Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Song Zhangqi rushed into the room joyfully to see his mother, wanting to shout, "Mother, I'm back!"

But when he pushed open the door, he saw an empty room, with no bedding on the bed, and even the floor was dusty.

Remembering his mother had been sick for a while, he had a very bad feeling, and tears immediately streamed down his face.

"Brother, where is Mother?"

Even though he already had an answer in his heart, Song Zhangqi still couldn't believe it and insisted Song Changting tell him himself.

Looking at his brother, who was crying inconsolably, Song Changting sighed softly. "I'll take you to see Mother tomorrow."

Home was right here, and since his mother was unwell, she couldn't have gone far. Where else could they go to see her? Of course, it was up on the mountain.

Hearing the definite answer, Song Zhangqi broke down in tears. "Why? Why did Mother leave? Why didn't she wait for me to come back? Sob... Mother..."

Right before he left, she had promised to make him a pair of shoes, and now she was gone.

No wonder his brother had never mentioned Mother these past few days, and when he asked, there was hesitation in his eyes.

He had thought his brother was worried about other things, so he didn't press further.

He had assumed Mother’s health had improved enough for her to take care of herself, and that his brother had asked Aunt Li to help.

That was why he hadn't been in a rush to come home these days.

Who would have thought Mother was no longer here!

He had grown up without a father, and during the years his elder brother was away at school, Mother had been both father and mother to him.

He hadn't even had a chance to repay her kindness, let alone see her one last time.

"Sob... Mother..."

Song Zhangqi cried even harder, squatting on the ground, his shoulders heaving. Lu Wanxiao's heart ached.

Sighing, she walked over and patted his shoulder. "Zhangqi..."

She had intended to comfort him a little, but Song Zhangqi pushed her away.

"It's you! It has to be you! You sold me, angered Mother, didn't get a doctor for her, and didn't take care of her, so she died!"

Song Zhangqi pushed Lu Wanxiao away, stood up, and pointed at her, pouring out his accusations.

"You horrible woman! Give me back my mother! Sob... Give me back my mother!"

Crying, Song Zhangqi raised his hand to hit Lu Wanxiao.

Lu Wanxiao didn't plan to dodge or avoid the blow, thinking she'd let him hit her a couple of times to blow off steam.

What happened wasn't her doing, but it was done by the original owner of her body. In Song Zhangqi's eyes, it was her doing.

After all, she couldn't tell Song Zhangqi that she wasn't his original sister-in-law, that the original one had long since died, and that she was just someone who had taken over that body.

The original owner had done such a thing to him, so he must have been holding a grudge.

But from the time they picked him up until now, he hadn't said a harsh word to her, and even his discontent had been subtle.

Now, let him cry and curse, and hit her a few times to let out that pent-up anger.

It was better than him bottling it up, which would only cause trouble for her later.

Besides, he didn't have much strength; a few hits wouldn't hurt.

But Song Changting wouldn't let that happen. Before Song Zhangqi's hand could fall, he called out to stop him. "Zhangqi, don't hit your sister-in-law."

"Brother, Mother is gone. I don't have a mother anymore. Sob... I want Mother, Brother, I want Mother..." Song Zhangqi turned and buried his face in Song Changting's lap, crying his heart out.

Song Changting sighed softly and patted him on the back. "Mother is gone, and I'm very sad too, but this is not your sister-in-law's fault. You can't blame her."

Indeed, it wasn't the fault of the current Lu Wanxiao. It had a little to do with the original Lu Wanxiao, but not much.

Song Mother had a difficult delivery with her first child and almost didn't survive. The family was poor back then, and she didn't get proper recovery afterward.

Later, after she had finally recovered a bit, she found out that the son she'd raised for so many years was not her own, that her biological son had died long ago. Though she appeared fine on the surface, she had secretly grieved over it.

In such a situation, it was hard not to feel distressed.

Later, after giving birth to Song Zhangqi, her health naturally declined again.

Before she could fully recover, Song Father died in a hunting accident. It devastated her, and her health got even worse.

If it weren't for the fact that Song Zhangqi was still a nursing baby, she might have followed him in death right then.

Later, when Song Changting broke his leg and his future was destroyed, she suffered another huge blow and nearly collapsed.

To take care of Song Changting, she kept going on willpower alone.

But her body was giving out. Even without the incident of Song Zhangqi being sold, she wouldn't have held on much longer. In her final days, she was tormented by pain day and night, and it was truly agonizing.

But Song Zhangqi didn't understand all this and couldn't put it all together. Hearing Song Changting's words, he suddenly stood up.

"It's her fault! It's her fault! Sob..."

Then, he shoved Lu Wanxiao aside and ran out the door.

"Let me go after him."

Lu Wanxiao followed quickly.