"Big face," Huang Meiying muttered. She had never been easygoing in her youth, and now her temper flared up.
"But it’s a good thing they caused that scene. It helped me separate myself from them. Later, an accident revealed my true background. I didn’t know my father was suffering in Zhu City then. I thought the man in Xiangshui was my dad, but I didn’t plan to acknowledge him. If he cared, he wouldn’t have let me suffer in Sicheng Town. Since he didn’t care, he wasn’t my father, so I didn’t recognize him," Zhu Shunyo said with a light smile.
"Your mindset is quite good," Zhu Xinfu laughed. If he had faced this, he might have gone to Xiangshui to demand answers. He wondered whose personality his son had inherited.
Zhu Shunyo chuckled, "It’s not that my mindset is good. I simply had no hope for family affection. I thought, I’ve grown up without parents anyway. Besides, I have my own family and children. I have nothing to fear."
Hearing this, Zhu Xinfu felt a sour ache in her heart. In her life, she felt she owed Huang Meiying and her son the most. she patted Zhu Shunyo’s shoulder. "Dad still feels sorry for you."
"Dad, please don’t take it to heart. I think this is for the best," Zhu Shunyo said with an open-minded expression.
"Hmm?" Zhu Xinfu looked at him curiously. "Why do you say this is the best?"
Zhu Shunyo spoke seriously, "Think about it. If the fourth branch had been kind to me, I would have treated them as my real parents. Then, Uncle Enfu, who was alive then, wouldn’t have revealed my background. I wouldn’t have known that my mother left me five yellow fish, which were secretly swallowed by others.
Also, if the fake one from Xiangshui had cared for me early on, I would have admired him. I might have fallen into their trap. Now, nothing happened. Although I suffered for a few years, compared to that terrible outcome, I feel my suffering was worth it."
Zhu Xinfu pondered Zhu Shunyo’s comforting words and had to agree.
"You’re right. This is quite good. At least your surroundings are clean now, without so many troubles," Zhu Xinfu said with a smile.
"En." Zhu Shunyo finished tidying the room. "Dad, Mom, what do you think of this room? Do you need any changes?"
"It’s very good. This room will be yours and Mom’s. If we have time to come here in the future, this will be our room," Zhu Xinfu said directly.
"No problem," Zhu Shunyo smiled. "We have plenty of rooms and space."
Zhu Xinfu was also satisfied with the room layout.
Zhu Shunyo added, "Dad, do you want to go out and meet people today?"
Zhu Xinfu thought for a moment. "Today, your mom and I will rest. We are old and should rest early.
You organize the gifts to be given. Tomorrow, your mom and I will go with you to deliver them and get to know the neighbors. It has been over forty years since I returned. They should know that I, Zhu Xinfu, am back."
Zhu Shunyo nodded with a smile. "Alright. You rest. I’ll say hello to Brother Lei Yao. Next year, we’ll first visit the ancestral hall, then meet the neighbors."
Since they were here, it was time to start settling accounts. Zhu Shunyo decided to take it step by step, making people understand that his family was here to collect debts. They would not forget those who had helped them, but they would also settle scores with those who had mistreated them.
The night passed quietly. Everyone rested well in their own home. The next morning, after breakfast, Zhu Shunyo and Xie Xinlian each supported one arm of Zhu Xinfu and Huang Meiying as they walked to the ancestral hall.
News of Zhu Shunyo’s return had already reached the Zhu family in Ganxie Village yesterday. Seeing them support the two elders out, people noticed that one of them bore a seven or eight percent resemblance to Zhu Shunyo. Most importantly, he looked very much like Zhu Guifu, with the only difference being in their aura.
"Are you Brother Shenfu?" The speaker was Zhu Xiongfu.
Zhu Xinfu looked at Zhu Xiongfu. "You are Xiongfu."
"Yes, Brother Shenfu, you’re back?" Zhu Xiongfu looked delighted.
Zhu Xinfu smiled lightly. "I am no longer called Zhu Shenfu. I am Zhu Xinfu. My name was usurped, so I changed it. Now I am called Zhu Xinfu."
"Brother Shenfu—no, Brother Xinfu, when did you return? You’ve been gone for over forty years," Zhu Xiongfu said excitedly. He never thought he would see Zhu Xinfu in his lifetime.
"I have actually been here all along. However, I was framed and locked in a secret room for these years. My eyes were gouged out, my tongue cut, and my legs broken, so I couldn’t return," Zhu Xinfu said calmly. "Fortunately, I met the child Ani, who saved me and healed me, so I came back to see."
"Eyes gouged out, tongue cut, and legs broken?" Zhu Xiongfu couldn’t believe what he heard.
Zhu Xinfu nodded. "Yes, I was locked up for over forty years. Fortunately, the husbands of An’nan and Ani saved me later. Otherwise, I would still be locked up."
"Weren’t you in Xiangshui?" Zhu Xiongfu struggled to believe this news.
"I told you, that was someone impersonating my name, and one of the murderers," Zhu Xinfu said with a smile.
"Fortunately, our country is good. They know my innocence and have issued my benefits. Since the name Zhu Shenfu was tarnished, I simply changed it to Zhu Xinfu. Last time Shunyo came, Lei Yao helped change my name in the genealogy. Today, I come as Zhu Xinfu to burn incense for the ancestors. I hope the ancestors do not blame me for my unfilial behavior these years."
Zhu Xiongfu struggled to accept it, though he understood that the one in Xiangshui was fake.
"Xiongfu, let’s talk at noon. Come to my house then. Most of our generation are old, and few remain. Let’s gather, drink a little wine, and talk properly. First, I must enter the ancestral hall to burn incense for the ancestors," Zhu Xinfu said.
"Oh, okay." Zhu Xiongfu immediately stepped aside to let Zhu Xinfu enter.
Zhu Xinfu entered and looked at the spirit tablets in the ancestral hall. His eyes grew moist. After so many years, he was finally back.
"Dad, here is your incense." Zhu Shunyo had lit the candles and handed the lit incense to Zhu Xinfu.