In the end, the matter was left unresolved. Yet Yin Yong discovered that, aside from his eldest brother, everyone else had begun guarding against him and watching him, as though trying to find something on him.
Yin Yong was no fool. He knew that when his grandnephew lost the Bronze Mirror, they must have suspected him of taking it. That was why they kept an eye on him, likely hoping to recover the mirror. So he continued building houses as usual, utterly unconcerned by their surveillance.
A month later, the new house was completed. After airing it out for another half month, his eldest brother's family moved in and held a housewarming feast, inviting the villagers for a lively celebration.
Yet a little over a month after his eldest brother's family moved into the new house, a thunderstorm struck one night. Their house was split apart by lightning, and all twelve members of the family were crushed to death.
Because thunder rumbled and lightning flashed throughout the night, drowning out the sound of the house collapsing, the neighboring villagers did not discover it until early the next morning.
By the time the villagers used hoes and shovels to clear away the bricks and tiles and drag the people out, their bodies were already cold. The entire Taoyuan Village was shocked, and all kinds of rumors began flying.
"Did the Yin Family do something wicked and draw down Heaven's punishment? Since their youngest sister got married, one after another, their family members have died in less than a year."
"Exactly. They either died far from home or were murdered by villains. This time, they were crushed to death by their new house. That house was built from bricks and tiles, sturdy as anything—how could it collapse so easily?"
"Yeah! Even my