Chapter 393 - Chapter 393: Chapter 387 Everyone Has Their Own Agenda
Chapter 393: Chapter 387 Everyone Has Their Own Agenda
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Zhao Changgui lost his balance and fell into the water again. He choked on a few mouthfuls of water before struggling to stand up.
Madam Ma quickly went forward to pull him up onto the riverbank.
She never imagined that Zhao Changgui would direct his anger toward her. However, when he grabbed her hand, he tugged at it.
[Plop!]
Before she could react, Madam Ma was dragged into the water.
“Cough, cough. Save me…”
Zhao Chuchu watched as Madam Ma struggled in the water. However, she did not extend her hand to save her.
Zhao Changgui only focused on climbing onto the riverbank on his own. He completely ignored Madam Ma’s predicament as though he were not the one who had dragged her into the water.
“Aye, karma will come back to bite him.” When the people downstream saw this, they quickly ran over to rescue Madam Ma. They chided Changgui, saying, “Changgui, how can you act like this? She is your Second Aunt and is taking care of you now. Who will look after you and your brother if anything happens to her?”
“It is her fault for being useless and falling into the water herself. What does that have to do with me? Moreover, I did not ask her to be nosy and choose to take care of us. If not for her being a bringer of misfortune, would my family end up like this? Would my father end up being beheaded?”
Zhao Changgui did not dare to do anything to Zhao Chuchu. He, on the other hand, had no such reservations about others. He ran his mouth unrestrained, just like Madam Yang did.
Madam Ma was pulled up onto the riverbank by others. She was so cold that her teeth were chattering. She said, “Zhao Changgui, are you trying to kill me? How can you be so cruel at such a young age?
“You failed to grab hold of me properly and fell into the water yourself. How is that my fault? Did you think that you could blame me for everything just because I have no parents? I am warning you: don’t think that you can bully Madam Ma was enraged to the point of exploding.
“You…you…”
“Bleh!”
Zhao Changgui made a face at her and then ran off.
Madam Ma was furious.
“You ungrateful brat. Just wait and see.”
Madam Ma was not a kind soul herself.
It was only because Zhao Changrong had nearly died that she had changed slightly. She chose to care for Zhao Changgui and Zhao Changfu because she subconsciously believed that she could accumulate good karma for Zhao Changrong by doing so.
All this while, Zhao Changgui, and his brother had regularly angered her. Her patience had long been worn thin. That day, the former had completely ignited her fury.
She left the crowd behind as she gritted her teeth. Then, hugging herself to stay warm, she ran back home as fast as possible to change so that she would not catch a cold on New Year’s Eve.
“Without a doubt, Zhao Changgui is Zhao Baotian’s son. He is as evil as his father!”
“Madam Ma has no grudge against him and has been caring for them. Who would have thought they would repay her kindness in such a manner?
“It is best that we avoid those whose surname is Zhao. Remember not to let your children play with them in the future. Who knows when they will harm someone?
“This incident was too frightening. Fortunately, it’s almost spring now. Otherwise, Junjun and Madam Ma would have lost their lives.”
The villagers went on and on.
Zhao Chuchu did not join in the conversation. If Zhao Changgui knew the concept of gratitude, he wouldn’t have failed in differentiating right from wrong.
Speaking of which, she initially thought that Madam Ma had undergone a drastic transformation and planned to take care of Zhao Changgui and Zhao
Changfu without asking for anything in return.
From the looks of it, Madam Ma also had her own agenda.
Old Man Zhao and the others in their family would most likely not return to Lengshui Village in the near future.
However, the Zhao clan owned quite a lot of land in the village. Since Zhao Baogen had run away, Madam Ma naturally had to claim custody over the remaining three children in the Zhao clan so that their land would not be snatched away by the members of the extended family.
The one who would suffer in the future was most likely Zhao Changgui.
Zhao Chuchu had nearly been deceived by Madam Ma because she had been so caught up with other matters!
“Junjun, are you alright?” Zhao Chuchu asked Xie Jun in a gentle voice.
“Sis, I’m alright.” Xie Jun’s face was as pale as a sheet. He was terrified but pretended to be alright because he did not want Zhao Chuchu to worry about him.
“Fret not. No one can bully you with me around. You don’t look so good. Go home first. I will wash the rest of the vegetables,” comforted Zhao Chuchu as she took over the vegetables that Xie Jun had been hugging tightly. “Be a good boy and listen to me.”
“Alright,” Xie Jun agreed, and he did not insist on staying here.
He, too, did not want to fall into the water and fall sick during the Lunar New Year period.
He still wanted to watch fireworks and join the temple fair organized by the villagers tomorrow.
After Xie Jun went home, Zhao Chuchu returned to the river to finish her chores.
Someone asked, “Is Junjun alright?”
“Sigh. The members of the Zhao clan are truly wretched. Next time, don’t let Junjun go near the river.”
“If Chuchu didn’t notice Zhao Changgui in time, Junjun would most likely not have survived the cold water with his frail constitution!”
The villagers all expressed their concern for Xie Jun.
Zhao Chuchu echoed their sentiment half-heartedly. She washed all the vegetables as fast as she could and went home.
Speaking of which, the 20th day of the twelfth month was the wedding day of Zhao Meilan and Hu Yiming.
However, since Zhao Chuchu had too many visitors recently, she was not free to help on their big day.
Even when Zhao Meilan visited her maiden family after three days of marriage, Zhao Chuchu was not around. Therefore, she had not been able to treat Hu Yiming.
Zhao Chuchu was thinking of starting the treatment for Hu Yiming when Zhao Meilan returned to her maiden family with him for the new year.
Xie Heng could head to the capital first. Then, she and Xie Jun could catch up with him later.
Xie Heng was in charge of the reunion dinner. He did not allow Zhao Chuchu to bring out any dishes from her carry-on space. Instead, he prepared a table full of their favorite dishes.
It had been a long time since Zhao Chuchu last had such a scrumptious reunion dinner.
Xie Jun indulged in the food and did not even lift his head from the bowl.
Xie Heng had to stop the two of them from finishing everything. Otherwise, they would not have any leftovers to symbolize having a surplus year after year.
After they finished dinner, Xie Jun went over to play with the kids in the Chen clan.
Zhao Chuchu and Xie Heng took the opportunity to hang a Chinese couplet on their door. They might not have time to do so tomorrow when many guests arrive early in the morning.
The sound of firecrackers could be heard from time to time. The atmosphere was festive.
Zhao Chuchu told Xie Heng, “I have not experienced such a joyous new year for a long, long time. In my previous life, aside from the reunion, we ditched all the other traditions for traditional festivals. For most people, the new year merely meant rest days away from work.”
Xie Heng had a rough understanding of the future world and their concept of holidays based on Zhao Chuchu’s description.
He asked, “Aside from the Lunar New Year, were there any other festivals where you could rest?”
“There were. The Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn
Festival were the three traditional festivals that we celebrated. Then, on top of that, we had Labor Day and National Day.”
“National Day?”
“It was a day to commemorate the founding of the nation. So, for us, National Day was quite a grand event.”
“It seems interesting. I wonder what traditions you had for the New Year.”
“On New Year’s Eve, we would receive lucky money. On New Year’s Day, we got red packets.”
The Wei Dynasty did not have such a rule. At most, they gave the children snacks to eat. Aside from that, there were no other traditions.
“Are there any rules to lucky money and red packets?”
“Of course, the more, the better. However, one would give according to their ability.”
“Are there any other traditions?
“Other traditions?
Zhao Chuchu thought about it carefully. Aside from lucky money and red packets, she could not recall any other traditions.
In many countries, lucky money and red packets were the same thing. There was no difference between the two.
However, Xie Heng did not know about it, so Zhao Chuchu conned him.
The Wei Dynasty and the future world had many similarities when it came to Lunar New Year traditions. There were just a few minute differences.
Of course, no matter how old someone was, they all hoped to receive a red packet during the Lunar New Year. Zhao Chuchu was no exception.