Although having money doesn't necessarily keep his mother, it seems that the two sons of the Su family bear a large part of the responsibility for the misfortune of Su Zhigao and his mother.

Bai Jiaojiao frowned: "No wonder they hit people."

Li Shuxian probably never expected that these two people could be so indifferent to his mother's death, and even go to the trouble of notifying them.

He's a straightforward person, and it's possible that he was provoked by something those two brothers said, leading to an argument and a fight.

Bai Jiaojiao didn't sleep well all night. Just before dawn, Li Shutao came to return the bicycle.

"How's your brother? Has he come back yet?"

"Sister Jiaojiao, you're back. My sister-in-law asked me to come and let you know that my brother is safe. He just suffered some minor injuries and nothing serious."

"It's alright. Have the two sons from the Su family returned?"

Li Shutao shook his head, looking indignant: "No, they're really scoundrels! My sister-in-law was furious; she said at the hospital that she was going to take a knife and stab those two heartless bastards to death!"

Li Shutao clenched his fists, wishing he could go and stab them himself.

"I understand. I'll pack up and go see your older brother in a bit."

"No need to trouble Sister Jiaojiao."

"It's alright, you can go back now."

After Li Shutao left, Shen Heng closed the door, put his arm around Bai Jiaojiao, who was yawning, and led her back into the room: "You should get some sleep first. If you want to see him, go over when it's light."

"That's what I think too. It's just a superficial injury, but there are many kinds of superficial injuries. It must be quite serious, otherwise why would they go to the hospital?"

With news of Li Shuxian, Bai Jiaojiao's worries came to a conclusion. She dozed off for a while at dawn, and after waking up, she cooked for Su Zhigao. After he finished eating, she told him to stay on the kang (heated brick bed) and not move around.

In Shili Village, children this age are usually locked up at home when the adults are at work. Su Zhigao was used to this and obediently stayed on the kang (a heated brick bed), leaning against the quilt, continuing to play with the slingshot in his hand.

Bai Jiaojiao carried two eggs over. The rest of the Li family had gone out to work, leaving Bai Shiqing at home to take care of Li Shuxian.

“You’re here. Shutao said you were coming. So what are you bringing? We have plenty at home.”

Bai Shiqing's eyes were a little swollen, clearly from crying.

Bai Jiaojiao put the eggs aside and followed Bai Shiqing into the house.

Li Shuxian sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), his head half-wrapped in gauze, one eye still bruised, and his right hand suspended in a sling.

Seeing Bai Jiaojiao come in, he gave her an awkward smile.

"You're still laughing? What are you laughing at!" Bai Shiqing had a toothache.

“Your sister is angry with me,” Li Shuxian said to Bai Jiaojiao with a fawning expression on his face, which was covered in bruises from the beating. “You should try to appease your sister.”

"What are you trying to fool me with? Do you think my sister would side with you?" Bai Shiqing complained. "Your brother-in-law is just a messenger, yet he insisted on meddling in other people's business. It's one thing if they don't come back, but he actually tried to reason with those two heartless bastards and even got into a fight with them."

Bai Shiqing took a deep breath: "He started it. Not only did he start it, but he also couldn't beat them. The two brothers beat him up like this, and just because he started the trouble, we can't even get justice!"

"Sister, you're carrying my nephew, don't get angry."

“That’s right, little sister is right,” Li Shuxian agreed.

Bai Shiqing sat down to the side: "If you were more reliable, would I get angry?"

"Everyone in the village knows what kind of person my brother-in-law is. Didn't you choose him because he's a righteous man? You're angry at that Su guy, but look how pitiful my brother-in-law is."

Bai Shiqing looked over in the direction Bai Jiaojiao was referring to and saw Li Shuxian bowing directly to her.

He laughed in exasperation: "Behave yourself, that hand is all over the place!"

"I'm not willing to accept this loss." Bai Shiqing is not one to suffer losses. If she weren't pregnant, she would have actually gone so far as to suggest going to the Su brothers.

Bai Jiaojiao said, "Evil people will be punished by other evil people."

Let's wait for the eldest son of the Su family to come back. Neither of his two brothers had any intention of running away.

However, now that they've bullied their own people, waiting for someone else to retaliate isn't Bai Jiaojiao's style.

"Sister, let's wait a couple of days. After Zhigao's grandma's funeral is over, we'll report them to their workplace. Their lack of filial piety alone will be enough to get them into serious trouble."

Nowadays, being a working-class person is a glorious thing, and they are usually strictly managed. It is very common for someone with moral issues to be dismissed.

Bai Shiqing immediately replied, "Yes, we'll do it your way!"

"What about Grandma Su's funeral?"

Li Shuxian chimed in, "Just find two people to dig a hole next to Uncle Su and bury him there. The brigade can then pay for some paper money to burn."

Without descendants, there is very little the brigade can do.

"Okay, then we'll have Zhigao kowtow to his grandma."

Li Shuxian let out a heavy breath: "If I had known they weren't coming back, I should have buried Aunt Su sooner. Luckily it's winter; if it had been at a better time, she wouldn't have survived!"

Bai Jiaojiao felt a pang of sadness thinking about how Grandma Su had been lying alone at home all day yesterday.

"Brother-in-law, you should get some rest. I'm worried about Zhigao being home alone, so I'll head back first."

Bai Jiaojiao only came over for a quick look, and seeing that Li Shuxian could speak and sing, she quickly went back.

Bai Shiqing saw her to the door, but Bai Jiaojiao wouldn't let her see her off: "Sister, go back and keep an eye on your husband. It's just a short walk for me."

Bai Jiaojiao waved her hand and turned to walk home.

When she returned home, she found that Su Zhigao was in almost the same condition as when she left, barely moving.

"Zhigao, your grandma's funeral is today. You have to go and kowtow, understand?"

Su Zhigao didn't understand what a funeral procession was, but he understood that Bai Jiaojiao said he was going to go and kowtow to his grandmother.

Su Zhigao nodded blankly, and Bai Jiaojiao's nose tingled again.

Fate is cruel. If his father had come back a few months earlier, perhaps the grandfather and grandson wouldn't be in such a miserable state.

Bai Jiaojiao hugged Su Zhigao in her arms and gently patted his back to comfort him.

"Auntie, you look like my mother."

Su Zhigao suddenly said.

Do you remember what your mother looks like?

Bai Jiaojiao was somewhat surprised by Su Zhigao's words.

"I don't remember, but my grandma said my mom was very young and beautiful. It's true, I dreamed about her, she was just like my aunt, and she smelled really good and felt really warm."

Su Zhigao's innocent words brought tears to Bai Jiaojiao's eyes. She hugged Su Zhigao's hand tighter and said, "Yes, that's how Mommy is."

“But my mom doesn’t want me anymore. My grandma doesn’t let me think about her. I always do it secretly, Auntie. Everyone else has a mom, but I miss my mom.”

Su Zhigao mustered his courage and snuggled closer to Bai Jiaojiao.

Bai Jiaojiao said, "Zhigao, not everyone has a mother. Neither your Uncle Heng nor I have a mother, but we're both doing well now, aren't we?"