After the two of them wandered around the village for a while, evening was approaching, and it was almost dinner time.

"Jiang Feng, my mom and dad should be done cooking by now, let's head over there first," Mu Yanluo said.

"Okay."

Having seen enough, Jiang Feng felt he had a good sense of judgment and walked alongside Mu Yanluo towards her home.

Mu Yanluo, relying on her childhood memories, searched for her house.

Just then, from a courtyard ahead, came the sound of mourning music, mixed with the sound of sobbing.

"Has someone passed away?"

Mu Yanluo was slightly stunned, wondering how she seemed to catch everything happening.

However, being a native of Long Family Village, despite having left when she was very young, she still held feelings for this place.

The villagers here were mostly her old neighbors, some even distant relatives, so naturally, she felt the need to check on someone's passing.

With that, the two followed the path to the courtyard playing the mourning music.

Inside, there was a spirit hall set up, with some people burning incense, surrounded by a large group of people.

Several village women were crying their hearts out, while a man in a white mourning cloth knelt before the portrait, dazed, eyes red and swollen with tears, appearing haggard and worn.

"Huh? Jiang Feng, my mom is here too!"

Mu Yanluo spotted Ruan Xiuning in the crowd and quickly led Jiang Feng over.

"Mom, you're here too?"

Mu Yanluo asked in a low voice as she reached Ruan Xiuning's side.

"Xiao Feng, Xiao Luo, you two are here too?"

Ruan Xiuning noticed them, her expression somewhat sorrowful.

She had come out to help Jiang Feng fetch some wine, passed by here, and had only entered not long ago.

"Who has passed away?" Mu Yanluo asked, looking at the spirit hall ahead.

"Ah... What a tragedy, it's your Sister Shuangshuang!"

Ruan Xiuning said sadly, "I've been at the hospital all day today and just found out. Your Sister Shuangshuang originally was to give birth today, a day of joy, but unexpectedly... she died during childbirth! Both mother and child are gone! Shuangshuang was such a good person, and now both adult and child are suddenly gone..."

"Shuangshuang?"

Mu Yanluo was shocked upon hearing this, stunned completely!

This Shuangshuang was one of her few playmates from childhood, though she barely remembered her appearance, the purest feelings of friendship remained.

Now, hearing such terrible news, her heart felt even more blocked with grief!

"Xiao Luo, no matter what, your Sister Shuangshuang was your childhood friend. Since you're here, go burn some incense for her..."

Ruan Xiuning wiped her tears sadly and said.

"Okay."

Mu Yanluo's eyes were slightly red as she gently released Jiang Feng's hand and stepped forward to offer incense to the deceased.

Initially, the villagers did not recognize Mu Yanluo and were quite surprised by her sudden appearance, even wanting to stop her.

It was Ruan Xiuning who stepped up and explained a few words, making people realize that the little daughter of the Mu Family, who had left years ago, had returned.

Everyone then made way, looking on in amazement as Mu Yanluo went to burn incense.

Among the crowd, many village men looked at the fairy-like Mu Yanluo, astonished at her beauty, whispering and discussing among themselves.

At this moment, Mu Yanluo was filled with deep sorrow and didn't pay attention to anyone.

She walked to the spirit hall, took three incense sticks from the altar, lit them, and offered them three times before placing them into the incense burner.

The portrait showed a woman who seemed not much older than Mu Yanluo.

She was smiling brightly, seemingly filled with an endless attachment to this world.

Unfortunately, she probably never imagined that many of her wishes would go unfulfilled, as she suddenly left this world!

Jiang Feng stood afar at the back of the crowd, witnessing this scene, his pupils narrowed to pinpoints!

He knew all of this was caused by the Wei Family again!

With one thriving family, countless others decline, what a ruthless person!!

Before long, Mu Yanluo finished offering incense and returned, tear stains still at the corners of her eyes.

"Let's go, let's head home."

Ruan Xiuning sighed.

The deceased are already gone, but the living must continue to live well.

She felt somewhat fortunate that this incident did not occur in her own family.

However, to be honest, if it weren't for Jiang Feng today, it wouldn't be long before their family would be setting up a spirit hall!

...

The three of them left Shuangshuang's courtyard, walked a little further, and returned to Mu Yanluo's home.

This too was a farmhouse courtyard, but it seemed even more dilapidated than Shuangshuang's house, with no tiled roof, just the common earthen houses seen in rural areas, with some parts of the courtyard wall cracked.

It seemed that after Wei Yongbo led the village to the so-called prosperity, the Mu Family did not share in the fortune, and in Long Family Village, they seemed to live rather poorly.

In the courtyard, there was a small vegetable garden with some vegetables and a few fat chickens and ducks of their own running around chaotically.

Seeing strangers enter, those chickens and ducks were even more scared and fled into the vegetable garden.

"Xiao Feng, our home is a bit shabby, don't mind..."

Ruan Xiuqin said to Jiang Feng, slightly embarrassed.

"It's okay."

Jiang Feng shook his head and walked into the courtyard casually.

At this time, Mu Shuisheng was busy cooking in the kitchen, having already slaughtered chickens and ducks. The chimney in the kitchen wafted thick smoke, the stove's fire was burning strong, and the big pot exuded a tantalizing aroma of farmhouse dishes.

"Oh? Xiao Feng and Xiao Luo are back too, just wait a bit, dinner will be ready soon."

Mu Shuisheng coughed from the smoke as he stepped out for fresh air, and, upon seeing the three return, greeted them with a simple smile.

"Dad, let me help you!"

Feeling even more sorrowful, Mu Yanluo hurried into the kitchen without bothering to change clothes to help her father.

"Xiao Feng, sit wherever you want, it's hot, so we'll eat in the courtyard, I'll fetch you some fruit first."

Ruan Xiuning put the fetched wine on a stone table in the yard and invited Jiang Feng to sit, intending to get busy again.

"Auntie, there's no need to trouble yourself, a glass of water is enough for me."

Jiang Feng quickly reached out to stop Ruan Xiuning, hoping the family wouldn't make a big fuss.

"That won't do, you're a valued guest in our home, don't be formal, just sit tight, you don't have to worry about anything!"

Ruan Xiuning truly regarded Jiang Feng as a benefactor and potential son-in-law, and without a word, headed into the main house to fetch him fresh fruit.

Jiang Feng sighed helplessly and had no choice but to sit down.

He then turned his gaze toward the back hill behind the village, as cold as a blade!