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However, before Lin Jiaxin could step out the door, a heart-wrenching shriek suddenly erupted from outside, startling everyone into an involuntary shudder. Little Xiao Yongyan, who was blowing milk bubbles in his swaddle, was frightened into crying.

Lin Yuan dropped the work in her hands and, with Lin Wei, ran out of the kitchen.

"What’s going on?" Lin Wei asked, looking blankly at Lin Jiaxin as she wrapped her clothes around herself more tightly.

Lin Jiaxin furrowed his handsome brows, "Stay in the house, I’ll go and check it out."

"Dad, I’m coming too!" Lin Yuan wiped her hands and tossed the cloth onto the stove, following closely behind Lin Jiaxin as they headed outside.

"Dad, big sister, wait for me!" Xiao Linshuang, the fearless little one, also followed. Lin Wei wanted to stop her but it was already too late.

Seeing Lin Yi and Lao Fan also following behind, Lin Wei hesitated for a moment before she turned and went back into the house to sit by Lady Liu and help soothe little Xiao Yongyan.

The crying continued, growing louder and louder. On the road, many people had come out of their homes, looking at each other in confusion, unable to understand why someone was wailing on the first day of the New Year.

After running into a few acquaintances in the neighborhood, they followed the sound together. As Lin Yuan walked, she tried to distinguish the cries. Although they were somewhat hoarse, she could still make out parts of them.

She looked up at Lin Jiaxin, who was walking somewhat unsteadily ahead of her, and realized her father must have also recognized that the cries were coming from Lady Ma.

"Dad, don’t worry," Lin Yuan said as she hurried to support Lin Jiaxin’s arm.

Lin Jiaxin’s eyes were already red, and he nodded blankly.

Lin Yuan sighed, hoping that the misfortune had not befallen Lin Jianling.

They continued along the main road, Lin Jiaxin’s steps growing more and more unsteady. Even Xiao Linshuang seemed to sense something and silenced her chatter.

Supporting Lin Jiaxin, Lin Yuan trudged through the snow, feeling her steps grow weak, uncertain whether it was due to the softness of the fresh snow or her own trembling legs.

A short distance seemed to stretch longer and longer until they almost reached the old house’s gate, where they saw a crowd gathered, buzzing with speculation.

As they drew nearer, the crying became clearer.

Only then did Lin Yuan realize that it wasn’t just Lady Ma crying; Lady Yang’s voice could also be heard, and occasionally, the deep voice of Lin Jiazhong.

Could it really be that Lin Jianling had died?

But if Lin Jianling had died, why was Lady Ma crying louder than Lady Yang?

Lin Jiaxin did not ponder these questions; his feet slipped, and hot tears immediately welled up in his eyes. His body swayed, nearly causing him to fall to the ground.

"Dad, stay calm!"

Lin Yuan shouted. If it weren’t for Lin Yi’s quick reflexes to catch him from behind, Lin Jiaxin’s recently-healed leg might have been injured again.

"Hurry, let’s go there quickly," Lin Jiaxin said, his lips trembling.

Supporting Lin Jiaxin, they hurriedly pushed through the crowd. The scene that unfolded before them was unexpected.

In the midst of the pristine white snow, a person lay rigid, face down in the snow. Lady Ma was clutching the person’s head, shaking it while wailing in agony. Perhaps she had been crying for too long, her voice was hoarse, and her words were somewhat indistinct.

On the other side of the body was Lady Yang, half-kneeling on the ground.

Unseen for some days, her hair had turned even whiter, almost blending with the snowflakes in this frosty weather.

She covered her face with two withered hands, and her tears seeped through her fingers, dropping into the snow, creating one pit after another.

Regardless of how detestable these two women were, their pitiful cries at this moment were enough to move onlookers to sadness. Lin Yuan’s nose felt tingly and itchy. Little Xiao Linshuang at her side had already started to cry.

Although the face of the person on the ground was not clear, from the state of the body, it was obvious that he was already dead. Lin Yuan had been concerned that Xiao Linshuang would be frightened by the sight and thought to cover her eyes.

But Lao Fan simply waved his hand dismissively, as if it were a matter of course. Indeed, Xiao Linshuang was destined to become a medic and for someone in the medical profession, if they were afraid even to look at a dead body, they might as well go back to farming!

Opposite the two women was the collapsed figure of Lin Jiazhong. Though he was not crying, his reddened nose and eyes on the verge of bursting told of his immense sorrow.