Chapter 26 Xingxing Had Heard the Aunt’s Voice Before

Chapter 26 Xingxing Had Heard the Aunt's Voice Before

Wei Pozi asked about the relative who had fallen from the roof while repairing the beams today.

According to the family hierarchy, he was of the same generation as Yu Daniu, but slightly older than him. However, he had a hunchback, so everyone called him Yu Tuozi.

"Not good," Yu Lao Tou sighed and shook his head. "The ladder he brought himself was old and broke while he was fixing the beam. He was already on the roof when it happened. The ladder broke, he stepped into thin air, and fell from a great height... Now he's barely hanging on, breathing more out than in... I reckon it'll be just a matter of days."

Hearing this news, Wei Pozi couldn't help but sigh.

"A few days ago, after we adopted Xingxing, he even sent over a small bag of sweet potato chips he dried himself." Wei Pozi shook her head. "So, let's take Xingxing to see him tomorrow."

Yu Lao Tou nodded. "By seniority, Xingxing should call him Second Uncle. It’s proper etiquette to visit."

Thus, it was decided.

The next day, Wei Pozi planned to take Xingxing to Yu Tuozi's house.

Yu Tuozi's home wasn't far from Nan Tuo Village, but the road was not easy to navigate. Wei Pozi feared that Xingxing, being young and with little stamina, might tire easily, so she called for Huai Geer, the strongest among them, to carry Xingxing if needed.

The three of them set off for Yu Tuozi's home.

Yu Tuozi's parents had passed away long ago, and he had no siblings or children, only a widow he had married half a year ago. Therefore, the Yu clan took charge of his affairs.

Although Yu Tuozi hadn't yet passed away, the clan had already started preparing his coffin.

Firstly, they were afraid something unexpected might happen, and secondly, they hoped the coffin might bring some luck, perhaps even reviving him.

However, times were hard, and the clan could only afford the cheapest thin wooden coffin, which was placed right in front of Yu Tuozi's mud-walled house.

Several members of the Yu clan stood nearby chatting, offering their last respects to Yu Tuozi.

Xingxing, despite her young age, managed to walk most of the way but eventually grew tired and was carried by Huai Geer.

Upon arriving at Yu Tuozi's house, Huai Geer put Xingxing down and held her hand as they followed Wei Pozi through the dilapidated gate.

This was Xingxing's first encounter with such a situation. The thin wooden coffin, freshly painted, stood prominently in the courtyard. Many people were present, but most spoke in hushed tones, unable to mask the painful moans coming from inside the house...

Xingxing was scared; her face turned slightly pale, and she clung tightly to Huai Geer's hand.

Feeling Xingxing's fear, Huai Geer picked her up again.

Xingxing wrapped her arms around Huai Geer's neck and buried her head in his shoulder, too afraid to look up.

Wei Pozi looked worried.

She had initially thought that bringing Xingxing here would make it easier to add her name to the Yu clan genealogy later.

Seeing Xingxing's frightened appearance, Wei Pozi felt heartbroken, fearing that the child might have seen something sinister.

But since they had come this far...

Wei Pozi hesitated but ultimately decided not to let Xingxing enter the house, leaving her with Huai Geer in the sunlit courtyard.

Wei Pozi entered the room where Yu Tuozi lay—more like waiting to die than recovering.

When she entered, she found Yu Tuozi worse than Yu Lao Tou had described the night before.

His face was deathly pale, devoid of color.

Yu Tuozi's new wife, a widow for half a year, was sobbing, covering her face: "You cursed man, I thought marrying you would give me security for the rest of my life, but now you're leaving me behind..."

She cried bitterly.

Wei Pozi felt a pang of sympathy.

The widow, surnamed Pu, had fled from elsewhere, severely ill and nearly dead when she collapsed at Yu Tuozi's door. Yu Tuozi saved her, and she promised to marry him if she recovered. Yu Tuozi spent all his savings to hire Daxisipo to save her.

After marrying Yu Tuozi, she worked hard to give him a better life, but fate had other plans.

Now, Pu would become a widow again.

Wei Pozi shook her head, offered some words of comfort, left twenty copper coins, and whispered to Pu: "Try to buy some pain-relieving medicine, at least to ease his suffering..."

Pu wiped her eyes and agreed.

Yu Tuozi was in so much pain he couldn't recognize anyone, so Wei Pozi didn't stay long and left.

Pu escorted Wei Pozi outside, wiping her tears and exchanging pleasantries.

In the courtyard, basking in the sun, Xingxing suddenly straightened up, confused.

She looked at Wei Pozi, then at Pu, and twitched her ears.

Huai Geer, focused on his sister, immediately asked, "Xingxing, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Xingxing shook her head. "I'm not feeling unwell..."

She hesitated, looking puzzled, but finally closed her mouth.

Huai Geer shared Wei Pozi's worry, fearing Xingxing might have seen something sinister.

He didn't ask further, seeing Wei Pozi had already come out, and quickly left Yu Tuozi's house with his grandmother.

Wei Pozi was in low spirits, and Xingxing seemed hesitant to speak.

Noticing her granddaughter's unease, Wei Pozi touched Xingxing's face. "Did something scare you, Xingxing?"

Xingxing shook her head forcefully, thought for a moment, and still seemed confused as she said, "Grandma, who was the auntie you were talking to just now?"

"Po Shi?" Wei Pozi said, "She's your Uncle Yu Tuozi's wife."

Xingxing was still clearly puzzled. She hesitated for a moment. "Grandma, Xingxing has heard that auntie's voice before..."

At first, Wei Pozi didn't think much of it.

Yu Tuozi's family lived in Beimanggou, not too far from Nantuocun. Sometimes, Po Shi might come over to visit, so it wasn't surprising that Xingxing had heard her voice.

But what Xingxing said next made both Wei Pozi and Huai Geer's blood run cold, leaving them stunned.

"Grandma, that night I ran quite far and got a bit lost. I heard that auntie talking to someone in the grass in the fields," Xingxing hesitated but continued, "She said, 'Once my deadbeat husband is gone, we can do whatever we want whenever we want...'"

Xingxing even imitated Po Shi's tone at the time.

Hearing such words spoken in a child's innocent voice sent chills down Wei Pozi and Huai Geer's spines!

After imitating Po Shi, Xingxing asked Wei Pozi with confusion, "Grandma, what does 'deadbeat' mean?"