RYEY -Chapter 299 The Chen Family’s Calamity

Li Huan first went to the hospital. He needed to tell Ermao to go help Chen Daniu’s family—after all, Tang Wei still had two elder brothers, and if negotiations went wrong, they would be at a disadvantage.

But when he arrived at the hospital and saw Wang Xiangyang and Er Mao with ashen faces, he felt something was wrong. Ermao’s lips trembled, unable to speak, while Wang Xiangyang sighed and said that Gao Xiaohui was dead—both she and her unborn child.

Li Huan was shocked. Wasn’t this just a premature birth? His wife, Cheng Qiao, had managed to hold on with twins born prematurely. Could it be that Gao Xiaohui was also carrying twins?

A doctor emerged, his face grave, asking who Gao Xiaohui’s family members were. The police had been notified: Gao Xiaohui had been beaten to death.

Beaten to death? How? Li Huan could barely comprehend the doctor’s words. The doctor sneered: “A pregnant woman about to give birth was violently stomped on her belly. There were even bruises. Do you think the children could survive?”

“Moreover, in such cold weather, wearing only a thin cotton jacket with blood still flowing, without any warmth—this was intentional murder.”

Wang Xiangyang squatted on the ground, fingers clutching his hair. He had merely been acting as the temporary village chief, and yet the village had faced disaster—not just a fire destroying a house, but deliberate murder. Clearly, he was unfit for responsibility.

“Xiangyang, Uncle Chen is probably done for too.”

Li Huan understood Wang Xiangyang’s feelings completely. It was like a few years ago when Chai Jianmin drowned someone in the river—the whole village suffered the consequences.

If it weren’t for his wife’s capability—saving villagers from floods, eradicating plagues, and even establishing two harvests a year—Xiangyang Village would have been flattened.

“Brother Huan, what do you mean? What happened to my father?”

Upon hearing Li Huan say that his father was also done for, Ermao panicked.

“Your father acted righteously. Seeing Chen Da Mao trying to burn down Daniu’s house, he shot Da Mao with my homemade gun. Now Da Mao is dead, and your father has been taken away.”

“Ah… Chen Da Mao! I will never forgive you!”

Ermao tried to rush out, but Li Huan held him back. They needed to go to Daniu’s house first; if a fight broke out, he could still intervene.

Ermao was confused—why would Daniu’s house erupt in a fight? But seeing Li Huan’s urgency, he stayed silent, thinking he’d understand once they arrived.

The doctor was dumbfounded. Listening to this man, it seemed Gao Xiaohui’s family had encountered a major disaster: someone trying to burn a house, someone killed—it was horrifying.

“Can… can you sign?”

A death certificate required family signatures, but neither Wang Xiangyang nor Li Huan were Gao Xiaohui’s relatives. Ermao might have some connection, but not as a direct family member.

“Gao Xiaohui’s husband is dead. We don’t know where her family is, and her father-in-law has also been taken. We need to check if the in-laws can sign.”

“Okay, have them come as soon as possible. If necessary, your village leader can sign as well.”

Li Huan sighed. Though he had reported and delegated his powers, he was still technically the village chief of Xiangyang Village. He picked up the pen and signed his name.

“Li Huan… so you are the village chief of Xiangyang Village.”

The doctor’s attitude softened. He remembered that the village chief’s wife, Cheng Qiao, had helped them many times before.

Li Huan forced a bitter smile. He wished he weren’t the village chief—it was a headache. Their home had been burned to the ground, and now there seemed to be no way to claim compensation.

Finally, they went to Chen Daniu’s house. They saw Chen Daniu coming out with two sleepy children, while Ermao and Tang Wei carried large bundles behind them.

“Brother Huan, you came just in time! Help me carry these, so I don’t have to make another trip.”

Tang Wei smiled at Li Huan and Wang Xiangyang. After years of marriage, they had accumulated a lot, more than he and Ermao could carry.

Li Huan bitterly smiled again. He and Wang Xiangyang had been summoned as laborers, but there was nothing they could do—Chen Weidang had been taken away.

Cuihua spent the night restless. Tossing and turning, she woke Chen Xiaoniu, who, being sensible, also stayed awake. She went to the kitchen to boil water and made a cup of brown sugar water for Cuihua.

The sweet drink calmed Cuihua slightly. But the inevitable still came. She heard familiar footsteps and rushed out to open the door.

She saw Ermao with his daughter and son-in-law, along with Li Huan and Wang Xiangyang, carrying bundles, and felt a strange unease.

“Ermao, where’s your father?”

“Father…”

Ermao didn’t dare speak. Li Huan quickly shook his head:

“Auntie, come inside first.”

Cuihua’s heart sank. She barely had time to close the door before they were pulled into the main room. Li Huan set down the bundles and sighed:

“Auntie, don’t panic, and don’t get too emotional. You have to stay strong.”

“Huan, just tell me! You’re making me die of anxiety!”

“Uncle Chen was taken away by the police.”

“Taken away? Why? What did my husband do?”

“Killed someone.”

“Killed someone? Who?”

Cuihua suddenly raised her head, panic in her eyes. She realized her husband had killed Da Mao. That wretched woman had caused all this trouble—otherwise, Da Mao would still be fine.

“Gao Xiaohui is dead… what about the child in her womb?”

“How do you know Gao Xiaohui is dead?”

“Wasn’t it you who said… your Uncle Chen…”

Cuihua, being clever and experienced as a village chief’s wife for many years, finally realized the truth—her husband had caused the death of his own child.

She sank to the floor, drained of energy. She wondered what all her hard work had been for, and why it ended in her family’s destruction.

Chen Xiaoniu, frightened, clung to Cuihua, calling “Mother!” repeatedly. Cuihua was stirred by Xiaoniu’s desperate voice and looked at Li Huan with determination.

“Huan, tell me everything. I can handle it.”

Li Huan nodded. After recounting everything he had witnessed, Daniu, Ermao, and Xiaoniu’s eyes all showed anger and helplessness.

“Daniu, now that you’re back, stay home. Clean up Da Mao’s old room, light some candles and incense to dispel the bad luck before moving in.”

Daniu nodded through tears, regretting her impulsiveness and coldness. She realized she had caused chaos in the family, yet her mother had not blamed her.

“Mother, I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

Daniu fell to her knees before Cuihua.

“Foolish child, get up. This is the Chen family’s calamity—what’s meant to happen can’t be avoided. Xiaoniu, go to the kitchen and prepare something good to take to your father.”