CHAPTER 426: CHAPTER 0407: WHY JUMP INTO THE WATER?

Song Jinxiu was found by Mu Yuanxiu.

Even though she was a girl, she was two years older than Mu Yuanxiu, her body had developed, and she was not light.

Mu Yuanxiu was tall for a boy, still in the growth stage, so he was quite thin.

He was struggling to drag the older Song Jinxiu toward the shore.

At this time, they were still twenty or thirty steps away from the shore.

Li Yuzhu was worried that Song Jinxiu might suddenly struggle and cling to Mu Yuanxiu, putting both of them in danger.

She quickly asked the onlookers, "Is there a bamboo pole? Find a long pole to pull them up!"

"Ah, yes, there is!" Someone quickly ran to find a bamboo pole.

Soon, three people ran over, dragging long bamboo poles and tree branches.

They extended the bamboo poles and tree branches into the water.

Li Yuzhu shouted loudly, "Mu Yuanxiu, quickly, quickly grab the bamboo pole!"

One bamboo pole was extended very far.

Mu Yuanxiu swam a few steps forward with effort and reached out to grab the bamboo pole.

Li Yuzhu and a few villagers worked together to pull him to the shore.

The two men who had been searching for Song Jinxiu in the water helped them up onto the shore.

In recent years, the beginning of autumn had always been sunny with clear cool skies. But this year, the days the sun appeared were few, if not rain, then windy overcast days.

The wind today was especially strong.

Wearing a jacket, one would still feel the chill in their bones, let alone those who had fallen into the water.

The two men were shivering and pale from the cold as they ran home to change clothes.

Li Yuzhu ran to Mu Yuanxiu’s mule cart and took out a cloak, draping it over Mu Yuanxiu’s shoulders.

It was her cloak; she was concerned about the changing weather and brought it out for warmth.

Mu Yuanxiu looked up and gave her a slight smile.

Li Yuzhu had no time to look at him, she ran to check on Song Jinxiu.

Song Jinxiu, who had swallowed water, was unconscious; Li Yuzhu administered first aid.

She spat out a couple of mouthfuls of water and woke up.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she cried, not saying a word no matter what others asked, just crying.

A nearby woman took clothes from her home to cover her.

Li Yuzhu breathed a sigh of relief, then went to see Mu Yuanxiu.

Mu Yuanxiu was wringing the water out of his clothes, his face pale from the cold, as he saw Li Yuzhu walking towards him with a frown.

He wiped the dripping water from his forehead and looked at Li Yuzhu with a faint smile.

Li Yuzhu didn’t smile back at him and said with a stern face, "There are some dry clothes in your mule cart, go inside and change quickly."

Mu Yuanxiu’s mule cart held many of his belongings.

There were clean shoes, clean clothes, some snacks, tea, a mirror, and a comb, making the cart as neat as a house.

"Alright." Mu Yuanxiu nodded to her and reminded everyone to take care of Song Jinxiu before climbing into the mule cart to change.

Li Yuzhu went again to see Song Jinxiu; several women were gathered around her talking.

"Jinxiu, what happened to you? Why would you think of jumping into the water? If anything happened to you, what about your grandfather? He raised you alone, it wasn’t easy."

"Yes, your grandfather’s health isn’t good. Recently he couldn’t walk, and now that he’s finally getting better and can go out, if something happens to you... how can he live? You’re his only family."

"What problem can’t be solved that you had to resort to this? Huh? Talk to your aunt, let your aunt help you figure it out."

No matter how everyone asked, Song Jinxiu just didn’t speak, only dropping her head and crying.

Meanwhile, Mu Yuanxiu had already changed his clothes and socks. He wiped his wet hair with a cloth and wrapped it with a headscarf, walking towards Li Yuzhu and Song Jinxiu.

"Mu Yuanxiu, shall we take her back?" Li Yuzhu called out to Mu Yuanxiu.

"Okay." Mu Yuanxiu nodded.

Li Yuzhu came to assist Song Jinxiu, "Jinxiu, let’s take you home, we can talk about any problems there."

Song Jinxiu refused to get up, and Li Yuzhu pulled but couldn’t move her.

"Song Jinxiu!" Li Yuzhu looked at her, "Are you in trouble? Did you just feel desperate? Don’t you know, the person troubling you might be standing somewhere laughing at you! By seeking death, aren’t you fulfilling their wish? You should live well, live better than them!"

Perhaps Song Jinxiu heard her, and her crying softened a little.

Li Yuzhu took the opportunity to pull her up from the ground, "Your clothes are all wet, aren’t you afraid of getting sick? Just now Mu Yuanxiu jumped into the water to save you, he was really cold, you need to go home and make him some ginger tea to warm him up!"

She pushed Song Jinxiu forward, pushing her all the way to the mule cart and pulling her up.

In the mule cart, she started crying loudly again.

Li Yuzhu feared she would run away, so she kept holding her arm.

Mu Yuanxiu greeted the other villagers and drove the mule cart to Mr. Song’s house.

Even though there was no wind in the cart and Song Jinxiu was wrapped in dry clothes given by the village women, she was still shivering with cold.

Li Yuzhu shook her head and draped the thick cloak she had previously given to Mu Yuanxiu over Song Jinxiu.

She didn’t mention Song Jinxiu and just urged Yuanxiu to hurry up.

This place is only half a mile from the Song Family, and Yuanxiu’s mule cart arrived after passing a few villagers’ homes.

"You guys stay in the cart first, don’t come out, I’ll go inside to take a look." Yuanxiu stopped the mule cart and said to the two people inside.

Li Yuzhu understood, he was doing this to avoid startling Mr. Song.

"Okay, you go ahead." Li Yuzhu replied.

Yuanxiu tied the mule to a small tree in front of the Song Family’s stairs and quickly ran into the Song Family.

Mr. Song was writing in the bedroom, probably caught a cold, as he kept coughing.

Yuanxiu frowned and called out, "Mr. Song."

Although Mr. Song no longer taught students, everyone still called him this.

He started teaching students from his twenties and taught for forty years. In these two villages, anyone who knew how to read was most likely his student.

People called him this out of respect.

"Ah, it’s Yuanxiu, why did you come alone? Miss Li didn’t come?" Mr. Song glanced towards the doorway and asked with a smile.

"She came, she’s in the cart getting something, I came in first to check on Mr. Song. How has your health been lately?" Yuanxiu smiled.

"Just a bit of a scratchy throat, everything else is good." Mr. Song put down the pen he was writing with, stood up to pour tea for Yuanxiu.

Yuanxiu waved his hand, "Speaking of tea leaves, there’s a bag of new tea on my mule cart, which I brought back from the county town not long ago. Should I bring it in for Mr. Song to try?"

"You young people, always so likable. Alright, alright, I’m in for a treat." Mr. Song smiled.

Yuanxiu ran out of the house and returned to the mule cart.

He whispered to Li Yuzhu, "Mr. Song is in his bedroom writing, I said I’d get the tea leaves. I’ll go in and distract him, you guys hurry inside and walk quietly so as not to disturb him."

Li Yuzhu said, "Understood, Yuanxiu, you go ahead."

Yuanxiu didn’t get into the cart, he stood outside and directed Li Yuzhu to where the tea leaves were.

Li Yuzhu smiled, followed his directions, and indeed found a fist-sized paper packet in a hidden compartment.

She passed it out through the window.

Yuanxiu received it and quickly ran back inside, "Mr. Song, let me brew the tea, you continue writing."

He intentionally spoke loudly.

"Alright, alright, with you here, I’m glad to enjoy some leisure." Mr. Song said with a laugh.

At the mule cart, Li Yuzhu said to Song Jinxiu, "Let’s head inside quickly."

After walking a short distance, they heard her grandfather’s voice, and Song Jinxiu’s emotions stabilized a bit.

She glanced at Li Yuzhu and stepped off the mule cart first.

Li Yuzhu immediately followed.

Outside the cart was colder than inside, Song Jinxiu couldn’t help but shiver.

She wrapped herself in the cloak Li Yuzhu had given her and hurried inside.

Li Yuzhu closely followed behind her.

The two ran together into Song Jinxiu’s bedroom.

Li Yuzhu closed the door and whispered, "Quick, change your clothes, I’ll guard the door for you."

Song Jinxiu was shaking from the cold.

She quickly found clothes to change near the wardrobe.

Due to the intense cold, she took out and put on winter cotton clothes and thick skirts.

She also found a dry cloth to wipe her hair and redid her hair.

The pile of wet clothes, she balled them up twice and stuffed them into a foot-washing wooden basin.

Seeing that she was done tidying up, Li Yuzhu went over and helped her sit down.

Fearing she might still be cold, she draped her own cloak over her shoulders.

"Much better, not so cold anymore." Song Jinxiu didn’t take Li Yuzhu’s cloak.

Li Yuzhu didn’t insist either and asked her, "Alright, it’s just the two of us girls here, can you tell me why you jumped into the water?"

Song Jinxiu bowed her head, twisted her sleeve with her hand, and didn’t answer Li Yuzhu.

Her expression was hesitant and conflicted.

Li Yuzhu looked at her for a moment, "Alright, if you don’t want to say, you don’t have to. But, Jinxiu, I’ve always believed there’s no obstacle in the world that can’t be overcome, and suicide isn’t the best solution."

"I can’t find a better solution." Song Jinxiu sighed lightly, "I’m exhausted."

At this moment, laughter could be heard from the other room from Mr. Song.

Li Yuzhu thought of her family’s situation, looked at her pale face, and asked, "Jinxiu, is it because of your grandfather?"

A young girl who hasn’t married, having to support an elderly, ill grandfather must be truly exhausting.

However, in Li Yuzhu’s view, it’s not an insurmountable issue, but she didn’t know if Song Jinxiu felt the same.

Song Jinxiu looked in the direction of Mr. Song’s bedroom, "No."

She spoke without hesitation.