PWE – Chapter 86 Is Zhan Zeyan dead?

“What do you mean your home! This place has never been your home! You’re not moving, are you? If you won’t move, then I’ll go report you to the Public Security Bureau and have them drag you out!”
After shouting this, Xiao Yongyi headed straight for the courtyard gate.

Wu Yueying hurriedly grabbed him. “Old man, don’t be like this. If Zhenqiang leaves, this family will fall apart. Do you really want to tear this family apart before you’re satisfied?”

“So you insist on speaking up for him, is that it? If you want to defend him, then you can get out too! Wu Yueying, you drove a wedge between me and my daughter and caused our relationship to become like this. I wasn’t planning to hold it against you—but now, since you insist on helping your son, then get out… get out together with him!”

After saying that, Xiao Yongyi gave Wu Yueying a harsh shove.

With that one shove, she was knocked straight to the ground.

Wu Yueying cried out in pain. Her body was already injured, and now it hurt even more.

She grimaced, her expression twisted in agony.

Seeing his mother being treated like that, Xiao Zhenqiang’s face sank. He rushed over and shoved Xiao Yongyi hard. “How dare you push my mother! You old bastard, how dare you lay hands on her!”

The shove sent Xiao Yongyi staggering violently.

Xiao Yongyi cursed, “I knew you never had the slightest intention of being filial! Xiao Zhenqiang, you lazy, good-for-nothing waste—today I’m definitely throwing you out! I will definitely drive you out!”

Saying this, he grabbed a broom lying in the yard and raised it to strike at Xiao Zhenqiang.

Xiao Zhenqiang set his child down, grabbed a carrying pole leaning against the wall, and charged forward. “I’m not leaving! When you die, this house is mine to inherit—why would I leave! You old bastard, believe it or not, I might beat you to death today!”

Hearing that, Xiao Yongyi grew even more furious. He shouted, “You worthless trash! Don’t even think about stealing my house!”
And with that, he lunged at Xiao Zhenqiang, and the two began to fight violently.

All of this, Xiao Wange knew nothing about.
Even if she did know, she wouldn’t have done anything.

She had already severed ties with Xiao Yongyi. From now on, whatever happened in that household had nothing to do with her.

Besides, whatever happened to Xiao Yongyi was the result of his own actions.
When he abused his daughter back then, he should have known he wouldn’t have a good ending.

…

After cutting ties with the Xiao family, Xiao Wange felt incredibly relieved.

The next day, she took Zhaozhao into town for a stroll, bought him some toys, and restocked some food at home.

Now that she had money, she and Zhaozhao could eat whatever they wanted.

Their days passed peacefully and pleasantly.

Until a week later.

One morning, as Xiao Wange and Zhaozhao were eating breakfast, the village secretary and village chief entered her courtyard with grim expressions.

Seeing their faces, she immediately knew something had happened.

She set down her bowl and chopsticks, her brows drawing slightly together. “Village chief, secretary… coming this early, are you here to tell me some news?”

Zhaozhao also set down his bowl and chopsticks, climbed off his stool, and stared at the two men intently.

The village chief and secretary exchanged a glance.

The village chief frowned deeply and said to the secretary, “Maybe you should tell her. I really can’t bring myself to say it.”

The secretary sighed. “If you can’t say it, how can I? How am I supposed to tell her something like this?”

The village chief lowered his head slightly and sighed as well.

Xiao Wange’s eyes dimmed.

She was quiet for two seconds, then suddenly said, “It’s about Zhan Zeyan, isn’t it? Did a message come from his military unit?”

Both men instantly lifted their heads, looking sharply at her.

Xiao Wange continued, “Just tell me. I can handle it.”

She paused, then instructed Zhaozhao to go into the room and bring out some candy to give to the village chief and secretary. After all, they had children at home—those candies could be given to their kids.

Normally, the village chief and secretary would have refused, but they could tell she was trying to send the child away, so they stayed silent and waited for Zhaozhao to leave.

Zhaozhao wanted to stay and listen, but he couldn’t disobey his mother.

He looked at her, nodded, and said, “Okay, I’ll go get it now.” Then he turned and ran inside.

Once he was in the house, the village chief lowered his voice. “Wange… the military unit just called. They said… they said Zeyan…”

He frowned, unwilling to continue.

Xiao Wange’s brows tightened. “It’s okay, village chief. You can say it. I can take it.”

Seeing how calm she looked, the village chief worried that she was just pretending, afraid she might fall apart the moment he spoke.

He hesitated. “Wange, this matter… it’s actually…”

The secretary sighed and stepped in. “Let me tell her. Wange… after Zeyan returned to the unit, he was sent on an extremely urgent and dangerous mission. And last night… during the mission, he was accidentally shot. The bullet hit his heart, so he…”

He didn’t finish, but even a fool would know what that meant.

Xiao Wange’s voice sank. “So… Zhan Zeyan is dead?”

Village chief and secretary both sighed. They didn’t want to tell her, but… that was the message from the military.

The secretary said, “Wange, you must stay strong. You still have Zhaozhao. If you collapse, what will he do? You’re the only one he can rely on—you have to stay strong.”

The village chief quickly added, “Yes, you must be strong. He’s still so young. He needs you.”

Just then, Zhaozhao came back out carrying the candy.

The village chief and secretary hurriedly adjusted their expressions, hiding the grief on their faces.

Zhaozhao handed the candy to them. “Grandpas, these are for you. But… what were you saying just now? What did you tell my mom?”

He knew his mother had sent him away on purpose—she didn’t want him to hear the news. He knew she meant well, but he still wanted to know.

He wanted to know everything about his father.

The two men exchanged another glance.

They both shook their heads. “We didn’t say anything. Nothing at all. Zhaozhao, go finish breakfast with your mother. We won’t disturb you—we’ll head back now.”

With that, they left quickly.

After they were gone, Xiao Wange lifted Zhaozhao back onto his stool and handed him his bowl and chopsticks. “Eat quickly. If you don’t, the noodles will get mushy.”

“Mom…” Zhaozhao held the bowl and looked up at her. “What did the village chief and the secretary say to you?”

Xiao Wange stroked his head. “Nothing much. They said… your father sent me some money and told me to go retrieve it from the post office.”

Zhaozhao frowned. “Dad sent money?”

She nodded. “Mm-hm.”

Then urged him, “Hurry and eat. See? The noodles are already getting mushy.”

Zhaozhao looked at his bowl. The noodles really were getting clumped together.

He gripped his chopsticks and quickly shoveled noodles into his mouth.

But as he ate, he glanced at his mother again.

She was definitely lying to him.

What exactly did the village chief and secretary say?

…

After breakfast, Xiao Wange sent Zhaozhao to the main room to practice his writing.

She went into the kitchen, washed the dishes quickly, and then set up a sound-blocking barrier around the kitchen.

With the barrier in place, she could hear everything outside, but nothing inside could be heard from outside.

Standing beside the stove, she used a spell to summon a judge from the underworld.

The judge bowed respectfully. “My lady, may I ask why you have summoned me?”

Xiao Wange frowned, her expression grave. “Is my husband, Zhan Zeyan, dead?”

She didn’t believe the news.
Zhan Zeyan had special powers—ordinary people couldn’t harm him.
And she had given him a protective talisman.
With that talisman, it should be even harder for him to be injured.

So she felt something was wrong.
She believed his “death”… must have hidden reasons.

The judge opened the Book of Life and Death and flipped through it quickly. After reading Zhan Zeyan’s fate, he lifted his head.

“My lady, your husband Zhan Zeyan still has many decades of lifespan left. Under normal circumstances, he should still be alive.”

“Could it be that he’s dead but you just don’t know yet? There are people whose lives end early because they’re murdered before their allotted time.”
Xiao Wange voiced her suspicion.

The judge frowned slightly. “Such cases do exist, but they’re extremely rare. And you know your husband is no ordinary man. For him to be killed… is generally impossible.”

Xiao Wange knew this.
But she just needed to hear it from someone else—to be reassured.

Sometimes you already know the truth, but you still want someone else to confirm it, as if that confirmation makes your heart settle.

“My lady, if you’re still worried, you can go to his military unit yourself and verify it. With your abilities, a round trip would take less than half an hour.”

He offered the advice.

Xiao Wange’s brow tightened deeply.

She looked at the judge for a moment, then said quietly, “I understand. You can return for now. If necessary, I’ll investigate it myself.”

The judge bowed again respectfully, then dissolved into smoke and vanished.

Leaning against the stove, Xiao Wange narrowed her eyes, her gaze dark and cold.

With her true strength, she truly could visit the military unit in no time.

But only if…