Chapter 112: Life Is Unpredictable—Cherish the Present
When Old Man Wen returned, his face was full of worry.
Seeing him, Madam Luo put down what she was doing and asked, “How is it?”
Old Man Wen sighed and shook his head. “Old Wang’s wife is gone.”
Even Madam Luo was stunned.
“The snow wasn’t that heavy, and it didn’t feel that cold last night. How did this happen…”
Old Man Wen sighed again. “Exactly. No one expected it. His wife had been sick for a long time. After the New Year, they thought the weather wasn’t as cold and were reluctant to burn more fuel. Last night they didn’t heat the kang, only the children’s room. By the time Old Wang found her this morning, her body was already stiff.”
Madam Luo said nothing. She rummaged through the cabinet for a while and went out.
At the doorway, her three sons were clearing snow from the yard while the children played and made trouble. Suddenly, her heart filled with mixed emotions. No matter what, as long as the family was safe and well, nothing mattered more.
Watching the children lively and bouncing around, the gloom in her heart eased slightly.
“Eldest, Second, Third—stop sweeping for now,” she called.
The three men stopped and came over. “Mother, what’s wrong?”
Madam Luo handed Wen Xiuyi fifty copper coins. “Take your brothers to Uncle Wang’s house. Deliver this money and see if there’s anything you can help with.”
The brothers were confused. “Mother, what happened?”
“Your Aunt Wang passed away.” With just that sentence, their faces turned shocked. Madam Luo urged them to hurry before they could ask more.
Her voice had not been quiet, and everyone in the yard heard. The two daughters-in-law came to ask if they should go too.
Madam Luo shook her head. “Too many people wouldn’t be good. This is enough.” Then she went back inside.
The Wen family’s atmosphere was subdued for the rest of the day. Even Da Tou and Jin Xiuyi behaved themselves after playing in the snow and returned indoors to study.
Wen Yao didn’t clearly remember the Wen family’s relationships with the villagers, so she took this chance to ask Madam Luo.
“There are a few poor families in our village—Old Wang’s is one of them. Your grandfather grew up with them and has helped them openly and secretly over the years. After the snow yesterday, he wanted to check if everyone was alright. At our age, and with Old Wang’s wife being so sickly… their family has been dragged down by her health. Ah…”
Holding Wen Yao’s hand, Madam Luo sighed. “Your grandfather is a good man who cares about face.”
Wen Yao chuckled, teasing, “Grandma, is that why you married Grandpa?”
Though elderly, Madam Luo blushed bright red and scolded, “You girl! Saying anything that comes to mind—aren’t you embarrassed?”
“My grandma is the best. She’d never call me shameless.” Wen Yao cuddled up to her, cheering her up.
Since the topic was open, Madam Luo explained the Wen family’s relationships with the villagers in detail. Wen Yao might seem carefree, but she was very capable. The dock stall business and the eggs and vegetables they bought from villagers had all been her idea, giving the villagers extra income.
So Wen Yao spent the whole afternoon listening to stories of the Wen family’s connections and old debts of gratitude—even some from when her father studied.
Wen Xiuyi and his brothers didn’t return until evening.
“Uncle Wang accepted the money. He said it would help buy a thin coffin for Aunt Wang—better than wrapping her in a straw mat. He asked me to thank Father and said he’d repay us when he could,” Wen Xiuyi reported.
Old Man Wen tapped his pipe but found nothing to smoke. Remembering what Wen Jun had told him, he set it down. “Repayment can wait.”
The matter caused only a ripple in the Wen household. The next day, life returned to normal.
Another light snow fell on the eighth day, then none afterward. The weather gradually warmed.
On the fourteenth day, Wen Jun returned from Jishi Hall with Doctor Jin’s invitation: the whole family was to come to the city for the Lantern Festival.
Madam Luo waved her hand decisively—everyone would go, and construction on the new house would pause for a day.
On the fifteenth morning, the Wen family dressed in new clothes and happily drove Da Huang into the city.
Even before reaching the gates, crowds filled the road. Vendors had set up stalls to earn extra money.
Seeing the bustling scene, Madam Li nudged Wen Xiuzhu. “We should’ve set up a stall too.”
Wen Nong, who finally had a day off, instinctively hugged himself, trying to disappear.
Wen Yao burst out laughing, drawing everyone’s attention to Wen Nong’s fearful expression. Madam Li smacked him twice while laughing. “Look at you, no ambition.”
After laughing, she carefully took a small pouch from her waist—fifty copper coins she had prepared.
“Take it. Go have fun today, but don’t spend recklessly.”
Wen Nong thought he misheard, then happily accepted it. “Thank you, Mother!”
With money in hand, his younger siblings crowded around, begging him to take them along.
As the city gate drew near, Madam Luo called out, “Stop fooling around—we’re here.”
Because of the crowds, ox carts weren’t allowed inside. A tea stall at the gate watched carts for ten coins a day and even fed the animals.
Old Man Wen repeatedly reminded them to take good care of Da Huang, reluctantly leaving him behind. Madam Luo retorted, “Fine, carry your Da Huang home later so he doesn’t collapse under our weight.”
Old Man Wen fell silent, muttering softly.
“Hmph.” Madam Luo ignored him, tucked Wen Yao’s hand into her arm, and proudly led the family into the city.
Doctor Jin had asked Hong Hai to wait at the gate. From afar, Madam Luo and Wen Yao could already hear his loud voice.
