Chapter 147: Fire Breaks Out
The night was as black as ink, and all was silent.
“Bang!”
A fire snake suddenly shot up, the oil fueling the flames, instantly igniting a sea of fire.
A black shadow flashed by in the firelight and vanished.
The flames crackled, the unique smell of burning oil waking the sleeping people.
“It’s on fire.”
“Come quick and put out the fire!”
With two startled shouts, the entire village was roused.
Shang Wan abruptly opened her eyes, instinctively looking toward the direction of the sound, taking in the cries of alarm, the sounds of running footsteps, and the crackling of burning flames.
Trouble had already come before tomorrow even arrived.
“I’ll go take a look.” Shang Wan threw on her outer garment, pressed Lu Chengjing back down as he also tried to get up, opened the door, and went out.
A startling thunderclap crashed in the sky, clouds surged, and huge raindrops fell heavily, hitting the wooden shed roof with pitter-patter sounds.
The heavy rain poured down, gradually extinguishing the fire.
The villagers stood in the rain, carrying buckets and basins, staring blankly at the house that had burned almost to ashes, wiping the rainwater from their faces.
Was the Gao Family really having such a run of bad luck? The people were dead, and now even the house had to die once.
“Good thing it’s raining; this fire is finally out.”
“No cooking, no lamps lit—how did it suddenly catch fire?”
“Who knows? The fire’s out now, that’s what matters. It’s still raining, everyone go back home, and come look again tomorrow.”
The villagers walked back in twos and threes; though they were all soaked like drowned chickens, they still held buckets or basins over their heads.
Shang Wan stood at a distance with a large leaf over her head, thinking this was truly a timely rain.
She had only guessed that the village would have trouble, but she hadn’t expected the Gao Family to be the ones in trouble.
Rainwater smashed into the ground, stirring up a smell of earth that covered the lingering smell of oil in the air.
Someone had deliberately committed arson at the Gao Family house.
“Arson?” Lu Chengjing used a clean cloth towel to wipe the rain-wet ends of Shang Wan’s hair, frowning slightly upon hearing this. “Could the Gao Family still have some evidence left?”
“I already searched through it before and didn’t find anything useful.” Shang Wan shrugged. “Even if there was any, it’s all burned up now.”
Lu Chengjing’s frown deepened involuntarily.
Shang Wan yawned. “Let’s sleep first. We’ll go look at the Gao Family tomorrow; maybe we can find something.”
That was all they could do. Lu Chengjing replied, “Okay.”
The heavy rain continued until morning, the raindrops pattering down without any sign of stopping.
The master and disciple from the He Family wanted to take advantage of the rain to go home. Shang Wan had Shi Tou hitch up the ox cart. She had originally planned to send them back to the city, but since Gao Yan knew how to drive the ox cart, Shi Tou didn’t need to make the trip.
The four simply packed some things, braved the heavy rain, and drove the ox cart into the city.
On a rainy day, there was nothing to see in the ruins, so Shang Wan didn’t bother and instead leaned against the doorframe playing with the two children.
Xiao Huan set up a table nearby and was cutting new clothes for Yuan Yuan.
These days, Chu Xu had been wearing Lu Chengjing’s and Shi Tou’s old clothes, which were too big everywhere and didn’t fit at all, really wronging the young master.
Luckily, there was fabric among what Shang Wan had bought back that was suitable for boys’ clothes, so Xiao Huan planned to make two sets for Chu Xu as well.
Shi Tou was reciting from a medical book until he was dizzy, and whenever he wanted to slack off a bit, Lu Chengjing would immediately notice. A light glance would make Shi Tou jump to attention and pick up the book to continue reciting.
It was raining today, so Yuan Yuan wasn’t going into the mountains and was trying to walk on two legs on the soft cushion.
The chubby little one stretched out her two meaty short arms to support herself on the ground, her little bottom sticking up high, her short little legs struggling to straighten, forming a perfect triangle.
Her little feet stomped hard, her little mouth making “hey yo hey yo” sounds. First she let go of one small hand, then the other. Before she could stand steady, she plopped back down, turning into a triangle again.
The knife wound on Chu Xu’s back had scabbed over thanks to the ointment and bok choy’s efforts, so he no longer needed to stay prone.
He sat cross-legged nearby, watching Yuan Yuan intently, ready to reach out and catch her at any moment.
Ever since convincing Yuan Yuan not to use him as a turtle to crawl on, the two little ones had started playing together.
Chu Xu was the youngest in the family, and it was rare to have an even younger kid who liked to stick to him and play with him, instantly giving him the feeling of being an older brother.
Most importantly, playing with Yuan Yuan meant he could ride the wolf—a very majestic wolf.
Even Father and Elder Brother hadn’t ridden a wolf, but he had—he was awesome!
Shang Wan was also watching her own kid, wondering when the little one could turn that triangle into a straight line.
After waiting a long time, the big and the small watched as the triangle remained a triangle with no change, though the round little belly rose and fell, showing the triangle was really trying hard.
Chu Xu anxiously wanted to help, but Yuan Yuan quickly scuttled aside like a crab, her round little face clearly saying “no help wanted”—she wanted to stand up by herself.
The little one gathered all her strength, battling her own short arms and legs.
Shang Wan watched and laughed nonstop, even wanting to go up and mess with her.
What kind of mother is this?
Chu Xu reached out and tugged Shang Wan’s skirt hem, asking softly, “Did something happen last night? I heard the door opening.”
“Why’s a kid worrying about so much?” Shang Wan ruffled his head. “You were sleeping fine and suddenly woke up—scared of thunder?”
“Who’s scared? I’m not scared!” Chu Xu’s little face flushed red, absolutely refusing to admit he’d been startled awake by the thunder.
Shang Wan patted him. “Everyone’s afraid of something. Afraid of thunder—nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I said I’m not afraid! This young master isn’t afraid of thunder!” Chu Xu firmly denied it, swatting away the hand on his head, his little face puffed up as he asked, “What are you afraid of?”
Shang Wan said frankly, “I’m afraid of dying.”
Chu Xu was stunned and muttered softly, “What’s scary about dying?”
Shang Wan’s gaze fell on the struggling Yuan Yuan kid, her voice light as if a sigh. “That’s because you haven’t really died before.”
Chu Xu crossed his arms and pursed his lips. “You talk like you’ve really died before. What’s to fear about dying? Eyes close, legs kick out, and eighteen years later you’re a good man again.”
Shang Wan laughed in spite of herself. “Who taught you that?”
Chu Xu said, “Everyone in the military camp says it.”
He wrinkled his little nose, his cat-like eyes glaring at Shang Wan. “Father isn’t afraid of death, Elder Brother isn’t afraid of death, everyone in the military camp isn’t afraid of death—I’ll not be afraid of death either.”
The child’s tone was a bit proud.
Shang Wan figured out why this kid had dared to jump off the cliff.
While the two were talking, the little triangle on the soft cushion slowly turned into an arc, the little meat hands clenched into two small steamed buns, struggling to control her body and straighten up bit by bit.
Good, the arc turned into a straight line.
Chu Xu pulled Shang Wan to clap together.
Yuan Yuan grinned widely, then “splat”—the just-steadied straight line fell flat on the soft cushion into a pancake.
Chu Xu: “…”
Shang Wan couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing, making Chu Xu glare at her.
The kid had fallen, yet the mother was still laughing instead of picking her up to comfort her.
