Chapter 1522: Chapter 1522: Cherry’s Past
The wealthy merchant’s wife was a lady from an aristocratic family, with a husband who had plenty of money and businesses, as well as numerous mistresses.
Being unable to hold onto her husband’s heart was seen as the greatest failure of a woman in that era. Enduring the loneliness of an empty bed and the gossip all around, her character grew increasingly sharp and irritable, causing her husband to become more and more weary of her.
Thus, a year passed, two years passed... her womb remained inactive, and her in-laws began to complain. Amidst internal and external troubles, she heard that her husband’s mistress was pregnant.
The last straw broke the camel’s back.
The wealthy merchant’s wife bought a ghost child from a ghost trainer, telling her in-laws that she had specially invited a Golden Boy statue from afar to pray for a child. Seeing that she no longer threw tantrums aimlessly, her in-laws had a change of heart and allowed her to worship the Golden Boy at home.
Seizing this opportunity, she bought many sweets that children love, a beautiful little bed and pillow, along with various toys and dolls for the house.
She raised the ghost child as if it were her own daughter, with only one request: under no circumstances were any of those mistresses to give birth to a child.
This was really simple, for as long as those women stood on the stairs, or by the roadside, the ghost child could just give a strong push...
The ghost child vented her anger for her, and her mood gradually improved, no longer wearing a perpetually bitter and resentful expression that annoyed people.
She smiled at everyone, her lips always slightly upturned, spending her days arranging flowers and enjoying tea, gentle and harmonious.
Those mistresses who lost their children either cried pitifully, or went hysterical, or suffered such bodily injuries from miscarrying that their skin turned sallow, their hair fell thin, no longer maintaining their former vibrancy.
Her husband was unbearably frustrated, and only then noticed that his wife at home had become graceful and tranquil, her brows and eyes now carrying a smile, and before long, his attention shifted back to her.
The couple shared love and affection for two or three months, and she became pregnant, causing her husband to cherish her even more.
Her life was getting better, yet her state of mind began to change. She realized she had done too many wicked things, growing fearful of retribution and even more afraid that Heaven would punish her flesh and blood.
In an attempt to atone, she prayed fervently, performed good deeds, donated to charity, and even sent the ghost child back.
Cherry told Purple Summers, "On the way back, she kept saying sorry to me all along, I counted, she said sorry a total of forty-seven times."
Purple Summers was silent for a while, then asked her, "What happens to a ghost sent back?"
Cherry pondered while resting her chin on her hand, saying, "It gets harder, I suppose."
Animals that have enjoyed human warmth, once abandoned and left to roam, always suffer more than those who have always strayed outside.
"There aren’t many people in the village, surrounded by endless mountains, just like being in prison." She supported her chin, murmuring with a touch of melancholy, "Back then, I particularly missed my little bed, little pillow, little quilt, dolls... and the cartoons I hadn’t finished watching."
"Didn’t the old man find you another owner?" Purple Summers asked.
Cherry shook her head lightly, "Ghost children usually become very attached to their owners; once returned, they must be confined until they’ve nearly forgotten their previous owner before finding another."
"How long were you confined?"
"A decade... two decades, maybe three decades." She sighed, "Ah, how would I remember such things. Anyway, later, the old man grew too old to train ghosts, business wasn’t good either, even if a buyer occasionally came to the village, they weren’t willing to buy ghosts like me who’d been around for so long."
Both fell into silence, not speaking for a long time.
The distant horizon began to faintly reveal a pale white, the once brilliant stars became dim and sparse; dawn was approaching...
Cherry turned her head to look at Purple Summers, saying earnestly, "I know you dislike Nathaniel Summers, and maybe you even hated him, but to me, he’s the savior who took me out of the cage, the most important person in my life. For him, I would do anything."
Purple Summers gazed at her silently and after a moment, asked, "What about Gavin?"