surnamed Sun. What if he vents his anger on you?"

"Grandma, I am your granddaughter-in-law and a member of the Rong family. With the family in trouble and no powerful family of my own to rely on, this is the only small way I can help. Seeing you worry makes me feel awful too. Please, just agree to this."

Grandma had fallen ill because of the Rong family's troubles. Although she was better now, Sang Haining could still see the pain in her heart. She was doing this not for others, but for her grandmother.

"At the very least, take two bodyguards with you," Grandma Rong compromised, seeing Sang Haining’s resolute attitude.

Sang Haining nodded. "I'll leave tomorrow. Please, don't mention this to anyone."

Grandma Rong put her hands on her hips. "Why not? Look at your stepmother and those aunts of yours—who could be more concerned about this than you?" She wanted to shout from the rooftops to let everyone know how wonderful her granddaughter-in-law was.

Sang Haining was caught between laughter and tears. "It won't be too late to mention it once the matter is settled."

Grandma Rong thought about it and realized she was right. If it didn't work out, it would only be embarrassing for Haining. She sighed with emotion, "My granddaughter-in-law is so filial!"

"It's nothing, really," Sang Haining replied.

"Tell me, isn't Haining a filial child?" Grandma Rong turned to ask the cleaning staff, looking for validation.

The servants nodded enthusiastically. "We've never seen a granddaughter-in-law as filial as Miss Haining."

"Right?" Grandma Rong looked proud. "I hand-picked this granddaughter-in-law myself."

Soon, the sound of "Miss Haining is so filial" echoed throughout the old house. Sang Haining, blushing, quickly found an excuse and slipped away.

The next morning, she packed her bags and headed to the countryside with two bodyguards. After Grandpa Sun’s relocation compensation had been seized, he had built a house in a remote village to live by himself. His children worked in the city and only returned during the holidays.

When she arrived, Sang Haining saw Grandpa Sun in the yard, washing clothes. An old washing machine buzzed, its spin-dry drum spinning wildly and causing the whole machine to rattle across the floor. Dirty water drained into a faded basin, reeking of cheap detergent. When Grandpa Sun lifted the heavy basin to pour out the wastewater, he clearly struggled to straighten his back.

Sang Haining quickly got out of the car and offered to help. Lifting one end, she smiled and said, "Grandpa, let me help you."

The villagers were familiar with one another. Seeing a stranger, Grandpa Sun asked whose relative she was. Sang Haining knew she couldn't rush things. She couldn't reveal her identity; if she made him resent her right from the start, all her efforts would be in vain.

She spoke vaguely: "I came here to look for a relative, but they weren't home. Since it's been snowing, I plan to stay in the village for a while. I’ve rented the house next door."

"Oh, I see," Grandpa Sun looked her up and down. "You look like a girl from a wealthy family; you shouldn't be touching such dirty work."

Sang Haining insisted on helping. "I'm not as delicate as you think. Neighbors should look out for each other."

Grandpa Sun had no children around, and he was happy to have someone to talk to. Seeing that she was willing to work and wasn't prissy, his guard dropped.

Sang Haining spent the whole morning helping him, ending up breathless with exhaustion. When Grandpa Sun invited her to eat at his house, she accepted readily. While helping him prepare the vegetables, she asked, "Do you do this much work every day?"

"Yes," Grandpa Sun replied. "My wife loved cleanliness when she was alive, so the house was always kept tidy. Now that she's gone, I'm afraid if she sees the house is dirty, she won't want to come back and visit me in my dreams. So, I keep it very clean every day."

Sang Haining felt a pang of sadness. "Don't your children want to take you to live with them?"

"They are filial children and have tried to persuade me, but I don't want to go," Grandpa Sun said as he skillfully chopped vegetables. "I'm afraid my old woman won't be able to find her way home. She's afraid of being lonely."

With reddened eyes, Sang Haining thought of her own grandfather. He had been exceptionally good to her grandmother, and now that he was gone, her grandmother must be in great pain. If it weren't for her, her grandmother might not have been able to carry on. She understood Grandpa Sun's pain.

She worked even harder, taking on most of the chores and even making soup for him. When she brought the meal into the house, she saw a black-and-white photo of Grandma Sun hanging on the wall—a woman with a kind face. Sang Haining bowed to the photo.

Seeing this, Grandpa Sun was deeply touched. "You are a kind-hearted girl. Not only are you willing to help an old man like me, but you also cook for me. I am truly grateful. When my wife visits me in my dreams, I will tell her to bless you with peace from heaven."

"Thank you, Grandpa. Let's eat; please try my cooking."

The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. The bodyguards nearby kept a close watch on the situation. They called Grandma Rong to report: "The young Mrs. Rong has been helping the old man with his chores all morning, and they just had lunch together. She's inside talking to him now..."

As the sun began to set, the calls from the bodyguards continued: "In the afternoon, the young Mrs. Rong helped him fetch water and chop wood. She's about to rest now. Don't worry, Grandma, everything is fine."

Grandma Rong was heartbroken. Haining had never done such heavy labor in her life. She held back from calling her home, wiping her tears as she instructed, "Make sure Haining takes care of herself. If she has lost any weight by the time she gets back, I won't hear the end of it."

"Understood, Grandma."

*

In the office on the twenty-third floor of the Rong Group, Rong Shaoqin ate the meal his secretary had ordered from a high-end restaurant, finding it flavorless. He still preferred Sang Haining's cooking.

He called his secretary in and said, looking down nonchalantly, "Call the old house and say I want to have corn and pork rib soup. Tell Sang Haining to bring it to me."

He had just told her yesterday that she didn't need to come to the office. Now he had changed his mind. He couldn't bring himself to call her, so he asked his secretary to do it.

A moment later, the secretary returned and said, "The young mistress is not at the old house."

Rong Shaoqin froze. Grandma was in poor health; if Sang Haining wasn't at the old house, where could she be?