Chapter 1231

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Wang Changgen was smiling away, when suddenly his expression changed.

"Eh, that's not right. How come this stinking brat says his wife passed away? His wife's been perfectly fine all along, hasn't she?"

The moment Wang Changgen said this, Wang Erhai beside him immediately felt his heart skip a beat, his face turning ugly.

Li Xiulan also realized something was wrong at this moment.

The content broadcast on the news — their youngest son Wang Xiaohua had indeed personally said that his wife had already passed away.

One can only say Wang Xiaohua, for all his carefulness, still had one oversight. Back when he accepted Li Tunan's interview, it never crossed his mind that this content could actually travel across most of China, letting his parents far away in Shanggou Village see it!

He thought these interview contents would at most spread around campus, or at worst circulate within elite academic circles.

Who could have imagined that once the news piece came out, it would spark such massive discussion online, to the point that even CCTV News Channel broadcast an interview about him.

"What on earth is going on?"

Wang Changgen turned his head to look at Wang Erhai.

Wang Erhai could only stammer:

"Dad, Third Brother must have made it all up. To create a tragic persona, he spouted that nonsense. Sister-in-law is doing great — I saw her just a few days ago!"

But Wang Changgen had already darkened his face and said coldly:

"Are you trying to fool me too, you brat?"

Wang Erhai sighed, knowing he couldn't bluff his way out.

After all, television news — in the minds of the older generation — is the authority among authorities.

So Wang Erhai could only say:

"Actually I don't know the specifics either. I've been working in Shanggou Village these days. Why don't you go ask Third Brother yourself."

Wang Erhai could only throw this difficult problem to Wang Xiaohua to solve himself.

After all, he was also afraid of misspeaking and bringing unnecessary trouble.

Wang Changgen immediately ordered Li Xiulan in a commanding tone:

"You call that brat right now and find out exactly what's going on!"

Li Xiulan hurriedly nodded — she also wanted to know the truth.

So she took out her old mobile phone and dialed Wang Xiaohua's number.

At this moment, Wang Xiaohua was in his dormitory.

His three roommates — Wan Zhiyuan, Wen Lingyun, and Wei Qian — were all laughing and congratulating him.

Wei Qian laughed: "Xiaohua, you're something else — about to become a nationwide celebrity!"

Wan Zhiyuan said: "The online discussion about you is insanely hot! How come they don't discuss my research project?"

Wen Lingyun said: "Awesome — the big star of our dorm is none other than you!"

Wei Qian chimed in: "That's for sure. After all, even the matriculation speech invited our Xiaohua to speak on stage!"

Teased by his three roommates, Wang Xiaohua gave an embarrassed smile.

"Stop teasing me. Honestly, I didn't expect this either. Just a campus newspaper interview column, and it stirred up such a huge discussion."

Speaking up to here, Wang Xiaohua's tone shifted:

"And I feel this massive attention doesn't seem like a good thing for me either……"

At this very moment, Wang Xiaohua had already realized something was off.

Everything has two sides — pros and cons.

Such huge heat, even attracting the news channel's attention — if by any chance his parents back home saw those news interviews about him, what then?

After all, in those interviews he had honestly accounted for Li Jianjia's passing.

And this matter, up to now, he had always kept hidden from his parents.

As the saying goes: the more you fear something, the more it happens.

Right then, Wang Xiaohua's mobile phone rang.

He took it out to look — it was actually his mother Li Xiulan calling.

Wang Xiaohua hesitated for a second, a bad premonition rising, but in the end he still answered.

"Hello, Mom, what's up?"

"Xiaohua, you're on the news — we all saw it!"

Li Xiulan's simple rural accent came through the phone.

Wang Xiaohua's heart immediately skipped a beat — he knew things were about to spiral out of control.

But just one second later, he quickly regained his calm.

He thought: his father's health has improved somewhat lately; actually it's time to let him know about Li Jianjia's passing. After all, as Li Jianjia's father-in-law, he indeed should have the right to know.

"Xiaohua, Mom is so proud of you! Never thought I'd have a son who could make it on TV news — this is simply bringing glory to the ancestors!"

Li Xiulan on the other end was still speaking excitedly.

Faintly, Wang Changgen's urging voice could be heard from the side:

"Hurry up and ask that question — quit the chatter!"

Li Xiulan hurriedly said:

"Don't rush me, I'm about to ask…… Xiaohua, the news said Jianjia passed away — that can't be true, right……"

Wang Xiaohua took a deep breath, then confessed:

"Mom, it's true."

Li Xiulan's expression immediately trembled, as if suddenly struck by a heavy blow, clearly unable to accept it for a moment:

"When did this happen? Why didn't you tell us?"

Li Xiulan hurriedly asked.

Wang Xiaohua then explained:

"During that period when Dad was undergoing treatment, Dad's body was very weak, so I didn't tell you."

"What exactly happened? A perfectly fine person, how could they just..."

Li Xiulan still couldn't accept it.

Wang Xiaohua then confessed:

"Her father passed away in prison, she couldn't take the blow, and then she left."

"Sigh, truly a bitter-fated child, you take it easier..."

Li Xiulan comforted.

Although she was sad, she hadn't reached the point of collapse.

After all, she was only a daughter-in-law, not a son.

"Mom, I know, I've long since taken it in stride."

"That's good, that's good."

Li Xiulan had just hung up the phone when Wang Zhanggen hurriedly came to ask:

"How is it?"

In fact, he had already guessed eight or nine parts out of ten from Li Xiulan's expression.

Li Xiulan then told the truth:

"Jianjia really left. Before, your health was bad, so Xiaohua kept it hidden from us."

Wang Zhanggen's face turned heavy upon hearing this.

He, who had quit smoking for a long time, suddenly wanted to smoke a cigarette very much at this moment.

Because he couldn't get a cigarette, it made him extremely irritable.

Unable to hold back, he cursed:

"Nonsense, utter nonsense! A matter of life and death, that brat Wang Xiaohua, how could he hide it from us! Does he still consider us his parents?"

Wang Erhai at the side hurriedly laughed and explained:

"Dad, Third Brother, isn't he just worried about your health?"

Wang Zhanggen, however, said coldly:

"Worried my ass, I see he simply doesn't understand any rules! Li Jianjia is a daughter-in-law who entered our Wang Family's door! She's gone, our Wang Family must arrange a funeral for her! Not doing anything on our end, if others find out, they'll think our Wang Family is heartless and ungrateful!"

Wang Zhanggen was more angry than sad.

He was angry at Wang Xiaohua's ignorance of rules, not sad over Li Jianjia's passing.

This daughter-in-law Li Jianjia was very good, but deep down he also felt that his youngest son was still young, and would have plenty of chances to remarry in the future.

So naturally he wouldn't be that sad.

When it comes down to it, Li Jianjia, to him, was ultimately just a replaceable outsider.

"But nobody else knows, right? Jianjia's funeral arrangements, Third Brother has already handled properly, so you don't need to worry blindly."

Wang Erhai weakly said this at this time.

Wang Zhanggen, however, seemed to have made some determination, and said:

"No, we must bring Jianjia's remains back and bury them next to our Wang Family's ancestral grave!"