"If a son is not taught, it is the father's fault." Aunt Wang gave Yao Guoqiang a disdainful look, and before he could speak, she continued, "Secretary Yao is an educated man, shouldn't he understand this principle?"
Xu Ruantang was still surprised that Aunt Wang could speak in such a refined manner, completely unlike an uneducated rural woman.
Yao Guoqiang then said with a forced smile, "Yes, yes, what my in-laws say makes sense."
Aunt Wang, though small in stature, stood there steadily with her back ramrod straight, and said, word by word, "My condition is that you and Yao Yulan wear mourning clothes and go to the city to bring back my son's ashes."
Wang Jian was stabbed to death by some local thugs. Not long after he died, those thugs were caught.
The family could have taken the body home, but Aunt Wang did not, resolutely choosing cremation instead.
Cremation was not very common in those days, especially in rural areas, where most people chose burial.
Upon hearing this, Yao Guoqiang's face darkened again.
He's an elder! He's Wang Jian's father-in-law, so Aunt Wang's request is truly outrageous!
Yao Guoqiang wanted to refuse, but the villagers who were watching the commotion outside the courtyard spoke up.
"Secretary Yao, Aunt Wang's son is gone, what's wrong with making some requests? I think it's perfectly reasonable!"
"Yes, if it were me, I'd make your daughter pay with her life!"
"It's only because Aunt Wang is kind-hearted that she's willing to let this kind of trouble go home."
"Secretary Yao, please agree!"
"A person should have a conscience!"
Which family in the village doesn't have children? A perfectly healthy young man, gone just like that. Who could accept that?
Everyone felt that this request was not excessive.
Moreover, during the years Yao Guoqiang served as the Party Secretary, his own family lived a life of luxury, with villagers watching as his family built a two-story house and his eldest son-in-law ran a business in the city, driving around the village in a car all day long. Yao Yulan often boasted about it.
Everyone knows Yao Guoqiang is a heartless and selfish bastard!
Seeing him suffer makes everyone feel much better!
Having been pushed to this point, Yao Guoqiang could only nod in agreement and leave with a dark expression.
Not long after, he was indeed dressed in mourning clothes and arrived at the Wang family's door in his eldest son-in-law's car.
Yao Yulan was quickly dressed in layers of clothing and lifted into the car.
Aunt Wang insisted on going with them, and they returned before it even got dark.
Everyone watched as the Yao family busily prepared for the burial. Yao Guoqiang covered all the expenses and manpower for Wang Jian's burial.
The village didn't quiet down until late at night.
Xu Ruantang didn't join in the fun, because she knew that what seemed like a farce to others was something that caused some people immense pain.
The next morning, Xu Ruantang delivered breakfast to Aunt Wang as usual.
She no longer sleeps in late. Chen Ji told her to sleep in, saying he could make breakfast, but Xu Ruantang refused.
After all, taking care of Aunt Wang was her own choice, and it had nothing to do with Chen Ji.
Besides, they'll be leaving today, so they should at least say goodbye to Aunt Wang.
Xu Ruantang stood in the courtyard with the food and called out for a long time, but there was no response from inside the house.
The thought that only Aunt Wang and Yao Yulan lived in the Wang family now made Xu Ruantang's heart pound again.
She ran into Aunt Wang's room and saw that there was no one on the kang (a heated brick bed).
As Xu Ruantang put down the food and was about to leave, she noticed a piece of paper and a gold bracelet on the corner table.
She walked over quickly, picked up the paper, and looked at it.
The more she looked, the worse her complexion became. It turned out to be Aunt Wang's suicide note!
The letter read: "Xiao Xu, by the time you read this letter, your aunt will have already perished together with Yao Yulan."
Don't be sad for your aunt. She's very happy to have met you.
If there's a next life, be my daughter! I'll treat you well!
Please accept this gold bracelet. Don't worry, it's not something of dubious origin. My family used to be a scholarly family, but we've fallen on hard times. This bracelet was part of my mother's dowry, and I'm leaving it to you now.
I hope you're doing well.
Xu Ruantang panicked and rushed to the next room, but Yao Yulan was not in bed.
She ran home and found Chen Ji, her voice trembling as she told him about Aunt Wang's plan to die together with Yao Yulan.
However, she didn't mention the bracelet; Xu Ruantang wanted to wait until she found Aunt Wang and return it to her personally.
Chen Ji mobilized most of the villagers to search. Early in the morning, some people had just started heading to the fields with their hoes when they heard the news, and they quickly put down their hoes and volunteered to join the search party.
Xu Ruantang was originally with Chen Ji, but she subconsciously walked to the riverbank alone.
Following the riverbank, we finally heard some sounds.
Xu Ruantang was in a state of panic and hurriedly ran towards the sound.
The river in Dahe Village is very high, hence the village's name.
Aunt Wang squatted on the bank, pressing Yao Yulan's head down into the water with one hand, each thrust harder than the last.
Yao Yulan tried to call for help, but choked on her words and before she could catch her breath, Aunt Wang pushed her back into the water.
She struggled while groping around with both hands.
Yao Yulan wanted to touch a stone to hit Aunt Wang, but before she could touch it, she slipped and fell straight into the water.
Aunt Wang grabbed her and was also pulled into the water.
Yao Yulan was tall, and despite struggling in the water, she didn't sink for a while.
Aunt Wang was different; her head was in the water first, and she probably choked on it, sinking before she could even struggle.
Xu Ruantang saw it from afar and quickly ran over.
"Help! Aunt Wang is over here! They've fallen into the water!"
Xu Ruantang shouted and jumped in without hesitation to save Aunt Wang. She could swim, so she accurately located Aunt Wang, pulled her, and swam to the surface.
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