When the captain announced that Wang Ermazi was dead, no one reacted immediately. They were stunned for several seconds before someone asked, "How could he suddenly die?"

“I don’t know,” Song Guangming frowned. “When I went to check, he had been dead for several hours, and his body was almost stiff.”

Xie Zhuo was also surprised. He stood aside and tried hard to recall his previous life, confirming that Wang Ermazi had not died in his previous life. Although he was poor and destitute, he was still alive.

In this life...

"It must have been the Zhao family who did it," Granny Qian cried, squatting next to Wang Ermazi. "Yesterday I saw Zhao Jihou come to see my Zhuzi, and the two of them even had a few words in a fight. Today my Zhuzi is like this. It must have been Zhao Jihou who did it!"

After saying that, she knelt down and pulled at Song Guangming's clothes, pleading, "Please save my Zhuzi! Can you take him to the city hospital in the brigade's oxcart? The city hospital will definitely be able to cure my Zhuzi."

Granny Qian burst into tears.

Someone couldn't stand it anymore and went over to help her up.

But she still clung tightly to Song Guangming's clothes, repeatedly muttering for help to be saved.

Zhao Jihou didn't come; it was Zhao Jisheng who came out after hearing the noise. He stared at Wang Ermazi's corpse with a grim expression, and even though he felt the gazes directed at him from all around, he didn't move much.

Xie Zhuo walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Third Brother, is he really... dead?" Zhao Jisheng asked with difficulty, his voice hoarse.

Xie Zhuo nodded.

In the end, the brigade's oxcart did not take Wang Ermazi to the hospital. Song Guangming covered him with a white cloth and then sent someone to the city police station to report the case.

Not knowing when the police would arrive, Song Guangming took a puff of his pipe and said to the people he had woken up, "Alright, go back now. No work this morning."

Customs of Qingshan Brigade.

After someone dies, every household in the brigade sends a representative to come and pay their respects.

Then, when it's time for the funeral and burial, the men of the village help dig the burial pit and carry the coffin, while the women usually help prepare paper money, mourning clothes, and other items for keeping vigil.

Now that we've met everyone, there's nothing we can do to help from here, so we can only go home.

When Xie Zhuo got home, the sky was already starting to lighten. The sun hadn't risen yet, but the clouds piled up on the horizon had already taken on a blush of color.

It looks kind of nice.

Xie Zhuo stood at the gate for a long time, staring at it, before scooping up some water to wash his hands and face. When he entered the house, Xu Yan was still asleep. Noticing his body temperature, Xu Yan leaned closer to him.

Xie Zhuo paused, his hand, which was about to pull the person into his arms, pausing.

"You're back?" Xu Yan was still half asleep. She touched Xie Zhuo's face haphazardly and buried her face in his chest.

"Mm," Xie Zhuo responded.

He gently stroked Xu Yan's hair a few times to comfort her. "Sleep a little longer."

The two were fast asleep inside. Da Bao and Xiao Bao had already woken up on time. They hadn't heard any noise from the kitchen, so the two kids didn't think much of it, assuming Xie Zhuo had left early and hadn't had time to make breakfast. As for Xu Yan…

They've long been used to their aunt sleeping in late every few days.

The two little ones went to the kitchen, got some peach shortbread, ate it, fed Kaixin some more, and then each took a piece of candy before putting on their backpacks and going to school.

Before leaving, they thoughtfully closed the door.

When Xu Yan woke up again, she was still a little dazed. She stared at Xie Zhuo's sleeping face for a long time before she realized what was happening.

Just as she was about to get up and check the time on the small clock by the window, Xie Zhuo tightened his arms around her, pulled her into his embrace, and kissed her.

Xu Yan paused, then lay back down. "What happened last night?"

“Wang Ermazi is dead,” Xie Zhuo said, his eyes still closed, his hand pinching Xu Yan’s arm repeatedly.

Xu Yan couldn't lie still any longer and sat up slightly. "Wang Ermazi is dead? How did he die?"

“I don’t know, but it looks like he was beaten to death,” Xie Zhuo said. “Grandma Qian said he was beaten by Zhao Jihou. The brigade leader reported the case and then let us come back.”

Xu Yan slowly lay down again, and after a few seconds sat up.

"What are you doing?" Xie Zhuo opened his eyes.

"Guess," Xu Yan reached for her clothes.

Xie Zhu blocked her hand, leaned in and gently bit her waist, looking up at her, "Will you tell me or not?"

"Say it, say it," Xu Yan dodged and glared at him, "If you don't get up, you'll starve to death."

Xie Zhuo didn't know which of her words made him laugh, but he let go of her hand and lay there laughing for a long time.

After Xu Yan finished dressing, she turned to look at him, then reached out and pinched his nose. "Aren't you getting up?"

“Get up,” Xie Zhuo said with a smile. “If you don’t get up, I’m afraid I’ll get hungry too, and then I won’t be able to resist eating you again.”

After the two finished getting ready and washing up, it was almost noon. Since they had already gotten up late, they didn't plan to make breakfast anymore, so Xie Zhuo started preparing lunch directly.

Li Aihua came over again.

As the "information officer" of the Qingshan Brigade, there was no gossip that Li Aihua didn't know.

"You didn't know?" Li Aihua glared at Xie Zhuo and Xu Yan.

"I don't know," Xu Yan shook his head honestly and asked sincerely, "How exactly did he die?"

“He was beaten to death by Zhao Jihou,” Li Aihua said.

"Huh?" Xu Yan turned to look at Xie Zhuo, who was also a little surprised.

"Anyway, that's what Old Lady Qian said," Li Aihua said. "This morning, Zhao Jihou was arrested. Oh my, you didn't see how much his mother cried. His grandmother almost fainted."

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