The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 787: Death Is Not Far Away (2)_1

Chapter 787: Chapter 787: Death Is Not Far Away (2)_1

The people of Back Mountain Village, upon learning of Pei Wensheng’s death, immediately came over to tell them, "... The state of his corpse was ghastly, found not far from where Pei Wenjie was buried."

"What did you say!? Wensheng is really dead!?" Lady Zhu, in disbelief, grabbed the person who came to report the news and pressed for answers.

"It’s all over the town; nobody wanted to retrieve the body. It was the Government Officers from the County Government Office who helped fetch it. They had to hook it out, and the body was torn up by the hook! It was horrifying!" said the messenger, shrinking his neck in fear.

Lady Zhu’s face turned pale, "How could this have happened!? Someone must have harmed him, it must be those despicable wretches!"

Old Pei’s form swayed unsteadily, his mouth opened, but he could not utter a word.

"Ahh—aah—it wasn’t me! It wasn’t me! Pei Wensheng did it, he smothered him! It has nothing to do with me! Don’t come looking for me! Don’t come looking for me!" Lady Chen screamed in terror, constantly shouting.

"What nonsense are you spouting, Lady Chen! You’ve gone mad!" Lady Zhu, hearing her screams, turned back to scold and silence her.

But those outside the door had already heard it. In their eyes, Pei Wenjie was smothered to death by Pei Wensheng; the evidence was there, and they even had Zhou Cai take the blame as a scapegoat. Otherwise, why would Pei Wenjie’s spirit seek revenge on Pei Wensheng and Lady Chen? Now, hearing Lady Chen’s screams only served to confirm their suspicions.

Although Pei Wensheng was despised and reluctant to return to the village, he would still follow Pei Zongli and Qian Wanxiu back to Back Mountain Village for the holidays. Seeing such a clean and proper young master, who could be so cruel to smother his younger brother at such a tender age, people thought if he had lived, how many more would he have harmed in the future?

As for Lady Chen, there was much speculation that she wouldn’t live much longer either. Pei Wenjie’s restless spirit had already claimed Pei Wensheng’s life, and she would be next.

Some even suggested that Lady Chen should report Pei Wensheng to the Government Office, or else Pei Wenjie would continue to haunt her and never let her go.

Lady Zhu forbade Lady Chen from doing so, threatening her that if she dared, she would have Pei Houli divorce her.

Lady Chen’s vision was blurry now, and she couldn’t find her way out the door. Even if she wanted to make a report, she couldn’t.

Old Pei harnessed a donkey cart, wanting to go to town to see what had happened.

Lady Zhu naturally went along, leaving Lady Chen alone at home. She even locked the door, forbidding Lady Chen from leaving and leaving her only with a few pickled vegetable buns and a jug of cold water.

Lady Chen cried, screamed, and cursed at home, crying and begging to be rescued, cursing Lady Zhu for her inhumanity, for locking her up and ignoring her. She demanded someone come to let her out; she wanted to accuse Pei Wensheng.

But the doors of Old Pei’s House were locked, and no one broke in to save her despite her screams.

When Old Pei and Lady Zhu reached the town, Pei Wensheng had already been encoffined, and several monks were performing a grand aquatic ritual, but since he was a junior and his parents and grandparents were still alive, they could only observe the rites for the second and seventh days and for fourteen days.

Zhao Liniang was creating a scene, questioning why Pei Wenjie wasn’t given such rites when he was wrongfully killed, and arguing why Pei Wensheng, who also didn’t die a good death, should receive them! Not only were rites being performed, but his spirit was also being held at home, and he was to be buried in the ancestral grave of Old Pei’s House. It was utterly hateful.

Pei Zongli could not calm her down.

Zhao Liniang screamed that she wanted to report to the authorities. Even if Pei Wensheng were dead, even if he died a bad death, he was the one who smothered the victim, and his death wouldn’t absolve him of that crime!

When Lady Zhu arrived, she immediately started berating her. A concubine, making such a fuss!? Perhaps she was even involved in harming Wensheng!

It was Old Pei who, considering the family’s reputation, negotiated with Pei Zongli and Qian Wanxiu to hold the aquatic ritual at the temple, and as for how many days that would be up to them. They managed to appease Zhao Liniang, convincing her to stop making trouble.