USWHC -Chapter 11 An Oddball Family (Part 1)

Zhu Jie hid behind the door, happily watching the whole family head toward the snow-covered mountain. Immediately, she burst into gleeful laughter.

“Hahaha! You want to eat me? You should first weigh how capable you really are! Hmph, go cleanse yourselves properly in the snow!”

Hehe—on such a freezing day, these idiots were actually going up the mountain to shovel snow. Truly beneficial for society and the people!

Zhu Jie even proudly praised herself, saying, “Not bad! I did another good deed today! I deserve some praise!”

Tricking people into going up a mountain to clear snow in this bitter cold and calling it a good deed? She really was quite wicked.

She didn’t believe those people could dig up any purse anyway—at best they’d dig up a rock. Her purse had indeed been lost, but unfortunately it wasn’t lost in the snow. She knew that better than anyone, because three days earlier, in the town ahead, all the money and valuables she carried had been stolen. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have ended up collapsing so miserably in that mountain hollow.

Yes, Zhu Jie had lied. She wasn’t from Qi State at all, nor was she any kind of merchant.

But whatever. Now that there was no one else left in the courtyard, Zhu Jie could finally take a comfortable bath.

Life was truly wonderful!

People often say it’s not cold when snow falls, but it’s cold when it melts. That saying couldn’t be truer. After a whole night of snow, even the wind carried a bone-chilling cold.

No one knew how thick the snow on the ground was. Every step was difficult, as if it might swallow a person whole.

The cold wind swept up the snow, mixed with tiny ice shards that lashed against their faces. In just a short while, everyone’s face had turned red and swollen from the battering.

“Little sister! Are you sure that person lost his purse here?” Ji Laoda’s hands were frozen stiff. He could barely swing the shovel he was holding.

Ji Mei stomped her feet in the snow to keep warm. “Probably…”

Then she turned to Ji Yi and asked, “Second Brother, are you sure you picked him up here last night?”

“I’m sure.” Ji Yi’s gaze drifted toward the bare tree trunk behind him. The place was unmistakable, wasn’t it?

Old Madam Ji also glanced at the tree trunk and said in surprise, “Since when has there been a pole stuck there? Why don’t I remember it?”

Last night!

Ji Yi coughed awkwardly but didn’t actually answer.

“Ah—ah—ah!”

With several shrill cries, Sister-in-law You brushed the snow off herself and shouted angrily, “What’s wrong with you? Planning to change wives? If you want to bury someone, just say it—this old lady will make room for you!”

Only then did everyone notice that Ji Laoda had accidentally thrown a whole pile of snow onto Sister-in-law You.

“How could I afford to change wives? My hands are frozen stiff!” Ji Laoda hurried to explain.

But his explanation only made things worse.

“What do you mean? So you would change wives if you had the money? What, you’ve been unhappy with me for a long time?”

Sister-in-law You grew angrier the more she thought about it. She grabbed the small scoop in her hand and flung a scoopful of snow at Ji Laoda.

“Then I’ll bury you first!”

Just then, a strong gust of wind blew past, sending the flying snow straight onto Ji Mei’s face as she stood nearby supervising. With a puff, Ji Mei instantly turned into a white-faced snowman.

“Ah!”

Ji Mei was not someone to take things quietly. Her scream shook the heavens.

Seeing Ji Mei covered in snow, Sister-in-law You couldn’t help laughing. In truth, she had long been displeased with this bossy little sister-in-law. Why did everyone else have to dig snow while she just stood there giving orders?

“Are you crazy? Don’t you know how important my face is?” Ji Mei wailed, furious. She grabbed handfuls of snow from the ground and started throwing them at Sister-in-law You.

“Little sister, listen to yourself. Your sister-in-law didn’t mean it!” Sister-in-law You said this, but her hands didn’t stop moving. She kept tossing snow back, the two of them shouting and throwing snow at each other.

Snow mixed with mud flew everywhere. Before long, everyone looked utterly miserable. Even Old Madam Ji and Old Master Ji couldn’t escape being splattered with muddy snow.

“Enough! Haven’t you gone crazy long enough? Are we still looking for the money or not?” Old Madam Ji roared angrily, raising the broom in her hand and smacking it straight onto Sister-in-law You.

Sister-in-law You staggered from the blow and fell to the ground with a thud, landing face-first in the mud!