Chapter 277: Reporting a Death

Chapter 277: Reporting a Death

Fortunately, Shuangyun happened to pass by and heard Miss Xingxing's exclamation. She rushed into the kitchen and saw Miss Xingxing standing there, with a fallen kettle and hot water all over the floor, which shocked her!

Shuangyun quickly ran over and picked up Miss Xingxing: "Miss, are you alright?"

Shuangyun hurriedly checked everywhere to see if Miss Xingxing had been scalded.

Miss Xingxing shook her head: "I'm fine. I wasn't scalded."

Shuangyun checked Miss Xingxing's clothes and confirmed there were no wet spots, then she sighed in relief.

She carried Miss Xingxing to a clean, dry spot, took a cloth, and went to clean up the hot water on the floor.

Miss Xingxing felt a bit embarrassed: "Shuangyun, I didn't hold the kettle properly."

Shuangyun quickly said, "Miss, don't say that. It's lucky you weren't scalded." After a pause, Shuangyun noticed Miss Xingxing's lips were dry and slightly chapped. She felt angry and frowned, looking around, "...Where is Shuanglian? What is she doing?"

How could she neglect Miss Xingxing like this!

Miss Xingxing's lips are so dry they're peeling!

Shuangyun held back her anger and gently said to Miss Xingxing, "Miss, next time you want water, just call Shuanglian to get it for you. Don't pour it yourself again."

Miss Xingxing first nodded obediently, then explained, "Shuangyun, I looked for Shuanglian but couldn't find her, so I poured it myself..."

She looked at the water on the floor, and the little girl sighed.

Shuangyun couldn't help but laugh, but thinking about how Shuanglian couldn't even fulfill her basic duties as a maid, she was furious again.

This time, our Miss Xingxing was lucky and wasn't scalded, but what if something similar happens next time?

Shuangyun hesitated for a moment but decided to tell Wei Pozi about it.

Miss Xingxing was Wei Pozi's heart and soul, and upon hearing this, she immediately flew into a rage!

Wei Pozi was ready to call Shuanglian over for a scolding when a villager came to visit.

It was to report a death.

—Zhao Meng's father, Zhao Youcai, had passed away.

Wei Pozi was surprised to hear this: "...Didn't we hear that he was getting better a couple of days ago? How did he suddenly pass away?"

The villager delivering the news looked distressed: "Who knows? Maybe the winter was too harsh, or perhaps those last couple of days were just a final rally before the end..."

After the years of natural disasters in Nantuo Village, many elderly and young adults in the village had passed away. When it came to funerals, other families in the village would usually lend a hand to help with the arrangements.

Especially now that both of the Zhao family's elders had passed away, and the only young adult, Zhao Youcai, was also gone, leaving only Zhao Meng and his mother, truly making them an orphan and a widow.

Although Zhao Youcai had recently offended the Yujia family, with death, all grievances are extinguished. Wei Pozi had already taken her sons to beat Zhao Youcai once, which could be considered as venting some anger for Ju Geer, and the matter was considered settled.

Given this, the remaining orphan and widow of the Zhao family should still be helped.

Wei Pozi nodded to the villager delivering the news: "I'll go to the Zhao family later to see where I can help."

The villager nodded. Although they had heard about the discord between the Yujia and Zhao families, now that the Yujia family was willing to step forward and offer help, it showed great magnanimity.

The villager hurried off to report the death to the next family.

Wei Pozi sighed and stood up, thinking to herself that Zhao Youcai had a violent temper and often beat his wife and children. Now that he was gone, although Zhao Meng and his mother might live in poverty, it might actually be easier for them...

However, such thoughts were naturally not appropriate to say out loud.

Wei Pozi went to the third room courtyard to look for Ju Geer.

Today, Ju Geer hadn't gone out and was in his room chasing a little chick he had caught from the chicken coop, having the time of his life.

Wei Pozi's eyebrows furrowed.

Ju Geer hid the chick behind his back, his eyes darting around.

Wei Pozi took a deep breath.

Ju Geer, thinking he was about to be scolded, quickly said, "...Grandma, the chicken coop is so cold. I brought it into the room to play for a while. It'll be fine."

Wei Pozi's forehead veins throbbed even more violently. She couldn't help but scold her grandson, "...It's the middle of winter. The chick is used to the weather outside. You brought it into the room and made a fuss. When you put it back in the coop later, it might not be able to adjust to the outside weather and could die."

Ju Geer was stunned by Wei Pozi's words but soon came up with his own solution: "Then let's just keep it in my room forever!"

He thought his idea was quite good and even felt a bit proud.

Wei Pozi: "..."

Having a grandson like Ju Geer was truly her blessing!

Wei Pozi called Shuangyun over and instructed her to move the chick back to the coop later.

Ju Geer still looked reluctant.

Wei Pozi couldn't resist patting Ju Geer's little head, "...I'll take you to Ah Wu's house. Ah Wu's father has passed away. You should go and keep him company."

Ju Geer jumped up and urged Wei Pozi, "Grandma, why didn't you say so earlier? Let's go, let's go. Ah Wu must be really sad right now."

Before leaving, Wei Pozi thought for a moment and decided to bring Xingxing along.

She believed Xingxing was the luckiest in their family. If she could bring some of that fortune to Zhao Meng and his mother, helping the orphaned mother and son live a better life, it would be a good deed.

The Zhao family's house was already bustling with people. Some were hanging white banners, while others were dressing Zhao Youcai in his burial clothes. Everyone was busy.

Zhao Meng's mother wiped her tears as she spoke to someone, "...A few days ago, we dug him out of the snow, and after a day of rest, he seemed much better. His legs were frostbitten, but he just needed more time to recover. I thought he was going to be fine. But last night, he suddenly got angry, smashed the chamber pot, and wouldn't let me into the room. He kept cursing at me..."

A Zhao family neighbor nodded in agreement, "Oh, I heard it last night... the way he was swearing..."

The neighbor couldn't finish the sentence, but the slightly disdainful expression on her face made it clear that she didn't think much of Zhao Youcai.

Who would curse at their own wife, who had been taking care of him so diligently, in such a filthy way!

It didn't sound like he was cursing his wife; it sounded like he was cursing his mortal enemy!

Only someone as patient as Zhao Meng's mother could endure it...

The neighbor thought to herself.

Zhao Meng's mother wiped her tears and continued, "...So I had to go to Zhao Meng's room and spend half the night with him... In the middle of the night, I got up, thinking I should check if my husband needed anything. But when I entered the room, I found his body already stiff..."

At this point, Zhao Meng's mother covered her face with a handkerchief and cried.

The nearby women quickly tried to comfort her.

"The dead cannot be brought back to life, so try not to be too sad."

"You need to take care of yourself and raise Ah Wu well; that would honor the Zhao family."

Everyone was offering heartfelt comfort to Zhao Meng's mother.

It was clear that Zhao Meng's mother was usually well-liked by everyone.

Wei Pozi had initially planned to step forward to comfort her, but unexpectedly, from her vantage point, she noticed Zhao Meng's mother's face, hidden behind a handkerchief, with a faint smile at the corner of her mouth.