RYEY – Chapter 230 One Key

“Uncle—”

“Zhao Hui—”

Cheng Qiao and Cheng Liguo shouted at the same time. An uncle kneeling before his neice—if this got out, Cheng Qiao’s reputation would be completely ruined.

“I’m sorry, Cheng Qiao. I was too impulsive… but I had no choice. The old man… he cannot rest in peace!”

Cheng Qiao sighed. Ever since she had studied medicine, she had understood one thing: when a person’s time has come, but their heart still clings to something, they will desperately hold on to life, unable to die in peace.

For someone nearing death, this is incredibly cruel—not only must they endure physical pain, but also immense mental suffering.

“How are we going? We don’t have any transportation.”

Cheng Qiao was still making excuses. She really didn’t want to see this old man. Someone she had never met in either of her lives—what did his life or death have to do with her?

“Qiao, your father has arranged the car. He’ll go with you.”

Cheng Qiao’s eyes lit up. The old man had always hated her father. Seeing him standing safely in front of the old man might annoy him even more.

Cheng Liguo and Zhao Hui didn’t realize how deep Cheng Qiao’s resentment ran. They thought she had come to terms with it, and quickly packed their luggage.

“Yuan Guangming, please take care of things here. We’ll be back in a couple of days.”

Yuan Guangming nodded repeatedly. Since Cheng Qiao had arrived, their meals had improved by at least two levels, and even their chins seemed rounder. Cheng Liguo’s request was firmly in his heart.

Two days later, the car arrived at a farm in the far northwest. Seeing the houses all built from thick logs, Cheng Qiao thought that the Zhao family’s life wasn’t too bad.

“Dad, Cheng Qiao is here—Zhao Min’s daughter. Oh, and she’s holding little Cheng Li—the grandson of Min Min.”

Zhao Hui grabbed Cheng Qiao’s sleeve and rushed inside. As soon as Cheng Qiao entered, she smelled a decaying scent—the scent of someone about to depart this world.

Her eyes immediately fell on an old man lying on the kang bed, hair completely white, sunken eyes, emaciated frame, yet his eyes shone with delight.

“Qiao… Qiao girl, you’ve come.”

All of Cheng Qiao’s dislike and hatred melted the moment she saw these eyes, almost identical to her mother’s.

Looking into them, memories of Zhao Min’s last moments and her final words came to her mind: “Don’t hate your grandfather. He’s tough on the outside, soft on the inside—just like me. That’s why we missed each other.”

Her mother’s eyes and her grandfather’s seemed to merge, making Cheng Qiao momentarily unable to tell whether she was facing her mother or her grandfather.

“Qiao girl… can you call me Grandpa?”

Cheng Qiao snapped back to reality. Seeing the hopeful look, she nodded:

“Grandpa…”

“Ah, Qiao girl, come here.”

Cheng Qiao carried little Cheng Li over. When she saw the old man reach out, she instinctively grasped his hand. The icy coldness pierced her heart like shards of ice—sharp, painful.

“Take this.”

After a long moment, the old man fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a brass key, placing it in Cheng Qiao’s hand.

“What’s this?”

“It’s your mother’s dowry. I’ve kept it for a long, long time, hoping Min Min would return… but that stubborn girl wouldn’t even come back to see me before she died.”

“Grandpa…”

Cheng Qiao understood. Her grandfather never truly wanted to sever ties with Zhao Min; it was just an outburst of anger. He thought of his daughter but couldn’t let go of his pride, only realizing the mistake after death separated them.

“Now she doesn’t need this dowry. I’ll give it to you. Your uncle knows where everything is—he’ll take you to collect it.”

Cheng Qiao nodded. The Cheng family had been wealthy long ago; even if they had handed over all their treasures, there would always be some exquisite items hidden in secret places.

“Qiao girl… you really look like your mother. Seeing you is like seeing her again. And now I can see my great-grandson. When we get there, I’ll give her a good scolding.”

Cheng Qiao: “…”

Finally, she understood the meaning of “deep love breeds deep resentment.” This father-daughter pair were a perfect example.

“Dad… Dad.”

Zhao Hui saw the old man close his eyes and knew his time had come. Fortunately, he had fulfilled his lifelong wish—his karma complete.

Cheng Qiao felt his hand growing colder and lifeless in hers, realizing he had truly passed. Her nose ached, and tears finally fell.

“Qiao, let me introduce you. Your aunt Gao Yue, your cousin Zhao Qiming, and your cousin Zhao Qijun.”

“Hello, auntie. Hello, cousin.”

“And this is Min Min’s husband, Cheng Liguo. You haven’t met him, but I’m sure Min Min told you about him.”

“Hello, uncle. Hello, cousin.”

Zhao Qiming and Zhao Qijun said in unison. Gao Yue politely nodded to Cheng Liguo and then went to the kitchen to pour two cups of brown sugar water.

“Our current status doesn’t grant us freedom, but Zhao Hui is still relatively free and has cleared the connections. We’re ready… tomorrow we’ll…”

No one could bring themselves to say the word “burned.” They say one can rest in peace after death, but Zhao Lao Ye’s roots weren’t here. So they would have to cremate him.

“Uncle, auntie, I understand. Let’s do as you’ve prepared. The memorial hall probably won’t be held; just light three incense sticks secretly tonight.”

Zhao Hui nodded and had Zhao Qijun take Cheng Qiao and Cheng Liguo to the next log house—Zhao Hui’s room, now given to the three generations of Cheng family.

That evening, Zhao Hui handed Cheng Qiao a blueprint—a secret chamber containing Zhao Min’s dowry.

“There’s only one key for the secret chamber. Don’t lose it; otherwise, no matter what, you won’t be able to open it.”

Cheng Qiao carefully stored the key and blueprint in a drawer of her spatial room, locking it—fearing little Cheng Li might treat it as a toy and break it.

“Uncle, if I take my mother’s dowry… what about your side?”

“Don’t worry. In our Zhao family, it’s just your mother and me. There’s no way I could consume such a large inheritance alone. Don’t worry; our overseas funds are far greater than what’s here.”

Cheng Qiao nodded, understanding the path Zhao Hui would take. Counting the years, in five or six years they would finally be free.

“Uncle, my father intends to settle in the Hexi Corridor. If you ever need anything, you can come directly to him.”

“And you? What are your plans?”

Zhao Hui was anxious. Surely she wouldn’t just stay in that little Xiangyang Village doing nothing all her life—it wasn’t the choice of the Zhao family.