338: Chapter 118 Gan Baobao persuades Mu Wanqing

It was evening.

Using the excuse of looking for Zhong Ling, Gan Baobao left the courtyard where Duan Zhengchun was staying and walked to the courtyard across the way where Meng Li and his group were staying, knocking on the door.

Zhong Ling was playing Five-in-a-Row with A Zi and had just lost.

When the knocking came, A Zi seized the opportunity and suggested, "You lost, so your punishment is to open the door."

Zhong Ling was a good sport about losing and got up to open the door.

When the courtyard gate opened and she saw Gan Baobao, she was surprised at first, then seemingly realizing something, she said with a hint of reluctance, "Mom, are you here to call me back?"

Gan Baobao noticed her mood and teased, "What, you don't want to go back?"

Zhong Ling nodded subconsciously.

She had grown up in Wanjian Valley. Although she lacked for nothing, the only friend of a similar age around her was Mu Wanqing. And because of Qin Hongmian's influence and the need to practice martial arts, Mu Wanqing couldn't play with her often.

As it happened, she had a lively personality and was currently at an age where she loved to play.

Here with Meng Li, not only could she play with Mu Wanqing, but she also met A Zi, who liked to play just as much. Furthermore, Wang Yuyan and A Zhu, because of their similar circumstances, were also kind to her. Most importantly, there were many novel games here that she had never encountered before.

For a time, Zhong Ling couldn't help but be so happy that she forgot to go home.

Gan Baobao smiled and said, "Then you can play here a while longer; just come back yourself when it gets dark."

Zhong Ling was immediately happy and nodded repeatedly. She wanted to close the door and go back, but seeing that Gan Baobao hadn't left, she couldn't help asking in confusion, "Mom, do you have something else?"

Gan Baobao rolled her eyes at her and said bluntly, "I have something to discuss with your Sister Mu; go help me call her out."

"Oh, okay."

Zhong Ling agreed and turned to run and call Mu Wanqing.

Before long, she brought Mu Wanqing over.

Mu Wanqing looked at Gan Baobao and got straight to the point, "Junior Martial Uncle, what do you need me for?"

Gan Baobao teased, "Can't I look for you if I don't have anything to do?"

Mu Wanqing was speechless.

She didn't know how to respond to that.

Gan Baobao also knew that Mu Wanqing was not good with words, so she stopped after the teasing and smiled, "Accompany your Junior Martial Uncle for a walk; let's talk while we walk."

"It concerns your mother."

Mu Wanqing was slightly stunned, then immediately nodded.

Zhong Ling asked, "Mom, what about me?"

Gan Baobao poked her forehead with her finger and said crossly, "Go back and play."

After saying this, she turned and headed in a direction to walk out.

Mu Wanqing hurried to follow.

Zhong Ling made a face at Gan Baobao's back, closed the door, and turned back to continue playing.

Gan Baobao hadn't walked far before she stopped in a quiet, deserted corner.

Then, she looked into Mu Wanqing's eyes and said, "Your mother misses you very much."

Mu Wanqing was stunned for a moment, feeling a soft spot in her heart touched, but she immediately realized something was wrong.

She knew Qin Hongmian better than anyone.

Like her, the other party was not good at expressing the emotions in her heart; even if she really missed her, it was impossible for her to say it out loud.

Gan Baobao also understood this point.

Therefore, she quickly added, "Of course, she didn't say it explicitly, but I can feel it."

"On this trip out, do you have any plans to return to Yougu Valley to see her?"

Mu Wanqing was silent.

Because the answer was no.

She had come out this time mainly to travel and have fun with Meng Li, Wang Yuyan, A Zi, and the others.

Attending the Heroes Assembly was secondary.

As for visiting Qin Hongmian, she hadn't thought about it.

Gan Baobao saw the answer in her expression, sighed internally, and changed the subject, "Do you know why I was the one accompanying Brother Chun on this trip?"

Mu Wanqing replied without hesitation, "Because my mother returned to Yougu Valley?"

Gan Baobao first nodded, then shook her head, and then truthfully said, "It is indeed because your mother returned to Yougu Valley, but she didn't return voluntarily; she was driven away in anger."

Then, she briefly recounted the conflict that had occurred between Dao Baifeng and Qin Hongmian.

After listening, Mu Wanqing really wanted to kill Dao Baifeng and at the same time scold Qin Hongmian with a few words, such as "useless" or "it serves you right," but thinking that the latter was her own mother, she swallowed the words back.

Gan Baobao noticed Mu Wanqing's emotions and said with a smile, "Do you think your mother is spineless? Knowing she can't win, she still clings to him; it's a bit pathetic."

Mu Wanqing was stunned, opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't say the words of agreement.

Gan Baobao said, "I feel the same way, but this is where the word 'love' is hurtful and unsolvable. It's like a moth to a flame; even knowing there's no result and that it will harm oneself, one is still attracted to the other party and then rushes in regardless."

"If you were your mother and Young Master Murong were Brother Chun, you would be the same."

As soon as she finished speaking, Mu Wanqing curled her lip and said, "Li Lang is not as cowardly and incompetent as him, unable to even keep the woman he likes by his side."

Gan Baobao: "..."

Are you actually proud of this?

Although you can stay by your lover's side, you are still a concubine...

Fine, being a concubine is not as good as being the legal wife, but at least there is a status; it does look better than your mother and me.

Feeling bitter in her heart, Gan Baobao shook her head slightly, pushed aside the distracting thoughts of comparison, and changed the subject, "On this point, he is indeed better than Brother Chun."

Mu Wanqing curled the corners of her mouth.

Gan Baobao smiled and returned to the main topic, "Then have you thought about your mother? What will she do in the future?"

Mu Wanqing didn't react in time and replied subconsciously, "Didn't she return to Yougu Valley?"

Gan Baobao said, "She did indeed return to Yougu Valley, but do you want her to stay there alone and grow old in solitude?"

Mu Wanqing was stunned and subconsciously denied it, "Of course not, how could she grow old in solitude? Isn't she..."

Before she could finish, Gan Baobao, understanding what she meant, interrupted, "Don't count on Brother Chun; he couldn't give a result before. Now that Duan Yu has ascended the throne, Dao Baifeng is the Empress Dowager of Dali, and he has his own problems, it is even more impossible for him to give your mother a result."

"Even for me, staying by his side is only thanks to Ling'er."

Then, she went further, "Ling'er has been titled a Princess and has a very good relationship with Duan Yu. As long as there are no accidents, I will definitely have someone to rely on in the future."

"Your mother is different; if you are not by her side, she has no one to rely on."

Mu Wanqing froze.

Gan Baobao sighed and said helplessly, "Originally, I hadn't thought of, nor did I intend to, tell you these things. It was the words of that young lady A Zi earlier that reminded me. I know something about her mother, Ruan Xingzhu's situation; like your mother, she never married for Brother Chun's sake, and now she lives in Canhe Village."

"You should know the ins and outs of that better than I do."

"Regardless of the specifics, she now has her daughter by her side as support, so she doesn't have to worry about being lonely and helpless for the rest of her life."

"If you are thinking of your mother, you might as well take this opportunity to go to Yougu Valley with me to see her."

"If possible, it would be best to bring her to Canhe Village and, like that young lady A Zi, keep her by your side."

Hearing Gan Baobao's suggestion, Mu Wanqing was somewhat moved, but after thinking about it, she didn't agree, instead saying, "I will go back and discuss this matter with Li Lang."

"Discuss?" Gan Baobao exclaimed softly, then smiled and probed, "Could it be that Young Master Murong wouldn't even agree to this small matter, or is it that his legal wife or other lovers might have objections?"