parentshiftbook Chapter 28 A Strange Strange Attack
Chapter 28 A Strange Strange Attack
After leaving the Qian family, Su Yu went to a shop and bought three catties of pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, a jar of green rice wine, and a packet of exquisite osmanthus cake.
Noon, Qingxi Village.
"Knock knock".
Aunt opened the door, and upon seeing Su Yu, her swollen eyes welled up with tears again: "Little Yu... come in quickly."
Upon entering the house, a strong smell of herbs filled the air, mixed with a musty odor, which was somewhat pungent.
"How is Big Brother?" Su Yu put down his things and lowered his voice.
Aunt wiped away her tears, her voice choked with emotion: "Your eldest brother is asleep... I used the money you left for him last time to call a doctor and get some medicine. He takes it every day and his condition has improved a bit; he's not in as much pain anymore."
"However, he recently heard that Su Can was short of money for martial arts training and had stopped seeking medical treatment. He plans to send all the money in the house to your third aunt's family."
"When I disagreed, he became hysterical... He'd never been like this before..."
The aunt wiped away her tears, looking at Su Yu with a hesitant gaze. "I'm just a woman, I don't understand the bigger picture, but seeing him suffer like this cuts to my heart! Xiao Yu... please try to persuade him..."
Su Yu sighed inwardly. His eldest brother had placed all his hopes on his third brother, Su Can.
"Aunt, please prepare a few dishes. I'll have a drink with my brother."
"Okay, Xiaoyu, I'll go right away." Auntie quickly got up, picked up the things, and headed to the kitchen.
After a while, my aunt finished cooking and then woke up my older brother.
"Hong'er, Xiaoyu has come to see you. Get up and eat with him."
When Su Hong woke up and saw Su Yu, he was delighted. "Second brother, come, come and chat with your elder brother."
Auntie moved a small wooden table over, placed a plate of pork stew with cabbage and a large bowl of brown rice on it, and poured drinks for the two of them.
Su Yu helped Su Hong up and lean him against the headboard. The two began to eat and chat.
"Come on, big brother, have a drink."
Su Hong glanced at the drinks, paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "It's been a long time since we drank together. Let's drink to our hearts' content today!"
The two rough porcelain bowls collided, making a crisp sound.
hiss!
As the liquor entered their throats, a burning, spicy sensation rushed down their spines and into their stomachs. Both men coughed simultaneously, then burst into laughter.
"Second brother, let me tell you, third brother broke through the barrier three times a few days ago! Haha, his innate talent is really good. In a few months, he'll have a chance to become a martial artist!"
Su Yu also genuinely praised, "Third brother has above-average aptitude; he certainly has the potential to break through to become a martial artist!"
"Yes, haha, if he breaks through, our Su family can finally hold our heads high! That Cao Bin will never dare to attack us so easily again!"
Speaking of Cao Bin, a deep-seated hatred flashed in Su Hong's eyes.
"Brother, how's the Water Snake Gang doing lately?"
"Chaos! Utter chaos!"
Su Hong waved his arms excitedly, as if he saw the dawn of revenge: "The Blackfin Gang, the Locust Gang, the Salt Gang... the remaining few have finally joined forces! Now they're locked in a fierce battle with the Water Snake Gang, and that bastard Cao Bin is busy defending his territory; he can't spare any time to deal with us!"
Su Yu poured Su Hong another glass of wine and listened as he continued talking.
"This period of time has given our third brother a chance to break through. Haha, it's really heaven helping us!" Su Hong took a big gulp of wine, the wine running down his stubble and wetting his clothes, and then burst into wild laughter.
"Hahahaha! Cough cough..."
Su Yu frowned. His elder brother, Su Hong, was not in a good state. Although he used to be generous, he was also calm and composed. He was not like this crazy maniac now.
"Big brother," Su Yu pressed his hand, "Third brother practicing martial arts is important, but your leg also needs treatment. Don't give away all the money; you still need to live."
"live?"
Su Hong gave a bitter laugh and patted his numb thigh: "I'm a cripple now, it doesn't matter whether I live or die! Besides, Cao Bin will kill me sooner or later! As long as my third brother succeeds, what does my life matter?"
"Second brother, if you have money, you should also help third brother. Recently, there have been frequent gang fights at Qingxi market, and too many people have died. Third uncle's fish stall is not making any money at all. Grandpa has been borrowing money everywhere to help third brother learn martial arts..."
Seeing his elder brother's attitude, Su Yu didn't dare to speak again.
She simply continued to eat and drink with him.
Soon, the drinks were finished, and Su Hong was completely drunk. He hummed softly as he fell asleep on the bed.
Su Yu got up to leave, and before leaving, he took out one tael of silver and stuffed it into his aunt's hand, saying, "Aunt, don't let my eldest brother see this money..."
Aunt nodded emphatically and saw Su Yu to the door. Before leaving, she remembered something and whispered with a look of fear, "Oh, right, Xiao Yu, come home early tonight. Lately, people have been disappearing in the village at night; I heard they were dragged away by something dirty!"
Su Yu's heart sank. He had heard his senior brothers in the inner courtyard talk about how strange creatures were appearing more and more frequently on the Blackwater River.
Has it really escalated to the point of directly attacking villages?
What the hell is wrong with this world?!
As Su Yu left Su Hong's house, it was getting dark. He didn't dare to delay and went straight back to his own house.
Before she even entered the door, the little girl ran out like a rabbit, and when she saw Su Yu, her eyes lit up with an amazing gleam.
"Big brother, you're back!"
"Hmm, is everything alright at home?" Su Yu scratched Ya'er's head. The little girl looked much better now. There hadn't been a shortage of food at home these past few days, and she was no longer skin and bones like before; she finally looked like a human being again.
"Brother, it's alright. Your third uncle came to visit once, but when he heard that you were the one who let me stay here, he never came again."
Su Yu nodded, glanced around the room briefly, and found it clean and tidy, which put him in a good mood.
"Brother, please sit down. I'll get you some water to wash your feet."
Su Yu initially wanted to refuse, but seeing the hopeful look in Ya'er's eyes, he didn't refuse anymore.
Soon, the foot bath water was ready, and Su Yu took off her shoes and put them into the basin.
The little girl gently rubbed his hands, which made Su Yu feel relaxed.
Ah, it's much more comfortable to have someone to serve you.
Su Yu sighed, looking at Ya'er's serious expression, and felt that Ya'er was indeed a good girl.
In my memory, after Uncle Liu's son joined the army, the housework was always done by this little girl, Ya'er. She was very hardworking and kind-hearted.
"Hey, have you heard anything from your brother since he joined the army?"
Ya'er shook her head. "I only heard my father say that he went to other cities with the Black Stone Army in his early years and was never heard from again. He must be dead by now."
Su Yu nodded and stopped asking questions, continuing to chat with Ya'er.
The night was as dark as ink, and all was silent.
Su Yu let Ya'er continue sleeping in the inner room, while he slept on another bed in the main room.
Just as Su Yu was about to lie down, he vaguely heard a sound coming from the front door.
"Heh...heh..."
It sounded like a broken bellows being pulled, or like a wheezing sound with phlegm stuck in the throat.
The hairs on his body stood on end as the images from his memory flooded back, and he abruptly rolled off the bed.
Something's fishy!
Just then, a piercing bark suddenly erupted from the depths of the village. The sound was sharp and shrill, filled with extreme terror, followed by a sudden, abrupt whimper.