CHAPTER 500: CHAPTER 502 THIS IS MURDER

That night, Gao Yongfang had hanged herself under a tree outside the Feng family’s door, and when the Feng family found her in the morning, they were all greatly shocked.

If Gao Yongfang had died at home, the Feng family might have tried to cover it up. Given the strained relations with her own family, they could have handled her body and claimed that Gao Yongfang had gone missing to keep the matter hidden.

But now, since Gao Yongfang had hanged herself right at the doorstep under the tree, not only did it scare the Feng family, but it also terrified the passersby, making the situation impossible for the Feng family to conceal.

At this point, the Feng family absolutely resented Gao Yongfang, feeling both unlucky and terrified, filled with anger and fear.

Wang Xiumei had also received the news of Gao Yongfang’s suicide and was somewhat panicked and frightened, which made her hesitant about marrying into the Feng family.

Now that Mrs. Wang had also passed away, on her deathbed, she had instructed Wang Xiumei to never accept Gao Jianhua, leading Wang Xiumei to send him away, driving him out of the county.

Looking around her large family home, Wang Xiumei thought to herself that she definitely wouldn’t live at the Feng family’s place. Still haunted by Gao Yongfang’s presence, if she were to marry Feng Zhiguang, she could allow him to live with her.

It was only on the third day that the Gao family received the news of Gao Yongfang’s death. Zheng Xianghong trembled all over, barely able to stand, and suddenly burst into tears, "Could it be that she really died because I ignored her life and death, that unfilial daughter?"

Zheng Xianghong was deeply heartbroken, unable to comprehend why Gao Yongfang had acted this way, and immediately grew angry with the Feng family.

Gao Guoqiang was silent, having been consistently disappointed in Gao Yongfang ever since she got married, and now he remained quiet about her death, unable to even sigh.

Such a daughter, now gone in such a way, died in a manner that elicited no sympathy.

Since hearing about Gao Yongfang’s death that morning, Gao Guoqiang had been continuously smoking his pipe, thankfully in the yard, otherwise the entire house might have been filled with smoke.

But Xia Xiao said nothing, realizing that Gao Guoqiang would not outwardly show grief like Zheng Xianghong, though he must be feeling an internal ache.

"Mom, I’ll accompany you there," Gao Jiaxing said. Since Gao Yongfang had died, he felt he should visit once more, to settle the final accounts with the Feng family.

Xia Xiao added, "While you’re at it, separate Xiao Mei’s residency status from ours, preferably completely severing ties with the Feng family, to avoid them implicating Xiao Mei later."

Although unaware if Xiao Mei was dead or alive, Xia Xiao felt that breaking ties with the Feng family was better now, to prevent them from controlling Xiao Mei through marriage later on.

Gao Jiaxing nodded, and as he was about to leave, Gao Chunfang and Gao Lifang also arrived, having heard about Gao Yongfang’s death. Instead of going directly to the Feng family, they first came to see their parents.

Thus, the Gao family headed to the Feng family’s home, Xia Xiao did not follow; she had to look after the children, and with Gao Guoqiang toughly smoking his pipe in silence, if it weren’t for the occasional smoke, Xia Xiao would have thought he had turned into a statue.

At the Feng family’s place, Mrs. Feng cursed Gao Yongfang to death, angered by the gossip from the outsiders pointing fingers at her family, accusing them of killing their daughter-in-law, mistreating her. Mrs. Feng clenched her teeth, spat towards Gao Yongfang’s body but ultimately, dared not spit directly on it.

"What are we going to do, this woman died and it still nauseates us, such bad luck!" Mrs. Feng exclaimed.

Feng Zhiguang frowned, "Mom, she’s dead, and it’s not like we killed her. What we need to think about now is how to deal with the Gao family." That was what Feng Zhiguang was concerned about.

"The Gao family," Mrs. Feng scoffed, "Why fear the Gao family? Gao Yongfang had already severed ties with them. But if the Gao family comes over, it’s better, let them take Gao Yongfang’s body back."

Feng Zhiguang paused, silently agreeing.

Mr. Feng spoke up, "Alright, regardless of whether you like it or not, keep up appearances, don’t give people more to gossip about."

"With her dying like this, it’s so uncomfortable living here," Mrs. Feng thought of the sight of Gao Yongfang hanging and still felt a bit terrified.

However, now looking at Gao Yongfang’s body, which was pale but appeared as if asleep except for the clear marks on her neck, Mrs. Feng was not scared, but the thought of living at home with it made her uncomfortable.

Considering this, Feng Zhiguang said, "Mom and Dad, once I get married to Xiao Mei, we’ll move to live with her. We can leave this house for now, maybe sell it someday. When our son has earned enough money, we’ll buy a bigger house to provide for your old age."

Feng Zhiguang’s words greatly pleased Mr. and Mrs. Feng, so after handling Gao Yongfang’s death, and a period had passed, marrying their son to Wang Xiumei and moving to the Wangs would also be good.

The Feng family did not hold a funeral for Gao Yongfang, waiting for the Gao family to come. Gao Yongfang’s death had been announced by the Feng family, otherwise, neither the Gao family nor Gao Chunfang and Gao Lifang would have known so soon.

When the Gao family arrived in the county town, Gao Jiaxing had Zheng Xianghong and the others go ahead while he sought out the Fangs, visited Feng Zhiguang’s factory, and even had the police keep an eye on Wu Xiuxiu.

Zheng Xianghong came with her two daughters and sons-in-law, naturally to discuss Gao Yongfang’s funeral arrangements, but the Feng family, resenting Gao Yongfang’s misfortune, asked the Gao family to take her away.

When Gao Jiaxing arrived, he saw the arrogant Feng family, ignited in anger, and didn’t need to lift a finger; he directly kicked Feng Zhiguang and within moments, crippled his legs.

Ah, Mrs. Feng screamed, Mr. Feng yelled in horror, and the Feng family’s relatives all clamored for the police to punish Gao Jiaxing.

Feng Zhiguang kept wailing in agony, not expecting Gao Jiaxing to strike so cruelly. Now tears and snot were streaming down his face, "Mom, Dad, have the police arrest him, my legs are ruined."

But at this moment, the ones accompanying Gao Jiaxing were not only the police but also the neighborhood committee and factory leaders.

"Mr. Chen of the police, I suspect that the Feng family murdered my third sister," Gao Jiaxing stated plainly.

Mrs. Feng, hearing this, angrily retorted, "You’re slandering! Gao Yongfang hanged herself. If we had truly wanted her dead, we wouldn’t have let her hang herself at our doorway, bringing us such bad luck."

"Who knows whether you strangled my third sister to remove any suspicion and then hung her from the tree," Gao Jiaxing squinted his eyes, his accusation firm that the Feng family had killed Gao Yongfang.

"This is murder," Zheng Xianghong also spoke up, having heard about Feng Zhiguang having an affair outside, and with Wang Xiumei at that, and even that Wang Xiumei was pregnant. Zheng Xianghong glared at the Feng family, determined not to let the matter rest.