âLittle Zhuzi, you go home and take good care of your mother, okay? Tomorrow when your little aunty goes to collect pig grass, sheâll pick some more wild fruits for you,â Meng Yunhan said.
Zhang Yunxuan, a child, sweetly responded, âOkay, I like the red ones. Theyâre tasty.â
After sending Zhang Yunxuan away, Meng Yunhan managed to put Little Huzi to sleep and then tended to the kitchen chores.
âFather, Mother, there are rumours that Little Huzi is a jinx, a patricide even. As far as I remember, not many people at home knew that Ahaoâs accident coincided with the day of Huziâs birth.â
Yunâs father instantaneously grasped Meng Yunhanâs implication.
This was something only the family knew about. His two daughters wouldnât have revealed it, especially since the news had spread around Qingzhao Village.
His two sons, however, were aware of this.
âFather, Mother, I just want to ask, what benefit would they gain from spreading unfounded rumours about Little Huzi? Weâre all family here, why would they do this? I want to confront them. Thereâs no way I can let Little Huzi carry the label of a jinx, a patricide for the rest of his life.â
Yunâs mother fell silent. Among her grandsons, this one was the best-behaved. She didnât want Little Huzi to shoulder such burdens either.
âDo what you feel is right,â Yunâs mother said with a long sigh.
With her son going through this ordeal, she couldnât let her grandson bear such a label as well. Yunhan was hot-tempered but all this was for the sake of her child.
âThen, Iâll go and handle this. You carry on with your meal, Iâll come back and join you.â
With those firm words, Meng Yunhan headed straight to Zhang Cuihuaâs house.
This was a matter in which both sisters-in-law were potentially involved.
Yun Hai found it strange to see Meng Yunhan show up at his doorstep.
All the children at home greeted Meng Yunhan upon her arrival.
âSister-in-law, I came here today because I want to ask something.â
Zhang Cuihua seemed a bit elusive, unsure of why the third sister-in-law was visiting?
Yun Hai also found it odd.
However, he made the children go back to their rooms.
âThird sister-in-law⦠whatâs the matter? Speak freely.â Yun Hai feared that something had happened to Yun Hao.
âBig Brother, would you be angry if your child was deemed a jinx, a patricide?â
âWhat?â
Meng Yunhan looked at Yun Hai with all seriousness and said categorically, âBig Brother, as far as I remember, the day Yun Hao met with the accident was the day Little Huzi was born. Hardly anyone knew about this coincidence. But now, everyone in the village knows. Who do you think spread the word?â
Yun Hai felt a jolt in his heart. Only their siblings knew about this, no outsiders were privy to it.
As things stood now, the entire village was aware of this, just as the third sister-in-law had mentioned.
Yun Hai narrowed his eyes and stared straight at Zhang Cuihua, âTell me, did you do this?â
Zhang Cuihuaâs eyes flickered a few times before she defended herself, âI didnât.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Yun Hai scoffed softly, âDid you or didnât you?â
Seeing that Zhang Cuihua was still denying it, Meng Yunhan said, feeling rather cold-hearted, âSister-in-law, youâre a mother too, and youâre Little Huziâs aunt. Why would you say something like this?â
âZhang Cuihua, did you say it or not?â
Zhang Cuihua still stubbornly stuck to her prior statement, âI didnât say anything. Third sister-in-law, why are you falsely accusing me?â
Meng Yunhan felt a chill in her heart, âSister-in-law, if you donât want to admit it, so be it. With Ahao in his current condition, even our own family wants to get in a few kicks. Indeed, a good person is often taken advantage of.â
Meng Yunhan didnât linger there any longer but turned around and left.