Zhu Xinfu immediately entered the ancestral hall. He lit incense first, then performed the grand ritual of three kowtows and nine prostrations.
"Ancestors above, your unfilial descendant Zhu Xinfu has returned to offer incense."
After speaking, he kowtowed again. Zhu Shun Yao and the others followed behind, bowing in respect.
Once the incense was finished, Zhu Shun Yao supported Zhu Xinfu as they walked out. Many people had already gathered at the entrance, drawn by the news. Seeing Zhu Shun Yao and Zhu Xinfu together, they confirmed the truth: Zhu Shun Yao had returned with his father.
"Shun Yao."
Zhu Leiyao had also arrived upon hearing the news.
Zhu Shun Yao slapped hands with him. "Brother Leiyao, I was planning to visit you soon with some specialties from the capital. My father hasn’t been here for years. Several families have built new houses, so I wanted him to recognize the doors."
"Uncle Xinfu, you must be tired from the journey." Zhu Leiyao hurried over to greet her. She looked Zhu Xinfu up and down. Last time, Zhu Xinfu had no tongue and no sight. Now, she looked like a normal person. Zhu Leiyao was amazed by Zhu Yanyi’s medical skills. They were truly formidable.
"Tired? I traveled in a soft sleeper carriage. I slept the whole way. There was no hardship at all," Zhu Xinfu said with a smile.
Hearing this, Zhu Leiyao’s eyes lit up. "Uncle Xinfu, you are really cured? You can see, and you can speak?"
Zhu Xinfu chuckled. "Yes. Fortunately, Ani’s medical skills are superb. Now I can see, and my mouth works."
"Incredible," Zhu Leiyao said, looking full of admiration. "The little divine doctor’s skills are truly unbelievable."
Zhu Xinfu nodded. "This child is only good at medicine. But thanks to her care, she spent over ten hours on my surgery."
Zhu Leiyao realized how much effort Zhu Yanyi had put in. "Regardless, it is great news that you have recovered your health, Uncle."
Zhu Xinfu smiled, agreeing. "Yes. Regaining my sight and health is indeed good news for me." He then turned to Zhu Leiyao.
"Leiyao, I have a favor to ask. Please count how many clan members there are. I plan to treat everyone to a meal. It has been over forty years. I should meet the old neighbors. I also want to thank the clan members who took care of Shun Yao."
"Sure. Don’t say ‘favor.’ Your return is a great joy for our clan. I will count them and send the number to you tonight," Zhu Leiyao agreed without hesitation.
Zhu Xinfu nodded satisfactorily. "Alright, everyone can go now. I am not leaving tomorrow. I will stay for two days. Now, I need to follow my son to get familiar with the surroundings. It has been forty years, and everything feels strange. In two days, I will host a banquet. Everyone must come. We will chat properly then."
Hearing this, the onlookers smiled and dispersed. However, the news of Zhu Xinfu’s return spread instantly.
Zhu Guifu heard that Zhu Xinfu had returned. At first, he did not care much. But when he heard that Zhu Xinfu was actually the former Zhu Shenfu, who had changed his name, the pipe in his hand dropped to the ground.
"What did you say? Zhu Xinfu is Zhu Shenfu?" Zhu Guifu looked at Gan Juhua.
Gan Juhua nodded. "Everyone outside says so. They say Zhu Shenfu was harmed back then, and someone used his identity. That lasted for over forty years. Now he is cleared of suspicion. He just couldn’t use that name, so he changed it to Zhu Xinfu. The genealogy was changed long ago."
Hearing this, Zhu Guifu’s face darkened. He bent down, picked up the pipe, wiped it, and with trembling hands, filled it with tobacco, lit it, and took two puffs. "He is back."
Seeing Zhu Guifu’s state, Gan Juhua spoke directly. "So what if he is back? He is your twin brother. He won’t kill you."
Zhu Guifu smiled bitterly. "You don’t understand him. He looks gentle, but he has a bandit’s nature. He does not allow anyone to hurt those he cares about. I didn’t dare treat Shun Yao too badly because I was afraid of his return. But in the end, we and Shun Yao became estranged."
"So what if we are estranged? We raised him after all," Gan Juhua said, unconcerned.
Zhu Guifu remained silent. But he knew in his heart that Zhu Xinfu would come to settle scores with them. He just didn’t know how angry Zhu Xinfu would be.
Before Zhu Guifu could think of what to do, Zhu Shun Yao arrived, supporting Zhu Xinfu. He held gifts in his hand. Behind them, Xie Xinlian supported Huang Meiying.
"Huang Meiying, why are you here too?" Gan Juhua only knew Zhu Xinfu had returned. She hadn’t expected Huang Meiying to be back as well.
Huang Meiying looked at Gan Juhua and sneered. "Of course I am here. If I didn’t come, how could I thank you for how you treated my son? So I came." Her words made people’s hearts tremble.
"I don’t know what you mean," Gan Juhua laughed dryly.
"Don’t you know?" Huang Meiying said calmly. "I am here to thank you for raising our Shun Yao. Also, I want to ask if the five yellow fish were enough. If not, I can give more. Others might not know, but you should know. I, Huang Meiying, have nothing else but money."
Seeing Huang Meiying’s expression, Gan Juhua felt a chill rise from the bottom of her heart for the first time. She felt Huang Meiying was planning something.
Huang Meiying said calmly, "Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to you. After all, I entrusted the child to you." Although the person she entrusted had become an ungrateful wolf, making her son suffer, her son had now succeeded. Huang Meiying naturally wouldn’t take their lives. But not taking their lives didn’t mean she wouldn’t settle accounts. Some accounts needed to be calculated in detail.
"That’s right. You entrusted the child to us. Besides, he has grown up now," Gan Juhua could only say this.
Huang Meiying nodded slightly. "Before I left, I told you the five yellow fish covered my child’s food, lodging, and schooling. I don’t know how many years my son studied or how much money was spent. Let’s calculate it precisely. If you lost money, that won’t do. After all, we are clan members."
Clan members, not relatives. This meant Huang Meiying already knew everything they had done.
Gan Juhua didn’t know what to say. The neighbors had already gathered to watch the show when Zhu Shun Yao and others appeared. Hearing Huang Meiying’s words, Aunt Qiao spoke up: