Chapter 183: Chapter 179: Xiao Family, Xiao Chenwen’s Past

The team leader opened his mouth and then closed it, sullenly after a while, “Sister-in-law, about the Fourth, it’s my fault, I…”

Mrs. Xiao waved her hand, “Let’s not talk about it, let’s not talk about it. The Fourth sacrificed himself for the country. As his mother, my heart aches, but I’m also proud of him.

But my Little Fifth…”

The team leader waved his hand, “Forget it, I’ll think of something else.”

On his usually joyful old face, he squeezed out a smile uglier than crying, “Chenye and Ranran are tired too. Stop standing there, help your mother go back and rest.”

Xiao Chenye nodded, “Uncle, we understand.”

Wen Ran watched Xiao Chenye help Mrs. Xiao back into the house. After thinking for a moment, she said to Mr. Xiao, “Uncle, I’ll see off the team leader. I’m afraid something might happen if he goes home in this state.”

“I’ll go.”

Mr. Xiao wanted to go, but Wen Ran stopped him, “Uncle, your wife needs you more now.”

Mr. Xiao nodded and sighed, “Ranran, don’t think we’re selfish. It’s just that…”

Under the moonlight, tears shimmered in his eyes, “The Fourth’s anniversary is around this time. Every year during this period, her emotions are unstable. Don’t mind us, okay.”

“Yes, I understand.”

No wonder I never heard the Xiao Family mention Xiao the Fourth’s situation.

So, he is gone.

Seeing Mr. Xiao enter the house, Wen Ran quickly caught up with the team leader.

In the dark night, the old man’s steps were a bit unsteady.

“Uncle.”

The team leader heard Wen Ran’s voice and quickly wiped away the tears on his face.

He turned his head and spoke warmly, “Why are you here?”

“It’s so late at night, I’m afraid you might fall, so I came to see you off.”

“I’m fine,” the team leader perked up again, “At such a crucial time, I can’t let myself fall.”

He had to go home, get a good night’s sleep, and go to the commune tomorrow to ask the leaders for a hunting gun.

No matter what, that bear with a human life on its claws cannot be kept.

If not, can the children in the team withstand the danger?

Wen Ran sighed, “Uncle, I…”

“You blame yourself, but you don’t need to feel embarrassed. Think about it, it was my oversight.”

Wen Ran wasn’t originally part of the Silly Deer Team. Over the past year, they’ve helped the team a lot, but that doesn’t mean they’re obligated to risk their life for the team.

Song Shilan wasn’t wrong. The team leader could understand her too. As parents, who doesn’t want their children to be safe and healthy?

Especially when the couple is about to build a house and get married.

At such a critical time, if something happens…

“It’s nothing,” Wen Ran had already made up her mind, looking down, “Uncle, I’m just curious. Surely there’s more than one bear on this mountain.

How can you be sure to find that one?”

“Bears are territorial. Generally speaking, the bear won’t be far from our team.”

The team leader paused, “Moreover, the bear was injured by someone in the team with a shovel, leaving a bloody patch on its arm and chest.”

Wen Ran silently noted this, then asked, “Uncle, if it’s convenient, can I ask about the Xiao Family’s Fourth? What happened?”

“The Fourth,” a smile unconsciously crept on the team leader’s lips, and his eyes turned red with moisture, “He was a good kid. He was different from the other Xiao children…”

Xiao the Fourth was named Xiao Chenwen, and perhaps true to his name, he was good at academics from a young age.

The same exam, the same full marks.

To say something unpleasant, when they scored 100, it was because their ability capped at 100, but when Xiao Chenwen scored 100, it was because the exam paper only went up to 100.

Every time exam results were out, it was Xiao Chenwen’s moment of glory and the time when all the team kids hated him the most.

You see, everyone gets a red lantern to bring home, but you, Xiao Chenwen, are the big shot, bringing home a stick of fried dough and two salted duck eggs.

Of course, he never got beaten up.

The third brother was strong, and the fifth brother was a sly one. Moreover, this little guy was ruthless despite his age.

He knew where it hurt, and that’s where he hit.

The four brothers of the Xiao Family were tightly knit like a single rope.

Everything went smoothly.

Until five years ago, there was a flood here, and the dam broke.

At the time, Xiao Chengguang had already joined the army, and Xiao Chenye was still young, just learning to drive.

Mrs. Xiao was cheerful, life was better, and the kids were growing up.

The most troublesome thing was that as the kids grew up, they didn’t listen. Whenever they mentioned marriage, they were so happy, grinning widely, but the three Xiao kids were different.

As soon as marriage was mentioned, they shook their heads like a rattle.

She had it all planned out, to get them married one by one, starting with the most difficult, Xiao Chengguang.

Next was the taciturn Xiao Chenwen, and finally, the reckless youngest, Xiao Chenye!

Of course, the daughter Chenxing had to wait a bit longer.

But sometimes tragedy is so unreasonable.

In the morning, Xiao Chenwen, who left home after greeting his mother, never returned.

The dam half-collapsed but was held.

But her son didn’t come back.

Her most promising Fourth didn’t come back.

He had promised to come home early today, and she planned to make dumplings for the whole family.

She had already bought the best fatty pork belly.

Minced for the dumpling filling, one bite would be so juicy and delicious you’d want to swallow your tongue along with it…

Xiao Chenwen’s body was never found. What came back home was just a black-and-white photo, a memorial tablet with her son’s name.

A tomb without a body…

Her living son turned into a small plaque with yellow bottom and red letters.

It read the family of a martyr.

The team leader sighed, “It’s the Xiao family’s sorrow, and Shilan’s, no one dares to bring it up.”

Wen Ran’s mood sank, and her heart ached painfully.

She took a deep breath, sent the team leader home, and quickly turned back, meeting Mrs. Xiao halfway.

She was afraid Wen Ran would recklessly head up the mountain.

“Ranran, we can’t go there, the bear is terrifying,” Mrs. Xiao’s face was streaked with tears, “It’s huge. With your small frame, how could you take it down?”

“Auntie, I didn’t go,” Wen Ran quickly wiped away Mrs. Xiao’s tears, “I just thought the team leader is old, not safe for him to walk alone at night, so I escorted him back.

Look at you, why are you still crying, how embarrassing?”

Mrs. Xiao cried but then laughed, lifted her sleeve to wipe her tears, and pulled Wen Ran towards home.

Wen Ran obediently followed, and as soon as they got home, she claimed hunger, prompting Mrs. Xiao to busy herself with cooking.

With the food ready, the family finally sat down to eat. After all her efforts, Mrs. Xiao was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and soon dozed off at the table.

Wen Ran quietly slipped out, “Chenye, Uncle, I’m taking Hongguo home first.”

Xiao Chenye: “Let me see you off.”

“No need,” Wen Ran refused, “Auntie isn’t in a great mood right now. If she wakes up and doesn’t see you, she’ll worry again.

With Hongguo, I’m perfectly safe, you all should get some rest too.”

“Alright.”

Xiao Chenye had a lot to say, but…

Never mind, when this period of unrest settles down, we’ll talk.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep