"Watch out! Jiang'er!"
Shen Xiang's shout got stuck in her throat, and her whole body felt cold.
"Bang!"
A muffled thud, like a stone hitting a pile of cotton.
Tang Jiang's small body was sent flying by the front of the car, and then crashed heavily onto the road, motionless.
The truck driver was startled and slammed on the brakes.
The surrounding noise stopped instantly.
The vendor, holding his iron skewers, stood frozen in place. The once bustling street was now so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.
Shen Xiang felt as if her bones had been removed, collapsing to the ground, watching helplessly as that small figure lay on the cold pavement, making a "hoarse" sound in her throat, but unable to utter a single word.
Ye Nian'an and the others had just reached the street corner when they heard the loud noise. When they turned around, they saw Tang Jiang fall to the ground.
Don't look.
Ye Yao and Ye Sheng quickly pulled the three little ones into their arms and covered their eyes to prevent them from seeing this bloody scene.
"Sister-in-law, that child who was hit... he looks kind of familiar?"
Chu Xin'er squinted and tiptoed to peer into the crowd.
Just as Ye Nian'an was trying to see the child's face clearly, the bloodstains on the ground mixed with the melted snow water, obscuring the child's features.
But the next second, a heart-wrenching cry pierced through like a needle: "Jiang'er!"
Shen Xiang scrambled over and grabbed Tang Jiang in her arms. Blood seeped through her fingers onto her cotton-padded jacket, a glaring red.
"Jiang'er, wake up! Look at your mother!"
Her voice trembled and became incoherent. She touched Tang Jiang's nose and then suddenly slapped his face like a madwoman: "Don't scare me! Open your eyes!"
The driver got out of the car and was stunned by what he saw. He stammered, "This...this has nothing to do with me. The child ran into me on his own!"
He pointed at the onlookers, his voice trembling: "Many people saw it! Can you testify for me?"
"It was indeed this child who stole it; he was so panicked that he bumped into it."
The stall owner's tone was complicated: "When I was chasing him, I even told him to slow down, who knew..."
"Alright, alright, let's get him to the hospital first!"
Someone shouted, "If we delay any longer, the child will really be beyond saving!"
The onlookers all chimed in with their opinions.
Although Tang Jiang stole someone else's things, he was still just a child. Now that he's been hit by a car like this, who dares to say anything?
"Please, kind soul, is there a doctor here? Please help me check on my son!"
Shen Xiang hugged Tang Jiang and begged him desperately.
Several men in overalls quickly stepped forward and carefully took Tang Jiang from them.
Shen Xiang followed behind like a shadow, repeatedly saying, "Jiang'er, don't be afraid, Mommy's here..."
The voice grew softer and softer, eventually turning into a suppressed sob.
Chu Xin'er watched their retreating figures and couldn't help but shake her head: "They really brought this on themselves."
If Tang Jiang hadn't been stealing and running around aimlessly, how could he have been hit by a car?
Though his words were harsh, there was no sympathy in his eyes.
After all, he was Ye Nian'an's enemy, so it's quite gratifying that he met such an end.
She suddenly leaned closer to Ye Nian'an and whispered, "Sister-in-law, I also heard that Zhang Qingqing got into a vocational college, but she went crazy because she failed the political review and has been sent back to Haicheng."
"The Zhang family is really unlucky, one misfortune after another..."
Disability, mental illness, imprisonment, paralysis, and now Tang Jiang has been in a car accident...
This series of events has completely extinguished their family's future.
Ye Nian'an gazed in the direction the crowd had dispersed, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips: "The show's over, let's go."
For her, the moment she emptied the Zhang family's house, all that was left was to wait for them to reap what they sowed.
After all, given their behavior, they could easily court disaster.
She was foolish in her past life, working tirelessly to protect these awful people, which allowed them to have a smooth life.
Thinking about it carefully, how could the Zhang family, with so many outstanding individuals, possibly live a peaceful life?
Without her as a "sucker," these people's true nature will eventually lead them to their doom.
Chu Xin'er's lips curled into a light smile: "Yes, the show's over. Let's not waste our time shopping and celebrating the New Year. Everyone, keep having fun!"
In short, whatever state the Zhang family has become, it's their own fault.
It has nothing to do with the Chu family anymore.
"Still shopping?"
Ye Nian'an suddenly turned her head, winked playfully at Chu Xin'er, and smiled as if she had a piece of candy in her eyes: "At a time like this, aren't you going to keep your precious Song Yan company?"
"Oh, sister-in-law!"
Chu Xin'er's face flushed red instantly, as if it had been burned by charcoal. She subconsciously twisted the red ribbon at the end of her braid, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.
"Song Yan's family is visiting, he probably won't be able to come out tonight..."
"Oh? This relative is quite important."
Ye Nian'an raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
Last New Year's Day, Song Yan had dinner with his family and then came to find Chu Xin'er right on time.
Given how much he cares about Xin'er, he should at least make an appearance this year.
As the two were talking, Ye Sheng suddenly interjected, "Speaking of relatives... the Gu family has remained inactive all this time, even though Gu Tao has been locked up for so long."
"That's what you call smart."
Chu Xin'er curled her lips, her tone full of disdain: "Now how can they still have the face to show in front of us? Unlike Zhao Zhaodi, who is insane, she was willing to take such a big risk for her illegitimate child."
"Now look what's happened. The master thief has exposed all her shameful deeds, causing a huge uproar and turning her into a laughing stock. The Zhao family has lost all face, and I heard they don't even dare to leave their house."
"I also heard that Zhao Zhaodi suffered a stroke in the hospital and is lying in bed unable to move or speak clearly."
Chu Xin'er clicked her tongue twice, her eyes showing no sympathy: "Judging from her age, she probably won't live much longer."
Ye Nian'an pursed her lips.
Whether it's Zhao Zhaodi, the Gu family, or that bunch of scoundrels from the Zhang family, in the end, they are all paying the price for their own actions.
In this world, no one can fool anyone else; you reap what you sow.
On the other side, Zhang Weiguo was all alone in the Zhang family's old house.
Outside, the sounds of firecrackers rose and fell, mingled with the laughter of children, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of roasted melon seeds and sugar-roasted chestnuts, creating a festive atmosphere for the New Year.
But the room was as cold as an ice cellar, with only a kerosene lamp on the table casting a dim yellow light that stretched his long shadow onto the mottled earthen wall, like a faded old painting.
Zhang Weiguo sat on a small stool, staring blankly at the flickering candle wick.
Thinking about the recent unpleasant things that have happened, even a grown man can't help but have tears in his eyes and a sore nose.
How can this be considered a home?
A paralyzed father, a mother in prison, a mentally ill younger sister, and a disabled self...
Why has life turned out this way?
He pondered repeatedly, trying to figure out exactly where he had gone wrong.
Perhaps the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life...
They brought Shen Xiang and Tang Jiang back to the Zhang family without asking Ye Nian'an's opinion.
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