The Withered Tree Always Welcomes Spring chapter 34

The man’s extreme reaction clearly indicated he knew Shen Jixue. Moreover, he bore a resemblance to the late Shen Liang, making it likely that this man was indeed Shen Jun.

At that moment, a woman came running out of the house. Seeing the unfamiliar faces, she was also very hostile and urged them to leave without even asking questions.

“Go away! Go ask somewhere else.”

Chen Xian was a bit anxious, holding onto the railing with both hands, trying to talk to the people inside through the gaps. “You are Shen Jixue’s uncle and aunt, right? His father has passed away, and he himself is blind. An adult needs to handle Shen Liang’s funeral.”

The woman, now annoyed, turned her face dark. “Who are you people? Why did you come to our house? We already said we wouldn’t go. Who let you in?”

Chen Xian, an honest man, answered every question truthfully, without any tact. “I’m Shen Jixue’s landlord. He’s still living at my house.”

Hearing he wasn’t a policeman, the people inside became even more hostile. The man picked up a shovel as if to strike, and the woman began cursing. The two of them worked together seamlessly.

Seeing this, Chen Xian, who was too honest and naive for such situations, was at a loss. It was Wu Bie who quickly came up with a plan and shouted loudly.

“You are Shen Jun, right? You are definitely Shen Jixue’s uncle!”

Wu Bie’s confident tone left the two inside with their mouths wide open, unable to deny it. Wu Bie’s loud voice also drew the attention of nearby neighbors.

With more people gathering, Wu Bie acted even more dramatically, walking among the neighbors with great emotion.

“Shen Jun’s nephew, Shen Jixue, do you know him?”

Shen Jixue’s family wasn’t too far from town, so some people knew him. Soon, someone echoed Wu Bie.

“Yes, Shen Jun’s nephew, he got into college, right?”

Wu Bie clapped his hands. “Yes, Shen Jun’s brother, Shen Liang, had a car accident in the city and passed away. Shen Jixue is just a child and can’t see. The police couldn’t contact his family, so we made a special trip here.”

This moved a few elderly women in the crowd to tears, and Wu Bie, with a look of anguish, turned to the two inside. “You, as his uncle and aunt, won’t just stand by, will you?”

“Yes, yes,” the elderly women echoed, imagining Shen Jixue’s tragic situation.

“He’s still your relative. As elders, you can’t just ignore this.”

“At least you need to handle Shen Liang’s funeral,” Wu Bie added, retreating to the back of the crowd and winking at Chen Xian.

Chen Xian almost couldn’t keep up with Wu Bie’s pace. Finally, he understood and quickly followed up. “The police said if no one takes care of it, they’ll have to cremate the body.”

“Fallen leaves return to their roots,” Wu Bie said, hitting his hand with his fist. “And the hit-and-run driver hasn’t been caught yet. Shen Jixue is just a child; it’s a tragedy!”

Shen Jun and his wife looked at each other. Among the gathered townsfolk, known for gossiping, if they didn’t take care of Shen Jixue, they would certainly be drowned in a sea of criticism.

Shen Jun’s wife was the first to react. She opened the door, shooed away the onlookers, and reluctantly invited the two inside.

With the door closed and no one else to egg them on, Shen Jun’s wife got straight to the point. “Don’t think I don’t see what you’re doing. You’re putting us on the spot.”

Wu Bie, not afraid to admit it, said, “Jie, Shen Liang was your brother-in-law, and Shen Jixue is your nephew. You can’t just ignore them.”

“When we asked to borrow money, he refused, saying it was for Shen Jixue’s college. Now he needs help?” Shen Jun was furious. “We wanted to borrow money to do business, but he said no. And now this college boy is our problem?”

Clearly, Shen Jixue being a college student made Shen Jun even more resentful. His words were filled with sarcasm.

Even a wise judge would struggle with family disputes, and everyone stands up for their own interests.

“This trip will cost money. Who will pay? You said the driver hasn’t been caught, and Shen Jixue can’t take care of himself. Do you expect us to pay? Even if he’s my brother, why should my family suffer for a dead man?”

He wasn’t wrong, and Chen Xian didn’t want to make things difficult. “I’ll cover the costs.”

“Chen Xian!” Wu Bie couldn’t stop him in time, having told him not to speak up, but he still jumped in to be the good guy.

Chen Xian gave Wu Bie a reassuring look. “We’re outsiders. Without permission from Shen Liang’s family, the police won’t let us take the body. We haven’t even told Shen Jixue yet. We need you to come, and I’ll cover the expenses. Just help out.”

For Shen Jixue’s sake, they couldn’t leave his father’s body in the cold morgue. Like Wu Bie said, the dead should return to their roots.

With the financial issue settled, Shen Jun and his wife softened their stance.

Shen Jun’s wife, suspicious, asked, “You? You’re just the landlord. Why would you pay?”

Yes, he was just a landlord, a kind-hearted one. He felt it was fate to know Shen Jixue and wanted to help. He didn’t need a reason or title.

Retrieving the body wasn’t difficult and would earn them a good reputation. Besides, Chen Xian looked honest and unlikely to deceive them.

Shen Jun’s wife said, “If you’re paying, we’ll go with you.”

The burial plot was ready. After bringing Shen Liang back, they would bury him with Shen Jixue’s mother, with a new tombstone. Chen Xian covered the costs, including tickets and lodging for Shen Jixue’s uncle and aunt.

After settling Shen Jun and his wife, it was already very late. Chen Xian agreed to meet them early the next morning at the police station to handle the formalities.

Coming out of the guesthouse, Chen Xian and Wu Bie hailed a taxi back. As they entered the courtyard, only a few windows in the apartment building were still lit. They groped their way upstairs in the dark, one after the other.

“Now that everything’s settled, it’s you footing the bill again. What’s wrong with you? Most people wouldn’t even dare to get involved in such matters, yet you’re rushing in,” Wu Bie complained, not yet finished by the time they reached the third floor and headed towards his door with Chen Xian.

At the door, Chen Xian didn’t rush to open it. He glanced at the pitch-black windows and, after stopping, explained to Wu Bie, “What else can we do? Shen Jun and his wife had no intention of paying. This matter can’t be delayed any longer.”

The night wind rustled through the leaves. Wu Bie knew that Chen Xian had no choice, but he was annoyed that he was too easy to persuade. Anyone could take advantage of him.

“They’ll only come to handle Shen Liang’s affairs if you pay. Once Shen Jixue goes back with them, they won’t get any more money. What about Shen Jixue then?”

Moonlight fell on Chen Xian’s face as he fell silent for a moment. “Maybe we shouldn’t let them take Xiao Shen away.”

“What?” Wu Bie didn’t quite understand Chen Xian’s meaning.

“With the way Xiao Shen’s uncle and aunt are now, they’ll probably spill the beans soon, just as you said. They won’t treat Xiao Shen well.”

Wu Bie finally connected the dots in his mind. “Are you crazy? You’re paying and putting in the effort. Are you planning to keep taking care of Shen Jixue? What’s your relationship with him? Do you understand the concept of helping those in need?”

“I know…”

“You know nothing. With Shen Jixue in his current state, if you keep him here, are you going to stop working and take care of him at home? Are you out of your mind?”

Actually, Chen Xian hadn’t thought about what to do next. He was just worried about Shen Jixue going back with Shen Jun’s family.

“The best place for Shen Jixue is with his uncle and aunt. It’s good for him and for you. Helping others isn’t like how you’re doing it. You’ve already done what you can. You can’t tie yourself to an unrelated person forever, can you?” Wu Bie grew angrier as he spoke, thinking of Shen Jixue’s pitiful appearance. “Shen Jixue is smart too. He knows you’re soft-hearted, so he’s clinging to you. Why not try a different approach? He’s pitiful, and we’ve done all we can. If he had any conscience, he should understand and leave.”

Wu Bie made sense, and Chen Xian couldn’t argue. But he couldn’t bring himself to be firm. “I know you’re looking out for me. Let’s put this matter aside for now. I’ve troubled you these past few days.”

“Forget about that. If you really think I’m a bother, just listen to this one piece of advice.” Wu Bie didn’t want to argue further with Chen Xian. He turned to leave, took a few steps, then turned back. “Just a reminder, you can’t keep this from him forever. You have to tell that blind kid. It’s about his dad. He’ll have to face it sooner or later.”

Chen Xian understood Wu Bie’s meaning and nodded. “I’ll find a way to tell him.”

Watching Wu Bie disappear into the building, Chen Xian then took out his keys and opened the door. The wooden door creaked open, and warmth from inside greeted him. Chen Xian flicked on the switch on the wall, and as the light came on, he felt somewhat uneasy. He shielded his eyes for a moment, catching a glimpse of a figure sitting on the sofa.

Chen Xian’s breath caught, his voice stuck in his throat, his heartbeat like a drum. “Xiao… Xiao Shen… Why aren’t you in bed?”

The soundproofing in the apartment building wasn’t great, so did Shen Jixue hear? How much did he hear?

“Chen Xian, you’re back.” Shen Jixue moved to make space, gesturing for him to sit down.