Chapter 976: Chapter 976: The Last Meeting

Ah Ning stomped her feet as she ran in and stood behind Shu Yu. “Little sister, what did you just say?”

Little Ya’er raised her head, looked at her, then at Shu Yu, seeming unsure of why the two were together.

But at the mention of her grandfather, her eyes brimmed with tears again, and large droplets began to fall down her cheeks.

Ah Ning, seeing this, became anxious immediately. “Little sister, don’t cry, you’ll cry your eyes out.”

Shu Yu motioned for Ah Ning to stay quiet. Little Ya’er’s first word upon seeing her was “Grandpa,” which made her recall the conversation they had had the day before.

She nodded at Little Ya’er. “That’s right, I promised you I’d take you to see your grandpa. Do you still want to go now?”

“Yes, yes.”

The little girl spoke and let go of her grip, wiped away her tears, and began climbing down from the side of the bed.

Shu Yu stopped her. “Don’t rush, eat something first, and after that, I’ll take you there.”

The little girl nodded repeatedly. Ah Ning quickly went to the kitchen and brought back a bowl of noodles, topped with a single egg.

The portion was small. After all, Little Ya’er was still sick; she had vomited earlier. Just warming her stomach and filling it lightly would be enough for now.

It was Ah Ning who fed her. The little girl had a big-sisterly flair to her–she had been the same way when she used to care for Baoya.

After eating and resting for a while, Shu Yu bundled Little Ya’er up and carried her out the door.

Ah Ning had originally wanted to go along but was stopped by the old lady.

Although she claimed she wanted to be a doctor in the future and wasn’t afraid of blood or the deceased, given her young age and the nature of the place–a gloomy, eerie setting–the old lady couldn’t feel at ease.

As for Little Ya’er, there was no other option. Old Man Cui was her only relative, and before he was laid to rest, she absolutely had to see him one last time.

Shu Yu used a mule carriage to travel. Even though the county office wasn’t far from Liufang Alley, Little Ya’er was in poor health, so riding a carriage was more convenient.

Upon arriving at the county office gates, they found Jiang Kuanyu already waiting there.

Shu Yu nodded at him and carried Little Ya’er inside the office.

Jiang Kuanyu turned his head to glance at Little Ya’er. Seeing the little girl glued to her gaze on the interior of the office, he asked several questions, but she didn’t respond. He couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

The group was led by officers to the outer room of the mortuary; this was specially arranged by Hu Li. He had ensured that Uncle Cui was placed alone in the outer room for viewing, so they wouldn’t have to enter the darker, more suffocating inner chambers, avoiding exposure to poor air and eerie vibes.

As soon as the little girl spotted Uncle Cui’s corpse, she struggled to get down and immediately lunged toward it, crying.

Shu Yu swiftly held her back. “Don’t touch him; just stand here and talk to him.”

Little Ya’er turned her head, tears brimming in her eyes.

Shu Yu had no choice. Bringing her here was already a concession. This was a murder investigation, and viewing of the body by outsiders was ordinarily prohibited before the case was concluded, let alone any physical contact.

Moreover, the child was still sick and had a weakened immune system; approaching the corpse wasn’t appropriate at all.

Shu Yu had been meticulous enough to equip her with protective gear before leaving the house.

Little Ya’er, in truth, was very understanding. In the end, she obediently followed instructions, knelt at a short distance away, and wailed uncontrollably, intermittently speaking to Old Man Cui between sobs.

Her words, however, were indistinct; Shu Yu couldn’t make out what she was saying.

Finally, the little girl cried so hard she nearly passed out, prompting Shu Yu to carry her out of the room.

Jiang Kuanyu went to inquire about the progress of the investigation, learning that the Tang Family members would arrive later in the afternoon, marking the conclusion of the case. Ms. Tang, bearing the responsibility for two lives, was certain to be sentenced to death.

By regulation, they should have summoned Little Ya’er to testify as well; however, given the special circumstances and her young age, they decided against involving her.