RYEY – Chapter 194 The Fox Spirit Reincarnates

Ye Jun wanted to give chase, but Chen Weimin blocked him. Chen Weimin was extremely alert—his son’s unusual behavior made him realize that something had gone terribly wrong. Now, the only thing he could do was destroy the evidence.

Zhaodi looked like an impenetrable fortress, her taut face warning everyone: anyone who crossed her was in for serious trouble.

Aunt Wang lunged forward, grabbing Zhaodi and beating her mercilessly. “You damn woman! Who do you think you’re scaring? I’ve tolerated you for over ten years. Back then, I put up with you because you were the accountant’s wife, but now it’s time for revenge!”

Cheng Qiao, holding little Cheng Li, quickly followed with Xuhui. Unfortunately, one was a child and the other carried a child—there was no way they could catch up.

Ye Jun punched Chen Weimin to the ground, while Li Huan kicked away Chen Chunli. They quickly gave chase. By the time they reached the base of the wall, Chen Chunjian had already climbed over.

Chen Chunjian rolled frantically over the footprints. He regretted leaving so hastily before, failing to perform a crucial action—otherwise, he wouldn’t be in this mess.

“Old village head, go report this to the police. Say Chen Chunjian deliberately set fire, attempting to burn my wife and son alive. He’s committed a heinous crime.”

“Li Huan, Huanzi, please spare our family! We’ve already lost Chunhua—why are you still holding on so tightly?”

Zhaodi wriggled free from Aunt Wang, rolling and crawling to Li Huan. She collapsed in front of him with a thud and began sobbing loudly. Li Huan sneered at Chen Weimin, silently telling him to take a look at his own home.

Chen Weimin didn’t want to go, but the villagers all crowded into Cheng Qiao’s house. Seeing the scene in shambles, they shook their heads.

“Luckily, Cheng Qiao and little Cheng Li weren’t inside, or they’d have been burned alive. Chen Chunjian is really despicable.”

“I don’t know what’s gotten into him. Do all the Chens have something wrong with their heads? Chunhua was like this, and now Chunjian too.”

Chen Weimin’s face went pale. He knew there was no room for negotiation; now the only thing he could do was beg—beg Li Huan to soften his heart and perhaps let his elder brother help him once more:

“Big brother, you can’t report this. Damao finally got a recommendation to the Workers’ and Peasants’ University. If the village produces an arsonist, Damao’s chance at that university will be ruined.”

Chen Weidang’s steps faltered. He looked at Li Huan hesitantly. Li Huan hesitated as well—though he wasn’t sure if reporting would cost the university recommendation, he didn’t dare take the risk.

The villagers whispered among themselves. Some suggested reporting it; others shook their heads, sighing. If they reported it, no young woman or man in Xiangyang Village would find a match.

After half an hour of chattering, Li Huan and Cheng Qiao exchanged a glance. They knew this matter had to be handled internally—they could not involve the authorities.

“Qiao, you see…”

“Handle it internally,” Cheng Qiao sighed helplessly. She, Li Huan, Lele, Xuhui, and especially their master, still had to live on this land. Even if they wanted revenge, now was not the time for a direct confrontation.

In the end, they decided Chen Chunjian would be paraded through the village for three days and then do voluntary work repairing the river—an example to warn others against wrongdoing.

Chen Chunjian was bound tightly by the villagers. The security team dragged him through the village every hour, while the children picked up stones and hurled them at him.

In the children’s eyes, Cheng Qiao was a kind elder sister who often gave them candy, and little Cheng Li was an adorable little brother.

So when Chen Chunjian tried to burn Cheng Qiao and little Cheng Li alive, the children seethed with hatred. Though small, they were strong. Chen Chunjian’s head quickly started bleeding from their strikes.

The cold weather froze the blood instantly. But the real torment was his feet—snowwater seeped through his cotton shoes, making them painfully numb.

Since he was a fellow villager, after three or four parades, they finally let him go. Zhaodi, feeling pity, prepared warm water and ginger tea, helping Chen Chunjian recover.

“Chunjian, why did you set the fire?”

Chen Weimin glared angrily at Chen Chunjian. Chunjian looked at Chen Chunli and Zhaodi silently: if they hated Cheng Qiao so much, what was wrong with trying to burn her?

Chen Weimin didn’t question further. Zhaodi continued venting her frustration at home. The two sons, influenced by her, naturally transferred their hatred onto Cheng Qiao.

“I’m telling you, don’t cause trouble again. Especially you—your daughter has been spoiled, and look where it got her. If you keep nagging, go back to your mother’s house.”

Zhaodi didn’t expect Chen Weimin to lose his temper at her. Thinking of the deceased Chen Chunhua and glancing at Chen Chunjian, who seemed lost in thought, she couldn’t help but burst into tears. She wailed, ‘I can’t live,’ and ran inside.

Chen Weimin looked at Chen Chunli with disdain. Chunjian was a fool who just followed Chunli blindly. But after incidents occurred, Chunjian always bore the brunt.

Though he admired this son in some ways, this time Chunjian had clearly used the wrong target. How could one allow a family member to commit a misdeed?

“Chunli, in the future, never act without absolute certainty.”

“Father, I understand, but…”

“But what?”

“I just feel that if I kill Cheng Qiao, I’ll die too. Don’t underestimate that fox spirit—maybe she really is one. How can a man like me handle a fox spirit?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. After the founding of the nation, monsters can’t transform into spirits. If anyone hears you, you’ll be paraded through the village too.”

Chen Weimin forbade Chunli from talking nonsense, though inside he was uneasy. What if Cheng Qiao really was a fox spirit? That wouldn’t be so bad—it would mean the second son has less time to catch a break.

Why? Fox spirits usually drain people’s essence. The second son spent every day with Cheng Qiao—if she really was one, it would be a miracle if he survived unscathed.

“Keep away from the fox spirit… no, Cheng Qiao. Stay away from her and her family.”

With that, Chen Weimin ran outside. He wanted to reconcile with his elder brother—Damao was about to enter university, with a bright future ahead.

Cuihua was headache-stricken as aunties kept coming over for matchmaking talks. If Damao didn’t work out, Er Mao might.

Damao sat grim-faced inside, refusing to come out. Er Mao curiously asked if he had a crush; otherwise, why would he resist his mother’s matchmaking?

Damao’s face suddenly flushed. He saw a slender figure, long braids thick and black—no, that was when the girl first arrived in Xiangyang Village.

Now her braids seemed yellowed and thinner. They say the quality of hair reflects one’s vitality. Dry and yellow hair indicated she was clearly malnourished.