Although Fang Pingying didn’t get along with Luo Cuilan, she didn’t hate her enough to wish her dead.
Luo Cuilan had jumped into a small pond not far from their ho. To be honest, the water in that pond was not deep at all. The deepest part would probably just subrge Luo Cuilan’s neck. Anybody who truly wanted to die wouldn’t choose to jump into that pond.
Clearly, Luo Cuilan was just trying to scare everyone in the Luo Family.
But for Luo Cuilan to co up with such a stunt was really exhausting for both herself and others.
When Fang Pingying arrived there, Luo Cuilan had already been rescued by Luo Zhiyong and her second uncle Luo Dahu, and a crowd had gathered around, pointing and talking.
At that mont, Luo Cuilan was sitting on the ground, sobbing loudly, her body purple from the cold, even her voice sounded odd due to being subrged in water. She looked like she couldn’t hold on much longer.
Luo Honglan and Zhou Yuni had taken off their clothes to cover her, comforting her at her side.
Luo Zhiming and Luo Dashan were also standing behind her, occasionally offering so words of persuasion.
She was twisting her body, making a fuss, saying she would rather die than return to the Luo Family ever again in her life.
Fang Pingying couldn’t bear to watch this. If she really had that much resolve, why didn’t she go to the deepest part of the river in the village to seek death?
At this ti, the river would be its deepest, and the current rapid. If one jumped in, there would be no hope of coming back up.
Moreover, the one who had saved her, Luo Dahu, was also quite old. He could barely stand from the cold, and despite his state, he was still thinking of taking Luo Cuilan back ho. Fang Pingying imdiately called out to Qiu Xiu, "Second Aunt, you should quickly head back and get Second Uncle a hot bath so he doesn’t catch a cold. We’ll take care of the rest here."
"Alright, I’ll take your Second Uncle back with first," Qiu Xiu said, and then hurriedly pointed to Zhiyong and Cuilan, "Your Zhiyong and Cuilan should also hurry back, or they’ll surely get sick."
Fang Pingying was tired of dealing with Luo Cuilan. She was a harm to herself and others, causing trouble without any intention to actually die.
But seeing Luo Zhiyong’s face also turn pale from the cold, Fang Pingying felt a pang of sympathy and imdiately wanted to take off her clothes to wrap around him.
Luo Zhiyong stopped her, "Don’t take it off. You’ll catch a cold yourself. Let’s head back."
After that, Luo Zhiyong glared fiercely at Luo Cuilan, who was still sitting on the ground and continuing to wail, "Do you want to embarrass yourself even more? What are you sitting there for? Let’s go ho."
"I’m not going back, I... I would rather die here today than return to the Luo Family. From now on, I’ll have nothing to do with you." Luo Cuilan still had the energy to yell loudly, "I’ve never seen such a heartless family before. It’s one thing to be aggrieved at my in-laws, but to be ignored when back at my parents’ ho..."
"So be it," Luo Zhiyong said, too lazy to look at her. He pulled Fang Pingying, "Pingying, let’s go back."
Fang Pingying knew what Luo Cuilan was up to. She was purposefully portraying her family in the worst light possible to gain sympathy from the crowd, but why, Fang Pingying couldn’t fathom.
Reluctant to engage with her any further, Fang Pingying left with Luo Zhiyong.
Back at ho, Fang Xiu ca out from inside upon hearing noises and, seeing Luo Zhiyong soaking wet, she quickly asked, "Big sis, did Luo Cuilan die?"
"Don’t spout nonsense," Fang Pingying glanced at her, "Is there hot water in the kitchen?"
Fang Xiu looked at Fang Pingying and then turned to Luo Zhiyong, shrinking her neck a little as she pointed toward the kitchen, "Yes, there’s so hot water on the stove. I was originally planning to use it to wash dishes."
Fang Pingying nodded, "I’ll fetch so water, then you can add more to boil it later. We’ll need it shortly."
Fang Xiu agreed and followed Fang Pingying into the kitchen, asking quietly, "Did my Zhiming go into the water yet?"
Fang Pingying curled her lip and looked at her with a half smile, "Is your Zhiming the kind of person who would risk his life to save soone?"
Actually, Luo Zhiyong and Luo Zhiming almost ran over at the sa ti. Luo Zhiyong jumped into the pond, but Fang Pingying noticed Luo Zhiming remained dry, probably not even helping to lift Luo Cuilan up.
At first, Fang Xiu didn’t understand the implication behind Fang Pingying’s rhetorical question, but after thinking it through, she pursed her lips and said discontentedly, "What are you talking about? Why wouldn’t my Zhiming be that kind of person?"
Fang Pingying just offered a faint smile and said, "Next ti sothing like this happens, should we have your Zhiming save her?"
Upon hearing this, Fang Xiu imdiately waved her hands and said, "Forget it, it’s just Luo Cuilan. Let her die. She causes trouble daily; who can stand her?"
"Stop talking nonsense here. Get the fire started in the kitchen. I’ll co to boil the water," Fang Pingying said, and then went to get a bucket to pour water into the pot.
Fang Pingying told Luo Zhiyong to go back to his room, take off his wet clothes, wrap himself in a quilt, and then she went to the kitchen to fetch hot water for him.
The hot water wasn’t enough for a bath, so Fang Pingying just mixed so for him to wipe his body with, then went outside to find things to warm up the kang [a traditional Chinese bed stove].
On such a cold day, jumping into the pond, the cold was likely to seep into the bones. If one’s health was poor, they would definitely fall ill.
However, Luo Zhiyong was fine. He said that when they were outdoors, even in the dead of winter, they would bathe with cold water, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.
Luo Cuilan brought it upon herself; even if she got sick, it wouldn’t be anyone’s fault.
Honestly, what Fang Pingying was most concerned about was Second Uncle Luo Dahu. After all, he wasn’t young anymore, and jumping into cold water on such a cold day, she wasn’t sure if he could withstand it. She planned to prepare so ginger soup later and take so over to him.
After Fang Pingying mixed the water for Luo Zhiyong and started heating up the kang, she returned to the kitchen to boil more water. anwhile, Fang Xiu had rely started a fire and then ran back to the doorway to wait for Luo Zhiming’s return, supposedly to see Luo Cuilan’s embarrassing situation.
Fang Pingying thought they would need hot water for Luo Cuilan when she ca back, so she decided to boil so ginger soup on the small stove as well.
Just as Fang Pingying was heating the water, she heard voices in the courtyard. It seed Luo Cuilan and the others had returned, and she could hear Fang Xiu saying sothing offensive to Luo Cuilan, stirring up an argunt that Zhou Yuni halted.
Seeing the water was heated, Fang Pingying shouted outside, "Hong Lan, Hong Lan."
Hong Lan imdiately ran in, "Sister-in-law, what’s up?"
Fang Pingying pointed to the water from the morning, "I’ve boiled so hot water, take it to your sister for a bath. Afterwards, check with Second Uncle’s next door if they need hot water; tell them I’ve boiled two pots."
"Okay."
Soon after Luo Honglan ran out, she ca back, "Sister-in-law, Second Aunt’s family doesn’t need hot water."
"Got it," said Fang Pingying. "Bring the water to your sister for her bath. I’ll prepare so ginger soup."
Fang Pingying quickly sliced so ginger strips, threw them into a small pot, and slowly simred them. By the ti Luo Cuilan had finished bathing and everything had been tidied up, the ginger soup was also ready.
Fang Pingying instructed Luo Honglan to take a bowl of ginger soup to Luo Zhiyong. She then filled a large bowl herself and took it to Second Uncle’s house next door. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation votes and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian to read.)
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