If he weren't so weak and lacking strength, he would have met King Yan long ago.
Old Man Qian packed up his medicine box, still in shock.
He looked at Wei Shen, whose breathing was fragile on the bed, then at the honest and simple Wei Shouzhong by his side, feeling that something was amiss.
"Shouzhong, is this really your son?"
Wei Shouzhong didn't hesitate: "Yes. Born from Hui Niang and me, how could we mistake him?"
"No, you two look like this, and he looks like that."
Old Man Qian frowned: "I remember when Lang left your home, he was skinny and short, not particularly outstanding like you and your wife."
Those words were really unpleasant!
Wei Shouzhong was proud and certain: "It's not his fault that my son is handsome."
"He joined the Wei Family Army, where he could eat his fill every meal, gain some grease, and grow tall and robust, couldn't he?"
He sighed: "However, it's not just you, Uncle, who find him unfamiliar. If I saw him on the road, I wouldn't dare recognize him either."
"It was only thanks to Hui Niang's sharp eyes that she noticed the peace charm he was tightly clutching. It was something she personally asked for at the temple before he left, and she sewed it tightly with thread so he wouldn't lose it, to hang around his neck."
"They say one shouldn't die far from home; perhaps this child has returned to find his final resting place."
With this mention, Old Man Qian remembered.
Indeed, when Wei Shen fell into a coma, he clutched it tightly, refusing to let go.
It showed how much he valued the peace charm above all else.
The doubts that arose out of place vanished like smoke with these words.
————
As evening approached, the sky darkened, as if brewing a heavy storm.
Mrs. Wang was in a sullen mood, did not make dinner for Yu Tingwan, warmed up some food, and ate in the kitchen with Mrs. Xiao.
They had eaten bean rice for several days in a row; the smell made Mrs. Xiao nauseous.
"Mother, are you really not letting her eat?"
Mrs. Wang said coldly: "Will she die from missing a meal?"
"The Village Chief scolded me in front of everyone! I've lost all face—inside and out!"
Mrs. Xiao: ...
But isn't it your own fault?
Mrs. Wang felt something stuck in her throat; the more she thought about it, the more upset she became: "And Matchmaker Liu, how dare she offend me! Before, she called me 'scholar's wife' with every breath, but now, she turns and denies recognizing me."
"Those years, has she not harmed enough girls? What does it matter if there's one more little bitch from next door!"
Indeed!
Mrs. Xiao really agreed.
But just can't do anything about Yu Tingwan.
'Knock knock' came the sound of knocking at the door.
Mrs. Xiao was startled, turned her head to look outside, and saw Yu Tingwan standing at the door, unsure how long she had been there.
There was a trembling in the distant sky, followed by thunder and flashes of lightning like war drums and silver snakes seemingly dancing madly behind Yu Tingwan.
The blinding light tore through layers of dark clouds, suddenly brightening up. At first glance, the girl's hair was disheveled like a soul-stealing White Impermanence.
Yu Tingwan spoke gently with good humor: "How come you talk bad about others without holding back?"
"This is my home!"
Mrs. Wang: "I can point at you and curse, and you have to take it!"
Yu Tingwan blinked.
Mrs. Wang: "Don't get cocky! I'll make sure you pay for it sooner or later!"
Yu Tingwan smiled slightly: "Alright."
Mrs. Wang felt provoked by her.
Yu Tingwan seemed unable to do anything about her: "Please, Aunt, continue."
Saying so, she turned her head and was about to leave.
She took a few steps but suddenly stopped.
"How does it feel to have your scheming fail?"
She had no intention of hearing Mrs. Wang's response and laughed softly.
"All you do is make people sick, and you think you're the only one with a brain?"
Mrs. Wang chuckled angrily: "Is this how you speak to your elders?"
"I used to think about enduring, enduring again, to keep a low profile until I had no choice. But why should I? Now I understand, retreating step by step only makes people like you more aggressive."
Yu Tingwan suddenly turned a cold face. She glanced at the sky, her voice exceptionally clear and cold: "How thick is Aunt's skin to be so overbearing in front of me?"
"If you insist on tearing apart our relationship, the one left with no face won't be me. If I were Aunt, if there was any sense of shame left, this disgusting, repulsive face should be reined in."
Mrs. Xiao didn't dare to breathe heavily.
Have you been taking explosives these days!!!
She didn't dare offend either side, shifted her body slightly, unwilling to participate in this dispute.
Mrs. Wang: "Get out!"
She was so angry she stomped her feet: "Get out of here!"
"Better freeze to death outside!"
"Without the Hu Family, where would you be today? Others say you're sensible, but it's all an act! I want to see, will the Village Chief still take your side?"
She spoke with disdain: "Yes, I've been bad to you, so what? Even a beast I raise would wag its tail at me, but you!"
Compared to her hysteria, Yu Tingwan was quiet like a lifeless person.
The soles of her shoes were soaked by the snow, and the chill crept up.
Her voice was very light, almost drowned by the thunder: "For years, I've been puzzled."
"Back then, when my parents died in the sea of fire, the Yu Family was burned to ashes, Constable Zhu at the government office pitied me, but there were too many children to raise at home, so after much effort, he sought out my uncle."
"When my uncle came, he cried upon seeing me, saying he wanted to take me away."
"Though young, I had never heard my mother mention having an older brother back home. There was no contact during those years. I only knew she was desperate and rescued by my father, and they got married."
"It was clear she had a grudge against the Hu Family."
She had fearfully entered the Hu Family, and for years, no one in Xilin Village would speak about it.
"What could I do at that age? My parents gave their lives to save me, so I had to live on, and I couldn't be thrown out."
She paused as she spoke.
"But a few days ago, when I went into the mountains, I accidentally heard Granny Fan say something."
Mrs. Wang was shocked.
"You..."
Yu Tingwan turned her head: "Do I need to spell it out word for word for Aunt?"
She tugged at the corner of her mouth: "Does Aunt dare to listen?"
"What if I hint to the second cousin's teacher..."
Before she could finish, Mrs. Wang interrupted.
"No way!"
"Second Lang is not involved; you can't harm him!"
Yu Tingwan seemed to hear a great joke.
"But wasn't my mother innocent back then? Wasn't she sacrificed all the same."
Mrs. Wang's eyes changed as she looked at her, filled with fear.
Back then, Hu Dazhu almost divorced her over this matter.
If it weren't for the first Lang's severe illness at birth needing care, she might have been thrown out long ago.
So all these years, she didn't dare to mention anything about her younger sister-in-law in front of Hu Dazhu.
When Hu Dazhu went to pick up Yu Tingwan, the Village Chief learned of it and sighed deeply.
[Since you decided to bring her back, raise her well. Dazhu's life hasn't been easy; for years, he's been asking people to find his sister, only to receive news of her death. Surely it weighs on his heart. That matter... I'll remind everyone in the village to mind their words, not to bring it up in front of the girl, or else it's a sure way to make an enemy.]
Yu Tingwan's mouth curled in irony: "So, does Aunt still feel she did me a favor?"
"I've been in a mess these days and really can't muster the energy to care."
"I advise Aunt, it's best to tuck in your tail and be a person."