The group entered the courtyard, and Jiang Hua yelled towards the east wing, "Second Sister-in-Law, Si Lang, get up quickly, there’s a letter from Xiang City!"
Si Lang quickly ca out, his face lit up with joy, "Is it a letter from my dad? He said if things were good in Xiang City, he’d write to let go too."
He suddenly noticed Zhao Lizheng, and his expression changed, "Why is he letting him into our house? Uncle, have you forgotten he’s our family’s enemy!"
Zhao Lizheng gave Si Lang a sidelong glance and said nothing.
Jiang Hua weakly waved his hand, "Don’t say any more, Uncle Lizheng is here to read the letter for us."
Si Lang, who couldn’t read, wanted to say sothing but held back tightly.
After a while, Mistress Yang finally ca out of the house, looking displeased, "Isn’t it just a letter? Was it necessary to wake everyone up so early?"
Jiang Hua walked forward in silence.
Mr. Jiang shuffled along with unsteady steps.
Everyone entered the Jiang Family’s main room, lit an oil lamp, and only then did Zhao Lizheng open the letter.
After quickly scanning it, Zhao Lizheng said, "It’s a letter from your family’s San Lang."
He looked at everyone and sighed, "It says your second brother, Jiang Rong, lost a thousand taels of silver at the gambling house the night before last and couldn’t bear it, passing out on the spot."
"Now he’s gone, and the body is lying in the gambling house. The family needs to go there quickly to collect the body."
Before Zhao Lizheng could finish, Mr. Jiang fell backward stiffly.
Zhao Lizheng acted quickly, catching him in ti.
Then he quickly called to Jiang Hua, "Quick, quick, lift your father onto the bed."
Jiang Hua cried and got up to move the old man.
Mistress Yang was stunned for two seconds, then suddenly wailed and rolled onto the ground, "Oh my heavens, how are we supposed to live now!"
"He was alive just days ago, how can he be gone just like that..."
Si Lang was still in a daze, unable to accept that the father who just a few days ago excitedly talked about taking him to enjoy life in Xiang City was now gone.
Jiang Hua and Zhao Lizheng carried the old man into the house and laid him on the bed.
Zhao Lizheng looked at the unconscious Mr. Jiang and shook his head.
Jiang Hua called out through tears, "Dad, Dad—"
Zhao Lizheng sighed, "Let him rest for a while, and if he still doesn’t wake up, go get a doctor."
Jiang Hua nodded in distress.
Zhao Lizheng started to walk outside, but Jiang Hua suddenly grabbed him, "Uncle Lizheng, our... families have been neighbors for decades."
"We used to have a good relationship."
"Please, Uncle Lizheng, for the sake of old tis, give so advice, what should I do now?"
He now felt that Zhao Lizheng’s previous words rang true, proving his words were indeed wise.
Zhao Lizheng glanced at Mistress Yang rolling on the ground in the main room, then at Si Lang’s bewildered face, turned back and sighed, "What else can you do, quickly set off for Xiang City to take care of your second brother’s body."
Jiang Hua burst into tears, "But I... I’m scared."
"I always feel—"
Zhao Lizheng suddenly cleared his throat softly.
Jiang Hua imdiately stopped speaking.
Zhao Lizheng lowered his voice, "What did I say before, but who told you not to believe ?!"
Jiang Hua said with a mournful face, "I believe you, Uncle Lizheng, I know you an well. This ti, when my second brother left for Xiang City, Dad told to go with him, but I didn’t go."
Zhao Lizheng nodded, "Lucky you didn’t go, otherwise..."
He turned his head to look at Mr. Jiang on the bed, "I’m saying this only because I grew up with your dad, otherwise I wouldn’t bother to say much."
"Your dad was too muddled."
"I warned him several tis, but he never listened to . Now, seeing the family ruined, it frightens even ."
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