The Chen family committed a murder?!
Startled by this news, Shen Qing abruptly stopped what he was doing and ran out of the bamboo forest.
He caught up with Chen Dahu, who had just come out from inside the house, and asked, "What's happening outside?"
Chen Dahu, who had been at home, had also just heard the news and was as confused as Shen Qing.
After a while, Shen Qing saw his cousins, Shen Xiaohu and Shen Xiaoshan, and hurried over.
"Xiao Hu, Shanwa, what's going on?"
Seeing that it was Shen Qing calling, Shen Xiaoshan and Shen Xiaohu didn't hide anything.
Xiao Hu said breathlessly, "Tian Chuan was beaten to death by the second and third sons of the Chen family."
"I heard that Tian Chuan was caught climbing a wall by the second and third sons of the Chen family, who showed no mercy. Now he's lying in the snow, with a large expanse stained red by his blood."
"The Tian family members have all gone there, wanting to demand an explanation."
"Brother Qingzi, do you want to come with us?"
Shen Xiaoshan and Shen Xiaohu took turns speaking and finally gave Shen Qing a rough idea of what had happened.
The Tian family were newcomers in Hongshan Village and didn't have a high status, leading somewhat twisted lives.
This was especially true for Tian Chuan's family.
He was the only male in his family, and his parents were old and frail.
It was extremely difficult for the entire family to manage even the basic necessities.
To think that they had been beaten to death by the Chen family members.
"Wait for me," Shen Qing said, and after giving Shen Fang a brief explanation and closing the door, he signaled, "Let's go!"
By the time Shen Qing and the others arrived, many villagers from Hongshan had also gathered from all directions, surrounding the scene and whispering among themselves.
Tian Chuan's body lay stiffly there, the surrounding snow dyed scarlet with his blood—a shocking and ghastly sight.
The faces of the villagers were filled with astonishment and regret.
Next to Tian Chuan's body, the second son, Chen Tai, and the third son, Chen An, of the Chen family stood with grim expressions, each holding a stick stained with dark red blood, still dripping.
Chen An's face wore a murderous look, as if afraid that others wouldn't know it was he who had done the deed.
Just then, Tian Chuan's parents, having heard the news, stumbled into the crowd.
Seeing the body of their son, Mother Tian immediately collapsed to the ground, while Lord Tian's eyes were empty, tears streaming down his face.
Mother Tian wailed, "My son, how could you leave us like this!"
Lord Tian, trembling, pointed at the Chen Family Brothers and bellowed, "You've committed murder!"
Their voices were piercing and despairing.
Murmurs of sympathy continually arose from the mouths of the villagers of Hongshan Village.
"Alas, young Tian Chuan must have been driven to desperation, with the heavy snow sealing off the mountains and likely no more food reserves at home."
"But sneaking into the Chen family to steal was still wrong, no matter what."
"Even so, it was not necessary to beat a man to death, was it?" someone indignantly said.
After a while, as the villagers discussed, the details of the incident became clearer.
Tian Chuan, driven by hunger and having run out of food at home, had reluctantly chosen to steal cured meat from the Chen family.
Regrettably, he was caught by the second and third sons of the Chen family, and after a verbal altercation and struggle, Chen An, in a fit of rage, beat him to death in the snow.
By this time, the Tian family members from within Hongshan Village had already hurried over after hearing the news, confronting the Chen Family Brothers and accusing the Chen family of being vicious and cruel.
Everyone in the mountains lived a hard life and carried a degree of fierce energy.
If it weren't for others holding them back, the Tian family members would have grabbed the hunting knives they carried on their bodies, seemingly ready to hack the Chen Family Brothers to pieces.
The second and third sons of the Chen family, however, stood to the side with expressionless faces, exuding arrogance and contempt.
"If he's dead, he's dead. Just a thief." Chen San scoffed, "I didn't know he couldn't take a hit like that."
The villagers looked at Tian Chuan's body and then at the attitude of the Chen Family Brothers, a chill rising in their hearts.
"Give me back my son, give me back my son!"
Mother Tian suddenly became fierce and lunged at Chen An, only to be quickly knocked down by a kick from Chen Tai.
The scene immediately became chaotic.
The eldest son of the Chen family, Chen Yuan, squeezed through the crowd.
He was tall and burly, with a face full of ferocity, easily overpowering even the village's old hunter.
Chen Yuan looked around and shouted in a deep voice, "Everybody listen up!"
"Tian Chuan climbed the wall to steal meat from my house. Although my family has some reserves, it's not something just anyone can take. Furthermore, Tian Chuan was carrying a dagger and intended to attack my two brothers."
Chen An used a stick to lift Tian Chuan's arm and sure enough, they found a dagger.
Seeing such a scene, the villagers were in an uproar.
Shen Qing, in the crowd, furrowed his brow upon hearing Chen Yuan's words.
He had a bit of an impression of Tian Chuan.
He believed Tian Chuan might have stolen the meat out of extreme hunger, but he did not believe he would have attacked the Chen brothers with a dagger.
It was very likely that Tian Chuan, pushed to the brink, chose to fight back.
But now, saying anything was useless.
Tian Chuan was already dead.
By bringing up this point now, Chen Yuan was clearly looking to capitalize on Tian Chuan's death, with an underlying intention to establish his authority.
Chen Yuan scanned the crowd and took a step forward, continuing loudly, "I have one fault—I am protective of my own. If anyone touches a single hair on my brothers, not only would a beating be justified, but killing them on the spot would be their own fault. Don't blame me for not making this clear beforehand."
As soon as these words were uttered, Chen Yuan's presence suddenly changed.
A formidable aura spread out, as if he were a wrathful deity.
With this spectacle, plus Tian Chuan's body on the ground, the villagers of Hongshan Village were all somber, resembling frightened quails.
Not one dared speak up for Tian Chuan, only able to offer silent sympathy in their hearts.
In the crowd, Shen Qing looked at Chen Yuan, pondering, "Chen Yuan has some skill in martial arts, capable of taking on three men by himself. There are over a hundred people in this village, and if everyone were to gang up on him, perhaps they could beat him to death."
"It's just a pity, no one is willing to stick their neck out to be one of those three."
As if sensing Shen Qing's thoughts, Chen Yuan subconsciously glanced in Shen Qing's direction.
Shen Qing quickly lowered his head.
Confronted with the Chen family's dominance, the Tian Family members, who arrived in outrage, no longer had the momentum they had at the beginning.
Chen An yelled, "In this snowstorm, what are you all crowding around my house for? Get lost, all of you!"
At his shout, the many villagers who'd gathered dispersed.
Tian Chuan's parents, their hair white with grief, dragged their son's body back to their house in the heavy snow, leaving behind a long trail of blood.
Quickly, the snow covered the bloodstains, blanketing the scene as if nothing had happened.
Back at home, Shen Xiaohu and Shen Xiaoshan were both filled with righteous indignation.
"The Chen Family Brothers are so overbearing, and the Tian family is too spineless. If the Chen family hadn't colluded with the Boss in the city to suppress the prices of the game, Tian Chuan wouldn't have lacked even food to eat."
"What good would it do not to be spineless? Tian Chuan had no brothers or sisters, and his parents are too old to do anything. Who would risk stepping forward for them? Even going to the government requires having connections."
"Dead is dead."
"In this world, nothing is cheaper than the lives of people like us."
Shen Qing remained silent, listening quietly on the side without speaking further.