Chapter 133: Repaying the Nurturing Grace

But what exactly the situation is, I still need to go back and ask Uncle Xiao Shan again.

Xiao Shan brought him back to the courtyard, then hurriedly asked where he had gone after leaving and how he had been doing.

Xiao Ming had no choice but to tell his uncle in detail how he had made his uncle let down his guard, stolen his uncle's money, and gone to Meng City.

"You little brat, you really…" Xiao Shan heard, raised his hand to hit Xiao Ming, but finally, helplessly, lowered his hand.

"You little brat, Uncle understands, you want to go to the big city to make your way, you refuse to degenerate, but the world is treacherous, you are your parents' only child, Uncle worries that you'll be bullied outside; you say if something happens to you out there, how will I face your parents?"

"So that's why I didn't allow you to go out; I never expected you…"

Xiao Shan sighed helplessly: "Xiao Ming, you said you left, but you never thought to send a word home, at least let your uncle know whether you're doing well, whether you're cold or hungry…"

"How could you leave and have not a single word of news?"

Xiao Ming chuckled and replied: "Uncle, I went to Meng City back then, gradually developed to An Jin, I left home only a few years, I returned once to my hometown, learned you sold the house and moved to the city, in anger I went back to An Jin, returned, and have stayed in Meng City until now."

Xiao Shan sighed helplessly: "That matter, sigh, I was deceived back then; that Wang Piezi from our village had someone bring me a letter, saying you injured someone in the county town, and if you didn't pay compensation, they'd beat you to death."

"I panicked right away, hastily sold the house, went to the city and gave the money to Wang Piezi, but that guy took the money and ran."

"I couldn't find you, so I didn't dare return to the village; besides, the house was gone, returning meant nowhere to live, so I found work in the county town, earning money while searching for you—this search has lasted several years…" Xiao Shan explained the whole story of selling the house to Xiao Ming.

Xiao Ming had already heard this from Xiao Yunzhe on the road, and hearing it confirmed again from his uncle left him feeling uneasy.

Uncle had always been wholeheartedly for him, yet he had misunderstood Uncle for so many years.

Xiao Ming's aunt, after giving birth to Xiao Xinran, felt that living with this poor Xiao Shan offered no hope, so she left.

Xiao Shan alone raised Xiao Ming and Xiao Xinran; life was very poor, but Xiao Shan treated them extremely well, sometimes even better to Xiao Ming than to Xiao Xinran.

Xiao Ming knew that Xiao Shan pitied him for having no parents, while Xiao Xinran at least still had a biological father who loved him.

Looking back now, Xiao Ming realized he had been quite a troublemaker back then; fortunately, he found his uncle while the uncle was still alive, and from now on he must properly honor his uncle and repay his upbringing.

"Xiao Ming, I've searched for you for years, truly there was no news of you, I had no choice but to give up, yet there isn't a day I don't think of you; I imagine that if one day I find you, even if you've achieved nothing and return to me empty‑handed, I will still be responsible for your future."

At that moment, Xiao Shan rose and went into a room in the back courtyard; when he came out again, he held an extra card—a card of the old style, yet it looked brand‑new.

Xiao Shan walked over and slipped the card into Xiao Ming's hand.

Then he exhaled, as if he had finally completed a huge task.

"I sold the room your parents left behind, leaving you homeless—I feel guilty about this; the 200,000 inside is what I saved for you, so that one day you could return and have a foothold."

"Now that you've returned, I give you this money; the great stone in my heart can finally be set down."

"Uncle, the one who should feel guilty is me; you sold the house for me, it's just that I didn't understand your heart and misunderstood you." Xiao Ming wanted to return the card to Xiao Shan, but Xiao Shan wouldn't take it.

"This is for you; just keep it, the last six digits of your ID card are the password." Xiao Shan said.

"Xiao Ming, I've searched for you so long and still couldn't find you; several times I heard you… you met with disaster, you were gone; the longer I live, the guiltier I feel, and when I'm idle I keep thinking, if I went to the Hidden Netherworld, how would I explain to your parents?"

"Fortunately, you've returned, you've returned, and now my heart is at ease."

As they spoke, Xiao Shan burst into laughter; finally he could go see Xiao Ming's parents with a peaceful mind.

"Uncle…" Xiao Ming gripped the card in his hand, feeling its weighty warmth.

As he listened, his eyes reddened once more.

Xiao Yunzhe and his girlfriend Geng Jing Shu, together with Xiao Jingrou and Xiao Yuchun, hearing Xiao Shan's words, couldn't help but tear up.

"Just having you back is enough, just having you back is enough; seeing you all, I am truly overjoyed." Xiao Shan looked at Xiao Ming, then at Xiao Ming's several children, and smiled with relief.

"Uncle, I appreciate your intention, I don't need this money." Xiao Ming returned the card to Xiao Shan: "I have no use for it."

"What I give you is yours; you must accept it, otherwise even if I died I could not rest in peace." Seeing Xiao Ming refuse, Xiao Shan instantly became displeased.

"Fine, I'll take it, okay?" Xiao Ming, helpless, had no choice but to agree.

Thinking back to what he had seen in the front courtyard earlier, Xiao Ming wondered: "Uncle, you didn't say Junrong's wedding was tomorrow? Why does the atmosphere feel odd?"

"No, nothing, you're overthinking." Upon mentioning this, Xiao Shan suddenly sighed.

Actually, even without Xiao Shan saying it, Xiao Ming more or less understood; although he only caught a few words in the front courtyard, he realized it was the bride's family being dissatisfied, coming to cause trouble at the groom's home.

But the exact nature of their dissatisfaction, he would have to ask Uncle Xiao Shan to find out.

"Uncle, you don't need to hide it from me; if you don't tell me, I already heard a rough idea when I was in the front courtyard earlier." Xiao Ming patted Xiao Shan's back, soothing his emotions: "That bride's side is really bullying people."

"Ah…" Xiao Shan let out a long sigh and explained the whole situation to Xiao Ming.

"This Huihui is actually quite nice; it's just her aunt who's completely unreasonable, seeing that the child is about to wed, for the child's sake we really ought to put up with it." Xiao Shan shook his head helplessly.

Actually, when it comes down to it, it's just because there's no money.

"Actually, her aunt is also right; Huihui's willingness to marry Junrong truly is a blessing cultivated over several generations of our Xiao family."

"That's not right; it's that she is able to marry into our Xiao family, which is a blessing cultivated over several generations."