“Didn’t I hear you had an accident? I brought you some chicken soup. My mother specifically made it for you, and asked me to bring it over to help you recover… Here, take the soup. My mother said I need to watch you drink it all,” Xu Wei said as she took out a large bowl of chicken soup from the basket and handed it to Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning looked at the steaming bowl of chicken soup, her eyes filling with warmth. She seemed to have never experienced this kind of care before.
In her past life, even when she was sick, her parents would just find her annoying. Sometimes, she even doubted if she was really their biological child.
Xu Wei glanced at Jiang Ning’s forehead, which was still wrapped in cloth, and asked with concern, “How’s your head injury? Did you see a doctor?”
“I heard from my mother last night. You broke off your engagement, and though Zhuang Xiucai had good conditions, you should still take care of yourself. Look at what you’ve done to yourself!”
“It’s fine, it’s already much better,” Jiang Ning replied, feeling warmed inside. She smiled and added, “I just didn’t expect Zhuang’s family to treat me like this. I acted on impulse.”
Xu Wei said, “Actually, as soon as I heard you were in trouble yesterday, I rushed over, but you had already gone to the city… So, did you really marry Lu Xiucai?”
Jiang Ning nodded. “Yes, the village head made us sign the marriage contract.”
“Then it’s good you didn’t stay at Lu Xiucai’s house last night. If that fire had started there, you would have been in danger!”
“What? Are you saying Lu Xiucai’s house was burned?” Jiang Ning exclaimed in shock.
She had planned to discuss moving with Lu Huai’an in a few days, but now, that idea was completely ruined.
Xu Wei nodded. “Yes, I heard it from my mother before I left.”
“Why? What happened?”
Xu Wei shook her head. “I’m not sure about the specifics. The village is far from here. Apparently, by the time they noticed the fire, everything was already gone. The village head and the men are probably there right now.”
To have lost her new home right after marriage, it was really tragic.
Xu Wei, feeling sorry for her, suggested, “Don’t think too much about it. Drink your soup. I still need to take the bowl back home.”
Jiang Ning felt a cold shiver down her spine.
Damn, did Lu Huai’an’s enemies go this far? Could it be that she had just escaped from the tiger’s den, only to enter the wolf’s lair?
“I can’t just sit here, I need to go check it out myself.”
Jiang Ning quickly finished the chicken soup, took the chopsticks, and ate it in a few quick bites.
Xu Wei hurriedly said, “I’ll go with you! You don’t know, I’ve almost been locked up by my mother and have been going crazy. I don’t want to go back yet.”
Jiang Ning nodded. After finishing the soup, she cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks, and the two of them headed towards the western edge of the village, where Lu Huai’an’s house was.
The houses in the western edge of the village were sparse, and in the distance, a few families could be seen.
Lu Huai’an’s house was here, not far from the big mountain. The surrounding environment was quiet and peaceful.
This area was designated for newcomers, and it was some distance from the village center.
When they arrived, they saw the village head and several men gathered outside the fence, pointing and talking about something.
When Zhuang Fugui saw Jiang Ning, he waved at her.
“Ning girl, you’ve come just in time. I was about to send someone to find you. Now, this house can be considered yours. It was completely burned last night, and we don’t know who did it.”
Jiang Ning looked towards the burned ruins. The land, about an acre, was now nothing but blackened ashes.
A few walls were still standing, but they appeared especially broken and desolate.
At this point, a man who looked to be about forty years old walked up to Jiang Ning. She didn’t recognize him.
Zhuang Fugui introduced him, “This is Xu Youxin from the Xu family. He’s the best housebuilder in the village. Wei girl knows him, right?”
Xu Wei nodded. “Hello, Uncle Xin!”
“Hello, Uncle Xin!” Jiang Ning followed suit, greeting him warmly.
Xu Youxin nodded and said, “I checked the place, and the fire was so intense that it definitely used oil. Normally, a fire wouldn’t spread this quickly.”
“That’s true,” Zhuang Fugui added. “Last night, the villagers who were patrolling saw the fire. They tried to put it out, but it was already too late. It only took about an hour, and everything was gone.” He suggested, “Ning girl, I think you should go to the county and ask Lu Xiucai if he has any enemies outside the village. Our villagers wouldn’t use this much oil to set a fire.”
Jiang Ning also felt suspicious. Who could Lu Huai’an have offended?
She suddenly thought that maybe she should just get a divorce. If she had stayed there last night…
She shuddered. No, she couldn’t think about that—it was too frightening!
However, what she said was different from what she thought. “Uncle Li, the only person who holds a grudge against me is Zhuang Yunqing. He must have resented me for breaking off the engagement, and when he found out I married Lu Huai’an, he probably held a grudge and set the fire to make us homeless.”
Jiang Ning said this with certainty. Zhuang Fugui quickly interrupted her, “Ning girl, I know you have a conflict with him, but you can’t blame him like that. Even if Zhuang Xiucai wanted to set the fire, he wouldn’t have the means. His family isn’t wealthy. They supported him to study, and they’ve already paid you ten liang of silver. You can’t just say such things.”
Jiang Ning continued to make up a story. “They might not have the money, but the Mountain Elder’s daughter does. That little bit of oil wouldn’t cost much.”
Some villagers actually agreed with Jiang Ning’s words.
The entire village thought that Zhuang Xiucai had the motive.
But they didn’t dare to speculate recklessly. After all, he was a scholar, and if he had truly married into the Mountain Elder’s family, then they, as common folk, would be unable to afford to offend them.
Zhuang Fugui saw that the villagers seemed to have been swayed by Jiang Ning’s words and quickly said, “Alright, no matter what, you should go to Lu Xiucai’s place and inform him. Everyone else, please disperse.” If this girl kept talking, Zhuang Xiucai would probably be sentenced on the spot.
“I understand, Uncle Li. I’ll go to the city tomorrow,” Jiang Ning said. Since she failed to pin the blame on Zhuang Yunqing, she wasn’t upset and agreed cheerfully.
Xu Wei originally wanted to accompany her, but then thought it was Lu Huai’an’s family matter, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to go. She changed her mind.
Once Jiang Ning realized there was nothing more to check, she and Xu Wei went their separate ways and headed home.
On the way back, Jiang Ning silently tried to convince herself…
Things here might not be as bad as she thought.
Wasn’t it said that gold will shine no matter where it is?
She would focus on making money first, then find a way to deal with the people who wanted to harm her predecessor.
As for Lu Huai’an, she would find out what happened tomorrow.
By the time Jiang Ning arrived at her family’s house, the sky was already darkening. The dining hall seemed quite lively, with laughter coming from time to time.
Jiang Ning was hungry, so she quickly walked toward the dining hall.
Today, all the men in the family had returned, and Jiang Ning sat down next to Jiang Xiu.
However, her appearance immediately shattered the harmonious atmosphere of the family.