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108: Flowers Bloom in Winter

Chapter 108 Flowers Bloom in Winter

Zhao Dazhu and his wife and Mrs. Li and Zhao Xiaohua were all stunned. They had originally wanted to rely on Shen Zian and his wife, so how come it turned out like this?

Not only can you no longer rely on others, you even have to thank others!

"You little brat! You must be telling a lie. Did your widow teach you that? She wants to curry favor with the Holy Beast and Shen Zian's family. That must be the case. Tell the truth. Telling a lie will only make you lose your temper. You little brat!"

When Dazhu's wife saw the contemptuous eyes of the onlookers, and heard them scolding her for wrongly accusing the Holy Beast without knowing right from wrong, and heard them asking her to pay compensation and apologize to Shen Zian and his wife, and also asking her to apologize to the Holy Beast, her heart was in a mess, as if a bunch of grass was stuffed in it. She didn't think about how embarrassing it was for her, but that her hope of getting something good from Shen Zian and his wife was shattered. The thought of losing her big house, carriages, and delicious food was like cutting off her flesh, which made her uncomfortable. She stared at Tietou, and immediately thought that if she didn't admit what Tietou said, there was still room for turning back, so she immediately pointed at Tietou and cursed.

Everyone was silent for a moment, and then they started to blame Dazhu's wife. Now they had realized that it was unwise to offend Shen Zian and his wife. Moreover, they all slept on the kang and wore gloves. This was all heard from Su Zhi, and they all remembered Su Zhi's good deeds!

At this time, Mrs. Li realized that the situation was not favorable for her family, so she pulled Zhao Xiaohua aside and kept silent.

Zhao Dazhu was also discouraged.

Only Dazhu's wife refused to give up and said, "I know that everyone doesn't want to offend Shen Zian because they have a big house and a big yard because they are rich. But we can't speak for them against our conscience here! My Tiedan has lost half his life. If you are not afraid of being struck by lightning, just speak for them! Village head, you are the village head, please give us your opinion on this matter!"

The head of the village said with a stern face, "Dazhu's wife, please stop making trouble. The facts are clear. It was your son Tiedan who went to play on the ice and fell into the ice hole. It was the Holy Beast who mercifully pulled him out. Not only are you not grateful, but you also want to put the blame on Zi'an and his wife for this matter. Aren't you feeling guilty?"

"Village head, what did I say wrong? Tietou was the only one there at the time. How could we take his words seriously? His mother must have taught him that. He is a fatherless kid. He just wanted to get close to Shen Zian because his family is rich! Village head, you have to make the decision for us——"

As Dazhu's wife spoke, she started howling again, glaring at Tietou and Wang Huazhi while howling, until she stopped.

But when Wang Huazhi heard Dazhu's wife say that Tietou was a fatherless boy, she became furious. She felt that her son was holding her strong. She thought that she must get revenge today and couldn't let others take the blame. That would be bad for her son and her own reputation. As a widow, she couldn't afford to have her reputation ruined any further. Tietou couldn't afford it either.

"Ironhead, I believe you are telling the truth. If you are telling the truth, I will say one sentence now, and you will learn it, okay?"

Wang Huazhi said to Tietou, and Tietou nodded.

"I swear here...I fell into the ice hole because I was playing there...I was not chased by the holy beast...If I tell a lie, I will be struck by lightning and die miserably!"

Tietou continued speaking one sentence at a time, and when he was done he said, "Mom, I am telling the truth."

Wang Huazhi hugged her son tightly and said to the people around her: "Everyone heard it, my son said all the truth, we dare to take responsibility for our actions, unlike some people who only think of taking advantage of others and regard our benefactors as enemies!"

Su Zhi wanted to cheer for this widow Wang. She thought it was rare to find a woman who was capable of such a responsibility in this era.

The village head waved his hand to stop the people around from loudly accusing Dazhu's wife, and said to her with a sullen face: "I have sworn a poisonous oath, what else do you have to say?"

Dazhu's wife was really speechless now. People at that time all believed in ghosts and gods, and few dared to swear a solemn oath. Now that someone had sworn a solemn oath, if she said she didn't believe it, she estimated that the whole village would be against her.

"Mom...I'm cold..."

At this moment, a faint sound was heard. It was made by Tiedan who was lying on the kang. He woke up and was looking over here with his eyes closed and his head tilted.

Dazhu's wife immediately rushed to his side, calling him her darling, and asked him how he was and whether he felt uncomfortable.

Zhao Dazhu also ran to the head of the kang and looked at his son, his face full of joy, thinking that his son had finally woken up.

Sister Li walked over and asked, "Tiedan, let me ask you, how did you fall into the ice hole?"

Mrs. Li said unhappily, "Tiedan just woke up, why are you asking him this? Aren't you worried that he's not feeling well?"

Sister Li said, "Doesn't Dazhu's wife think that everyone has deceived her? I'm asking Tiedan to speak. She should believe her son. Now, don't say anything, or we might think you are colluding with each other. Tiedan, tell me, did you go to play on the ice and then fall into the river? Tell the truth, or your mother will spank you!"

Tiedan was dazed, but he could still hear Mrs. Li's question. He was so scared that he dared not lie and said, "I went there to play by myself. Mom, please don't hit me..."

"Then how did you get up here? Do you remember?"

Zhao Feng also asked a question.

Tiedan blinked and said, "It was the big white wolf. The big white wolf carried me up. Mom, the big white wolf saved me. I will never be afraid of it again."

Dazhu's wife's face darkened all of a sudden. She wondered how her son woke up at such an early time and remembered it so clearly. This time, she really couldn't get away with it! Besides, she was completely embarrassed. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have gotten away with Shen Zi'an and his wife. If she had gotten along well with them, she could have gotten some benefits. Didn't she make a fortune from selling the red wake-up fruit to Zi'an's wife last time? Now that this happened, they wouldn't care about her family anymore!

This is really a case of stealing the chicken while losing the rice!

Sister Li said with a smile: "The truth is out now! Sister, go home and make a good meal for the Holy Beast. The Holy Beast is really kind. He knew to save a child when he saw him fall into the water. He is much better than some people!"

Zhao Dazhu began to bow to Shen Zian and his wife and offer them gifts, saying that he was worried that his son had become confused due to anxiety, and asked them not to blame him.

But Shen Zian and his wife would never listen to him. They said something to the head of the village, said goodbye to everyone, and turned around and left without even looking at Dazhu's wife.

When everyone saw that the excitement was over, they all walked out, talking as they walked about how Dazhu and his wife had offended the Holy Beast and Shen Zian and his wife. Many people praised the Holy Beast for its benevolence and righteousness. Invisibly, everyone's fear of the Holy Beast turned into awe, and they believed more that the Holy Beast was spiritual.

Shen Zi'an said goodbye to Shen Zifu and Shen Zigui and thanked them for their help. He didn't feel anything about the fact that other members of the Shen family hadn't come out yet. He knew that even if someone wanted to come out, his father would have stopped them because he didn't want to affect the reputation of the Shen family even if he was his son.

Shen Zifu and Shen Zigui patted Shen Zian on the shoulder, and then went back to their next door home. They didn't invite Shen Zian into the house, because they knew it would be awkward to invite him in. They would feel awkward too!

"Zi'an, you still have me. Big brother and big sister are nice people, as well as Brother Shitou and his friends. They are all good people. We just need to live our lives well."

After saying goodbye to everyone, Shen Zian pulled the ox cart out of Li Shi's house and rushed home with Su Zhi. Su Zhi comforted him softly. Shen Zian held Su Zhi's hand and thought, yes, no one is perfect in this life, as long as he has a wife, brothers and friends.

After returning home, Su Zhi was warmly welcomed by Xiaohei and Dahei. Xiaobai and Dabai were also watching them. After Su Zhi hugged Dahei and Xiaohei, she went over to hug Xiaobai and then hugged Dabai Wolf. Dabai Wolf did not refuse as it had become accustomed to Su Zhi's intimacy and friendliness.

"Dabai, thank you for saving Tiedan today. You almost got hurt. But fortunately, from today on, everyone will no longer treat you as a wolf. They will really treat you as a holy beast. To reward you for your kindness today, I will make you delicious food!"

Su Zhi had already seen several rabbits in the large basin under the corridor. She had prepared them specially for the big white wolf. The big white wolf now ate raw food and usually ate outside before coming back. He would put all the rabbits he brought back in this basin. This was all something Su Zhi could do.

Su Zhi cooked four rabbits and a bowl of rice for the White Wolf family. This made her happiest. The White Wolf not only eats meat, but also rice. Don't be fooled by its large size. Its appetite is normal. It usually eats a rabbit for a meal. If it wants to eat rice, a chicken will do. No wonder it is tall but has a solid body.

Shen Zian and Su Zhi finished their meal, and it was getting dark again.

At night, under the light of the oil lamp, Su Zhi took out the scraps of cloth she had bought from the cloth shop during the day and spread them on the bed, asking Shen Zian to help separate the various fabrics.

"Wife, what are you going to do?"

Shen Zian looked at the pile of thin and long bamboo branches that Su Zhi had collected long ago and placed beside her, and then looked at the pile of cloth scraps, wondering what his wife was going to do now?

Su Zhi picked up a piece of red silk cloth. She took it in her hand and quickly made it into the shape of a flower. She sewed it a few times and fixed it. She also tied the flower to a bamboo branch and wrapped another piece of cloth around the bamboo branch, making it one with the flower. It became a beautiful red flower.

Su Zhi took a basket woven by Shen Zian, threw the artificial flowers into it, and said to Shen Zian with a smile: "See, fill it up, and our house will have flowers in winter."

Shen Zian looked at the flower, then at Su Zhi's bright smile, and his mood suddenly improved. He thought that this is what life should be like. Even in winter, there can be flowers adorning the world.

That night, the two of them made a lot of colorful flowers. Some of the flowers were not thrown into the basket yet, but were thrown on the kang. Next to them was the young couple who were hugging each other tightly and falling asleep.