Chapter 29 Gender Sin 29
People were coming in and out, carrying buckets and basins, and there was thick smoke coming from the kitchen—it was on fire! The villagers coming and going were helping to put out the fire!
At this moment, everyone forgot about comforting Old Chen and rushed home in a panic, not even bothering to thank those who were fighting the fire. They grabbed tools and joined the firefighting efforts.
Fortunately, the fire wasn’t too big; it was just a small pile of firewood in the kitchen that caught fire. Although it looked fierce with thick smoke, it was quickly extinguished. Inside, only the walls were blackened, a wooden cabinet for holding bowls and plates was burned, and some ceramics were broken—there were no other losses or injuries.
After extinguishing the fire, Mr. Qin and a few others repeatedly thanked the villagers who helped. They should have hosted a meal for those who assisted, but the house was now a mess of water and ash. So, everyone left without staying.
Once everyone had been seen off, Mr. Qin and Old Chen collapsed onto the only dry spot they could find. After a long day of seeding, they were already exhausted, and they were overwhelmed after dealing with two emergencies without rest or food.
Mr. Qin wiped the soot from his face, and his expression darkened as he looked at his daughter, the Eldest Lady, and the three children of Qin the Third—Si Lang, Wulang. The children were huddled in a corner, looking dazed and frightened.
Seeing Mr. Qin’s gaze, the three children shivered together and lowered their heads without daring to speak. Mr. Qin frowned and asked coldly, "What on earth happened? How did the house catch on fire? Hurry up and explain!"
The Eldest Lady shuddered; she had always feared her father, who was always stern and hardly ever glanced at her. He seemed icy and inhuman, and in his eyes, she felt like a stranger!