Chapter 34: Old Master Jiang Has Passed Away

After Li Mei returned to her mother’s house, Jiang Chenggong took the two children by himself to his mother’s house. Jiang’s mother, feeling sorry for her son, brought her grandchildren to her home.

Old Master Jiang was getting on in years. Jiang’s father and mother hadn’t told him about the grandson’s injury, fearing it might agitate him. Leaning on his cane, Old Master Jiang bent down to examine his great-grandson’s forehead and, with a serious expression, asked:

“How did you get this injury on your forehead? What happened?”

Jiang Qingfeng, frightened, dared not speak. Jiang’s mother hurriedly pulled the grandson over.

“Father, the child was being naughty and accidentally bumped his head. He’s fine now, please don’t worry.”

Old Master Jiang gently scolded:

“Be more careful in the future. Don’t be so naughty. A head injury isn’t a small matter!”

“Yes, yes, it’s all my fault for not watching him properly.”

Jiang’s mother comforted Old Master Jiang. He was getting old, and his health wasn’t great. The doctor advised him to rest. She didn’t dare to tell him about the ongoing conflicts in the family.

After Li Mei ran back to her mother’s house, she cried to her parents. Li Mei’s mother, furious, called upon her two sons and her nephews to go to Jiang’s house and demand an explanation.

Li Mei’s mother brought a group of people to Jiang’s house. As soon as they entered, they started smashing things. The two children were terrified and cried loudly. Jiang’s mother hurriedly took the children in her arms and hid in a corner.

“Stop! Stop it! This is too much!” Jiang’s mother shouted desperately.

The neighbors gathered around and tried to mediate:

“Why can’t you settle things calmly? Why destroy other people’s house?”

“Yes, there are children here. Don’t scare them!”

Li Mei’s mother yelled angrily: “What’s it to you? My daughter was bullied at Jiang’s house, and we’re here to seek justice!”

The neighbors realized how serious it was and quickly called the men from the Jiang family. Upon receiving the call, Jiang’s father and Jiang Chenggong rushed home. When they arrived in the hallway, they found the door blocked, and as they pushed through the crowd, they saw that the house had been wrecked. The two children were badly frightened, trembling and hiding in Jiang’s mother’s arms.

“Stop! Stop it!”

Jiang’s father and Jiang Chenggong grabbed Li Mei’s relatives. When Li Mei’s eldest and second brothers saw Jiang Chenggong, they were so enraged that they raised the sticks in their hands to strike him. Jiang’s father stepped forward to protect his son, while Jiang’s mother was in a panic, tears falling from her eyes.

“Son! My son!”

Jiang Chenggong, outnumbered by four people, was beaten to the ground, his head bleeding heavily. Jiang’s father rushed forward to protect his son.

Old Master Jiang was outside, playing chess with his old friends. A neighbor ran over urgently, shouting:

“Old Master, you’re still playing chess, hurry back home! Someone has come with a stick to fight in your house, and your grandson has been beaten!”

“What?!”

Old Master Jiang stood up, leaning on his cane, and rushing home in a panic. Before he even entered the door, he heard the cries of his daughter-in-law and the children crying out for their father.

Old Master Jiang was frantic, worried that his grandson might be hurt. He pushed through the crowd, and when the onlookers saw him, they quickly made way for him to enter his house.

As he got closer, Old Master Jiang’s anger flared up. His grandson was lying on the ground, covered in blood, curled up in pain. His son was on top of him, trying to protect him, while several men with sticks continued to beat and kick them.

Old Master Jiang, desperate to protect his son and grandson, raised his cane and rushed forward. Li Mei’s eldest brother kicked him down, sending Old Master Jiang crashing to the ground. His eyes widened as he clutched his chest, struggling to breathe.

“Dad…”

“Grandpa…”

Jiang’s father, Jiang’s mother, and Jiang Chenggong all rushed forward to help Old Master Jiang up.

“Dad, how are you?”

“Grandpa, Grandpa…”

Jiang Qingyue and Jiang Qingfeng also cried and ran over. “Great-grandpa, woo woo woo, great-grandpa…”

Old Master Jiang gasped for air, trembling fingers pointing angrily at the Li family members. With all his strength, he shouted:

“Get out! Get out of my house!”

After shouting those words, Old Master Jiang’s eyes widened, his hand dropped, and he felt motionless. Jiang’s father cried out in anguish:

“Dad…”

“Dad…” Jiang’s mother knelt on the ground, sobbing loudly, while Jiang Chenggong knelt beside Old Master Jiang.

“Grandpa…”

“Great-grandpa… woo woo woo…”

The scene was filled with cries. Seeing that things had escalated to a fatal level, the Li family members were terrified and quickly ran out of the house.

Li’s mother, in a panic, returned home, where Li Mei greeted her, eagerly asking:

“How did it go? Did you teach Jiang Chenggong a lesson? Did he realize his mistake?”

“Mei, something happened!” Li’s mother replied, still in shock.

“What happened?” Seeing the frantic expressions of her mother and brothers, Li Mei finally realized what had happened.

“Your eldest brother kicked Old Master Jiang, and now he’s dead!”

“What!” Li Mei was in shock, unable to believe it, trembling all over.

“It’s over!” Now, she and Jiang Chenggong were sworn enemies!

Li Mei anxiously grabbed her mother’s arm and questioned:

“I only told you to teach Jiang Chenggong a lesson, why did you kick Old Master Jiang? His health was already fragile!”

Li’s mother, furious, shook her off and yelled:

“Li Mei, we went for you! And now you want to blame us? Dream on!”

Li Mei sat on the floor, tears falling. How could this have happened? She only wanted to teach Jiang Chenggong and his mother a lesson, never expecting someone would die. She knelt on the ground, repeatedly bowing.

“Grandpa, please don’t blame me. It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t want you to die. Grandpa, I bow to you, please don’t blame me…”

Jiang Banyue, Jiang Qingfeng, and Jiang Qingyue received the news and rushed back to Jiang’s home. As soon as they entered, they saw Old Master Jiang’s black-and-white photograph on the altar, and his body lying peacefully in the coffin. Jiang Banyue looked at his grandfather’s kind face, unable to hold back her tears, kneeling on the ground, crying loudly.

“Grandpa, Grandpa…”

Jiang Qingfeng and Jiang Qingyue knelt behind her, also crying. Jiang’s father and Jiang’s mother, in mourning clothes, knelt on the floor, burning paper money. Jiang Chenggong, dressed in white, knelt in front of the coffin, looking at Old Master Jiang with self-reproach, wishing he could kill himself. If only he hadn’t married Li Mei, his grandfather wouldn’t have died.

The Shen family also received the news and quickly came over. Old Master Shen, with his old age, leaned on a cane as he came to pay his last respects to his old comrade. Shen’s father and mother, along with Shen Yunlin and Shen Yunshuang, were also there.

Old Master Shen, trembling, gently touched his old comrade’s coffin, tears streaming down his face.

“Old buddy, you were only a year younger than me. How could you leave before me? You didn’t even give me a word before going. Just the other day, I was thinking of finding you to chat and play some chess. You leave so suddenly, now who am I going to talk to?”

Li Mei, dressed in white, arrived at Jiang’s house, pacing back and forth outside. She wanted to send her grandfather off. After nearly ten years of marriage, Old Master Jiang had always treated her well.

Jiang Qingfeng, kneeling on the ground, turned and saw Li Mei outside the door. His anger flared. It was all because of her that his grandfather died. He stood up, rushed to the door, and shouted:

“Li Mei, you killed my grandfather! How dare you come here!”

Li Mei looked at her furious brother-in-law, desperately trying to explain:

“It wasn’t me; I didn’t want to harm grandpa. If I had known he would die, I would never have let them cause trouble at the house!”

“Get lost! Get out! My grandfather doesn’t want to see you!” Jiang Qingfeng, his eyes red, was about to rush at her. Jiang Qingyue and Jiang Banyue quickly stopped him.

“Qingfeng…”

Jiang Chenggong, hearing the commotion outside, went out and angrily glared at Li Mei.

“What are you doing here? Get out!”

“I’m Jiang’s granddaughter in-law. I came to send Grandpa off.” Li Mei knew that it was impossible for her and Jiang Chenggong to ever be together again. She regretted that, in her impulsiveness, she had caused her grandfather’s death.

“Not needed! Li Mei, once Grandpa’s affairs are settled, we’re getting a divorce!”

Li Mei opened her mouth to speak, but even though she knew it was impossible, she couldn’t help but bring it up: “What about the children? If we divorce, what will happen to them?”

“Children? You still have the nerve to mention children? You caused people to come to our house and fight. Did you even think about how it would scare the children? My daughter’s too frightened to sleep now!”

Jiang Chenggong didn’t want to argue with her anymore. He weakly pointed toward the door.

“Please leave my house and never set foot in Jiang’s house again.”

Li Mei knelt on the ground, kowtowing three times in front of Old Master Jiang’s coffin, then stood up and turned to leave.

Three days later, Old Master Jiang was buried. After handling all Old Master Jiang’s affairs, Jiang Chenggong dragged Li Mei to the Civil Affairs Bureau for a divorce. Li Mei, feeling guilty, didn’t dare to object, and obediently divorced him.

Jiang Chenggong, filing a lawsuit for intentional injury, sued the Li family for causing Old Master Jiang’s death. The case was severe, and Li Mei’s eldest brother was sentenced to five years in prison. Her second brother and other male relatives were sentenced to two to three years. All the men from the Li family were imprisoned, and the entire Li family now hated Li Mei, tormenting her until she was barely recognizable.