Chapter 501 - 501 Strange Cactus
501 Strange Cactus
“It’s good to go back. There are too many people watching you in the capital now. Life will be more peaceful back there,” Xia He said.
In the past two days, there were a lot of rumors going around. There had been a big hooha within the He family, but she did not know how they managed it in the end. However, she did not care about these things. The He family’s previous influential power was gone and they would not come looking for trouble in the coming days.
“Elder sister, after I leave, you have to take good care of the flowers and plants at home. I planted a lot of flowers and vegetables in my backyard. In case I don’t come back for a long time, they will definitely die,” Qiao Mei said.
Actually, as long as Qiao Mei gave each plant some energy before she left, they would be able to grow very well. However, it would be difficult to explain this situation if it was discovered.
She did not just have ordinary flowers and vegetables in the courtyard, but most of them were rare flowers and plants that needed to be taken care of and nurtured carefully. If people knew that she had been away from the capital for a few months and that the courtyard house was filled with mutated flowers and plants, they would probably get targeted.
The old master had been researching for three to four years but he did not manage to find a single mutated plant. How could it be that the plants mutated after soaking up some sunlight at her place?
“Did you see the cactus at grandfather’s house?” Xia He said proudly.
Qiao Mei had some impression of that plant because it looked like two cactuses had fused together. It looked as if the cactuses were hugging each other tightly and was very special.
“I remember. I thought that it was quite interesting. I even asked Xia Zhe why two cactuses were planted together, but he said that he didn’t know either,” Qiao Mei said with a smile.
“It was mine. I took care of it in the past but it split open. Grandfather really could not stand it anymore and asked the helper to take care of it. It took a lot of work for it to be saved. Actually, it was only one cactus in the beginning,” Xia He said embarrassedly.
Was it actually only one? And she could even take care of the cactus until it split open!
This was even scarier than He Ning growing flowers. It appeared that it was better not to let Xia He take care of all the plants at home. What if she came back to see that all the plants had split open.
By then, she would probably be so anxious that her head would split open too.
“Then… then I’d better leave the plants to elder brother and elder sister-in-law… I think elder brother should know how to take care of these things,” Qiao Mei said, with a lot less confidence.
“Elder brother should be able to do it. Elder brother is more meticulous than me, so he should be able to take good care of them,” Xia He said.
The only problem Qiao Mei had now was to tell Xu Lan and the rest about her intention to go home. She did not know if Xu Lan would let her leave. Ever since she heard the news that Qiao Mei had lost the babies, she had brought chicken soup every day.
She gave Qiao Mei first dibs on all the good things in the family, and cared for Qiao Mei more than she cared for her own children. She had never taken such good care of anyone before.
She heard from Second Aunt-in-law that Xu Lan cried every day while hugging the tiny clothes she had made for the babies, and that she was tearful every day. She no longer looked as good as before, as if she had suddenly aged a few years.
Qiao Mei could not bear to continue lying to them, but Xia Zhe said that it was not time to tell the truth yet. The matter with the He family had not been settled yet and the news that the babies were still around could not be spread around.
“Mei Mei! Lie down quickly! Mother and Second Aunt-in-law are here! Lie back down quickly!” Xia He had just reached the door on her way out to get some hot water when she saw Xu Lan and Liu Fen around the corner, followed by Xia Zhe.
Qiao Mei scrambled under the blanket and lay down quietly.
As soon as Xu Lan entered the house, she brought out the porridge and chicken soup that she had made. The fragrance almost made Qiao Mei want to sit up and taste it carefully. With one sniff, she knew that the food must have been stewed over a small fire for a long time.
“Is Mei Mei feeling better? Did Xiao Fang say anything today? Has she already gotten up today?” Xu Lan asked worriedly.
Xia He smiled and said, “Mother, you ask the same questions when you come by every day. Qiao Mei is already feeling better. Aunt says that she has been traumatized, so she still feels a little down every day.
“She looks better and she seems to have more color in her cheeks compared to yesterday,” Xu Lan said in relief.
They had come in so quickly today that Qiao Mei did not have time to apply powder on her face. Otherwise, she would still look as pale as a few days ago.
“Mother, you’re here…” Qiao Mei slowly opened her eyes and wanted to sit up and talk to them.
Xia Zhe hurriedly went forward to support Qiao Mei and adjusted her pillow so that she could lean on it comfortably.
“Mei Mei, how do you feel? I stewed this with the best and freshest ingredients. Try it and see if it tastes good.” Xu Lan carefully brought the chicken soup to Qiao Mei, afraid that she would spill and waste any bit of it.