CHAPTER 368: CHAPTER 343: XING-SHI’S SUICIDE

Jiang Haiqiu didn’t say anything, so Yu Changhe naturally didn’t know what had happened between them. He offered enthusiastically, "Don’t worry, I’ll be the intermediary and help you with matchmaking. Your fourth uncle will certainly give me face."

Moreover, Jiang Haiqiu is a good match and not a bad one. By the decree of the parents and the matchmaker’s words, what reason does Sun Manxia have to disagree?

"Manxia and my Lian’er are the same age, both fifteen this year. It’s time to arrange a marriage.

Go back and wait for my message. I will find time to inquire, and then I’ll get back to you."

Jiang Haiqiu stood up, cupped his hands in salute, "Thank you, Uncle Yu!"

Ever since the Yu Family had contracted his peach orchard these past two years, and occasionally sent him to purchase hawthorn and safflower from the mountains, the Jiang family’s life had been improving.

Originally, Jiang Haiqiu’s mother, Mrs. Wang, wanted to marry her niece to him as a daughter-in-law, but Jiang Haiqiu refused.

When his family was in decline, none of his maternal uncles were willing to help, and some even mocked them while they were down. Now they want to send their daughter over to enjoy a good life? No way.

After Jiang Haiqiu left, just as Yu Changhe was about to sit down for a rest, Old Lady Sun rushed in with hurried steps.

"Changhe, something big has happened!" Old Lady Sun’s voice was trembling.

Yu Changhe’s heart leapt, "Mother, what’s wrong?"

Old Lady Sun hurriedly replied, "Xiao Sui’s mother, she jumped into the river!"

Yu Changhe exclaimed, feeling perplexed as to why the person made such a choice!

"What about her? Did anyone save her? When did it happen?"

The river water now must be bone-chilling! The person probably intended to die.

"It just happened recently. That Jiang Dingcai’s son, Jiang Haifu, saw it when he returned from the town. Fengshou went to save her, but I reckon it’s too late by now."

"What about Xiao Sui?" It was known that Madam Xing always kept Xiao Sui by her side. In her desperation, could she have taken the child with her into the river?

Old Lady Sun shook her head, "I don’t know. I don’t know what the situation is now either. Fengshou ran off as soon as he heard and I thought he couldn’t manage it alone, so you should quickly call someone to help him!"

Although her son was an excellent swimmer, with the river being icy in winter, if he hastily went into the water, his legs might cramp. It was vital not to risk her son for a rescue attempt.

Yu Changhe promised instantly, "I’ll take some people over right now. Don’t worry."

Old Lady Sun sighed, how could she not worry?

Aside from her concern, Qi Dalian was also anxiously circling at home.

"I still have to look after Dalian and Shang-ge’er. You should hurry, it’s by the river five li outside our village!"

Alas, Madam Xing had to die near Taohua Village, as if dying for Qi Shanhe to see. Unfortunately, Qi Shanhe was in the city, engrossed with his newly wedded concubine, not caring about her life or death.

When Yu Changhe arrived at the riverside with the family’s protectors and hired hands, Sun Fengshou, bare-chested, was dragging Madam Xing’s corpse ashore. Seeing this, Yu Changhe hastily called for help.

"Just her? Where’s Xiao Sui?" Yu Changhe asked.

Sun Fengshou’s teeth were chattering with cold, and he shook his head to indicate he didn’t know.

Yu Changhe took off his cotton coat and handed it to Sun Fengshou, "Quick, let’s go home!"

Exposure to the wind at this moment was no laughing matter.

After wringing the water out of his pants, Sun Fengshou shivered as he donned Yu Changhe’s coat and quickly headed home, leaving Madam Xing’s corpse behind for now—it was too cold to manage anything else.

He felt like if he stood in the chilling wind any longer, he would freeze to death.

Yu Changhe glanced at Madam Xing’s body, then at the icy, ice-laden river, instructing the protectors, "Go inform Qi Lizheng!"

Having shed his cotton jacket, he was also very cold. Realizing Qi Lizheng would take a while to arrive, he left someone to watch over Madam Xing’s body and went home for warmer clothes.

Sun Fengshou, with damp hair and soaked cotton pants, burst into the house like a water ghost, moving at a hundred and eighty miles per hour.

Relieved to see her son return, Old Lady Sun exclaimed, "Ah, where’s your cotton coat? Why are you wearing your brother-in-law’s?"

Ignoring his mother’s questions, Sun Fengshou closed the door, quickly removed his wet pants, got onto the heated kang, pulled a quilt from the kang cabinet over himself, and wrapped a towel around his head to wring out his wet hair. Then he sat cross-legged on the kang.

Outside, Old Lady Sun and Qi Dalian were anxious beyond belief, "Fengshou, how’s it going? What happened to Madam Xing?"

Sun Fengshou, shivering, replied, "Madam Xing didn’t make it, and I didn’t see Xiao Sui. She’s most likely at her grandmother’s house."

Old Lady Sun silently recited a prayer of gratitude; thankfully the mother wasn’t foolish enough to take the child with her, otherwise, poor Xiao Sui would have been lost.

Qi Dalian, angry and disappointed, scolded, "If Madam Xing had dared to take Xiao Sui with her, I wouldn’t have let her die in peace. I even visited her mother’s place postpartum and left her money, and yet she couldn’t think straight. Could leaving a man lead to death?"

Her brother was just the kind of man she would rather stay far away from, yet Madam Xing regarded him like a prized jewel.

She couldn’t understand what attachment Madam Xing had towards a man who never showed her kindness, and frequently beat her.

And now that Madam Xing was gone, what about Xiao Sui?

Xiao Sui couldn’t stay with her grandmother, who either thought of selling her or marrying her off to a rich man as a concubine for silver taels.

And her brother? Forget it. Like their mother, he valued sons over daughters and was never fond of Xiao Sui.

Besides, with the concubine pregnant and about to give birth again, Xiao Sui would be even less important.

Qi Dalian had already planned—if needed, she’d take Xiao Sui to her home. Besides, Xiao Sui was about the same age as her; as an aunt, she could watch over and help find a suitable marriage for her.

Feeling much better, Sun Fengshou got off the kang to find a towel and dried himself again, dressed, and prepared to go out again.

Old Lady Sun had just asked Sun Hongmei to raise the heat on the kang, but before Sun Hongmei could even light the firewood, Sun Fengshou had changed clothes and was prepared to leave.

Old Lady Sun blocked his way, "Son, your hair is still wet. Going out like this will make you catch a cold. No, I won’t allow you to go."

She stood in the doorway, barring Sun Fengshou’s path.

Sun Fengshou said, "Mother, I need to go check things."

Madam Xing’s death was a significant event, and since Qi Dalian couldn’t show up, he had to be there. After all, Madam Xing was nominally his sister-in-law, and he had to help with the funeral arrangements.