Su Li showed a mysterious smile.
"In broad daylight... did I just see a ghost?"
"Don’t be afraid, she has a shadow." Soone shouted, making the not-so-young villagers notice the elongated shadow behind Su Li.
Hearts pounded wildly, almost leaping out of their chests, but their intense beating cald slightly compared to the initial fright.
"But she looks exactly like Su Xiaoi, absolutely... like they were carved from the sa mold..."
The youngest daughter of the Su Family was renowned for her beauty for miles around, and many young n were filled with lifelong regret upon hearing the news of Su Xiaoi’s demise.
If they had known Su Xiaoi would et such a fate, they would have stubbornly insisted and shalessly pleaded with the Su Family to marry her off to them, rather than letting her suffer a tragic end.
Even now, when young people in the village talk about pretty girls and how charming they are, those already past middle age or elderly just smile faintly, shake their heads, and sigh.
Having never seen the splendor of a peony, even wildflowers by the roadside seem priceless.
If they had witnessed the beauty of the Su family daughter, they wouldn’t have such shallow views.
Girls as beautiful as the daughter of the Su Family are seldom seen even once in a hundred years.
What a pity, truly such a waste...
Many have sighed, wishing they could see Su Xiaoi’s stunning looks just one more ti, which would leave their lives without regrets.
But when Su Xiaoi’s features appeared again before them, they were left with nothing but shock and fear.
The deeds of the Zhang family were not kept under wraps; eventually, they trickled out.
Everyone said it was karma, Su Xiaoi’s unwilling revenge.
There are guesses that Zhang Yang and Chen Rong eloped to escape.
Nobody realized Zhang Yang was so heartless, to abandon even his own parents.
Mr. Zhang’s later paralysis was taking the punishnt for his son... Unable to find the culprit, those close to him suffered revenge.
Now the Zhang family still lives in poverty and destitution.
Because of that deeply taboo matter, whether from Zhang Village or other villages, people secretly distance themselves from them.
No one dares to get close to them even now.
To the young generations, the elders’ anxious looks feel bewildering.
Such a commotion easily draws attention; Su Er turned his head as if ignoring the villagers’ discussions, smilingly pointing at Su Li and introducing, "Secretary, you might not know her, she’s my niece, my younger sister’s daughter..."
The Village Secretary walking with the Su Family is the son of the twenty-year Village Secretary, also following in his father’s footsteps.
Su Er’s words fell like thunder in the ears of the others.
The Village Secretary incredulously fumbled with his ears, "What did you just say?"
"She’s Su Xiaoi’s daughter?"
Su Er dared not claim the person before them was Su Xiaoi herself, twenty years unchanged in appearance; it would sound like a terrifying tale.
Surely it would lead to many unnecessary troubles.
Having grown into a cunning businessman, Su Er naturally arranged every back route properly.
Even if people looked closely, they would only find that the person before them is indeed Su Xiaoi’s biological daughter.
The crowd erupted in gasps and murmurs.
A young man newly married this year stared in astonishnt, seeing his usually composed father uncontrollably trembling with excitent, like a young lad, loudly exclaiming, "Second Brother Su, Xiaoi, Xiaoi didn’t die, did she...?"
The young man always thought his father’s face was stiff and that no major or minor event could change that rigid expression.
He believed his father’s bluntness was inherent, an inborn lack of expression.
Yet now, he watched with surprise as various expressions quickly appeared on his father’s face.
Disbelief, joy, anticipation...
Suddenly realizing: So father also has expressions.
Yet his next sight was his mother’s emotionless deanor.
"Mom, what’s going on, who is Su Xiaoi?"
This question was also what many present young n wondered in their hearts.
"Su Xiaoi? The village flower from twenty years ago."
The young fellow sneered, "Ah, the village flower..."
His tone was full of disdain.
"Su Xiaoi looked just like the girl you see now." The young man’s mother pointed toward Su Li.
The young man gazed at Su Li’s appearance in a daze, muttering to himself, "...If she really looks like this, no wonder my dad..."
Before the young man could finish, both his mother and newlywed wife conspired to thump him hard on the head.
"Ah, it hurts..."
Seeing his mother and wife cold as ever, the young man dared utter no more words, silently casting his father a hidden, sympathetic side-eye.
Father, good luck tonight~
Though truthfully, father’s eye for beauty was too exceptional.
The Village Secretary quickly asked, "Then, where is Xiaoi, has she returned as well?"
To send Old Su in his last journey, an occasion such as this should not lack a daughter’s presence.
Many people began casting expectant glances around...
Su Er tily showed a sorrowful look, speaking with slight yet restrained choking, "Xiaoi, after giving birth to my niece, died from a hemorrhage."
"Ah...."
"And who was Xiaoi’s husband, has he co?" soone asked urgently, their voice tinged with jealousy.
They truly wanted to know who finally won Su Xiaoi’s heart, making her willingly trade her life to bear a child.
Wondering if he was superior to Zhang Yang back then.
Thinking of Zhang Yang, many wore conflicted expressions.
People from neighboring villages said just two days ago, Zhang Yang returned to Zhang Village with his wife, supposedly after failing to make a living outside.
Many in Zhang Village saw Zhang Yang and his wife Chen Rong looking like vagrants, even Old Lady Zhang couldn’t recognize her son.
If not for him recounting his life’s anecdotes in detail, down to the most private matters matching precisely, Old Lady Zhang wouldn’t dare acknowledge him.
Nonetheless, Old Lady Zhang neither chased them away nor paid them much heed, tightly clutching the food stores, not letting a grain slip.
Now the pair are still hungry, begging for food from various hos.
Su Er subtly changed the topic, "Let’s not talk about that, let’s first discuss my father’s matters..."
The Village Secretary followed suit, shifting the subject understandingly.
So still curious, eager to speak were quietly suppressed by the Village Secretary.
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