After A Secret Marriage With The Trending Queen - Chapter 51

Chapter 51

“Look! Fireworks, fireworks! Mom, Mom, Auntie Wang, come look!” Liner was practically bouncing on the balcony, excitedly tapping his little feet.

Yang Li, having just finished dinner and cleared the table, dried her hands and beckoned Wang Lin, who was busy working, to come watch. Reluctantly, Wang Lin closed her laptop and let Yang Li pull her up, her eyes filled with affection.

Then let’s watch together. Work is secondary. You and Liner are my number one priority.

The fireworks were incredibly splendid, perfect for watching with loved ones. Liner stood in the middle, and Wang Lin and Yang Li quietly held hands.

…

Just then, a phone call came in. Yang Li’s face instantly changed. It had been a long time since she had heard from anyone in her home village; something must have happened.

The call was from a girl who was her childhood friend from the same village. They had never lost contact, and her voice was urgent. “Yang Li, you need to come home quickly. Your grandmother is fading.”

The joy of the moment was instantly washed away by this sudden, devastating news.

Wang Lin noticed the distress and immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”

Yang Li couldn’t hold back her tears. “My childhood friend from the village just called. She said my grandmother is fading.”

Many children who grow up in the countryside are raised by their grandmothers, fostering deep affection. Yang Li hadn’t visited her grandmother since leaving home so long ago. Receiving this news was naturally unacceptable, and she felt she had been terribly neglectful.

Wang Lin held her shoulders. “We’ll buy tickets and go back tomorrow. I’ll go with you.”

Yang Li was surprised. “But you have so much work, and the villagers won’t be welcoming to you.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Wang Lin gripped Yang Li’s hands tightly. “I’ll walk the road ahead with you. I won’t let go of you again.”

…

The next morning, Wang Lin requested leave from the company, bought tickets, and left A City with Yang Li.

Villages aren’t as convenient as the city. After leaving the airport, they had to take a taxi to the long-distance bus station, ride for two or three hours to the county town, and then take a shuttle back to the countryside. The journey was bumpy and rough.

Liner felt sick and threw up the entire way. Yang Li was extremely remorseful. She regretted bringing him along, but if this was truly the last time she would see her grandmother, she wanted the elderly woman to meet her great-grandchild.

Getting off the bus, Yang Li looked at the long-unseen village, her heart heavy with emotion.

Just then, Wang Lin quietly took her hand. Though she didn’t speak, she offered a powerful, encouraging force.

“Yang family’s girl is back! Yang family’s girl is back!”

As soon as Yang Li returned, the villagers spread the news everywhere. Soon, almost the entire village knew.

Wang Lin and Yang Li walked hand-in-hand, surrounded by small clusters of villagers whispering.

“Look, that’s the woman who seduced Old Yang’s daughter and caused her divorce.”

“How can two women be together?”

“Now the real drama starts.”

…

Sure enough, Yang Li and Wang Lin ran into trouble before they even reached the door.

Old Man Yang, Yang Li’s father, was sitting on a chair right in front of the gate, barring their entry with an intimidating presence. “You disgraceful thing, you still know how to come back?”

“I came back to see Grandma,” Yang Li replied expressionlessly.

Liner was scared and hid further behind Yang Li.

“She doesn’t need to see you. You haven’t been part of the Yang family for a long time.”

Wang Lin couldn’t stand it and stepped forward. “Mr. Yang, that’s unfair of you. Yang Li and her grandmother have a deep bond. There’s nothing wrong with her coming back to visit, is there?”

“You outrageous person! Our family matters are none of your business, outsider! Shameless and without decency!”

Just then, Yang Li’s mother rushed out. She immediately burst into tears but forced herself to pick up a bamboo broom nearby and tried to sweep them away. “Go! Go! Our family doesn’t welcome you, and our village doesn’t welcome you! Once you leave, don’t ever come back!”

Yang Li bit her lip and finally broke down. “Please, just let me see Grandma.”

Liner, scared, tugged at his mother’s sleeve and said in a small voice, “Mommy, don’t cry, don’t cry.”

At this point, Yang Li looked back at Wang Lin. “Can you please take Liner away for a moment? I don’t want him to see this.”

Wang Lin desperately didn’t want Yang Li to face this alone but complied. Liner was still little, and she understood Yang Li’s decision.

As they walked on the village path, Liner asked Wang Lin, “Auntie Wang, is this really where Mommy grew up?”

Wang Lin nodded.

“Liner doesn’t like it here at all, because the people here are mean to Mommy.”

Wang Lin stroked his small head. “Let’s wait for Mommy here, okay?”

“Will Mommy come out?” Liner tilted his head and asked.

“She will,” Wang Lin said with determination. This time, she would not allow herself to lose Yang Li again, and she would take her away openly in front of these people.

…

“I promise you, this will be the last time I ever return here. Once I leave this village, I will absolutely never come back.”

Yang Li’s mother stood behind, covering her face and crying. As a mother, she didn’t want to push her child to this point, but the environment, the culture, and the opinions of the community wouldn’t allow it.

Old Man Yang finally relented, getting up from the wooden chair and going back inside the house.

Yang Li’s mother pointed in a direction, saying only one thing: “Grandma is in that room.”

Yang Li ran in without hesitation.

The grandmother who used to play with her and raise her was now white-haired and looked like a withered husk, her life force nearly extinguished.

“Grandma, it’s me. Ah Li is back,” Yang Li immediately fell to her knees by the bed, weeping.

The grandmother raised her hand, frail as a dead branch, and touched Yang Li’s face. Her mind was still clear. “I heard the commotion outside. I didn’t think I’d see my Ah Li with my last breath.”

Yang Li grasped her hand. “It’s my fault. It’s all my fault. I’ve been gone so many years and haven’t come back to see you.”

“Silly child, don’t be sad, don’t be upset. Grandma is simply dying of old age; it’s a good thing.”

“Grandma, Grandma, I brought Liner back. I’ll let him see you.” Yang Li held the elderly woman’s hand tightly.

The grandmother smiled. “No need. I’ll scare the child in this state. He’s still young. I heard the laws outside changed a few years ago, right?”

Yang Li nodded. “Yes.”

“Even I, an old woman, have heard. Yet those people in the village pretend to be deaf and blind, sticking to old ways. Just go, then. Leave and never come back. Take your child and live well outside. Live a good life. Grandma will bless you.”

Yang Li was already sobbing uncontrollably, gasping for breath. “Grandma, Grandma, Grandma…”

“Auntie, when do you think Mommy will come out?”

The large adult and the small child were squatting by a large stone at the village entrance.

“Soon,” Wang Lin looked inside, then saw a familiar figure walking toward them. “Look, Liner, Mommy’s coming.”

“Mommy!” Liner dashed over, his little legs moving as fast as they could.

Yang Li crouched down and hugged her child. The tears she had been suppressing burst forth again. Wang Lin seemed to realize what was happening and hurried toward them.