Chapter 194 Settling the Matter
When Xu Jinnian returned in the evening, Sheng An told him about Liu Huazhi's "suicide by hanging".
In fact, Xu Jinnian received the news earlier than her. Upon hearing it, he showed no surprise, but his eyes revealed a hint of disgust: "That family is more vicious than I imagined."
Sheng An asked, "Are you sure it was them who did it?"
Xu Jinnian nodded slightly: "That woman returned home to rest and prepare for childbirth while she was on the run. After her death, it must be reported to the government. Only after the government verifies her identity can she be buried."
Sheng An pressed further: "Since the people who went to verify their identities determined it wasn't suicide by hanging, didn't the authorities arrest that family?"
Xu Jinnian patted her head: "That woman was a criminal. If no one investigates the cause of her death, the government won't interfere. Besides, with Xu Huaining making some connections, this matter can be easily resolved."
Sheng An was filled with mixed feelings and remained silent for a long time before saying, "I had oversimplified things."
Xu Jinnian half-embraced her as she sat on his lap, gently stroking her back: "I'll have the Liu family informed of the death; this matter will continue to escalate."
Sheng An opened her mouth and uttered three words: "You're so bad."
Although that was also her intention.
Xu Jinnian chuckled and pecked his wife's lips: "Don't overthink it, that woman's death has nothing to do with us."
Sheng An sighed: "I'm not overthinking anything, I just find it pretty boring."
Liu Huazhi's crime did not warrant death; a five-year labor sentence was her punishment.
The Xu family brutally murdered her; their viciousness chilled the heart.
If no one investigates the cause of Liu Huazhi's death, they can easily escape legal punishment.
If Liu Huazhi had a spirit in heaven, I wonder if she would be reborn in anger.
As the couple had expected, when the Liu family received the news that Liu Huazhi had "committed suicide," they immediately gathered all their relatives and friends and made a scene at Xu Laosi's house.
Although Liu Huazhi broke the hearts of the Liu family, she was still their daughter and had been pampered by them since childhood.
Now that she has suddenly died, the Liu family only remembers her good qualities, and they cannot let her die without knowing why.
Upon seeing Liu Huazhi's horrific death, her body covered in wounds, and the strangulation marks on her neck, the Liu family became increasingly suspicious of the cause of her death and clamored to go to the government office to sue Xu Laosi and his wife.
After making a scene all day, the Liu family ultimately did not file a complaint with the authorities. They accepted the ten taels of silver from Xu Laosi as compensation and left in silence.
On the way back, the family was very silent.
As they approached Huai Shu Village, Liu Zhuzi finally couldn't help but speak up: "Mother, is my sister's life really going to be bought off with just ten taels of silver?"
Peng Chunlan's eyes were red and swollen, clearly from a good cry.
Hearing her eldest son's words, her expression became calm to the point of being cold: "What can we do if we don't buy out her? She carries a criminal record, and the child in her womb is of questionable origin. What good would it do to take the matter to the authorities?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Zhuzi punched the tree trunk next to him with all his might.
Peng Chunlan sighed, her eyes gradually welling up with tears:
“Your sister is my own daughter. I am also very saddened by her death. But you know in your heart that her death is the end of everything. No one will laugh at our family for failing to raise our daughter properly, and your marriage will not be delayed.”
Liu Zhuzi hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and said nothing.
Compared to him, Liu Shitou's relationship with Liu Huazhi wasn't as deep. He glanced at Peng Chunlan's expression before saying, "Mother, don't forget about my marriage. If you save these ten taels of silver, both my brother and I can get married."
He still had some of the five taels of silver he had previously squeezed out of his sister, enough to marry two wives with cheap dowries.
Peng Chunlan raised her hand to hit her youngest son, but before she could finish, she closed her eyes and lowered her hand, saying, "Fine."
The uproar caused by the death of Liu Huazhi subsided in less than three days.
Sheng An was surprised that the Liu family let Xu Lao Si's family off so easily. After a moment's thought, he guessed why they accepted the compensation to settle the matter peacefully.
At that moment, she felt sympathy for Liu Huazhi, whose body was still warm.
Not only Sheng An, but Zhang Zhaodi also expressed her incomprehension: "A perfectly healthy person just died like that, and not a single person sincerely sought justice for her. Were all the affection Peng Chunlan and Liu Zhuzi showed her before fake?"
Sheng An shook her head: "The love you showed me before wasn't fake, it's just that the love will eventually disappear."
Zhang Zhaodi felt terrible: "She's not likable, and she ended up like this partly because of her own actions, but she really doesn't deserve this."
Sheng An patted her hand: "You're pregnant, so don't think about these things. I've heard that if you think too much during pregnancy, the baby will be difficult to raise after birth."
Zhang Zhaodi touched her stomach: "We grew up together after all, and I can't help but overthink things if she dies like this."
Now, when I think back, all I remember is Liu Huazhi's beautiful and charming side, and all my dislike for her has disappeared.
Fearing it might really affect her best friend's unborn child, Sheng An quickly changed the subject: "How's your Heavenly Palace? Will I be able to see the whole thing next year?"
When it comes to bamboo weaving, Zhang Zhaodi has endless things to say: "I've already woven some, but I didn't ask my grandfather for help, so the process is very slow. If all goes well, it should be finished by the second half of next year."
We need to weave bamboo for the Heavenly Palace, but we also need to weave other bamboo products. We can't spend all our time and energy on the Heavenly Palace.
"This progress is quite good. I look forward to seeing Master Zhang's amazing work."
Sheng An jokingly teased her best friend, expressing great anticipation for the bamboo weaving in the Heavenly Palace: "After you give birth, you should rent a shop or just buy one. Now that you're so famous, it would be beneath your reputation to have the bamboo weaving consigned to me for sale."
Zhang Zhaodi didn't like hearing this and scolded, "What are you saying? Without your Shengyuan, who would know who Master Zhang is?"
Sheng An said seriously, "We complement each other. Your bamboo weaving has made my Sheng Garden more elegant and less materialistic. Some of the guests who come to eat here are here specifically for the bamboo weaving."
Zhang Zhaodi was persuaded by her best friend: "Okay, I'll save up more money and try to buy a shop next year."
At this point, she asked, "Why don't you buy a few shops and rent them out to make money?"
With Shengyuan's business so good, An'an shouldn't lack the money to buy a shop.
Sheng An blinked, seemingly puzzled but actually quite shrewd: "Yes, I bought them. I bought four in total, plus a farm. Didn't I tell you?"
Zhang Zhaodi's eyes widened, and she grabbed her best friend's shoulders and shook her back and forth: "Four? You bought four? When did you buy them? How come I didn't hear a thing?"
Sheng An was afraid that she would get too excited and frighten the baby in her belly, so she quickly spoke up to comfort her:
"I bought it a while ago, but I forgot to tell you. I'll take you to see it later. If you like any of them, I can sell one to you at the original price."
Zhang Zhaodi rolled her eyes at her: "That's more like it!"
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