Chapter 18: Grampy
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The car stopped in front of the Mo Mansion. The Mo Mansion was a multi-story bungalow built based on a foreign style structure. It had six Ionia-styled pillars in the front porch, with all the walls painted in a cream-white color. The design was exquisite.
Wen Xinya felt teary when she saw the familiar building in front of her.
The Mo Family were descendants of a scholar family since the period of the Qing Dynasty. It had a much deeper heritage in comparison to the Wen Family. During the j.a.panese occupation, the ancestor of the Mo Family was a.s.signed as the princ.i.p.al of the Capital University and was tasked to spread and educate the concept of strengthening society by studying. The Mo Family suffered relentless attacks and most of the Mo Family members were killed. When it reached Grampy, he was the only descendant of the family. Grampy had a very close relations.h.i.+p to Granny and he became a father at middle-age. So when Granny died of dystocia like Mother, he decided not to remarry.
Although the Mo Family suffered a decline of influence, everyone still respected them. Apart from the Mo Family’s deep heritage, Grampy had also established himself as an influential figure in the literary world. No one dared to show him any disrespect.
In her previous life, when Wen Xinya had just returned to the Wen Family, Grampy, a white-haired old man, had fetched her over for a short stay. He saw how unrefined she was, so he decided to teach her skills in poetry, chess, and painting. He had been strict with her. At that time she thought she was already the true Wen Family’s daughter and hence her behavior was arrogant and impatient. She wouldn’t withstand any discipline, so she secretly returned to the Wen Family. When Ning Shuqian sowed discord afterward, her relations.h.i.+p with Grampy got worse.
After that Grampy came to visit Wen Xinya a few times at the Wen Family. Then he suffered a heart attack and died at home, alone. His body was only discovered by his student three days later when he was unable to contact him.
Wen Xinya regretted how unfilial she had been in her previous life. She decided to stay by Grampy this time and see him enjoy longevity.
“Xinya, Xinya…”
Wen Xinya held back her tears. “Grandpa!”
Old Mr. Wen noticed her low spirits. He recalled this morning’s incident and had a sense of guilt and pity towards her. “We have arrived. What are you thinking about? You were so deep in thought that you didn’t hear me calling you,” he asked.
“It’s nothing. I just had a strong feeling when I saw this building. It seems like it has gone through the vicissitudes of life.” That’s right! This building had a rich heritage in history. It has witnessed the well-off Mo Family through its misfortunes, and also witnessed Grampy’s lonely life.
Old Mr. Wen sighed. “This bungalow has been built since the era of the warlords. From that time until the j.a.panese occupation, and then till the communist wars, it has been more than 90 years. It has been renovated and part of it was reconstructed several times. It’s your Grampy’s wish to stay here.”
Old Tao, the driver, opened the door for Old Mr. Wen. Wen Xinya went over and held him by his arm.
Roses were growing on the black metal gate. There were red, white, peach-colored and pink roses, beautiful and magnificent. The surrounding was filled with the fragrance of fresh flowers. It was an enchanting moment.
A quinquagenarian and a sharp looking white-haired old man came out together.
Wen Xinya immediately recognized them. The quinquagenarian was Uncle Zhang, the housekeeper of the Mo Family, and the white-haired old man was Grampy, Mo Xianqi.
Uncle Zhang quickly came to open the metal gate. He stared at Wen Xinya, who was quietly standing there, with tears welling up in his eyes. “She looks… very much alike…” he exclaimed.
He then realized it was rude of him to let the guests stand outside. He instantly opened the gate wider and greeted them. “Old Wen, Miss young lady, please come in!”
Wen Xinya thanked Uncle Zhang with a nod and continued holding Grandpa into the courtyard. She raised her head and saw Grampy observing her from head to toe. His eyes were filled with complex emotions. She didn’t know how to react.
Old Mr. Wen greeted with laughter. “Old Mo, we haven’t seen each other for a while. You are still the same, old but strong and fit.”
Grandpa and Grampy were good friends when they were young. Grampy was happy to let his daughter marry into the Wen Family. However, after Wen Xinya’s mother had pa.s.sed away, the two families seldom saw each other.
“Thank you!” Old Mr. Mo looked stern as he stood there quietly, as st.u.r.dy as a cypress tree with a sense of unwavering pride.
With just two simple words he brought Old Mr. Wen a sense of guilt. He slowly walked over, pulling Wen Xinya along, and introduced. “This is Xinya, our dear granddaughter. I’ve brought her over to see you.”
“She looks exactly like Yao-er, from looks to behavior.” Old Mr. Mo looked carefully at his granddaughter, who was standing behind the gate that was full of roses. Wen Xinya was wearing a light-green peach-blossomed dress with green jade gems accessories. She just stood there quietly. Old Mr. Mo recognized his granddaughter at the very first sight because she resembled greatly her late mother. This was probably the power of kins.h.i.+p.
These words of affirmation gave her confidence. She recovered instantly from her daze and greeted. “Grampy!”
“Great! Great! Great!” He was overjoyed and said the word ‘great’ consecutively three times with complex emotions. He touched her hair with his trembling hands, unable to control his intense feelings.
Tears welled up in Wen Xinya’s eyes again.
Seeing this scene of how Grampy was overjoyed to see his granddaughter again, Old Mr. Wen was touched by the power of kins.h.i.+p.
Years ago when Ruya came to visit Old Mr. Mo, he didn’t like her. No matter how Ruya tried to please him, he had always given her the cold shoulder. Their relations.h.i.+p turned sour over time.
Old Mr. Mo turned to Uncle Zhang and said, “Old Zhang, get the servants to carry Miss Wen’s luggage to her room, and bring her back to rest.”
“Grandpa, Grampy! Please have a chat while I go to my room to unpack.” She followed Uncle Zhang obediently into the bungalow. She excused herself and left the two elders to their chat.
On the way back to her room, Uncle Zhang was observing this new Young Mistress who had just returned. To his surprise, Young Mistress was very much different from the rumors he had heard about her. Instead of behaving in an unrefined manner, she was as graceful as her late mother, observing her new environment in the bungalow. It showed that she was a respectful and observant person.
Uncle Zhang remembered when Xia Ruya first came over. Though she looked cla.s.sy and presentable, she didn’t look like Mistress at all. Xia Ruya had a sense of greed in her eyes when she saw the exquisite design and expensive furniture in the house. This made Old Mr. Mo extremely disappointed.
Never did they expect that she was actually an imitation. Fortunately, Old Mr. Mo was wise enough to not to be deceived by her.
Uncle Zhang looked at the Young Mistress in front of him again. She was the true daughter of the late Mistress, backed by a DNA test result. She was indeed the offspring of the Wen and Mo Families, hence she had a unique temperament. “Young Mistress, that room in front belonged to the late Mistress. Old Master Mo has instructed me to clean it up for your stay,” he informed.
Wen Xinya looked up and saw a blooming viburnum tree dancing gracefully in the wind. The petals were beautiful like snow. It was such a magnificent and enchanting moment.
White can be enchanting too!