Chapter Seven: Who Killed You?

Hu Yong got the money from Chunzhi and thought he would go out and fool around after getting another free meal. Although the Bai family was staying in the east room, it was hot summer and he could just lie down anywhere and make do for the night.

This person has been a restless sleeper since childhood, always fidgeting. One day, he rolled over and touched someone, thinking he was dreaming of being intimate with a girl, so he opened his mouth and kissed her.

He was jolted awake by the pungent smell of blood, followed by a piercing scream that tore through the night.

"Ah! Someone's dead!"

When Chunzhi arrived, Hu Yong was still shouting and yelling as if he had lost his soul.

"What's all the commotion about in the middle of the night? Didn't I give you money? Why aren't you leaving?"

After Chunzhi saw the headless corpse on the ground, she screamed again.

"Ah! Husband! What's wrong with you!"

Seeing Chunzhi throw herself onto the corpse, Hu Yong trembled and pointed a finger, "What did you say? This is my cousin?"

"How could I possibly mistake him after all these years of marriage? I even made these clothes for him!" Chunzhi cried uncontrollably, clutching the headless corpse. "My husband, who killed you?"

Old Man Bai and Hensheng had already woken up from the noise, but Su Zhenzhen was standing at the door, so they dared not move.

The commotion quickly reached the neighbors, and the village chief and Aunt Wu came over together.

They were all terrified when they saw the scene inside.

However, having experienced the era of barbarians eating people, the two calmed themselves down and helped each other forward.

The first to speak was Aunt Wu, "Is this Hua Zi? Didn't he go to the border region? How did he get killed?"

The village chief, though his hair was gray and his face was wrinkled, was much calmer. "Chunzhi, don't cry. Hua Zi has already been murdered. We can't let him die in vain. Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Chunzhi wiped away her tears. "I heard Hu Yong shouting, and when I came out, I saw my husband like this."

Hu Yong quickly explained, "It has nothing to do with me. I don't know anything. I just turned over and bumped into someone next to me. I was startled when I opened my eyes."

But Aunt Wu didn't believe it. "It seems you're the most suspicious right now, village chief. Tie him up first, and settle Hua Zi in. This isn't right."

The village chief nodded, telling Aunt Wu to stay here and watch over things while he went to call for help.

Hu Yong, in a moment of quick thinking, retorted, "Why am I the most suspicious? My cousin can't have children, and my aunt said he'd leave all the family property to me. I have no reason to kill him. Besides, there's a bunch of relatives living in their house who are just there to freeload. Why aren't they suspicious?"

Su Zhenzhen pushed open the door at the opportune moment and came out, her face showing just the right amount of fear.

"Ah...someone's dead?!"

Old Bai followed closely behind, glancing at Su Zhenzhen with a complicated expression, and hurriedly explained, "We woke up when we heard the commotion, but we had to avoid suspicion in this kind of situation, which is why we didn't come out immediately. I didn't expect this nephew to suspect us. Which member of my family is a match for Xu Hua? How could we possibly harm him?"

Indeed, there was an old man in his fifties, a frail man, and a little girl.

None of them were a match for Xu Hua, and besides, how could a murder happen without making a sound?

Chunzhi had calmed down. "Respect for the dead is paramount, so let's all keep quiet. Village chief, could you help me see if anyone in the village has a coffin? I'll buy one. Aunt Wu, could you help me pack up my husband's things? My mother can't stand seeing these things."

Finally, Chunzhi looked coldly at the others and said, "You'd better not leave my house until the murderer is identified."

Hu Yong was already terrified, but he obediently agreed.

Old Man Bai nodded as well.

There was no need to sleep that night; Xu Hua's death was a major event, and the whole village was in an uproar.

Those who live nearby have already received help from others.

Su Zhenzhen's gaze never left the main house. With such a commotion, how could the old lady be sleeping so soundly?

The commotion lasted until dawn before the funeral arrangements were finally set up, with almost the entire village coming to pay their respects.

Those with bad tempers would punch Hu Yong twice whenever they saw him.

Hu Yong was beaten so badly he didn't dare fight back. "Why are you hitting me? It really wasn't me! Do you think I have the guts?"

"Pah! Xu Hua never makes enemies. It's your unambitious cousin who freeloads at his house. He said a few words to you, and you threw stones at him. We saw it all."

"Those little pebbles won't hurt me if they hit me, I was just venting my anger."

Su Zhenzhen approached the woman who had warned her yesterday not to take the wrong road without making a sound. "Auntie, this cousin seems to have a bad reputation?"

When the woman saw it was Su Zhenzhen, she started chatting with her, "That's right, a grown man, with hands and feet, just loafing around all day, and besides..."

The woman lowered her voice, "The relative I mentioned yesterday who went the wrong way is his sister. After being caught cheating, the girl couldn't think straight and hanged herself. Hu Yong, that stubborn bastard, is even more attached to the Xu family. I heard he's a direct relative, so Old Madam Xu turns a blind eye to it."

After obtaining useful information, Su Zhenzhen did not leave immediately, but chatted with the woman for a few more minutes.

When it was time for lunch, everyone went back to eat breakfast, and only then did Grandma Xu appear.

She lit three incense sticks before the altar, then turned her gaze to the three old men.

The gaze was so sinister that Su Zhenzhen wasn't sure if the woman was looking at her.

Old Man Bai comforted the old woman, "What's done is done. We who are alive must look forward. Only by catching the murderer can the child rest in peace."

Grandma Xu smiled strangely, "Your family is really good. Although the Xu family is not a prominent family, Hua'er still has some property left behind. Otherwise, we could have him adopted into the Xu family and you could have kept him so that he could take care of us in our old age."

Old Man Bai's face changed drastically. "Young lady, what nonsense are you talking about? Chunzhi will be the first to disagree. Besides, I only have one son, and he's the one who needs to carry on the Bai family line."

Grandma Xu smiled and didn't say anything more.

After breakfast, the villagers gathered again at the Xu family home and spontaneously kept vigil for Xu Hua.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Su Zhenzhen whispered to Old Man Bai, "You'd better tell me everything you're hiding, or I can't save you."

Old Man Bai was greatly alarmed, but he refused to utter a single word.

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was evening.

Chunzhi had no appetite for cooking, so Old Man Bai cooked all three meals a day. The old man was reluctant to use rice, so Su Zhenzhen had no appetite and meditated in her room early in the morning.

By the time Old Man Bai finished his work in the kitchen and returned, it was already completely dark.

The flickering candlelight made Su Zhenzhen's face appear unreal.

The old man swallowed nervously, "God... God..."

Su Zhenzhen looked at Hensheng sitting on the bed and chuckled, "Think it through before you speak."

Hensheng was completely bewildered, but wisely remained silent.

In the end, the old man chose to remain silent.

At midnight, everyone fell into a deep sleep, and even Chunzhi's cries could no longer be heard in the mourning hall.

The door was opened, and Su Zhenzhen, hidden in the darkness, watched as a figure walked to Hensheng's bedside.

"Go to hell!"