jdhmnovel Chapter 240 Why Won't You Give Me Money?
Chapter 240 Why Won't You Give Me Money?
Although the village chief's diagnosis was accurate and he promptly took Deng Kai to the hospital, Deng Kai was determined to die. He had ingested too much rat poison and was already weak from a long-term illness. He died shortly after arriving at the clinic, before any attempts to resuscitate him could be made.
"Dad!" Deng Xiumei cried out as she threw herself onto Deng Kaihuai.
Bystanders felt sorry for her, but chose to stay away: This woman has something wrong with her head, don't get into trouble.
"This person is already gone, you should start preparing for their funeral as soon as possible," the doctor advised.
"Mind your own business! Get away! All of you get away! Dad, Dad!" Deng Xiumei pushed the doctor away and continued to wail.
"Village chief, look at this matter..." The doctor looked at the village chief helplessly.
"Xiumei, this hospital is for treating patients, and there are so many patients here. Staying here will disturb them." The village chief had no choice but to step forward and persuade her.
"Then please help me carry it back first..."
"Where are we taking it?" Deng Liu'er asked immediately upon hearing this.
“Take it to my dad’s house…” Deng Xiuzhen was a little afraid of Deng Liu’er, so she quickly answered when he asked.
"You can't take my house there!" Deng Liu'er declared firmly.
Those around them didn't know what to say. It's unlucky for someone to die violently, and it's even more unlucky if they die in someone else's house. Now that Deng Liu'er has already bought the house, it's really inappropriate to bring the person back.
For a moment, everyone was at a loss.
"Xiumei, call Chunlin and Chunsheng. Kaihuai is gone, and his sons need to come back." The village chief was knowledgeable and experienced, and he considered things thoroughly. His first thought was to take him to the village committee, but who would pay for that? This matter needed to be discussed with Deng Kaihuai's two sons.
Deng Xiuzhen dialed Deng Chunsheng's number, but it was out of service.
When I called Deng Chunlin again, he had just said that his father had died when the call dropped. When I called again, his phone was switched off.
Finally, when I called my nephew Deng Jingui, his phone was also switched off.
Deng Xiumei looked at everyone blankly; she really had no idea what to do. It wasn't that she had never seen a funeral before, or that she didn't know how to do it; it was just that she had no money.
"Why don't we call Xiuzhen?" someone suggested.
"Don't call her!" Deng Xiumei screamed, startling everyone around her.
"Then what do you suggest?" the village chief said, exasperated. He could let you hold the funeral at the village committee, but someone had to pay for it, right? Deng Kaihuai wasn't widowed or orphaned; in fact, he had both a son and a daughter. There was no way the government would pay for it. Otherwise, what would happen if other families had children who left their deceased relatives at the village committee?
"Oh yeah, what do you suggest we do? You don't have the money, and you can't contact Chunlin and the others. What can you do if you don't call Xiuzhen?" someone who was close to Deng Xiuzhen said sarcastically.
"Are you planning to just leave your dad here?"
"Right, if you can't do it yourself, then don't be a 'figurehead'!"
……
There was a lot of discussion, mostly about Deng Xiumei.
Deng Xiumei was overwhelmed by what she heard, but she still insisted on contacting Deng Xiuzhen: A woman who doesn't care about her parents, doesn't help her family, and doesn't support her brothers is a bad woman, she has no conscience!
Finally, the police came and said that Deng Xiumei's actions were disrupting public order, and that in serious cases, it could be a crime.
The village chief persuaded her again, and Deng Xiumei finally agreed to contact Deng Xiuzhen. However, she refused to make the call herself, asking someone else to do it.
The village chief didn't say much. After Deng Xiumei gave him the number, he quickly dialed it.
Upon hearing that her father had died, Deng Xiuzhen immediately rented a car and returned home.
They borrowed the village committee's space to set up a tent, hired a Taoist priest, ordered a coffin, hired a cook, borrowed tables and chairs, and hired helpers...
By the time everything was arranged, it was already past 5 p.m.
The date was chosen, and the burial took place three days later.
For three consecutive days, Deng Xiumei called every day, but she still couldn't get in touch with Deng Chunsheng, Deng Chunlin, and Deng Jingui.
After discussing with the village chief and relatives and friends, Deng Xiuzhen asked her cousin Deng Yazhou to prepare the memorial tablet.
After half a day of farewell, relatives and friends arrived, but there was nowhere to record the gifts.
Deng Xiuzhen, her eyes red and swollen, explained: "Everyone coming to offer incense is already a sign of respect for our late father. My elder brother and younger brother aren't home, so I haven't been able to handle things perfectly; please forgive any offense I may have caused. As for monetary gifts, I cannot accept them..."
Enjoying a sumptuous feast without having to give gifts, everyone naturally became more sincere.
Those who had criticized Deng Xiuzhen for having a daughter who was still earning money while staying at her parents' home felt particularly guilty and remorseful. They all took the initiative to help with chores.
With everyone's active participation, Deng Kaihuai's funeral was a very lively affair.
Deng Xiuzhen didn't take the remaining food with her; she shared it with everyone, hoping they could help clean up the village committee office...
After everything was settled, Deng Xiuzhen gave two jin of meat to those who volunteered to help with the cooking, and gave each village cadre a gift of cigarettes and alcohol in addition to the meat.
For a time, everyone in the village praised Deng Xiuzhen for being kind, righteous, and sentimental. As for filial piety, Deng Xiuzhen was naturally number one. Otherwise, what daughter would spend so much money to bury her elderly father?
After finishing everything, Deng Xiuzhen was about to return to the city when Deng Xiumei stopped her: "Xiuzhen, give me some living expenses."
"Why should I give you living expenses?" Deng Xiuzhen asked coldly, pushing Deng Xiumei's hand away.
“You gave so much to those villagers, I’m your sister, why can’t you give me anything? Besides, if I hadn’t used the money to help my older brother Chunsheng and the others, and to treat Mom and Dad’s illnesses, how could I be short of money?” Deng Xiumei said confidently.
“We’re all doing our part to treat our parents’ illnesses, and I’ve already contributed money, haven’t I? As for giving money to my older brother and Chunsheng, that’s their business, it has nothing to do with me. If you don’t have money, go ask them for it. Don’t even think about asking me for a single cent!” Deng Xiuzhen now felt utterly disgusted with Deng Xiumei.
“You can even give to these villagers, why won’t you help me? I don’t even have money for food now, do you know that?” Deng Xiumei screamed loudly.
"Why should I? Because you're both stupid and wicked! Don't forget how you harmed me and how you conspired to steal my house!" Deng Xiuzhen laughed angrily.
“We didn’t manage to grab it, so you didn’t lose anything!” Deng Xiumei still believed she was in the right.
“Then let me tell you why I can give money to others but never to you: because others have a conscience and know right from wrong, while you are both stupid and heartless!” After hearing Deng Xiumei’s words, Deng Xiuzhen felt that trying to reason with Deng Xiumei was just making things difficult for herself. After she finished speaking, she didn’t even look at Deng Xiumei and turned to leave.
"Xiuzhen, you stop right there!" Deng Xiumei tried to chase after Deng Xiuzhen, but was automatically blocked by the villagers.
"Deng Xiumei is truly stupid!"
"They really have no conscience!"
"He doesn't even care about his own kids, but he's spending money on his brothers. Haha, is there anyone in the world more stupid than him?"
"People like this are a menace!"
……
A barrage of insults followed, and Deng Xiumei felt overwhelmed by the noise.
She couldn't help but tell the truth: "I don't want Deng Xiuzhen's money, it's just that I've been diagnosed with an illness and need surgery..."
"Isn't this just asking for money?" someone scoffed.
"She's trying to kill someone, hahahaha!"
"What's the point of getting treatment for someone like you? It would be better if you just died and were reborn!"
……
"Ah!" Deng Xiumei screamed and ran away, covering her head.