No one expected that Wu Jinhua would block the door and not allow Zhu Jiang's body to be left in the yard, for fear that his early death would affect his son.
Ji Zhaodi cried and begged her mother, but her mother slapped her in the face, pointed at her nose and scolded her for being a traitor and wanting to kill her own brother.
Ji's relatives had no choice but to leave Zhu Jiang outside the courtyard. When Zhu's parents arrived, they first hugged their son and cried, then began to scold Ji Dashan and his wife for being so heartless that they treated their own son like a treasure while using someone else's son like a slave...
It was dark when Grandma Ji and Ji Nanfeng came over. "Is there anything to eat?"
Ruan Tang was shocked, "Didn't you eat?"
Ji Nanfeng shook his head. "Don't mention it. Aunt Jinhua wanted to force the Zhu family to take Zhu Jiang's body away, and she didn't even give them a single bite to eat. Uncle Dashan just stayed under the eaves without saying a word."
Wu Jinhua took advantage of the Zhu family because they had no one, and just wanted the two elders to take the body of their only son away. The villagers of Zhujia Village were so angry that half of the village came.
Ji's relatives all urged Wu Jinhua to have a good discussion with the Zhu family. The Zhu family had already accepted the betrothal gift three years ago, and Zhu Jiang was no different from a son-in-law. Over the years, he had also helped Wu Jinhua's family with work.
But Wu Jinhua insisted she had no money to pay back the betrothal gifts or compensation. The Zhu family then suggested Ji Zhaodi continue marrying and take care of the Zhu elders in their place. Wu Jinhua refused to budge, arguing that with Zhu Jiang gone, Ji Zhaodi could remarry and collect another betrothal gift, saving enough for her son's marriage.
Grandma Ji shook her head, took the water poured by Ruan Tang, and drank it all in one gulp.
"I've been telling you all the time, but you won't listen. You're just thinking about scheming against her. Don't go there tomorrow. Zhu Jiang is a good boy. He always helps me fill the water jar when he comes to the village. We can't let Wu Jinhua do evil to his parents after he's gone."
Ruan Tang's family did not go to Wu Jinhua, but everyone else went too.
The Zhu family could not swallow this humiliation, so they built a mourning hall directly in front of Wu Jinhua's house. People from Zhujia Village came and went to pay their respects. Wu Jinhua wanted to make a fuss again, but found that none of her relatives came. She was so angry that she scolded Ji Dashan, saying that none of Ji's relatives were of any use.
More than half the families in Zhujia Village were surnamed Zhu. When the village secretary heard that the Zhu family had lost their only son and was being bullied, he contacted the commune. Zhu Jiang was a construction hero, and the commune promised to investigate.
When the commune leaders arrived, they threatened and intimidated Wu Jinhua, forcing her to return the ten-thousand-yuan betrothal gift and pay ten-thousand-yuan compensation. The Zhu family then took Zhu Jiang's body away. Ji Zhaodi wanted to go with him to see him off, but was beaten by Wu Jinhua.
The commune also gave each household a subsidy of 10 yuan, as well as 10 kilograms of meat coupons and 1 kilogram of sugar coupons.
As the team leader, Xu's father was fined 10 yuan for mismanagement. Secretary Hu, as the secretary, was also fined 50 yuan for failing to identify the problem promptly. This 10 yuan was given as a consolation payment to the victim's family.
There were only three days left until New Year’s Eve, so the whole family had a good sleep.
After breakfast, Ji Nanfeng took advantage of the good weather to mend the straw on the roof, and Ruan Tang took apart all the bedding in the house and went to the river to wash the sheets.
Because it was noon, there were only a few people washing clothes by the river.
A pregnant young wife waved towards Ruan Tang, "Ruan Zhiqing, come over here, this is a good location."
"I'm Liu Weifang, and my man is Hu Jianshe. Thank you for saving my man yesterday." Liu Weifang is a round-faced young woman with two small dimples at the corners of her mouth when she smiles.
Ruan Tang greeted Liu Weifang before setting the barrel aside. "I'm the village's barefoot doctor. Saving lives is my duty."
"I heard from my father-in-law that everyone else had given up, but you hadn't. He said your hands were shaking when you rescued the person..."
"Ruan Zhiqing, our family remembers everything you've done. We should have come to thank you last night, but Aunt Jinhua had a problem, and my mother-in-law said we were afraid Aunt Jinhua would be unreasonable and resentful of you if we came now. We can have a good visit again during the Chinese New Year."
Ruan Tang watched with fear as Liu Weifang stood up with her belly bulging to apologize, and hurriedly reminded her to be careful as she was pregnant and not to fall into the water.
Liu Weifang responded crisply, "Yes, I will be careful. Ruan Zhiqing has been married for almost a month. Is there any good news about your pregnancy?"
Ruan Tang had been so busy lately that she'd forgotten about this. Her period wasn't always so regular, and it had already been a month since her rebirth, and it still hadn't come. So, could she safely assume she was pregnant?
Ruan Tang's heart started beating wildly when she thought of being pregnant.
"It shouldn't be that fast, right?" Although she said this, Ruan Tang's face was flushed with excitement.
As soon as Liu Weifang saw Ruan Tang's expression, she knew there might be a chance. She didn't expect that Ruan Zhiqing, who seemed quite cold and difficult to get along with at first sight, was actually as excited as she was when she knew she was going to be a mother.
Liu Weifang also talked about her dreams for children. "I want to have a son this time. It's not that I prefer boys to girls. My brother Jianshe and I are both young, and we will have a son sooner or later. I just thought that if my first child is a daughter, she will suffer because she will have to take care of her younger brother. If it's a son, he can also protect his younger sister..."
Ruan Tang was surprised that Liu Weifang valued his daughter so much. After all, everyone in the village valued their sons.
"I have two older brothers. They always carry me to school. If someone pulls my braids when I'm out playing, they'll avenge me immediately and never let me wait. So, I really hope my daughter will have a brother who loves her."
Ruan Tang smiled and said, "I only have one younger brother. It's good to have an older brother when you say that."
"Ruan Zhiqing doesn't have a brother? Your man must be very willing to be your lover."
Ruan Tang blushed at the teasing. The young wives in the village were really tough and dared to say anything.
Liu Weifang blushed when she thought of her brother Jianshe. She quickly washed the clothes and left.
After the people left, Ruan Tang let out a breath and shook off the messy thoughts in her mind.
After Ruan Tang pounded the quilt roughly, he walked towards the temple.
In the distance, she saw a man walking down to the river.
Ruan Tang dropped the wooden barrel and ran over. Only when she got closer did she see clearly that the person was Ji Zhaodi.
"Zhaodi, come here quickly."
Ji Zhaodi seemed unaware and walked step by step towards the center of the river.
Ruan Tang gritted her teeth, endured the freezing cold river water, and walked towards Ji Zhaodi.
Ruan Tang grabbed Ji Zhaodi's arm and dragged her toward the shore. "Zhu Jiang pushed you away at the last moment, leaving you with a chance to live, just so you could die now? Would you be worthy of him if you died now?"
Hearing Zhu Jiang's name, Ji Zhaodi burst into tears. "Third sister-in-law, please let me die. I'm so useless. My mother beat me, so I didn't dare go to see Brother Jiang off... Brother Jiang's funeral is coming up tomorrow. If I die tomorrow, I can go with him."
Ruan Tang's calves were already starting to feel cold. If she continued to soak in the river, she was afraid something might happen to her Jiaojiao. She was also afraid something might happen to Ji Zhaodi.
"Zhao Di, calm down, listen to me, you are pregnant,"
Ji Zhaodi suddenly raised her head and repeated Ruan Tang's words in confusion: "Me? Pregnant?"
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