Everyone was a little puzzled, but after taking a second look, they recognized who the person being helped was.
"Isn't this Madam Meng?"
"Found it?"
"How did it get like this?"
"The officials couldn't find him anywhere, but now he's appeared on his own?"
There were many people around, and they were talking all sorts of things.
Madam Meng was in a daze and couldn't utter a single word.
Seeing that there were more people around, he became even more frightened and kept backing away, eventually hiding behind Granny Zhang and refusing to show himself.
Her strange reaction elicited a cold laugh; they probably felt that since she had disappeared without a trace and her body had been missing for the past few days, she was too ashamed to face anyone.
Someone then spoke up to say something fair: "Madam Meng, your daughter-in-law is truly exceptional. She has worked tirelessly while you were away, managing the whole family with great care and respect. You must treat her even better in the future!"
"That's right. If I had a daughter-in-law like that, I would be secretly delighted and would never gossip about her outside."
Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast.
The treatment Wei Wei received at home has become public knowledge.
She neither explained nor spoke, but simply watched as Madam Meng's expression grew increasingly frightened.
His eyes were deep and unfathomable.
Madam Meng's reaction only fueled everyone's gossip.
Someone asked Wei Wei in a low voice, "What's wrong with your mother? Is her head hurting? Did something bad happen to her while she was out all these days?"
"Yes, yes, I'm afraid of running into those scoundrels... Look at her, she's so dirty, it's like she's slept in the fields several times!"
Others raised their voices: "Isn't this all her own fault? Her husband was killed by bandits, and she ran away as fast as she could! Only when she realized she couldn't survive did she have the nerve to come back!"
Wei Wei looked at the head that was hanging lower and lower and smiled helplessly: "The government has not yet made a complete decision, so we can't say anything for the time being."
"Thank you for your concern, gentlemen and ladies. Once my mother's condition has improved, I will take her to the government office."
The two sides were in the middle of a conversation, so no one saw that Madam Meng's hands were clenched into fists.
After saying goodbye to those around her, Wei Wei led Madam Meng onward.
She wasn't in a hurry to go back, but instead greeted people at a leisurely pace, occasionally buying something along the way.
Granny Zhang watched as the hand being squeezed tightened, the pain becoming unbearable, and cold sweat poured down her forehead.
Thinking that her mistress was afraid to be outside, she cautiously said, "Young mistress, let's go back quickly. I'm really worried about her... It would be best to find a doctor to take a look as soon as possible."
Wei Wei then turned to look at Madam Meng, whose eyes were still lifeless.
So she reached out and supported the thin, bony body, and began to patiently explain why she was doing this: "Mother, do you know that these neighbors have helped us a lot?"
“A lot has happened while you were away. You also owe a lot to these villagers. If it weren’t for them, you might not have seen such a healthy and well-behaved daughter-in-law.”
"But there's no time to explain to you right now."
"I'll tell you the details when you're better."
She sighed, her voice heavy with sorrow: "We don't know how Zhixuan is now, and we can't find him anywhere... We have no idea whether the people around him are taking good care of him."
"Now it's just my mother and me in the mansion, relying on each other for survival. I hope my mother can let go of the past disagreements and live a good life together."
"When Zhixuan comes back in the future, everything will be alright."
Granny Zhang nodded vigorously: "Young Madam is right. Madam, you don't need to worry. Everything will be fine once we get home."
But after she finished speaking, she felt her hand being pinched hurt even more.
"...Young Madam, let's go back..."
Wei Wei naturally agreed and didn't delay any longer. After returning to the Meng residence, she had someone invite a doctor.
Inside the Wanshou Hall, she sat to the side, watching as Madam Meng was coaxed by Granny Zhang to lie obediently on the chaise longue while the old doctor took her pulse.
The doctor looked at her only hand and sighed.
He had just realized that Madam Meng wouldn't live much longer, but at that time, apart from Madam Meng's poor health, everyone else was still alive.
Now that we've arrived, everything has changed, and Madam Meng's pitiful state is heartbreaking.
He could only sigh, shake his head, and calm himself down.
Wei Wei watched him sigh and frown intermittently.
With a worried look on his face, he asked, "Doctor, how is my mother? Is she very seriously ill?"
The old doctor released his hand before speaking.
"Aside from being a little weak, there are no other major problems."
"But now that she's in this dazed and confused state, she's probably suffered a great shock to her mind and body."
He sighed, "No one can cure this disease. It all depends on whether she can overcome the hurdle in her heart. If she can, she will naturally get better. If she can't, then this is how it will be."
However, he then looked at Madam Meng's severed arm.
After a moment of silence, he said, "I don't think there's anything wrong with Madam being like this. But if she wakes up and finds out what happened in the family and about her missing hand, I don't know how heartbroken she will be, or whether she can bear it."
Wei Wei also exclaimed, "The old doctor is right."
"Since things have come to this, there's no use in harboring resentment; we might as well accept it."
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