Though Lin Qingge did not know why the old man Situ Yi asked such a question, she answered truthfully:
"Lin Wenzheng is my paternal grandfather."
When Lin Qingge transmigrated to this world, the Lin family only had her and her elder brother Lin Jingxing to rely on each other.
She saw the name Lin Wenzheng while flipping through books at home.
Later, she casually mentioned it to her elder brother, who said it was their grandfather's name.
At that time, she realized that most of the books in the Lin family's study were left by this grandfather.
Also, she hadn't paid attention before, but now that she thought about it carefully, there were no ancestral tablets enshrined in her home in Dalin Village, and she hadn't even burned any paper in three years...
In this era, this action could be considered extremely unfilial, if not rebellious.
It was understandable that her soul, transmigrated from the modern era of her past life, didn't notice anything amiss, but what about her elder brother?
Lost in thought, Lin Qingge looked up and met the gaze of the old man Situ Yi, who seemed to have something to say but hesitated. He glanced at Leng Ningyue twice and finally let out a long sigh.
Unsure why he was acting this way, Lin Qingge tentatively asked:
"Grandfather, do you know my paternal grandfather?"
"I do. He was not only my colleague but also my close friend. It's a shame good people don't live long."
As he said this, the old man Situ Yi couldn't help but sigh again:
"Your grandfather was a good man, but he wasn't born into a good family. What a pity for someone as learned as he was, possessing the grace of a orchid."
???
Lin Qingge, who lived in the same house, looked at him in surprise, but the old man Situ Yi smiled and patted her shoulder:
"You don't look like someone who would suffer a loss. You certainly won't follow in Wenzheng's footsteps."
...
Feeling offended, Lin Qingge found it difficult to react. Afterward, no matter how she tried to probe, the old man Situ Yi refused to say another word.
Even when she enlisted Leng Lanxi to help inquire, the old man Situ Yi merely smiled brightly, feigning ignorance.
In the end, Lin Qingge had to give up.
Looking at Leng Lanxi, who was frowning from being pestered by the old man Situ Yi, Lin Qingge reaffirmed her decision not to marry and asked Leng Ningyue beside her:
"Madam, what do you think marriage brings to women?"
"Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing. I just feel that my maternal grandmother, who was a peerless martial artist, was willing to retire from the martial world and have two daughters for my maternal grandfather. She must have loved him dearly. But back then, my maternal grandmother would never have imagined that in the near future, she would actively avoid my maternal grandfather. So, not marrying is quite good, really."
Becoming increasingly fearful of marriage, Lin Qingge linked arms with Leng Ningyue and spoke enthusiastically:
"Madam, if you haven't found anyone you like either, let's just make do with each other. I've already thought it through. When we're old, we'll sell the house in the capital, and if we're still mobile, we'll travel around to experience the local customs and traditions. If we don't want to move, we'll choose a place with a pleasant climate, buy a small courtyard, and hire a few maids and servants to live out our twilight years comfortably. As for Mo'er... well, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Let's just live together."
Leng Ningyue responded with a concise word:
"Okay."
"Then it's settled!"
Lin Qingge said, making a gesture to pinky-promise with Leng Ningyue.
Although Leng Ningyue looked displeased, she still extended her fair finger.
Upon returning to Jingzhou.
Leng Lanxi left with Long Yunfeng, whose martial arts had been crippled, and the old man Situ Yi once again embarked on his journey to chase his wife.
With the matters in Jingzhou settled, Lin Qingge, feeling as though she was possessed by metaphysics, no longer dared to wander around carelessly. She instructed Hua Jinrong to prepare the carriage to return to the capital.
After several days of travel by carriage, Lin Qingge finally re-entered the Fengtian Prefecture area.
However, Leng Ningyue's expression suddenly turned solemn.
"Madam, is something amiss?"
Leng Ningyue did not reply but made a gesture to Lin Qingge to quiet down.
With the tacit understanding developed during this time, Lin Qingge understood what had happened in an instant. She furrowed her brows and, in a voice feigning casualness, called out to the outside:
"Madam says she's hungry. Master Hua, hurry up and get some food for Madam!"
It was well known that Hua Jinrong was incapable. Therefore, everyone was slightly surprised to hear this, especially Yan Tinghao, who was in another carriage.
Just as he was about to ask, his cousin covered his mouth.
A hint of coldness flashed in Hua Jinrong's eyes. Then, as he lifted the carriage curtain with his fan, he said with a smile:
"It is my student's fault to let Madam go hungry. I shall personally prepare food for Madam~
'An Yi, go find some dry branches around for starting a fire.
'An Er, go to the carriage and fetch the cooking utensils.
As I am untalented, I will prepare a whole fish feast for Madam today~"
"Yes."
An Yi and An Er went their separate ways. An Yi flashed into the woods and disappeared, while An Er brought a cumbersome box from the carriage.
"Oh dear, look at my memory, how can a whole fish feast be complete without fish~"
Hua Jinrong said, bending down to retrieve something from the box An Er had carried over.
However, this item was not pots and pans for cooking, but a strange object about the size of a palm, round at the front and with a small handle at the end.
After playing with it for a while, Hua Jinrong muttered with some regret:
"This was originally a dark weapon called a 'hand grenade' that I designed based on the drawings and formulas provided by Lord Yan. Unfortunately, despite my subordinates' long efforts, they only managed to produce this small box of finished products. Alas— You've got it cheap~"
With that, he pulled off the fuse at the end and casually threw the hand grenade into the distance.
The next moment, a loud "boom" was heard.
Faint cries of pain and surprise could still be heard.
Unable to resist her curiosity, Lin Qingge leaned out the window to look. She saw Hua Jinrong hooking a smile that could be described as sinister, stylishly throwing... hand grenades?
Damn it!
Is this really a secretary from the government office, or a villainous boss with an antisocial personality, delusional about destroying everything?
Also, which brain-fed-fish-and-small-brain-fed-shrimp idiot set up an ambush on the way back to the capital, intending to kill her?
Don't they know she is the embodiment of justice and wisdom?
With this setup, it wouldn't even be enough for that madman Hua Jinrong to fight for a single round.
Despite her complaints, Lin Qingge, recognizing her own lack of combat ability, could now calmly act as a quiet quail in the carriage.
On the other side.
Hua Jinrong rubbed his sore wrist and yawned lazily.
"Tsk tsk, this heat is a bit too much. The fish might be burnt, right~"
As Hua Jinrong finished speaking, he suddenly changed his expression, as if seeing something, and even cursed impolitely:
"Damn it, you can't play like this~"