Chapter 438: Coffin-Born Child

Chapter 438: Chapter 438: Coffin-Born Child

Seeing that no one else was around and the gap-browed youth was a good distance away, Widow Xie finally revealed what she had been holding back.

"He’s that ’coffin-born child’ from the next village over. You must have heard of him..."

’The coffin-born child?’ Ji Huan had certainly heard the stories. He was infamous.

’To think it was actually him.’

Ji Huan couldn’t contain her curiosity and glanced back at him.

When his eyes met hers, the gap-browed youth seemed to guess what they were talking about. He lowered his head slightly but didn’t leave right away.

An opportunity like this was a rare find, and he didn’t want to give it up if there was even the slightest chance.

’But now that she knows who I am,’ he thought, ’that sliver of a chance is probably gone.’

"Sigh... His mother had a difficult labor. She couldn’t deliver him while she was alive. The moment she drew her last breath, he was born..."

"A child who comes from a dead woman’s womb is considered a bad omen. Not only did the villagers spit on him, but his own family wanted nothing to do with him either."

"The very next year, his father remarried. He had two more children in the next three years. Later, he left to do business in another region and took his whole family with him, leaving only him behind."

"It’s so pitiful to think about. He was only seven or eight at the time..."

"Then how has he managed all these years?"

"A widowed old woman in his village took him in. But she was old and blind, and her life was already hard enough. With her, the coffin-born child was always going hungry one meal and full the next."

"A few years back, you’d often see him begging in town or in the county seat. Whatever he got, he’d bring back to share with the blind old woman."

"When he got a little older and could work, no one would keep him once they heard he was the ’coffin-born child’."

"When Liangzi was working at the brick kiln, they happened to be short on men, so the foreman reluctantly hired him."

"But he didn’t stay long. They said that ever since the ’coffin-born child’ started at the kiln, not only did it collapse once, but workers also started getting injured one after another."

"The time your uncle got hurt, it was because he was stacking green bricks with him. A pile of them fell. He was fine, but your uncle was injured..."

"Anyway, it all felt a bit cursed, so the foreman kicked him out."

"Liangzi thinks he’s a good person, so when he was putting together the procurement team, he called him over. He figured just having him help for a few days wouldn’t be a problem..."

"I didn’t tell you, so please don’t be angry."

Ji Huan smiled. "What’s there to be angry about? He really is a good worker."

Seeing her reaction, Widow Xie could tell she had likely made up her mind. Her feelings were a bit complicated.

She was happy for the coffin-born child but also worried for Ji Huan.

"He’s a pitiful soul... but that’s just his fate, and there’s nothing to be done about it... You should really think it over."

"How much better was my fate before? But besides those people at the old Ji Family residence, have I brought misfortune to anyone? Besides, he doesn’t technically count as a ’coffin-born child,’ does he? His mother gave birth to him on a heated brick bed. It’s just that people have twisted the story and demonized him over time."

"What’s the difference between being born in a coffin and on a bed? He was born after his mother took her last breath either way... We might not mind, but what if the customers at your shop find out? What if it affects your business?"

"Plenty of people in the county seat believe in that stuff, but it’s a little better than in the countryside. If they really stop coming because of the ’coffin-born child,’ it just means my products aren’t good enough. If my products are irreplaceable, why would I have to worry about them not coming?"

"Aunt Xie, didn’t you just say he’s hardworking and can endure hardship? You also hope he can find a stable job, don’t you?"

"Alright, there’s nothing more to think about. It’s settled."

Ji Huan walked over to the gap-browed youth. "I’ll say it again: report to the shop in Yeyang tomorrow morning. On time."

The gap-browed youth studied Ji Huan intently, as if trying to gauge the sincerity of her words.

But he didn’t hesitate for long.

"I’ll be there on time."

Seeing that the matter was settled, Widow Xie knew there was no point in saying anything more.

"Wuan, what should we do with this?"

Ji Huan turned to see Shi Yong holding a bundle. It was the remains of the black dog, all wrapped up.

In those days, the concept of "a dog is man’s best friend" didn’t exist. Plus, getting to eat meat was a rare occasion in the countryside, so when a dog died, most families—with a few exceptions—would cook and eat it.

But after witnessing what had happened, who could possibly have the stomach for it?

Widow Xie said, "Just find a spot over by the ditch and bury it."

Ji Huan shook her head.

She had another idea, but...

The gap-browed youth suddenly spoke up. "I’ll take it."

Ji Huan was rather surprised.

’He knew what I was thinking before I even said it?’

"You know where they live?"

"I passed by their place when I was hauling vegetables."

Ji Huan thought for a moment. ’That works.’

’If I deliver it myself, it would be a direct provocation, and things could get ugly.’

’Asking a villager to do it would put them in a difficult position, caught in the middle.’

"Then I’ll have to trouble you. Put it directly into my cousin’s hands and tell him this: ’The dog was loyal to the end. The least you can do is give it a grand funeral.’"

The gap-browed youth nodded, picked up the bundle, and left without another word.

"Come back for the pork feast after you’re done, Li Shi!" Widow Xie called after him.

So that was his name.

’Li Shi...’ Ji Huan mused. ’Not only is he quick-witted, he’s also perceptive. He can anticipate his employer’s needs and solve problems without being told. He’s a rare talent indeed.’

Widow Xie and Shi Yong went back to their tasks. Ji Huan paced for a short while before Li Shi quickly returned.

"How did my cousin react?"

Li Shi’s report was remarkably concise.

"He pushed over his mother, smashed her medicine bowl, and said he’s coming to kill you."

Ji Huan hummed, looking quite satisfied.

"Go join the others. After the feast, we still have to divide up the pork. You don’t mind getting home a bit late, do you?"

Li Shi glanced toward the crowd, looking hesitant.

But Ji Huan didn’t give him the chance.

"An employee’s first duty is to obey the boss’s orders."

Li Shi’s expression turned serious. "Yes, Boss."

Seeing that Ji Huan had finally finished, Ji Xuelan called her over to eat with them.

Ji Huan shook her head.

She still had food braising at home and needed to get back to help Guan Shan. Besides, after that scene with Ji Xiu’e and her son, she had lost her appetite.

Before she left, Ji Huan gestured toward Zhang Cuicui, who was eating from a bowl with a dejected look on her face.

Ji Xuelan understood. After Ji Huan left, she walked over, patted Zhang Cuicui on the shoulder, and led her to a quiet corner.

Zhang Cuicui could hardly believe her ears.

"Manager Xuelan, you’re not kidding me, are you?!"

"I could be eating a few more pieces of meat with the time it takes to lie to you. What would be the point?"

Zhang Cuicui was still in disbelief.

Ji Huan was actually asking her to go work at the shop in Yeyang.

"C-Can I do it?"

Ji Xuelan said deliberately, "I don’t know if you can do it or not. All I know is that Ji Huan wants you to go. If you don’t think you’re up to it, you can tell her yourself so she can find someone else."

"No, no, no! I can do it! I definitely can!" Zhang Cuicui nodded and shook her head, wanting to laugh and cry at the same time.

Ji Xuelan burst out laughing and put an arm around her shoulder as they walked back.

"Work hard, and make a good life for your mother, your brother, and yourself. But don’t think about all that right now. If we don’t hurry, all the meat will be gone..."

Ji Huan called for Ding, and they headed home.

Ding bounded ahead, darting back and forth. It would disappear for a moment, only to pop out again suddenly, acting just like a goofy, carefree husky.

Ji Huan had things on her mind, so for once, she didn’t play along with his antics.

She rounded a corner and suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Directly ahead, a stern-faced Guan Shan was striding toward her.