A sense of unease crept into Shen Yunsheng's heart; something seemed amiss. According to the traditional customs of Shilin Town, when a family member passed away, neighbors would come to assist with the funeral arrangements. However, the Meng family compound was unusually deserted at this moment, with not a single neighbor coming to help.
Even if they are not good people, it shouldn't be this deserted.
"Big sister! This matter is probably not that simple. For the next two days, you will be in charge of keeping an eye on Ayao and Xiaoyu. Leave everything else to me."
"Sister-in-law! My former mother-in-law is a ruthless character, you have to be careful too." Xiao Xuemei couldn't help but complain when she thought of Granny Tian's ugly face.
"Big sister! You must not be soft-hearted. If that scumbag asks you to wear mourning clothes for Meng Shouyi as his daughter-in-law, you must not agree." Shen Yunsheng said with a serious face, "I think this family just wants to bully you and make you work like a slave."
Shen Yunsheng knew very well that her sister-in-law had always been a kind and soft-hearted person, but sometimes being too weak could make her vulnerable to being taken advantage of. She couldn't help but worry that her sister-in-law might be taken advantage of by the mother and son because of a moment of weakness.
“I know…” the eldest sister-in-law said softly, a hint of helplessness and bitterness on her face. Some things have already happened, and no one can change them. If time could turn back, she would definitely not take this path again. She would definitely stay away from Meng Xin and not provoke him.
Looking at her sister-in-law's frail appearance, Shen Yunsheng couldn't help but sigh. She knew her sister-in-law's personality well; even when she suffered grievances and hurt, she always chose to silently endure them. However, this would only embolden the mother and son, making them even more arrogant and domineering.
"By the way, eldest sister! Do you know Chunniang?" Shen Yunsheng mentioned it casually, thinking of Meng Xin's mistress.
Xiao Xuemei frowned slightly. She had always known that her husband was having an affair, and she seemed to have heard that the woman was pregnant.
“Yes, I know her.” Xiao Xuemei nodded. “That woman is a widow, very beautiful. When Meng Xin and I first got married, they were already very close. It was only five years ago that I found out that Chunniang and Meng Xin were together.”
Whenever Xiao Xuemei thought about the past, she couldn't help but burst into tears. She had once been an innocent and naive young girl, full of dreams for the future, but now she was a wife, and only she knew the bitterness she felt. Looking back, she had once happily hoped that Meng Xin would one day realize his mistake and become the person who had moved her heart again. But reality was always cruel. It wasn't until she gave birth to her youngest daughter that she woke up as if from a dream to realize how foolish she had been.
Shen Yunsheng walked up to her sister-in-law and wiped away her tears. "Sister! It's all in the past, don't take it to heart."
Xiao Xuemei nodded again. She and Meng Xin were divorced. Even if Meng Xin gave her mountains of gold and silver, she would not get back together with him.
"By the way, sister-in-law! How did you know about Chunniang's matter?"
“My husband told me that he had long suspected Meng Xin of having an affair.”
"I see." Xiao Xuemei gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Shen Yunsheng then asked, "Elder sister, does Meng Xin still have contact with Chunniang?"
"I don't know about that." Shen Yunsheng shook his head. "But judging from Meng Xin's words, Chunniang seems to be pregnant."
Xiao Xuemei's eyes dimmed, and an indescribable bitterness welled up in her heart. She sighed softly, "Let him go. I have nothing to do with him anymore."
Shen Yunsheng held Xiao Xuemei's hand and comforted her, "Big sister, don't worry, we'll be there for you from now on. Things will definitely get better and better."
Xiao Xuemei nodded slightly, a determined look flashing in her eyes. "Yes, I believe in you."
Just as Shen Yunsheng was about to talk to Meng Shouyi, 007 rushed back.
"Master, you were right, they really were up to no good."
Shen Yunsheng frowned and asked, "What did they all go to do?"
"They went to buy a coffin. That old woman Tian tricked your eldest sister back so she could be taken advantage of. I heard from that mother and son that Meng Shouyi owes a lot of money. Last night, someone came to his house to collect the debt. They brought Xiaoyu and Ayao back mainly to use them to pay off the debt."
"What a vicious heart!" Shen Yunsheng said indignantly. Using a child to pay off a debt, what a clever scheme.
007 sighed softly, "Master, that scumbag is beyond saving. He's just like your father-in-law, a mama's boy. Luckily, your older sister has already divorced him, otherwise, she would have been worrying about him for the rest of her life."
Shen Yunsheng: "By the way, Tuanzi, how much money do they owe in total?"
007: "I heard from Granny Tian that they owed a total of three thousand taels. Two thousand taels were borrowed from Heda Money Shop by mortgaging the tofu shop, and the remaining one thousand taels were borrowed from relatives and friends!"
Shen Yunsheng sneered. Three thousand taels was no small sum; no wonder they wanted to bring the two children back.
"Oh, right, I also heard Granny Tian say that she wants to sell the two little fish sisters to a brothel to earn more money."
"What about Meng Xin? Did he agree?"
“Meng Xin did not agree. He brought the child back mainly to use the child to force your older sister to remarry him.”
Shen Yunsheng sneered coldly. Remarry? He's dreaming.
007, recalling Meng Shouyi's body lying in the main room, casually mentioned, "By the way, Master, when I examined Meng Shouyi's body, I unexpectedly found an embroidery needle in his head. I'm 100% certain that he didn't die of natural causes."
Shen Yunsheng had already guessed who killed Meng Shouyi. She had to destroy the evidence for her husband and urge the Meng family to bury Meng Shouyi as soon as possible.
“Tuanzi, I’m 100% certain that this matter is related to my husband. You should destroy the embroidery needles now. When Granny Tian comes back, I will urge her to hold the funeral as soon as possible.”
"Don't worry, Master, I'll take care of this," 007 assured, patting his chest.
Shen Yunsheng nodded slightly, indicating his satisfaction.
She was well aware of the complexity behind this incident, and she was certain that Meng Shouyi had hired someone to kill first, and that her husband had only retaliated in response.
Xiao Xuemei frowned and asked, "Sister-in-law! What should we do next?"
Shen Yunsheng took her sister-in-law's hand and gently comforted her, "The most urgent thing is to urge Granny Tian to choose an auspicious date so that Meng Shouyi can be laid to rest. Later, go and ask the neighbors around us to help with the funeral arrangements."
Xiao Xuemei sighed softly. Asking for favors required money, and if Granny Tian didn't pay, she would be too embarrassed to ask her neighbors for help.
"Sister-in-law! I...I don't want to spend money on them anymore."
Xiao Xuemei's face was filled with hatred whenever she thought of what her in-laws had done.
Shen Yunsheng smiled and analyzed, "Big sister, I completely understand how you feel right now. We're spending this money for ourselves. If we really let that old hag bury her husband, who knows what kind of trouble she might cause? It's better to take care of it now. First, it will show our magnanimity and kindness; second, it will leave that old hag with nothing to say. As long as we hold this funeral in a grand and respectable manner, everyone will definitely praise you as a kind woman!"
Xiao Xuemei shed tears of gratitude, "Sister-in-law, thank you for always thinking of me. I'll go ask the neighbors for help right now."
Shen Yunsheng nodded and asked 007 to keep an eye on the two sisters, Xiaoyu and her sister-in-law, while she went with her.
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