Chapter 200: Afraid To Lose You
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Su Li rubbed her sleepy eyes and said, “Are we here? Can you put me down?” “Has your leg recovered?” He Yufeng asked.
Su Li smiled coquettishly. “Yes, yes. Everything will be fine after a nap!”
Only then did He Yufeng put her down. Seeing that he was covered in sweat, Su Li took out a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to him. “Here, wipe your sweat. It’s been hard on you.”
He Yufeng did not decline and naturally took the handkerchief from her hand to wipe it. After wiping it, he did not return it to Su Li and put it in his pocket.
He said, “I’ll wash it and return it to you.”
Su Li didn’t mind. It was just a handkerchief. She still had a lot at home!
Although He Yufeng knew the way to Jia Village, he did not know where Zhao Peng’s family lived. Hence, Su Li found a villager and started asking for directions.
When the villagers saw strangers coming, they could not help but be vigilant. Too many things had happened in the village recently, so many that they could not sleep well at night.
Su Li tried her best to look kind. “Auntie, don’t be afraid. I’m Zhao Peng’s distant cousin. It’s just that our families haven’t contacted each other for many years. This time, I heard about him and wanted to come over to take a look.”
The woman sized Su Li up and saw that her face was filled with sincerity. She did not look like she was lying. Moreover, it was not a secret where Zhao Peng’s family lived. It was fine to tell her.
“Go north and turn west when you see an apricot tree. The family at the top is his house.”
Su Li smiled and thanked the woman. “Thank you, auntie. It’s a pity that my cousin died at such a young age! ”
The woman sighed when she heard that. “That’s right! That child isn’t married yet. He doesn’t even have a bloodline. Really pity the Zhao couple.”
Su Li’s eyes flashed as she said, “A few years ago, I heard that he had a childhood sweetheart who seemed to be getting engaged. After that, I didn’t hear him say anything.”
The woman couldn’t help but ask, “What’s that girl’s name?”
Su Li thought for a moment and said, “I think it’s called Xiu’er?”
When the woman heard this, she patted her thigh. “Aiyo, you can’t spout nonsense. Xiu’er has been engaged since she was young. The other party is even a scholar! It’s just that Xiu’er’s life isn’t very good. She doesn’t have the fortune and died at such a young age.”
Su Li pretended to be surprised and said, “Huh? No way. Auntie, quickly tell me what’s going on?”
Why was this different from what she had heard before?
Xiu’er’s matter was not a secret. The woman could not control her mouth and told her everything she knew. “Xiu’er somehow became crazy. Do you think a scholar’s wife can be crazy? The two families discussed it and canceled this marriage. Unexpectedly, Xiu’er decided to kill herself, she jumped into the well and died.”
“Xiu’er is also an unfilial daughter. It’s fine if she died, but she even took her parents, brothers, and sister-in-law away. Why do you think they raised such a daughter for? If we had known earlier, we would have drowned her at such a young age.”
Su Li was speechless.
Could she claim the lives of others after turning into a ghost?
She did not believe that!
Su Li continued, “Auntie, what’s wrong with Xiu’er? Why did she suddenly become crazy?”
The woman said disdainfully, “How can you say that? She must have always wanted to be a scholar’s wife in the past. It wasn’t easy for her to become one. She was so excited that she was overjoyed!”
Su Li asked again, “Is that scholar from our village?”
The woman raised her chin proudly, as if the scholar was her son. “No, he’s from the neighboring village. However, their families were engaged in the past. Xiu’er’s family has helped him a lot over the years, but that scholar is also grateful. He was the one who helped bury Xiu’er and her parents this time!”
“He said that although his marriage with Xiu’er is gone, he has always doted on Xiu’er as if she was his younger sister and treated her parents as his own. Therefore, when they are gone, he will definitely give them the last bit of dignity.”
“I have to say that he did a really good job. No family’s funeral is as lively as their family’s. Didn’t you see that the meat on the table was bowl after bowl?
This is the first time I’ve eaten such a good meal…”
Listening to the woman’s nagging, Su Li roughly understood the situation.
Now, other than Xiu’er’s brother, who had gone on a long trip, no one else in Xiu’er’s family had survived. That scholar had abandoned his fiancée and even left a good reputation.
Su Li nodded at the woman. “Auntie, go ahead. I’ll go to my cousin’s house to take a look first.”
The woman said enthusiastically, “Do you know the way? Do you need me to take you there?”
Su Li smiled and rejected politely. “No need. I know!”
“Alright then!” The woman did not force him. She turned around and went to find someone to gossip with.
He Yufeng felt that it was complicated and said, “Are you planning to interfere in this matter?”
Su Li glanced at him and said, “It’s not that I want to interfere, but this matter has already pestered me. If I don’t resolve it, I’ll be the unlucky one in the future.”
He Yufeng said, “I’ll always stand behind you, no matter what you do!”
Su Li did not take his words to heart and said perfunctorily, “Alright, I’ll rely on you then!”
He Yufeng said solemnly, “I’m serious!”
Su Li blinked her big eyes. “I’m serious too. Look at the sincerity on my face.”
He Yufeng couldn’t do anything to her. He reached out and held her hand. “I’ll hold your hand so that you won’t get lost.”
Su Li was speechless. There’s no need!
When the villagers passing by saw them holding hands, they could not help but point at them. He Yufeng was a little embarrassed and let go of her hand. Su Li teased, “Why? Aren’t you afraid that I’ll get lost now?”
He Yufeng’s ears started to turn red. “There are too many people now!”
He Yufeng was slightly stunned when he saw her smile. She looked so beautiful when she smiled. Seeing her smile, his frustration disappeared.
Before Su Li walked into Zhao Peng’s house, she heard cries coming from inside.
Not far away, a few villagers walked over. However, when they were about to reach Zhao Peng’s house, they turned a corner, as if they were subconsciously avoiding the place, afraid that they would be unlucky if they passed by.
Su Li and He Yufeng walked in. The two elders in the central room were crying, but there were no coffins.
They only reacted when Su Li walked in front of the old couple.
“You are?”
Su Li explained, “We’re Zhao Peng’s friends. When we heard that he was gone, we specially came to take a look.”
The old man wiped his tears. “You’re too kind. It’s really worth it for Zhao Peng to have friends like you. Look, everyone in the village is avoiding us now.. They’re afraid that we’ll pass bad luck to them!”
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