Especially Aunt Xie, she asked herself, she knew that Xu Changfeng had done something wrong by leaving Xu Siya to Xu Yinlai and his wife to raise.
In the past, she would have forced Xu Changfeng to take the child back, even if it meant hitting and scolding him.
But why didn't she? Not only did she tacitly agree, but she also pretended not to know anything?
Two lines of regretful tears silently streamed down Aunt Xie's cloudy eyes.
The breath I had been holding in suddenly relaxed.
It was as if someone had suddenly drained all his energy and spirit, and his face turned ashen.
Staring blankly at the rooftop above, his voice was soft, a mixture of crying and laughing, it was unclear whether he was speaking to himself or to Xu Ningyan: "Retribution! This is all retribution! Back then, for the sake of my son, I watched helplessly as my benefactor's daughter suffered! Only in the end did I discover that my son had long since died! Long since—"
Xu Ningyan watched silently, offering neither words of comfort nor mockery.
Xiong Mingxia, however, burst into tears and knelt down in front of Aunt Xie's bed with a thud: "Mom, it's all that spy's fault! My little brother is just unlucky, try to think positively—"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Xie suddenly turned to look at Xiong Mingxia, a fleeting glint in her eyes.
It was quickly obliterated!
She stared intently at Xiong Mingxia, her gaze softening in the end, as if she had returned to the familiar Aunt Xie that everyone knew.
He raised his hand and patted Xiong Mingxia's shoulder with difficulty: "Get up! You've had a hard time these past few days!"
Xiong Mingxia's clenched back finally relaxed, and she sobbed, "Mom, I'm not suffering! I'm just glad you're alright, I'm just glad you're alright—"
Aunt Xie's eyes cleared up, and she looked at Xu Ningyan with apologetic eyes. Just as she was about to speak, she started coughing, coughing so hard it was heart-wrenching, and she curled up into a ball.
Xiong Mingxia was at a loss, but Xu Ningyan spoke up: "Pour a bowl of warm water!"
Reminded, Xiong Mingxia hurriedly went to the kitchen to pour water. In her haste, she tripped over the threshold at the door.
After Xiong Mingxia left, only Aunt Xie's coughing could be heard in the room.
The few soldiers in green uniforms who were guarding the main room couldn't stand it anymore. They got up and went to the door to peek inside, signaling with their eyes whether Xu Ningyan could come in.
Xu Ningyan shook her head, and the few people in green military uniforms retreated again.
It was Xiong Mingxia who brought over some warm water and fed it to Aunt Xie, which finally relieved her cough.
Aunt Xie then spoke up: "I heard from the military that you went to the capital?"
Xu Ningyan nodded, not wanting Aunt Xie to ask any more questions, "Yes, I also brought you a box of pastries from the capital. They're easy to digest, you can try them later—"
At this moment, Xiong Mingxia had a flash of inspiration and quickly got up to get the box of pastries and brown sugar.
She even opened the pastry box and held it up to Aunt Xie: "Mom, look at these pastries! Would you like to try one?"
Aunt Xie stared at the box of pastries for a while, then reached out and took one for Xiong Mingxia, then took another and gestured to Xu Ningyan to take it.
Xu Ningyan hesitated for a moment, intending to refuse, but Aunt Xie spoke up: "I was the one who wronged you before! Now I'm afraid I won't live much longer. You came to see me before I die, and I'm grateful for your kindness! Logically, I should pour you tea and wine to apologize, but I'm too weak to move now! Today, I'm shamelessly offering you sweet water and the pastries you brought from the capital to apologize!"
"This fulfills one of my wishes. When I go down, I'll have the face to see my long-dead Changfeng!"
Having said all that, Xu Ningyan glanced at Aunt Xie. Her eyes were clear, her expression was peaceful, and even her complexion had improved, and her voice had become stronger.
Xu Ningyan could only think of one phrase: a final burst of energy before death.
Xiong Mingxia, who was standing to the side, seemed to have thought of it as well. She bit her lip, her face flushed, but she didn't dare to cry out. She just looked at Xu Ningyan pleadingly.
Xu Ningyan sighed and stepped forward to accept the snacks.
Aunt Xie's eyes relaxed a little when she saw Xu Ningyan accept the snacks.
He then gestured for Xiong Mingxia to pour another bowl of sweet soup.
Despite her grief, Xiong Mingxia quickly poured half a bowl of sugar water and handed it to Xu Ningyan.
Xu Ningyan took a small sip of the sugar water, just enough to wet her lips, and then put it aside.
Aunt Xie didn't insist. She simply gestured for Xiong Mingxia to take the pastry box, picked out a piece for herself, and smiled, "I'm just a country bumpkin. In the end, I'm still grateful to you, Siya, for letting me taste pastries from the capital. I'm truly blessed!"
With difficulty, he raised the bottle to his lips, took a bite, chewed, and squinted his eyes, saying, "It's so sweet—"
Then he urged Xiong Mingxia and Xu Ningyan, "You two should try some too. The pastries from Beijing are truly sweet!"
The snack wasn't big, but Xiong Mingxia stuffed the whole thing into her mouth. Tears and snot streamed down her face, but she was oblivious to it. She just chewed the snack in her mouth wildly and haphazardly. It was sweet, so sweet that it tasted a little bitter.
Xu Ningyan could only take a small bite. She didn't like such oily and greasy snacks. After taking a small bite and chewing it a couple of times, she couldn't help but frown. Why was this snack so sweet that it tasted a little bitter?
Is it broken?
I couldn't help but look down, but I didn't find anything wrong. I just assumed that there was something wrong with my sense of taste.
However, she didn't want to eat the rest, so she held it in her hand and took the initiative to say, "Aunt Xie, since you understand everything, shall I let the people from the army in? They want to discuss Comrade Xu Changfeng's funeral arrangements with you—"
Aunt Xie nodded.
The Northwest Military Region personnel who had been waiting in the main room for half a day hurried in and saluted Aunt Xie.
Now, let's get down to business.
Xu Ningyan felt the room was stuffy and her chest was tight. She didn't want to listen anymore, so she stood up and said, "Then you two talk, I'll go back first."
Several people from the Northwest Military Region saluted her as well.
Aunt Xie smiled at Xu Ningyan, seemingly relieved, seemingly liberated, but more than that, she felt an indescribable pity, tinged with a hint of malice.
Xu Ningyan felt a chill run down her spine upon seeing this.
She looked again and saw that Aunt Xie had softened her voice and instructed Xiong Mingxia, "Go, see Siya off for Mom."
Xiong Mingxia hurried over to see the guest off.
Xu Ningyan nodded to Aunt Xie and said, "Then I'll be going now!"
Aunt Xie smiled meaningfully again: "Siya, may you rest in peace—"
Xu Ningyan found these words strange. She took two steps to the threshold, then couldn't help but turn back. She met Aunt Xie's eerie smile and saw a trace of black blood flowing down from the corner of her mouth.
"I'll go first, and wait for you down here—" Aunt Xie said hoarsely before collapsing to the side.
Xu Ningyan felt a sharp pain in her chest, followed by a burning sensation in her stomach. A metallic, sweet taste surged up, and when she opened her mouth, she spat out a mouthful of black blood. Then she knew nothing more...
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