Chapter 2062: Chapter 2063: Old Mrs. Zhang Reborn 70—Reforming the Ungrateful Children 94

Zhang Yu happily carried the fish basket home; today was really a good day, she couldn’t believe such a bountiful catch.

Although ice fishing was truly bone-chilling, with cold air incessantly rising from beneath her feet, even Zhang Yu’s constant small steps felt hard to endure.

Luckily, it seemed that the fish below the ice were also oxygen-deprived; once the hole was opened, plenty of fish quickly surfaced, practically begging to be scooped.

Zhang Yu, not greedy, harvested around 20 pounds of fish before swiftly heading home. As she cycled home, she already planned how to deal with these fish.

For instance, some fish should be kept alive in water indoors, ready for New Year’s Eve for fresh fish, while others could be immediately processed into fish balls for soup. Anyway, the cool weather allows things to be stored well.

Zhang Yu merrily ran toward home, entering the alley, and near her home, she saw many neighbors, hands tucked in sleeves, chatting in the cold wind.

Really, she admired them; in such cold weather, they were still outside chatting. Just as she wanted to eavesdrop on what big event might have pulled them from their warm beds,

before she could act, the neighbor next door spotted her and shared a shocking piece of news, "Granny Zhang, do you know? Widow Luo fell into the latrine."

What was that? Zhang Yu’s mouth gaped, "How, how did she fall into the latrine?" She really couldn’t understand, "Was the toilet slippery?"

All nearby residents were familiar with the public toilet, using it often, so how could someone fall into the latrine unless there was ice and a slip caused the fall. There’s no other way to explain it.

"The specifics are unknown; in winter, people avoid the toilet if they can. If no one had gone, they wouldn’t have heard Widow Luo’s screams for help."

Zhang Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful, gosh, such a dramatic scene, and she didn’t witness it, truly regretful.

Wait a moment, "Has Widow Luo been pulled out yet?" Zhang Yu anxiously looked at the person, and when they nodded, she felt faint, "Where did she get cleaned up?"

Once a person falls in, they’re likely taken to the hospital. Covered in feces, no hospital would accept her unless she was somewhat cleaned up first.

Summer would be easier; fewer clothes, just use a basin and rinse several times. But now, it’s winter, for sure dressed warmly for the cold.

Coats and sweaters, oh dear, Zhang Yu really couldn’t imagine how long Widow Luo stayed in the pit and where those clothes were discarded.

Seeing Zhang Yu’s conflicted expression, the neighbors sighed helplessly, "Originally, Widow Luo’s daughter-in-law wanted to hose her off in the yard, but people from your yard stopped her."

Upon hearing that someone stopped her, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but feel relieved; it wasn’t that she was heartless, but the smell was really unbearably unpleasant.

"Widow Luo insisted on returning home, and it ended with the street office coming and having her cleaned at your compound’s gate," the neighbors kindly explained.

Oh gosh, how is this different from entering the yard? Zhang Yu, who was previously in a good mood due to the day’s bountiful catch, now found herself feeling increasingly down, her mood swiftly souring.

"That smell, oh well." Zhang Yu didn’t want to ask anymore, thanked them, and rushed home with her fish basket swiftly.

The closer she got to the courtyard, the stronger the smell became, and at some point, she desperately wanted to turn her bicycle and leave quickly to book a room at a hostel. The smell was simply unbearable, oh dear.

After thinking it over, Zhang Cuihua felt it might be a good idea. In this environment, rest aside, Zhang Yu reckoned she wouldn’t be able to eat at all.

Swearing under her breath, Zhang Yu entered the compound, seeing everyone wearing masks.

Upon seeing her, they gestured for her to get a mask. "Now the smell’s better, but you wouldn’t believe it when Luo Yu’s wife poured hot water, the smell was," Granny Jiang explained. They couldn’t ignore it, after all, they were neighbors, and Luo Yu’s wife was alone; it was unclear how long she would have to labor.

Thinking that cleaning Widow Luo quickly would get her sent away faster, even though they came prepared with masks, the smell was still overwhelmingly pungent.

Often out fishing, Zhang Yu was cautious about her face being dried out by the Northwest wind, so she made a simple mask. Seeing it, the neighbors felt it was quite good; if one’s household was well-off enough, they would wear it around.

"Thanks to you making a mask earlier, otherwise..." Auntie Wang sighed.

Everyone nodded; without masks, it was hard to imagine enduring.

"Exactly, how did Widow Luo fall into the latrine?" After stashing her things inside, Zhang Yu stoked the stove with coal and poured herself a cup of hot water, then stepped out to inquire.

"No idea, although we checked, there was no ice inside," Auntie Wang had peeked inside; she noted the location Widow Luo fell into had absolutely no ice.

No ice? "Then how did she fall?" Zhang Yu was perplexed.

Auntie Wang shrugged, "Really don’t know."

"I heard Luo Yu’s wife mention, seemingly Widow Luo’s stomach wasn’t well, she visited the toilet twice before leaving."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu’s first reaction was perhaps she was worn out from diarrhea, squatting on the toilet, then stumbled upon standing up and fell?

Granny Jiang and others thought the same, "Probably."

"Poor thing," Zhang Yu lamented, glancing toward the Luo Family, "Doctors and nurses treating Widow Luo today..."

Zhang Yu clicked her tongue, and everyone quickly concurred, nodding, "Indeed."

"And Luo Yu’s wife, already so busy, now Widow Luo is hospitalized, Luo Yu goes to work, she’s running back and forth."

"Exactly, plus Widow Luo, once pulled up, didn’t even thank the person who helped her up, but instead complained they moved too slowly."

"She just kept swearing and complaining," Auntie Wang noted, Widow Luo cursed the rescue was sluggish, also why no one sent her to the bathhouse, saying hot water cools quickly, she almost freeze to death.

Listening, Zhang Yu could only say, "Not surprising, Widow Luo is just like that."

"Always self-centered, she doesn’t care if after soaking the bathhouse could still be used."

Not to mention, the women’s bathhouse was virtually unusable today, and in the coming days, no one would want a soak; the smell of feces is already unappealing, when intensified by hot water, it’s downright unpleasant.

The bathhouse is enclosed, air doesn’t circulate; it’s unknown when the smell will become fresh again.