Chapter 2811: Chapter 3812: Corpse Hanging from Lanterns
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh, and Ji An also started to laugh. Jiang Yichun was handling three kids all by himself, it was quite the juggling act.
"I first ran into Mr. Xu, then suddenly someone shouted about catching a thief, so we went over to take a look." Ji An explained with a blush.
"Oh..." Bai Ruozhu deliberately dragged out her voice, "I see."
Xu Huilin glared at her, "Bai Ruozhu, that’s enough. Stop teasing the young lady."
"When have I ever bullied Ji An? I’m just teasing you." Bai Ruozhu burst into laughter.
Ji An’s face turned even redder, almost hiding her face in her chest.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t dare make the girl feel too embarrassed, so she smiled and winked at Xu Huilin, then went to pick up Dengdeng.
She took Dengdeng, while Jiang Yichun took Bengbeng and Tiaotiao, clearly divided responsibilities.
The group entered Lantern Street, with lanterns being lit on both sides. Some scholars were reciting poems, giving it a whole unique charm.
"Brother!" Bengbeng exclaimed, pointing at a little tiger lantern.
Dengdeng hurriedly called out, "Mom, little brother wants the little tiger, please buy it for him."
Bai Ruozhu laughed and poked her son’s head, "You’re the one who loves your little brother the most."
"Mom asked me to take care of my brothers." Little Dengdeng replied with a chuckle.
Xu Huilin had already stepped forward to pay, took the lantern from the owner, and handed it to the eager Bengbeng.
"As their uncle, I haven’t given my nephews lanterns before, so they’re all on me today." He said.
Here there’s a tradition; on the fifteenth day of the first month, the uncle has to give lanterns to nephews and nieces, hence the saying "nephew carries a lantern—following tradition (uncle)."
"Isn’t Uncle Xu my dad’s senior apprentice brother? How is he my uncle? I already have a big uncle, second uncle, and even a younger uncle." Little Dengdeng asked in confusion.
Bai Ruozhu explained, "Your Uncle Xu isn’t just your dad’s senior apprentice brother, he’s also your mother’s sworn brother, so he’s also your uncle."
"Oh, I see." Little Dengdeng nodded, "Uncle Xu, on behalf of Bengbeng, thank you."
Xu Huilin chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Little Dengdeng’s hair, "Our Dengdeng truly has the demeanor of an older brother, makes me want to have a son myself."
"Hurry up and get a wife so you can have a chubby son." Bai Ruozhu subtly glanced at Ji An, Ji An blushed again and quickly glanced at Xu Huilin.
She did have feelings for Xu Huilin, but marriage needs the man to propose. Bai Ruozhu silently thought to give Senior Fox a nudge, urging him to propose to Ji Residence.
As they walked, Little Tiaotiao called out again, "Want, want!"
"Mom, Tiaotiao can say other words now!" Little Dengdeng exclaimed with joy.
Bai Ruozhu also felt happy, but the next second her face fell.
Previously, when she wasn’t home, it was fine if the children couldn’t call her mom, but since she’s back and has been trying hard for days, he learned other words and it’s still not ’mom.’
Oh dear, why is her fate so miserable?
Humph, it must be that the pronunciation of ’mom’ is too hard!
Thinking about this, Bai Ruozhu said to Tiaotiao, "Call me mama, and I’ll buy it for you."
Tiaotiao looked at her pitifully, hesitated for a long time, finally managed, "Ma..."
Bai Ruozhu was instantly overwhelmed, tearing up, see, it really was the word’s problem, oh my.
In the end, all three little ones got their lanterns, Bai Ruozhu and the others guessed a few lantern riddles, it was quite lively.
"Murder! Murder!" Suddenly, someone ahead screamed.
Perhaps the rumor of Turkic people invading spread wildly, or maybe the scene of the dead was too horrifying, Lantern Street instantly descended into chaos.
"Run, someone died!"
"Help!"
"Mom, I’m scared..."
"..."
Jiang Yichun’s face grew more serious, "Let’s head back first."
"Alright." They had kids with them, plus Ji An, in such chaos it could be dangerous if someone got separated.
Just as they were contemplating, someone was pushed over and trampled by people behind, letting out cries of pain.
"Jianqi, take control." Bai Ruozhu urgently instructed.
It’s really not the time for a large-scale casualty event in the city now, and suddenly someone dying must have more to it.
"Nobody move, squat down right where you are." Jianqi commanded forcefully, but many were too frightened to listen.
Xu Huilin grabbed a fleeing person and asked, "Did you see the dead body?"
"Would I be scared like this if I hadn’t?" The person replied, face pale and voice trembling, "Hanged, tongue sticking out long!"
Little Dengdeng shrank into Bai Ruozhu’s arms in fear, Bai Ruozhu quickly said, "I’ll take the kids home first, Senior Fox, you escort Ji An, we’ll come back later to check."
"Alright."
Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun took the kids home, leaving them with Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong, but Little Dengdeng clutched his dad’s pants and said, "Dad, don’t go, I’m a bit scared."
Bengbeng and Tiaotiao were too young to understand that person’s words, but Dengdeng understood much of this, so his fear was normal.
Jiang Yichun patted his head, "Don’t be scared, you can protect your brothers, you’re our family’s bravest little man, right?"
Little Dengdeng nodded, but still refused to let go, he was still very scared.
Bai Ruozhu winked at Jiang Yichun, "Then why don’t you stay, keep Dengdeng company tonight."
"Alright."
Little Dengdeng breathed a sigh of relief, "Dad, tell me a story."
Bai Ruozhu winked at Jiang Yichun, indicating she should go check things out, once Jiang Yichun puts Dengdeng to sleep, he can come over.
"Be careful." Jiang Yichun mouthed.
"Alright."
Bai Ruozhu took Yizi back to Lantern Street, where once bustling streets now had fewer people, only scattered vendors packing away their stuff.
Officers were already arriving in the distance, and both Meng Liangshen and Xu Huilin had arrived.
"Where’s Yichun?" Xu Huilin asked, not seeing Jiang Yichun.
"He’s comforting the kids, Dengdeng was scared by that person’s words." Bai Ruozhu replied.
Xu Huilin was about to joke about Jiang Yichun, no matter how aloof he was, he’s reduced to comforting children. But upon hearing Dengdeng was scared, he held back the joke.
"It’s my fault, shouldn’t have let the kids hear that person’s words." Xu Huilin apologized.
"No biggie, he’s been apart from his dad for long, so he’s clingy to him." Bai Ruozhu spoke, looking ahead, "What’s the situation now?"
Meng Liangshen’s face was somewhat grave, "I asked around earlier, there’s this family led by Old Ding who is well-known for their lantern-making skills, handed down through generations. Today, he was going to release a large Guanyin lantern, lots of people heard and went to watch. Who would have thought the Guanyin lantern would suddenly open, and inside was a hanging person."
"Some people were frightened by the corpse, while others were superstitious, saying it’s a bad omen as if the goddess is angry. That’s how such a panic ensued. Luckily you sent someone to control things, currently, no deaths, but over a dozen are injured."
