While the villagers discussed the incident among themselves, all of them ended up breaking into a cold sweat. The possibility of someone dying after being struck by lightning was infinitesimally small, but it happened nevertheless.
Old Man Yang thought about it for a while before saying, “If Old Man Qi’s family does something like this again, I think all of them will end up being struck to death by lightning.”
His wife licked her lips, but kept silent.
Old Man Yang had another alarming thought. “Say, do you think that Eleventh Daughter has become intelligent due to the Koi Fish God’s help?”
“Don’t say something like that.” Why would the Koi Fish God help her? Was she too devout when praying to the Koi Fish God?
“Why else would a fool become so intelligent?” Old Man Yang muttered to himself. Suddenly, he slapped his palm on his forehead. “Ah! I know! Didn’t we hear something about how Eleventh Daughter and her three children had been abandoned near the White Dragon Temple? You should be aware of the relationship between the White Dragon Temple and the Koi Fish God Temple. They’re connected! The White Dragon Temple should be more powerful when compared to the Koi Fish God Temple. Maybe the Koi Fish God didn’t want His believer to end up as a fool, so He blessed her and gave her good fortune!”
Old Man Yang’s wife: “…”
The husband and wife talked about this incident for a long time before finally reaching a conclusion: they must never offend Eleventh Daughter in the future, as they would not be able to handle the consequences!
On this night, Old Man Yang was not the only one who discussed this incident. Everyone in Linquan Village, and even the villagers living in nearby villages, were all doing the same thing. They were already devout believers of the Koi Fish God to begin with. What had happened that day was even more proof of Qingzhou City’s strangeness.
The saying that “the gods are watching us from above” could sum everything up.
As they were being watched by the gods, it was important for everyone to remain conscientious.
Old Man Qi and his family had spread lies everywhere and placed the blame on their daughter. Less than half a day later, they were reprimanded by the Heavens… They had gotten what they deserved in such a short time.
…
It was during the second day of preparations for Qi Yuancheng’s funeral that Qi Qingzhu realized that it was the last day of her break and that she had to return to her employer’s home. She told her mother about that, but ended up getting a nasty scolding instead from Madam Wu.
“Your eldest brother was struck by lightning and you want to go back and earn money instead of standing vigil at his coffin like you should!”
“…” Qi Qingzhu was going through many hardships, but she could not voice them.
She did not want to discourage her mother at this moment, but if she did not return to her employer’s house soon, she would be fired.
The other members of her family were the ones who insisted on ruining Yaoyao’s reputation in all the villages, and now that they were cursed by the Heavens, they were blaming her for not wanting to stand vigil at her brother’s coffin!
Her husband had also come to help with preparations for the funeral, and Qi Qingzhu informed him about her departure. Even as she left the family home, her mother was still cursing her, “You ungrateful cretin!”
Qi Qingzhu felt very helpless.
Before she returned to Qingzhou City, she visited the construction site again.
The carriage was not here today. Qi Qingzhu saw an old master who was in charge and asked him, “Is the owner not around today?”
Master Bao said, “The owner came a few days ago, in the morning.”
Had her sister come here before she did? Qi Qingzhu lamented the fact while she looked around. She asked again, “How… How about the man?”
“I don’t know,” Master Bao said.
“…”
Qi Qingzhu thought, ‘Maybe the two men are feeling guilty after Elder Brother died and they didn’t dare come to the village.’
Whatever.
Since her younger sister was not here, Qi Qingzhu did not stay in the village any longer. She could only wait until the next time she returned to tell Younger Sister about her identity.
She glanced at the house that was well on its way to being completed. She thought, ‘She’ll be in the village anyway. Since this is an important matter, there’s no point in rushing it.’