《Rebirth: Pampered by the Lord》 Chapter 1 - 1 Prologue Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Prologue Crown Prince¡¯s Mansion, Dungeon. The damp dungeon was filled with an unpleasant musty and bloody smell throughout the air. ¡°Crown Princess Consort, don¡¯t blame this servant, this servant is only acting on orders, hehehe...¡± followed by a sharp, eerie laugh. The speaker was a hunchbacked dwarf, extremely ugly in the face, with a crooked mouth, holding a gleaming small knife while looking at Situtu Xueer, who was nailed to the wall. He was the Prison Warden, and the Crown Prince had specifically instructed him to ¡°take good care¡± of the Crown Princess Consort. He was once known as Ghosts Tremble in Fear in the Itinerant World, proficient with the knife to the point of divinity, especially in terms of torture. He could flay a person alive down to their bones, yet leaving them unable to live or die. ... This man was naturally cruel because he looked like a ghost, harboring hatred towards all people. During a massacre, he encountered the traveling Crown Prince and was then recruited as his tool for murder. Situtu Xueer could never have dreamed that the husband who once loved her dearly would today cruelly subject her to the punishment of flaying, causing her to hover between the hell on earth, enduring the agony of being skinned alive each day. What was it all for? Situtu Xueer never understood why the man she loved the most would treat her with such insane cruelty, wanting to kill her. Why not end her suffering with a swift death? ¡°Ah...¡± Thinking of the extreme pain in both body and mind, Situtu Xueer let out a piercing scream, ¡°Zhang Ruixuan, why do you treat me this way, why? Why?¡± The dwarf looked up at the woman on the wall, ¡°Hehehe... A foolish woman, the Crown Prince has long since fallen out of love with you, setting his eyes on your lovely sister instead. You being the Crown Princess Consort, someone has long wanted you dead.¡± ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t he kill me with one strike instead of torturing me like this? I don¡¯t believe it, you¡¯re lying to me, lying to me...¡± Remembering the man who used to hold her as they fell asleep each night, Situtu Xueer screamed frantically. ¡°That¡¯s a question for your dear sister. How much must she hate you to insist the Crown Prince order the ¡®thousand cuts¡¯ punishment for you? Hehehe... that woman¡¯s heart is even more venomous than mine.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be, Qinger wouldn¡¯t do this to me, she wouldn¡¯t... you¡¯re lying, you¡¯re lying...¡± Situtu Xueer continued to scream. ¡°Today, this old man is feeling charitable, letting you die enlightened, becoming a wiser spirit. A foolish woman like you deserves to be killed by others.¡± At this moment, footsteps approached from outside the door, and a maid loudly announced, ¡°Second Miss Situ has arrived.¡± A stunning beauty walked in gracefully, accompanied by several maids... The dwarf turned around, dragging his uneven, crippled feet, he staggered up to Situtu Qinger, bowing while smiling obsequiously, ¡°This servant greets Second Miss, this servant has already carried out the torture today.¡± ¡°Hmm, you can leave now. I have some words for my sister.¡± Situtu Qinger waved her hand, her voice delicate. ¡°Yes, this servant will take his leave.¡± After speaking, the dwarf bowed and exited, even closing the door behind him. ¡°Sister, your little sister has come to see you,¡± Situtu Qinger said haughtily, looking at the woman on the wall who had been disfigured beyond human recognition. ¡°Qinger, that person just now, he didn¡¯t tell the truth, did he?¡± ¡°Oh! What did he say? Did he mention the Crown Prince ordering your death, or did he say your little sister asked the Crown Prince to send you to the ¡®thousand cuts¡¯ punishment?¡± Situtu Qinger¡¯s lips curled into a smile, her demeanor was triumphantly confident, a stark change from her previous submissive attitude. ¡°Situ Qinger, I trusted you so much, treated you like my own sister, why would you do this to me? Why? Why?¡± Situtu Xueer¡¯s eyes streamed with tears of blood. Chapter 2 - 2 Complacency Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Complacency ¡°Why? Hehehe... my dear sister, at this point in time, you might as well stop pretending.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not pretending, I truly don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Giggle giggle giggle, whether you¡¯re pretending or not, it¡¯s too late now. You are destined to be a loser, and everything that was yours will belong to me, including your man, hehehe...¡± Situtu Qinger let out a series of proud laughs. Usually, her laughter sounded so pleasant, but now, in this blood-scented cell, it seemed somewhat chilling. ¡°Why? I treated you so well, why would you do this to me?¡± ¡°Pah, you treated me well? Do you know? From the very first day you returned to the General¡¯s Mansion, you took everything from me just because you are the legitimate daughter and I am the concubine-born. In public and private, you always suppressed me, one level below you. I hated you to the bone, yet I had to greet you with a smile every day. Do you know how miserable and hateful I felt? Every time, in my midnight reveries, I wished I could strangle you to death.¡± ... As she spoke these last words, Situtu Qinger¡¯s stunning face twisted into a horrifying snarl. ¡°So, in order to get back at me, you seduced the Crown Prince?¡± Situtu Xueer mocked herself inwardly, thinking how foolish she had been her entire life to believe in sisterly love. ¡°Hehehe, you¡¯re wrong. The Crown Prince and I are mutually in love, where is there any seduction¡ªyou say.¡± ¡°The Crown Prince was deeply devoted to me. If it wasn¡¯t for your seduction, how could he have treated me like this?¡± Situtu Xueer couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears; the man she loved most had given her the most cruel punishment imaginable. ¡°Deeply devoted? Hehehe...it¡¯s laughable. We were together before you two were even married. His marriage to you was merely a use of your status as the legitimate daughter to secure his position as the Crown Prince.¡± The truth was so cruel that tears blurred Situtu Xueer¡¯s vision. She was foolish her entire life, having been deceived by them for so long. Situtu Qinger: ¡°Sister, I couldn¡¯t bear for you to be too lonely on the Yellow Spring Road, so I specially arranged for Xiuxiu to accompany you on your journey. It¡¯s better to have someone to look after you in the Underworld, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Situtu Qinger, what are you planning to do? If you have any grievances, direct them at me. Don¡¯t harm my Xiuxiu; she is still young, only a few months old.¡± Situtu Xueer, who had been sobbing, suddenly screamed frantically upon hearing her daughter¡¯s name, ¡°If you harm Xiuxiu, Zhang Ruixuan won¡¯t let you off either.¡± Nailed to the wall, Situtu Xueer couldn¡¯t believe everything she was hearing. ¡°Giggle giggle... You are such a foolish woman. Would I dare to kill his daughter without the Crown Prince¡¯s orders?¡± ¡°Xiuxiu is his own flesh and blood, how could he kill her? Even a tiger wouldn¡¯t eat its cubs¡ªthe Crown Prince won¡¯t kill Xiuxiu.¡± ¡°The Crown Prince has said, ¡®If you don¡¯t eliminate the roots, the spring breeze will bring them back to life.¡¯ Besides, in the future, the Crown Prince will be the Emperor of Moli Country. With Three Palaces and Six Courtyards, Seventy-Two Concubines, plus me, the Empress, he won¡¯t be short of children. How could he tolerate your daughter being alive in this world?¡± Situtu Qinger raised her delicate hand and gently clapped twice... ¡°Clap clap...¡± A maid holding a few months old little kid walked in from outside... The little kid was very cute, with a rosy face, big rolling eyes, and chubby fingers suckling on her mouth, making smacking sounds, both clueless and adorable. The maid approached Situtu Qinger: ¡°Second Miss.¡± Situtu Qinger reached out to tease the little kid. The little kid looked at Situtu Qinger with big round eyes, batting her long eyelashes. Suddenly, she cracked a smile and laughed in a gurgling sound. Situtu Qinger¡¯s expression turned cold, she indifferently retracted her hand and asked the maid, ¡°Is everything ready?¡± ¡°It¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Bring it in!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The maid complied, raised her voice, and shouted to someone outside, ¡°Bring in the fire basin.¡± Several maids carried in a very lively burning fire basin. Regardless of how Situtu Xueer pleaded and screamed, Situtu Qinger was unmoved, ordering her servants to throw the little kid into the fire basin and burn her alive. ¡°Ah...¡± Nailed to the wall, Situtu Xueer let out a heart-wrenchingly painful scream, witnessing her daughter dying a tragic death, her heart in indescribable agony. Suddenly, her eyes shot open as she shouted towards the top of the cell, ¡°Heavens above, I, Situtu Xueer, swear by my life that if there is an afterlife, I will utterly destroy those who harmed my daughter and me, with no mercy.¡± Having said this, she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and drooped her head, falling silent. Situtu Qinger covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, a look of disgust on her face: ¡°Prison Warden, come in and take a look.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The dwarf outside responded, pushed the door open, and stepped forward to check. ¡°Reporting to the Second Miss, the Crown Princess Consort has passed away.¡± ¡°Prison Warden, throw that lowly woman into the Mass Grave.¡± ¡°Yes, your servant obeys!¡± Chapter 3 - 3 Rebirth Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Rebirth The 22nd year of the Qianqing era, winter day. A pair of red candles was particularly striking on the table in the room, surrounded by various snacks such as peanuts and melon seeds, and several large ¡°happiness¡± characters were pasted on the walls. The whole room looked very festive. ¡°Husband, after I give birth to a healthy baby boy for you, you should divorce that yellow-faced wife, alright?¡± From the nearby large bed, there came the coquettish voice of a woman. ¡°Darling, today is our wedding day; let¡¯s discuss those matters later,¡± the man¡¯s voice was hoarse. After a moment of silence... ... Suddenly, a ¡°bang bang¡± noise came from under the bed. ¡°Husband, husband,¡± Auntie Sun patted the man lying next to her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang asked breathlessly. ¡°There¡¯s a noise under the bed, did you hear it?¡± ¡°Stop imagining things; there was no noise.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang, interrupted, was a bit annoyed. After being scolded by her husband, Auntie Sun began to doubt herself and decided to ignore it, quickly putting on a smile to please her husband. ¡°Zhang Ruixuan, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Suddenly, a wretched scream came from under the bed. The two on the bed were terribly frightened, especially Mo Xiaoqiang, whose liver and gall were trembling in fear. Today, Mo Xiaoqiang was taking a concubine, and feeling guilty for his legal wife, his mind was somewhat distracted. Hearing this wretched scream, he was nearly scared out of his wits. Since his legal wife had given birth to several daughters, he felt he couldn¡¯t hold his head up in front of others, so he had decided to take a concubine to bear him a son, ensuring his lineage. ¡°Hus... Husband, there... there¡¯s a ghost,¡± Auntie Sun, trembling, said as she clung to Mo Xiaoqiang. Noises of bustling footsteps came from outside the door, probably because they heard the commotion and came to see what had happened, followed by a rapid knocking on the door: ¡°Qiangqiang, what¡¯s wrong? Why is it so noisy in your room?¡± An aged voice came through. ¡°Dad, there¡¯s a ghost in our room.¡± Hearing this, knowing that it was his parents, Mo Xiaoqiang hurriedly put on his clothes and rushed to open the door. Old Master Mo walked in with his family, his voice booming like a bell, ¡°Qiangqiang, what happened?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a ghost.¡± ¡°A ghost? Where?¡± Old Master Mo eyed him skeptically. At that moment, Auntie Sun, also trembling, stood aside. Hearing Old Master Mo¡¯s question and not waiting for her own husband to speak, she quickly pointed under the bed and said, ¡°Eunuch, it¡¯s right there.¡± ¡°You adulterous couple, I will not let you off.¡± Another wretched scream came from under the bed, appearing rather scary in the dark night. The sudden scream startled everyone from the Mo family, all wondering if there really was a ghost. Seeing everyone shrinking back fearfully, Old Master Mo became a bit angry and bellowed, ¡°Old woman, bring the oil lamp here.¡± Old Lady Mo hastily handed over the oil lamp, not forgetting to admonish, ¡°Old man, be careful.¡± ¡°With so many of us here, are we still afraid of ghosts?¡± After speaking bluntly, Old Master Mo swiftly moved to the bedside and squatted down lighting the lantern inside... ¡°Isn¡¯t that Xuexue? How did she end up under your dad¡¯s bed?¡± Old Master Mo¡¯s astonished voice rang out. ¡°Oh, this troublesome girl! Today is your father¡¯s and your second mother¡¯s big day; why are you causing trouble?¡± Old Lady Mo scolded as she rushed over. ¡°Xuexue, my Xuexue, how did you get here? Your mother has been looking for you all night.¡± A middle-aged woman with a haggard face burst through the crowd. This woman was Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s legal wife, Madam Xie, and the mother of Xuexue. Chapter 4 - 4 Auntie Sun Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Auntie Sun She rushed to the bedside and singlehandedly pulled Xuexue out from under the bed... ¡°My dear daughter, in such cold weather, how did you get completely soaked?¡± Madam Xie, touching Xuexue¡¯s dripping cotton clothes, was inconsolable with sobs. Lying in her arms, Xuexue kept her eyes tightly shut, her cheeks reddening unusually. Madam Xie touched her forehead, then urgently looked up at Mo Xiaoqiang and said, ¡°Husband, Xuexue has a high fever, quick, go fetch the Doctor.¡± ¡°Hmph! Sister¡¯s pitiful act is quite convincing,¡± Auntie Sun remarked sarcastically. ¡°What are you talking about? Xuexue has a fever, I¡¯m going to get the Doctor.¡± Today was his own day to take a concubine, and Mo Xiaoqiang still felt somewhat apologetic toward his legal wife. ... ¡°Husband, don¡¯t be fooled by her.¡± ¡°Fooled by what?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang asked, looking puzzled at Auntie Sun¡¯s charming face. Pouting her lips and with a look of grievance, Auntie Sun said, ¡°Today was supposed to be our special day; Sister can be jealous if she wants, but she shouldn¡¯t have hidden Xuexue under our bed. If she scared you seriously, wouldn¡¯t that mean the end of the Mo family¡¯s lineage?¡± Upon hearing this, Old Lady Mo became infuriated. It was precisely because Madam Xie bore three daughters without delivering a son that Old Lady Mo was worried about the continuation of her son¡¯s line, leading to the big celebration today with Mo Xiaoqiang taking a concubine. To hear Auntie Sun now accusing Madam Xie of deliberately hiding Xuexue under the bed simply made Old Lady Mo explode with anger. ¡°You wicked woman, with such a black heart! My son merely took a concubine, and you want to curse him with no descendants, is that it? I will beat you to death.¡± Having said that, Old Lady Mo charged forward, delivering a fierce beating without even caring whether she might hit Xuexue, who was in her arms. Auntie Sun stood by, covering her mouth and snickering secretly. Xuexue, shielded in Madam Xie¡¯s embrace, after being slapped twice by Big Boss Mo, suddenly ¡°swooshed¡± open her eyes, glaring fiercely at Old Lady Mo. Old Lady Mo, having been glared at, retreated a few steps feeling somewhat guilty. Seeing Old Lady Mo cease her attack, Auntie Sun, not quite satisfied, stepped forward and fanned the flames, ¡°Mother-in-law, look at Sister¡¯s lack of upbringing, letting Xuexue glare at you, her grandmother, like that.¡± Stirred up by Auntie Sun, Old Lady Mo became enraged again, just as she was about to regain her dignity... Xuexue, lying in Madam Xie¡¯s embrace, suddenly leaped up like a tiger pouncing down a mountain, charging straight at Auntie Sun. ¡°You vixen spirit, with such a cruel heart, you actually harmed my daughter. I will kill you, kill you.¡± Xuexue¡¯s hands clawed towards Auntie Sun¡¯s face. Completely unguarded, Auntie Sun was immediately struck, and by the time she realized what was happening, her face was throbbing with pain. Xuexue¡¯s action stunned everyone in the Mo family, as Xuexue was usually very well-behaved, never having raised her voice before. What had happened today? ¡°Ouch! Why are you all standing there like fools? Quickly, pull them apart.¡± The first to snap out of the shock was Mo Xiaoqiang, seeing his Beautiful Lady suddenly turned into a Grimacing Lady by his daughter, he could not help feeling a knot in his heart. Hearing Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s cries, everyone finally came to their senses, and it took an enormous effort to finally pull Xuexue away from Auntie Sun. ¡°Oh my! It hurts so much, husband, you must teach her a lesson,¡± Auntie Sun wailed in pain. On seeing Auntie Sun¡¯s face, everyone instinctively turned away in pity. The once coquettish Auntie Sun now had her entire face scratched up, not to mention her hair in a mess like a bird¡¯s nest and her clothes torn. Those were minor issues, but what was major was that on the first day of marriage, she had been disfigured by the daughter of the legal wife. Chapter 5 - 5 Taking a Concubine Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Taking a Concubine Madam Xie dragged Xuexue out from under the bed. Due to the cold weather, Xuexue was soaking wet and had a high fever. When she woke up, she seemed to go mad and gave Auntie Sun a fierce beating. Auntie Sun was grinding her teeth in anger. It was supposed to be her lucky day, but she had been injured by her husband¡¯s daughter, which was a total loss of face. So, she wanted to call on Mo Xiaoqiang to take her side. Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s gaze shifted left and right, as he could not bear to look at Auntie Sun¡¯s face. ¡°Husband, I¡¯m calling you?¡± Seeing that he remained silent, Auntie Sun called out again with a grimace, her face covered in wounds from Xuexue¡¯s recent attack. ... ¡°Oh! What?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang finally couldn¡¯t avoid it anymore. ¡°I said teach her a lesson,¡± Auntie Sun said furiously, pointing at Xuexue with her finger. ¡°Ay yo wei!¡± No sooner had she finished shouting than Auntie Sun screamed involuntarily, quickly covering her mouth corner with her hand, her expression one of intense pain. She had been beaten by Xuexue to a pulp, and while she had been careful enough to talk before, now, getting angry and exerting herself, she had pulled at the wound on her mouth corner, causing her excruciating pain. At Auntie Sun¡¯s pointing, Xuexue, who was being held by Madam Xie, suddenly broke free and charged over, mounting Auntie Sun and unleashing a fierce barrage of punches on her. ¡°Ahhhh... Help!¡± At this point, Auntie Sun let out a loud scream. This sudden change left the Mo family, young and old, once again stunned. Was this the normally demure Xuexue? She seemed like a completely different person. ¡°Old man, what¡¯s gotten into Xuexue today? Has she been possessed?¡± ¡°Nonsense, it¡¯s the calamity you brought upon us.¡± ¡°What does it have to do with me?¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t arranged a concubine for Qiangqiang, would Xuexue be like this? Her father taking a concubine must have shocked her, that¡¯s why she¡¯s acting out.¡± ¡°Hey! So, this is all my fault now? Wasn¡¯t I thinking of the Mo family¡¯s future? Think about it, Madam Xie didn¡¯t bear a son, should we let Qiangqiang die without an heir?¡± Seeing that the Old Master was pinning everything on her, Old Lady Mo wasn¡¯t having any of it. ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered with you.¡± With that, the Old Master turned and walked away. ¡°Quickly pull them apart.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang came to his senses and shouted loudly. This time it wasn¡¯t as easy to separate them as it was the first time. Xuexue grabbed hold of Auntie Sun and refused to let go. Everyone was pulling at them with all their strength... Xuexue quickly leaned into Auntie Sun¡¯s face, and no matter how much the others pulled, they couldn¡¯t separate them. ¡°Ah...¡± Suddenly, Auntie Sun let out a piercing scream, her eyes rolled up, and she fainted. Everyone was clueless about what had just happened. It was only later that they found out Xuexue had bitten off Auntie Sun¡¯s ear. Everyone shuddered. The normally gentle Xuexue seemed to have become a different person. It seemed that her father taking a concubine had indeed dealt her a considerable blow. ¡°Xuexue, Xuexue, where are you hurt?¡± Madam Xie, with a mother¡¯s concern, paid no attention to Auntie Sun, her eyes fixed only on Xuexue. ¡°Sister-in-law, the blood on Xuexue¡¯s face, that¡¯s Auntie Sun¡¯s, you know?¡± Mo Daoyan couldn¡¯t help but speak up from the side. Just yesterday, he had envied his older brother for being able to take a concubine. Who could have imagined that in just one day, the beauty had been transformed into such a state¡ªa reminder of the unpredictability of life. ¡°Are you still there making sarcastic remarks? Hurry and fetch the doctor,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang said, seeing Auntie Sun lying on the ground in a sorry state, and yet his brother was still standing to the side enjoying the commotion. ¡°Why are you taking your anger out on me? Deal with your own matters,¡± said Mo Daoyan before turning to leave. He had no intention of fetching the doctor. Why should he take care of his brother¡¯s problem? ¡°Husband, husband, Xuexue has fainted.¡± Madam Xie held the unconscious Xuexue in her arms and called out anxiously. Mo Gong Sui said, ¡°Stop howling, she¡¯s just fainted, not dead.¡± Chapter 6 - 6 Stepmother Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Stepmother Situtu Xueer woke up from a heavy daze, as if she had had a very long dream. In the dream, she saw her foster mother and did things she dared not do in her previous life, such as hitting the vixen spirit who had killed her foster mother. It was she who not only stole her foster father¡¯s heart but also cruelly took the life of the foster mother who loved her. ¡°Xuexue, you¡¯re awake,¡± suddenly, the familiar and affectionate voice of her foster mother sounded in her ears. Situtu Xueer couldn¡¯t believe her ears. She turned her head and, to her surprise, saw Madam Xie standing alive at the side of her bed: ¡°Mother, where is this?¡± Xuexue¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. Hadn¡¯t she already died? And wasn¡¯t her foster mother dead too? Where on earth was this place? Could it be the underworld? A myriad of doubts swirled incessantly in her mind. ¡°Silly child, this is our home. You¡¯re not delirious with fever, are you?¡± Madam Xie said while worryingly touching her forehead, deeply concerned. It seemed that her husband taking a concubine had dealt a great blow to her daughter. In such cold weather, she was soaked through and through; her Xuexue was truly pitiable. ... ¡°Our home?¡± On hearing this, Xuexue turned her head and took a glance at the room. Yes, this room was the one she used to live in when she stayed at her foster mother¡¯s home. ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± Situtu Xueer lay pale on the bed, murmuring to herself. She had clearly been killed by the Crown Prince and her sister, especially her daughter. She was only a few months old, so adorable, yet she was killed by her own sister. Situtu Xueer, recalling her daughter¡¯s piercing screams, felt a pain in her heart so intense she could not breathe. She involuntarily clutched her heart, gasping for air with a pale face. ¡°Xuexue, what¡¯s the matter with you? What¡¯s wrong? If you are feeling unwell, tell your mother quickly,¡± Madam Xie said, approaching her in a panic, her face etched with worry. Situtu Xueer weakly waved her hand: ¡°Mother, I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be alright after resting a bit. Please go out; I want some peace for a while.¡± ¡°Are you really okay? Xuexue, we can¡¯t do anything about your father taking a concubine. It¡¯s my fault for not bearing him a son,¡± Madam Xie said, relieved to see Xuexue¡¯s color mildly improve. ¡°Mhm.¡± Situtu Xueer subconsciously responded, but at that moment, she couldn¡¯t hear what Madam Xie was saying; her mind was filled with thoughts of her previous life. Madam Xie stood up, intending to leave. ¡°Mother,¡± suddenly, Xuexue abruptly raised her head and called out to her. ¡°Yes?¡± Madam Xie stopped, turning to look at her: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°What year is it now?¡± ¡°Silly child, are you so feverish that you¡¯re confused? It is the 22nd year of the Qianqing era. Rest for a while; I¡¯ll go make you a bowl of egg custard to nourish you,¡± Madam Xie said before she went out. ¡°The 22nd year?¡± Xuexue murmured to herself. It seemed she had indeed been reborn, back to four years ago, still in her foster mother¡¯s home. In another year, the people from the General¡¯s Mansion would take her back. Heaven truly has eyes, she was reborn. Xuexue thought, feeling wildly ecstatic, then clenched her teeth and whispered vengefully, ¡°Situ Qinger, Zhang Ruixuan, you two caused the death of my mother and daughter in the past life. This life, I absolutely won¡¯t forgive you. I will have you repay tenfold.¡± In her past life, in that damp Dungeon, she was tortured by the dwarf for three whole days and nights until, seeing her daughter, just a few months old, killed by Situ Qinger, she died of fury, coming back to four years ago, still in her foster mother¡¯s home. Just at that moment, the sound of footsteps approached from outside. Following them, a girl of about thirteen or fourteen years old, wearing a floral dress, walked in lightly... ¡°Yo, you little stinker, how come you¡¯re still alive?¡± The girl looked lovely and innocent. When silent, she seemed fine, but as soon as she spoke, her sharp and sarcastic tone completely ruined her image. Chapter 7 - 7 Little Cheap Person Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Little Cheap Person ¡°Xiuzhi?¡± Xuexue looked up, her eyes filled with malice as she gazed at her. She hadn¡¯t expected to encounter her nemesis from her past life again. Indeed, as she was reborn, the enemies from her previous life would appear before her one after another. She needed to be mentally prepared. This Xiuzhi was Mo Daoyan¡¯s eldest daughter. Although she appeared gentle and charming, she was sinister at heart. On the cold and freezing night when Mo Xiaoqiang took a concubine, Xiuzhi had pushed Xuexue into the pond while she was still alive. While Xuexue was unconscious, Xiuzhi had also schemed to hide her under the bed in Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s bridal chamber. Her motive was to make Mo Xiaoqiang detest them, their mother and daughters, and to drive them out of the Mo family. ¡°I thought you were close to death and considering we were sisters, I came to send you on your final journey. Yet, it turns out you really have a tough life,¡± Xiuzhi glared disdainfully at the sickly Xuexue on the bed. Although Xuexue was not yet of marriageable age, her stunning beauty was beginning to show. Xiuzhi was extremely jealous. This little cheap person had a face that seemed alluring, and no matter how Xiuzhi looked at her, she found her displeasing. Usually acting fragile, she had shown her true colors a few nights ago by beating Aunt Sun badly. How would she pretend to be weak in front of others now? ... ¡°If you haven¡¯t died yet, how could I bear to die?¡± Xuexue retorted coldly. She had died a tragic death in her previous life. This time, nobody would get to bully her even in the slightest. ¡°You little cheap person, dare you talk to me like this? Are you tired of living?¡± Xiuzhi¡¯s pretty face contorted fiercely. Normally, since they were from the second wife¡¯s family and had a brother, their grandmother treated them very well. Madam Xie hardly dared to breathe in their presence, which led to Xiuzhi¡¯s arrogant and domineering nature. She bullied anyone she disliked. ¡°I think it¡¯s you, you cheap person, who doesn¡¯t want to live,¡± Xuexue retorted unexpectedly. The usually unchallenged Xiuzhi immediately exploded, her eyes bulging with madness as she wanted to rush forward and beat Xuexue. ¡°What are you trying to do? Don¡¯t hit my sister.¡± A little girl about five or six years old ran in from outside and clutched onto Xiuzhi¡¯s thigh to stop her from hitting Xuexue. ¡°Let go, or I¡¯ll hit you. Do you believe me?¡± Xiuzhi struggled to free herself and was about to slap the little girl. Seeing her sister about to be hit, Xuexue sat up in bed, grabbed the ceramic pillow from the bedhead, and without thinking, hurled it at Xiuzhi... With a ¡°clash,¡± the ceramic pillow struck Xiuzhi, and then it fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. ¡°Ah...¡± The stricken Xiuzhi fell to the ground, clutching her arms, and started wailing like a banshee. The little girl was terrified and ran to the bed, clinging to Xuexue: ¡°Sister, sister, we¡¯ve hurt Sister Xiuzhi, what shall we do?¡± ¡°Chuner, be good, don¡¯t be afraid, your sister is here,¡± Xuexue gently patted her back, comforting her. Madam Xie, carrying a bowl of egg custard, had just approached the room when she heard the wailing. She rushed in and exclaimed, ¡°Xuexue, Xuexue, are you all right?¡± Xuexue was touched by her adoptive mother¡¯s concern. Although she was not her biological daughter, she was no less dear. She resolved to protect her well for the rest of her life and not let anyone hurt her. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m fine,¡± Xuexue hugged Chuner and responded. Looking at the painfully wailing Xiuzhi on the ground, Madam Xie was very alarmed: ¡°What happened to Xiuzhi?¡± ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be scared, it was she who grabbed my pillow and accidentally fell,¡± Xuexue said calmly. Chapter 8: Wife Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Wife Madam Xie was certainly not without fear. Just a few days ago, Xuexue beat Auntie Sun until she resembled a pig¡¯s head, completely disfigured. She¡¯s still lying in bed, constantly groaning. It¡¯s said that she¡¯s been crying and howling, seeking revenge on Xuexue. If it weren¡¯t for the pain of her wounds, she would have already come here to stir up trouble. That¡¯s why there¡¯s peace and quiet now. The Beautiful Lady turned into the Grimacing Lady, and Mo Xiaoqiang felt even more heartbroken. A few days ago, after he left the house, he hadn¡¯t returned. He probably went to the brothel, indulging in the pleasures of the flesh there. This was his habit, and everyone in Mo Family Village knew that Mo Xiaoqiang loved to frequent brothels. Because of this, Old Lady Mo looked at Madam Xie even more unfavorably. She had not stopped mistreating her these past few days, assigning her all the rough and dirty work to do alone. Madam Xie, who had always felt guilty for not bearing offspring for the Mo family, submitted to all this meekly, not even daring to let out a sigh, shrinking into herself and bearing the hardship in silence. Mo Xiuzhi, who had been wailing on the ground in pain, became furious with pain in her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys upon hearing Xuexue¡¯s words, her speech was no longer nimble. ¡°You... you stinky... stinky girl dare... dare to frame me. It was clearly you who threw the pillow at me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you tried to hit me. Sister threw it to defend against you,¡± Chuner said crisply from the side. ... Upon hearing that, Madam Xie became anxious, hurried forward, and examined Chuner from head to toe. ¡°Chuner, are you alright?¡± Blinking her innocent eyes, Chuner replied, ¡°Mother, I¡¯m fine. Sister is here, and she will protect me.¡± ¡°Chuner is such a good child,¡± Madam Xie said, patting her head before turning to look at Xiuzhi. ¡°Xiuzhi, Chuner is so young, how could you bear to hit her?¡± ¡°You¡¯re all just lowly creatures; I¡¯ll hit if I like, what can you do about it?¡± Xiuzhi, with an injured arm from Xuexue¡¯s beating, seemed to have gotten over the pain and became arrogant and overbearing again. She truly was one who forgot the pain as soon as the wound healed. Xuexue, who didn¡¯t know when she had gotten out of bed, now stood beside Xiuzhi and leaned in close, asking ominously, ¡°So you like hitting? Just hit if you like, is it?¡± ¡°You... you... what are you trying to do?¡± The sudden approach of Xuexue startled Xiuzhi, who quickly stepped back several paces. ¡°You can¡¯t handle this? On the day my dad took a concubine, you almost drowned me and even stuffed me under the bed in my father¡¯s nuptial chamber. Mo Xiuzhi, your heart is really poisonous,¡± Xuexue said coldly. Upon hearing this, Xiuzhi was secretly shocked. How did this little cheap person know about it? That night, she was certain Xiuzhi had not seen her because she was hiding in a dark corner, sneak attacking her from behind. In her previous life, Xuexue had lived a muddled existence, her mind simple and unaware that it was Xiuzhi who had harmed her. Later, after her foster mother died, the lives of the two sisters became even more desolate, with Xiuzhi becoming even more uninhibited. Once, she even unabashedly revealed this incident. When Madam Xie heard Xuexue say this, she was extremely shocked and turned her head to look at Xiuzhi, asking, ¡°Xiuzhi, is what Xuexue said true? You¡¯re sisters; you can¡¯t harm her like this.¡± ¡°Nonsense, all you¡¯re doing is spouting nonsense. I¡¯ve been injured from the beating, and now you¡¯re trying to frame me,¡± Xiuzhi said, covering her arm before sitting down on the ground with a thump, crying loudly. Looking at Xiuzhi like this, Madam Xie couldn¡¯t bear it. She stepped forward, crouched down, and tried to help her up. ¡°Xiuzhi, let your Auntie look at your wound first. Later, we¡¯ll put some medicine on it, and it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± ¡°Get lost, I don¡¯t need your false kindness!¡± Perhaps the pain had subsided a bit, Xiuzhi got up from the ground and forcefully pushed the unsuspecting Madam Xie. ¡°Ouch!¡± Instantly, Madam Xie fell to the ground with a cry. ¡°Mother, Mother, are you alright?¡± The sensible Chuner hurriedly came forward to help her up. ¡°Mother is fine.¡± It was as though Madam Xie was used to this kind of treatment, and she responded as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. Chapter 9: Bones Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Bones ¡°Mother, are you really alright?¡± Xuexue hurried forward, asking with concern. ¡°I¡¯m alright, you two sisters don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Madam Xie felt very reassured in her heart. No matter how much she suffered and how much bitterness she endured in the Mo family, as long as she saw her two sensible daughters, she would feel completely satisfied. She also secretly felt fortunate that her oldest daughter had married early and gone to live in the neighboring village, so she no longer had to endure hardships here with her. ¡°Mother, you still say you¡¯re alright, look, your hand is scraped and bleeding,¡± Chuner¡¯s crisp voice rose, carrying a bit of a sob. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mother doesn¡¯t hurt, Chuner be good, don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s bleeding, how could it not hurt? Mother, you¡¯re lying,¡± Chuner said, blinking her innocent eyes. ... ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt, really, when has Mother ever lied to Chuner.¡± Compared to the abuse she usually endured from Old Lady Mo, these minor injuries really didn¡¯t bother Madam Xie. ¡°Mother, let me blow on it for you, it will stop hurting if I blow on it,¡± the sensible Chuner said, as she moved closer to Madam Xie¡¯s arm and carefully blew on it with her mouth. ¡°My Chuner is really filial,¡± Madam Xie said with a relieved smile. Seeing her sensible daughter made all the hardships worthwhile. Seeing her foster mother being pushed to the ground and not daring to make a sound, the image of her being so meek and bending over backward was heartbreaking for Xuexue. In her past life, even though her foster mother had lived so cautiously, she still ended up being killed by the vixen spirit. And her own death was even more tragic, nailed to the wall by the man she loved most, she suffered the most cruel punishment in the world, and her daughter was burned alive right in front of her. In this life, Xuexue was reborn with a body full of hatred; she would slay gods if she encountered them, and Buddhas if she encountered them. Xuexue, seething with rage, turned around and glared at Xiuzhi, grinding her teeth and said, ¡°Mo Xiuzhi, are you sick of living? My mother kindly helped you up, and you didn¡¯t appreciate it, and even pushed her to the ground? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?¡± ¡°I did push her, so what? Who told her to meddle like a dog chasing mice,¡± Xiuzhi displayed her usual arrogance. ¡°Slap slap...¡± As soon as Xiuzhi finished speaking, the outraged Xuexue, without another word, swung her hand and, with all her might, slapped Xiuzhi¡¯s face repeatedly from both sides. To deal with a cheap person, one must take extreme measures. ¡°Ah...¡± Caught completely off guard, Xiuzhi was left seeing stars from Xuexue¡¯s slaps, she was dizzy and disoriented, and it took her a while to regain her bearings. Holding her cheek with her hand, she glared fiercely at Xuexue, disbelief in her tone, ¡°You little cheap person, how dare you hit me?¡± It was true, the Xuexue of the past was always meek and never dared to speak loudly. But ever since she had an incident of drowning and fever a few days ago, she had changed completely. Not only did she bite off Aunt Sun¡¯s ear, but today she also beat her twice. ¡°So what if I hit you? Do I need to choose a day for that?¡± The tone of Xuexue¡¯s speech was eerily similar to Xiuzhi¡¯s earlier arrogant behavior. Xiuzhi was infuriated to the point of death. With one hand she touched her bright red cheek and with the other pointed at Madam Xie and her daughter, her face twisted ferociously as she said, ¡°You bunch of lowlifes, dare to gang up and bully me? I¡¯ll tell the matriarch, just you wait, hmph!¡± After issuing her threat, she turned and stormed out. ¡°What should we do now, Mother? If Sister Xiuzhi tells the matriarch, she will definitely beat and scold you again,¡± Chuner started to panic, her little hands clutching Madam Xie¡¯s sleeve and shaking it ceaselessly. The young girl, who witnessed her grandmother beating and scolding her mother every few days, already had a shadow in her heart, becoming like a frightened bird at the slightest rustle. Seeing this, Xuexue quickly went over, hugged Chuner, and comforted her, ¡°Chuner don¡¯t be afraid, your sister is here. I will protect you and Mother; I won¡¯t let you guys be bullied anymore.¡± Chapter 10 - 10 Fat Lady Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Fat Lady ¡°Hmm, Chuner believes in Sister, Sister was very brave today.¡± Chuner couldn¡¯t help but praise, Sister had changed completely since she woke up from the fever. In the past, upon seeing Sister Xiuzhi, Sister was like a mouse seeing a cat, always avoiding her if possible. Today, she actually beat her up twice. Chuner was also quite happy in her heart, Sister had finally stopped being timid, no longer enduring and willing to be bullied by others. Madam Xie, however, was not so optimistic. With a face full of worry, she said, ¡°Xuexue, don¡¯t fight with them fiercely. The matter with Auntie Sun is not over yet. She¡¯s been disfigured and lost an ear. Now, she¡¯s filled with hatred towards us, your mother and sisters, constantly shouting in her room about seeking revenge against you. You must learn to bear it. Let her scold you, it won¡¯t cost you a flesh, got it, huh?¡± Ever since finding out Xuexue had bitten off Auntie Sun¡¯s ear, Madam Xie had been scared out of her wits. These few days, she¡¯s been extremely careful in front of the Mo family, afraid that any displeasure would cause them to bring up past grievances. ¡°Auntie Sun?¡± Xuexue¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp light flashing, then fading away. It seemed it wasn¡¯t a dream; she really had hit her. So what? That was merely the interest. Compared to the last life where Aunt Sun plotted to kill her foster mother, this was just the beginning. ... ¡°Yes, you need to be patient. When your father comes back, who knows whether he will punish you or not.¡± Madam Xie was deeply anxious. Auntie Sun was a concubine whom Mother-in-law had spent a great deal of silver to bring in from the neighboring village, specifically to bear the husband a male heir, to continue the family lineage. Now look, no sooner had she married into the family than her daughter had mauled her. How could her husband not hate her? As for her adoptive father, Xuexue held no affection. In her previous life, this man who grew tired of the old and longed for the new, overly doted on Aunt Sun, who was allowed to act recklessly and ultimately caused the death of her foster mother. At that moment, several noisy people barged in from outside. Among them, a round and plump woman came storming in, hands on her hips, and started berating Xuexue, ¡°You lowly wench, how dare you hit my daughter! Are you trying to rebel?¡± She was Mo Daoyan¡¯s legal wife, Madam Ruan, Xiuzhi¡¯s biological mother. Using the fact that she had borne a son to her advantage, she had grown accustomed to throwing her weight around in the Mo family. Just now, Xiuzhi had come back crying, saying that the women of the main house had ganged up and beaten her. Enraged by this, Madam Ruan, who wouldn¡¯t let herself be bullied like Aunt Sun, decided that today she needed an explanation, no matter what. Madam Ruan¡¯s finger kept jabbing at Madam Xie¡¯s face, marking it with one red print after another. Madam Xie, in pain, didn¡¯t dare to make a sound, simply lowering her head and retreating backward. Unable to bear it any longer, Xuexue stepped forward, reached out, and forcefully slapped Madam Ruan¡¯s hand away. Her eyes were filled with fury, ¡°You fat cow, that¡¯s enough, don¡¯t go too far.¡± PS: Dear readers, hello, I have been writing this book for over a year, and the journey has been extremely arduous. There were times when I thought about giving up, but I persisted. I¡¯ve mocked myself as an indestructible Xiaoqiang. The hopelessness and despair are probably beyond your imagination, and it was incredibly tough in the beginning. Many friends who started writing with me couldn¡¯t hold on and have left one after another, only I persisted, feeling both lonely and helpless. Chapter 11 - 11 Birds of a Feather Flock Together Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Birds of a Feather Flock Together ¡°Oh my! You wretched girl, have you eaten the Courage of Bear¡¯s Heart and Leopard¡¯s Gall, daring to hit your aunt?¡± Madam Ruan exploded immediately when Xuexue lightly slapped her hand. No one in the Mo family had ever openly defied her like this. Xuexue glanced at her with icy eyes and scoffed, ¡°Out of respect for my mother, I¡¯m calling you ¡®aunt.¡¯ No matter what, she is your sister-in-law. Isn¡¯t it too much for you to bully her like this?¡± ¡°Hahaha... Listen to this, everyone, look at how this wretched girl dares to question me, accusing me of bullying her mother. Isn¡¯t it hilarious?¡± Madam Ruan mocked as she turned to the women she had brought with her, laughing with them. The women, all gossips from the village, got along well with Madam Ruan due to their similar unsavory characters. They weren¡¯t any kind-hearted souls. Hearing Madam Ruan¡¯s words, they immediately burst into laughter, continuing to mock... ¡°Xuexue, how can you tell such blatant lies with your eyes closed? It was clearly you who hit Xiuzhi, and Madam Ruan just came over to reason with you.¡± ... ¡°Exactly, Xuexue used to be so decent, what has made her change into this?¡± ¡°True, when the beam is crooked, the rafters will be askew too, hehehe...¡± The women sniggered, casting meaningful glances and side-eyes at Madam Xie. The gossips, chiming in one after another with their jeers, made Madam Ruan puff up like a victorious hen, hands on her hips, standing at the forefront with the posture of a winner. Madam Xie forced a smile apologetically, bending forward as she approached and said in a meek voice, ¡°Auntie, I apologize on behalf of Xuexue.¡± After speaking, she even bowed deeply. ¡°You think a simple apology is enough after hitting my daughter? It¡¯s not that easy,¡± Madam Ruan snorted, tilting her chin up and looking towards the sky with an air of arrogance. ¡°Then what would you like?¡± Madam Xie bent over like a beaten dog, timidly asking. ¡°Slap.¡± No sooner had Madam Xie finished speaking than Madam Ruan stepped forward and viciously slapped her across the face. ¡°Ah.¡± Caught off guard, Madam Xie cried out in pain when the slap landed on her face, and realizing her daughters were beside her, she quickly covered half of her face with her hand, her expression one of agony. Indeed, with Madam Ruan¡¯s malignant nature and her intent on revenge, that slap was delivered with full force and was bound to hurt. Madam Ruan was too quick to act, and by the time Xuexue reacted, it was too late. The slap had already solidly struck Madam Xie¡¯s face. Xuexue regretted it deeply. This scene had also unfolded in her past life, but she had been too caught up in the joy of her rebirth and had let her guard down momentarily. Upon seeing her mother struck, Chuner rushed to Madam Xie like a little dart, raised her small face, and asked with a cry in her voice, ¡°Mommy, does it hurt?¡± ¡°Mommy¡¯s fine, Chuner, be good, don¡¯t cry.¡± Madam Xie gritted her teeth in pain but still put on a brave front to comfort her little daughter. Xuexue stepped forward, reaching out to remove Madam Xie¡¯s hand from her cheek to see her face, but Madam Xie refused to let go, clutching it firmly. ¡°Mommy, please let me see,¡± Xuexue said softly. Perhaps soothed by her daughter¡¯s tender voice, Madam Xie slowly removed the hand that had been covering her cheek. When Xuexue and her sister took a closer look, they could see five clear fingerprints on Madam Xie¡¯s face, evidence of the force with which Madam Ruan had struck her. Chapter 12 - 12 Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Chuner burst into tears the moment she saw her mother, crying out, ¡°Mom, you said you weren¡¯t in pain, but look at you now! When Chuner gets a little bump, it hurts so much, and you have five finger prints on your face. How can it not hurt? Woohoo...¡± Madam Xie struggled to blink back her tears, trying not to let them fall, and forced a smile that looked uglier than crying, ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to Chuner, mommy is an adult and it really doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Chuner carefully touched Madam Xie¡¯s face with her small hands, crying out in pain, ¡°Mom.¡± Upon seeing this, Xuexue grew even angrier. She turned around and without saying a word, rushed up to Madam Ruan and gave her a slap... ¡°Slap.¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± Madam Ruan, completely unprepared, cried out in pain. ... While proudly discussing her successes with several women nearby, Madam Ruan was taken aback. She never expected that the once timid Xuexue would dare to hit her. Dazed for a moment, she finally snapped back to reality amid the women¡¯s gasps. ¡°You little brat, how dare you hit me? Are you tired of living?¡± Madam Ruan rolled up her sleeves, pushed aside the women next to her, and charged at Xuexue. In her previous life, after becoming the Crown Princess Consort, Xuexue had trained in martial arts to please Zhang Ruixuan. Although she wouldn¡¯t claim to be a martial world expert, she knew some self-defense techniques. Handling a few thugs was not a problem, let alone Madam Ruan, who was but a village woman. As soon as Madam Ruan raised her palm and charged fiercely, about to reach her, at this critical moment, Xuexue deftly dodged to the side, avoiding Madam Ruan¡¯s corpulent body with ease. ¡°Oh my gosh, Mom!¡± Madam Ruan, not expecting Xuexue to dodge, had charged with full force and, unable to stop, slammed into the wall beside her. Blood immediately streamed down her forehead, and she howled in pain. Several nosy women nearby, fearing that they might miss out on the chaos, began to shout, ¡°Oh no, she¡¯s hitting people!¡± ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s so outrageous, how can the younger generation dare to hit their elders? Is there no justice left?¡± one of the women exclaimed, twisting the truth even as she blithely lied. Seeing Madam Ruan injured, Madam Xie was frightened and hurried over, ¡°Auntie, are you alright?¡± Actually, Madam Ruan had only injured her forehead, but the blood had flowed down her face, making it look ghastly at first glance. ¡°Get away, you hypocrite mouthing empty sympathies,¡± one of the women, impatiently pushing Madam Xie away, didn¡¯t let her come closer. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t bother with her. She fell down on her own. It has nothing to do with us,¡± Xuexue stepped forward and firmly pulled Madam Xie away. ¡°Xuexue, I can¡¯t believe you are so ruthless at such a young age, turning your aunt into this state, and here you are speaking coldly,¡± another woman turned and glared sharply at Xuexue. This woman was usually Madam Ruan¡¯s closest friend and was definitely going to support her now that she was at a disadvantage. Xuexue gave a chilly smile and retorted, ¡°Why find an excuse to blame me if you want to? All of you, blind to the truth, are spouting nonsense. It was clearly her charging at me and hitting the wall all by herself. Now, you actually accuse me of hitting her? Isn¡¯t that ridiculous?¡± ¡°She is an elder and was just scolding you a bit. As a younger one, how could you retaliate?¡± Chapter 13: Dodge Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Dodge ¡°Yes, Xuexue, you shouldn¡¯t have ducked away. You knew there was a wall behind you. How could your aunt not crash into it and bleed?¡± The women all blamed Xuexue, each adding their own words to the scolding. Xuexue frowned and sneered, ¡°So you mean I should have just stood there and let her hit me, right?¡± ¡°Of course, as a junior, it¡¯s good for you to be disciplined by your elders. You should stand still and let them teach you a lesson.¡± Xuexue glared and said, ¡°Nonsense, what kind of logic is that? Bullying people at will and then pulling rank in front of me? Disgusting!¡± ¡°Oh my! Tsk, tsk, tsk, Madam Xie, look at what kind of manners you¡¯ve taught your daughter, not only is she disrespectful to her elders, but she also spews vulgar words the moment she speaks.¡± One woman looked disdainful, pursing her lips and shaking her head dismissively at Madam Xie. ... They were all seasoned in dealing with such scenarios. Previously, Madam Ruan often led them in tormenting Madam Xie and her daughters; today, however, things were just slightly out of control. ¡°Xuexue had a severe fever and has been unconscious for a few days, and she¡¯s not yet well. Please don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Madam Xie apologized timidly. ¡°Hmph! Fever, she looks perfectly lucid to me.¡± At that moment, Madam Ruan, who was nearby, cried out in pain again. Another woman beside her covered the wound on Ruan¡¯s forehead with her hand, turned her head anxiously, and said, ¡°Auntie Li, stop arguing with her. Get Madam Ruan to the doctor quickly, oh dear, this wound does look scary.¡± Seeing the amount of blood she had lost, Madam Ruan also became terrified and pleaded, ¡°Please take me to the doctor quickly. I don¡¯t want to die.¡± ¡°Madam Ruan, don¡¯t be afraid; we¡¯ll go right now.¡± Auntie Li responded while giving Madam Xie and Xuexue a fierce glare. Then, turning around, she helped support Madam Ruan as they went to see the doctor. Before leaving, she threw down a harsh word: ¡°Just wait, we won¡¯t let this go.¡± ¡°Anytime, be assured, I won¡¯t run away,¡± Xuexue replied confidently with her hands on her hips. ¡°Xuexue, how did you become like this?¡± Madam Xie looked at her confusedly. In the past, Xuexue was very well-behaved; she never raised her voice, let alone opposed her elders. Whether right or wrong, she was always the type to take a scolding without retort and a beating without defense. The villagers had always praised Xuexue as clever and sensible. But now, just after one fever, she had changed completely, and it was no wonder Madam Xie was worried. ¡°Mother, I was nearly killed by Xiuzhi. After this ordeal, I¡¯ve realized a lot. People shouldn¡¯t be too kind; otherwise, they get bullied. Mother, you should also change your temperament. Only then will we few have a better life,¡± Xuexue earnestly advised. ¡°What exactly happened? Xuexue, tell your mother,¡± Madam Xie became anxious upon hearing that Xiuzhi had almost killed Xuexue and hurriedly asked. Xuexue recounted what had happened the night Mo Xiaoqiang had taken a concubine, from start to finish. Then, with sadness in her eyes, she said to Madam Xie, ¡°Mother, I am someone who has come back from Ghost Gate Pass. Now besides you and Chuner, no one else matters much to me anymore.¡± Madam Xie, heartbroken, regretted her own weakness that had nearly cost her daughter¡¯s life. Holding back tears, she said, ¡°Xuexue, from now on, do whatever you want to do; your mother will support you. Chapter 14 - 14 Wolfs Ambition Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Wolf¡¯s Ambition With no one to disturb her and Madam Xie¡¯s meticulous care, Xuexue lay in bed for several days and came to understand many things. In her past life, her foster mother and birth mother were distant relatives, which was how her foster mother easily found work in the General¡¯s Mansion. Her biological father, Situ Yongjie, was a renowned handsome man in the Capital, admired by countless noble ladies, yet he had eyes for no one but Lady Li, his legal wife. After their marriage, he took her everywhere he went, much to the envy of many noble daughters in the Capital who wished to take Lady Li¡¯s place. Unfortunately, the good times did not last. As a general, Situ Yongjie sometimes had no choice but to obey the Emperor¡¯s commands, which included an Imperial Edict ordering him to marry the daughter of Prince Pu, Lady Tang. Lady Tang was a very calculating woman. Though she appeared gentle and virtuous on the surface, calling Lady Li ¡®elder sister¡¯ fondly, in reality, she was a venomous-hearted person. During Lady Li¡¯s pregnancy, she made sure the servants gave Lady Li food that was incompatible, leading to a deteriorating health that nobody in the General¡¯s Mansion noticed, attributing it to the strain of pregnancy. After Xuexue was born, Lady Li¡¯s health further declined, and despite many doctors¡¯ visits, there was no improvement. At that time, Situ Yongjie happened to be away on official business. ... Seeing the opportunity, Lady Tang dropped all pretenses and revealed her ambition unabashedly, ¡°Elder sister, how can I assume the position of the legal wife if you do not die? I don¡¯t want my children to be concubine-born sons and daughters, always a step lower than others.¡± After speaking, she left with a triumphant laugh. With sudden clarity, Lady Li understood everything, but it was too late. As her life neared its end, she entrusted the young Xuexue to Madam Xie who was working in the General¡¯s Mansion for fear that Lady Tang would harm her. Madam Xie, who a month earlier had given birth to a boy who lived only a few days before tragically passing away, was still in the depths of sorrow when she gladly took Xuexue into her care. After Lady Li¡¯s death, fearful that Lady Tang would discover she had adopted Xuexue, Madam Xie hastily left for Mo Family Village, treating Xuexue as her own daughter and keeping her birth secret from everyone, even her husband, Mo Xiaoqiang. These things, Madam Xie was only willing to reveal on her deathbed in Xuexue¡¯s previous life. Then, she also produced a jade pendant, saying it was the betrothal gift Situ Yongjie had given to Lady Li and that Xuexue could use it to recognize her father. Indeed, it was that pendant that later helped her return to the General¡¯s Mansion. In her past life, although she knew her biological mother had been killed by Lady Tang, she didn¡¯t seek revenge out of family loyalty, and for the sake of Situ Yongjie¡¯s love for her mother. Little did she know that while she had no intentions to harm, they harbored murderous plots. In the end, she died a miserable death in their schemes, along with her newborn daughter, Xiuxiu, who was heartlessly burnt to ashes. And that vile Crown Prince Zhang Ruixuan, how could she have shared her bed with him night after night, not realizing he was so cruel and ruthless, capable of killing his own daughter, worse than a beast. At this thought, a fierce light flashed in Xuexue¡¯s eyes as she whispered through gritted teeth, ¡°Lady Tang, Situtu Qinger, Zhang Ruixuan, all of you wait. This lifetime, not a single one of you will get off easy.¡± Chapter 15 - 15 Chuner Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Chuner ¡°Sister, what¡¯s wrong with you? You look frightening,¡± Chuner¡¯s youthful voice rang out, filled with concern. Caught in the vengeful hatred of her past life and angrily unable to extricate herself, Xuexue was suddenly jolted by this voice. She looked up, slightly startled, ¡°Chuner?¡± ¡°Sister, what¡¯s wrong? Did Sister Xiuzhi bully you again?¡± Chuner stepped forward, tugging at Xuexue¡¯s sleeve with concern. Indeed, in the Mo family, her only support, besides her mother, was her sister. Young as she was, Chuner was keenly aware of this. ¡°No, sister was just thinking about things,¡± Xuexue adjusted her emotions, hiding her fierceness, lest she frighten Chuner. Since that day, when Madam Ruan had been injured on the forehead, she had not seen them, granting Xuexue some peaceful days. ... ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve been in bed for so many days; it¡¯s time to get up,¡± the sensible Chuner said, trying to pull Xuexue up. ¡°It¡¯s not cold outside today, and the sun is out. Come on, I¡¯ll take you out to bask in the sun.¡± Thinking that she couldn¡¯t always be cooped up in her room, daydreaming about revenge, she needed to prepare. For instance, finding ways to strengthen herself. That would give her a chance at revenge, especially since her enemy¡¯s status was so prominent. She needed a good plan. With that thought, Xuexue suddenly got up from the bed. ¡°Let¡¯s go bask in the sun,¡± she said. ¡°Great, sister and Chuner are going to bask in the sun!¡± The five-year-old Chuner clapped her hands, cheering. The two sisters walked hand in hand out of the room and into the courtyard, indeed, the winter sun felt exceptionally comfortable. Whether it was due to staying in the room for too long or the joy of rebirth, Xuexue felt an inner warmth from the sun; it was the first time in a long while she felt the air was particularly refreshing to breathe. Mo Family Village, as the name implies, was mostly inhabited by the Mo surname. They even had a Clan Leader to address big and small matters. If something was beyond him, there was the village head and, if even the village head could not handle it, then they would report it to the government office. The Mo family was considered upper class in Mo Family Village. Their livelihood was good, as evident from their residence¡ªa large courtyard surrounded by two rows of seven or eight tile-roofed houses. However, as the main branch of the family, they could only live in a thatched hut next to the tile houses. According to Old Lady Mo, the blame was entirely on Madam Xie, a barren old hen who couldn¡¯t bear a son and thus didn¡¯t deserve to live in a better house. ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve just recovered, you shouldn¡¯t stand for too long. Chuner will fetch a stool for you to sit,¡± Chuner said, showing maturity beyond her years. Perhaps living under the shadow of Old Lady Mo for so long, she had become adept at observing words and moods. Xuexue was about to say it wasn¡¯t necessary when Chuner slipped her hand away and dashed off, running with little steps. After a while, when Chuner still hadn¡¯t returned, Xuexue grew worried and started walking towards the main room of the main hall, the direction Chuner had gone. She had seen it clearly. Chuner was nowhere to be seen in the main hall. Puzzled, Xuexue muttered to herself as she headed towards the main room, ¡°This little girl, still a child, unreliable at times¡ªhow could she disappear just fetching a stool?¡± After searching everywhere and finding no sign of her, just as Xuexue was about to turn back, suddenly, she heard a sharp voice: ¡°You little brat, just as wretched as your mother and your sister, can¡¯t even handle a simple task right.¡± Chapter 16 - 16 Second Mother Spares Life Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Second Mother Spares Life Xuexue recognized the voice as Auntie Sun¡¯s, and with a cold glint in her eyes, she hurriedly strode towards the room from which the voice emanated... In the west wing room, the last one with the door half-open, indeed, Chuner¡¯s small figure was trembling and kneeling on the ground. ¡°Chuner, I asked you to fetch a stool. How did you end up here?¡± Xuexue asked as she walked in. Chuner looked up, saw her sister, and her eyes immediately moistened, pitifully whimpering, ¡°Sister, Concubine asked me to help her bathe, and I accidentally knocked over the water in the basin.¡± Just now, Chuner had joyfully gone to the main hall, picked up a stool, and was about to head to the courtyard when she unexpectedly ran into Auntie Sun, who had just come out for a drink of water. Upon seeing her, Auntie Sun instantly transferred all her resentment against Xuexue onto her, and, like an eagle seizing a chick, dragged her back into the room under the pretext of being injured by Xuexue. She hadn¡¯t bathed for several days and insisted that Chuner help her bathe. ... Encountering the fierce Auntie Sun, Chuner was frightened like a scared rabbit, trembling as she held up the water basin. However, accidentally, the basin clanked to the ground, and instantly, water spilled everywhere. Auntie Sun saw this and, as if someone had stepped on her tail, immediately began to screech vile curses... And Chuner, like a startled bird, was so scared that she immediately knelt down and began to plead... ¡°Concubine, it wasn¡¯t intentional. Please forgive me,¡± Chuner said while she began to kowtow. At that moment, Xuexue arrived, ignoring Auntie Sun on the bed, and headed straight for Chuner. She grabbed her by the arm, lifted her up gently, and said, ¡°Chuner, avoid getting involved in such matters from now on. Come, follow sister back to our room.¡± Then, she turned to leave. ¡°You little cheap person, stop right there.¡± Seeing Xuexue, Auntie Sun¡¯s eyes immediately shot out intense hatred. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°It¡¯s this little cheap person who bit off my ear, turning my once beautiful face into this ghastly appearance. Even my newlywed husband shows no affection towards me now. Since the incident, Mo Xiaoqiang hasn¡¯t shown his face once.¡± Hearing Auntie Sun¡¯s howl, Chuner trembled all over, clearly having been harshly mistreated by Auntie Sun just moments ago. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Chuner, sister is here,¡± Xuexue comforted as she squeezed her hand. The panicked Chuner felt considerably reassured. ¡°You little cheap person, are you deaf? I¡¯m calling you!¡± Seeing Xuexue ignore her, Auntie Sun became even angrier, abruptly threw off the quilt, climbed out of bed, and strode up to Xuexue, glaring down at her haughtily. Xuexue looked up, her gaze icy, ¡°If you don¡¯t want your other ear gone, you better get out of my way.¡± ¡°Oh! You dare to threaten your elder? Madam Xie, that barren old hen, hasn¡¯t taught you properly. Today, I¡¯ll teach you a good lesson myself to prevent you from shaming your father when you¡¯re out and about,¡± Auntie Sun yelled as she rolled up her sleeves, ready for a fight. Xuexue¡¯s face, directly facing the room¡¯s door, clearly saw her father Mo Xiaoqiang and Old Lady Mo approaching. Xuexue pulled Chuner and, with a thud, knelt on the ground, wailing towards Auntie Sun, ¡°Concubine, please don¡¯t hit us. The night you married my father, I had a fever and was delirious. I didn¡¯t mean to bite off your ear, have mercy, Concubine! Ah woo woo woo...¡± Chapter 17: The Poisonous Woman Chapter 17: Chapter 17: The Poisonous Woman Chuner, unaware of the truth, saw her sister crying so miserably she too started crying loudly in fright. Xuexue¡¯s sudden outburst, although strange to Auntie Sun, didn¡¯t lead her to think too much. Her face grew even more ferocious as she placed her hands on her hips and cursed venomously, ¡°Spare you? Wishful thinking, you little cheap person, daring to bite off my ear, I will make sure you¡¯re disfigured, otherwise, how can I ever let go of this rage?¡± ¡°Second mother, please don¡¯t disfigure my face, I won¡¯t dare do it again,¡± Xuexue wailed loudly, followed by an exaggerated cry. ¡°Second mother, please don¡¯t disfigure my sister¡¯s face, Chuner is kowtowing to you, thanking you for your great kindness,¡± Chuner cried in panic as she kneeled and began to kowtow. Auntie Sun, already harboring a deep hatred for Xuexue, actually entertained the thought spurred by the pleas of the two sisters. She looked around, noticed a pair of scissors on a nearby table, swiftly ran over, grabbed them, and furiously charged toward Xuexue... ¡°Ah... Second mother, don¡¯t kill me,¡± Xuexue, with her hands over her head, crouched down in panic, curling up into a ball. ... ¡°You little cheap person, you ruined my face, today, I will let you taste this same pain,¡± Auntie Sun¡¯s eyes glinted with unusual ferocity as she stepped closer to Xuexue, the scissors in her hand raised high... ¡°You evil woman, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Suddenly, a fierce shout descended from nowhere, and a strong, forceful hand fiercely grabbed Auntie Sun¡¯s hand holding the scissors, squeezing hard... ¡°Clang,¡± the scissors fell to the ground. ¡°Ah.¡± With a painful cry from her hand, Auntie Sun yelled and then rubbed the sore spot with her other hand. Frustrated that her revenge had been unexpectedly interrupted, she cursed without even looking, ¡°Which lowlife scum dares to sneak attack me? Are they tired of living?¡± As Auntie Sun turned around, her ferocity swept across the room, and then, like a defeated rooster, her spirit fizzled out, her voice becoming weak and listless, ¡°Husband, Mother-in-law.¡± Old Lady Mo and Mo Xiaoqiang, having entered at some unknown time, with the latter glaring angrily at her. ¡°Well, well, you wicked woman, before marrying into our family, you said you would treat my daughters as your own. Is this how you treat them as if they were your own?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang was furious, seeing his two daughters curled up on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, a block of rage stuck in his chest, suffocating him. ¡°She started it by biting off my ear,¡± Auntie Sun gritted her teeth, recalling the incident, unable to quench her hatred towards the person who had ruined her beauty. ¡°Xuexue was delirious with a fever then, she didn¡¯t even know what she was doing, as an elder, can¡¯t you be a bit more forgiving?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang, looking at Auntie Sun¡¯s face missing an ear, found it utterly bizarre. While others take concubines with joy and pride, his experience seemed to be cursed. Old Lady Mo stepped forward with a benign and friendly smile, attempting to lighten the mood, ¡°Qiangqiang, don¡¯t blame Auntie Sun. A woman¡¯s beauty is her life, and with hers disfigured, she¡¯s obviously upset. It¡¯s understandable for her to want to vent her anger.¡± This old woman had her own schemes. Though Auntie Sun no longer had one ear, she still had the capability to bear children. She was counting on Auntie Sun to bear Mo Xiaoqiang a son, so naturally, she could not offend her. ¡°Husband, don¡¯t be angry, Mother-in-law is right, I¡¯ve vented my anger and won¡¯t trouble Xuexue anymore,¡± Auntie Sun stepped forward, grabbing Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s arm and coquettishly shaking it. Chapter 18: Pleasing Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Pleasing Mo Xiaoqiang turned his face aside, his nasal voice issuing a heavy snort, ¡°Hmph!¡± ¡°Alright! Alright! It¡¯s nothing.¡± Old Lady Mo, facing Auntie Sun, bared her teeth in a fawning smile. Turning around, she saw Xuexue and her sister still kneeling on the ground. Instantly, her smile vanished and she cursed impatiently, ¡°You two good-for-nothings, what are you still doing here? Scram! Just seeing you makes me irritated.¡± It was because Madam Xie¡¯s body had failed to produce a son, having given birth to three daughters, that the Mo family had spent several taels of silver to finally bring Auntie Sun into the family, hoping to continue Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s line. But who would have thought, on the night they were married, Xuexue inflicted serious injuries on her, so how could Old Lady Mo look kindly upon Xuexue? ¡°Oh.¡± Chuner obediently got up. Xuexue, however, didn¡¯t react and just trembled, remaining motionlessly kneeling on the ground. ... Old Lady Mo strode outside, planning to leave Mo Xiaoqiang and Auntie Sun alone to foster their relationship, in hopes of them soon having a male grandchild. Reaching the doorway, she turned back unintentionally and saw Xuexue still motionlessly kneeling there. Immediately, Old Lady Mo became livid and strode back in two or three steps, berating Xuexue, ¡°You ungrateful girl, taking kindness for granted. Get out now, don¡¯t disturb your father and your stepmother¡¯s conversation.¡± ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯m scared,¡± Xuexue said pitifully, lifting her head. Now, both Mo Xiaoqiang and Old Lady Mo could clearly see Xuexue¡¯s face, filled with panic, tears, and snot¡ªit looked truly pitiful. ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Old Lady Mo rolled her eyes, speaking irritably. She hadn¡¯t even settled her account with Xuexue for the trouble caused, and yet she was scared. ¡°Father, stepmother wants to kill me,¡± Xuexue cried out to Mo Xiaoqiang, knowing that Old Lady Mo was biased and disliked her and her sister. ¡°Xuexue, it¡¯s alright. Your stepmother was just trying to scare you earlier.¡± Usually, Xuexue was well-behaved, and Mo Xiaoqiang was relatively patient with her. ¡°That¡¯s not true! Just now, stepmother was terrible. She took a pair of scissors and tried to stab my throat. If father hadn¡¯t come back in time, Xuexue wouldn¡¯t have seen you again, Father. I¡¯m scared, wahhhhh...¡± Xuexue cried out loud again as she spoke. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?¡± Auntie Sun, provoked by Xuexue, immediately flared up and moved to hit her. Everyone in the Mo family always said how well-behaved Xuexue was. But ever since she entered the house on the first day, she was beaten by her, and now, she was even trying to drive a wedge between her husband and herself. Auntie Sun truly hated Xuexue¡ªthis girl was crafty. ¡°Father, help! Stepmother is going to hit me.¡± Xuexue quickly got up from the ground and hid behind Mo Xiaoqiang. Even in his presence, Auntie Sun dared to raise her hand. Mo Xiaoqiang became furious, turned his head and glared at Auntie Sun fiercely, ¡°No wonder Xuexue is so afraid of you. Even in my presence, you dare to hit her. What on earth have you done to her behind my back?¡± Auntie Sun felt extremely wronged. Ever since she married this man, besides having her beauty marred, she gained nothing. Mo Xiaoqiang had been spending his time at Yihong Brothel ever since their marriage, and today, he had just returned and was already speaking harshly to her. Thinking this, Auntie Sun yelled out as if venting, ¡°What could I possibly do to her? My ear is gone, all thanks to your daughter¡¯s doing. And you still say she¡¯s well-behaved, well-behaved my ass, pah!¡± Chapter 19 - 19 Concubine Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Concubine Mo Xiaoqiang squinted his eyes, disgustingly twisted his face, wiped the saliva off his face with his sleeve, and said angrily, ¡°I¡¯ve told you so many times, it was Xuexue¡¯s fever making her lose her sanity that caused her to bite your ear. Why are you so petty?¡± ¡°You¡¯re calling me petty?¡± Auntie Sun widened her eyes in disbelief, looking at Mo Xiaoqiang and said mournfully, ¡°Now I am missing an ear, and you still say I¡¯m petty? It seems that since it¡¯s not your flesh, it doesn¡¯t hurt, right?¡± ¡°This....¡± Mo Xiaoqiang was momentarily at a loss for words; he certainly knew it hurt, but for some reason, every time he saw Auntie Sun¡¯s face missing an ear, he simply felt uneasy and found it extremely peculiar. Indeed, Mo Xiaoqiang was a playboy who spent his days immersed in the brothel, seeing girls as beautiful as flowers. Now, his Beautiful Lady had turned into a one-eared woman, and it would be odd if he felt pleased about it. ... ¡°Ahaha... Auntie Sun, Qiangqiang didn¡¯t mean that, don¡¯t be angry, it¡¯s not worth spoiling your health over this.¡± Old Lady Mo hurriedly stepped forward, chuckling, then turned her face sharply with her piercing triangular eyes toward Xuexue. Her expression darkened, and she scolded, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, you troublemaker, stop causing a ruckus here, get out, or else you¡¯ll have no dinner today.¡± Hidden behind Mo Xiaoqiang, Xuexue, seeing that her approach had some effect, though not high, felt it was better than nothing; besides, revenge could not be rushed but had to be done gradually. Thus, she no longer lingered, turned around, holding Chuner¡¯s hand while crying loudly as she walked out, screaming, ¡°My father¡¯s second wife is so cruel, she wants to kill Xuexue, poor Xuexue, ooh... ¡± The three people in the room heard this and felt both astonished and angry... ¡°This darn girl, after recovering from a fever, how has she become so troublesome?¡± Old Lady Mo, after being stunned, muttered to herself. ¡°Husband, look at her...¡± Auntie Sun said furiously, having lost an ear, and now being accused by the legal wife¡¯s daughter of being a wicked concubine, could she not feel aggrieved? ¡°Xuexue is young, don¡¯t stoop to her level.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang said this not because he loved his daughter Xuexue so much but because now that Auntie Sun had turned into this ghastly sight, he couldn¡¯t lean toward her. ¡°She¡¯s young? Huh! She¡¯s almost of age to be married, yet you call her young.¡± Auntie Sun scoffed, dismissing this as a pathetic excuse. ¡°Auntie Sun, Qiangqiang has just returned; don¡¯t provoke him now. Talk things over nicely, husband and wife.¡± Old Lady Mo, fearing they would start arguing again, quickly stepped forward to mediate. ¡°Humph!¡± Auntie Sun snorted coldly, feeling extremely unhappy, and thought resentfully: Is there any mistake here? He returns from the brothel, and she tells her, the one who just lost an ear, not to provoke him? This wretched old lady is far too biased. ¡°Haha..., Qiangqiang, mother will go out first, you two speak nicely, please don¡¯t fight, okay?¡± Old Lady Mo said, backing towards the door, intending to close it. ¡°Mother, wait a moment, I need to speak with you.¡± Seeing Old Lady Mo about to close the door, Mo Xiaoqiang was startled and hurriedly rushed out. ¡°What are you doing, you¡¯ve just gotten married, return and keep Auntie Sun company,¡± Old Lady Mo said anxiously as her son followed her out, hoping that Auntie Sun would soon bear a male heir for the Mo family. ¡°Seeing her makes me uncomfortable, come on, mother, to your room, I need to talk to you,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang said, dragging Old Lady Mo away. ¡°Oh dear! Why can¡¯t you spend some quality time with Auntie Sun instead of talking to me?¡± The mother and son continued talking as they walked away. Auntie Sun was left alone in the room, her face contorted with fury. Her husband had barely returned from the brothel, and now he was unwilling to stay in the same room with her. What was this, she wondered? Her hatred for Xuexue deepened even further. Chapter 20 - 20 Stealing Meat to Eat Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Stealing Meat to Eat Winter days passed quickly, and before long, night had already fallen. Since Xuexue had woken up from her fever, it had been Madam Xie and Chuner who brought food to her room. Now that she was better, there was no reason for her to continue lying in bed. Thus, Xuexue and Chuner, hand in hand, went together to the kitchen, ready to have dinner with Madam Xie. Just as they reached the courtyard, they heard a harsh scolding from Old Lady Mo in the kitchen, followed by Madam Xie¡¯s sorrowful explanations... ¡°You worthless hen without eggs, I asked you to cook a meal, and you dared to steal my meat to eat, I¡¯ll beat you to death.¡± ¡°Mother-in-law, I did not steal it, really, you have to believe me.¡± ... ¡°You clearly stole it, yet you dare argue, I¡¯ll beat you dead, you hen who lays no eggs, making you useless.¡± Then there was a series of loud banging noises. ¡°Sister, grandmother is scolding mother again, what should we do?¡± Hearing Old Lady Mo¡¯s scolding, Chuner became panicked, her small body trembling. ¡°Chuner, don¡¯t be afraid, Sister will help mother, just stand in the courtyard and don¡¯t move, do you understand?¡± Xuexue squatted down, her eyes intently fixed on Chuner, advising her. ¡°No, Chuner wants to help mother too, to protect her.¡± Although five-year-old Chuner was terrified, she insisted on helping her mother. ¡°Chuner, be good, you are still small, wait until you grow up, then you can protect mother and sister, okay?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With Xuexue¡¯s explanation, Chuner knew she was too small and weak to be of help and might even cause more trouble, so she quickly nodded her head vigorously. ¡°You stand here and don¡¯t move, don¡¯t go into the kitchen.¡± Xuexue, worried about her timid sister, quickly reiterated the instruction. ¡°Okay, Sister, do not worry. Chuner will stand right here and not move. Hurry and save mother, she is almost being beaten to death by grandmother.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After advising Chuner, Xuexue stood up and rushed towards the kitchen as if flying... Kitchen ¡°Mother-in-law, please stop beating me, I really didn¡¯t steal any meat.¡± Madam Xie pitifully crouched in the corner, holding her head and crying sorrowfully. Madam Xie¡¯s body was marked with bruises in shades of blue and purple, clearly showing that Old Lady Mo had been ruthless. ¡°Then where did my meat go? Did it grow wings and fly away by itself?¡± Old Lady Mo held a pot lid in one hand and her waist in the other, staring menacingly at Madam Xie curled up on the ground. ¡°I really don¡¯t know.¡± Madam Xie was extremely aggrieved, constantly busy in the kitchen without even a moment to drink water, let alone to steal meat. Furthermore, Old Lady Mo¡¯s abuse towards her followed a routine of severe beatings every three days and minor ones daily. Even if a water tank was given to her, she wouldn¡¯t have the guts to steal the meat. ¡°You gluttonous wretch, you don¡¯t keep your head down and behave, yet you dare to steal my meat and still argue? I¡¯ll beat you to death, beat you to death.¡± Old Lady Mo cursed while repeatedly swinging the pot lid at Madam Xie, causing continuous ¡°clang clang bang bang¡± sounds. ¡°Ahh..., mother-in-law, please spare my life.¡± Madam Xie held her head, continuously pleading for mercy. Xuexue rushed into the kitchen and saw Madam Ruan and her daughter standing on the side, watching the scene with satisfaction on their faces. Seeing Xuexue come in, Xiuzhi proudly lifted her chin, her eyes filled with defiance. With her mother being beaten, Xuexue became frantic, not bothering with them, and dashed straight toward Old Lady Mo... ¡°Grandmother, why do you hit people indiscriminately again?¡± Xuexue advanced, snatching the pot lid from Old Lady Mo¡¯s hand, preventing her from hitting her mother with it anymore. ¡°You little wretch coming to cause trouble again, get out of my way so I can teach this gluttonous wretch a lesson.¡± Old Lady Mo, enjoying the beating, suddenly found herself without the pot lid and became furiously angry. Chapter 21 - 21 Little Cheap Hoof Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Little Cheap Hoof ¡°Grandmother, since my mother said she did not steal, then she did not steal. My mother is honest and diligent, which everyone in Mo Family Village can see. Besides, without evidence, you should not beat someone randomly. I can report you to the village head for misuse of private punishment,¡± Xuexue said indignantly while pulling Madam Xie up from the corner of the wall. ¡°You...you little wretch...how dare you speak of reporting your grandmother? It¡¯s utterly unfilial, too unfilial! Have you grown the Courage of Bear¡¯s Heart and Leopard¡¯s Gall?¡± Old Lady Mo trembled with anger upon hearing Xuexue¡¯s words. ¡°Grandmother, I am not being unfilial¡ªit is you who have wrongfully accused my mother of stealing meat first.¡± ¡°She did not steal? Then where did my cured meat go? Look for yourself, every piece has marks from being cut, and fully half is missing. Don¡¯t think this old maid cannot see just because I am old, hmph!¡± Old Lady Mo angry pointed at the plate on the stove containing several pieces of cured meat, heartsick over the substantial amount stolen, and now, she wished she could beat several pieces of cured meat out of Madam Xie. Mo Xiaoqiang had just returned from the brothel today, and Old Lady Mo wanted to provide a nourishing meal for the men of the Mo family, so she took out the usually reserved cured meat, cut it into four pieces, and had Madam Xie steam it. Just as they were about to start the meal, she noticed the cured meat had shrunk by half and seen the marks from a knife, which instantly enraged her. ... In the Mo family, consuming meat was a serious affair; Old Lady Mo always personally cut it and knew exactly how much there should be. Aside from the men, no one else got any, just longing glances¡ªof course, except for Old Lady Mo herself. Upon hearing this, Xuexue glanced at the stove and saw indeed, each piece of cured meat had marks from being cut. It was easy to tell that the steamed cured meat had been sliced with a knife. ¡°Oh! Xuexue, a junior like you daring to lecture your grandmother, you are quite bold. Is it because your mother stole the meat for you, fattening your courage?¡± Xiuzhi added fuel to the fire as she spoke from the side. Since the last incident where she was injured by Xuexue with a tile pillow, Xiuzhi had held a grudge. Today, seeing Madam Xie steaming cured meat, she conspired with her mother, Madam Ruan. One of them deliberately distracted Madam Xie while the other stealthily cut some of the meat and hid it in her pocket. Glimpsing Xiuzhi¡¯s greasy mouth, Xuexue immediately understood and turned to tell Old Lady Mo, ¡°Grandmother, my mother truly did not steal the meat. It was them who stole it.¡± She pointed at Madam Ruan and her daughter after speaking. Old Lady Mo sharply stared at Madam Ruan and Xiuzhi, her triangular eyes narrowing with suspicion as she said, ¡°Them?¡± The guilty Madam Ruan, shocked, knew she could not admit to the deed. She stiffened her neck and shouted at Xuexue, ¡°You little wretch, stop talking nonsense! It was clearly your mother who stole, why blame it on us?¡± ¡°Exactly, it was your mother who cooked, so she was the one who stole it,¡± Xiuzhi also retorted, jumping up and down. Xuexue silently glared at them, coolly watching. In her past life, it was because of Madam Ruan and her daughter, who had stolen meat and then blamed it on her foster mother. This led to her foster mother being brutally beaten by Old Lady Mo and lying in bed for three days unable to get up. One late night when Xuexue had a stomachache and went to the outhouse, she passed by Xiuzhi¡¯s room. Unintentionally, she overheard a conversation between her and Madam Ruan, finally learning the truth about the incident. Helplessly, in her last life, Xuexue had been too timid to come forward and clear her foster mother¡¯s name. Chapter 22: Its Hard to Guard Against a Thief in the Family Chapter 22: Chapter 22: It¡¯s Hard to Guard Against a Thief in the Family Xuexue sneered, her eyes coldly glaring at her as she confronted her aggressively, ¡°Mo Xiuzhi, you sneak food without cleaning the oil from your mouth, and you still dare to blame it on my mother? Do you think everyone else is a fool?¡± Upon hearing this, Xiuzhi panicked, quickly wiped her mouth with her sleeve, and stammered, ¡°I... my mouth... what¡¯s wrong with my mouth? There¡¯s nothing on it, no evidence, you can¡¯t frame me unjustly.¡± Although the Mo family was quite well-off, Old Lady Mo was notoriously stingy and snobbish. Xiuzhi, despite being overbearing at the Mo family¡¯s house, was just like Xuexue and the others¡ªshe got no meat to eat. Just now, seeing the cured meat, her eyes gleamed with avarice. Taking advantage of the moment Madam Xie was distracted by her mother, she quickly cut a piece from each piece of meat with a knife and hid it in her pocket. The meat was so fragrant she couldn¡¯t resist secretly popping a piece in her mouth to satisfy her craving¡ªit had been several months since she¡¯d last eaten meat. This little detail was something even Madam Ruan was unaware of, so now that Xuexue had seen through her, how could Xiuzhi not be in a state of panic? Xuexue gave her a cold glance, ¡°It¡¯s obvious you¡¯re acting guilty. Did you think by wiping the oil off your mouth with your sleeve, no one would know you stole meat? The smell of cured meat is still strong on your breath.¡± Upon hearing this, Xiuzhi hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand, her face a picture of panic. ... Old Lady Mo became furious at the sight, stepped forward, and twisted Xiuzhi¡¯s ear hard while scolding, ¡°You wretched girl, it seems I can guard against anything but a thief within my own household, can¡¯t I? Eh?¡± ¡°Ah... it hurts... it hurts... Grandmother, please let go,¡± Xiuzhi cried as Old Lady Mo twisted her ear, tears streaming down her face from the pain. ¡°It hurts? You wretched girl, the fact that you stole my cured meat hurts me more than your ear hurts you,¡± Old Lady Mo spoke with barely suppressed anger, heart hardening, she twisted Xiuzhi¡¯s ear even more forcefully. ¡°Ah... Mother, save me.¡± Xiuzhi¡¯s cries were like the wails of a banshee. Seeing her daughter¡¯s pitiful state, Madam Ruan¡¯s heart ached terribly, and she quickly stepped forward to plead, ¡°Mother-in-law, mother-in-law, please let go of Xiuzhi. Don¡¯t listen to Xuexue, that dead girl, spouting nonsense; she¡¯s making it up. How could Xiuzhi possibly steal meat? She¡¯s always so well-behaved.¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t steal the meat? Where did the oil on her mouth come from then?¡± Old Lady Mo did not believe Madam Ruan at all, only trusting what she saw in front of her. She gave Xiuzhi¡¯s ear another harsh twist before letting go. Indeed, the Mo family¡¯s usual dishes never even showed a hint of oil, so after Xuexue¡¯s reminder, Old Lady Mo saw quite clearly that Mo Xiuzhi¡¯s mouth was greasy. ¡°This...¡± Madam Ruan was at a loss for an excuse. ¡°Nothing to say now, eh?¡± ¡°Mother-in-law, this is unfair! Just on the word of Xuexue, that dead girl, you let her splash all this dirty water on Xiuzhi. How is she supposed to find a husband now?¡± Madam Ruan, emboldened by having borne a son, shouted loudly. ¡°Grandmother, if you don¡¯t believe it, you can come over and smell her breath. It definitely reeks of cured meat,¡± Xuexue added fuel to the fire. Country folk are not like the wealthy gentry who eat fine foods every meal and wouldn¡¯t notice a taste of abalone. No, for country folk living on a daily diet of stir-fried vegetables without even a trace of oil, the smell of meat is much more noticeable; the faintest scent and they would detect it. ¡°You... you... stay away.¡± Upon hearing Xuexue¡¯s words, Xiuzhi became desperate, fearing that Old Lady Mo would really come over and smell her breath. She struggled to break free from Madam Ruan¡¯s grip, aiming to escape, but she moved too violently, and a packet fell out of her pocket. Chapter 23 - 23 Xiuzhi Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Xiuzhi ¡°What did Xiuzhi drop? Why is it so oily?¡± As Xuexue looked on puzzled, she stepped forward and picked it up. It was a small handkerchief that had fallen from Xiuzhi¡ªa little packet, now with oil seeping through, the entire bundle sopping wet. Upon seeing this, Madam Ruan¡¯s face changed drastically, she lunged forward in a gesture akin to a starving dog scrambling for food, desperate to snatch the little package before anyone else could. But Xuexue was quick on her feet, beating her to it and, with a deft side-step, skillfully avoided Madam Ruan¡¯s oncoming figure. ¡°Ouch!¡± ... Madam Ruan missed her mark, not only failing to grab the bundle but also taking a tumble, crashing heavily to the ground and ending up with a mouthful of dirt, grimacing in pain. ¡°Look at you, a woman of the household behaving like this. What are you scrambling for? So eager to throw yourself at something, how embarrassing,¡± Old Lady Mo glanced with disdain at Madam Ruan sprawled on the ground. ¡°Mother, what are you doing?¡± Xiuzhi, who had fled to the entrance of the kitchen, heard Madam Ruan¡¯s scream and looked back. In the blink of an eye, her mother, who had been fine, was now on the ground, crying out in pain. Xiuzhi stopped and asked in bewilderment. ¡°Xiuzhi, that... that wretched girl Xuexue, she picked up your... your things.¡± Madam Ruan endured the pain and spoke in fits and starts. Xiuzhi was utterly confused; she did not even realize she had dropped something. She asked, ¡°What things?¡± ¡°Just... just look for yourself.¡± Seeing that the truth was about to come out, Madam Ruan was losing strength even as she spoke and pointed towards Xuexue. Xiuzhi followed Madam Ruan¡¯s finger and saw Xuexue holding her handkerchief, which was wrapped around a few pieces of cured meat. ¡°Ah...!¡± Xiuzhi screamed and, turning around, she took off running as fast as she could. For the handkerchief wrapped around the cured meat was hers, now in Xuexue¡¯s hands. How could Old Lady Mo let her off? So, without a second thought, Xiuzhi ran for it, knowing that a mere ear twist would be the least of her worries this time. ¡°This wretched girl, stealing my cured meat and I haven¡¯t even settled the score, yet she¡¯s making such a fuss,¡± Old Lady Mo suspected Xiuzhi of stealing her cured meat but had no real evidence. Xuexue, who had found the handkerchief, opened it to discover, heh, three pieces of cured meat neatly placed inside and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, then handed it to Old Lady Mo: ¡°Grandmother, this fell off of Xiuzhi.¡± Old Lady Mo took a look and immediately understood why Xiuzhi had run so fast; apparently, this little wretch knew she was exposed and made a quick escape. ¡°Madam Ruan, look at this, look! This is the ¡®good daughter¡¯ you¡¯ve raised; so young yet she¡¯s learned to steal, hmph!¡± Old Lady Mo was so angry she was gritting her teeth, but, fortunately, since the cured meat was recovered, her anger subsided somewhat. ¡°How could Xiuzhi steal by herself? I think the aunty had a hand in it too, didn¡¯t she?¡± Just as Old Lady Mo was about to walk away, Xuexue coldly floated another comment into the air, making her stop in her tracks and turn around, her piercing eyes glaring sinisterly at Madam Ruan: ¡°Is what Xuexue said true?¡± Madam Ruan, still sitting on the ground, cursed Xuexue a hundred times in her heart: How had this little wretch become so clever all of a sudden? As if nothing could escape her eyes. ¡°Mother-in-law, don¡¯t listen to Xuexue¡¯s nonsense; it¡¯s not true.¡± Madam Ruan knew in her heart that she could not admit to any of this. Otherwise, how could she expect to have good days in the Mo family? She did not want to end up like Madam Xie, exhausted every day like an ox. Chapter 24 - 24 Academy Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Academy ¡°There had better not be any trouble; otherwise, even if Hengjian returns from the Academy, this old maid will not let you off,¡± Old Lady Mo said ominously. Hengjian is Madam Ruan¡¯s son, currently attending the Academy in town, and is preparing for the Child Student exam. Madam Ruan enjoyed Old Lady Mo¡¯s repeated indulgence only because she had borne the Mo family their only male heir. Otherwise, with Old Lady Mo¡¯s sharp and malicious nature, Madam Ruan would have certainly shared Madam Xie¡¯s fate¡ªworking from dawn till dusk, still hungry and unable to sleep properly. After issuing her warning, Old Lady Mo carried the cured meat to the main hall for her meal. Madam Ruan got up from the ground and glared fiercely at Xuexue. It was all this wretched girl¡¯s fault for causing trouble. Otherwise, their secret indulgence in the cured meat would have surely gone unnoticed by Old Lady Mo. ¡°You little wretch, just you wait and see,¡± Madam Ruan hissed at Xuexue before leaving. ... ¡°Auntie, you steal cured meat and then try to blame my mother, causing her to be beaten by Grandmother until she¡¯s covered in bruises. Your heart is truly cruel.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Madam Ruan didn¡¯t respond, just snorted coldly and then hobbled away slowly. ¡°Xuexue, you¡¯re still young, you shouldn¡¯t provoke them,¡± Madam Xie said worriedly. The family members were like wolves and tigers, no easy adversaries, and Xuexue was too young to stand up to them. ¡°Mother, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m not afraid of anyone,¡± Xuexue said with a bright smile. In this life, she was determined to protect her mother completely and not let her be harmed again. Having been reborn, she lived for revenge. In this life, she feared no one. She was ready to cut down any god or buddha that stood in her path; anyone who blocked her would die. ¡°Mother, let¡¯s separate from the family and leave,¡± Xuexue said as she helped Madam Xie onto a small stool, tentatively making the suggestion. Madam Xie was startled by Xuexue¡¯s words, ¡°You silly child, what nonsensical things are you saying?¡± ¡°Mother, I¡¯m not talking nonsense. Think about it, father now has Auntie Sun and has no room for you. And Grandmother beats and scolds you every day. Haven¡¯t you thought about finding a way out for yourself?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay for Mother to suffer some injustice, as long as you and your sister are well.¡± Madam Xie¡¯s withered and yellowed face was full of sadness. In this era, for a woman to separate from her family meant walking a path to certain death. ¡°But we siblings are not having a good life either. Look at Chuner; she is already five years old but looks like she¡¯s only three because of chronic malnutrition,¡± Xuexue earnestly implored. ¡°Xuexue, stop talking. If we leave the family, how will Mother feed you both? We might not even have wild vegetables to eat. What then?¡± This was a major decision and Madam Xie didn¡¯t dare to make it lightly as it involved her daughters¡¯ lives. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t worry, Xuexue will support you,¡± ¡°Enough, stop talking about it. This concerns your and your sister¡¯s lives. I cannot harm you,¡± Madam Xie said, her expression resolute as she vigorously shook her head. Knowing she couldn¡¯t persuade her mother at the moment, Xuexue reluctantly dropped the subject, planning to broach it again when the opportunity arose. ¡°Mother, you¡¯ve been beaten by Grandmother and are bruised all over, with patches of both blue and black. Let me help you back to our room to apply some medicinal oil,¡± Xuexue offered. ¡°Mmm.¡± Madam Xie hummed in agreement and stood up with difficulty, supported by Xuexue as they shakily made their way back to the room for the medicinal oil. Just as they entered the courtyard, Chuner rushed up and flung herself into Madam Xie¡¯s arms... ¡°Mother, are you all right?¡± Chuner looked up at her mother and asked with concern. The impact of her daughter¡¯s embrace made the already injured Madam Xie tremble, causing a dense sweat to break out across her forehead. Xuexue, supporting Madam Xie, noticed this and quickly pulled Chuner away, ¡°Be a good girl, Chuner, and play outside. I¡¯m going to the room to get the medicinal oil and help Mother with her wounds.¡± Chapter 25 - 25 Leftover Food Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Leftover Food ¡°Hmm, but I¡¯m hungry,¡± Chuner said after a moment, looking pitiable. Madam Xie and Xuexue did not go to the main hall to eat, and since Chuner was timid, she dared not go alone. ¡°Chuner, after your sister helps our mother apply the medicated oil, she¡¯ll call you back to eat. Play by the door for a while, and don¡¯t go far, understand?¡± ¡°Mmm, okay, then sister, please be quick.¡± After saying this, Chuner ran off to play by the front door. ¡°Xuexue, mother is fine, you should take Chuner to eat first. If you wait, they¡¯ll have eaten everything, and you¡¯ll go hungry again tonight,¡± Madam Xie said, enduring the pain in her body. She could bear her own pain, but seeing her two daughters toss and turn in bed, unable to sleep because of hunger, pained Madam Xie¡¯s heart. ... ¡°It¡¯s alright, mother, let¡¯s go back to our room and apply the medicated oil, that¡¯s more important,¡± Xuexue insisted, disregarding Madam Xie¡¯s objections and helping her back to the room to apply the medicated oil. By the time Xuexue had finished applying the medicated oil to Madam Xie and came to the kitchen, indeed, not a scrap of leftover food remained. They had eaten it all, almost to the point of licking the plates clean. ¡°Sister, sister, I¡¯m hungry, is it time to eat yet?¡± Chuner must have been unbearably hungry as she ran back inside from the outdoors and anxiously asked Xuexue upon seeing her. ¡°Uh...?¡± Xuexue looked around only to find the kitchen bare, not even a green vegetable to be found. Xuexue knew that Old Lady Mo had a cupboard in the kitchen to prevent them from stealing food, with eggs and cured meat locked inside it. ¡°Sister, is it time to eat yet? Chuner is hungry, so hungry that my stomach hurts.¡± Chuner put her small hands on her flat little belly, looking at Xuexue with a pitiful gaze. She had smelled the delicious scent of the cured meat being cooked by mother earlier, but she could only swallow her saliva in want. ¡°Chuner, in a little bit, your sister will cook something delicious for you. For now, go back to our room and keep mother company for a while. In a bit, your sister will bring you something good to eat.¡± ¡°Sister, did they eat all the food again?¡± Chuner, though young, well understood such regular occurrences. ¡°Mmm.¡± Unable to deceive the sensible Chuner, Xuexue reluctantly nodded. ¡°Then sister, don¡¯t bother cooking. If grandmother finds out, she¡¯ll beat and scold you again. It¡¯s okay for us to go hungry tonight. In a little while, I¡¯ll drink a few cups of cold water, and I won¡¯t feel hungry,¡± Chuner said, like a little adult. Xuexue felt a pang of sorrow hearing this. Chuner was so little, yet she had seen through the ways of the world. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry, grandmother won¡¯t find out,¡± Xuexue knelt down and comfortingly patted Chuner¡¯s back, promising. ¡°Really?¡± Chuner was still not reassured. ¡°Sister swears,¡± Xuexue lifted three fingers in oath. ¡°Alright then, just be careful, sister.¡± Knowing she could not convince her sister, Chuner left for the room, looking back every few steps, filled with worry. Xuexue looked at the cupboard lock and pulled a hairpin from her head, poking a few times at the keyhole... With a ¡°click,¡± the lock opened. Upon opening the cupboard door, rows of eggs were neatly arranged inside, and several pounds of cured meat lay there, which Old Lady Mo seldom allowed them to eat, hoarded for future use. Xuexue took six eggs and a strip of cured meat. Then she meticulously locked the cupboard just as it had been before. She quickly cleaned the pot and started the fire. She steamed a big bowl of egg custard and cooked the cured meat until tender. After chopping it into several large slices, she carried it back to the room in a basket. ¡°Chuner, Chuner, mother, come quickly, there¡¯s something delicious!¡± As soon as Xuexue entered the room, she called out in a hushed voice. ¡°Wow, that smells great! Sister, what did you cook?¡± Chuner jumped down from the bed at once. Chapter 26 - 26 Dead Girl Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Dead Girl ¡°It¡¯s cured meat and egg custard, so fragrant, Mother, you should get up and eat some too,¡± Xuexue knew that Chuner had not had meat for a long time, so she smiled and brought out a big bowl of egg custard and a small plate of cured meat from the basket, placing it on the shabby table in the room. ¡°Wow, it really is cured meat, and there¡¯s egg custard too! Sister, where did you get all these delicious things?¡± Chuner¡¯s eyes sparkled as she licked her lips, clearly drooling with desire but also fearful to eat, showing just how harsh Old Lady Mo usually was with them. Madam Xie, lying in bed, was startled by the conversation between the two sisters and hurriedly sat up slowly from the bed. ¡°Xuexue, tell Mother, where did these things come from?¡± Madam Xie¡¯s tone was severe with a hint of panic. ... ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Xuexue walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and patted Madam Xie¡¯s back to help her relax. ¡°I asked you, where did these things come from?¡± Madam Xie stared at Xuexue¡¯s face with tense eyes. ¡°I got them from the kitchen.¡± Knowing she couldn¡¯t deceive Madam Xie, Xuexue simply confessed. ¡°You reckless girl, how could you be so bold?¡± Madam Xie looked at the small plate of cured meat and egg custard, feeling inexplicably panicked. Tonight, Old Lady Mo noticed just a few small pieces of missing cured meat and beat her badly; now, there was an entire small plate, more than double what Old Lady Mo usually ate. If she found out that Xuexue had stolen so much cured meat and eggs, could Xuexue¡¯s life still be spared? ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s okay, Grandmother won¡¯t know.¡± Xuexue then recounted the process of opening the cabinet, and at the end, reassured Madam Xie, saying, ¡°I locked the cabinet up tight, they won¡¯t notice it.¡± ¡°Your Grandmother counts the cured meat and eggs every day after unlocking the cabinet, how could she not know?¡± ¡°What?¡± Xuexue was taken aback too; that nasty old woman had such a hobby, truly a miser. Madam Xie sat on the bed, wrapped in a tattered cotton blanket, looking sadly at Chuner, who was hungry but too scared to eat, and felt very distressed. Her two daughters hadn¡¯t had meat in almost half a year. ¡°Sigh! Forget it, you two sisters are hungry, eat up. But if your Grandmother asks tomorrow, Xuexue, you must never admit it, say it was Mother who stole, understand?¡± Knowing there was no point in returning the food once it was cooked, Madam Xie wanted her daughters to have a full meal and sighed as she spoke. ¡°Mother, you mustn¡¯t admit it either.¡± Fearing that Madam Xie would do something foolish, Xuexue quickly cautioned her. ¡°But if your Grandmother asks, what do we do? Someone has to confess.¡± ¡°Are you silly? The Mo family isn¡¯t just us. Tonight, Mo Xiuzhi stole the cured meat, and Grandmother saw it with her own eyes. When the time comes, the three of us can stick to the same story and say it was them who stole it,¡± Xuexue said calmly. ¡°Is that really okay?¡± The simple and honest Madam Xie felt a bit uneasy about it. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? You took a beating for them tonight. A few pieces of cured meat and some eggs are letting them off easy if you ask me.¡± Xuexue was still angry about the matter; Madam Ruan and her daughter were no pushovers; they had caused their family trouble time and again, and she vowed to deal with them sooner or later. Chuner too nodded in agreement: ¡°Right, Mother, Sister is right. Sister Xiuzhi and Auntie are too wicked. Every time they steal, they blame it on you and make you suffer Grandmother¡¯s beatings.¡± Chapter 27 - 27 Beating Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Beating ¡°Hmm, okay then.¡± Madam Xie, honest and simple, lowered her head and thought for a while before she reluctantly agreed. ¡°Phew.¡± Xuexue let out a deep sigh of relief, her heart, which had been suspended in mid-air, finally settled down, and she along with Chuner enjoyed a hearty meal. While eating, she didn¡¯t forget to occasionally pop some chicken eggs and cured meat into Madam Xie¡¯s mouth. ¡°Wow! I¡¯m so full, this is the first time I¡¯ve eaten so many good things.¡± Chuner, patting her round little belly, smiled with satisfaction. It seemed as if, since she became aware of the world, this was the first time she had ever indulged herself in eating meat so freely. Listening to her, Madam Xie felt very guilty. Just because she hadn¡¯t given her husband a son, she had no status in the Mo family, and her daughter also suffered hardships with her. ... ¡°Silly girl, this is nothing. If mother listens to me and we split from the family, we can have meat every day in the future.¡± Although Xuexue¡¯s words were directed at Chuner, her clear eyes were fixed on Madam Xie, making her meaning very clear: she hoped Madam Xie would agree to split from the family so that they, the three of them, could live their days together and live as they pleased. Upon hearing this, Chuner also looked hopeful. She turned her head, looked at Madam Xie, and said crisply, ¡°Mother, please listen to sister. Let¡¯s split from the family. That way, grandmother won¡¯t be able to scold and hit you every day.¡± To them, the Mo family, although it was supposed to be their home, always had a feeling of dependency, where every action and word had to be carefully measured for fear that a single misstep might provoke a vicious beating. ¡°You¡¯re still young, what do you know? If we split from the family, what will you and your sister eat? Where would we live in such cold weather? I¡¯m afraid we¡¯d starve or freeze to death before winter is over.¡± Madam Xie was full of concerns. She could no longer rely on her husband, and had to consider the welfare of her two daughters. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be afraid, Xuexue is grown up now, already fourteen. I can earn money to support you,¡± Xuexue tried to convince her adoptive mother. In another month, it would be the New Year. In her previous life, on New Year¡¯s Eve, Madam Xie had been busy all day cooking the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner for the entire family, only to be driven out of the door by Old Lady Mo on some pretext. She spent a whole night in the freezing cold, and the next day, when Xuexue and Chuner went out to find her, the cold and hungry Madam Xie had already fainted. Xuexue hoped to leave the Mo family with Madam Xie and Chuner before such an event could happen again. ¡°Let¡¯s end this matter here, and don¡¯t talk about it outside. If your grandmother hears it, she will scold and beat you again,¡± said Madam Xie as she wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve, then lay back down on the bed and closed her eyes, unwilling to continue the conversation. Seeing this, Xuexue didn¡¯t press any further. After all, Madam Xie had spent half her lifetime in this isolated place and hadn¡¯t seen much of the world. It was indeed difficult for her to make such a decision all at once. ¡°Chuner, you and mother rest. I¡¯ll clean up the dishes and then come back to sleep,¡± Xuexue said while cleaning up the bowls and plates on the table. ¡°Hmm, make sure you come back soon to sleep, sister.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuexue carried the basket outside. She had to wash these bowls and dishes clean, otherwise, if Old Lady Mo and the others discovered them, they would be in trouble. The next day In the dim early morning, Xuexue heard a commotion... ¡°Mo Xiuzhi, you wretched little hussy, your audacity grows. Did you steal my cured meat again?¡± That lioness roar, thought Xuexue with just the tips of her toes, had to be Old Lady Mo. A shiver woke Xuexue up immediately; she quickly got out of bed, dressed herself with agile hands and feet, put on her shoes, and ran outside. Chapter 28 - 28 Cant Live Anymore Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Can¡¯t Live Anymore Yard The day was just beginning to dawn, and Old Lady Mo, accustomed to rising early, dressed in her bulky clothes, stood in the courtyard with her hands on her hips, yelling furiously, ¡°Mo Xiuzhi, you little wench, I didn¡¯t beat you last night, and today you dare to steal so many of my eggs and cured meat. Are you tired of living?¡± Old Lady Mo, who made it a habit to open the cupboard and count the eggs and cured meat every day, immediately noticed something amiss upon unlocking it this morning; a significant amount of eggs and cured meat were missing, which made her fly into a rage and start causing a commotion in the courtyard. Upon hearing the screaming, Madam Ruan, who didn¡¯t even have time to comb her hair, rushed out of the house in disarray, her face filled with shock... ¡°Mother-in-law, Mother-in-law, what¡¯s going on? Why are you scolding Xiuzhi again?¡± Xiuzhi had hidden outside until late the previous night, waiting until Old Lady Mo was asleep before daring to sneak back to sleep; Madam Ruan¡¯s heart ached when she saw her daughter¡¯s face, red from the cold. ... Who would have known that she was barely awake this early morning when she heard Old Lady Mo scolding Xiuzhi again, scaring her terribly. ¡°Madam Ruan, you wretched woman, don¡¯t think I won¡¯t discipline you just because you gave birth to a boy. The daughter you raised is a thief.¡± ¡°Mother-in-law, didn¡¯t you already beat her last night? Why are you scolding her again this early in the morning?¡± Madam Ruan, clueless about the situation, was at a complete loss. ¡°Hmph! Scolding her is the least of it. Wait until later, I will beat her too. Hurry up and call that wretched girl out to me.¡± ¡°Mother-in-law, it¡¯s not right for you to be so biased. After all, Xiuzhi is your own granddaughter, what¡¯s it to you if she ate a bit of cured meat? She hasn¡¯t had meat for half a year, yet you, old lady, get to eat meat every day.¡± Madam Ruan couldn¡¯t hold back her anger; she blurted out, all the pent-up words in her heart spilling out uncontrollably. ¡°My, my, so the wretched woman has issues with me now, the old maid, because she thinks she¡¯s got a better life, is that it?¡± Old Lady Mo, already fuming with nowhere to vent her rage, glared at Madam Ruan with her sharp, triangular eyes, with a look that seemed murderous. A shiver ran down Madam Ruan¡¯s spine as the piercing cold wind blew by, snapping her to attention; she quickly rephrased her words: ¡°No, no, Mother-in-law, I meant Xiuzhi hasn¡¯t had meat for a long time; please be generous and forgive her this once. I promise she won¡¯t dare to do it again.¡± ¡°Hmph! Once a thief, always a thief¡ªthat saying is true. What now? You want your daughter to steal for a third time?¡± Old Lady Mo glared menacingly at Madam Ruan. ¡°Mother-in-law, what do you mean by that? I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± The more Madam Ruan listened, the more she felt something was off. ¡°Stop playing dumb. Call that wretched girl Xiuzhi out to me, she stole so many of my eggs and cured meat last night; I will break her hands to see if she ever dares to steal again.¡± Old Lady Mo gritted her teeth, her face full of fierce determination. That cured meat and those eggs were her lifeblood; their loss was akin to taking her life. Now, she was in pain in every organ in her body. ¡°Old Maid, what¡¯s with all this fuss and noise early in the morning? Aren¡¯t you going to let people sleep?¡± Old Master Mo emerged leisurely from the house, a tobacco pipe dangling from his mouth. ¡°Old man, you¡¯ve come out just in time. Our house has been robbed; if you don¡¯t deal with it, the Mo family will be ruined.¡± Upon seeing Old Master Mo, Old Lady Mo exaggeratedly wailed her complaint. ¡°Is it really that serious? It¡¯s just a few pieces of cured meat. Old woman, you¡¯re making such a fuss early in the morning; aren¡¯t you afraid the neighbors will hear and laugh at us?¡± Old Master Mo spoke with visible disapproval. The Mo family wasn¡¯t the wealthiest in Mo Family Village, but they were still considered prosperous, and bickering over a few pieces of cured meat and some eggs made it hard for him to hold his head high in the village from then on. ¡°Oh, you foolish old man! I am thinking of the future generations of our Mo family, and yet you criticize me. I can¡¯t live like this; I can¡¯t go on.¡± Offended by her husband¡¯s words, Old Lady Mo sat on the ground with a flop, slapped her thighs, and began to wail bitterly. Chapter 29 - 29 Die Away Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Die Away Madam Ruan, after hearing Old Lady Mo¡¯s remarks, pursed her lips, whispering disdainfully with a face full of contempt, ¡°Pah! She talks as if she¡¯s so noble. We hardly eat a few pieces of cured meat throughout the year and she calls us wasteful, yet it¡¯s perfectly fine for her to eat meat every day. She¡¯s utterly inhumane.¡± The courtyard was filled with the loud wailing and shouting of Old Lady Mo, and nobody noticed Madam Ruan¡¯s quiet muttering; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have had the courage. Old Master Mo watched as Old Lady Mo threw a tantrum on the ground, at a loss for what to do, and finally said with a pain-stricken face, ¡°Wife, stop shouting. The ground is cold, get up quickly and don¡¯t harm your body.¡± ¡°Mother-in-law, mother-in-law, are you alright? Please get up quickly.¡± Standing by the side, Madam Xie trembled all over as she listened to Old Lady Mo cursing the thief who stole the cured meat. Latter, seeing Old Lady Mo sitting on the ground and wailing loudly, and fearing the cold might enter her body and harm her, Madam Xie, despite the pain in her body, stepped forward wanting to help her get up... ... However, the unruly Old Lady Mo was not at all grateful, flailing her arms and legs, scratching and kicking, and harshly scolding, ¡°Get lost, you barren old hen, don¡¯t touch me, bringing bad luck.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Caught off guard, Madam Xie was kicked in the waist by Old Lady Mo and staggered back several steps... ¡°Clatter, clatter, clatter...¡± Suddenly, she fell to the ground, and Madam Xie couldn¡¯t help but let out a pitiful scream. The injuries from last night hadn¡¯t healed yet, and in the early morning, fearing Old Lady Mo would cause more trouble, Madam Xie endured the pain throughout her body and got up to cook breakfast for the entire family. Now, old wounds compounded by new ones. ¡°Mother, mother, are you alright?¡± Xuexue just ran out when she saw this scene, and hurriedly helped her up. She knew her adoptive mother was meek and feared she might foolishly take the blame for stealing the cured meat, so as soon as Xuexue heard Old Lady Mo yelling, she rushed over relentlessly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Madam Xie said, enduring the pain and struggling to stand up from the ground. Xuexue was furious, and turning her head to face Old Lady Mo on the ground, she said, ¡°Grandmother, my mother was just trying to help you out of kindness. You could have just not appreciated it, but why did you then proceed to see an opportunity to hit and kick her?¡± ¡°What? The old guy bullies me, and you, this little wench, dare to question me? Ah woo woo woo..., I can¡¯t live, I just can¡¯t live anymore.¡± Old Lady Mo simply slapped her hands together, sat on the ground, and began to cry loudly. ¡°You crazy old hag, you¡¯re being so unreasonable!¡± Watching her act like a shrew, Xuexue glared at her furiously. ¡°How dare you! Is that how you speak to your elders?¡± Old Master Mo, holding his pipe, sternly knocked Xuexue on the head. ¡°Ah.¡± Xuexue winced in pain, rubbing her head, her face full of grievance, ¡°Grandfather, grandmother helping my father take a concubine was one thing, but her constant beating and scolding of my mother, isn¡¯t that pushing her to death?¡± As a daughter-in-law of the Mo family, no matter how aggrieved, you must endure,¡± Old Master Mo said with a face full of righteousness. Xuexue despised him in her heart. Despite Old Master¡¯s righteous facade, in reality, it all boiled down to one thing: he was henpecked. ¡°Hmph! Mother, let¡¯s go back to our room,¡± Xuexue snorted coldly, turned around, and supported Madam Xie, intending to leave. ¡°No, mother hasn¡¯t finished cooking breakfast yet.¡± Madam Xie struggled, refusing to go back to the room. Madam Xie, with injuries all over her body yet still concerned about cooking breakfast for the whole family, made Xuexue¡¯s heart ache immensely. She thought to herself, she must change her adoptive mother¡¯s submissive habits in the future. ¡°Mother, you¡¯re injured like this, what breakfast are you still trying to cook? The Mo family has so many people, as if they would starve to death without you.¡± Xuexue deliberately raised her voice louder than Old Lady Mo¡¯s wailing. In the Mo family, Madam Xie, accustomed to a life of shrinking down, was startled when she suddenly heard Xuexue speak so loudly in front of everyone, and in a panic, she lowered her head and obediently let Xuexue help her walk away. Chapter 30 - 30 The Old Man Chapter 30: Chapter 30 The Old Man Old Master Mo watched Xuexue¡¯s retreating figure, filled with extreme puzzlement in his heart. How did this girl, ever since she had awakened from her fever, seem like she had become a completely different person? Before, whenever she saw someone passing by, she would always keep her head down, meek and compliant, and even when she spoke, she dared not raise her voice. But now, she not only stood up for her mother, but she also dared to curse their Grand Emperor. ¡°You senile old man, while I slave away and suffer here, what are you daydreaming about? Can¡¯t you even come over to help me up? Do you wish for me to die sooner so you can remarry and bring home a little vixen, huh?¡± Old Lady Mo, who had been sitting on the ground for quite some time without anyone willing to help her up, was now growing impatient. It was winter, and the ground was bitterly cold. Unable to endure it, she began to lose her temper at Old Master Mo. ¡°You old hag, you truly don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you. When the eldest daughter-in-law came to help you, you lashed out at her with kicks and punches. Now, no one dares to help you, and yet you still lose your temper. How can you be so difficult to serve?¡± Old Master Mo said helplessly as he stepped forward and helped her to her feet. ... ¡°That sterile old hen, I wouldn¡¯t let her help me even if she wanted to. I find it unlucky,¡± Old Lady Mo said with venom in her words. Old Master Mo, not daring to offend Old Lady Mo, could only silently shake his head. Seeing that things seemed to have calmed down, and Old Lady Mo did not bring up the matter of punishing Xiuzhi, Madam Ruan cautiously turned around, hoping to sneak back to her room and continue her nap. ¡°Madam Ruan, you dead woman, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Old Lady Mo, who had been keeping a close eye on her, immediately yelled. ¡°Hehehe... Mother-in-law, it¡¯s still early, I was going back to sleep a bit more.¡± Madam Ruan stopped with a regretful face, cursing herself for not slipping away faster, and turned around, flashing a fawning smile towards Old Lady Mo. ¡°Old man, look, just look, what kind of people do we have in this house? To be the daughter-in-law and yet live more comfortably than I, the mother-in-law. Marrying such a lazy woman truly is a misfortune for the family.¡± Old Lady Mo was convinced that Xiuzhi had stolen her cured meats and eggs, and by association, she also grew to despise Madam Ruan, never knowing if the mother and daughter were accomplices in the crime. ¡°I¡¯ve always been like this.¡± Madam Ruan stated matter-of-factly, for ever since the birth of her son, she hadn¡¯t done any hard labor and over the years, all the heavy and dirty household work had been done solely by Madam Xie. This statement from Madam Ruan infuriated Old Lady Mo to no end, her heart filling with regret for having overindulged Madam Ruan. It was because of that indulgence that Xiuzhi dared to steal so many eggs and cured meats today. ¡°Madam Ruan, now, go immediately to the kitchen and cook breakfast.¡± Old Lady Mo yelled furiously, her pose turning teapot-like, elbow flailing so forcefully that she accidentally struck Old Master Mo¡¯s belly hard. ¡°Ouch!¡± Old Master Mo cried out in pain, clutching his stomach. ¡°Old man, are you alright?¡± Knowing she had bumped into Old Master Mo, Old Lady Mo immediately lowered her hands from her waist, turned her head, and asked anxiously. ¡°Old woman, can you not be so jumpy the next time?¡± Old Master Mo finally overcame the pain. ¡°Who told you to be so clumsy? You should have known to step aside. You deserved it,¡± Old Lady Mo said, whose words carried authority within the Mo family. Aside from the occasional rebellion from Old Master Mo, usually, no one dared to openly defy her, which only made her temperament more and more overbearing. Startled by Old Lady Mo¡¯s roar, Madam Ruan didn¡¯t dare to say another word and immediately dashed to the kitchen like a wisp of smoke. ... The Mo family members all got up one after another, gathering together for breakfast. ¡°Ouch! What is this dark, murky thing?¡± Auntie Sun, with her lips curled in disgust, picked at a dish of something black and unrecognizable with her chopsticks and asked. Chapter 31 - 31 Ashen-faced Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Ashen-faced Madam Ruan, her face grimy from cooking since early morning, was nursing a bellyful of anger. She glared at Auntie Sun and snapped, ¡°If you¡¯re not eating, get lost. I¡¯m certainly not keen on serving you.¡± ¡°Giggle giggle giggle... Is this your doing, Madam Ruan? Now that explains it. If my sister had cooked, how could it possibly turn out like this? Madam Ruan, are you sure this is even edible? If you end up giving us all diarrhea, you¡¯ll be paying the medical bills, you know.¡± Auntie Sun, with a mocking smile, picked up a few pieces of the unappetizingly dark vegetables with her chopsticks and held them up to Madam Ruan¡¯s face. Today, Auntie Sun had styled her hair into a hairbun, with more hair draped over the front to cover her ears. To the uninformed, her missing ear wasn¡¯t noticeable, and now she looked more pleasing to the eye. It was as though she had regained her beauty, and her confidence could be heard in her speech. ¡°Slap.¡± Madam Ruan completely lost her temper, slapping away Auntie Sun¡¯s hand, her face contorted with rage: ¡°You little Seductress Fox, it¡¯s already good enough that you have something to eat, and yet you¡¯re still picky.¡± ... ¡°Aiyo, hey!¡± Auntie Sun had her hand slapped by Madam Ruan, causing the chopsticks and vegetables to fall to the ground. She was suddenly annoyed and, turning around, began to whine while shaking Xiaoqiang¡¯s arm: ¡°Husband, she hit me, it really hurts, look.¡± After saying this, she extended her hand toward him with an aggrieved expression. ¡°You too. If there¡¯s food to eat, just eat it. Why did you provoke her?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang looked at the table full of food and was also reluctant to start eating. ¡°You people who live in luxury, I¡¯ve slaved away since early morning to serve you, and yet you¡¯re picky and choosy. It¡¯s clear you don¡¯t appreciate what¡¯s done for you. If you don¡¯t want to eat, then forget it; I¡¯ll eat by myself.¡± Having said that, Madam Ruan reached for the chopsticks, picked up a lump of the dark vegetables, closed her eyes as if resigned to her fate, and stuffed them into her mouth. After chewing twice, she stopped, her face contorted as if she had swallowed a bitter gourd. The appearance of these dishes was so unappetizing that the Mo family, young and old, were afraid to start eating. Seeing Madam Ruan eat, they looked on helplessly, all eyes fixed on her... ¡°How does it taste, wife?¡± Mo Daoyan asked with concern. After all, in their many years of marriage, he had yet to taste the food cooked by his wife. Madam Ruan, with vegetables in her mouth, was in a dilemma, neither able to spit them out nor muster the courage to swallow. ¡°Giggle giggle giggle...¡± Auntie Sun laughed with a triumphant expression: ¡°Little uncle, are you dumb? Can¡¯t you see for yourself? Just look at your wife¡¯s face, all wrinkled like a bitter gourd. It must be awful.¡± ¡°Slap.¡± Suddenly, Old Lady Mo sent her chopsticks flying with a flick of her wrist and roared at Madam Ruan: ¡°Madam Ruan, you dead woman, I asked you to make a meal. If you were unwilling, you should have said so, but to make it like this¡ªwere you deliberately trying to upset me, old woman?¡± Madam Ruan felt incredibly wronged. After all, was she really that bad at cooking? Plus, she had tasted the food herself just now. ¡°Mother-in-law, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. If I had, would I have eaten it just now? I¡¯m not stupid,¡± Madam Ruan said with a mournful face. ¡°Mother, you know my wife can¡¯t cook, so why did you ask her to? My sister-in-law makes delicious meals, so why not have her cook instead?¡± ¡°You wretched boy, just keep spoiling her. You¡¯ll suffer for it later,¡± Old Lady Mo said coldly to Mo Daoyan. ¡°Mother, where¡¯s my sister-in-law? Why didn¡¯t she cook breakfast today?¡± Desperate to avoid his wife¡¯s atrocious cooking in the future, Mo Daoyan pressed for an answer again. ¡°That old hen is acting all precious now, staying in her room,¡± Old Lady Mo said in a mocking tone. ¡°Slap.¡± Another sound of a bowl being slammed. All heads turned at the noise, only to see Xuexue, her face filled with fury, slamming the bowl down onto the table with force. ¡°You wretched girl, are you trying to rebel?¡± Old Lady Mo said, immediately infuriated at the sight. Chapter 32 - 32 Bizarre Tones and Tunes Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Bizarre Tones and Tunes ¡°Grandmother, you beat my mother until she was covered in bruises, don¡¯t you feel the slightest bit of guilt?¡± As someone who had once been a Crown Princess Consort in her previous life, Xuexue faced the furious Old Lady Mo with calm composure. Her foster mother was beaten to a pulp by this damn old witch, and yet, no one cared about whether she lived or died. They had the gall to mock and scoff at her, even expecting her to wait on them hand and foot, a family of able-bodied people¡ªXuexue was seething with anger. In her past life, she was too timid to speak up, but now, reborn with a heart full of resentment, she wouldn¡¯t let her foster mother suffer this indignity. ¡°My, my! You little wretch, you dare to talk back?¡± Madam Ruan had messed up the breakfast, leaving Old Lady Mo with a growling stomach and a chest full of unvented anger. Provoked by Xuexue, she grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the table and hurled them at her. ... With sharp eyes, Xuexue saw the incoming weapon, ducked her head and just like that, the chopsticks whizzed over her head. ¡°Clack, clack.¡± The two chopsticks immediately fell to the ground, making a crisp sound. ¡°My, my, you little wretch, you dare to dodge?¡± Old Lady Mo grew even angrier, rolling up her sleeves, ready to beat Xuexue. ¡°You damn old hag, you beat my mother until she¡¯s covered in wounds, and still want her to work and serve you, now you even want to beat me, come on then, hurry up and do it. Just kill me, I don¡¯t want to live anymore.¡± Having said that, Xuexue burst into loud wails, looking utterly miserable. Old Master Mo also felt guilty towards Madam Xie, and with one tug, he pulled Old Lady Mo back: ¡°Old woman, don¡¯t beat Xuexue, let it go.¡± ¡°This little wretch is getting wilder by the day, how can I not discipline her?¡± ¡°Let it be, her mother is hurt, she¡¯s not feeling well.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Old Lady Mo let out a cold snort and plunked down on a stool, giving Xuexue a temporary reprieve. Auntie Sun, who had long despised Xuexue, took the opportunity to whine in a shrill, strange tone, ¡°Oh dear! Husband, Xuexue has become so wild, how can we ever find her a husband¡¯s family in the future?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang glanced at Xuexue and felt that she had changed too much recently, wondering if it was because he had taken a concubine. ¡°Xuexue¡¯s matters will be handled by her own mother, you don¡¯t need to worry about it. Just focus on giving me a healthy baby boy.¡± Knowing Xuexue disliked Auntie Sun, Mo Xiaoqiang hurriedly changed the topic. ¡°Giggle, husband, listen to you! Xuexue is your daughter, and she is also my daughter. If she loses face for you outside, as the concubine, my face wouldn¡¯t look good either, would it?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Looking at Auntie Sun¡¯s enchanting face, Mo Xiaoqiang was somewhat distracted, and he unconsciously gave a sound of agreement. Auntie Sun was inwardly thrilled, her beauty had once again hooked her husband¡¯s heart: ¡°Since sister isn¡¯t disciplining well, why not let me handle her from now on?¡± ¡°This...¡± Mo Xiaoqiang hesitated; he knew Auntie Sun had an ear bitten off by Xuexue and certainly harbored ill intentions, but considering that Xuexue was almost of marrying age and had become so wild, finding her a husband¡¯s family was indeed a problem, leaving him quite stumped. ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea, in the future, let Auntie Sun discipline Xuexue. This little wretch is getting more and more unruly, it¡¯s time to properly discipline her.¡± Old Lady Mo said definitively, still harboring her own anger. Old Master Mo nodded as well; Xuexue¡¯s temperament had changed drastically of late, even daring to curse her grandmother, which was indeed too much. ¡°Oh really! So you¡¯re going to discipline me from now on?¡± Suddenly, Xuexue leaned close to Auntie Sun and said in a sinister tone. Auntie Sun, startled by Xuexue¡¯s sudden approach, flinched and plopped down on Mo Xiaoqiang, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, pressing her face against his, and let out an exaggerated scream, ¡°Ah... Save me!¡± ¡°Oh! How embarrassing.¡± Xuexue covered her eyes with her hand, ¡°Concubine, what are you doing? If you want to be affectionate with my father, shouldn¡¯t you go to your room during broad daylight?¡± ¡°Cough cough... What a disgrace.¡± Old Master Mo turned his face away, coughing vehemently. Chapter 33 - 33 Pig Ears Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Pig Ears All members of the Mo family, young and old, turned away their faces, unable to bear the sight of Concubine Sun and Xiaoqiang¡¯s indecent posture. During that time, proper married women, even with their own husbands, would not hug and embrace in public. Concubine Sun, with her whole body clinging to Xiaoqiang, was an act only unscrupulous women from a brothel would dare commit, not something a decent married woman could do. ¡°Cough, cough, get off me first.¡± Realizing something was off, Xiaoqiang quickly pushed Concubine Sun off him quite roughly. ¡°Husband, why are you pushing me?¡± Offended by her husband¡¯s rough treatment, Concubine Sun became furiously embarrassed, her pretty face turning beet red. ¡°The whole family is watching, and you¡¯re all over me; it¡¯s not proper, even Dad is angry,¡± Xiaoqiang muttered through clenched teeth. ... ¡°So what if I¡¯m on top of you? You are my husband!¡± Stubbornly, Concubine Sun retorted loudly, ungraciously. ¡°It¡¯s better to restrain yourself in public,¡± said Xiaoqiang, a frequent visitor to brothels, uttering words even he could hardly believe. ¡°I see you¡¯re just finding excuses because I¡¯m missing an ear. Isn¡¯t that right? Xiaoqiang, don¡¯t forget, I came into the Mo family perfectly whole. I lost an ear because of your daughter,¡± Concubine Sun said, her voice breaking with anger and her eyes moistening, looking pitiful and on the verge of tears. ¡°Why do you keep bringing this up? I¡¯ve already told you, Xuexue had a high fever, was delirious, and didn¡¯t mean to bite off your ear,¡± Xiaoqiang was also losing his patience. ¡°Alright, alright! It¡¯s a trivial matter, a husband and wife hugging each other; why cry about it, Concubine Sun?¡± Old Lady Mo intervened, trying to smooth things over. Now, Old Lady Mo cherished Concubine Sun like a precious child, hoping she could provide the Mo family with a male heir, and certainly did not want to upset her. ¡°Concubine, my dad is right. I had a fever that night, was delirious, and thought your ear was a pig¡¯s ear, so I bit hard,¡± Xuexue said sincerely. ¡°Pfft.¡± Upon hearing this, Mo Daoyan couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing, then, seeing several murderous glares aimed at him, quickly covered his mouth, not daring to make a sound. ¡°You....¡± Concubine Sun was furious, glaring fiercely at Xuexue, thinking: It¡¯s all this little cheap person¡¯s fault for not only maiming her but also causing discord with her husband. She vowed to make her pay one day. ¡°Concubine, are you still going to discipline me?¡± Xuexue quickly reverted to acting obedient in public. ¡°Yes, of course I¡¯ll discipline you. Your wildness needs taming, or you¡¯ll embarrass your father by never finding a husband,¡± Concubine Sun said, barely able to mask her hatred. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that one day, I might get another fever, become delirious, and mistake your other ear for a pig¡¯s ear?¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Another burst of laughter ensued. This time, everyone knew without looking that it was Mo Daoyan. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Concubine Sun trembled with anger. She had married into the Mo family expecting Madam Xie to be her greatest rival, yet it turned out to be this young and immature girl. And to find herself repeatedly defeated by her, Concubine Sun was so infuriated she could spit blood. ¡°You are an elder; Xuexue wouldn¡¯t dare threaten you. I¡¯m just afraid of being accused of bullying an elder by accident. Now, I¡¯m giving you a heads-up in case I bite off your ear again ¨C you can¡¯t blame me then,¡± Xuexue said, knowing full well her logic was flawed but leaving Concubine Sun speechless and utterly exasperated. Chapter 34 - 34 Hunchbacked Old Man Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Hunchbacked Old Man As the Spring Festival drew nearer each day, Xuexue found herself penniless. She knew that her adoptive mother had slaved away for the Mo family these past few years and didn¡¯t have a single copper coin to her name, not even the jewelry that was supposed to be part of her dowry, which the greedy Old Lady Mo had scoured away completely. ¡°Chuner, do you want to come out and play with your sister?¡± Xuexue asked, looking at Chuner playing in the yard. ¡°Sure!¡± The moment Chuner heard this, she was delighted. Her sister usually didn¡¯t like going out, and it had been a long time since they had gone out to play together. ¡°Wait for me a moment.¡± ¡°Where are you going, sister?¡± Chuner asked, standing at the entrance of the yard, curiously watching her sister¡¯s retreating figure. ... Xuexue ran to the kitchen and quickly returned with a small wooden bucket: ¡°Let¡¯s go! Off to play, Chuner.¡± ¡°Sister, why are you carrying a wooden bucket?¡± ¡°It¡¯s useful.¡± Xuexue smiled knowingly. Mo Family Village was a poor, remote place, far from the Capital. Xuexue wanted to make good plans before returning to the General¡¯s Mansion, so that later, when facing her enemies, she would have confidence. The sisters, hand in hand, walked past the village and through winding paths, arriving at a small stream. Xuexue set down the bucket, took off her shoes, and rolled up her pant legs. ¡°Sister, it¡¯s so cold, why are you taking off your shoes?¡± Chuner crouched beside her, asking with a pair of curious eyes. ¡°Sister is going to feel for river snails.¡± ¡°Why do you need those? No one at home eats them.¡± Chuner wrinkled her little nose, a look of disgust on her face. Eating those was like chewing mouthfuls of sand, and too strong a bite could even crack a tooth. The nearby villagers didn¡¯t eat river snails either, disdaining them for their grittiness and earthy smell, but in her past life, Xuexue had eaten them in the Crown Prince¡¯s Mansion, beautifully prepared by a skilled chef. At that time, Xuexue had purposely honed her cooking skills to win Zhang Ruixuan¡¯s favor, cooking snails so well that they were indistinguishable from the chef¡¯s. Zhang Ruixuan had praised her as virtuous and gracious, a memory that now felt ironic. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sister can cook them very deliciously.¡± Xuexue said as she stepped her foot into the water. The stream¡¯s water was as cold as knife stabs, and she involuntarily gasped: ¡°Hiss.¡± ¡°Sister, is it very cold? If it is cold, don¡¯t go into the water. You just recovered from a fever, and mother would be sad if she knew.¡± She had endured over a thousand tortures in her past life; what was this in comparison? Xuexue clenched her teeth and stepped into the water: ¡°It¡¯s fine. Since we¡¯re here, we can¡¯t go back empty-handed.¡± Bending over, she plunged her hand into the muddy bed of the stream, and surprisingly grabbed a handful of something. After washing it in the water, hey! It turned out to be clams: ¡°Chuner, great, it¡¯s clams.¡± Clams and river snails are essentially the same type of shellfish, but clams prefer sandy soils, while snails are generally found in mud. As Xuexue spoke, she tossed the clams she held onto the path, then reached into the water again, and, oh! This time it was river snails. Apparently, the structure of this small stream was peculiar; the middle of the stream had more sand, so what was felt in the middle were clams, while the edges of the stream were muddy, hence the river snails. Xuexue grabbed river snails with her left hand and clams with her right, bustling happily. Even the icy, bone-chilling water started to feel less cold. Chuner was also busy on the pathway, picking up the river snails and clams Xuexue threw up, one by one, and depositing them into the wooden bucket. Just then, several people walked by, led by a hunchbacked old man, followed by a few individuals who looked like servants. ¡°My! Chuner, on such a cold day, what are you two sisters doing here?¡± Chapter 35 - 35 Shoulders Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Shoulders Chuner, who was busy gathering the river snails and clams from the ground, heard the voice and looked up, calling out, ¡°Old Master Mo.¡± ¡°In such cold weather, why are you two sisters picking these things up? They can¡¯t be eaten,¡± said Old Master Mo, gasping for breath as he spoke, his back hunched over so severely that his head was almost touching his knees. ¡°My sister said she knows how to cook them, and they are very delicious. Since we have nothing else to do, we thought we might as well try it,¡± Chuner responded. Chuner¡¯s little face was very happy, as her sister had come out to play with her today. She reached out her little hand to brush away a few strands of hair hanging down her face, and suddenly, her face was smeared with mud, but she was completely unaware of it. Xuexue, who was bending over searching for river snails, heard the voice and also looked up, realizing it was Wealthy Master Mo from their village. He was the Wealthy Master of Mo Family Village. According to the older folks in the village, more than a decade ago, Old Money Mo was also poor, with his family having nothing to their name and experiencing tough times, often alternating between starvation and satiation. In the end, his mother died of starvation while trying to save food for him to eat. ... Old Money Mo wrapped his mother¡¯s body in a tattered mat, carried her up the mountain, hastily dug a hole, buried her without ceremony, and then left Mo Family Village. He vanished without a trace, leaving no word of his whereabouts. After disappearing for a whole year, he returned to the village dressed in fine clothes, constructed a luxurious mansion, hired numerous servants, and purchased vast amounts of farmland, becoming the richest man in Mo Family Village. However, interestingly, ever since the construction of his mansion began, the once upright man turned hunchbacked overnight. Despite numerous examinations by famous doctors, no illness was found. ¡°Old Master Mo, my sister and I are just picking them up for fun.¡± Although Old Money Mo was a wealthy master, he never put on airs. From her past life, Xuexue remembered him favorably. ¡°It¡¯s freezing cold. You two girls must take care of yourselves,¡± Old Money Mo instructed kindly as always. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Xuexue replied while continuing to search in the water. After a few words, Old Money Mo slowly walked away with his servants, following the path. ¡°Chuner, don¡¯t you think Old Master Mo looks so strange? Despite his own back being so hunched, he¡¯s carrying so many kids?¡± Xuexue straightened her back, just in time to see Old Money Mo¡¯s back, and remarked in surprise. ¡°Sister, what are you talking about? What kids?¡± Chuner also looked towards Old Master Mo¡¯s retreating figure, utterly perplexed. ¡°Hehehe... Chuner, you must still be half asleep, right? So many kids, and you say you can¡¯t see them? Stop teasing your sister.¡± Xuexue shook her head with a smile, thinking to herself: Chuner is always so whimsical. ¡°Sister, are you sure you don¡¯t have a fever again? You¡¯re delirious. Stop collecting river snails and come up here quickly!¡± Chuner¡¯s voice grew more anxious as she spoke, and suddenly, she threw the river snails she was holding and almost burst into tears. Last time her sister had a fever, not only did she bite off Auntie Sun¡¯s ear, she almost died and was unconscious for days before finally waking up, causing their mother to panic. This time, she couldn¡¯t afford to let her sister fall ill over a few worthless river snails. Seeing that Chuner wasn¡¯t faking it, Xuexue took another look at the small children on Old Money Mo¡¯s back, counted, and found there were seven in total. She asked urgently, ¡°Chuner, are you really unable to see the kids on Old Master Mo¡¯s back?¡± ¡°Wahhhhh... Sister, don¡¯t have a fever,¡± Xuexue¡¯s questioning only made Chuner cry harder. Xuexue hastily climbed up from the creek, patting her back: ¡°There, there, Chuner, don¡¯t cry. Sister doesn¡¯t have a fever. If you don¡¯t believe me, feel my forehead.¡± Saying this, she placed Chuner¡¯s hand on her forehead. Chuner felt it, and indeed, it was icy cold, not like someone with a fever, which eased her mind. But she was still sniffling from fright and couldn¡¯t recover right away. Xuexue held Chuner in her arms, patting her back, but her eyes were fixed on the seven small children on Old Money Mo¡¯s back. Suddenly, a four- or five-year-old girl on Old Money Mo¡¯s back turned her head, looked at Xuexue, and smiled a split grin. Xuexue also meant to return the smile when her whole face froze in shock... She saw the little girl who was smiling had blood oozing from her mouth corners, creating a chilling sight. Old Money Mo and his several servants remained completely oblivious, continuing their slow walk toward the village. Even as someone who had faced life and death in her previous life, Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but be startled. It seemed she had encountered something unclean that day. Chapter 36 - 36 Little Girl Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Little Girl The little girl¡¯s sharp laughter still rang out, ¡°Ah hehehe... Ah hehe... .¡± Xuexue knew that this little ghost was deliberately trying to scare her. Old Money Mo and several servants, as if they couldn¡¯t hear a thing, continued to walk leisurely, their figures quickly disappearing around the corner. The little girl¡¯s laughter also slowly faded away. ¡°Sister, we¡¯ve been out for a long time, let¡¯s go home. Mother doesn¡¯t know we¡¯re out, she¡¯ll be anxious if she can¡¯t find us.¡± Chuner finally snapped out of her panic. Just now, her sister had been talking nonsense, saying she saw Old Money Mo with many children on his back, which nearly scared her to death. She thought her sister might be delirious from the fever due to the cold water while fetching river snails, but fortunately, it was just a false alarm. ... ¡°...¡± ¡°Sister, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± After waiting for a while with no response from Xuexue, Chuner struggled out of her embrace and lifted her dirty little face to ask with concern. Xuexue¡¯s face was deathly pale, her eyes wide open, staring intensely in the direction of the village.... What exactly had gone wrong? In her past life, she hadn¡¯t been able to see any of these things. Could it be that with her rebirth, some things had also changed? Xuexue¡¯s mind was engulfed in waves of shock and surprise, unable to hear Chuner speaking. ¡°Sister, sister, let¡¯s go back,¡± Chuner pleaded. Seeing her sister¡¯s bloodless face, Chuner was very worried. Her little hands clutched her sister¡¯s sleeve tightly, shaking it vigorously. ¡°Eh!¡± Not wanting to scare Chuner, Xuexue, who had come back to her senses, tried to suppress the shock in her heart, responded, and bent down to pack up their things. Carrying Xiao Mu¡¯s little bucket in one hand and pulling Chuner with the other, they started walking back toward the village. .... ¡°Xuexue, where did you two sisters go?¡± As expected, just as they reached the Mo family¡¯s main entrance, Madam Xie rushed out anxiously. ¡°Mother, Chuner and I went to fetch river snails. Look, there are clams too.¡± Xuexue let go of Chuner and held the little bucket up to Madam Xie, hoping to show her that today¡¯s catch wasn¡¯t bad. But Madam Xie didn¡¯t even look, instead focusing on Xuexue¡¯s pair of little feet, red from the cold, speaking with a tone full of distress, ¡°You silly girl, you really don¡¯t have any sense, it¡¯s so cold and you didn¡¯t even wear shoes to fetch those worthless river snails.¡± ¡°Mother, I wore shoes, I just forgot to put them back on when we were coming back.¡± Xuexue glanced back and saw Chuner holding her shoes. ¡°Oh my, you little dirty cat.¡± Madam Xie turned her head back and saw Chuner¡¯s little face covered in filthy mud. She quickly stepped forward, grabbed her, and headed to the kitchen to help clean the mud off her face. Xuexue also carried the little bucket to the kitchen, cleaning the snails and clams inside. Then, she replaced the water to keep them in. By this time, Madam Xie had already cleaned Chuner up. ¡°Xuexue, I¡¯m not scolding you, but why do you bring these things back? Nobody in the house likes to eat them, and they waste firewood,¡± Madam Xie said, looking at the bucket of snails with a pained expression. ¡°It¡¯s not for us to eat, I need them.¡± Xuexue had done the math; in three days, it would be market day, and she planned to sell them to earn some Copper Coins. Madam Xie looked at her with puzzled eyes, ¡°These things are everywhere, what good are they?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tell you for now, you¡¯ll see,¡± Xuexue said with a proud smile on her face. ¡°You little rascal.¡± Madam Xie shook her head. Since Xuexue had come around from the fever, she had become much more assertive, so Madam Xie said no more. Chapter 37: Getting Bolder Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Getting Bolder The next day Despite Madam Xie¡¯s advice, Xuexue went to the stream with her little wooden bucket to catch river snails again, and she returned with a full harvest. ¡°You little cheap hoof, why bother picking up so many lowly things?¡± Old Lady Mo burst into flames the moment she saw Xuexue bring back a bucket of river snails; not only were they inedible, but they also wasted firewood. Xuexue¡¯s lips twisted disdainfully as she said impatiently, ¡°I¡¯m collecting my own things, what does it bother you?¡± ¡°My! Talk back to me, will you? You little cheap hoof, has your audacity grown with time? You¡¯re as repulsive as your barren mother.¡± During this time, Xuexue¡¯s temperament had drastically changed. Whenever Old Lady Mo berated Madam Xie, Xuexue would surely stand up and confront her. Old Lady Mo had long been seething with suppressed rage. With a glare, she scolded, ¡°If you dare, don¡¯t use my firewood to cook them.¡± ... On hearing this, Xuexue laughed even more coldly, ¡°Grandmother, all the firewood at home is chopped by my mother from the mountains, so how does it concern you?¡± ¡°You...¡± Old Lady Mo became so infuriated she was gasping for breath, glanced around, and casually picked up a broom in the doorway corner, swinging it at Xuexue all while cursing angrily, ¡°You little cheap hoof, I¡¯ll teach you backtalk, I¡¯ll beat you to death.¡± There¡¯s an old saying: even heroes don¡¯t suffer immediate losses, let alone a weak girl like her. Xuexue turned on her heels and bolted outside. With broom in hand, Old Lady Mo pursued her relentlessly, ¡°You little cheap hoof, weren¡¯t you bold just now? Have the guts not to run!¡± Agile, Xuexue dashed ahead swiftly with her feet barely touching the ground. After all, Old Lady Mo was advanced in years, with old arms and legs, and ever since she had gotten a daughter-in-law, she hadn¡¯t had to lift a finger and had become accustomed to a leisurely life. Her body had progressively grown fatter and she barely made it a few steps before she couldn¡¯t take it anymore, heaving like an ox. As Xuexue ran, she glanced back mockingly, ¡°Even my father is infertile, what can a girl like me inherit? You shouldn¡¯t think that by taking on a concubine for him, he could have a son. I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s useless. He¡¯s fated never to have a son in this lifetime.¡± Old Lady Mo, enraged and panting with the broom, simply exploded upon hearing this. The lack of a male heir from the main house had always been a thorn in her side. Furthermore, some gossips in the village had been whispering behind her back, calling Mo Xiaoqiang the Star of Disaster, saying that the Mo family was cut off from future generations. Whenever she heard this, she would go home and ruthlessly beat Madam Xie, blaming this omen of disaster for the lack of heirs from her son. Now, Xuexue dared to say such words to her face, and Old Lady Mo was consumed with fury. As she chased, she cursed viciously, ¡°This old woman will definitely beat you, you little cheap hoof, to death today.¡± Xuexue ran out of the Mo family¡¯s courtyard, intentionally choosing crowded places. The villagers gathered to watch, some even whispered to each other... ¡°Oh my! Old Lady Mo, accustomed to luxury, spends her days beating and scolding her daughter-in-law, but how strange today, she¡¯s begun to hit her granddaughter instead?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know the whole story, it seems. I heard that Xuexue has grown up and feels sorry for her mother. Seeing Old Lady Mo scolding and hitting her daily, she has started defending her mother, and as a result, Old Lady Mo now hates Xuexue as well, no wonder she is beating her.¡± ¡°Oh! So that¡¯s the situation.¡± The villagers nodded in understanding. Running on, Xuexue looked up to suddenly see Old Money Mo and a few servants up ahead. ¡°Old Master, save me! My grandmother is going to beat me to death.¡± Xuexue immediately ran behind Old Money Mo and cowered in fear. Old Money Mo was just about to step into his sedan to leave when he suddenly saw Xuexue come running to take refuge behind him, causing him to stop, ¡°Xuexue, what¡¯s going on?¡± Chapter 38 - 38 Laughter Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Laughter ¡°Grandmother is going to beat me to death.¡± After Xuexue finished speaking pitifully, she looked up, and suddenly, her gaze met the faces of the several Little Kids slung on Old Money Mo¡¯s back, startling her. Just now, in her anxiety, she had forgotten about the existence of the Little Kids on Old Money Mo¡¯s back. ¡°Hiss.¡± The little girl from that day suddenly thrust her head menacingly close to Xuexue¡¯s face, baring her teeth in a warning gesture. ¡°You... What... what do you want?¡± Startled by her sudden movement, Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but shiver uncontrollably. ... ¡°I¡¯m warning you, even though you can see us, it¡¯s best not to meddle in our affairs, otherwise, giggle...¡± The little girl said, then let out a strange laugh. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but shout angrily; this little ghost was truly hateful, always using this tactic to scare her. Xuexue¡¯s loud shout caused Old Money Mo and the others to turn their heads and glance at her. Fortunately, they assumed Xuexue was yelling at Old Lady Mo, so they didn¡¯t pay much attention and focused instead on Old Lady Mo, who was catching up from behind. ¡°Auntie, even if the child made a mistake, a simple scolding would suffice. Why chase her all over the village? Doesn¡¯t it detract from your distinguished status?¡± Old Money Mo said smilingly to the gasping Old Lady Mo. ¡°Huff... huff...¡± Old Lady Mo, out of breath, was in no condition to speak. She stood there, hands on her stomach, gasping for air. ¡°Xuexue, go and apologize to your grandmother, and let¡¯s put this matter to rest,¡± Old Money Mo nodded at Xuexue, signaling her to go in front of Old Lady Mo. ¡°I just...¡± Xuexue was about to refuse when a glance at the several little ghosts staring ominously at her made her quickly change her tune: ¡°Alright then!¡± After speaking, she scurried away from behind Old Money Mo and approached Old Lady Mo: ¡°Grandmother, I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have talked back to you.¡± ¡°Hmph! You wretched girl, truly despicable, making me chase you around the whole village. I won¡¯t be appeased today unless I beat you up,¡± Old Lady Mo finally caught her breath and, with the broom raised in her hand, spoke venomously. ¡°Ah.¡± Xuexue closed her eyes and cried out. ¡°You wretched girl, I haven¡¯t even struck you yet. What are you screaming for?¡± Old Lady Mo raised the broom high, ready to strike at any moment. ¡°Old Master Mo, I listened to you and apologized to grandmother, and she still wants to beat me to death. You have to save me!¡± Xuexue deliberately turned her head and called out. She knew that Old Lady Mo was a person who only sought advantages and was most afraid of the few wealthy people in the village; Old Money Mo was one of them. Faced with Old Lady Mo¡¯s disregard for others in front of so many people, Old Money Mo¡¯s expression darkened: ¡°Auntie, what¡¯s the matter that you must beat the child as if you want her dead?¡± ¡°Oh! Is that Old Master Mo? Aiyo, this damn girl drove me mad, I didn¡¯t see your lordship there.¡± Only then did Old Lady Mo realize that it was the Mo Family Village¡¯s Wealthiest Master standing in front of her, and she quickly put on a smiling face. ¡°Since Xuexue has already apologized to you, in consideration of me, let¡¯s put this matter to rest and stop beating her,¡± Old Money Mo said sternly. Old Lady Mo glared fiercely at Xuexue before turning to Old Money Mo, nodding and bowing with a smile: ¡°Eh! Alright, the Old Maid will listen to Old Master Mo¡¯s words and won¡¯t hit this wretched girl anymore, hehe...¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s disperse, everyone,¡± Old Money Mo said to the onlookers, then turned and climbed into his sedan chair. As the sedan passed by Xuexue, she heard the little ghost¡¯s sarcastic voice: ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because this old fool helped you, he¡¯s a good person. Be careful not to get sold out and end up counting Silver for another, giggle giggle giggle...¡± It was followed by another round of sharp ghostly laughter. Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes; she wasn¡¯t foolish. Her experiences in her past life were too painful, and in this life, she wouldn¡¯t trust anyone again. Chapter 39: Scholar Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Scholar ¡°You lucky dead girl, if Old Master Mo hadn¡¯t pleaded for you, I would have beaten you to death today,¡± snapped Old Lady Mo furiously. No sooner had Old Money Mo and his cronies left than Old Lady Mo glared at Xuexue and cursed her a few times. Then she slung the broom over her shoulder and strutted away. At that moment, Xuexue was not in the least concerned with her grandmother¡¯s scolding; her mind was wholly occupied by the concern for those little ghosts. What had actually happened? Why had Old Money Mo provoked those little ghosts? What kind of grudge caused those seven little ghosts to cling to Old Money Mo¡¯s back day and night, unwilling to come down? In her previous life, she could not see these things; why could she see them after being reborn? Xuexue found it utterly baffling. However, she felt relieved that those little ghosts seemed to target only Old Money Mo and bore no malice towards her or the other villagers. ¡°Sister Xuexue, are you alright? I heard your grandmother hit you just now,¡± a refined and courteous voice suddenly rang in her ears. ... Raising her eyes, Xuexue saw that it was the village head¡¯s son, Mo Shaoxing. Dressed in a long robe, completely unlike the common villagers¡¯ coarse and simple clothing, he looked totally out of place. He was the only scholar in Mo Family Village; having passed the scholar examinations at sixteen, he was considered a prodigy in this remote and impoverished place. Thus, the villagers held him in high respect. He was also the object of Xiuzhi¡¯s affection, who often schemed against Xuexue primarily because whenever Mo Shaoxing had a chance, he liked to chat with Xuexue. In plain words, she was jealous that Xuexue could attract Mo Shaoxing¡¯s attention. Knowing that Xiuzhi had plotted against her many times because of this very man, Xuexue felt no goodwill toward him. She straightforwardly rolled her eyes and said irritably, ¡°If you already knew, why ask? It¡¯s like pulling down your pants to fart¡ªcompletely unnecessary.¡± ¡°How has Sister Xuexue turned so rude after not seeing you for a while?¡± Mo Shaoxing¡¯s face stiffened for a moment, but then he smiled mildly. ¡°Hey! As a respected scholar who is well-read in poetry and books, don¡¯t start by trying to ruin my reputation. That isn¡¯t something a gentleman would do.¡± On hearing this, Mo Shaoxing looked utterly astonished. ¡°Sister Xuexue, what do you mean by that? When have I ever tarnished your reputation? You must be careful with such accusations!¡± To constantly refer to me as ¡®sister¡¯ is nothing but a way to ruin my reputation. Despite your status as a scholar, let me tell you this: don¡¯t call me that anymore. Otherwise, I will go to the village head and complain about you. Just because he¡¯s your father, don¡¯t think I wouldn¡¯t dare to accuse you, hmph!¡± Xuexue gave him a cold glance, turned around, and walked away with a bold and upright air. She had to go up the mountains to pick some spices to cook river snails and clams; she had no time to waste idly chitchatting with him. Mo Shaoxing was left alone in the wind, disheveled. Was this still the gentle and pleasant Xuexue of days past? How had she become so difficult to deal with? Two days later The sky had not fully brightened when Xuexue climbed out of bed, washed the pots clean, and prepared the spices she had picked from the mountains. Since she had cleaned the river snails and clams the night before, it saved her a lot of work. At that moment, the sound of light footsteps came from outside the kitchen. Xuexue knew it must be her mother waking up. Usually, in the Mo household, Madam Xie was the last to sleep and the first to wake¡ªsleeping later than a dog and rising earlier than a chicken, a saying that fit her perfectly. ¡°Xuexue, my girl, it¡¯s so cold and you¡¯re up so early. Why don¡¯t you go back to bed and sleep a bit longer? I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m done,¡± Madam Xie¡¯s voice sounded at the door as expected. Xuexue struggled to stir the pot of river snails. ¡°No need, Mother, I¡¯m almost done,¡± she replied. A rich aroma wafted through the kitchen. Madam Xie sniffed with her nose, her face a picture of panic, and exclaimed, ¡°Xuexue, why does it smell so good? Did you steal something from your grandmother again to cook?¡± Chapter 40 - 40 Panic-stricken Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Panic-stricken A few days ago, Xuexue had stolen Old Lady Mo¡¯s eggs and cured meat. Although she wasn¡¯t caught, and the unlucky one turned out to be Xiuzhi, it had given Madam Xie quite a scare. ¡°Mom, no! It was me who stir-fried the river snails.¡± Xuexue kept flipping the river snails in her hand, while responding. The river snails had been seasoned with plenty of spices, of course they smelled delicious. ¡°Stop lying to mom. I have stir-fried river snails too, and they didn¡¯t smell like this.¡± Madam Xie, smelling the enticing aroma that was just like the cured meat Old Lady Mo often ate, was full of disbelief. ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Try it.¡± Xuexue scooped up a river snail with a spoon and held it out to her. Madam Xie skeptically took the river snail, put it in her mouth, sucked hard, and bit the snail meat into her mouth. After chewing a few times, her eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Xuexue, how can these river snails taste so good? There¡¯s no grit, and no earthy smell either.¡± ... ¡°What¡¯s there to fuss about? The spices take away the fishy smell.¡± While speaking, Xuexue plated the cooked river snails in a large dish and covered them, then started to cook the clams. Madam Xie sat in front of the stove, helping to keep the fire going. ¡°Xuexue, even your mother can¡¯t cook river snails. Where did you learn it from?¡± Madam Xie bent over to stuff wood into the stove and asked casually. This really stumped Xuexue. She couldn¡¯t possibly say that she had learned it in a past life, for if she did, it would scare Madam Xie to death. She¡¯d think her daughter¡¯s fever had made her delirious again. ¡°I heard it from an old lady who was passing by once; I¡¯ve always remembered it,¡± Xuexue made up a quick excuse on the fly. ¡°Oh! So that¡¯s the case! Xuexue is so clever.¡± Madam Xie¡¯s face lit up with gratification. Soon, the clams were done as well. After tasting a few, Madam Xie couldn¡¯t stop praising them. They were fresh, sweet, and slightly spicy, perfect for the cold weather. Once Xuexue had finished packing everything, she got ready to head to the market. Madam Xie stood there, hesitating to speak. ¡°Mom, I can go alone. You should stay home with Chuner,¡± Xuexue thought her concern was for Chuner being alone at home, so she said. ¡°That¡¯s not it, Xuexue. Could you leave some river snails and clams for your grandparents to try?¡± Madam Xie, naively honest and sincere, although Old Lady Mo scolded and beat her every day, she never forgot her when there was something good. Xuexue felt a mix of frustration and disappointment... ¡°Grandmother is so proud. Why would she eat such lowly food?¡± she mimicked some of the terms Old Lady Mo commonly used. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s true,¡± Madam Xie, being so simple-minded, thought it made sense and didn¡¯t press the matter any further. She and Xuexue carried the wares and set off for the town market. Leaving the village and entering a relatively wide dirt road, they found it pitted with puddles due to recent rain. A moment of carelessness could result in a wet shoe, not to mention a foot caked in mud. ¡°Xuexue, be careful where you walk. If your shoes get wet, you¡¯ll be cold all day,¡± Madam Xie cautioned as she led the way, carrying their goods and looking back at Xuexue. ¡°Eh! I know.¡± Xuexue deftly navigated through the uneven puddles. The walk from Mo Family Village to the town was almost four hours. Now, as the light of dawn was just breaking, they would arrive at the market just in time for the early sales. ¡°Aiyo wei!¡± Suddenly, Madam Xie, full of regret, shouted and stopped in her tracks. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong? Did you step in a puddle?¡± Xuexue thought Madam Xie had carelessly stepped into a muddy puddle. ¡°No, I forgot to cook breakfast. Now we¡¯re in trouble! Your grandmother is going to make a huge fuss, what should we do?¡± Madam Xie stood rooted to the spot in panic, as if she were going in circles with worry. Chapter 41 - 41 Selling River Snails Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Selling River Snails Xuexue glanced at the surroundings, knowing they had covered half of the distance and it was now too late to turn back, and she might even get a beating from Old Lady Mo if they did. ¡°Mother, we¡¯ve already walked halfway. It¡¯s too late to go back now, let¡¯s just forget it. You should just focus on going to the market with me. If we earn some silver and give it to Grandmother, she might be so happy that she¡¯ll overlook the fact you didn¡¯t cook breakfast today.¡± Old Lady Mo was a sharp-tongued, snobbish person who bullied Madam Xie because her family was poor and she hadn¡¯t given birth to a son. Given any excuse, not scolding or beating her was just out of the question. Xuexue deliberately said this to ease Madam Xie¡¯s heart, hoping to take her to the town to relax a little instead of always staying at home, slaving away for those ungrateful people. ¡°Hmm.¡± Madam Xie thought it made sense, and with a nervous heart, she picked up her load again and continued walking, worrying aloud, ¡°Chuner is all by herself at home, I don¡¯t know if she has had anything to eat. If only we knew, we should have brought her with us.¡± ... Chuner was usually timid and didn¡¯t dare to go to the main hall to eat when Xuexue and her mother were not home. ¡°Wait a bit, once we¡¯ve earned some silver, we¡¯ll bring her back some pork lard cakes. Chuner loves those.¡± ¡°Eh! Alright then.¡± Hearing Xuexue say this, Madam Xie perked up. Usually, Xiuzhi would eat pork lard cakes in front of Chuner to tease her but wouldn¡¯t give her any. Seeing her little daughter gaze longingly and swallow hard, Madam Xie felt heartbroken but helpless, as she didn¡¯t have a penny to her name and couldn¡¯t even afford a single pork lard cake. Now that Xuexue mentioned bringing pork lard cakes back for Chuner after earning some silver, how could she not be happy? By the time they got to the town, it was nearly noon, and because it was market day, the streets were bustling with people coming and going. Since they arrived later, all the good spots had already been taken. After searching for a while, they finally found a spot in a corner. ¡°Mother, let¡¯s set up here.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Madam Xie set down the load from her shoulders and, together with Xuexue, started to arrange their goods. It was winter and the river snails and clams they had cooked in the morning had turned ice-cold. Luckily, Xuexue was smart and well-prepared, taking a few pieces of firewood from the basket Madam Xie had carried, and casually built two stoves with rocks, one for the river snails and another for the clams. Soon, the firewood was burning, and a delightful aroma began to waft through the air. ¡°What is that delicious smell?¡± asked a lady buying jewelry at the next stall, sniffing hard. ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s our river snails. Would you like to try some?¡± Xuexue had just reheated the river snails and hadn¡¯t started calling out to passersby yet, but when she heard the lady next to her, she turned around and said with a beaming smile. ¡°River snails? Hmm, no thanks, no thanks. They¡¯re not tasty, you chew on sand as soon as you eat them,¡± the lady said, pulling a face and shaking her head vigorously. ¡°You can try them before you buy. Plus, they¡¯re not expensive¡ªjust two wen of money for a serving,¡± Xuexue said, scooping up a few river snails from the heated plate and offering them to the lady. ¡°This...¡± The lady hesitated, wary of being tricked by Xuexue, and said shrewdly, ¡°Little girl, it¡¯s your word. I can try before I buy, and if they¡¯re not tasty, I won¡¯t buy them.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s free to try.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± The lady had rushed to set up her stall early in the morning and hadn¡¯t even had breakfast. Now that it was nearly noon, she was so hungry she could feel her stomach clenching, and the aroma was too tempting to resist. She reached out, took a river snail, and sucked on it firmly, chewed for a bit, and her eyes suddenly widened. After finishing one, she eagerly reached out to grab a second one. Chapter 42 - 42 Deceiving People Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Deceiving People ¡°Eh.¡± Xuexue, quick-handed and sharp-eyed, swiftly extended a spoon outwards, smiling brightly as she spoke, ¡°Auntie, if you want to eat more after tasting, you¡¯ll have to pay with silver.¡± ¡°Little girl, let your auntie taste another one.¡± It¡¯s a woman¡¯s nature to seize a little advantage, unchanged by any means. ¡°So, if Auntie tastes another one, will you buy it then?¡± Xuexue, with a smile that made her extremely pleasing to look at, made it impossible to get angry. ¡°I¡¯ll buy, I¡¯ll buy.¡± The Auntie, chuckling, tasted another one, smacking her lips: ¡°Mm, really delicious. Little girl, give your Auntie a serving, I haven¡¯t even had breakfast yet.¡± Thinking that two wen of money was not much, the Auntie cheerfully ordered a serving. ... ¡°Alright!¡± Xuexue served her a portion, handed it over, and said with a beaming smile, ¡°Auntie, since you are the first customer, I¡¯m giving you an extra large serving. Soon, you won¡¯t be able to get this amount for just two wen of money.¡± Hearing this, the Auntie laughed even more joyously, fished out two wen of money from her pocket, handed it to Xuexue, and happily went back to her own stall to eat river snails. ¡°Mother, here you go.¡± Without skipping a beat, Xuexue handed the two copper coins to Madam Xie. Madam Xie was beyond delighted, surprised that earning copper coins was so easy ¨C she had barely sat down, her seat not even warm yet, and the money had already come knocking. ¡°Xuexue, your grandmother will definitely be happy to see this money,¡± Madam Xie said, joyously looking at the two copper coins in her hand. About to shout out their goods for sale, Xuexue slightly stiffened upon hearing this, turned her head, and asked, ¡°Mother, you aren¡¯t really thinking about giving all the money to that nasty old hag, are you? She beats and scolds you every day.¡± ¡°Xuexue.¡± Madam Xie scolded sternly, her expression turning serious, ¡°Do not speak of your grandmother that way; no matter what, she is your elder.¡± ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be upset, I won¡¯t say it anymore.¡± Seeing her adoptive mother upset, Xuexue quickly complied. ¡°It¡¯s not your grandmother¡¯s fault, it¡¯s all because your mother¡¯s womb was weak, unable to give your father a son,¡± Madam Xie said, her face darkening at the mention. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be like that. You have us sisters, and that¡¯s enough. In the future, we will make sure you live a good life.¡± ¡°Yes, as long as you are obedient and behave, Mother doesn¡¯t mind the hardships,¡± she replied. ¡°Then let¡¯s start selling quickly, or else it¡¯ll get dark and we won¡¯t be able to return home. Chuner is still waiting for us.¡± ¡°How should we sell? Isn¡¯t it enough just to sit here?¡± Turning her head, Madam Xie, seeing others simply sitting and waiting for customers, curiously asked. ¡°Hey! If we don¡¯t call out, how will others know we have good things to sell? Mother, you sit; I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Having said that, Xuexue took a small bowl, filled it with some river snails and clams, stood by the roadside, and began shouting loudly, ¡°Delicious river snails for sale! Taste before you buy, don¡¯t miss out on a free taste, everyone, come quickly!¡± An old man at the market laughed upon hearing this: ¡°Little girl, are you mad with poverty, daring to sell such things, it¡¯s absolutely hilarious!¡± ¡°I am poor! Otherwise, who would willingly get up early in the freezing cold and walk several Shichen Chinese Time here to sell stuff?¡± Xuexue replied seriously, blinking her watery eyes. ¡°Even if you¡¯re poor, you shouldn¡¯t deceive people with these things!¡± the old man said, shaking his head, disapprovingly. ¡°I conduct my business honestly, how is it deceiving anyone?¡± Xuexue retorted, displeased, grabbing the old man¡¯s arm, insisting that he clarify his statement before she would let him go. ¡°Xuexue, what are you doing? Let the Master go right now.¡± Seeing more and more people gathering around her stall to watch the scene, Madam Xie, who had never seen such a spectacle, became somewhat flustered. Chapter 43 - 43 Selling River Snails Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Selling River Snails ¡°Mom, he said we were cheating people? We can¡¯t let him go until he explains himself clearly,¡± Xuexue held tightly onto the old man¡¯s sleeve and refused to let go. Due to the old man¡¯s outbursts, nobody dared to buy her river snails, which she would definitely have to take back home; Xuexue didn¡¯t want her efforts to be in vain, insisting on a clear explanation. Today was market day, the streets were bustling with people, spectators grew more numerous, clogging up the entire street, everyone whispering and pointing fingers at Xuexue¡¯s stall. Having never faced such public embarrassment, Madam Xie¡¯s face turned crimson with shame, her head hung low, wishing she could burrow into the ground and bury herself so no one could see her, Having been a Crown Princess Consort in her former life, Xuexue had seen grand events, and such a small scene didn¡¯t affect her; she still clung tightly to the old man¡¯s sleeve, not letting him leave. Angered by Xuexue¡¯s persistent attitude, the old man said, ¡°You little troublemaker, you¡¯re being unreasonable. Didn¡¯t I just say that these river snails can¡¯t be eaten?¡± ... ¡°What you said wasn¡¯t just that they can¡¯t be eaten, you said I was cheating people,¡± Xuexue pouted, looking extremely annoyed. ¡°Oh dear! Little girl, I guess I¡¯m afraid of you, I misspoke, alright? Would you let me go now?¡± the old man tried to pull away, but his sleeve remained firmly in Xuexue¡¯s grasp, a look of helplessness on his face. ¡°Then explain to everyone exactly what you said wrong,¡± ¡°We Nong family people all know, these river snails are gritty and have an earthy taste, they¡¯re inedible, I shouldn¡¯t have said you were cheating people,¡± the old man said, his tone still quite reluctant. At this moment, an auntie selling jewelry and eating river snails on the side finally understood the cause of the dispute. ¡°Sir, you misunderstood, really misunderstood, these river snails have neither sand nor an earthy taste; they¡¯re delicious. Look, I¡¯ve almost finished eating mine, so yummy,¡± the auntie walked over, holding out the remaining river snails to the old man to show him: ¡°Don¡¯t believe me, try one yourself, sir.¡± The old man glared at the auntie skeptically: ¡°Old man here has eaten more salt than you have eaten rice; don¡¯t think you can fool me.¡± ¡°Oh dear! Fooling or not, just have a taste and you¡¯ll know, right? Making such a fuss over a small matter isn¡¯t good, it also delays your important affairs, doesn¡¯t it,¡± said the auntie, who was experienced in market days and said it all with a smiling face. Mulling it over, the old man thought he might as well. It was rare for him to catch the market day, and he couldn¡¯t allow trivial matters to delay his important affairs, he casually picked up a river snail and popped it into his mouth. ¡°Hmm!¡± Suddenly, his eyes widened, and after licking the juice off his fingers, he said, ¡°These river snails are actually quite tasty.¡± ¡°See? Didn¡¯t I tell you I wasn¡¯t cheating?¡± Xuexue called out loudly, letting more people know, encouraging them to come and try a taste. ¡°No, no, I wronged you, young lady,¡± the old man¡¯s demeanor transformed from irritated to apologetic, repeatedly saying so. Only then did Xuexue release her grip on his sleeve, saying, ¡°Next time, be more careful with your words about things you haven¡¯t tried; saying they are not tasty like that could hurt someone¡¯s business.¡± ¡°Not anymore, that won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°Then off you go, don¡¯t hold up my business,¡± Xuexue placed the bowl she was holding in front of the onlooking crowd, saying, ¡°Everyone can rest assured and have a taste; my river snails are guaranteed to be both cheap and delicious.¡± Seeing that the old man, who had just argued with Xuexue, admitted they were tasty, the crowd became eager to try. Chapter 44: Pointy-mouthed and sunken-cheeked F{h*F5/) V hapter 44: Pointy-mouthed and sunken-cheeked ¡°Miss, can I try before buying?¡± In the crowd, someone drawn by the tantalizing aroma swallowed and couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Yes, you can try for free.¡± Xuexue handed a river snail to the person who had asked, allowing him to take one. ¡°Miss.¡± Just then, suddenly, a sheepish voice called out from behind. Xuexue turned her head and was a bit surprised, ¡°Huh! Master, haven¡¯t you left yet?¡± It was the old Master who had quarreled with Xuexue earlier. ... ¡°Hehe...¡± The old Master laughed somewhat awkwardly, ¡°I was wondering if I could buy a portion of the river snails?¡± The old Master thought about the river snails readily found in the creeks back in the countryside. Since the girl cooked them so deliciously, he was thinking of buying a portion to study and see if he could figure out how to make them himself. ¡°Of course, two wen of money for a portion.¡± Business was coming her way, and Xuexue was overjoyed, smiling broadly as she spoke. ¡°Okay, here are two wen of money.¡± Having said that, the old Master took out two copper coins from his pocket and handed them to Xuexue. Xuexue took the money, thinking she was busy at her stall. She said, ¡°Master, you can go over there to my mother and get a portion of river snails, there, that¡¯s her.¡± After speaking, she pointed to Madam Xie, who was squatting on the ground with her head buried in her lap. ¡°Alright.¡± Elated, the old Master made his way over. Simultaneously, Xuexue also turned around and called out loudly to Madam Xie, ¡°Mother, pack a portion of river snails for the Master.¡± Madam Xie, who had never been watched by so many people for her entire life, was feeling ashamed. Hearing her daughter call her, she meekly raised her head to see it was the old man who had just been arguing with her daughter, and she was utterly perplexed. Seeing Madam Xie¡¯s baffled face, Xuexue brandished the copper coins in her hand and said louder, ¡°I¡¯ve already taken the money, Mother, hurry up and pack a portion of river snails for him.¡± ¡°Eh! Right away!¡± Madam Xie snapped out of it, quickly stood up, and used a clean lotus leaf to pack a portion of river snails for the Master. Xuexue, who had been stubbornly holding onto the old Master not letting him leave, led Madam Xie to feel bad about it, so she added an extra large spoonful for him. Holding the river snails, the old Master walked away happily. ¡°Miss, I want a portion too.¡± After several people tried and found them to be quite good, and seeing the old Master who had raised such a ruckus with Xuexue buying some too, they thought two wen of money wasn¡¯t much, and as a result, people started wanting to buy. ¡°Great, everyone come over here and line up.¡± Seeing more and more people wanting to buy river snails, Xuexue was beside herself with joy. She couldn¡¯t believe that the quarrel from before actually brought her good fortune. As they were busy handing out river snails and collecting money... ¡°Auntie, I heard your river snails can be tried for free, is that right?¡± Upon hearing this, Xuexue looked up to see a middle-aged man with a sharp chin and monkey-like cheeks. ¡°Yes! Elder brother, feel free to have a taste.¡± Madam Xie scooped some river snails and passed them over. The middle-aged man, with his crafty eyes, casually picked up a lotus leaf beside him and said with a grin, ¡°Auntie, pour them right here.¡± Madam Xie¡¯s face stiffened momentarily, but in the end, she didn¡¯t say anything, and was just about to pour them out when... Xuexue, who had been watching the whole time, quickly stepped in. Snatching the spoon from Madam Xie¡¯s hand, she said to the middle-aged man, ¡°Sorry uncle, the tasting has ended. If you want some, you¡¯ll need to buy them with silver.¡± ¡°Hey! You disrespectful brat, your mother didn¡¯t even speak, and here you are blabbering nonsense.¡± The middle-aged man became frustrated and angry, seeing the food he was about to have vanish before his eyes. Chapter 45 - 45 Great Harmony Restaurant F{h*F5/( V hapter 45 Great Harmony Restaurant ¡°Uncle, as a grown man, how can you have such thick skin?¡± Faced with the menacing middle-aged man, Xuexue wasn¡¯t afraid at all and even started to shout loudly. ¡°You little brat, can¡¯t you speak properly? Is it wrong to want a taste? Why can others have a taste, but I can¡¯t?¡± The middle-aged man argued with complete conviction, growing more indignant as he spoke, his face puffing up with anger. ¡°Those who ask for a taste only eat one or two river snails at most, and there you go, grabbing a lotus leaf to fill up? Is that how you ¡®taste¡¯? Are you not blatantly bullying us?¡± ¡°You...¡± He had thought to take advantage of the fact that they were just a woman and a little girl, assuming they would be too timid to resist and he could get away with some cheap gains. Unexpectedly, this little girl was so sharp-tongued and managed to publicly expose him, leaving the middle-aged man feeling somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t you think this ¡®uncle¡¯ here is bullying us?¡± Xuexue deliberately asked the crowd waiting in line to buy river snails and clams, raising her voice loud. ... The crowd nodded in agreement, all saying that the middle-aged man was really behaving poorly. They sympathized with the woman and her daughter, braving the cold to sell at the market and struggling to make even a few Copper Coins. ¡°You..., do you know who I am?¡± Embarrassed by the pointing fingers, the middle-aged man was getting annoyed. Stiffening his neck, he tried to retrieve some face with his status. In her past life, Xuexue had been timid and weak, rarely venturing into town, so she truly didn¡¯t recognize the man before her. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. You need to pay when you buy things.¡± Xuexue glanced at the man, indeed not recognizing him. ¡°I am a cook at the Great Harmony Restaurant. Would I covet a few rotten river snails? It¡¯s laughable.¡± The middle-aged man held his head high, nostrils flaring with arrogance. The Great Harmony Restaurant was the largest restaurant in town, usually patronized by wealthy citizens. It was beyond the reach of ordinary folks. ¡°Pfft! I thought you were some Wealthy Master Old Master! Just a cook.¡± In her past life as the Crown Princess Consort, Xuexue had even met The Emperor. Hearing the man¡¯s declaration, she involuntarily snorted, thinking: What¡¯s there to be so haughty about being a cook? ¡°You...¡± The middle-aged man, having used his usually impressive status thinking it would intimidate Xuexue into handing over the river snails, was taken aback when she showed outright disdain. Angrily narrowing his eyes, he glared at Xuexue, threw the lotus leaf on the ground, trampled on it a few times in a fit of pique, and turned around to walk away in a huff. Seeing this, the crowd queuing for river snails started advising Xuexue... ¡°Oh my! Little girl, why offend him over a few river snails?¡± ¡°True that. I¡¯ve heard that being a cook at the Great Harmony Restaurant means you have connections. You don¡¯t seem well-off, little girl, how could you compete with him?¡± The crowd could see the patches on Xuexue¡¯s cotton clothes, clearly indicating she came from a poor family. The auntie selling jewelry next door, also kind-hearted, saw the middle-aged man had walked away and hurried over to Xuexue¡¯s stall, speaking earnestly, ¡°Do you know who that man was just now, little girl?¡± ¡°I know, a cook from the Great Harmony Restaurant,¡± Xuexue replied absently. ¡°You know and you still offended him?¡± ¡°So what if I did? He does his cooking, I do my small business; we don¡¯t interfere with each other.¡± Xuexue kept on working as she spoke, continuously packing river snails for the customers. The auntie wanted to say more, but Xuexue put down her spoon, looked up at the still queuing crowd with a smile, and announced, ¡°We¡¯ve sold out of river snails and clams for today. Next time, come a bit earlier.¡± Chapter 46 - 46 The Fat Lady F{h*F5/+ V hapter 46 The Fat Lady ¡°` ¡°Oh my! We lined up for so long and still couldn¡¯t get any, such a shame, little girl, are you coming to the next market day? I just tasted both items, and they really were quite delicious,¡± a plump woman dressed in fine clothes said, looking at the two empty basins with reluctance. One look at her figure, and you could tell she was a foodie. ¡°Of course we will! Auntie, next time I¡¯ll save some just for you,¡± Xuexue spotted the valuable fabric on the woman and knew she must be wealthy. ¡°Oh, good! Great!¡± The plump woman and the crowd reluctantly dispersed. ... ¡°Mother, we made quite a lot of copper coins today.¡± Xuexue smiled broadly, looking at the full bundle of copper coins. ¡°Pack it up, let¡¯s count them when we get back, and don¡¯t let others see,¡± Madam Xie cautioned in a whisper, looking around, she was older and knew that wealth should not be flaunted. ¡°Oh.¡± Xuexue quickly grabbed a handful of copper coins to put in her bosom, packed up the rest, and put them in the bamboo basket for Madam Xie to carry home. After they had packed up, Madam Xie and Xuexue prepared to head back, having been out for most of the day and not knowing if Chuner was hungry at home. Just as Madam Xie was about to leave with their things, the auntie selling jewelry called out to them. ¡°Big sister, is there anything else you need?¡± Madam Xie stopped and turned around to ask. ¡°Sister, the next time you come, will you be at this stand? I¡¯ll hold the spot for you in advance, okay?¡± the auntie asked hopefully, looking at Madam Xie and her daughter. The business at Xuexue¡¯s stall was booming today, which had helped the auntie sell quite a bit of jewelry¡ªfar more than usual. Naturally, she wanted to keep the God of Wealth close to boost her own sales. ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you,¡± Madam Xie was simply and honestly grateful, though a bit embarrassed. ¡°No trouble, no trouble at all, it¡¯s the least I can do. After all, my home is just in town, very close by,¡± the auntie said, smiling warmly and repeatedly. ¡°Then we¡¯ll be in your debt, Auntie,¡± Xuexue, aware of the subtleties, did not hold back her gratitude. ¡°No problem, you have a long way to go, hurry home,¡± the auntie waved them off. ¡°Yes.¡± Xuexue responded and walked slowly along the street with Madam Xie. While selling river snails today, Xuexue had bought some buns to eat; she wasn¡¯t hungry, but she was thinking about Chuner back at home. As they were about to leave town, they passed by a pastry shop. ¡°Mother, wait here for me for a moment, I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Xuexue said, then turned and entered the shop. Madam Xie looked up to see it was a pastry shop, knowing Xuexue was thinking of Chuner, she smiled contently. When Xuexue came out, she was carrying a package. ¡°Xuexue, what did you buy?¡± Madam Xie stared at the package in Xuexue¡¯s hand. ¡°Pork lard cakes, Chuner¡¯s favorite.¡± Xuexue replied, placing the package in the bamboo basket and covering it a bit. Indeed, Xuexue had gone in to buy pork lard cakes for Chuner. ¡°Mother, it¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s take an ox cart back,¡± Xuexue suggested. The winter days were short, and quickly the sky had darkened considerably. ¡°Alright,¡± with the money they had earned, Madam Xie spoke with more confidence. Having worked for the Mo family for over a decade with no pay and even her dowry taken by Old Lady Mo, leading a life without any money, Madam Xie felt her spine had straightened quite a bit. Mo Family Village They reached the village by ox cart, and the sky had grown dark, with wisps of cooking smoke rising from the kitchens of every household. As they encountered several villagers on the road, these people looked at Madam Xie and her daughter with a peculiar expression, hesitating as if wanting to say something. Ultimately, they sighed, shook their heads, and walked away. ¡°` Chapter 47 - 47 On the Verge of Death Chapter 47: Chapter 47 On the Verge of Death ¡°Why have the neighbors become so strange today?¡± Madam Xie shifted the load from one shoulder to another, turned around, looked at their retreating figures, and murmured to herself. Xuexue¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Could something have happened at home? Was it Chuner? ¡°Mother, let¡¯s hurry back home.¡± With that thought, Xuexue left a word, left Madam Xie behind, and started running home as fast as she could, alone. ¡°Hey! Xuexue, you girl, run slower,¡± Madam Xie¡¯s call came from behind. With her mind full of worry for her sister, Xuexue paid no heed and kept running swiftly. ... ¡°Chuner, Chuner, your mother and sister are back. Come out quickly,¡± Xuexue shouted loudly as soon as she entered the Mo family¡¯s courtyard. ¡°Oh! After wandering about all day, you finally decide to come back?¡± Auntie Sun, her face caked with makeup, was wearing a gaudy dress, laughing and whispering with Mo Xiaoqiang gleefully at one side, looking triumphant. Now, Auntie Sun had changed her hairstyle, letting a few strands of hair fall in front of her ears, which seemed to have captured Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s attention again, and she was in a good mood. Tired of listening to Auntie Sun¡¯s gossips, Mo Xiaoqiang, upon seeing Xuexue return, also wore an expression of displeasure: ¡°Xuexue, where did you and your mother go today? No one did the chores at home, and because of that, our entire family had to go hungry this morning. It was too much.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have hands or feet? Do you all starve to death without my mother¡¯s care?¡± Anxious to find Chuner, Xuexue was too agitated to care about her tone. ¡°Husband, look, what a shrew Xuexue has become under her sister¡¯s influence,¡± Auntie Sun said provocatively, looking at Xuexue. Mo Xiaoqiang, with a displeased face, glared at Xuexue and said, ¡°You really don¡¯t know your place.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Xuexue glanced at them sidelong, snorted coldly, and ignored them, again shouting, ¡°Chuner, Chuner, where are you?¡± ¡°What are you howling for? That loss-making girl won¡¯t die. She¡¯s lying in the room,¡± Old Lady Mo came out from the house, saying impatiently. ¡°What happened to Chuner? It¡¯s not time for bed yet,¡± Xuexue looked up at the sky. Although it was dark, dinner hadn¡¯t been eaten yet, and it certainly wasn¡¯t the time to rest. Chuner usually refused to go to bed until night had fallen. Why was she asleep so early today? ¡°What could have happened? Today, you, the elder sister, played truant from cooking and went off to play instead. Mother-in-law had no breakfast and, in a fit of anger, gave Chuner a beating,¡± Auntie Sun said with pride. As long as those few mother and daughters suffered, she felt happy. Upon hearing this, Xuexue became furious and retorted to Old Lady Mo, ¡°Grandmother, how can your heart be so black? How could you bring yourself to hit Chuner when she¡¯s so small?¡± ¡°Tsk, she¡¯s just a loss-making good-for-nothing. What¡¯s wrong if the mother-in-law disciplines her? Xuexue, you, a junior, should not disrespect your elders. Has your elder sister not taught you how to respect your elders?¡± Auntie Sun was inwardly pleased with Xuexue¡¯s misfortune and purposefully stirred up trouble. Old Lady Mo, who had beaten her granddaughter until she was almost breathless, initially felt somewhat guilty, but upon hearing Aunt Sun¡¯s insinuations, her anger flared again: ¡°You little wretch, are you itching for a beating? Do I, an old maid, need you to discipline me?¡± ¡°This black-hearted and nefarious old devout woman, do you want to kill us mother and daughter before you¡¯ll be happy?¡± Xuexue was also enraged. Madam Xie, who had been following behind, carrying a basket, arrived at this point. As soon as she entered, she saw Xuexue cursing Old Lady Mo. ¡°Xuexue, have I not taught you always to respect your grandmother? Do not insult her,¡± Madam Xie set down her shoulder pole and rebuked Xuexue with a stern shout. Chapter 48 - 48 Doctor Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Doctor ¡°Mother, she hurt Chuner, who is now lying on the bed,¡± Xuexue stamped her foot in anger and cried out. The foster mother was just too blindly filial in her past life, which led to her tragic death. ¡°My Chuner!¡± Upon hearing that Chuner had been injured by Old Lady Mo, Madam Xie dropped everything, threw the carrying pole onto the ground, and rushed back to the room. ¡°Psh! A money-loser like that, worth all the fuss?¡± Auntie Sun curled her lips in disdain. ¡°Even a money-loser is better than your infertile Xiaoqiang,¡± Xuexue, who was about to follow Madam Xie inside, turned her head and coldly dropped the remark upon hearing Auntie Sun¡¯s words. In her previous life, it was almost laughable: the Mo family was so intent on finding a concubine for Mo Xiaoqiang, hoping to bear him a son to continue the family line, but ironically, Auntie Sun, after marrying into the Mo family, failed to produce any children for years. Later on, the Mo family discovered that before marrying Mo Xiaoqiang, Auntie Sun had spent a few years in the brothel in the county, entertaining a multitude of men; presumably, her womb might have been damaged, rendering her barren. ... Only afterward did Old Lady Mo come to know of it, which infuriated her to near-death. She had treasured Auntie Sun like a precious gem for years, only to learn she was a prostitute, and moreover, the sterile kind. ¡°You little cheap person, what nonsense are you speaking? It¡¯s your mother who can¡¯t bear children,¡± Auntie Sun retorted indignantly after Xuexue had vanished. ...... ¡°Bang.¡± Madam Xie forcefully pushed open the door of the thatched cottage, only to see Chuner lying on the bed with her eyes tightly shut, her face devoid of color. She hurried to the bedside, calling out, ¡°Chuner, Chuner, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°Mother, have you returned? It hurts so much,¡± Chuner faintly responded upon hearing Madam Xie¡¯s cries. ¡°Let mother have a look.¡± With a pained expression, Madam Xie lifted Chuner¡¯s clothes, revealing scars all over her body. The back was especially covered in a large stain of blood. Perhaps because of the time passed, the clothing had stuck to the wounds. As Madam Xie gently moved it, Chuner couldn¡¯t help but cry from the pain. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t move, please hurry and fetch the doctor,¡± Xuexue, who came in and saw the situation, quickly stopped Madam Xie. ¡°Yes, yes, the doctor,¡± Madam Xie was frantic. Luckily, Xuexue reminded her. She stood up shakily, her face panicked, and said, ¡°Xuexue, hurry, go.¡± Madam Xie then rushed out again to call for a doctor. Xuexue sat beside the bed, looking at the lifeless Chuner, filled with regret. If only she had taken her to the market earlier: ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid Chuner, Mother has gone to fetch the doctor.¡± At that moment, faint sobs from Madam Xie could be heard. ¡°Be good, Chuner. Sister will go pour you some water to drink,¡± Xuexue guessed trouble had befallen her mother once more. She thought of stepping out to take a look, unwilling to let her mother be at a disadvantage. ¡°Mm! Sister, come back quickly, Chuner is scared,¡± Chuner murmured with parched lips, still in pain from Old Lady Mo¡¯s brutal beating earlier on the day when no one was home to help her; she had not even had a drop of water, and now her life was hanging by a thread. ¡°Sister will be back soon.¡± After saying that, Xuexue turned and left. The Courtyard Old Lady Mo, grabbing Madam Xie by the arm, bellowed, ¡°You reckless woman, why call a doctor? Don¡¯t you care about the cost of silver?¡± ¡°Mother-in-law, if we don¡¯t get a doctor, I¡¯m afraid Chuner won¡¯t make it through the night,¡± Madam Xie, thinking of Chuner barely clinging to life in bed awaiting a doctor, was suddenly overwhelmed with grief and broke into loud wails. ¡°What an exaggeration, Sister, talking as if Chuner is on her deathbed, Mother-in-law only lightly scolded her,¡± Auntie Sun interjected with a mocking tone. Chapter 49: Malicious Intentions Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Malicious Intentions Soon, Xuexue arrived in the courtyard and saw Old Lady Mo tightly gripping Madam Xie¡¯s clothes, like an eagle clutching a chick, refusing to let go. She glanced around and noticed a pole lying on the ground, presumably dropped by Madam Xie in her panic. Bending over, Xuexue picked up the pole, held it tightly in her hand, then stepped behind Old Lady Mo and with a strong push, freed Madam Xie from her grasp. ¡°Oh my!¡± Caught off guard by Xuexue¡¯s sudden push from behind, Old Lady Mo stumbled and nearly fell flat on her face. ¡°You wretched girl, growing wilder by the day, even daring to push your grandmother. Do you wish to die?¡± Once Old Lady Mo regained her composure and saw that it was Xuexue, she burst into a great rage. ... ¡°Grandmother, you beat Chuner nearly to death, and my mother went to summon the doctor to save Chuner. Why did you stop her? Could it be, Grandmother, that you intentionally want to kill my sister?¡± Xuexue¡¯s words were sharp. ¡°You little wretch, what are you blathering about? Is that money-losing girl so delicate that a beating would kill her? Don¡¯t try to fool me. You just want me to give you silver to call the doctor, but tell you what, no chance,¡± Old Lady Mo looked ferocious, utterly disbelieving Xuexue¡¯s words. Indeed, this was how she commonly dealt with Madam Xie, a small beating every day, a severe one every three days. Still, Madam Xie was alive and well, but Old Lady Mo forgot that Chuner was only five years old, and already malnourished, her physique couldn¡¯t withstand such harsh beatings. ¡°We don¡¯t need you to pay, Mother-in-law, please let me summon the doctor,¡± Madam Xie cried miserably, her appearance pitiful. ¡°Hmph, summon what doctor? No summoning allowed, and do not think about wasting the Mo family¡¯s silver on a money-losing girl.¡± Old Lady Mo glared fiercely, utterly refusing to relent. ¡°Husband, Husband, please beg Mother-in-law to bring a doctor back, our Chuner is dying,¡± Madam Xie rushed forward and clung desperately to Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s legs, shaking them hard. Mo Xiaoqiang bent down to help Madam Xie up and wiped her tears with his sleeve, his tone slightly annoyed, ¡°Wife, don¡¯t overreact. Your wailing is bad for Mother¡¯s reputation. Chuner will be fine; she just needs to rest for a few days.¡± ¡°Husband, what are you saying? Are you blaming me for falsely accusing Mother-in-law? If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go and see for yourself; Chuner is nearly dead,¡± Madam Xie, heartbroken, cried even more bitterly. ¡°Hehehe...¡± Amidst the noisy chaos, Auntie Sun covered her mouth with her hand and let out a sharp, mocking laugh, which sounded particularly jarring. All the members of the Mo family couldn¡¯t help but turn their heads to look at her. ¡°Hehehe... Sister, what a clever scheme. I knew long ago you resented Mother-in-law, and today, you used Chuner¡¯s situation to ruin Mother-in-law¡¯s reputation as revenge for her frequent beatings, didn¡¯t you?¡± Auntie Sun laughed triumphantly, thinking that her words would ensure that the old lady would not spare Madam Xie. Humph! She would suffer now. Indeed, upon hearing this, Old Lady Mo instantly flew into a towering rage, her hands on her hips, she glared venomously at Madam Xie and yelled, ¡°This shameless, evil-minded woman, indeed harboring malicious intentions to tarnish my reputation. Today, I must beat you again to see if you will behave.¡± Having said that, she rolled up her sleeves, ready to pounce on Madam Xie. Xuexue, holding the pole, quickly positioned it in front of Madam Xie and said coolly, ¡°Grandmother, if you dare to hit my mother, I won¡¯t be polite anymore.¡± Chapter 50: 50 Lawless Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Lawless ¡°How dare you! You little bitch, becoming more lawless by the day, you actually hit an elder with a carrying pole?¡± Old Lady Mo stopped in her tracks, trembling with rage. ¡°It¡¯s not that Xuexue has no respect for elders, it¡¯s that you¡¯ve pushed us too far, leaving no space for us, a mother and her daughters.¡± With a carrying pole in hand, Xuexue ensured that for the moment, Old Lady Mo dared not come any closer. ¡°Mother, you must hurry and fetch the Doctor, and while you¡¯re at it, please bring the village head as well,¡± Xuexue, glancing sideways, instructed Madam Xie. ¡°What do we need the village head for?¡± Hearing Xuexue ask her to fetch the Doctor, Madam Xie was delighted but also utterly bewildered. ¡°Mother, if you don¡¯t bring the village head, even if we have the Doctor come, I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t be allowed through the Mo family¡¯s gates, let alone save Chuner,¡± Xuexue said with a meaningful glance at Old Lady Mo and the others. ... ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll go right away.¡± Madam Xie scrambled to her feet, wiped the tears and snot off her face with her sleeve, and ran towards the gate as fast as she could. ¡°Madam Xie, you wretched woman, if you dare run out, don¡¯t even think about coming back to the Mo family,¡± Old Lady Mo wanted to intercept Madam Xie, but she was wary of the carrying pole in Xuexue¡¯s hand, and thus could only hop in place and curse towards the gate. Madam Xie, determined to save Chuner who was lying on her deathbed, dashed away with all her might and was soon out of sight, much less within earshot of Old Lady Mo¡¯s curses. With her mother successfully gone to fetch the Doctor, Xuexue carelessly threw the carrying pole onto the ground and turned to enter the kitchen as if no one else was there, poured a cup of water and returned to the room without a sideways glance. She still needed to take care of Chuner and had no time to waste here in a pointless argument with them. ¡°Qiangqiang, look, just look at this damned girl, she¡¯s become completely uncontrollable,¡± Old Lady Mo pointed at Xuexue¡¯s receding figure, her whole body shaking with fury. This damned girl had changed completely since she woke up from her fever last time, constantly opposing her; Old Lady Mo was so angry she could spit blood. ¡°Mother, Xuexue, she...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk about how young she is, my ears are calloused from hearing it. She¡¯s not young, she¡¯s fourteen, practically an adult,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s words were cut off by Old Lady Mo¡¯s impatient interruption. ¡°Yes! Husband, we can¡¯t let Xuexue continue like this. Otherwise, it¡¯s our Mo family¡¯s reputation that will be lost,¡± Auntie Sun, who had an ear bitten off by Xuexue, and harbored venomous grudge, quickly spoke up with a cunning gleam in her eye. ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang asked, turning his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t Xuexue almost of age? We should find her a match as soon as possible and marry her off. Then, even if she shames us, it won¡¯t concern the Mo family anymore,¡± Auntie Sun suggested, pretending as if she genuinely had the Mo family¡¯s best interests at heart. Mo Xiaoqiang was worried, saying, ¡°Xuexue is only fourteen, her mother won¡¯t agree to her marrying so early.¡± Old Lady Mo, fuming beside him, glared fiercely and said in a gruff voice, ¡°Since when does that stinking woman get to disagree? I think this is a good idea.¡± In the end, she turned to Auntie Sun and said, ¡°You know many people, keep an eye out for a suitable family for that damned girl. The sooner she¡¯s married off, the better.¡± Upon hearing this, Auntie Sun¡¯s heart leapt with joy, and she hastily replied with a flattering smile, ¡°Mother-in-law, I will make sure this matter is handled properly, please rest assured.¡± Seeing his mother had agreed, Mo Xiaoqiang said nothing more. Just then, Madam Xie came in hurriedly with several people. ¡°You stinking...,¡± Old Lady Mo began to unleash her anger upon seeing her, but quickly restrained herself as she noticed the village head among the group, instantly changing her scowl to an uglier smile than crying and said sheepishly, ¡°Village head.¡± Chapter 51: 51 Village Head Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Village Head The village head, around fifty years old, of average height and lean, was dressed in a blue cloth outfit and looked very spirited. His face darkened and his eyes glared as he said to Old Lady Mo, ¡°Auntie, I heard you severely injured Chuner?¡± ¡°Hehe..., that¡¯s not true, village head. I¡¯m very kind-hearted, don¡¯t listen to that nasty old maid¡¯s nonsense,¡± Old Lady Mo said with a sheepish laugh, while also taking the opportunity to glare fiercely at Madam Xie. It was all the fault of that meddlesome old maid for actually alarming the village head and causing him displeasure. Once the village head left, she would surely punish her severely, thinking bitterly in her heart about whether she would dare to defy her again. ¡°Hmph! Whether it¡¯s true or not, we¡¯ll know once Doctor Xu has a look,¡± the village head snorted coldly. Old Lady Mo often bullied her eldest daughter-in-law, which he knew about, yet Madam Xie was so virtuous and had never complained about her, so he didn¡¯t feel it was right to interfere in family matters. Today, if Madam Xie were not driven to desperation, she would definitely not have come to him, and the village head knew it was impossible not to intervene. ... ¡°Doctor Xu, Chuner is lying in the room, please go check on her quickly,¡± Madam Xie urged, her hands anxiously wringing together, afraid that Old Lady Mo would stop the doctor from entering to treat Chuner. ¡°Alright, I will go have a look,¡± Doctor said. Doctor Xu, who was carrying a medicine chest, was an old man past the age of fifty. He bowed to the village head and followed Madam Xie to their thatched hut. ¡°Hurry on, Doctor Xu,¡± the village head called out and stepped forward to follow and have a look himself. Old Lady Mo quickly blocked him and said with a smile, ¡°Village head, why enter those filthy places? Why not come inside the main hall and have some tea?¡± ¡°Auntie, your granddaughter is barely clinging to life after you beat her, and you¡¯re in the mood for tea?¡± The old woman¡¯s attitude was outrageous, increasing the village head¡¯s dissatisfaction with Old Lady Mo. Old Lady Mo¡¯s face stiffened momentarily, then she smiled again and said, ¡°Children being disobedient and getting beaten happens in every household. It¡¯s just that Madam Xie is making a mountain out of a molehill, village head, please don¡¯t take it against me.¡± The village head¡¯s expression darkened even further as he said coldly, ¡°In other homes, they only scold lightly, but you, you beat her nearly to death. Chuner is still so young, what kind of grandmother are you? This is utterly disgraceful.¡± Having said that, he turned and followed Doctor Xu without looking back, going to check on Chuner. ¡°This...,¡± Old Lady Mo¡¯s face turned a mix of colors, gloomy and severe. She turned her head and glared fiercely at Mo Xiaoqiang, gritting her teeth as she said, ¡°Qiangqiang, look at your wife. She can¡¯t produce a son, yet she dares to fetch the village head to suppress me.¡± ¡°Husband, this time your sister really went too far. She shouldn¡¯t let our mother-in-law lose face in front of the village head,¡± Auntie Sun added fuel to the fire whenever she could. ¡°Qiangqiang, listen to your mother, divorce that barren old maid,¡± spurred on by Auntie Sun, Old Lady Mo became even angrier. ¡°Mother, isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang hesitated. Although Madam Xie hadn¡¯t borne a son, she had given him three daughters. He had just taken a concubine and now to divorce his legal wife might cause the neighbors to criticize him behind his back for being fickle. ¡°What¡¯s so bad about it? Since she can¡¯t produce offspring, just divorce her. Besides, you now have Auntie Sun. What need do you have for that foul old maid?¡± Old Lady Mo said with ruthless finality. Actually, this plan had been in her mind for a long time. Driving Madam Xie away would mean Xuexue and Chuner would also leave, instantly reducing the Mo family¡¯s mouths to feed by three. Just thinking about it made Old Lady Mo happy. Upon hearing this, Auntie Sun was overjoyed internally, amazed that just a few words had led to the demotion of the legal wife. Chapter 52: 52 Get Out of the Mo Family Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Get Out of the Mo Family Inside the thatched cottage After Xuexue finished giving Chuner water and helped her lie down and covered her with a blanket, she had just sat down when Madam Xie hurried in with Doctor Xu. Standing by the bed, Xuexue quickly made room, ¡°Doctor, please come and check on Chuner, she keeps saying it hurts.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Doctor Xu put down his medicine box from his shoulder and sat down by the bed. ... Madam Xie hurried forward to help, lifting Chuner¡¯s clothes to give Doctor Xu a clearer view. ¡°Doctor, Chuner¡¯s body is covered in wounds, but, the most serious are on her back, the flesh and clothes have fused together, what can we do?¡± As she spoke, Madam Xie began to wipe her tears again, heartbroken at her daughter¡¯s painful state. ¡°Hiss!¡± Upon seeing the wounds, Doctor Xu couldn¡¯t help but gasp, shaking his head and said, ¡°Oh! How could Old Lady Mo be so harsh, Chuner is her own granddaughter.¡± ¡°That old woman, places more importance on males and looks down on us women,¡± Xuexue said angrily. ¡°Sigh!¡± Since it was someone else¡¯s family matter, Doctor Xu couldn¡¯t say much, just sighed and shook his head. At this time, the village head also came in, ¡°Doctor Xu, how is Chuner¡¯s condition?¡± After examining the wounds and checking her pulse, Doctor Xu shook his head, looking compassionately, and said, ¡°Ah! I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s more bad news than good. The beating on her back has blurred the flesh, and most importantly, her internal organs have been damaged too. I will prescribe some medicine, for external and internal use, if she can survive three days, then she might be out of danger.¡± Upon hearing this, Madam Xie couldn¡¯t help crying out, ¡°Doctor, you must heal Chuner, she¡¯s still so young.¡± Doctor Xu: ¡°Madam Xie, please stop crying. Whether Chuner can survive this critical condition depends on you now.¡± Madam Xie fought back her tears and nodded in agreement, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Now, hurry and bring some warm water. I need to remove the clothes stuck to Chuner¡¯s back before applying the medicine. Otherwise, if it takes too long and gets inflamed, it will be even more troublesome,¡± Doctor Xu instructed, frowning as he looked at the clothes fused with the flesh. ¡°Ah! I¡¯ll go right away.¡± Upon hearing this, realizing the gravity of her daughter¡¯s life and death, Madam Xie raced out without even wiping her tears away, like the wind. ¡°Mother, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Xuexue also chased after her. The courtyard The members of the Mo family were all eagerly waiting in the courtyard. Madam Xie ran out swiftly, heading through the courtyard to the kitchen to fetch a basin of warm water for Doctor Xu. ¡°You worthless woman, get out of the Mo house tomorrow!¡± Upon seeing Madam Xie come out, Old Lady Mo, unable to suppress her anger, immediately burst into curses. ¡°Mother-in-law, what are you saying?¡± Madam Xie, who was running fast, stopped upon hearing the curse, and stared at Old Lady Mo in disbelief, questioning whether she had heard wrong. ¡°Telling you to get out of our Mo house by tomorrow, such a daughter-in-law is too much for us to bear,¡± Old Lady Mo, hands on her hips, shouted angrily. Upon hearing these words, Madam Xie, already devastated, felt as if struck by thunder, ¡°Mother-in-law, what wrong have I committed that you must divorce me?¡± ¡°Hmph! Not being able to produce a son is reason enough.¡± ¡°...¡± Madam Xie, upon hearing this, was speechless, stood stunned for a moment, then turned and walked into the kitchen to fetch water, fully aware that at this moment, her younger daughter¡¯s life was more important. ¡°Hmph! Daring to challenge me?¡± As she watched the distraught Madam Xie, Old Lady Mo sneered slightly, feeling somewhat pleased with herself. ¡°Old woman, the village head is still inside. It¡¯s not appropriate to speak like this at this time,¡± Old Master Mo said, tugging at her arm. ¡°What¡¯s there to be scared of? These are our Mo family¡¯s domestic affairs, and as the village head, he should speak reasonably too,¡± After scolding Madam Xie, Old Lady Mo¡¯s anger seemed to subside somewhat. Chapter 53: 53 Mo Xiaoqiang Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Mo Xiaoqiang Xuexue, who followed behind, furrowed her brows upon hearing Old Lady Mo¡¯s words and quickly devised a plan. ¡°Grandmother, you beat Chuner to severe injury and now you also want to divorce my mother. Aren¡¯t you trying to force us, mother and daughters, to our deaths? Wahhh... Mother, your life is so bitter!¡± Suddenly, Xuexue stepped out from a hidden spot, crying bitterly while wailing like a ghostly howl, startling everyone from the Mo family. ¡°Xuexue, what are you doing?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang intended to stop Xuexue¡¯s wailing. The village head was still in the house, and indeed what their Mo family had done was unsavory. If he overheard, it would not be good. ¡°You¡¯re not my dad, can you control me?¡± Xuexue continued to cry loudly, her volume increasing with each howl. ... ¡°You damn girl, are you delirious with fever again? Talking nonsense? If I¡¯m not your dad, then who is?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang couldn¡¯t help but become exasperated. If word of this spread, others would mock him as a cuckold. ¡°You¡¯re about to divorce my mother, and I want to go with her. In the future, if Mother marries someone else, naturally I¡¯ll call that person ¡®dad¡¯. What kind of dad do you count as?¡± While crying, Xuexue articulated her words clearly. This man¡¯s fickleness was despicable. She would not let him have an easy time, even if it was just tormenting him mentally. ¡°Xuexue, you damn girl, if you keep spouting nonsense, do you believe your dad will beat you?¡± Maddened, Mo Xiaoqiang was genuinely furious. Indeed, which man would tolerate his wife marrying someone else? Even if he had divorced her and no longer wanted her, he could not stand another man laying a finger on her. ¡°Husband, what are you doing?¡± Auntie Sun saw her own husband becoming furiously agitated upon hearing that Madam Xie would remarry, and she felt extremely uncomfortable. ¡°That damn Xuexue is spouting nonsense and has angered me to death,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang complained, still huffing with anger even as Auntie Sun clung to him tightly. ¡°Are you having second thoughts, Husband? Not wanting to divorce my sister?¡± Auntie Sun was infuriated and deliberately glanced at Old Lady Mo. ¡°Divorce, that wretched woman, our Mo family has decided,¡± Old Lady Mo said hastily upon seeing that Auntie Sun was unhappy, ¡°Qiangqiang, come, let¡¯s go to the room and write the divorce letter.¡± ¡°Mother, can we possibly delay this matter and discuss it later?¡± Having just heard what Xuexue said, Mo Xiaoqiang was somewhat reluctant. Even if he was just raising Madam Xie without any benefit, he did not want to see her remarrying someone else. Moreover, Madam Xie was a virtuous woman, single-handedly managing the affairs of both halls of the Mo family. Upon hearing this, Auntie Sun feared that waiting longer would lead to complications. If Mo Xiaoqiang didn¡¯t divorce Madam Xie, she would remain a concubine for life, with no hope of improving her status. ¡°Husband, perhaps there¡¯s already a son in my womb,¡± Auntie Sun said to Mo Xiaoqiang, but her eyes were fixed on Old Lady Mo, knowing the old lady¡¯s eager desire for a grandson would certainly fulfill her wishes. True enough, upon hearing this, Old Lady Mo did not hesitate for a moment and dragged Mo Xiaoqiang towards the house: ¡°Qiangqiang, come on, let¡¯s write the divorce letter. That barren old hen, whoever wants her can have her, our Mo family doesn¡¯t care for her!¡± ¡°Ah! Mother, slow down a bit.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s cries of distress echoed from the house. The corners of Auntie Sun¡¯s mouth curled up, revealing a sly smile of success. She thought to herself that, after all, she¡¯d spent time in a brothel, and these village wives were no match for her. Hearing the ghastly wailing from the courtyard, the village head grew curious and stepped out of the house to see Xuexue crying tragically. He asked, ¡°Xuexue, weren¡¯t you supposed to help your mother with the warm water? Why are you crying here?¡± Chapter 54: 54 Schemes Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Schemes ¡°Uncle Village Chief, you must stand up for my mother! Grandmother said she is going to divorce my mother, and she is planning to kick her out of the house tomorrow.¡± Seeing the village head come out of the house, Xuexue blurted out Old Lady Mo¡¯s plans without a second thought. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because of my rebirth, but some things are different from my previous life, such as what happened to Chuner today; that never happened in my previous life. Indeed, in her previous life, Xuexue was timid and rarely went to town, let alone sold river snails there. As soon as the village head heard this, he was not pleased. He had not yet left the Mo family home, and yet they dared to act so rashly. He turned his head and stared coldly at Old Master Mo and asked, ¡°Old Master, is what Xuexue says true?¡± ¡°This...¡± ... Old Master Mo was at a loss for words and couldn¡¯t help feeling annoyed at Old Lady Mo for being too hasty. Even if they wanted to divorce Madam Xie, they should have waited until after the village head left. At that moment, Madam Xie came out carrying a basin of water, her head lowered, not uttering a word as she walked past him. ¡°Mother, let me help you.¡± Xuexue, who had just been crying loudly, instantly fell silent when she saw Madam Xie, stepped forward swiftly, took the basin of water from her hands, and entered the room with her. Doctor Xu was still waiting for warm water to clean Chuner¡¯s wounds before applying medicine. Madam Ruan and Xiuzhi were stunned, thinking to themselves that Xuexue, that little cheap person, had suddenly become so calculating. They would have to be more cautious of her from now on. ¡°Hmph! We will settle this matter later,¡± the village head said gruffly, more worried about Chuner¡¯s injuries. With that, he turned and went back into the room. ¡°This...¡± Old Master Mo looked troubled as he watched the village head¡¯s retreating back. ¡°Old man, it¡¯s done, it¡¯s done! Qiangqiang has finished writing the divorce document,¡± Old Lady Mo excitedly emerged from the main hall, her face beaming with joy. ¡°Ah!¡± Old Master Mo gave her a dark look and remained silent. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I¡¯m telling you, I am resolved to divorce that stinking woman, Madam Xie. Just now, you didn¡¯t object either,¡± Old Lady Mo blew on the ink of the freshly written divorce document to dry it. ¡°Mother-in-law, let me see it.¡± Unlike Old Master Mo¡¯s grim expression, Auntie Sun¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement at the sight of the divorce document. She snatched the paper from Old Lady Mo¡¯s hands, her excitement palpable. ¡°Can you even read?¡± Old Lady Mo was surprised. Could it be that she had dumb luck and her son had married a talented woman? In this era, aside from the daughters of wealthy families and prestigious clans, ordinary women were not privileged to attend the Academy. ¡°I can¡¯t read, but just looking at the piece of paper makes me happy,¡± Auntie Sun replied with a grin too wide to close, as though she were holding a pile of gold, carefully admiring the document. This divorce document was crucial for her future happiness; with it, and the divorce of Madam Xie, she would have the chance to become the legal wife. ¡°Pfft.¡± Old Lady Mo sneered dismissively, unimpressed. What¡¯s the use of just looking at a piece of paper if you can¡¯t read? ¡°Old woman, the village head knows we¡¯re going to divorce Madam Xie, and he¡¯s not happy. What are we going to do?¡± Old Master Mo¡¯s face darkened even more. ¡°He... how did he find out?¡± ¡°That girl Xuexue made a scene here, crying and wailing, and it disturbed him,¡± Old Master Mo said, a headache evident on his face. ¡°That little cheap person is causing trouble again. I¡¯ll flay her skin sooner or later,¡± Old Lady Mo said, her face contorting with rage upon hearing this. ¡°Mother-in-law, has Xuexue been possessed? She¡¯s so different from before,¡± Madam Ruan said deliberately. ¡°You¡¯re a married woman; if you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, then don¡¯t spout nonsense. Possessed? Xuexue is acting this way because her father took a concubine, and that¡¯s hurt her,¡± Old Master Mo glared fiercely at Madam Ruan, fed up with her idle chatter. Chapter 55: 55 A Face of Gloom Chapter 55: Chapter 55 A Face of Gloom Inside the house Chuner had been beaten by Old Lady Mo until she was drenched in cold sweat, her pain searing. ¡°Mother, Chuner is in so much pain, am I going to die?¡± Although it was clearly winter, Chuner¡¯s pain soaked all her hair, her small face scrunched up in agony. Madam Xie was in extreme grief, tears and snot streaming down her face as she wept, ¡°Chuner, be good, just endure a little longer, it will be better soon.¡± Madam Xie knew very well, no matter how painful, she could only ask her young daughter to endure; if the wounds were not tended to and became inflamed, the consequences would be unthinkable. The scene inside the house was heartbreaking; no one from the Mo family even thought to come and see them, not even Mo Xiaoqiang, the girls¡¯ own father. He was not only indifferent to his daughter¡¯s life and death, but he even had the nerve to think about divorcing his wife. The village head felt very angry with the actions of the Mo family members. ... Xuexue saw that Uncle Village Chief had a grim expression on his face and knew that her wailing in the yard earlier had had an effect. She quietly pulled Uncle Village Chief aside and whispered, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, with grandmother and father treating us this way, you must stand up for us. Otherwise, we, a few mother and daughters, will have no way to survive.¡± Xuexue¡¯s calm demeanor surprised the village head. He turned his head to glance at the panicked Madam Xie and Chuner, who was crying out in pain, before turning back, puzzled, and asked, ¡°At a time like this, you still have the mind to talk about this?¡± ¡°Of course I have to talk about it, otherwise by tomorrow, my mother will be driven out.¡± Xuexue knew that being so calm as a little girl amidst such a major crisis indeed might raise suspicions, so she added, ¡°My mother is now so frightened that she can¡¯t make any decisions. As her daughter, of course, I must think on her behalf; otherwise, if we get thrown out of the Mo family in this freezing cold, wouldn¡¯t we have only a dead end?¡± Upon hearing this, the village head suddenly came to his senses and nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, Xuexue, you¡¯ve truly grown up, knowing how to protect your mother.¡± ¡°Then, Uncle Village Chief, you...?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Uncle will definitely see that justice is done for you, and won¡¯t let them drive you mother and daughters out.¡± Xuexue was so filial, and the village head truly liked her from the bottom of his heart. ¡°Don¡¯t let them.¡± As soon as Xuexue heard this, she couldn¡¯t help but cry out. ¡°Don¡¯t let them? What do you mean, Xuexue?¡± The village head turned his head, looking at her with confusion. ¡°Uh! Uncle Village Chief, what I mean is, let them separate us mother and daughters from the family, let us live on our own, life and death unrelated to them.¡± Realizing she had reacted too intensely, Xuexue quickly composed herself and explained. ¡°Live on your own?¡± The moment Xuexue said this, it indeed gave the village head a start: ¡°Xuexue, living on your own, what can you mother and daughters do for a living? It would be better to stay with them.¡± The village head¡¯s words were not without reason; even if they received some provisions from the Mo family now, come next spring, the work in the fields would be arduous. Could they, several weak women, handle it? He feared that, in the end, mismanagement might lead to no harvest and starvation. ¡°Anyway, we might eventually be beaten to death by grandmother if we stay in the Mo family, so rather than that, we mother and daughters might as well strike out on our own and try. We might have a chance to survive.¡± Xuexue had a determined, all-or-nothing look. The village head turned to glance at Chuner, who had fainted from pain on the bed, and immediately understood. He sighed inwardly, ¡°Such hard lives.¡± ¡°Alright, Xuexue, Uncle promises to help you, but I hope you won¡¯t regret today¡¯s decision in the future.¡± The village head was still full of concerns, after all, his decision would affect the fate of the mother and daughters. Chapter 56: 56: Medication Costs Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Medication Costs ¡°Life and death are predestined, and I would never blame Uncle Village Chief,¡± Xuexue said with conviction. ¡°This is a serious matter, Xuexue, don¡¯t you want to discuss it with your mother first?¡± The village head was still somewhat worried, for Xuexue, as decisive as she was, was only an uneducated little girl. Xuexue glanced back, seeing Madam Xie frantic and clumsily wiping the sweat from Chuner, who had fainted from pain. ¡°No need! With mother in this state, discussing it with her would be futile.¡± In fact, Xuexue had long made up her mind. She purposely kept her foster mother in the dark, planning to inform her only when everything was set in stone. Otherwise, given Madam Xie¡¯s timid nature, always fearing this or that, they would definitely not be able to break away from the Mo family. Thinking that Xuexue was being considerate by not troubling her mother, the village head nodded in agreement and said, ¡°Hmm, that may be best.¡± ... Doctor Xu applied medicine to Chuner¡¯s back and rubbed medicated oil on her limbs. He left behind several packets of herbal medicine and gave Madam Xie some instructions before he began packing up his medicine chest. ¡°Madam Xie, take good care of Chuner in the coming days. If she can get through three days, she¡¯ll be fine,¡± Doctor Xu said while packing up his medicine chest. Madam Xie¡¯s face was full of gratitude: ¡°Eh! All right, thank you, Doctor Xu.¡± Hauling the medicine chest onto his shoulder, Doctor Xu responded: ¡°Take good care of Chuner. If there¡¯s anything, let Xuexue come find me.¡± ¡°Okay! Doctor Xu, how much silver is needed for the medicine?¡± Madam Xie, bending over, adopted a very humble posture. With Chuner covered in wounds and requiring so much medicine, the copper coins gained from selling river snails that day were certainly not enough. Madam Xie was anxious because she knew the Mo family was unlikely to pay for Chuner¡¯s medical treatment. ¡°This...¡± Doctor Xu glanced at the village head, his expression clearly troubled. I mean, he couldn¡¯t very well not take silver for the treatment¡ªsome of the medicine had in fact cost him real money, bought from the town. But to ask for it, with the village head eyeing him like a hawk right now, was equally difficult. Seeing his expression, the village head understood his predicament and said, ¡°Doctor Xu, rest assured, you being called to treat the patient doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll be at a loss. Calculate the cost, and I¡¯ll have the Mo family settle the bill later.¡± ¡°Eh! All right.¡± Upon hearing this, Doctor Xu was relieved. He did a quick calculation and said, ¡°Two taels and five qian, I¡¯ve given the lowest price for the medicine.¡± Then, after a pause, he added: ¡°Chuner¡¯s injuries are severe, and I had to use the best medicine. Otherwise, I fear I couldn¡¯t have saved her, and that would have cost a life.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± The village head nodded in understanding. He had witnessed Chuner¡¯s injuries with his own eyes. Old Lady Mo¡¯s heart was too cruel. To think that she could treat her own granddaughter with such brutality! Upon hearing that just the cost of the medicine was two taels and five qian, Madam Xie¡¯s legs nearly gave out beneath her. Thankfully, Xuexue reacted quickly, stepping forward to steady her mother and said, ¡°Mother, don¡¯t worry, Uncle Village Chief is here. He¡¯ll take care of us.¡± The village head glanced at Xuexue and told Madam Xie, ¡°Take good care of Chuner here. Don¡¯t worry about the medical fees, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Having said that, he turned and, with Doctor Xu, strode out of the room. ¡°Thank you, village head, you really are a good person!¡± Even after the village head had left, Madam Xie still stood in place, muttering to herself with a grateful expression. ¡°Mother, you stay in the room and watch over Chuner. I¡¯m going to have a few words with Uncle Village Chief.¡± Knowing the village head had gone to Old Master Mo to speak on their behalf about the separation, Xuexue hastily made up an excuse, wanting to sneak over to see what was happening. ¡°Eh! The village head has really helped us out a lot, Xuexue. You must remember his kindness,¡± said Madam Xie, feeling very grateful to the village head. Today, without him, who knows if Doctor Xu would have even been allowed to enter the Mo residence to treat Chuner. Chapter 57: 57 Letter of Divorce Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Letter of Divorce Main Hall The Mo family¡¯s members welcomed the village head into the main hall with great enthusiasm, seating him in the place of honor and having Madam Ruan serve hot tea. The village head waved his hand, his face showing impatience, as he was not here to drink tea. Having no choice, Madam Ruan placed the tea on the table, then retreated to Mo Daoyan¡¯s side, where the couple pricked up their ears, eager to hear what the village head would say. ¡°Old Master Mo, you should settle Doctor Xu¡¯s medical expenses first. It¡¯s getting dark; don¡¯t delay his return home.¡± The village head gestured towards Doctor Xu, who stood by his side. It had already been late when Madam Xie had invited them, and now, after so much time spent dealing with Chuner¡¯s room, it was pitch dark outside. ... ¡°Sure, sure, Doctor Xu, how much copper coin is it?¡± Old Master Mo quickly agreed, unaware that Chuner had been beaten to within an inch of her life by Old Lady Mo and assuming it was just a superficial injury that wouldn¡¯t cost more than a few copper coins. ¡°Two taels and five qian.¡± Having waited for some time, and feeling a bit tired in the shoulders, Doctor Xu casually stated the amount as he set his medical kit down on the ground. ¡°What? Two taels and five qian? Are those some sort of divine medicine? So expensive ¨C don¡¯t you try to swindle us!¡± Upon hearing this, Old Lady Mo couldn¡¯t help but leap up, shrieking indignantly. ¡°Wife, show some respect.¡± Old Master Mo felt the sting of the expense too, but remembering that the village head was still seated nearby, he quickly rebuked Old Lady Mo. ¡°It¡¯s true, though.¡± Scolded by Old Master Mo, Old Lady Mo remained indignant, her face full of anger. ¡°Auntie, I assure you I¡¯m not swindling you. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask the village head. Chuner¡¯s injuries were severe, and only the best medicine could save her, which naturally comes at a high price.¡± Doctor Xu was displeased at being accused of swindling by Old Lady Mo and his expression darkened. ¡°That worthless creature ¨C if she died, she died, what a waste using good medicine on her, saving her is just wasting food.¡± In her anger, Old Lady Mo forgot that the village head was sitting right there and spitefully cursed. So, it turned out that saving someone was a mistake; Doctor Xu¡¯s face flushed red with anger. ¡°Slap.¡± Fed up, the village head slammed the table forcefully and furiously addressed Old Lady Mo, ¡°This is outrageous! What kind of grandmother acts like this, beating someone half to death and not only showing no remorse but also speaking such venomous words!¡± ¡°Village head, village head, don¡¯t be angry; my wife just speaks her mind bluntly, haha...!¡± Seeing the village head angry, Old Master Mo quickly stood up, chuckling nervously, as he took some silver pieces from his pocket and walked over to Doctor Xu, presenting them: ¡°Doctor Xu, thank you for your troubles today, haha...¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Doctor Xu accepted the silver with a grim face, let out a cold snort, slung his medical kit over his shoulder, and without saying a word, walked away. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, Old Lady Mo¡¯s aggravating behavior might literally be the death of him. ¡°Tsk! He was just trying to swindle our silver, and I caught him in the act, yet he dares to get angry, pah!¡± Thinking of the two taels and five qian made Old Lady Mo¡¯s heart ache, and she couldn¡¯t resist spitting in Doctor Xu¡¯s direction as he left. ¡°Haha... village head, please don¡¯t take offense; it¡¯s just the way of the woman of the house.¡± Old Master Mo tried to smooth things over. ¡°Hmph.¡± The village head had only been there for a short while, but he had taken an intense dislike to Old Lady Mo¡¯s behavior, considering Xuexue¡¯s decision to separate and live independently to be very wise. ¡°Old Master Mo, Madam Xie, how do you plan to deal with her?¡± The village head asked bluntly. ¡°This...¡± Old Master Mo was at a loss. His wife had already prepared the divorce papers, and he didn¡¯t know how to respond to the village head. ¡°They¡¯re divorced, we¡¯ve already prepared the divorce papers. That foul woman, we of the Mo family cannot afford to keep her.¡± Old Lady Mo interjected hastily. Chapter 58: 58 Auspicious Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Auspicious The village head sneered, ¡°Are you all so anxious to divorce Madam Xie, huh?¡± ¡°Indeed, that woman is bad luck; keeping her in the Mo family one more day brings misfortune. I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll jinx Auntie Sun and cause her to have no sons either. Wouldn¡¯t the main branch then be cut off?¡± Old Lady Mo was completely oblivious to the village head¡¯s displeasure, still rattling on. ¡°Exactly, Mother-in-law is right. My sister-in-law has given birth to three daughters; she¡¯s a harbinger of disaster, indeed unlucky. Our family can¡¯t bear such tribulations anymore.¡± In her eagerness to please Old Lady Mo, Auntie Sun also had the chance to belittle Madam Xie¡ªwhy wouldn¡¯t she take it? Before it ended, she elbowed Mo Xiaoqiang forcefully at her side and asked with a hidden barb in her smile, ¡°Husband, you agree, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Only a grunt of pain was heard, no response as expected. Turning her head, Auntie Sun gave him a warning glance. ... ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Having received a jab in the stomach from Auntie Sun, Mo Xiaoqiang hurriedly complied. ¡°Ha-ha... It¡¯s so ridiculous it could make one die of laughter. One can¡¯t have sons and it¡¯s contagious? You people really have thick skins, blaming everything on my mother.¡± Xuexue, who had already come in and had been listening for a while, now stood out, pointing at Old Lady Mo and the others, her cold laughter unceasing. ¡°What mischief are you up to now? Get out.¡± As soon as Old Lady Mo saw Xuexue mocking her, she became instantly furious. In this period, every time Xuexue appeared, Old Lady Mo never had it good; she had long since considered her a thorn in her side. The village head stood up, clearly unhappy, and said to Old Lady Mo, ¡°I permitted her to come in. You divorce her mother, yet you won¡¯t allow her to listen? What kind of reasoning is that?¡± ¡°My goodness! Village head, you don¡¯t know, this wretched girl is becoming wilder by the day. She doesn¡¯t even respect me, her grandmother; it¡¯s too excessive.¡± While talking, Old Lady Mo stared fiercely at Xuexue with her sharp eyes. ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t set a good example. You have none of the dignity expected of an elder, yet you expect others to respect you?¡± The village head rebutted coldly. ¡°Ah! You...¡± Old Lady Mo wanted to erupt in anger, but remembering the man was the village head, she had to hold back her displeasure and fell silent for a moment. ¡°Ha-ha! Village head, don¡¯t be angry, okay, okay.¡± Old Master Mo said with a laugh to the village head, then turned round, his face stern, ¡°Old woman, stop making a scene.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± The village head snorted coldly and sat back down. ¡°Village head, regarding the matter of Madam Xie, what is your opinion?¡± Old Master Mo, noticing that the village head had mentioned Madam Xie repeatedly, realized he had stayed back for her sake and therefore inquired cautiously. ¡°Do my words carry any weight?¡± ¡°Of course, they do. Of course, The old man listens to the village head.¡± Old Master Mo said repeatedly, joking aside, the village head might not hold a high official post, but he was in charge of several hundred people in Mo Family Village, and Old Master Mo dared not offend him lightly. ¡°Your Mo family may decide to divorce your daughter-in-law, and I, as the village head, can¡¯t stop that. But Madam Xie has labored for the Mo family like an ox or a horse for over a decade and has given birth to three daughters for your family. There¡¯s an old saying, ¡®no merit is still hard work,¡¯ right, Old Master?¡± ¡°Right, right, right, ha-ha!¡± The Old Master nodded his head incessantly. ¡°Tch! All she gave birth to are money-losers; who would want that.¡± Old Lady Mo muttered disdainfully under her breath, grinding her teeth. Old Master Mo quickly tugged at her sleeve forcefully, reminding her not to provoke the village head again. ¡°Hmph!¡± Although not convinced, Old Lady Mo stopped speaking. Chapter 59: 59 The Old Fox Chapter 59: Chapter 59 The Old Fox Village head: ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s discuss how to divide the houses, grain, and property.¡± Upon hearing this, Old Lady Mo exploded: ¡°Our family is this small, what¡¯s there to divide, nothing to divide!¡± The village head glanced at Old Lady Mo and continued, ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Mo family still have the old residence?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been uninhabited for many years and has fallen into disrepair.¡± Old Master Mo nodded as he thought of the dilapidated old residence. ¡°A bit run-down is still better than being homeless. Let Madam Xie and her two daughters move there, and divide a few acres of land for them, so they have a livelihood. Also, give them enough grain for these months, enough to last until next spring. Old Master, what do you think of this arrangement?¡± Although the village head was asking Old Master Mo, his tone was very forceful. ¡°This... to divide land for a divorced daughter-in-law? Village head, we don¡¯t have such a precedent in Mo Family Village, do we?¡± Old Master Mo said with an embarrassed look on his face. ... ¡°That¡¯s right, why should we divide our land and give grain to that wretched woman? No, we won¡¯t,¡± said the old woman angrily. Old Lady Mo didn¡¯t object to them living in the old residence, after all, the house was in such disrepair it was uninhabitable. However, when she heard they also had to give land and grain, her face immediately darkened. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no precedent. The people of Mo Family Village are all honest and have never divorced a daughter-in-law halfway. There¡¯s always an exception, isn¡¯t there?¡± The village head¡¯s tone was full of irony. ¡°This... Ah!¡± Old Master Mo knew in his heart that the Mo family was in the wrong on this matter. Madam Xie had worked hard for the Mo family for over a decade, enduring beatings and scoldings from Old Lady Mo without a complaint. Now, because she couldn¡¯t bear a son, they decided to divorce her, which was indeed improper behavior. ¡°Alright, we will do as the village head suggests and divide two acres of land for them,¡± said Old Master Mo reluctantly, and while he spoke, he turned to the side, his back towards the village head, and winked vigorously at Old Lady Mo. Old Master Mo, that old fox, thought it improper for a man of his standing to offend the village head to his face, preferring to let Old Lady Mo handle it. After all, if she misspoke, he could simply dismiss it by saying a woman of the house lacked understanding, and the issue would be settled. ¡°What?¡± Old Lady Mo was confused for a moment but quickly realized what was going on and began to bellow loudly, ¡°I disagree! Why should that wretched woman get a share of the Mo family¡¯s land? No, we won¡¯t divide it! Old man, I¡¯m telling you, I don¡¯t agree to this!¡± ¡°How dare you! The village head is still here. It¡¯s not your place as a woman to rant and rave like this.¡± Old Master Mo stood up angrily, pointing at Old Lady Mo and scolding her loudly. ¡°Ahwoo... there¡¯s no justice! For a woman divorced from the Mo family to still be given a share of our land! You good-for-nothing old fool daring to scold me ¨C life like this is intolerable!¡± Old Lady Mo simply sat down on the ground, banging her thighs with her hands, and burst into loud tears. ¡°Village head, what do you think...?¡± Old Master Mo looked at the village head with a troubled expression. For many years, the village head had managed the affairs of several hundred people in Mo Family Village and had seen all sorts of things. He knew they were putting on a charade for him, hoping to let the issue of dividing land to Madam Xie dissipate into nothing. ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t cry. Just for today¡¯s beating of Chuner alone, if this matter were to go to court, I fear you might not avoid a stint in prison,¡± the village head said to the tantrum-throwing Old Lady Mo on the floor. Old Master Mo¡¯s behavior was seen clearly by Xuexue, who then said loudly to the village head, ¡°Uncle Village Chief, it¡¯s fine, we don¡¯t need any land.¡± ¡°Really?¡± As soon as Old Lady Mo heard this, she stopped her wailing and sprang up from the ground, looking relieved. She had never found Xuexue more agreeable than in that moment. ¡°Yes, we don¡¯t want the land,¡± Xuexue said to Old Lady Mo with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Old Master Mo also sighed with relief. The village head became anxious. Xuexue, a little girl inexperienced in the ways of the world, didn¡¯t understand, but he did. He quickly said, ¡°Xuexue, don¡¯t be foolish. Without land, how will you and your mother survive in the future? Won¡¯t you starve to death?¡± Chapter 60: 60 Going to the Yamen to Lodge a Complaint Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Going to the Yamen to Lodge a Complaint ¡°Uncle Village Chief, I would like to ask a favor of you,¡± Xuexue said, her smile mysterious and inscrutable. The village head was taken aback, ¡°You girl, at such a time, what could be more important than splitting the family property? That is related to the future livelihood of you and your mother.¡± ¡°Help me write a statement of complaint.¡± ¡°A statement of complaint?¡± the village head was momentarily stunned. Not only was the village head confused, but Xuexue suddenly speaking these words also baffled the Mo family members, leaving them all wondering, what mischief is this little wench up to now? ¡°Yes, a statement of complaint,¡± Xuexue said, nodding seriously. ... ¡°Xuexue, are you thinking of suing?¡± the village head did not respond immediately. ¡°Yes, tomorrow, I intend to sue my grandmother for attempted murder,¡± Xuexue declared dramatically. Indeed, Xuexue was literate; in her previous life, when she returned to the General¡¯s Mansion, the General had specifically hired a Teacher to teach her, but now, living in the Mo family, she was seen as a village girl who couldn¡¯t recognize a single character. Suddenly claiming literacy would certainly arouse suspicion. ¡°Xuexue, do not speak such outrageous and unfilial words; she is your grandmother,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang, assuming a paternal authority, barked angrily. Xuexue curled her lip, looking disdainful as she spoke, ¡°Grandmother? Humph! Today, she nearly killed Chuner. Doctor Xu said that Chuner is still in critical condition and that only after these three days will we know if her life can be saved. Since you are loath to give up the property, we don¡¯t want it either. Keep it for your funeral. Grandmother, from today onwards, you need to pray and hope that Chuner comes to no harm. Otherwise, you might not only end up in jail but perhaps even beheaded.¡± ¡°Boom.¡± Old Lady Mo, who was gloating over having saved her family¡¯s property, went blank with fear upon hearing this. ¡°You wretched girl, not listening to your father, are you seeking rebellion?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang, seeing his mother¡¯s face turn pale and her lips white from fright, was instantly enraged. ¡°Father? You remember now that you are our father? Today, Chuner nearly lost her life, and not only did you not go see her, but you were here whispering and laughing with that vixen spirit. What¡¯s worse is that you considered divorcing mother while Chuner¡¯s life is at stake, and you were reluctant to split the property among us. Are you still fit to be our father?¡± Xuexue scoffed coldly. ¡°Split, split, will it do if we split the property among you?¡± Old Master Mo was also terrified by Xuexue¡¯s threat to report to the County Government, and he hurriedly promised. ¡°Empty promises; can I believe your words? It seems like the grandmother is the head of the Mo family,¡± Xuexue said, meaningfully glancing at Old Lady Mo. ¡°Split it, you wretched girl, do you just want two acres of land? Give it to her,¡± Old Lady Mo, also frightened by Xuexue¡¯s threat to accuse her of murder and the uncertain fate of Chuner, relented. ¡°Seeing that you are willing to give us the property, I¡¯ll consider whether or not to go to the Yamen to sue.¡± ¡°You wretched girl, are you still considering suing?¡± Old Lady Mo said in panic. ¡°It depends on my mood. If I feel good, I might not go, but if you do something to displease me, I might,¡± Xuexue, holding a strong leverage over Old Lady Mo, expressed great satisfaction. ¡°You...¡± Old Lady Mo was infuriated but dared not speak. In truth, Xuexue was not really intent on going to the Yamen to sue them; she merely wanted to scare them. With a few words, Xuexue dealt with Old Lady Mo, and the anxious village head finally relaxed. ¡°Since you¡¯ve agreed, bring out the Land Deed,¡± said the village head. Old Master Mo went back to his room to fetch the Land Deed with a gloomy face. ¡°Grandfather, and the House Deed for the old residence as well, bring it out all at once to save me the trouble of asking repeatedly,¡± Xuexue reminded loudly from behind. Chapter 61: 61 Heartache Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Heartache ¡°I understand.¡± From the main room, the feeble response of Old Master Mo echoed from afar. ¡°Xuexue, how have you turned into this? You show no respect for your elders.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang looked at Xuexue with a pained expression, feeling like he no longer recognized his daughter. The obedient and considerate Xuexue had seemed to become a completely different person since he took a concubine. ¡°Father is no different. Ever since you took a concubine, you¡¯ve become heartless and don¡¯t care about the life and death of your wife and daughter. My heart has grown cold, just following your example,¡± Xuexue said disdainfully, glancing at the seductive Auntie Sun beside him. ¡°You...¡± ... Mo Xiaoqiang was at a loss for words. In fact, it seemed to be true. Old Lady Mo, eager for a grandson, would push him and Auntie Sun into their room at every opportunity, hoping they would conceive a son soon. During this period, he had indeed been basking in Auntie Sun¡¯s gentle affections, forgetting the passing of time and neglecting his yellow-faced wife, Madam Xie. ¡°Oh dear, husband, why even bother getting upset with her? She¡¯s just a money-losing proposition,¡± Auntie Sun said contemptuously, grabbing Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s hand and placing it on her belly, ¡°We might already be expecting a son.¡± Indeed, with the amount of time they spent entangled together day and night, conceiving a child would hardly be surprising. Upon hearing this, Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s expression immediately changed from anger to joy. If it were really so, he would have liked to see if those gossipy old women in the village still dared to say that he was without heirs. ¡°Hmph! Even if you can¡¯t bear a child, you dream of having a son? Keep dreaming,¡± Xuexue muttered quietly, just loudly enough for everyone to hear. Madam Ruan and Mo Daoyan couldn¡¯t help but cover their mouths and giggle upon hearing this. As for the two in question, they were seething with rage. Auntie Sun was trembling with anger, her eyes fiercely fixed on Xuexue, ¡°You...¡± Having married into the Mo family, her aspiration was to secure her comfort by bearing a son, and now Xuexue¡¯s ominous words had Auntie Sun wishing she could flay her alive. Like a cat with its tail stepped on, Mo Xiaoqiang immediately sprang up, shouting angrily, ¡°Impertinence!¡± Xuexue widened her eyes, innocently asking, ¡°What did I say?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang was at a loss for words. He certainly couldn¡¯t admit that his daughter had just implied he was unable to father a son. As the saying goes, one is most sensitive about their shortcomings, and this was certainly not something he could voice. It was Auntie Sun who screeched, ¡°This little cheap person actually dares to curse me with infertility. Believe it or not, I¡¯ll tear that foul mouth of yours.¡± After speaking, she rolled up her sleeves, ready to go after Xuexue. At that moment, Old Master Mo came out with the Land and House Deeds, glaring at Auntie Sun, ¡°Enough, stop causing trouble. The village head is still here. What kind of decorum is this with all the noise and quarreling, you¡¯ll make us a laughing stock.¡± Xuexue surreptitiously made a face at Auntie Sun and mouthed a silent taunt, ¡°Come on, come hit me!¡± Auntie Sun understood perfectly and glared daggers at her, but was powerless to act. The village head, as the witness, personally handed over the Land and House Deeds of the old residence to Xuexue. The household registration was also promised to be settled by the village head, who would help the mother and daughter get their independence at the Yamen in a few days. Holding leverage over him, Old Master Mo also readily agreed to provide living expenses the very next day, after which the village head took his leave. Having settled the affairs, it was already late at night. The unexpected visit from the village head had scared the Mo family members into remaining on an empty stomach, not having had their dinner yet. Xuexue went into the kitchen, packed a basket with plenty of rice and dishes, and even took the cured meat that no one dared to touch on ordinary days, guessing that at this critical moment, even Old Lady Mo would not dare to pick a quarrel. Chapter 62: 62 Eating Meat Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Eating Meat Back in the room, Madam Xie sat beside the kang bed with a vacant expression, staring blankly at Chuner lying on the bed, her thoughts inscrutable. ¡°Mother, you must be hungry. Come and eat.¡± Xuexue placed the basket on the table, setting out the dishes and calling out to her mother as she did so. ¡°Xuexue, you¡¯re back? Where have you been for so long?¡± Madam Xie snapped back to reality and immediately asked. Now, her two daughters were her life, and she could not afford any mishap. Since hearing Old Lady Mo wanted to divorce her that evening, Madam Xie¡¯s spirit had started to drift. If not for her resolve to save Chuner¡¯s life, she might have already collapsed. ¡°I went to send off the village head.¡± ... ¡°Did it take that long?¡± ¡°Yes! I had a chat with him.¡± Madam Xie was somewhat surprised: ¡°You¡¯re just a little girl, what could you possibly have to talk about with the village head?¡± ¡°Mother, let¡¯s eat first. I¡¯ll tell you after we¡¯ve eaten.¡± Madam Xie thought it made sense. It was already very late, and Xuexue surely wouldn¡¯t eat unless she did. Remembering her daughter¡¯s true identity yet living in this remote and impoverished place, suffering hardships alongside her, Madam Xie felt a pang of guilt and couldn¡¯t bear to let her go hungry. Xuexue thought about revealing the truth after dinner. If she told her mother now, she would be too upset to eat. If Chuner did not recover and she collapsed, all for the unworthy men and dregs of the Mo family, it wouldn¡¯t be worth it. Madam Xie came to the table and, upon seeing it, exclaimed in panic, ¡°Xuexue, how come there¡¯s cured meat again? did you take your grandmother¡¯s cured meat? Return it quickly. If she finds out, it won¡¯t be good. Chuner has already been beaten up like this; if something happens to you, what am I to do?¡± After saying that, she reached out to put away the pieces of cured meat. ¡°Mother.¡± Xuexue pressed her hand down, preventing her from putting the meat away: ¡°Grandmother gave it to me. She said she felt uneasy for having injured Chuner and wanted to make it up to her.¡± ¡°Given by Mother-in-law?¡± Madam Xie¡¯s face filled with doubt, her eyes fixated intently on Xuexue¡¯s face: ¡°You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?¡± It was no wonder Madam Xie doubted. Having married into the Mo family for over a decade, Old Lady Mo was known to be stingy and snobbish. Even if she was in the wrong, she always maintained a sense of superiority in front of her daughter-in-law. Now, with Xuexue saying she was giving away her prized cured meat out of guilt, of course, Madam Xie didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Yes!¡± In her former life, Xuexue had been the Crown Princess Consort, accustomed to grand occasions. Taking a few pieces of Old Lady Mo¡¯s cured meat was no big deal; she felt no psychological pressure whatsoever. She stood her ground with conviction against Madam Xie¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. ¡°Xuexue, you and Chuner are my life. You can¡¯t lie to me!¡± Madam Xie asked for confirmation again and again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not deceiving you.¡± Xuexue picked up her chopsticks, placed two pieces of cured meat and some greens in her mother¡¯s bowl: ¡°Eat up. You¡¯ll need your strength to look after Chuner tonight.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Only then did Madam Xie begin to relax and start eating. She picked up a piece of cured meat from her bowl and placed it in Xuexue¡¯s: ¡°Xuexue, you eat. I don¡¯t care much for meat.¡± Xuexue knew in her heart it wasn¡¯t that her foster mother disliked meat; she was deliberately saying so to give it to her. ¡°Mother, let¡¯s have one piece each, and we¡¯ll save the rest for Chuner.¡± After saying that, she moved the meat from her bowl back to her mother¡¯s. ¡°You child.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t eat, neither will I.¡± Madam Xie smiled helplessly: ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s not pass things back and forth anymore, or it¡¯ll be dawn. Let¡¯s eat together.¡± Chapter 63: 63: The Best Soul Medicine in Time Chapter 63: Chapter 63: The Best Soul Medicine in Time After dinner, Xuexue cleared the bowls and dishes, setting aside the leftover food so that Chuner, once awake, could warm it up with boiling water and not go hungry. Normally, patients with injuries, having weak digestion, are better suited for porridge, which is easier to digest, but in the Mo family¡¯s household, where one had to always watch others¡¯ faces to get by, it was already a great fortune not to starve and resort to drinking cold water to fill one¡¯s belly. Madam Xie dared not make a fuss. ¡°Mother.¡± Having put away the bowls and dishes, Xuexue returned to the room and sat down in front of Madam Xie, her attitude very serious. ¡°Xuexue, what is it?¡± ¡°Mother, we have to move to the old residence tomorrow.¡± Xuexue decided to tell her sooner rather than later, so Madam Xie could be prepared for the news that was inevitable. ... ¡°That old residence?¡± As if she had anticipated it, Madam Xie seemed somewhat calm. ¡°The Mo Family Ancestral Home. Grandfather even gave me the House Deed.¡± As Xuexue spoke, she pulled a few sheets of paper from her bosom, picked one out, and handed it to Madam Xie: ¡°See, this is the House Deed.¡± ¡°Eh.¡± Madam Xie took the House Deed, glanced at it indifferently, and said nothing more. ¡°Mother.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Madam Xie, head bowed, murmured a response. ¡°Here is also Father¡¯s divorce document.¡± Xuexue stole a cautious look, her words even more careful. Even though she was loath to hurt her foster mother, she had to let her know this: being divorced by her husband was far better than being murdered by Auntie Sun in her previous life. ¡°What? Is he really so heartless as to divorce me?¡± Madam Xie suddenly looked up in disbelief at the divorce document in Xuexue¡¯s hand, her face already streaming with tears. ¡°Mother, you have to be strong. Chuner and I still need you to take care of us.¡± Trembling hands taking the divorce document from Xuexue, Madam Xie seemed not to hear her speaking, as she looked intently at the document, tears dropping on it until it was nearly soaked through. She murmured in a low voice, ¡°Husband, how heartless you are, to have actually written the divorce document by hand.¡± Though Madam Xie did not recognize a single large character, she was very familiar with her husband¡¯s writing after sharing over a decade of life with him. Xuexue knew that any consolation at this moment would be futile, and time would be the best balm for the soul. Her foster mother would surely endure for the sake of her and Chuner. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be sad. I¡¯m going to fetch some hot water for you to soak your feet in. Rest early, as we have to move house tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mother is fine. Chuner¡¯s fate is uncertain; Mother needs to watch over her.¡± Madam Xie sniffled, wiping the tears from her face with her sleeve, her voice full of determined strength. Xuexue looked at Madam Xie with concern: ¡°I will watch over Chuner tonight. Mother, you are distressed; better you go to sleep first.¡± ¡°No, Chuner isn¡¯t better yet, Mother must watch over her.¡± Normally timid and afraid of causing trouble, Madam Xie was heartbroken and desperate at that moment, but for the sake of her daughter, she insisted on staying strong and watching over Chuner personally. Seeing this, Xuexue stopped trying to convince her and instead went to the kitchen to fetch a basin of hot water. After helping Madam Xie soak her feet, Xuexue helped her onto the adjacent bed and tucked her in with a quilt: ¡°Mother, it¡¯s cold at night. Just sit on the bed and watch over Chuner with the quilt on. If you get sleepy, come and call me. Don¡¯t wear yourself out.¡± There were two wooden beds in the room, which is where Chuner and Madam Xie usually slept, and Xuexue¡¯s room was right next door. Madam Xie, feeling downcast, kept her head lowered and remained silent. Xuexue knew that having received the divorce document, her mother¡¯s mood must be terrible. After making sure she was well covered, Xuexue said a few words of comfort and returned to her room. After an exhausting day at the market, and another evening of upheaval, she was quite worn out. She needed a good rest, especially since they would be moving the next day. Thinking of how smoothly everything had gone made Xuexue feel somewhat pleased. Chapter 64: 64 Guilty Conscience Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Guilty Conscience The next day It was early in the morning, just when the sky was beginning to lighten, Xuexue thought about moving to the old residence today, so she got up a bit earlier, took a glance at Chuner and Madam Xie in the next room, saw that they were both safe and sound, and then went to the kitchen to wash up. The Mo family was utterly quiet, now being the winter season, the weather was cold, and most households would sleep in a bit longer, in addition to that, they had indeed stayed up late last night, probably still in their dreams. After washing up, Xuexue, just as she was about to go back to her room, suddenly remembered that due to last night¡¯s chaos, she had forgotten to retrieve the Copper Coin and pork lard cakes from the basket. Thus, she turned back and went to the yard, approached the basket and peeked inside; it was a mess, clearly someone had rummaged through it. Xuexue quickly bent over, parted the objects that were covering the top, and sure enough, it was empty, both the Copper Coin and pork lard cakes had been taken. ¡°This is outrageous, who did this? Once I find out, I¡¯ll chop off her hands.¡± ... Xuexue stomped her feet in anger, it seemed she had been busy for nothing these past few days, and was just turning to go back to her room. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she vaguely saw a sneaky figure dash past the house where Madam Ruan lived. Xuexue was puzzled and decided to follow and see. ......... ¡°Mom, mom.¡± Xiuzhi, holding a bundle in her arms, sneaked up to the door of Madam Ruan¡¯s room, softly calling out. Last night she had slept very late, Madam Ruan was still fast asleep, Xiuzhi¡¯s call was quiet as a mosquito, unheard by her. ¡°Ah! Why is she sleeping so soundly?¡± After calling several times with no response from inside, Xiuzhi grew impatient, she abandoned all caution, putting all her effort into knocking on the door: ¡°Bang, bang, bang...! Mom, Dad, open the door quickly.¡± Xuexue stepped inside, glanced at the bundle Xiuzhi was clutching, hey! It was the Copper Coin they had earned selling river snails yesterday, she chuckled to herself, truly finding what one needs without effort. Xiuzhi was anxiously looking for her parents, unaware of Xuexue standing behind her. ¡°Bang, bang, bang...! Mom, it¡¯s Xiuzhi, open the door quickly.¡± Xiuzhi, engrossed in knocking, held the bundle in one arm while vigorously pounding with the other. Xuexue silently stood behind her, stretched out her slender hand, reached forward, and easily grabbed the bundle in her hand. Xiuzhi, deeply absorbed in knocking, suddenly felt a lightness in her hand¡ªthe bundle had vanished, she turned around bewildered, and suddenly was taken aback. ¡°You... you... why are you here?¡± Already feeling guilty, Xiuzhi blurted out on seeing Xuexue suddenly behind her, her words slightly faltering. ¡°I should be asking you, how come my things are in your hands?¡± Xuexue asked, her glance cold as she scrutinized her. ¡°You... you... what nonsense are you talking about? That... that is my stuff, give it back to me right now.¡± Xiuzhi tried to calm her nerves, saying this as she reached for the bundle in Xuexue¡¯s hands. Just now, she had gone to the outhouse and on passing through the yard, remembered the basket that Madam Xie had brought back last night. She casually rummaged through it and found a large bag of Copper Coin and pork lard cakes, which made her very happy. Such a large bag of Copper Coin, she had never seen so much money in her life, and was happily trotting to discuss it with her mother when, before finding her mother, Xuexue had snatched it back, suddenly, she became frantic. Chapter 65: 65 Seeing Stars Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Seeing Stars Xuexue stepped to the side, and Xiuzhi lunged at nothing. Losing her balance, she couldn¡¯t stop herself and hit her forehead against the adjacent wall. ¡°Ouch!¡± Xiuzhi, seeing stars from the impact, let out an involuntary cry of pain. Clutching her forehead, she became furiously embarrassed and berated Xuexue, ¡°You little cheap person, not only did you steal my silver, but you dare to hit me?¡± ¡°Ah! Well, isn¡¯t that something, the thief crying ¡®catch the thief,''¡± Xuexue retorted coldly. ¡°You... who are you calling a thief?¡± Unable to snatch back the copper coin, Xiuzhi gnashed her teeth in frustration. ¡°Besides you, is there anyone else here? Not even a ghost, okay?¡± Xuexue glanced around and immediately froze. ... She inwardly howled in lamentation for invoking misfortune with her words. At some unknown time, a delicate-looking little girl had appeared by Xiuzhi¡¯s side. Her appearance was quite endearing¡ªthat is, of course, before knowing she was a ghost. And this adorable little girl was none other than the little ghost who was carried on Old Money Mo¡¯s back that day. ¡°Big sister.¡± The little girl grinned at Xuexue. Thankfully, this time no blood was flowing from her seven orifices, or else, Xuexue would have been scared sick even without any illness this early in the morning. ¡°What are you doing at my house so early in the morning?¡± Xuexue asked, eyeing the little girl. ¡°You little cheap person, what are you talking about? Give me back my silver.¡± Xiuzhi, unable to see the little girl, thought Xuexue was speaking to her. ¡°Big sister, my name is Xiao Taohong. We will see each other again.¡± With that, the little girl disappeared on the spot. Xuexue guessed she had left. Had this little ghost come to her house early in the morning just to say this one sentence? She was extremely puzzled. Seeing Xuexue standing there as if in a daze, Xiuzhi hurriedly pounced forward, trying to snatch the parcel from her embrace. Yanked forcefully, Xuexue came to her senses and immediately hugged the package tight, then, with a burst of strength, kicked out fiercely. In her past life, in order to please the Crown Prince, Zhang Ruixuan, she had learned some martial arts. Although she wasn¡¯t particularly skilled, she was still more than capable of handling Xiuzhi. ¡°Thump.¡± Xiuzhi was sent flying by Xuexue¡¯s kick, hitting the wall with a loud crash, then rolling onto the floor. ¡°Ah...!¡± Xiuzhi let out a ghostly wail of agony. ¡°Serves you right, hmph!¡± Xuexue gave a cold glance at Xiuzhi, who was writhing in pain on the ground, turned around, and walked away with the package. In the room, where Mo Daoyan and his wife were sound asleep, they were finally awakened by Xiuzhi¡¯s mournful wails. ¡°Husband, listen, isn¡¯t that Xiuzhi¡¯s crying?¡± Madam Ruan asked groggily. ¡°Mm, it does seem like it.¡± Mo Daoyan said after listening for a moment. ¡°That wretched girl, it¡¯s so early and she isn¡¯t sleeping. What is she up to?¡± Madam Ruan said as she sat up from the bed, wanting to see what trouble her daughter was getting into. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be because of last time she stole the cured meat, and our mother still holds a grudge, so she beat up Xiuzhi early in the morning, right?¡± Mo Daoyan racked his brains, but could not think of any other reason why his daughter would be crying so miserably. Ever since the birth of his son, in the Mo family, aside from Old Lady Mo daring to bully their side of the family, they were pretty much able to do whatever they wished. Madam Ruan, having dressed herself, became furious upon hearing her husband¡¯s words, turned her head, and scolded, ¡°Stealing what stealing, Xiuzhi said she didn¡¯t steal.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, if she says she didn¡¯t, then she didn¡¯t. Why are you so angry?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Turning around, Madam Ruan stepped out of the room, opening the door. ¡°Tsk! If it wasn¡¯t you all who stole it, could it be that the cured meat just flew away by itself?¡± Lying in bed, Mo Daoyan, watching Madam Ruan¡¯s retreating figure, was full of disbelief. In the Mo family, apart from his own wife, he couldn¡¯t think of anyone else with the guts to steal the meat. Chapter 66: 66 Dead Girl Chapter 66: Chapter 66 Dead Girl Madam Ruan opened the door and saw her daughter lying on the ground, screaming in pain. ¡°Xiuzhi, what happened to you?¡± ¡°Mom, Mom, that little cheap person Xuexue hit me and stole my Silver, waaah...!¡± As soon as she saw Madam Ruan come out, Xiuzhi immediately started crying and tattling. Recalling Xuexue¡¯s smiling face last night as she mentioned going to the County Yamen to accuse Old Lady Mo of murder, a chill ran down Madam Ruan¡¯s spine. This little wretch had become quite a ruthless character now. ¡°Why did you provoke her out of the blue?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t provoke her, it was that little cheap person who suddenly came up to me, hit me, and stole my Silver.¡± Xiuzhi felt extremely wronged, thinking to herself why her mother seemed afraid of that little cheap person today. ... ¡°Silver? Where did you get Silver?¡± Madam Ruan focused on the crucial point. ¡°This...¡± Xiuzhi¡¯s words faltered, her gaze wandering slightly. ¡°Ouch! You wicked girl, speak up.¡± Madam Ruan, feeling anxious, twisted her daughter¡¯s arm and demanded. ¡°Ah...! Pain... Pain.¡± Xiuzhi couldn¡¯t help but scream. She had just been kicked away by Xuexue, and the pain had not yet subsided. Now, her own mother was pinching her arm, which filled Xiuzhi with resentment. ¡°Are you really my mother? You don¡¯t defend me after others hit me, and you even pinch me so painfully,¡± Xiuzhi complained, rubbing her arm indignantly. ¡°You wicked girl, where did you get the Silver from?¡± her mother asked again. ¡°Hmph!¡± Xiuzhi snorted indignantly, turned her face away, and showed she was angry and unwilling to tell. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry anymore. I¡¯ll give you a Hairpin later, okay?¡± Madam Ruan had her ways of dealing with her daughter. ¡°Really?¡± Sure enough, the previously furious Xiuzhi brightened up at the mention of a hairpin. ¡°Really, quickly tell your mom, where did you get the Silver?¡± Securing Madam Ruan¡¯s promise, Xiuzhi recounted how she had snagged a large bag of Copper Coins and pork lard cakes from Madam Xie¡¯s basket that morning. ¡°You wicked girl, after getting the money, why didn¡¯t you hide it right away? Wailing here so early in the morning, you were bound to draw her over. Now look, the money that was practically in our hands has flown away,¡± Madam Ruan said painfully as she learned that Xuexue had snatched back a large bag of Copper Coins. ¡°You still have the nerve to blame me, sleeping like a dead pig. If you had come out earlier, wouldn¡¯t everything have been fine?¡± Xiuzhi also felt an immense regret inside, but she wouldn¡¯t admit her mistake outright. ¡°Why did I give birth to someone as foolish as you?¡± Madam Ruan was frustrated to the core. ¡°What if we find a chance to sneak into their room and steal the Copper Coins back?¡± Xiuzhi¡¯s eyes twinkled with mischief. Engaging in such schemes was a common practice between her and her mother. Madam Ruan: ¡°Steal what? They¡¯re moving out today.¡± Xiuzhi¡¯s expression faltered, and her face drooped: ¡°Huh?¡± The old residence Xuexue, carrying a bucket and a broom, came to the old residence to clean up before going back to the Mo family to move their belongings. Looking at the shabby house covered in cobwebs, no wonder Old Lady Mo was so generously offering it; a strong wind might just blow it away. However, they just needed a temporary place to stay. After the new year, Xuexue planned to repair the house properly once she had some Silver, which was a plan for the long run. Although the old residence was run-down, it had quite a few rooms ¡ª four in total. After cleaning them, it would be much better than the straw hut they were currently living in. After cleaning, Xuexue headed back the same way to the Mo family to move the items. Since Madam Xie had to look after Chuner, Xuexue had to move things by herself slowly. However, aside a few garments and a few bags of grain brought over by Old Master Mo in the morning, they had Chapter 67: 67 Doctor Xu Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Doctor Xu Xuexue returned to the Mo family and saw Madam Ruan sneaking out of Chuner¡¯s room. It had not been easy for Madam Ruan to deceive Madam Xie to leave the room. After searching through Chuner¡¯s room, she had not seen a trace of the Copper Coin. She was very unwilling to give up and left the room with a sneaky look on her face, thinking to herself that she might as well search Xuexue¡¯s room next door while Madam Xie had not yet returned. The package of Copper Coins might be there. Suddenly, just as she left the room and looked up, she saw Xuexue coming towards her, scaring her immensely. Hastily baring her teeth in a feigned smile, she said, ¡°Ah hehe... Xuexue, you¡¯re so capable; you¡¯ve cleaned up the old residence so quickly.¡± ¡°Oh! What kind of wind blew today? It actually brought a noble like auntie to our humble place,¡± Xuexue said coldly, giving her a sidelong glance. ¡°You child, what a way to talk. Chuner has been injured. It¡¯s only right for me as her aunt to come and see her,¡± she replied. Xuexue scoffed, ¡°That¡¯s a nice thing to say. People who don¡¯t know better might think you really care about family. Last night, when Chuner was hanging by a thread, not a single person from the Mo family was willing to come and check on her.¡± ... With a sideward glance, Xuexue noticed Madam Ruan¡¯s shifty eyes and realized that she harbored ill intentions. She must have learned about the incident with Xiuzhi fighting over the Copper Coin this morning and had taken the opportunity to bully the honest Madam Xie under the guise of checking the situation while she was cleaning the old residence. ¡°Thanks auntie¡± Xuexue said indifferently, turned around, and pushed the door open... ¡°Creak.¡± Soon, she slammed the door shut behind her with a bang. Inside the room, apart from Chuner lying on the bed, it was empty. Madam Xie was nowhere to be found, Xuexue was puzzled as Madam Xie wouldn¡¯t leave the room at this time, leaving Chuner alone. ¡°Chuner, where is mother?¡± Xuexue walked over to the bed and asked softly. ¡°Sister, I don¡¯t know, what¡¯s wrong with mother?¡± Chuner, sometimes lucid and sometimes drowsy, had no idea where Madam Xie had gone. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Chuner. You just focus on recovering. Once you¡¯re better, sister will take you to the market to have fun, ha!¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Chuner weakly responded, then closed her eyes again. She was having a hard time sleeping because the most severe wound was on her back; she couldn¡¯t lie down to sleep and had to sleep on her side. Accidentally bumping her back wound caused her so much pain that tears streamed down continuously, breaking Madam Xie¡¯s heart. Just then, Madam Xie entered carrying a teapot. ¡°Xuexue, you¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Mother, where did you go? You had me worried,¡± Xuexue said reproachfully. ¡°Your auntie said she wanted some tea, so I went to the kitchen to get her a pot of hot tea, huh! Xuexue, where¡¯s your auntie?¡± Madam Xie looked around, and only then did she realize that Madam Ruan was not in the room. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be foolish. She wasn¡¯t here for the tea.¡± Xuexue knew that Madam Ruan definitely had no good intentions, as expected, and had deliberately lured Madam Xie away to search for the package of Copper Coins in the room. Luckily, she had had the foresight to hide it in advance. ¡°But she clearly said she wanted tea.¡± ¡°She wanted to steal our money.¡± ¡°No way, how did she know we had money?¡± the naive Madam Xie asked, disbelieving. Xuexue, worried that Madam Xie¡¯s nai?vete? might make her reveal everything to Madam Ruan, recounted the story of Xiuzhi stealing the Copper Coin that morning and concluded with, ¡°Mother, we¡¯re about to move out of the Mo family, and from now on, we have to rely on ourselves. See how severely Chuner is injured? It will definitely cost a lot of Silver. Whatever you do, don¡¯t tell auntie about the money we made selling river snails.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, I won¡¯t talk,¡± Madam Xie finally realized and turned to look at Chuner lying lifelessly on the bed. Indeed, Xuexue knew that they couldn¡¯t hide their money-making with river snails for long, but right now their life was so hard, every moment of secrecy counted. They would deal with future problems later. Chapter 68: 68 Nagging Wife Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Nagging Wife Xuexue went to the neighbor to borrow a wooden cart, loaded it with clothes, cotton quilts, food, and all sorts of things, and then pulled it slowly to the old residence. By the time everything was in order, it was already high noon. The Mo family Old Lady Mo, having been manipulated by Xuexue into providing both medicine money and food, harbored resentment, but was helpless against Xuexue. This little wretch constantly threatened to report her to the Yamen for murder, and by her demeanor, she didn¡¯t seem to be joking. Old Lady Mo was truly afraid of her. Xuexue moved items to the old residence, leaving only Madam Xie alone in the room caring for Chuner. Glancing at the sky, seeing that high noon approached, Old Lady Mo, with her cunning eyes, stormed over to pick a quarrel. ... Arriving at the door of the thatched cottage, she raised a foot and rudely kicked open the wooden door... ¡°Bang!¡± The wooden door flew open in response. The sudden violent kicking open of the door startled Madam Xie inside, and turning around, she saw it was Old Lady Mo. ¡°Mother-in-law, what is it you want?¡± Madam Xie asked timidly, shoulders hunching. ¡°You wretched woman, treating that piece of trash last night cost me plenty of silver, and this morning, you took so much grain from our Mo family. What time is it now? Do we not need to cook? Get moving and cook already,¡± Old Lady Mo was used to being imperious in front of Madam Xie. ¡°Mother-in-law, Chuner is at a critical moment right now and can¡¯t be left alone,¡± seeing Old Lady Mo, Madam Xie was like a mouse before a cat, bowing and lowering her head, her posture very servile. Indeed, after being oppressed by Old Lady Mo for over a decade, even those with more spirit would have been worn down. ¡°How precious can one piece of trash be, just die and save us the food,¡± Old Lady Mo continued her vicious tirade. Seeing that Madam Xie remained stationary, she became even more infuriated, moved forward, stretched out her claw, and twisted fiercely on Madam Xie¡¯s waist: ¡°What are you standing there for? Go and work!¡± ¡°Ah...!¡± Taken by surprise by Old Lady Mo¡¯s twist, Madam Xie couldn¡¯t help but cry out in pain, then pleaded, ¡°Mother-in-law, stop it, I¡¯ll go, isn¡¯t that enough?¡± ¡°You dirty woman, you deserve nothing but a beating; you itch for one if you don¡¯t get it every day,¡± Old Lady Mo let go only then, hands on her hips, smugly speaking her mind. Madam Xie didn¡¯t dare to linger for a moment, immediately turned around and ran to the kitchen to cook. Picking vegetables, boiling rice, Madam Xie prepared meals for everyone in the Mo family, and then had to feed the chickens and pigs. Amidst this busyness, she still needed to rush back to the room to check on Chuner. Doctor Xu had said that these three days were critical for Chuner¡¯s life and death; she had to be watched at all times and mustn¡¯t get a fever, else, if the internal injury became inflamed, even immortals would be powerless to save her. Old Lady Mo was a mercenary person, and calculating that Madam Xie was about done with the household tasks, she walked into the kitchen and said loftily, ¡°Madam Xie, you wretched woman, let me tell you, you have been divorced by our Mo family, no longer our daughter-in-law. Today, you are not permitted to eat the meal of the Mo family, do you hear me?¡± ¡°Yes, mother-in-law.¡± Having just finished everything, Madam Xie, with her head down, untied the apron from her waist and hung it on the wall next to the door. Just at this moment, Xuexue returned with the wooden cart, and saw Madam Xie coming out of the kitchen with her head drooping. ¡°Mother, why are you out here and not looking after Chuner?¡± Xuexue casually asked. ¡°Your grandmother called me to cook,¡± Madam Xie answered honestly. ¡°Is the cooking done?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s done!¡± ¡°Great, I¡¯m starving. Mother, hurry and serve me some rice,¡± Xuexue had been busy all morning and was indeed hungry. Hearing that there was food, she was pleased. Chapter 69: 69: The Snobbish Old Woman Chapter 69: Chapter 69: The Snobbish Old Woman ¡°Xuexue, this...¡± Looking at her daughter¡¯s expectant face, Madam Xie was hesitant to speak, her expression troubled. ¡°Mother, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Seeing her foster mother¡¯s troubled look, Xuexue knew something must have happened and quickly pressed for an answer. ¡°Your grandmother said that I am no longer a daughter-in-law of the Mo family; starting from today, we are not allowed to eat the Mo family¡¯s meals.¡± ¡°That damned old hag, she¡¯s gone too far. Why didn¡¯t she say this when she asked you to work? After the work is done, then she speaks; it¡¯s clearly breaking the bridge after crossing the river.¡± Upon hearing this, Xuexue became furious. It seemed that last night¡¯s incident hadn¡¯t scared that materialistic Old Lady Mo; it all boiled down to the bullying because Madam Xie came from a poor family, and no one would stand up for her. ... ¡°Let it be, after all, she is still your grandmother,¡± Madam Xie said dejectedly before heading toward the house, clearly not having recovered from the divorce incident yet. Indeed, even if a woman hadn¡¯t attended a private school, parents would teach their daughters about ¡®the three obediences and four virtues¡¯ from a young age. Now, having been divorced by her husband¡¯s family, Madam Xie felt even more disgraced and sorry for her own family, barely having the strength to walk. Standing in the courtyard, Xuexue was seething with anger. She looked around and spotted a pile of sand at the entrance, an idea forming as a frown crossed her brow. She turned, picked up a broken jar from the ground, went to the entrance, bent down, filled it with sand, and then, with the full jar of sand in tow, stepped into the kitchen. Old Lady Mo was in the kitchen, happily getting ready for the meal. Caught off guard by Xuexue¡¯s entrance, she paused, then said, ¡°Xuexue, your grandmother is telling you, your ration was given to you all this morning; you can¡¯t eat here today, you know.¡± In fact, Old Lady Mo still held a grudge against Xuexue. The night before, not only had Xuexue tricked her into paying more than two silver coins for Chuner¡¯s medicine, but she had also taken away all the cured meat that she usually ate. Xuexue chuckled, ¡°Everything to me? That¡¯s not right, grandmother.¡± ¡°How is it not right? You ungrateful wretch, you want silver, you get silver; you want food, you get food; even the land and house have been given to you, what else do you want? Do you want to see your grandmother dead before you¡¯re satisfied, is that it?¡± Old Lady Mo had never been at a loss and had repeatedly been outwitted by Xuexue, so she had been holding back a lot of anger. Now, upon hearing Xuexue¡¯s words, she couldn¡¯t restrain herself any longer and exploded in rage. Looking at the shrill and ferocious Old Lady Mo, Xuexue laughed, ¡°Grandmother, why are you so angry? It was right for you to pay for the medicine since you injured Chuner. And as for the food...¡± Xuexue¡¯s voice dragged on, her eyes coldly scrutinizing Old Lady Mo. ¡°You... you... You brat, why are you staring at me like that?¡± Old Lady Mo felt uneasy under Xuexue¡¯s gaze. The three bags of grain given to Madam Xie and her daughter that morning indeed contained some trickery, a nasty scheme Old Lady Mo had concocted without sleeping the previous night. Outsiders might think the Mo family was very generous, even giving three large bags of grain to a divorced daughter-in-law. But Old Lady Mo knew all too well that the three large bags were full of mixed grains, not to mention some were leftovers from last year that had gone bad; she had mixed those in as well. ¡°Grandmother is truly generous, giving us three big bags of sweet potatoes, half of which are rotten,¡± Xuexue said as she walked over to the stove and lifted the lid. Suddenly, a delicious aroma of rice wafted out. ¡°Mmm, so fragrant.¡± Xuexue inhaled with her nose, her voice sounding utterly intoxicated. ¡°You little wench, this is the Mo family¡¯s meal; you¡¯re not allowed to eat it,¡± Old Lady Mo exclaimed in a panic as soon as Xuexue lifted the lid. Chapter 70: 70 What a Blast Chapter 70: Chapter 70 What a Blast ¡°Grandmother, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t eat it, I¡¯m just looking,¡± Xuexue said with a smile on her face. ¡°Look at what? Even if you keep looking, there¡¯s nothing for you. Get out of here and stop being an eyesore,¡± Old Lady Mo scolded fiercely. Suddenly, the smile vanished from Xuexue¡¯s face, and she said icily, ¡°If I can¡¯t eat, then none of you will.¡± ¡°You little wretch, what are you planning to do?¡± ¡°Nothing much, this rice might smell good, but it¡¯s too bland. I¡¯m just adding some seasoning.¡± As soon as Xuexue finished speaking, she poured from the can she was holding straight into the pot¡ªswish¡ªone can of sand went all into it. Xuexue, seemingly not satisfied, casually picked up the large spoon usually used for scooping pig feed and stirred vigorously in the rice a few times. Now, the pot of rice was utterly ruined. ... Her actions were so swift, done in one go. Old Lady Mo was dumbfounded, and by the time she recovered, a large pot of rice was completely destroyed. ¡°Ah! You cursed girl, you¡¯re wasting food, the heavens will strike you with thunder for this!¡± Old Lady Mo cried out in heart-wrenching pain. ¡°Strike what, I don¡¯t even have rice to eat, thunder be damned,¡± Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but curse, and turning around, she ignored Old Lady Mo¡¯s wails. She still had to take Chuner to the old residence with the wheelbarrow, cook rice, and all that¡ªshe was close to starving to death, her stomach practically stuck to her back. Just then, Madam Xie carried Chuner out and placed her on the wheelbarrow. Thankfully, there was already a layer of straw on the cart, which made it quite soft to lie on. ¡°Xuexue, let¡¯s go. Chuner is hungry, we should hurry back and cook,¡± Madam Xie said, distressed by her daughter¡¯s hunger, thinking of quickly returning to the old residence to boil a pot of porridge for Chuner. Madam Xie had no idea that the Mo family had no rice left for them. ¡°Eh! Alright! Mother, just wait a moment, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Madam Xie¡¯s call reminded Xuexue that their home was completely out of rice, and she quickly turned back to the kitchen. Old Lady Mo was still lamenting over the pot of rice Xuexue had destroyed. Just now, Old Lady Mo had unlocked the cupboard to prepare to steam some cured meat and had not locked it yet; now, she didn¡¯t even trust Madam Xie and wanted to steam the meat herself to feel at ease. Seeing a bag of rice, about ten or fifteen pounds, tucked in a corner of the cupboard, Xuexue didn¡¯t say a word and just hoisted it onto her shoulder and left. Having slaved away for the Mo family for more than a decade, taking a bag of rice was hardly excessive¡ªin Xuexue¡¯s view, there was no feeling of guilt attached. ¡°Hey! You thieving girl, what are you doing with my rice?¡± the moment Old Lady Mo saw Xuexue with a bag of rice on her shoulder, she immediately stepped forward to block her. ¡°Grandmother, with Chuner in her current state, if you don¡¯t give us even a grain of rice, are you trying to starve my mother and me to death?¡± ¡°Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me! Put my rice down this instant.¡± ¡°Chuner ended up like this because of you; if she doesn¡¯t survive, don¡¯t you think you will either.¡± ¡°You....¡± Facing Xuexue¡¯s relentless expression, Old Lady Mo¡¯s heart wavered, and her confidence faltered. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to end up in jail, step aside.¡± Xuexue said impatiently, ¡°Don¡¯t force me to really file a complaint at the Yamen.¡± The moment Old Lady Mo heard these words, she involuntarily stepped back a few paces. And just like that, Xuexue walked away with a bag of rice, right under Old Lady Mo¡¯s watchful eye, without a care in the world. Not far from the Mo family¡¯s exit, Madam Xie, who was helping push the cart behind, couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Xuexue, what was your grandmother howling about just now?¡± ¡°Who knows, maybe she¡¯s got nothing better to do after having her fill. Unlike us, we don¡¯t even have the energy to howl,¡± Xuexue replied while pulling the cart. While Madam Xie was naive and excessively filial, Xuexue didn¡¯t want to tell her about the rice she¡¯d just taken, to spare her mother from distress. Chapter 71: 71 Division of the Family Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Division of the Family Madam Xie thought about it and realized it was true. Old Lady Mo was both formidable and difficult to deal with, finding trouble even when there was none, and she would either hit or scold her daughter-in-law on a daily basis. Seeing that Madam Xie had stopped responding, Xuexue knew she believed her, so she concentrated on pulling the wooden cart towards the old residence. On the way, they encountered many people from the village. They all knew that Chuner had been injured by Old Lady Mo, and that Madam Xie had been divorced by the Mo family. They all felt very sympathetic. ¡°Mo Xiaoqiang actually divorced such a good wife. He really doesn¡¯t know a good thing when he has it.¡± ¡°What do you know? He often goes to the Brothel, he¡¯s used to seeing the Beautiful Lady, where will he have the eyes for Madam Xie, the yellow-faced wife? Moreover, Old Lady Mo always complains that she hasn¡¯t borne a son, scolding or hitting her every day. Who in Mo Family Village doesn¡¯t know? Even my dog, Wangcai, knows it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Now that she has taken a concubine for her son, she despises Madam Xie even more.¡± ... ¡°Chuner is her own granddaughter after all. Even if she dislikes Madam Xie, she shouldn¡¯t take it out on Chuner.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t argue with that; it¡¯s truly pitiful. They¡¯re all people with hard lives. Doctor Xu said that Chuner¡¯s critical period isn¡¯t over yet; we still don¡¯t know if she can cling to life.¡± The villagers were sympathetic, but they couldn¡¯t help pointing fingers and whispering behind their backs. As they walked to the old residence, with the chatter of everyone around, Madam Xie¡¯s head hung even lower. She felt ashamed that her husband had divorced her and couldn¡¯t face anyone. ¡°Mother, we¡¯re here.¡± Xuexue stopped the cart, took the carrying straps off her shoulders, turned to look, and saw Madam Xie¡¯s head almost drooping to her chest, her posture shrunken, and immediately understood her feelings. ¡°Mother, it¡¯s not your fault that Dad divorced you. Don¡¯t feel pressured. Let others say what they will, let¡¯s just live our lives well,¡± Xuexue said softly as she stepped forward and put her hand on Madam Xie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s all Mother¡¯s fault for not giving your father a son,¡± Madam Xie said listlessly. Xuexue was momentarily at a loss for words at this statement. Would a man change his heart over whether you bore a son or a daughter? What absurd reasoning. So she changed the subject, ¡°Mother, I¡¯ll carry Chuner inside. You should hurry and cook some porridge; Chuner and I are nearly starving.¡± Xuexue rubbed her stomach with her hands, her eyes pleading as she looked at Madam Xie. ¡°Oh! Yes, yes, cooking porridge. Chuner has been saying she¡¯s hungry for a while, I almost forgot,¡± reminded by Xuexue, Madam Xie immediately moved forward, picked up a bag of rice, and rushed into the house, shouting as she went, ¡°Xuexue, carry Chuner into the room, be careful.¡± ¡°Ay! Got it!¡± As long as it involved her two daughters, it was as if Madam Xie came back to life. Knowing that her daughters were hungry, she, who had been half-dead with worry, suddenly became vigorous and full of energy. Xuexue¡¯s heart finally relaxed. She knew that as long as they were both doing well, regardless of the pain, Madam Xie would definitely pull through. ¡°Chuner, come, let your sister carry you to the room. From now on, this is our home. No one will bully you again,¡± Xuexue said as she carefully picked up Chuner and walked towards the house. Luckily, Chuner¡¯s injury was on her back; otherwise, Xuexue wouldn¡¯t have known how to get her back to the room. Soon, Madam Xie had cooked a pot of fragrant porridge, brought it back to the room, and after feeding Chuner, ate with Xuexue. ¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Madam Xie took a few sips, but since she had things on her mind, she couldn¡¯t eat any more. ¡°Mother, what¡¯s wrong now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried about how we three will make a living in the future. As a widow, I fear you sisters will suffer following me.¡± Chapter 72: 72: No Need to Starve Chapter 72: Chapter 72: No Need to Starve ¡°Mother, don¡¯t worry, Xuexue will make money to support you in the future,¡± Xuexue said, and seemed to think of something, she got up, and without time to call out, she ran out like flying. ¡°Eh! This child, always so frantic.¡± Watching Xuexue disappear like the wind, Madam Xie couldn¡¯t help but mutter softly under her breath as she began to clean up the dishes and tidy the table, ready to take some dishes out to wash. Xuexue returned with a pack, and as soon as she entered, she lifted the bundle in her hands, exclaiming with high spirits, ¡°Mother, this is the money from selling river snails. We haven¡¯t counted it yet. How much is it, I wonder? Come quickly, let¡¯s count it together.¡± Madam Xie was stunned for a moment, the girl had rushed out in haste for this. ¡°Ah! Alright!¡± ... Madam Xie stopped and put the dishes aside. Xuexue sat down on the stool with enthusiasm, placed the bundle on the table, and began to count the coins with Madam Xie. ¡°One, two, three... Nine hundred, nine hundred and one...¡± As they counted, Madam Xie was astonished and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Who would have thought that ordinary river snails could earn us so much Copper Coin in just one day?¡± After a while, Xuexue finally finished counting, her face bursting with a smile, ¡°Yes! Exactly twelve hundred Copper Coins, if we go on like this, not only will we not starve, but we¡¯ll even make money.¡± ¡°Twelve hundred Copper Coins? Xuexue, are you sure you counted right?¡± Madam Xie was both astonished and somewhat incredulous as she looked at Xuexue. ¡°I counted very carefully, no mistake,¡± Xuexue replied. ¡°Twelve hundred Copper Coins, that¡¯s one tael and two qian,¡± Madam Xie murmured, counting on her fingers. ¡°Right, Mother, we now have one tael and two qian.¡± That¡¯s wonderful, Chuner¡¯s sickness can be treated now, with this money, we don¡¯t have to worry anymore,¡± Madam Xie had always been concerned that after leaving the Mo family, without money for treatment, Chuner¡¯s condition might worsen, but now, the anxiety that hung in her heart was considerably eased. ¡°Mother, you must hide this money well. Chuner¡¯s treatment depends on it. Now that Madam Ruan and her daughter are driven by greed, they definitely won¡¯t give up easily,¡± Xuexue repackaged the Copper Coin and handed it over to Madam Xie, all the while reminding her. Thinking about this morning when Madam Ruan, under the pretext of wanting tea, tricked her and searched the entire room, Madam Xie felt uneasy. ¡°You keep the money. If I need it, I¡¯ll ask you for it.¡± Lately, Xuexue had always been particularly decisive. Keeping the money with her, Madam Ruan surely wouldn¡¯t be able to steal it, which was safer than leaving it with herself, Madam Xie felt reassured. ¡°Alright.¡± Xuexue thought about it, that¡¯s right, her foster mother was too simple and honest, and Madam Ruan was full of cunning schemes; she was no match for her. ¡°Mother, take care of Chuner. I¡¯ll go to the river to fill the water jar and then head to the creek to collect river snails. We need to sell them at the next market,¡± Xuexue said as she stood up, holding the bundle, speaking to Madam Xie. ¡°Hmm! Come back early, don¡¯t be too late.¡± Hearing Xuexue talk about going to the river to fetch water, Madam Xie understood; the water for today¡¯s porridge had been borrowed from a neighbor. Borrowing once or twice is fine, but more than that, people would be unhappy. ¡°Alright!¡± After speaking, Xuexue took the bundle and went back to her room. Having secured the money, Xuexue picked up two wooden buckets and headed to the river. The river was somewhat far, at the edge of the village. Usually, at the Mo house, these chores were done by Madam Xie. Now that Chuner was sick, and having just been divorced by her husband, Madam Xie really had no mind to attend to these tasks. Chapter 73: 73 Carrying Water Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Carrying Water Soon, Xuexue arrived at the riverbank, fetched two buckets of water, and although it did not seem like much, it was quite heavy, mainly because the wooden buckets themselves were heavy; with water added, they became even heavier. Xuexue carried them on her shoulders, feeling as if all her strength was concentrated there. She mustered her energy and only with great difficulty did she manage to reach halfway. Just when she thought of stopping for a rest. Suddenly, a figure dashed out from the small woods beside her, blocking her path, ¡°Little sister Xuexue, why is such a young lady engaging in such heavy labor?¡± Xuexue carefully observed and realized it was Scholar Mo Shaoxing. Feeling grateful to the village head who had helped the Mo family greatly the previous night, she replied warmly and pleasantly, ¡°You know our family¡¯s situation. Chuner is seriously ill, and mom has just been divorced by dad. She cries every day. Who else is there to handle these chores if not me?¡± ¡°Let me help you with such heavy tasks from now on.¡± ... Mo Shaoxing was very attentive, and while speaking, he even stepped forward, wanting to take the burden off Xuexue¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Ah! There¡¯s no need, men and women should not have such close contact.¡± Xuexue shifted her shoulder to avoid him, dispelling her initial thought of taking a rest. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything wrong; I just saw that you and your mother were alone and wanted to help,¡± Mo Shaoxing¡¯s expression shrank a little when Xuexue said this. Being the only scholar in the village, he took his reputation quite seriously. At that moment, a slim figure emerged from the woods, cooing, ¡°Brother Xing, the darling doesn¡¯t appreciate it; why bother setting your warm face against her cold butt?¡± Without turning her head, simply by hearing the voice, Xuexue knew it was Xiuzhi. In her past life, Xiuzhi had always been entangled with Mo Shaoxing. Now, the two of them popped out of the woods one after the other. Clearly, their relationship was not ordinary. Wanting no part in their affairs, Xuexue remained silent, bent over to lift the buckets, and walked away. ¡°Hey! Little sister Xuexue, don¡¯t go! Let me help you carry them,¡± Mo Shaoxing tried to catch up. Xiuzhi was extremely resentful. Every time she saw Xuexue, this little cheap person, Brother Xing seemed to lose his soul. No, Brother Xing could only belong to her alone. ¡°Brother Xing, since she is ignoring you, why bother making a fool of yourself?¡± Xiuzhi quickly stepped forward and grabbed Mo Shaoxing¡¯s arm tightly, preventing him from chasing after Xuexue. Xuexue¡¯s figure, carrying a load of water, swayed and disappeared around the corner. ¡°Xiuzhi, have you noticed? Xuexue has changed quite a bit lately.¡± Mo Shaoxing was somewhat disheartened. Xuexue used to chat and laugh with him, but recently, she has been unusually cold and keeps emphasizing maintaining a distance from him. ¡°That little cheap person has indeed changed a lot, Brother Xing. You won¡¯t believe it, but she beat me up this morning!¡± As Xiuzhi spoke, she reached out to pull at Mo Shaoxing. Looking around anxiously, Mo Shaoxing said urgently, ¡°In broad daylight, if someone sees us, we will both be ruined.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one around; I checked,¡± Xiuzhi¡¯s eyes twinkled with a smile. ¡°Still, we should be careful. As the saying goes, ¡®caution keeps a ship sailing for ten thousand years.''¡± As a scholar, he couldn¡¯t afford to ruin his future over a village girl, Mo Shaoxing was very clear about that. ¡°Then let¡¯s go into the woods. There we won¡¯t have to worry about being seen.¡± Hearing this, Mo Shaoxing couldn¡¯t help but feel tempted. Although Xiuzhi was average in looks and couldn¡¯t compare to Xuexue, she was willing to throw herself into his arms. Unlike Xuexue, who would bear her claws before he even touched her. Chapter 74: 74 Bracelet Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Bracelet After she had filled all the water jars at home, Xuexue had rushed to Xiao Xi to collect river snails, only returning home with a full bucket of river snails and clams when sunset was near. That night, after dinner and washing up, Xuexue took off her outer garment, preparing to go to bed. Suddenly, the sound of knocking came from outside the room. ¡°Knock knock knock...¡± Soon after, Madam Xie¡¯s voice followed, ¡°Xuexue, are you asleep yet?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ... Her mother came over in the dark, worried she might need something, so Xuexue quickly draped her recently removed outer garment back over her shoulders and hurried to the door. ¡°Creak!¡± As she opened the door, Xuexue chided, ¡°Mother, it¡¯s pitch-dark everywhere here; don¡¯t wander around. You could easily trip and fall.¡± Indeed, they had just separated from the Mo family, and Old Lady Mo, that miser, had barely parted with anything; they were tragically lacking everything, not even owning a single oil lamp. Chuner was seriously ill, and Madam Xie needed to look after her at night. Necessarily, she had to light a pile of firewood in the room to facilitate caring for Chuner. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mother came over with a torch,¡± Madam Xie reassured. Xuexue looked closely and indeed saw that Madam Xie was holding a torch made from a few pieces of firewood. ¡°Mother, coming over so late, is it that something happened to Chuner?¡± Xuexue was somewhat panic-stricken and was about to rush out. ¡°No, Mother needs to talk to you about something else.¡± With those words, Madam Xie successfully made Xuexue halt in her tracks, ¡°Not Chuner?¡± ¡°No, come inside, Mother really has something important to tell you.¡± Madam Xie¡¯s expression was grave. ¡°Oh.¡± Turning around, Xuexue and Madam Xie walked into the room together and sat on the bed. ¡°Xuexue, this is for you.¡± Madam Xie took out an object wrapped in red cloth from her bosom and handed it to Xuexue. Looking at the object in front of her, Xuexue¡¯s heart raced unusually fast. In a past life, the only memory that remained was when Madam Xie handed over her biological mother¡¯s bracelet to them on her deathbed. Could it really be her mother¡¯s relic? With trembling hands, she took the red-wrapped package and gently opened it. Indeed, it was her biological mother¡¯s bracelet. Resting within the red cloth, the bracelet was gold with jade inlays and was exquisitely made. Anyone knowledgeable could tell at a glance that it was worth a fortune. In a past life, soon after she returned to the General¡¯s Mansion, Situtu Qinger often played the role of a loving sister in her presence, pestering her because she really liked her bracelet. At that time, Xuexue genuinely treated her like a real sister and without a second thought, gave the bracelet to her. Little did she expect to be treated with such genuine sincerity only to die such a tragic death, especially her young daughter, who was literally burned to charcoal. Every time she woke from a nightmare at midnight, Xuexue¡¯s heart ached unbearably, and hatred seemed to sweep over her like a storm, making it hard for her to breathe. Now, having gone through life and death, past and present, this old object had come back into her hands again. Xuexue¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but moisten. The bracelet was still the same bracelet, but at this moment, her heart was filled with hatred and had long lost its original innocence. ¡°Xuexue, this bracelet is very important to you. Promise Mother that you will take good care of it,¡± Madam Xie said gravely. ¡°I understand, Mother. How about I wear it?¡± Struggling to suppress the hatred in her heart, Xuexue picked up the bracelet and immediately put it on her wrist. ¡°Oh! don¡¯t wear it ...¡± Madam Xie hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Xuexue had already put the bracelet on, leaving her no choice but to fall silent. ¡°Mother, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Ah, Xuexue, you are young and don¡¯t understand the treachery of human hearts. Mother is afraid that wearing the bracelet out might bring you trouble.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take it off.¡± As she spoke, Xuexue reached to remove the bracelet, but the bracelet that seemed so easy to take off in a past life now appeared to have grown onto her wrist, no matter how much she tugged, she simply couldn¡¯t take it off. Chapter 75: 75: In the Dark Chapter 75: Chapter 75: In the Dark Seeing her daughter¡¯s hands turn red from peeling, Madam Xie was heartbroken and blurted out, ¡°Stop peeling, Xuexue, just wear it. Maybe it¡¯s your late mother watching over you from heaven.¡± ¡°Mother, what are you talking about? Aren¡¯t you fine right here?¡± Xuexue pretended not to understand and stared directly at Madam Xie, wondering if she intended to reveal her origins. Madam Xie¡¯s gaze flickered for a moment, as if she was struggling inside. Eventually, she sighed and said, ¡°These past few days, I¡¯ve been confused, it¡¯s mother being foolish.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say such ominous things in the future.¡± Her foster mother was not willing to tell her about her origins now, probably because it wasn¡¯t the right time yet. Xuexue didn¡¯t press her and lowered her head, pretending to casually stroke the bracelet on her wrist. ... Seeing how much Xuexue loved the bracelet, Madam Xie smiled with relief. Perhaps, this was a mother-daughter connection ¡ª her birth mother had even insisted on preserving her life before passing away. ¡°Xuexue.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°If someone asks about the bracelet, just say you bought it on the street, not worth a few Copper Coins, understand?¡± Madam Xie reminded. All her dowry had been plundered by Old Lady Mo, except for this intact bracelet. It showed how much Madam Xie treasured this bracelet, after all, it was connected to her daughter¡¯s identity. ¡°Xuexue knows, mother, don¡¯t worry.¡± Perhaps her rebirth had disrupted something, with some events differing from her previous life. In her previous life, this bracelet was only given by Madam Xie right before her death to reveal her identity, but now, it happened so much earlier. ¡°Then you should rest early, mother is going back,¡± said Madam Xie as she stood up, picked up the torch on the table, and left. ¡°Mother, be careful,¡± Xuexue said softly, her mind swarming with thoughts. ¡°Hmm, you lock up the doors and windows, go to sleep right away, don¡¯t come out anymore, it¡¯s too dark everywhere.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ...... After Chuner got through her critical three days, Madam Xie finally felt relieved and continued to care for her meticulously. After the loss of her husband, Madam Xie now focused all her attention on her daughters, significantly easing her pain and gradually recovering her emotions. Occasionally, she could even be heard talking and laughing with Chuner. Indeed, time is the best healer; even the most profound pain fades gradually with time. Xuexue, on the other hand, took every chance she got to rush to the Xiao Xi with a bucket. Now, the cold winter meant nothing to her; earning money was the real truth. One evening, as Xuexue was carrying river snails home, Madam Xie came out to greet her, holding a bowl in her hand. ¡°Xuexue, come, have a bowl of sweet soup to nourish yourself,¡± Madam Xie said excitedly. ¡°Okay.¡± Xuexue took it and saw it was a bowl of egg sweet soup. Thinking it was from Madam Xie¡¯s sympathetic borrow from the neighbors, she didn¡¯t think much of it, planning to repay them once she earned money. She began to drink with the spoon, having been busy all afternoon, she was indeed hungry. ¡°Xuexue, after you finish, go visit your father,¡± she said. Seeing Xuexue gulping it down, a pang of inexplicable pain hit Madam Xie¡¯s heart. Following her, her daughter truly suffered. ¡°Why should I go there? No,¡± she declined without a second thought. ¡°Regardless, he¡¯s your father, maybe he has something for you? Try visiting him, yes?¡± ¡°We are struggling with life and death, and he doesn¡¯t care. Why should I acknowledge him as my father?¡± Remembering how he treated her foster mother, Xuexue still couldn¡¯t let go of her anger. ¡°He still cares about you all, otherwise, why would he send sweet soup for you and Chuner to drink?¡± Madam Xie couldn¡¯t help blurting out. ¡°You mean this sweet soup was sent by him?¡± Looking at the empty bowl, Xuexue felt a wave of nausea in her stomach. Chapter 76: 76: Sugar Water Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Sugar Water Madam Xie hesitated for a moment before she said with a somber expression, ¡°It was Auntie Sun who sent it over on your father¡¯s behalf.¡± ¡°She¡¯s that kind-hearted?¡± Xuexue sneered in disbelief, considering she had beaten up Auntie Sun, who had long since hated her to the bone. How could she bring over sweet soup for her? There must be a catch. ¡°No matter what, she is still your stepmother. Could she defy your father¡¯s face?¡± ¡°My father¡¯s face isn¡¯t worth a dime,¡± Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but mutter under her breath. ¡°Xuexue.¡± ... ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Go on, go see your father.¡± Xuexue knew she hadn¡¯t truly let go of her adoptive father and didn¡¯t want to be disobedient to her, so she reluctantly agreed. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go,¡± she replied, her tone nonchalant. Madam Xie said, ¡°While it¡¯s still not dark, hurry up, your mother is waiting for you to come back for dinner.¡± Handing the bowl back to Madam Xie, Xuexue responded listlessly and turned around to head to the Mo family. ...... Upon reaching the entrance of the Mo family, Auntie Sun was already waiting on the side. Seeing Xuexue arrive, she immediately greeted her with a full-faced smile... ¡°Xuexue, your second mother has been waiting for you for a long time, come inside quickly.¡± Auntie Sun¡¯s abnormal behavior only deepened Xuexue¡¯s suspicions. She looked around and asked coldly, ¡°Where is my father?¡± ¡°He¡¯s waiting for you in the room! Hurry, go inside.¡± Auntie Sun stretched out her hand with a smile, intending to affably put her arm around Xuexue¡¯s shoulder. Xuexue sidestepped to avoid the gesture and continued walking forward. She found Auntie Sun¡¯s feigned affection disgusting. The smile on Auntie Sun¡¯s face immediately stiffened, a flash of venom crossing her eyes before quickly raising a fake smile to follow Xuexue. ¡°Xuexue, your father is in the room.¡± ¡°Why would my father want to see me and yet be in his room?¡± Xuexue stopped in her tracks and asked, confused. ¡°Oh my! I¡¯m just a woman, how could I understand the affairs of the Great Master,¡± Auntie Sun replied. ¡°You¡¯d better not be lying to me, otherwise, you won¡¯t want your other ear either,¡± Xuexue¡¯s voice rang out coldly ahead. Upon hearing these words, Auntie Sun¡¯s facial muscles suddenly twitched violently; this was a pain that cut deep into her heart. That little wretch always reminded her, but after tonight, she wondered how brazen she would be. It had grown quite dark on the walk from the old residence. Normally, the lamps in the Mo family would have already been lit by now, but it was strangely dark everywhere this evening. ¡°Why is it so quiet? Where is everyone?¡± Upon being asked this casually, Aunt Sun, with her guilty conscience, became startled. How could this little wretch be so sharp? ¡°Ah hehe...! Relatives in town are hosting a banquet; they went to join them for a drink and haven¡¯t returned yet. They left me and your father to watch the house,¡± Aunt Sun said through clenched teeth, hiding the hatred in her heart with a pleasant expression. Soon, they arrived at Auntie Sun¡¯s room. ¡°Quick, go in. Your father is waiting for you.¡± Walking behind Xuexue, Auntie Sun¡¯s face suddenly changed. She pushed Xuexue hard in the back, shoving her into the room. Caught off guard by the push from behind, Xuexue stumbled into the room. By the time she realized what had happened, Auntie Sun had already locked the door. ¡°Xuexue, your second mother has found you a good marriage match. Once you¡¯ve lived the good life, you will thank me,¡± Auntie Sun said before letting out a triumphant laugh and then turned to leave. ¡°Young madame, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time.¡± Suddenly, a strange man¡¯s voice sounded in the room. Chapter 77: 77 Bean Curd Strong Man Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Bean Curd Strong Man Regaining her composure, Xuexue looked up and saw, under the dim light, a strong man with pockmarked face sitting there, looking very happy to see her come in. ¡°Who are you?¡± Xuexue was inwardly startled. This scene had never occurred in her past life, but then again, in her previous life, she hadn¡¯t beaten Auntie Sun, hadn¡¯t disfigured her face, and naturally, there had been no retaliation. ¡°Auntie Sun introduced me, I am here for the arranged marriage.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. You¡¯re older than my father.¡± ¡°These days as long as one has silver, being a bit older doesn¡¯t matter. In our village, there¡¯s a Wealthy Master who¡¯s eighty years old who married an eighteen-year-old concubine, and they¡¯re living happily together.¡± ... ¡°Others are others, and I am me. Don¡¯t mess around, or I¡¯ll complain to The Prefect about you.¡± Xuexue watched the man warily. ¡°I paid the bride price, it¡¯s a legitimate arranged marriage, on what grounds would you complain about me?¡± The pockmarked strong man grew angry upon hearing Xuexue¡¯s reluctance. This pockmarked strong man was a Pork Seller from the neighboring village. Previously, while selling pork in the County Town for a few years, he often visited the Yihong Brothel and that was where he had met Auntie Sun. A couple of days ago, Auntie Sun found him and offered to introduce him to a girl. The Pork Seller, getting older with no woman willing to marry him, was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately handed over twenty taels of silver to Auntie Sun, promising to add another twenty once the deal was done. Xuexue stalled for time as she looked around, searching for an opportunity to escape. ¡°Stop looking. The doors and windows are all locked. If you don¡¯t agree, you can¡¯t leave tonight.¡± The Pork Seller noticed Xuexue¡¯s intentions and bluntly cut off her hope of escaping. The little girl was indeed not bad looking; she had a stunning appearance and good skin, a rare find even in the city. The Pork Seller was very satisfied. At that moment, Xuexue felt her body getting hot. It was now winter, bitterly cold, and Xuexue sensed something was wrong, knowing there must be something off with the bowl of sweet soup she¡¯d had. As soon as the Pork Seller noticed the unusual color on Xuexue¡¯s face, knowing the drug had taken effect, his heart swelled with joy. ¡°Miss, feeling hot, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, so hot, it¡¯s strange; I shouldn¡¯t be this warm in this weather,¡± she replied. ¡°Maybe you rushed here just now? Rest a bit and it will pass, haha...¡± the Pork Seller said with a pleasing smile. Xuexue, feeling weak, walked to the table and sat down, tugging at the clothes around her neck. Pork Seller: ¡°Madam, let me help you.¡± Xuexue briefly submitted, no longer ferocious: ¡°Alright!¡± The Pork Seller was happy, thinking the young girl before him had resigned herself to her fate. So, he hurried forward, bowing his head, trying to help Xuexue undo her buttons. Just as he bowed his head, Xuexue, who had previously seemed utterly powerless, now had a cold fierceness in her eyes. She quietly picked up the vase from the table and with all her might, smashed it onto the Pork Seller¡¯s head... ¡°Crash.¡± The vase shattered with a sound, and the Pork Seller collapsed to the floor. ¡°Get away.¡± The Pork Seller lay unconscious, and his head, by chance, landed on Xuexue¡¯s foot. She kicked him away, visibly disgusted. Great, now he had not only a head injury but also a black eye from Xuexue¡¯s kick. Curse that Auntie Sun, arranging a marriage with a man older than her own father. Chapter 78: 78 Xuexue Chapter 78: Chapter 78 Xuexue With a forceful kick at the unconscious bean-curd-skin man on the ground, Xuexue began to think of ways to escape. All the doors and windows were tightly locked; it was evident Auntie Sun had premeditated this plot, wanting to destroy her chastity. She even picked a date when the Mo family was out, luring her here under the guise of Mo Xiaoqiang. Worse, fearing she wouldn¡¯t comply, they had drugged her, allowing Madam Xie to personally administer the drink to her. Xuexue felt her body growing hotter and her consciousness beginning to blur. ¡°No, I must leave this place quickly.¡± Stretching out her hand, she gave her thigh a fierce twist, and her mind cleared up a bit. She knew this place was dangerous. Although the bean-curd-skin man was temporarily knocked out, if anyone found them alone together in a room, even if nothing happened, her reputation would still be ruined. At that point, dreading public opinion, she would be forced to marry regardless. She had just been reborn not long ago and already someone had schemed against her, which infuriated Xuexue. ... Despite her discomfort, she moved to Auntie Sun¡¯s vanity, saw one of the drawers was locked, and without a second thought, picked up a stool and smashed it down... ¡°Bang!¡± The lock fell off at the sound. Opening the drawer, she discovered Auntie Sun was indeed wealthy. There was a large box filled only with silver and goldware, probably the rewards from her time as a prostitute at Yihong Brothel, as well as about thirty Taels of silver. Xuexue decided it was all or nothing, so she wrapped everything in a cloth and tied it to her body. The bean-curd-skin-faced man had just said Auntie Sun had sold her for twenty Taels. Now, by doing this, she was turning the tables on a fraud, thinking it was her bad luck to have her purity destroyed and to be placed in her own den; she deserved it. After preparing everything, Xuexue took the stool to the window and pounded it several times, making a large hole in the firmly secured window. Just at that moment, the voice of Aunt Sun came from outside the door. ¡°Husband, I think that Xuexue might also fancy the butcher.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite good, isn¡¯t it exactly as you wanted?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang said distractedly. ¡°What do you mean ¡®as I wanted¡¯? I¡¯m arranging a marriage for Xuexue for Madam Xie¡¯s sake. Once Xuexue is married off, their family will have one less mouth to feed; that¡¯s a good thing for her.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say they were all waiting for me in the main hall? Why are both of them missing?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang was very puzzled. Aunt Sun had said she was helping Xuexue with a marriage proposal to a man over forty. He had initially disagreed, but after she persisted with her pillow talk night after night, he eventually softened and agreed. ¡°Who knows? Maybe they hit it off and have already snuck off together for some mischief.¡± Aunt Sun chuckled slyly, covering her mouth as she thought of the scene in the room. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting again?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯m talking nonsense.¡± Aunt Sun was extremely pleased with herself, thinking that in a little while, he would learn just how bad his daughter was. ¡°Wife, why on earth would you lock the door so tightly?¡± It was unusual for the door to be locked, but tonight the locks were as secure as iron sentinels, no wonder Mo Xiaoqiang was suspicious. ¡°Uh! This..., hey, our house is empty, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m preventing theft, preventing theft.¡± Aunt Sun made up an excuse as she went forward to unlock the door. Hearing the unlocking sound from the room, Xuexue sneered, thinking Aunt Sun was truly vicious, destroying her chastity and even wanting her father to be a witness. Hearing the sound of unlocking, Xuexue knew they were about to enter the room. She quickly turned around and climbed out the window in an instant. Chapter 79: 79 Mo Xiaoqiang Chapter 79: Chapter 79 Mo Xiaoqiang Auntie Sun triumphantly opened the door, her hips swaying like a water snake, her steps light as she entered the room, with Mo Xiaoqiang following closely behind. ¡°Madam, what on earth is going on?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang saw Butcher Yu fainted on the floor and was bewildered. The door was clearly locked just a moment ago; why was there a strange man lying on the ground in the room? Auntie Sun had thought she could catch Xuexue and Butcher Yu together, engaged in unspeakable acts. Seeing this scene, she was also stunned. ¡°Butcher Yu, Butcher Yu, what exactly happened?¡± Ignoring Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s questioning, Auntie Sun quickly went over to shake Butcher Yu, who was on the ground. ¡°Uh.¡± ... Stirred by Auntie Sun, the fainted Butcher Yu slowly came to. ¡°Where¡¯s Xuexue?¡± Auntie Sun asked anxiously as soon as she saw him. ¡°Who knows, that damn girl is too ruthless, daring to hit me.¡± As Butcher Yu spoke, he felt the wound on the back of his head, suddenly feeling sticky on his hand¡ªa quick glance revealed it was blood. He immediately exploded at Auntie Sun, ¡°You Fleawort Madam, are you trying to scam me? You took twenty taels of silver from me, promising a pure maiden, yet she beat me up like this.¡± Butcher Yu was furious; not only had he failed to get Little Cabbage, but he also ended up severely injured. ¡°No, no, I also didn¡¯t know that damned girl could be so vicious.¡± Auntie Sun had taken his money, and upon hearing this, she became anxious, shaking her head and waving her hands in denial. ¡°I don¡¯t care, if I don¡¯t see her in three days, I¡¯m going to the government office to accuse you of marriage fraud.¡± After finishing his words, Butcher Yu shakily got up from the ground, ready to storm out angrily. ¡°Hey! Butcher Yu, don¡¯t leave! I¡¯ll go catch that damned girl Xuexue.¡± Auntie Sun chased after him, blocking Butcher Yu¡¯s path, not letting him leave. Now was a great opportunity; while Xuexue was drugged, to make the most of it¡ªotherwise, they would have been busy for nothing tonight, and in the future, that wretched girl Xuexue would be on guard and not easily fooled again. ¡°Can you really find her?¡± One of Butcher Yu¡¯s eyes was swollen and black from Xuexue¡¯s kick, glaring at Auntie Sun ferociously with the other. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Auntie Sun assured, patting her chest. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting then. You better not deceive me again.¡± ¡°No deception, I promise.¡± Auntie Sun vowed solemnly. On the sidelines, Mo Xiaoqiang finally understood; all of this was Auntie Sun¡¯s doing, trying to get Butcher Yu to ruin Xuexue¡¯s purity and subsequently, to conveniently marry her off to him. ¡°You wicked woman, how can you be so heartless? Xuexue calls you Second Mother; how can you harm her like this?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang bellowed at Auntie Sun. ¡°Why are you yelling? I¡¯m doing this for your sake.¡± ¡°You harm my daughter and say it¡¯s for my sake?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Pssh! She¡¯s just a loss-making good; after all, she¡¯s going to marry sooner or later, and now, Butcher Yu is willing to pay forty taels of silver, which is a sky-high price. That kind of good fortune would make any family giggle behind closed hands, yet here you are, blaming me?¡± Since Mo Xiaoqiang had divorced Madam Xie, Auntie Sun had no fears. Hearing there were forty taels of silver involved, Mo Xiaoqiang, while still upset, bit his tongue and said no more. Indeed, for an average family marrying off a daughter, they would at most receive several taels as a dowry; forty taels of silver was indeed a fortune, no wonder Mo Xiaoqiang kept quiet. ¡°What are you standing around for? Hurry up and catch Xuexue, or the forty taels of silver will slip away,¡± Auntie Sun barked at Mo Xiaoqiang. ¡°Okay, okay.¡± With his mind in disarray, Mo Xiaoqiang had no choice but to follow Auntie Sun to search for Xuexue. Climbing out from Auntie Sun¡¯s room, they ended up at the back of the Mo family¡¯s house, a place rarely traversed by anyone, overgrown with weeds. Xuexue, still affected by the drug, had tripped over the underbrush several times, leaving her in a disheveled state. Not caring about appearances, she staggered towards a small depression on the edge of the village. She didn¡¯t dare let Madam Xie find out about her situation, hoping to return home once the drug¡¯s effects had worn off to avoid worrying her. But the drug was too potent. Her consciousness was growing more and more blurred, and the pain had reached its peak¡ªfeeling as though, without an antidote, her blood might boil and explode. While staggering along, her foot stumbled over something. Looking down in the hazy moonlight, Xuexue saw a man, lying on the ground, barely breathing. Like seeing a savior, Xuexue, without hesitation, began to strip off his clothes, ¡°Brother, it¡¯s a code of the Itinerant World in an emergency.¡± Chapter 80: 80 The Forest Chapter 80: Chapter 80 The Forest ... After a moment, Xuexue finally felt alive again. She straightened her clothes and, in the dim moonlight, could finally see the man in front of her clearly. He was barely alive, obviously severely injured. Xuexue felt somewhat guilty, as she had forced a severely injured man to exert himself. ¡°Cough cough ... Look, buddy, I had no choice. If it weren¡¯t for nearly losing my life, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered you, haha... .¡± Although the man was on his last breath, under the hazy moonlight, Xuexue clearly saw him glaring at her with a pair of bitterly cold eyes, as if he wanted to kill her. ¡°Okay, okay, I was wrong. Stop glaring.¡± ... Xuexue couldn¡¯t bear it any longer since she had used him for the antidote, knowing she was at fault first. ¡°Out of pity for you, I¡¯ll gather some leaves to keep you warm. Let¡¯s call it even with that.¡± The weather was really cold. Xuexue wasn¡¯t sure if the man was shaking from anger at her or simply from the cold, as he trembled all over. ¡°Get away from me,¡± the man said coldly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? I¡¯m trying to be nice by bringing you some leaves for warmth. You should at least thank me instead of telling me to go away! What a cunning person.¡± While gathering leaves from the ground and tossing them onto him, Xuexue continued. ¡°But seeing how pitiful you look, I won¡¯t hold it against you.¡± ¡°You...you...you...stink, woman, shut up,¡± the man on the ground said, shivering all over from Xuexue¡¯s infuriating behavior. Today was truly a curse; not only was he hunted down, but he also encountered a shameless girl. ¡°You think I want to talk to you? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you saved my life, I wouldn¡¯t bother speaking to you at all!¡± The man fell silent, fearing that if he spoke again, he might be angered to death by this woman in front of him. His eyes fixed tightly on Xuexue, trying to discern her features so he could seek revenge later. Xuexue busied herself back and forth in the small woods, running back and forth several times until she had gathered a large pile of leaves. Then, holding the leaves, she walked over to the man and energetically started piling them on him, until only his head was showing. ¡°Ah, that should do it.¡± Xuexue dusted off her hands, satisfied with her work. ¡°Lady here can assure you that if you stay here tonight, you definitely won¡¯t freeze to death.¡± Upon hearing this, the man almost vomited blood. He wasn¡¯t cold at all. He was just gravely injured and couldn¡¯t recover momentarily. ¡°You...you...you stink, girl, just go away already.¡± ¡°No need to chase me away, I have to go back anyways, my mom is waiting for me to eat dinner. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely come to check on you tomorrow. If you¡¯re unfortunate enough to have died, given that you saved my life, I¡¯ll make sure to bury you properly.¡± ¡°You...you...you...¡± ¡°What now? Still mad about earlier? I¡¯m telling you, these things aren¡¯t just up to me. You seemed quite happy earlier, don¡¯t you admit it?¡± ¡°Shameless.¡± ¡°You talk as if you¡¯re so noble. No matter how much I forced, you still cooperated, so in the end, it¡¯s really me who¡¯s at a loss. But, being the generous person I am, I won¡¯t stoop down to your level.¡± Having said that, Xuexue waved her hand, turned around and walked away. Although he had saved her life, she had also collected a lot of leaves to keep him warm, so as far as she was concerned, they were even. Chapter 81: 81 Long Rui Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Long Rui A moment later, Xuexue finally felt revived. It was already late, and her mother was waiting for her to eat dinner. Thus, she stopped paying attention to the man on the ground and started walking back, wading through the dim twilight, deep and shallow. ¡°Damn stinky woman!¡± The man on the ground let out a weak voice. Xuexue turned to glance at him, straightened her clothes and hair without uttering a word, and walked away without looking back. Not long after Xuexue left, a group of about ten men in black arrived in succession. Seeing the man lying among a pile of fallen leaves, the scene somewhat tragic with only his head showing, they immediately kneeled down and admitted their faults in panic, ¡°Prince, your subordinates arrived late for the rescue, we deserve to die. Please forgive us, Prince.¡± ¡°All of you, get up.¡± ... ¡°Yes.¡± It turned out that this man was the Ghost King Long Rui, whose mere mention terrified the inhabitants of Moli Country. Recently, due to urgent matters, he only brought a handful of trusted followers and hurriedly left the Capital. Unexpectedly, someone, emboldened by the courage of a bear¡¯s heart and leopard¡¯s gall, leaked his whereabouts. Just after leaving the Capital, he was ambushed again and again, which greatly infuriated him. Perhaps because the assassinations had repeatedly failed, the assassins sent today were exceptionally lethal, all top-tier killers. He was momentarily careless, not only was he poisoned, but he was also severely injured in their attacks. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to come over and help me up?¡± Long Rui was extremely annoyed. Today was indeed a day of misfortune; not only was he poisoned and injured, but he had also been humiliated by a damned bratty girl. ¡°Yes.¡± Two guards stepped forward and pulled him out of the pile of leaves. ¡°What are you all standing around for? Hurry and help me up,¡± Long Rui ordered with a frosty look. The guards immediately shivered and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± After a while, Long Rui remembered the girl from just before and felt deeply vexed. Not only had she bullied him, but she had also thrown garbage on him. Though it was to warm him, it was also a profound insult. Being the high and mighty Ghost King in Moli, he had never suffered such humiliation. ¡°Go and investigate someone for me,¡± Long Rui said, still grinding his teeth with anger from the memory. ¡°Prince, whom do you want us to investigate? What are the characteristics of this person? Please clarify so it will be easier for us to find them,¡± a guard asked cautiously. ¡°A reckless, cunning village girl, around fifteen or sixteen years old, bold and audacious.¡± Remembering how he had been bullied by her and how she dared to turn things around on him, Long Rui was seething with rage. ¡°Yes.¡± the old residence Chuner had been recovering well from her injuries over the past few days and was sitting at the front gate with Madam Xie, waiting for Xuexue to come home for dinner. But as they waited, the sky grew darker and still, there was no sign of her. ¡°Mother, could something have happened to sister?¡± Chuner couldn¡¯t help but ask after waiting for so long without seeing her sister. ¡°No, Xuexue has just gone to see your father; perhaps, he did not want her to come back so early and kept her for dinner,¡± Madam Xie said, deceiving herself. Chuner pursed her lips, showing her disbelief, but she did not voice it out to avoid saddening her mother. Just at that moment, two figures appeared around the corner not far away. ¡°Mother, mother, look, is that father?¡± Chuner, with sharp eyes, instantly recognized Mo Xiaoqiang walking in front. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s your father,¡± Madam Xie exclaimed joyously, seeing Mo Xiaoqiang for the first time since the day she was divorced. ¡°Husband, husband, you are here,¡± Madam Xie cheerfully greeted him. ¡°Shut your mouth, who is your husband? Don¡¯t shout randomly, or don¡¯t blame me for being rude,¡± Concubine Sun furiously stepped forward and forcefully pushed Madam Xie away from Mo Xiaoqiang. Chapter 82: 82: Fierce Momentum Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Fierce Momentum ¡°Ah!¡± Madam Xie was suddenly pushed to the ground. ¡°Mother, Mother.¡± Chuner, seeing this, quickly stepped forward to help Madam Xie up. ¡°You wicked woman, why are you bullying my mother?¡± After helping Madam Xie up, Chuner scolded Auntie Sun. ¡°Bullying her? Hmph! I am teaching her a lesson, to not rush up and call any man ¡®husband.¡¯ It¡¯s fine when it¡¯s a kind person like me, but if it were someone else, it wouldn¡¯t be as simple as just being pushed.¡± Auntie Sun spoke arrogantly, her nostrils flaring, a stark contrast to her obsequious demeanor when she brought over the sugar water earlier that evening. ¡°What other men? He is clearly my dad.¡± ... Auntie Sun¡¯s words infuriated Chuner to death. This vixen spirit was truly evil, making her mother summon her father to divorce my mother, and now, she was acting like the legal wife and lecturing my mother. ¡°You little wretch, your fur isn¡¯t even fully grown yet, and you understand nothing. From the day your father divorced her, he had nothing to do with her, so she should not call him ¡®husband.''¡± Auntie Sun said triumphantly, and then yelled at Madam Xie again, ¡°Madam Xie, did you hear that?¡± With that reminder from Auntie Sun, Madam Xie bowed her head, looking somewhat desolate, and thought, Yes! I am a woman who was divorced by her husband; indeed, I can no longer call Mo Xiaoqiang ¡®husband.¡¯ ¡°Wife, don¡¯t forget what we came here for, and why bother getting angry over these little things?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang softly tugged at Auntie Sun¡¯s sleeve and gritted his teeth as he spoke softly. ¡°Oh! Cough, cough.¡± Reminded by Mo Xiaoqiang, Auntie Sun remembered they were supposed to find Xuexue, with Butcher Yu waiting at home. If they couldn¡¯t find Xuexue, forty taels of silver would be gone. ¡°Madam Xie, where is Xuexue?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Xuexue go to the Mo family to see her dad?¡± Madam Xie looked puzzledly at Aunt Sun then turned her head to look at Mo Xiaoqiang. Perhaps feeling guilty, Mo Xiaoqiang turned his face away, unable to meet Madam Xie¡¯s eyes. Auntie Sun: ¡°Cough, cough... I am asking you if she came back just now?¡± ¡°No, Chuner and I have been waiting for her to come back for dinner.¡± ¡°Are you resenting me for pushing you earlier, deliberately deceiving us?¡± Auntie Sun approached Madam Xie step by step, her demeanor threatening as she asked fiercely. ¡°Xuexue really didn¡¯t come back, is something wrong?¡± Madam Xie was extremely nervous. ¡°Husband, let¡¯s go in and have a look.¡± Auntie Sun obviously did not believe Madam Xie¡¯s words. ¡°Okay.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang replied, feeling guilty for framing his daughter this way, he bowed his head as he passed Madam Xie, unable to look her in the eye. ¡°Hey! Hey! What are you doing? Xuexue really hasn¡¯t come back; what exactly happened?¡± Madam Xie followed them inside. ¡°Dad is really mean, now he listens to everything that vixen spirit says.¡± Chuner sat by the door without moving, muttering to herself. Just then, Xuexue returned: ¡°Chuner, why are you sitting here? It¡¯s really cold, and you haven¡¯t fully recovered yet, hurry and go inside.¡± ¡°Sister, you¡¯re finally back.¡± Seeing Xuexue, Chuner became exceedingly cheerful. ¡°Yes.¡± Seeing Chuner¡¯s pure and innocent joy, the recently distressed Xuexue felt warm inside, happy to be cared for. ¡°Sister, what happened to you? Why is your dress so tattered?¡± Chuner took a closer look and immediately became worried again at her sister¡¯s miserable appearance. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It was just too dark, and I fell a few times.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to see Dad? How could you just fall normally?¡± Chuner filled with confusion, ¡°Right, sister, dad and that vixen spirit came looking for you. Mom said you hadn¡¯t come back, but they didn¡¯t believe it and insisted on searching inside. What exactly happened?¡± Chapter 83: 83 Colluding with Each Other Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Colluding with Each Other ¡°You¡¯re saying they¡¯re in the house right now?¡± Upon hearing this, Xuexue was instantly furious. Not only did Auntie Sun want to harm her, but even Mo Xiaoqiang, after learning the truth, was colluding with her disgracefully and shamelessly pursuing her to her doorstep. She looked down at her disheveled clothes and knew that if they found out, they would definitely make a big deal out of it. ¡°Chuner, I¡¯m going to sneak in and change clothes right now. Don¡¯t tell them I¡¯ve come back, understand?¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Although Chuner didn¡¯t know what had happened, she always listened to Xuexue. ... Fortunately, it was dark now. Apart from the kitchen where some firewood was lit, the rest of the old residence was pitch black. Even if Xuexue went in, as long as she didn¡¯t get too close to them, they wouldn¡¯t notice her. Watching them carrying torches and searching room after room, Xuexue took the chance to slip back to her room while they weren¡¯t paying attention and changed clothes in the dark. ¡°Husband, that wretched girl really hasn¡¯t come back. What should we do? Butcher Yu is still waiting at home.¡± After searching all the rooms of the old residence and finding no sign of Xuexue, Auntie Sun became anxious. If they couldn¡¯t deliver Xuexue to Butcher Yu¡¯s bed tonight, Butcher Yu would definitely not let the matter rest. ¡°How should I know? You took the silver; I haven¡¯t even seen the shadow of it.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang was still a bit angry in his heart. Auntie Sun had taken the silver without giving it to him, which made him feel constrained each time he passed the brothel in town, too embarrassed to enter without any silver on him. ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you when we get back, alright?¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± ¡°Hurry and look elsewhere. That wretched girl has been drugged with an aphrodisiac; she surely couldn¡¯t have gone far. Maybe she¡¯s desperate for a man right now. We can¡¯t let other men take advantage of her,¡± Auntie Sun blurted out in her haste. Upon hearing this, Mo Xiaoqiang was also startled. This wicked woman was ruthless enough to employ the vile tactics of a brothel to deal with Xuexue, all for a few dozen taels of silver. Seeing Madam Xie looking at them with narrowed eyes, Mo Xiaoqiang quickly tugged at Auntie Sun¡¯s clothes, reminding her not to talk nonsense, as the girl¡¯s own mother was nearby. But he forgot¡ªhe was Xuexue¡¯s father as well. Madam Xie was already stunned, realizing from their ambiguous words that they were up to no good with Xuexue: ¡°What are you talking about? Who¡¯s been drugged with an aphrodisiac? What about taking silver, what butcher, and what does this have to do with Xuexue?¡± ¡°You heard wrong¡ªI was talking about someone else,¡± Auntie Sun realized she had slipped up and quickly tried to muddle through. ¡°No, you just mentioned Xuexue. What have you done to her? If you don¡¯t make things clear today, none of you are leaving,¡± said Madam Xie. Usually timid and afraid of trouble, she became fierce when she heard her daughter was in danger, fearing nothing. She picked up a thick wooden stick from the side and brandished it at Mo Xiaoqiang and the others, ready to fight for her life. ¡°Hey, you! You insolent woman, daring to threaten us with a stick, husband, go beat her up,¡± Auntie Sun pushed Mo Xiaoqiang towards her. ¡°You... you... don¡¯t come any closer.¡± Madam Xie¡¯s hands, holding the wooden stick, couldn¡¯t help but tremble. Seeing Madam Xie didn¡¯t dare to truly strike, Auntie Sun became fearless and even picked up a club from the wall and swept it fiercely toward Madam Xie. If the blow landed, even if it didn¡¯t cause a serious injury, Madam Xie would surely be in terrible pain. Just as the club was about to hit Madam Xie, Auntie Sun sneered maliciously. At the critical moment, a small stone struck Auntie Sun¡¯s hand with unerring accuracy. ¡°Ouch.¡± The smug Auntie Sun felt a numbness in the acupoint on her hand and couldn¡¯t hold onto the club any longer. With a clang, it dropped dangerously close in front of Madam Xie, which startled her into a cold sweat. Chapter 84: 84 Fractured Bones Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Fractured Bones ¡°How dare you, Auntie Sun, to bully your way here¡ªI see you¡¯re tired of living,¡± Xuexue emerged from the shadows, her gaze icy as she looked at the couple. ¡°Xuexue, you¡¯re back! I was so worried about you. What did they do to you?¡± Madam Xie hurried forward as soon as she saw Xuexue, examining her from head to toe before asking. The words that Auntie Sun had blurted out earlier had left Madam Xie terrified¡ªit would have been strange if she wasn¡¯t worried. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll tell you about it later. I need to deal with these two scumbags first.¡± As Xuexue suddenly appeared, Mo Xiaoqiang and Auntie Sun involuntarily exchanged glances, both seeing elation in each other¡¯s eyes. As long as she had returned, they could explain themselves to the Butcher, and it seemed that the forty taels of silver were now secure. Just as Mo Xiaoqiang was secretly pleased with the prospect of gaining silver, he heard Xuexue¡¯s scornful words and immediately stiffened, assuming a fatherly authority as he loudly admonished, ¡°Xuexue, do not be disrespectful! She is your stepmother, and I am your father. How can you, a junior, speak to us this way? You are becoming more and more presumptuous.¡± ... ¡°Bah! To have you as a father is truly my misfortune.¡± Recalling the events of the evening, which had been nothing but terrifying, and if it hadn¡¯t been for the injured man she encountered, she would probably have died from burning lust. Xuexue could no longer hold back and spat at him. From tonight¡¯s incident, she realized that Mo Xiaoqiang was nothing but scum, from initially being unaware to eventually condoning Auntie Sun bringing a man to rape his own daughter, all for forty taels of silver. ¡°Xuexue, how can you speak to your father like that? He was only looking out for you, finding you a good marriage,¡± Auntie Sun, a cunning woman, slithered forward, feigning concern for Xuexue as she smiled. ¡°And you, you vixen spirit! I feel nauseous just looking at you. Disappear from my sight before I lose my temper,¡± Xuexue said, glaring angrily. ¡°Xuexue, Butcher Yu is waiting for you, so you should return with your stepmother now,¡± Auntie Sun coaxed, carefully observing Xuexue¡¯s reactions to see if she showed any signs of being affected by the aphrodisiac. If she was, she and Mo Xiaoqiang could carry her back to the Mo family and deliver her to Butcher Yu. ¡°Not leaving, are you? Well, if you don¡¯t leave, you might consider leaving your other ear behind,¡± Xuexue said as she picked up a pole lying on the ground¡ªit was the same one Auntie Sun had been holding earlier. Watching the clear sharpness in Xuexue¡¯s eyes apart from rage, Auntie Sun was greatly puzzled. The aphrodisiac she had administered should have been effective, given the reliability of those drugs she had obtained from her time in the brothel, courtesy of nanny. While Auntie Sun was dazed, Xuexue struck her with the stick. ¡°Ah...!¡± Reacting instinctively for self-protection, Auntie Sun automatically raised her arm to block... ¡°Crack.¡± The sound of breaking bones was audible, showing just how furious Xuexue was. If not restrained by the consequences of murder, she would have smashed Auntie Sun¡¯s head in to avoid further trouble. ¡°Ah..., it hurts, it kills me!¡± Auntie Sun clutched her arm, crouching on the ground and wailing miserably. This sudden turn of events stunned Mo Xiaoqiang; he thought Xuexue, like Madam Xie, would not dare to actually strike and was just blustering. So, he did not take her words seriously and was considering, once back home and Auntie Sun gave him the silver, visiting the brothel tomorrow for a tender reunion. Chapter 85: 85: Go Back Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Go Back ¡°Still howling around here, bothering my eyes, are you?¡± Xuexue waved the carrying pole in her hand, her voice cold as ice. ¡°You nasty girl, even daring to hit your stepmother, be careful Heaven takes you, oh woo woo...¡± Auntie Sun hugged her arms, wailing in pain. ¡°Heaven takes me? Hmph! If Heaven really had spirit, it should take you scum instead,¡± Xuexue pointed at Auntie Sun and Mo Xiaoqiang. Having treated his daughter like this tonight was indeed too much. Mo Xiaoqiang, feeling somewhat guilty, stepped forward, pulling Auntie Sun and whispered, ¡°Wife, stop making a scene, let¡¯s hurry up and leave.¡± Auntie Sun¡¯s hand was fractured by Xuexue, and it was unbearably painful. She had long wanted to slip away, but the thought of Butcher Yu waiting for them to bring Xuexue back made her reluctant to leave. ¡°Husband, catch that nasty girl for me, Butcher Yu is still waiting,¡± Auntie Sun said through the cold sweat on her forehead, still fixated on capturing Xuexue. ... The old residence was noisy as usual, and many neighbors from the left and right, holding their bowls of rice, quietly stood at the door to watch the excitement. Some gossipy women even asked Chuner, who was sitting at the doorstep in a low voice, ¡°Chuner, how can your sister be so fierce, daring to hit her own father and stepmother? She¡¯s really unfilial.¡± Chuner, who had been sitting at the door the whole time and knew a bit of the real situation from Auntie Sun¡¯s mouth, immediately became unhappy when she heard others talking about Xuexue this way, pouting, ¡°You all know nothing, stop talking nonsense!¡± ¡°The facts are right before us, so many eyes are watching, how could we be talking nonsense? Everyone agrees, right?¡± ¡°Right, right,¡± the crowd nearby nodded and agreed. ¡°They deserved it, they wanted to sell my sister,¡± Chuner said, huffing angrily. The crowd was shocked to hear this, ¡°Really? Chuner, could you have heard wrong? Such things are very damaging to one¡¯s moral integrity.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, then go to the Mo family and see for yourself, the person who wants to sell my sister is still there waiting,¡± Chuner said, her anger peaking, unable to hold back any longer, she burst into tears, crying and wailing, ¡°They say having a stepmother makes you forget about the child, it¡¯s absolutely true. Now that dad¡¯s become so ruthless, it won¡¯t be long before Chuner too ends up being sold. Our sisters¡¯ fate is so terrible, wah woo woo...¡± Chuner¡¯s wailing was extremely sorrowful, it made the crowd feel a pang of heartache, ¡°This Mo Xiaoqiang is too disgraceful, what kind of father treats his own daughters like this.¡± ¡°Exactly, even the poorest and most destitute families in Mo Family Village have not resorted to selling their children, yet the Mo family, which isn¡¯t doing badly, would do such heaven-offending acts.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go find the village head to judge this matter fairly, it¡¯s downright disgraceful.¡± Amidst the crowd, someone, stirred by Chuner¡¯s crying, spun around and ran off, presumably to find the village head. Just then, Xuexue swung the carrying pole in her hand, driving Mo Xiaoqiang and his wife out, ¡°Go, scram, scram right away.¡± ¡°You little wretch, don¡¯t be ungrateful,¡± knowing that Xuexue wasn¡¯t just scaring them and was really daring to hit, Auntie Sun and Mo Xiaoqiang hastily fled in disgrace. Seeing them flee, the neighbors watching the scene promptly cleared a pathway, not wanting to accidentally get hurt by the infuriated Xuexue, which would be quite unfair. As Auntie Sun fled through the main gate and saw so many neighbors gathered, she suddenly revived and cried out loudly to everyone, ¡°Fellow uncles and brothers, look at this, our Mo family has produced a disobedient daughter, daring to hit her own father. There¡¯s no law of the Emperor anymore! Oh woo woo...¡±! Chapter 86: 86 Walked Away in Disgrace Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Walked Away in Disgrace Having heard what Chuner said, the gossiping neighbors completely changed their view of the matter, whispering to each other... ¡°It can¡¯t be, Mo Xiaoqiang wouldn¡¯t really do such a thing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve watched Xiaoqiang grow up; aside from liking to frequent the land of fireworks, he¡¯s not a bad kid. Maybe it was this woman¡¯s bad idea,¡± said an elderly dame. ¡°Exactly, I heard that Madam Xie¡¯s divorce was also due to Auntie Sun¡¯s scheming.¡± ¡°Having many women is just trouble; Mo Xiaoqiang should never have taken a concubine, it¡¯s the children who suffer!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all Old Lady Mo¡¯s doing, that old hag is desperate for a grandson.¡± ... The crowd looked at Auntie Sun with contempt, whispering among themselves, while she, oblivious, continued to sit on the ground, wailing and howling, trying to gain everyone¡¯s sympathy to condemn Xuexue for being unfilial. Mo Xiaoqiang, who was chased out in an embarrassing state, came out and saw so many neighbors at the door enjoying the spectacle; he was shocked, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, being chased and beaten by his daughter, he felt utterly humiliated. He quickly stopped in his tracks, turned around, and, hopping mad, said to Xuexue behind him, ¡°You little wretch, how dare you hit your own father? You¡¯re utterly lawless.¡± Xuexue, ¡°You still recognize that you¡¯re my father?¡± ¡°Rebellious, rebellious! I can¡¯t correct you, let your grandfather deal with you.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang shivered with anger due to Xuexue. ¡°Wife, let¡¯s go.¡± Turning around, Mo Xiaoqiang tried to pick up Auntie Sun from the ground. ¡°I won¡¯t go unless you grab that wretched girl and take her to the Mo family; Butcher Yu is still waiting,¡± Auntie Sun refused to get up, sitting on the ground. She was truly unlucky tonight, having her arm broken by Xuexue, and she couldn¡¯t let the forty taels of silver slip away. Watching Xuexue, Mo Xiaoqiang felt chills in his heart; now this wretched girl didn¡¯t even recognize him as her father, how could he dare to grab her? He¡¯d be lucky if she didn¡¯t beat him up. Seeing Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s craven manner, Auntie Sun was furious, ¡°What are you afraid of? You¡¯re her father, under everyone¡¯s scrutiny, would she dare to hit you?¡± ¡°This...¡± Mo Xiaoqiang looked at Auntie Sun uncomfortably, then turned to look at his daughter, and seeing Xuexue waving a wooden club, he instantly lowered his head, not daring to make a sound. ¡°Oh my! You¡¯re so useless, Butcher Yu is waiting for Xuexue; without her, we¡¯ll be in big trouble,¡± Auntie Sun, in her agitation, blurted out. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?¡± As soon as Mo Xiaoqiang heard this, he rushed forward, trying to cover her mouth, but it was too late. The neighbors, who had been enjoying the drama, heard everything loud and clear, and immediately there was an uproar... ¡°What Chuner said just now must be true; they didn¡¯t wrong them. It¡¯s atrociously inhumane; they could do such a thing for the sake of silver.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, even a tiger wouldn¡¯t eat its own cubs, and you are worse than beasts!¡± The crowd, furious, pointed at Mo Xiaoqiang and his wife, condemning them one after another. Under the public gaze, having their scheme exposed on the spot, Mo Xiaoqiang was overwhelmed with shame. Eventually, he even left Auntie Sun, who was injured on the ground, and walked away with his head down, beaten. Left alone, Auntie Sun, who was already at a disadvantage, coupled with the accusatory voices of the neighbors, became flustered. Ignoring the pain in her arm, she quickly scrambled up from the ground and ran after Mo Xiaoqiang, while wailing, ¡°Husband, husband, wait for me.¡± Chapter 87: 87: Husband and Wife Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Husband and Wife Everyone knew the truth and all said they deserved it, all praised Xuexue for her actions, and Mo Xiaoqiang and Auntie Sun, upon seeing their affair exposed under the accusations of the crowd, had no choice but to slink away in disgrace. Finally, the couple left, and the neighbors heaved a sigh of relief, all praising Xuexue¡¯s actions, otherwise, they would have been caught and sold for silver by this despicable couple. ¡°Xuexue, as the saying goes, ¡®A good man is bullied, a good horse is ridden¡¯, now you and your daughters are all womenfolk, you must stand firm when it¡¯s time to stand firm, Old Granny Liu supports you,¡± an elderly woman said, holding Xuexue¡¯s hand and speaking heartfelt words. ¡°Yes, yes, otherwise, you and Chuner might really have been sold by your father.¡± People echoed this sentiment again. After chatting for a while and seeing that it was getting late, the neighbors comforted Madam Xie and Xuexue once more before dispersing with sighs. ... ¡°Xuexue, mother was wrong tonight, I shouldn¡¯t have let you go to the Mo family.¡± Madam Xie was overwhelmed with guilt for having pushed her daughter into danger herself. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be too upset, aren¡¯t I fine now?¡± ¡°If something had happened to you, mother wouldn¡¯t want to live either.¡± Madam Xie¡¯s tears streamed down her face. Chuner had quietly told her that when Xuexue returned, her clothes were all torn, indicating just how dangerous the situation had been. Knowing how cruel Mo Xiaoqiang was to his daughter, Madam Xie¡¯s attachment to him suddenly vanished into thin air. Seeing her mother so guilt-ridden, Xuexue held back the truth about the drugging to spare her further sorrow. The Mo family Butcher Yu, upon learning that Auntie Sun had not brought anyone back, and already being a hot-head, immediately flew into a rage and smashed everything in the Mo family¡¯s house he could. Before leaving, he even threatened that in three days, they either hand over the person or compensate him, otherwise, he would report to the government office, accusing them of deceiving him into marriage. Butcher Yu, having seen Xuexue that evening and feeling very satisfied with her, deliberately acted this way to press them to hand over the person. Looking at the mess in the house, Mo Xiaoqiang helplessly sat sprawled on the ground. Tonight was truly a case of a lost cause; he didn¡¯t earn any silver, and instead, his reputation was ruined. From now on, whenever he went out, people would point at his spine and call him a heartless man. ¡°Husband, what should we do?¡± Auntie Sun was scared by Butcher Yu¡¯s harsh words just before he left, and she desperately shook Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s arm and asked. Irritated and vexed, Mo Xiaoqiang impatiently pushed her away and yelled, ¡°How should I know? Clean up your own mess, leave me out of it.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang turned his back on her, and Auntie Sun became desperate, ¡°Husband, how can you treat me this way? We are husband and wife, we should face difficulties together and share blessings.¡± ¡°Who said you¡¯re my wife? You are just one of my concubines.¡± ¡°You..., husband, you can¡¯t talk to me like this, it breaks my heart,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s refusal to take responsibility, left Auntie Sun both angry and hateful. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, you wretched wife, introducing men to Xuexue. Now look at you, you¡¯ve got me taking the blame in front of you. Tomorrow, everyone in Mo Family Village will know that I, Mo Xiaoqiang, sell my own daughter,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang cursed more furiously, wishing he could slap Auntie Sun dead to relieve his anger. ¡°You were quite happy when you heard there was silver to be made,¡± Auntie Sun retorted. ¡°Back then? I didn¡¯t know anything back then, it was all your wretched planning. Tomorrow, you go explain to the neighbors and clear my name, otherwise, I will definitely divorce you.¡± ¡°Explain my ass, I¡¯m not stupid, I won¡¯t help you explain,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s harsh words had no effect on Auntie Sun, who thought to herself, divorce if you want, who¡¯s afraid? If it comes down to it, I¡¯ll just go back and stay at Yihong Brothel.¡± Chapter 88: 88 Misunderstanding Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Misunderstanding Auntie Sun refused to help him clarify, and Mo Xiaoqiang was helpless against her. He stood up from the ground, and seeing the mess Butcher Yu had made of the house made him even more furious. He roared at Auntie Sun again, ¡°Look at this mess, all because of you, you wretched woman! Go clean up right now. When father and mother come back from the wedding banquet tomorrow, you¡¯ll see what¡¯s coming to you.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang thought Auntie Sun would be like Madam Xie, who would endure even to her death and submit to her husband. But he was wrong. Auntie Sun had been out in the world for several years and had met all kinds of people. She was someone who never let herself be taken advantage of. Upon hearing Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s words, her eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Husband, my arm was broken by your daughter, and not only do you not help me find a doctor, but you also expect me to do heavy work? Do you even have a conscience? Do you treat me as your wife, or as a servant?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you deserve.¡± ... As the two were arguing, a loud banging sound came from the front door: ¡°Open up, open up! Bang, bang, bang...!¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang, already vexed to distraction, yelled out. ¡°Mo Xiaoqiang, have you eaten the courage of Bear¡¯s Heart and Leopard¡¯s Gall? The village head is here, and not only do you not open the door, you also dare to be fierce?¡± a voice came from outside. Upon hearing this, Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s face turned pale, realizing that tonight¡¯s events must have reached the village head¡¯s ears. ¡°You... you... you wretched woman, look at this mess you¡¯ve caused. In a moment, you¡¯ll need to explain to the village head that it was all your idea and has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°Hmm! Alright then.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang was so anxious that he was pacing back and forth. He didn¡¯t notice Auntie Sun¡¯s shifty eyes and insincere response. Upon hearing her agreement, he confidently went out to open the door. ¡°Creak!¡± Mo Xiaoqiang opened the door with both hands, putting on a forced smile: ¡°Ha ha... Village head, it¡¯s dark and you¡¯re here, what brings you by?¡± ¡°Nice one, Mo Xiaoqiang, knowing full well the village head is coming, yet you drag your feet and don¡¯t come out to open the door. Are you and your wife figuring out how to sell your daughter again?¡± a young man next to the village head said tauntingly. The village head had come over tonight because this young man had reported to him. Tonight, at the doorway of Mo Family Ancestral Home, after hearing Chuner¡¯s words, he was very disdainful of the conduct of Mr. and Mrs. Mo Xiaoqiang. Angered, he had gone to the Village Chief¡¯s House and reported the matter to the village head. The village head was shocked. Although Mo Family Village was not wealthy, they were not so poor as to resort to selling their children. If the higher authorities came to know of such a grave matter happening in Mo Family Village, which he governed, he feared his tenure as village head might end there. So, he rushed over immediately with the young man. ¡°Misunderstanding, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang said as he invited the village head inside. Entering the house and seeing the destruction, where even the stools were almost entirely smashed, there was hardly a place to sit. ¡°Xiaoqiang, is this also a misunderstanding?¡± the village head¡¯s sharp gaze scrutinized him. ¡°This...¡± Mo Xiaoqiang couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed, having forgotten in his haste that the house was not fit for visitors and yet he had invited the village head inside. Mo Xiaoqiang said, ¡°It¡¯s all this wretched woman¡¯s fault; she took Silver from someone without telling me and even invited Butcher Yu back home. Xuexue, that girl, is stubborn and wouldn¡¯t agree to the marriage, so...¡± Chapter 89: 89 Nature Chapter 89: Chapter 89 Nature Amid their noisy quarreling, the village head arrived. Along the way, he had heard the villagers¡¯ discussions and felt very angry. As soon as he entered, he berated Mo Xiaoqiang, saying he was way out of line as a father, that nowhere in the world should a father treat his daughter like this. Mo Xiaoqiang naturally denied everything, claiming that he and his wife had simply been trying to introduce a nice family to Xuexue in kindness, and it was Xuexue, the ungrateful girl, who had attacked them. ¡°Is that really so?¡± The village head looked at him skeptically. Already feeling guilty, Mo Xiaoqiang felt a tingling on his scalp under the village head¡¯s gaze, afraid his deceit would be seen through. He feigned innocence and said, ¡°Yes, it is! If you don¡¯t believe me, ask my wife.¡± Before the village head could ask, Auntie Sun had already started wailing loudly, ¡°Yes, village head, I had good intentions in finding a nice match for that wretched girl. It was enough that she didn¡¯t appreciate it, but look, she even injured me seriously. My husband only blames me and won¡¯t get me a doctor. How bitter my life is, wooo...!¡± At that moment, Auntie Sun wasn¡¯t pretending. Her arm truly hurt. Initially, when she was struck, the pain was unbearable, but it subsided after a while. Now, however, the pain was excruciating, probably because the wound had been left unattended for too long and was becoming inflamed. ... ¡°Serves you right,¡± muttered a young man nearby under his breath. Seeing that Auntie Sun seemed genuinely injured, the village head felt a twinge of sympathy and turned to Mo Xiaoqiang, ¡°Hurry up and take her to Doctor Xu¡¯s place to get treated first.¡± ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang couldn¡¯t have been more eager for the village head to suggest this. It was a way to divert the attention from Xuexue¡¯s issue. ¡°Why go so far and trouble ourselves? Just ask Doctor Xu to come over,¡± moaned Auntie Sun, sweating from the pain and not willing to go that distance in the dark to suffer more. ¡°You realize it¡¯s troublesome, yet what if Doctor Xu, at his old age, has an accident? Would your conscience allow for that?¡± retorted the young man disdainfully. ¡°Right, right, we shouldn¡¯t bother Doctor Xu, let¡¯s go ourselves,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang glanced at the village head and quickly flashed a forced smile. Judging by the village head¡¯s demeanor, he likely wouldn¡¯t pursue matters further that night. Mo Xiaoqiang decided to take Auntie Sun and slip away as soon as possible. ¡°Ow! Husband, what are you doing? Slow down. You¡¯re hurting me,¡± Auntie Sun complained irritably, shaking off Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s grasp as her arm was already in pain and his pulling only made it worse. ¡°We should hurry. Doctor Yu must be resting by now. It would be embarrassing to have to wake him, right?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang said nervously, glancing at the village head before turning back to Auntie Sun. ¡°Are you an idiot?¡± Auntie Sun glared at him while carefully cradling her injured arm. ¡°How am I an idiot if I¡¯m concerned about you and taking you to see a doctor?¡± he protested. ¡°With no money, how will we see the doctor? Wait for me a moment; I¡¯ll be right back,¡± said Auntie Sun, and without waiting for Mo Xiaoqiang to respond, she turned and left, presumably to fetch some silvers from her room. Left behind, Mo Xiaoqiang, who had wanted to escape but failed, stood there offering an awkward smile to the village head. The village head called out with a stern face, ¡°Xiaoqiang.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Sure enough, his worst fears were coming to pass. ¡°Regardless of the truth about tonight¡¯s incident, from now on, you¡¯re not allowed to target Madam Xie and her daughters anymore.¡± ¡°As a father, I am also concerned about my daughter¡¯s future.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang reasoned that since the village head didn¡¯t have anything solid against him, he stubbornly persisted. ¡°Caring for your daughter is one thing, but using such despicable means against your own flesh and blood goes against morality. If word gets out, it will disgrace the reputation of Mo Family Village.¡± As he walked toward the commotion, the village head heard several villagers speaking about what Mo Xiaoqiang and his wife, Auntie Sun, had done to Xuexue and grew increasingly angry. Chapter 90: 90 The Penniless Chapter 90: Chapter 90 The Penniless ¡°The matter of drugging Xuexue was all orchestrated by that damn woman. I really didn¡¯t know about it,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang hastily tried to clear himself. ¡°What? You even drugged her?¡± The village head and the young man gasped in shock at the same time. In their simple and honest Mo Family Village, it was unbelievable that such a vicious-minded person existed, who for a handful of silver, would treat their own flesh and blood so horribly. It was utterly despicable. ¡°So you didn¡¯t know!¡± Mo Xiaoqiang slapped his own mouth, his face filled with regret. ¡°You good-for-nothing Mo Xiaoqiang, if you didn¡¯t know, how could you be so sure?¡± the village head recovered his senses, his face turning red with anger. ... ¡°You are unfit to be a father to Xuexue and her sister,¡± the young man also shouted angrily. ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t know either, but then that damn woman let it slip by accident, and that¡¯s how I found out. Village head, if you don¡¯t believe me, I can swear to heaven,¡± seeing the village head angered, Mo Xiaoqiang became flustered. ¡°You, you...¡± sighed the village head, shaking his head, about to say something when suddenly, a sharp scream came from inside the house... ¡°Ah...!¡± The scream was piercing in the quiet night, leaving everyone in the main hall stunned into silence. The first to react was Mo Xiaoqiang: ¡°Aiyo! This damn woman, she never stops making trouble. Who knows what mischief she¡¯s up to now. Village head, I¡¯ll go and have a look.¡± Saying this, he took the opportunity to run off. In his heart, he couldn¡¯t help feeling pleased; Auntie Sun was quite shrewd, knowing how to bail him out at a critical moment. Inside the room Auntie Sun sprawled on the ground, her voice hoarse from screaming and crying, ¡°That damned thief, who has stolen all the hard-earned money I saved, how am I to live now, waah...¡± In the small cabinet of her dressing table was locked up all her fortune; the gold and silver jewelry she had managed to save from her time at the Yihong Brothel, plus the twenty taels of silver from Butcher Yu. Now, it had all vanished without a trace, which was more painful than having her heart dug out. Mo Xiaoqiang burst in to see Auntie Sun still crying nonstop and laughed, ¡°Alright, my wife, stop crying. You are so clever, knowing how to help your husband out of trouble.¡± Auntie Sun turned a deaf ear to his words, ignoring him completely, and continued to weep on the ground. ¡°My wife, my wife, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang finally realized something was amiss and quickly crouched down, shaking her shoulders vigorously as he asked. Looking up with tears streaming down her face, she gazed at Mo Xiaoqiang, her lips quivering, and cried pitifully, ¡°Husband, our house has been burglarized.¡± ¡°Huh? That can¡¯t be, right?¡± ¡°How can it not be? Look for yourself, all my jewelry and silver are gone.¡± Auntie Sun pointed at the dressing table, her voice breaking with sobs, ¡°I don¡¯t know which damn thief did it, those pieces of jewelry could have fetched over a hundred taels of silver, and not even a copper coin was left for me.¡± Usually, Auntie Sun kept the cabinet tightly locked, to the extent that even Mo Xiaoqiang had no idea she had so much money. ¡°My wife, who would¡¯ve thought you had so much silver?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use, it¡¯s gone, all gone!¡± The thought of being robbed of several years of hardship in an instant, leaving her penniless, caused Auntie Sun¡¯s heart to ache, and she couldn¡¯t help bursting into tears again. After some thought, Mo Xiaoqiang said, ¡°My wife, tonight the only outsider who came to our house was Butcher Yu. Could it be him?¡± Upon hearing this, Auntie Sun suddenly stopped crying and stared at Mo Xiaoqiang with her red, swollen eyes. ¡°It¡¯s very likely. Think about it, no one else was at home tonight, and both of us went to the old residence, leaving him alone to be tempted by the sight of wealth,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang analyzed, increasingly convinced of the possibility. Chapter 91: 91 Dog Bites Dog Chapter 91: Chapter 91 Dog Bites Dog After being reminded by Mo Xiaoqiang, Auntie Sun also recalled that the sisters familiar with Butcher Yu at the brothel used to say that Butcher Yu was unreliable, a petty person who would forget righteousness at the sight of profit. ¡°Damn it, he actually dares to target me, I¡¯ll skin him alive tomorrow,¡± Auntie Sun cursed viciously. ¡°Right, my lady, I¡¯ll accompany you tomorrow,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang volunteered, gleefully thinking to himself, with so much silver coming back, there must be half of it for him. Then, he could go back to spending freely in brothels and live it up like a Master. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Auntie Sun muttered ambiguously, fear tugging at her. She worried that if things turned sour, Butcher Yu, driven into a corner, might disclose her past at the brothel, and the Mo family would certainly not tolerate her. ¡°My lady, rest assured, with your husband here, I will definitely help you get the silver back.¡± ... ¡°I am not your lady, I am just your concubine,¡± Auntie Sun was still angry, her heart had chilled halfway because of Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s cold ruthlessness just now. ¡°If you¡¯re not, then who is! Right now, you are the only woman I have. I will make you my legitimate wife sooner or later,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang said, trying to placate her. ¡°Hmph!¡± But now Auntie Sun wasn¡¯t in the mood to pay attention to these matters, she was solely focused on how she could get the money back from Butcher Yu. At that moment, the village head¡¯s inquiring voice came from outside: ¡°Xiaoqiang, is everything alright?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang had just remembered that the village head was outside. A burst of inspiration struck him and he quickly stood up and walked out. As soon as he saw the village head, he put on a sad face and pleaded pitifully, ¡°Village head, you must help us get justice.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± the village head was a bit surprised. ¡°Our house was robbed.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang, appearing like a victim, recounted the entire incident to the village head, who he also brought into the room to show the broken lock on the dressing table. The young man beside him couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud, but realizing the mood was not right, he quickly covered his mouth and pretended to cough to cover it up: ¡°Cough cough cough...¡± The village head, while angry at the actions of Mo Xiaoqiang and his wife, also couldn¡¯t help but see the irony. To think, Auntie Sun was either foolish or shrewd; she tried to set a trap for Xuexue but ended up setting it in her own den. She ended up harming none but herself, losing all her possessions. Who can she blame? It was all karmic retribution. ¡°Village head, you are the Great Master of Mo Family Village, you must stand up for me!¡± Auntie Sun was in unbearable pain, even forgetting the wounds on her arms, her heart filled with hatred and she gritted her teeth, the accursed Butcher Yu, that gold and silver jewelry was exchanged with her own body. During those years in the brothel, she had endured the pain of being demeaned by countless people, only to earn that little bit of hard-earned money, and now it all ended up in his pockets. ¡°This matter involves you bringing trouble upon yourself, and besides, Butcher Yu is not from our Mo Family Village, so I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s somewhat difficult,¡± the village head¡¯s tone clearly indicated he did not want to get involved, letting them fight it out like dogs. After all, neither was particularly upstanding. Upon hearing this, Auntie Sun began wailing again, ¡°There¡¯s no justice in the world! To be robbed right in our own home, and you, as the village head, do not even care, life can¡¯t go on like this, oh woo woo woo...!¡± Those words were clearly an accusation that the village head was not fulfilling his duties and not advocating for his people. The village head¡¯s expression instantly darkened: ¡°You are the one with ulterior motives, wanting to harm others yet ending up losing everything, and then you blame others. That¡¯s truly laughable.¡± ¡°Village head, don¡¯t be angry. My wife just said something wrong because she was distraught over the missing silver. You¡¯re a magnanimous person, please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang followed up with a sheepish grin, trying to smooth things over. Chapter 92: 92 Unspeakable Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Unspeakable ¡°Your matters, I don¡¯t have the capacity to deal with, but if you truly want to get your Silver back, go to the Yamen and file a complaint, let the Lord County Magistrate decide for you. But don¡¯t blame me for not warning you in advance, with those filthy deeds of yours, once you¡¯re at the Yamen, you¡¯ll have enough trouble to deal with, might not even need to be thrown in jail to get a taste of the beating.¡± After speaking, the village head flicked his sleeve and huffed away with the young man. It really was outrageous, Auntie Sun herself harbored ill intentions, wanting to harm others but ended up getting her money stolen. Now she was blaming it on him, the village head. ¡°Pah! What trash.¡± The young man showed even less respect and spat out, showing his disdain for their actions. ¡°You...¡± The village head had not gone far when Mo Xiaoqiang saw the man¡¯s behavior and was angry but dared not speak. ... Not until the village head had stormed off did Mo Xiaoqiang say to Auntie Sun, ¡°Wife, why did you anger the village head! Look, now he¡¯s not dealing with our affairs.¡± ¡°He never wanted to deal with it in the first place, what does it matter if we offend him? Wahhhh...¡± Auntie Sun, having lost her entire fortune, was now heartbroken; she wouldn¡¯t be afraid even if the King of Heaven showed up. ¡°Does your arm hurt? Maybe we should see a Doctor first.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to see, we don¡¯t have a single Copper Coin left, no point in seeing a damn Doctor.¡± Auntie Sun¡¯s face was covered in tears and snot. Now a pauper, she felt like dying, image was the last thing on her mind. ¡°We¡¯re all from the same village, it¡¯s fine to wait a bit to pay, come on, let¡¯s go quickly.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang helped the nearly collapsed Auntie Sun up and took her to Doctor Xu¡¯s house to bandage up her wound. The next day That night after hearing from Mo Xiaoqiang that Auntie Sun had also slipped Xuexue an Aphrodisiac, the village head knew very well how important a girl¡¯s chastity was. Worried all night, he had tossed and turned, unable to sleep a wink. Early in the morning, without time for breakfast, he went to the Mo Family Ancestral Home, to see Xuexue. Xuexue was preparing breakfast when she saw the village head come by so early, she was surprised. ¡°Uncle Village Chief, is there something you needed?¡± Seeing the village head¡¯s hesitant gaze, Xuexue could guess something. ¡°This...¡± Such a disgraceful and dirty matter was difficult to discuss with a little girl. The village head, after thinking it over, decided it was safer to talk to Madam Xie and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your mother?¡± ¡°She just went to the river to fetch water.¡± ¡°Oh! Then never mind, I¡¯ll come back later.¡± ¡°Then, Uncle Village Chief, please take care.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The village head waved his hand, turned around, and left with a heavy heart. Seeing the village head¡¯s manner, Xuexue presumed he already knew about the Aphrodisiac. Now, keeping it from Madam Xie would likely not work. Xuexue thought for a while, then sat at the front door, waiting for her return, ready for a serious talk. In Half a Cup of Tea¡¯s time, Madam Xie, carrying a shoulder pole with two buckets of water, appeared at the turn not far from there. Xuexue hurriedly stepped forward to take the pole and said with a smile, ¡°Mother, you must be tired, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not tired. Back at the Mo family, all the water for such a big household was fetched by me. Now there are only the three of us, and with you helping, Mother is even less tired,¡± Madam Xie said contentedly. Xuexue felt a pang of sadness. Indeed! In her last life, her foster mother¡¯s life was filled with hardship, and she even died because of Aunt Sun, not meeting a good end. This life, Xuexue was determined to protect her and allow her to live some comfortable days. After pouring both buckets of water into the kitchen¡¯s water jar and covering it, Xuexue pulled Madam Xie aside with a serious expression on her face. ¡°Xuexue, what¡¯s wrong, your mother still needs to go wash clothes by the river.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit before you go, there¡¯s something important I need to tell you.¡± ¡°What is it? Is it your father causing you trouble again?¡± Upon hearing there was an issue, Madam Xie¡¯s mind raced, considering all possibilities, and immediately tensed up thinking of the distressing event from the night before. Chapter 93: 93 Heartless as a Wolf and Lungs of a Dog Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Heartless as a Wolf and Lungs of a Dog Xuexue recounted the incident of the sugar water being spiked with an aphrodisiac by Auntie Sun the previous night. ¡°You¡¯re saying this is true?¡± Madam Xie¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Mmm.¡± Xuexue nodded heavily. ¡°What?¡± Madam Xie gasped in shock, her body going limp and nearly collapsing to the ground. Thankfully, Xuexue reacted quickly and caught her. ¡°Even a tiger does not eat its cubs, so tell me, why has your father¡¯s heart turned so black?¡± Once Madam Xie had collected herself, she couldn¡¯t help but cry inconsolably. ... ¡°It¡¯s all because he listened to that vixen spirit, Auntie Sun.¡± The memory of last night¡¯s events brought a harsh glint to Xuexue¡¯s eyes. ¡°For that woman, your father has become utterly heartless.¡± ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be sad. We, mother and daughter, don¡¯t need to rely on him to have a good life.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t yearn for a good life, I just hope that you and your sisters will be well and not suffer any more mishaps.¡± Madam Xie cried softly, and after a while, as if suddenly remembering something, she raised her head abruptly and asked anxiously, ¡°Xuexue, are you all right?¡± Xuexue understood she was asking about her virginity, and not wanting to make Madam Xie feel even more guilty, she said with a smile, ¡°Mother, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s probably because those aphrodisiacs weren¡¯t strong enough, and I felt uncomfortable for a moment before it passed.¡± ¡°Heaven be praised, it¡¯s indeed a great fortune amidst misfortune!¡± ¡°Mother.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xuexue talked about the village head¡¯s visit earlier on and then added, ¡°Mother, as the saying goes, ¡®rumors are dreadful.¡¯ If the village head asks, tell him I hadn¡¯t had time to drink that bowl of sugar water before it got knocked over and spilled on the ground, do you understand?¡± Madam Xie thought about it and realized that indeed, an unmarried girl having consumed an aphrodisiac would be bad for her reputation. Even if nothing had happened at that time, through the grapevine, the story could take on a whole different twist eventually. ¡°Alright! I understand the gravity of the situation.¡± After instructing Madam Xie, Xuexue felt relieved. Four hours later, when Madam Xie returned from washing clothes in the river, sure enough, she encountered the village head paying a visit. The two of them sat in the main hall chatting for quite some time. After they came out, the village head looked relieved and greeted Xuexue, who was splitting wood at the doorway, and then left. ¡°Mother.¡± Xuexue stopped her chopping and looked at Madam Xie with a gentle call. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I told him you didn¡¯t drink that bowl of sugar water, that it had been knocked over by a cat and spilled on the floor.¡± Madam Xie saw through Xuexue¡¯s concern immediately. Moreover, it was she who had wronged her daughter. If she hadn¡¯t forced Xuexue to go to the Mo family, last night¡¯s incident wouldn¡¯t have happened. Now, thinking back, Madam Xie was filled with regret. In the future, it looked like they couldn¡¯t eat anything from the Mo family at all; it was too frightening. People¡¯s hearts were so malicious, you couldn¡¯t even trust those who had once been closest to you. ¡°Mmm.¡± With her heart having been suspended for so long, Xuexue finally felt relief. Seeing that there was still some daylight left, she put down her wood-chopping axe and stood up to fetch a wooden bucket from the kitchen. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m going out for a bit and will be back soon.¡± Xuexue called out and, carrying the bucket, she left the house. Madam Xie knew she was off to catch river snails in Xiao Xi again and yelled after her, ¡°Xuexue, don¡¯t stay out too late¡ªcome back early.¡± ¡°Alright! I know!¡± Xuexue¡¯s response came from afar. At that moment, Chuner also came out of the house, ¡°Mother, why is sister going into the water to catch river snails again in such cold weather?¡± ¡°Indeed, she said she wants to earn some money so that we can have a good celebration for the New Year.¡± Xuexue had always been so sensible, which made Madam Xie¡¯s feelings even more complex. If it weren¡¯t for Xuexue¡¯s biological mother being wronged and killed by treacherous people years ago, how could she, the Eldest Legitimate Daughter of the General¡¯s Mansion, have to struggle for a daily meal amidst the cold? Chapter 94: 94 Damn Butcher Yu Chapter 94: Chapter 94 Damn Butcher Yu The Mo family After Auntie Sun returned from Doctor Xu¡¯s place, where her wound had been dressed, she lay on her bed, crying and weeping all night, sleepless. The pain from the wound on her arm was nothing compared to the agony in her heart. Having lost all her gold and silver treasures, those were the hard-earned money she got by selling her body. She had planned that with that wealth, she would have a worry-free next life. But that damned Butcher Yu had caused her to return to her old destitute ways, now literally left with nothing at all. Auntie Sun felt an extraordinary pain in her heart, the more she thought about it, the angrier she got. It wasn¡¯t even dawn yet when she quietly got up, changed her clothes, hastily dressed up, and left the house. Butcher Yu¡¯s village was quite far, just riding a bullock-cart would take four hours; moreover, it was not yet bright outside, and there were no bullock-carts available. Wanting to retrieve her money sooner, Auntie Sun steeled her heart and decided to walk there. Auntie Sun went off to settle accounts with Butcher Yu without Mo Xiaoqiang noticing, as he was still lying in bed, snugly under his quilt, fast asleep. ... It wasn¡¯t until a piercing scream rang out in the main hall that he was awakened. ¡°Oh my! Who is it? Disturbing my beautiful dream this early in the morning, how annoying.¡± Disturbed by Auntie Sun¡¯s crying the previous night, he had only fallen asleep at midnight, and just when Mo Xiaoqiang was deeply asleep, he couldn¡¯t help but mutter a complaint, turned over with the quilt, and continued sleeping. It wasn¡¯t until Old Lady Mo appeared in his room and shouted, ¡°Mo Xiaoqiang, what on earth happened at home?¡± Last night they had gone to the town to attend a wedding feast. After the feast, they had realized it was too late and unsafe to travel back at night, so they had stayed overnight in town and hurried home early in the morning. As soon as they entered the village, the villagers looked at them strangely, but they didn¡¯t mind, assuming that it was because they had enjoyed fine food at the town feast and the villagers were envious of their family. Unexpectedly, when they got home and opened the door, they were startled; the house was a complete mess, not a single thing was intact, everything was smashed, and the people of the Mo family were terrified half to death. The scene was as if bandits had raided them. The family members quickly reacted, each rushed back to their rooms to check if their possessions were untouched. Upon inspection, they were relieved to find no loss at all, but Old Lady Mo flew into a rage, blaming Mo Xiaoqiang and his wife for leaving the house in such a state. Enraged, she wanted to settle accounts with Auntie Sun, but found only Mo Xiaoqiang asleep in his room, with no sign of Auntie Sun. ¡°Oh my! Mother, what are you doing? So early in the morning, won¡¯t you let me sleep?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang mumbled sleepily. ¡°Sleep, sleep, I¡¯ll let you sleep,¡± Old Lady Mo retorted sarcastically. The big incident at home and Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s leisurely attitude completely infuriated Old Lady Mo. For the first time in her life, she lost her temper with her son, stepped forward in three strides, and yanked off the thick quilt from his body. Mo Xiaoqiang, who was wearing just a thin robe to sleep, felt a sudden rush of cold when the quilt was removed by Old Lady Mo and involuntarily shivered, instantly fully awake. ¡°Qiangqiang, what exactly happened at home?¡± Old Lady Mo was extremely anxious, faced with an unconcerned Mo Xiaoqiang. Reminded by Old Lady Mo, Mo Xiaoqiang suddenly recalled the events of the previous night. He hastily turned to look and realized that Auntie Sun was missing. He quickly asked, ¡°Mother, where is my wife?¡± ¡°Who knows where that damned woman has gone to! I left the house to her care, and she let it come to this state. When I see her, I¡¯m going to skin her alive, she¡¯s really made me furious.¡± Old Lady Mo was furious, not wishing to vent her anger on her own son, she reserved it for Auntie Sun. Chapter 95: 95 Gloating over Misfortune Chapter 95: Chapter 95 Gloating over Misfortune ¡°Aiyo!¡± Mo Xiaoqiang called out with some regret, thinking to himself that Auntie Sun must have gone to confront Butcher Yu. It was all his fault for sleeping so soundly that he didn¡¯t even notice her getting up. So, without paying any attention to the beside Old Lady Mo, who was fuming with anger, he jumped out of bed frantically and got dressed in a hurry, pulling on his boots. ¡°Qiangqiang, what on earth has happened at home?¡± Seeing her son about to leave, Old Lady Mo quickly grabbed him. Mo Xiaoqiang was in a hurry to find Auntie Sun, thinking about the wealth involved. If Butcher Yu denied it, he would be there to help. And if they managed to get the gold and silver treasures back, he was sure to get half. ¡°Aiyo Wei! Mother, what are you doing? Let go quickly, I have an emergency,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang struggled a few times, but couldn¡¯t break free, and his eyes widened in desperation. ¡°What¡¯s so urgent that it¡¯s more important than a big problem in the family?¡± Old Lady Mo held on to him tightly and refused to let go. ... Just then, Old Master Mo and Mo Daoyan¡¯s family all came in, and everyone looked at him with accusatory eyes. With a tone full of blame, Mo Daoyan said, ¡°Big brother, when we went to the town for the feast, it was your wife who volunteered to stay behind and watch the house. We didn¡¯t force you. It¡¯s only been one night, and you¡¯ve turned the house into this state. It¡¯s really not right.¡± ¡°Exactly, she could have enjoyed the feast in town but insisted on staying home with such good intentions. I say, she must have been up to something indecent,¡± Madam Ruan added with a sarcastic tone. Upon hearing this, Mo Xiaoqiang felt extremely guilty. Initially, Auntie Sun had this wicked plan in mind. Taking advantage of the Mo family¡¯s absence, she wanted to arrange for Xuexue to lose her chastity and then marry her off to him as a matter of course, in order to earn the forty taels of silver from Butcher Yu. Old Master Mo was also very displeased, ¡°Qiangqiang, speak up. What exactly happened?¡± With everyone pressing him and his sleeve being tightly held by Old Lady Mo, unable to break free, Mo Xiaoqiang had no choice. Anyway, last night¡¯s events had already spread throughout the village; there was no hiding them, so he gritted his teeth and recounted what had happened, of course leaving out the detail about the aphrodisiac, which was too despicable and dirty for him to even mention. Everyone was stunned upon hearing the story, as their house had indeed been struck by misfortune overnight. At this tense moment, Madam Ruan couldn¡¯t help but let out a schadenfreude laugh, ¡°Giggle giggle giggle....¡± Angry glances were cast in her direction from all around. ¡°Cough cough cough... I knew it, them staying behind at home, they certainly didn¡¯t have good intentions, actually engaging in selling their daughter for money,¡± Madam Ruan quickly stifled her laughter and explained. ¡°You witless old maid, with such a great scandal befalling our family, you still find this amusing,¡± Old Lady Mo glared fiercely at her with eyes sharp as triangles and cursed furiously. ¡°Hmph! Those disgraceful acts weren¡¯t committed by me. Why are you getting angry at me?¡± Madam Ruan turned her head away contemptuously. Madam Ruan had a sharp tongue and showed none of the acquiescent behavior of Madam Xie, which made Old Lady Mo¡¯s chest ache with anger, ¡°You... You...¡± The household was already in enough chaos; they couldn¡¯t afford anymore. Old Master Mo quickly intervened, ¡°Forget it, old woman. Although what Madam Ruan says is unpleasant to hear, it¡¯s the truth, and indeed none of it is her doing. Rebuking her does no good and only upsets you more.¡± ¡°Old man, what are we going to do! Aunt Sun, that dead old maid, has created such a mess, and Qiangqiang¡¯s reputation will definitely be ruined thanks to her,¡± Old Lady Mo paced about anxiously. ¡°Qiangqiang, where is Aunt Sun?¡± Old Master Mo finally remembered the key person. ¡°I don¡¯t know! She was gone when I woke up. Wasn¡¯t I about to go look for her when Mother grabbed onto my clothes and wouldn¡¯t let go?¡± Mo Xiaoqiang helplessly glanced at Old Lady Mo¡¯s hand, which was still tightly clutching his sleeve. Chapter 96: 96: Granddaughter Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Granddaughter ¡°Old Maid, let him go.¡± Old Master Mo advanced, pulling Old Lady Mo¡¯s hand from his sleeve, and then said to Mo Xiaoqiang, ¡°Qiangqiang, hurry up and find Auntie Sun and bring her back. She¡¯s only been with the Mo family for a short time and already she¡¯s thinking of selling my granddaughter. This is really too much.¡± ¡°Oh! Alright then!¡± Mo Xiaoqiang, upon gaining his freedom, agreed and took off running, fearing that if he slowed down even a little bit, Old Lady Mo would grab hold of him again. ¡°Our Qiangqiang is just foolish, with such soft ears, always listening to that Seductress Fox. It truly infuriates me,¡± said Old Lady Mo, clearly upset. Old Master Mo: ¡°It¡¯s all due to the good job you did. The moment I saw her, I knew she wasn¡¯t a decent woman, but you wouldn¡¯t listen. You had to give her to Qiangqiang as a concubine. If you¡¯d listened to me at that time, would we have this mess now?¡± ... ¡°I was after her wide hips, good for bearing children, wasn¡¯t I? The experienced Old Maids all say that women with big hips bear sons.¡± ¡°I fear we won¡¯t have a grandson before she has bankrupted our Mo family.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t talk to you anymore, I¡¯m fed up.¡± After such an event, Old Lady Mo knew she was at fault and turned around, striding off. She was also at her wit¡¯s end as Butcher Yu had left the house in utter chaos; they didn¡¯t even have a decent stool left. The water jar and bowls were all smashed. That damned Aunt Sun, it was all the fault of that stinking woman, bringing a Plague God upon them. Originally, if Aunt Sun had succeeded with Xuexue¡¯s situation, Old Lady Mo wouldn¡¯t have bothered to interfere. After all, the girl had become contrary to just about everything and selling her off was alright by her, it would have spared her the displeasure of looking at her. Unfortunately, not only did the situation not get resolved, but it also ruined Qiangqiang¡¯s reputation, and their home had been vandalized, resulting in a significant loss since they would need silver to replace the broken items. ¡°No, I must quickly make a list of everything that was smashed to see how much it was all worth. When that dead woman comes back, I¡¯ll have her cough up the cost.¡± Old Lady Mo murmured to herself while she turned around and went back to Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s room; as a woman of the house, being illiterate, she needed Mo Daoyan¡¯s help. ¡°Yaner, Yaner, come here for a moment.¡± Even before she was near, Old Lady Mo¡¯s loud voice could be heard calling from a distance. ¡°Husband, Mother-in-law is calling for you! What is it?¡± Madam Ruan nudged Mo Daoyan with her arm. Perplexed by Old Lady Mo¡¯s sudden return, Mo Daoyan hastily replied, ¡°Mother, what is it?¡± ¡°Come help me tally the damages, see how much stuff got smashed in the house, and figure out how much silver it¡¯s all worth. I want that dead concubine Aunt Sun to pay it all back,¡± Old Lady Mo¡¯s loud voice carried, her words clear even from afar. ¡°Giggle, giggle, there¡¯s a good show to watch.¡± Madam Ruan giggled with schadenfreude, pushing Mo Daoyan, ¡°Husband, you should hurry over.¡± ¡°Ay! On my way!¡± Mo Daoyan exchanged a knowing look with Madam Ruan; at the same time, he leisurely responded to Old Lady Mo. ¡°My wife, I¡¯m going to help Mother with the accounting.¡± ¡°What a headache it is for Big Brother to have married such a wife. Sigh! We¡¯re all family, we should help out, shouldn¡¯t we?¡± Madam Ruan pretended to pause, turned her head, and asked Old Master Mo, ¡°Father-in-law, don¡¯t you think I¡¯m right?¡± ¡°Mmm! Indeed.¡± Old Master Mo nodded, giving his approval her statement. Madam Ruan smiled triumphantly, ¡°Husband, Mother-in-law is waiting for you outside, you better go quickly.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Mo Daoyan walked out, his mood rather buoyant, given the misfortune of the main house. He decided that once he started the list, he would add a little extra, seeing an opportunity to line his own pockets. Chapter 97: 97 Butcher Yu Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Butcher Yu Mo Xiaoqiang, who had dashed out from home early in the morning, thought surely Auntie Sun had gone to find Butcher Yu to retrieve some money, but he didn¡¯t know which village Butcher Yu lived in. All he knew from Auntie Sun was that it was in the neighboring village, so off he went, asking around haphazardly in the next village, asking whoever he met whether they knew Butcher Yu. The passersby all shook their heads. It wasn¡¯t until evening, both hungry and tired, that he finally exhaustedly returned home. No sooner had he sat down and wolfed down his dinner, than Auntie Sun returned, her face clouded with dejection. ¡°My dear, where have you been? You¡¯ve had me worried sick, I¡¯ve been searching for you all day.¡± The moment Auntie Sun came back, Mo Xiaoqiang threw his chopsticks and bowl onto the table and hurried up to ask. Auntie Sun hung her head low, limp as a frostbitten eggplant, and said wearily, ¡°Husband, I¡¯m tired, I want to go rest in my room for a bit.¡± ¡°What about Butcher Yu! Did you find him? Did you get the silver back?¡± ... Mo Xiaoqiang was most concerned about this¡ªit was, after all, why he¡¯d worn himself out for Auntie Sun¡¯s sake all day. ¡°I found him; he said he didn¡¯t take the jewelry and silver.¡± Auntie Sun¡¯s eyes darted about, appearing as if she had done something dishonest. ¡°He says he didn¡¯t take it, so he didn¡¯t? My dear, don¡¯t be so easily fooled. Last night, no one else entered our room apart from him; if not him, then who? Did the money just sprout wings and fly away?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s still your daughter,¡± Auntie Sun replied impatiently. ¡°Her? Don¡¯t be ridiculous, she¡¯s just a little girl who avoids Butcher Yu at all costs; how could she have the nerve to break open the cabinet and steal the silver? I¡¯m certain it was Butcher Yu who stole it. My dear, I¡¯m sure of it, definitely him. Shouldn¡¯t we report him to the officials?¡± ¡°Report what to the officials? Butcher Yu already said it wasn¡¯t him, aren¡¯t you annoying?¡± Just a second ago, Auntie Sun had been calm, but suddenly she screamed in frustration. Actually, Auntie Sun felt guilty¡ªif Mo Xiaoqiang really went to the officials, wouldn¡¯t the entire world learn about her past? Mo Xiaoqiang was stunned by her yell, and after a while, he asked confusedly, ¡°My dear, what¡¯s wrong with you? Is your arm hurting again?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m just too tired; I need to rest in my room for a while.¡± After taking a few deep breaths, Auntie Sun tried to calm her nearly collapsing emotions. Truth be told, she herself believed that her money had definitely been taken opportunistically by Butcher Yu, but she was helpless, holding a secret that Butcher Yu knew about. Originally, she wanted to harm Xuexue. Now, it truly was an instance of karma, and she had ensnared herself instead. Today, Auntie Sun had walked to the Yu family village early in the morning to confront Butcher Yu, who not only denied it, but also threatened her to promise Xuexue to him as his wife; otherwise, he would tell the Mo family about her past. Aunt Sun was both shocked and frightened. Having entered the Mo family, all Auntie Sun wanted was to live peacefully with Mo Xiaoqiang, but she couldn¡¯t afford to stir trouble with Butcher Yu. Not only had Auntie Sun failed to retrieve her money, but she had also been threatened by Butcher Yu, harboring a belly full of grievances yet daring not to express her anger. Upon returning home and being interrogated by Mo Xiaoqiang, she couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and her emotions erupted. Chapter 98 98: 98: Conscience of Heaven and Earth Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Conscience of Heaven and Earth ¡°Auntie Sun, you stand right there.¡± Exhausted to the bone, Auntie Sun was dragging her weary feet, preparing to return to her room to rest and carefully consider what her next move should be when Old Lady Mo¡¯s shout came from behind her just after she had taken two steps. ¡°Mother-in-law, can we talk about this tomorrow? I¡¯m very tired today,¡± Auntie Sun stopped in her tracks, turned her head, and unusually lowered her stance, hoping to calm the situation. Old Lady Mo, furious, didn¡¯t care for any of that; she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep tonight if she didn¡¯t hand Auntie Sun the list of broken items and demand compensation for the damages. ¡°Tired? Hmph! After engaging in such despicable acts, of course, you¡¯re tired.¡± Old Lady Mo said mockingly while glaring fiercely at Auntie Sun, and at the same time, she extended her hand with the list in front of her. ... Already feeling guilty, Auntie Sun naturally became even more uneasy at Old Lady Mo¡¯s words, her eyes shifting left and right erratically. All of a sudden, Old Lady Mo stretched a piece of paper in front of her, startling Auntie Sun, who already had a guilty conscience, because she thought it was evidence of her past misdeeds and that the Mo family was going to cast her aside. ¡°You can¡¯t treat me like this,¡± Auntie Sun hastily pushed the paper in Old Lady Mo¡¯s hand away, refusing to take it. Old Lady Mo became even angrier, with hands on her hips, she began to curse: ¡°You wretch, ever since you entered the Mo family, we have treated you so well, yet you repay our kindness with malice.¡± ¡°Since marrying my husband, I have been proper and dutiful, with a clear conscience towards heaven and earth; you can¡¯t treat me like this,¡± Auntie Sun, with her uninjured hand, patted her chest as she spoke. Now penniless, Auntie Sun couldn¡¯t afford to be cast out by the Mo family; without a place to shelter in the bitterly cold world, she had her concerns. ¡°Ah spit! You call that proper? You brought an evildoer back from who knows where and turned our home into a mess. Now I¡¯m asking you to compensate for the silver needed to replace the broken items and you¡¯re making excuses,¡± Old Lady Mo was furious. ¡°You... you... what are you talking about?¡± Auntie Sun¡¯s mind was in a fog; it suddenly dawned on her that the paper in Old Lady Mo¡¯s hand wasn¡¯t a divorce document. ¡°Still pretending? You¡¯re still putting on an act?¡± Old Lady Mo gasped for air, her chest hurting from the anger. When Auntie Sun finally snapped back to reality, she breathed a sigh of relief, her tone becoming dismissive, ¡°Mother-in-law, it¡¯s just a few broken chairs and bowls, how many copper coins could that be worth? You¡¯re making such a fuss here; I thought something major had happened, really...¡± ¡°My goodness! Qiangqiang, look at her attitude,¡± deeply offended by Auntie Sun¡¯s contemptuous tone, Old Lady Mo was so agitated that she turned around and started to pour out her grievances to Mo Xiaoqiang. ¡°Mother, mother, we¡¯ll compensate, we¡¯ll compensate,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang, dizzied by their quarreling, quickly grabbed the list from Old Lady Mo¡¯s hand, repeatedly agreeing. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to compensate, I want her to compensate,¡± Old Lady Mo snatched the list back and threw it straight at Auntie Sun¡¯s face. Picking up the list that struck her face, Auntie Sun was furious, ¡°You...¡± Old Lady Mo stood tall, chin lifted, eyes slantingly fixed on her, her attitude incredibly oppressive, ¡°Well, what now?¡± Realizing she couldn¡¯t argue with her mother-in-law, Auntie Sun stormed off with the list in hand. Mo Xiaoqiang: ¡°Mother, why bother? Whether I compensate or she does, isn¡¯t it all the same?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t it the same?¡± ¡°The silver you spend is given by me, so if you compensate, isn¡¯t that just spending my own money? Of course, it¡¯s not the same.¡± ¡°Uh! Alright then.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang thought about it and said no more, thinking to himself that Auntie Sun was in trouble now, for she was penniless, a poor beggar; what could she possibly offer as compensation? Chapter 99 99: 99 Cheers and Jubilation Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Cheers and Jubilation The Mo family was bustling and chaotic, like a pot of messy porridge. At the old residence, life was a bit hard, but there was peace, and Xuexue was very content with her current situation, of course, provided that the Mo family didn¡¯t come to stir up more trouble. But as for Auntie Sun¡¯s account, she would settle it sooner or later, just not now; a moment of peace was still a moment to cherish. Tomorrow was another market day, and Xuexue and Madam Xie had spent the entire evening cleaning the river snails and clams. Removing the tails of the river snails was quite time-consuming. ¡°Mommy, Mommy, I want to help too.¡± Chuner watched Xuexue handle the pliers, snapping off one river snail¡¯s tail after another, and found it fun, loudly expressing her desire to help. ¡°Okay, Chuner, sit next to your sister.¡± ... Seeing that her wound had nearly healed, Madam Xie handed her a pair of pliers and had her sit on a small wooden stool to work so she wouldn¡¯t get tired squatting on the ground. The first time they removed the tails of the river snails, they used stones, and it was exhausting. Later, when Chuner got hurt, Madam Xie had to stay home to take care of her. Xuexue went to town alone to sell the river snails, and when she passed by the grocery store, she specially bought a few pairs of pliers to make the job easier, as the business would continue for a while longer. Using stones every day was not only tiring but also time-consuming. ¡°Chuner, would you like to go to town with your sister tomorrow for fun?¡± Xuexue asked while she worked the pliers, smiling at Chuner. Last time she left Chuner at home alone, the girl nearly lost her life. This time, Xuexue and Madam Xie had decided to take her along. Tomorrow, the three of them would go to the market together. ¡°Yes! I¡¯ve never been to town before.¡± Upon hearing this, Chuner instantly cheered, ¡°Xiao Mu always talks about how fun the town is. This time, I can show off to him too.¡± Xiao Mu was a neighbor¡¯s little boy, the same age as Chuner, and they usually played together a lot. ¡°Good, I¡¯ll buy you lots of pork lard cakes, and you can make him envious.¡± Chuner pouted, ¡°Not at all! Xiao Mu is nice to me. When I was sick a few days ago, he hid an egg that his mom gave him and let me eat it. When I get pork lard cakes, I¡¯ll share them with him too.¡± Xuexue found this somewhat amusing and spoke in a feigned angry tone, ¡°But didn¡¯t you say he bullied you last time? It¡¯s really ungentlemanly for a boy to bully a girl.¡± ¡°That was last time; this time it¡¯s different. Oh! Sister, you don¡¯t understand our world of kids; just leave us alone.¡± Chuner put on an air of an adult. Xuexue smiled warmly, ¡°Alright, your sister won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± A little while later, As Chuner, who had been focusing on her task, looked up at Xuexue with a troubled expression, she said, ¡°Sister, it looks so easy when you do it, why is it so hard for me?¡± Having said that, she held up her little hands for Xuexue to see, ¡°Look, they¡¯re all red. It¡¯s so painful for Chuner.¡± ¡°It hurts and you still do it? Are you silly?¡± Xuexue, heartachingly, snatched the pliers from her hands, stopping her from continuing. ¡°But Mommy and you both look so tired, and it makes me feel sad.¡± They say a poor man¡¯s child grows up fast ¨C at five years old, Chuner was much more sensible than most kids her age. ¡°You are still small, Chuner. When you grow up, Mommy and your sister will need you to take care of them.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, when has your sister ever lied to you?¡± Xuexue nodded earnestly, then pointed at the basin of river snails, ¡°Look, there aren¡¯t many left; your sister will finish them quickly while you wait by her side.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Chuner peered into the basin, and indeed, there weren¡¯t many river snails left, so she obediently sat to the side and waited. Chapter 100 100: 100 The Vigor of Dragons and Tigers Chapter 100: Chapter 100 The Vigor of Dragons and Tigers The next day In the early morning, as the sky began to lighten, Madam Xie and her two daughters climbed out of their warm beddings. After tidying up, they prepared to set out for the market. Xuexue remembered that the rice they had snatched from the Mo family last time was almost gone, and on top of that, the home needed everything from firewood, rice, oil, and salt to lamp oil and candles. She doubled back to her room and dug under the bed; soon, she unearthed a bundle of items. This bundle of gold and silver jewelry was exactly what Xuexue had managed to rob from Auntie Sun the night she had been framed and set up. After taking out two taels of silver, Xuexue thought it should be enough. In the countryside, things weren¡¯t expensive, and two taels of silver was no small sum in such a remote and impoverished place. A strong man working hard for a day outside would only earn twenty copper coins. Two taels of silver amounted to two thousand copper coins; to the eyes of the poor, it was a substantial fortune. ... ¡°Sister, Mother is calling for you to hurry up!¡± Chuner called out with her childlike voice from outside. ¡°Coming.¡± Xuexue raised her voice in response, tucked the two taels of silver into her bosom, then carefully reburied the bundle and patted the ground firm. She even spread some old ash and dirt on top to make it less apparent that the earth under the bed had been recently disturbed. ¡°Xuexue, close the door. Let¡¯s go,¡± Madam Xie said when she saw Xuexue emerge, lifting the load to carry as she and Chuner moved ahead. ¡°Yep!¡± Xuexue replied, locked the door behind her, and followed on foot to catch up with Madam Xie and her sister. ¡°Mother, let¡¯s not walk today; we should take the ox cart instead. Chuner hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet, and I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be too much for her,¡± Xuexue said while walking beside Madam Xie. Madam Xie thought about it and agreed; taking the ox cart to the market was only a copper coin per person, not much. She nodded and said, ¡°Hmm! Alright, today we¡¯ll take the ox cart.¡± ¡°Yay! That¡¯s great; we get to ride in an ox cart!¡± Chuner, being a child with a small age and everything new and exciting to her, immediately began dancing around Madam Xie, cheering joyfully. Seeing Chuner, who had been through life and death, so lively and vigorous, both Madam Xie and Xuexue smiled knowingly at each other. Soon after, they arrived at the village entrance where, on market days, there were always ox carts waiting. By the time they got there, the ox cart was almost full. The Mo family trio barely managed to get on, making it just right for a full load. The middle-aged man driving the ox cart saw this and chuckled, waving his whip and shouting loudly, ¡°Everyone sit tight, we¡¯re setting off!¡± After speaking, he gave the ox a firm lash with the whip: ¡°Giddy up!¡± The ox cart slowly started moving. The Mo family mother and daughters had become a popular topic of conversation in Mo Family Village during their time, and the moment they got on, everyone looked at them curiously. Xuexue ignored the gazes and settled down next to Chuner. Indeed, Chuner had almost been beaten to death by Old Lady Mo, followed by Madam Xie¡¯s dismissal, with the two daughters moving into the old residence. In the eyes of the country folk, a household with only women and no men to hold the fort was already enough to stir up idle gossip. To make matters worse, Xuexue was nearly tricked into drinking sugared water laced with aphrodisiac by Auntie Sun. Some of the gossiping busybodies, with plenty of time and nothing better to do, tried on several occasions to pry juicy stories from the simple-minded Chuner. But Chuner, young yet cunning, never let slip a single word. ¡°Xuexue, you look quite different than before. Tell us, did something happen the other night? Don¡¯t be scared; just tell aunty here, and I¡¯ll stand up for you,¡± a plump woman on the cart asked with an appearance of concern. Chapter 101 101: 101: Arrogant Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Arrogant Seeing her meddlesome demeanor, anyone with clear eyes knew she harbored no good intentions. Glancing up, Xuexue recognized that this woman was often close to Madam Ruan. Last time Madam Ruan tried to hit her but accidentally ran into a wall, it was she who spread rumors all over the village, claiming Xuexue was incredibly disrespectful for hitting an elder. Knowing this woman was a notorious gossip in the village, Madam Xie¡¯s mood soured as she heard the edged words, ¡°What¡¯s different about my daughter?, Isn¡¯t she alright?, Lady Li, you have children yourself, don¡¯t spout nonsense and tarnish my daughter¡¯s reputation.¡± The carriage was also carrying six or seven other women who had taken the opportunity of the market day to go to the town and buy various items to bring back. Losing face in front of so many people, Lady Li¡¯s face changed, and she said shrilly, ¡°Heh, they might look the same on the outside, but who knows if what¡¯s inside is the same?¡± That implied, who knew whether Xuexue was a virgin or a tramp. ... Upon hearing this, Madam Xie¡¯s eyes moistened, and her voice trembled, ¡°You..., you..., how... can you speak like that?¡± Lady Li sneered dismissively, ¡°If you can do it, then don¡¯t be afraid of being talked about.¡± Xuexue patted Madam Xie on the back and comforted her while giving Lady Li a fierce glare, ¡°What did I do?¡± Lady Li¡¯s tone became more sardonic, ¡°You know very well what you did.¡± The other women in the carriage couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and said, ¡°Lady Li, without any evidence, don¡¯t talk nonsense and tarnish the girl¡¯s reputation. That invites divine retribution and harms your moral virtue.¡± ¡°Exactly, usually in the village, your gossiping about this household and that might slide, but now it involves a young girl¡¯s reputation, you really can¡¯t just blabber on.¡± Everyone chimed in, one after another, rebuking Lady Li. Madam Xie, a woman divorced by her husband and barely getting by with her two daughters, was already pitiful, and now, she was being senselessly slandered, inciting everyone to defend her fiercely. ¡°What¡¯s it to you!, I wasn¡¯t talking about you.¡± Surrounded by so many people, Lady Li couldn¡¯t help but become angrily embarrassed. ¡°How can you be like this?, You ruin other people¡¯s reputations and then won¡¯t let us criticize you,¡± another woman scoffed as she glanced at Lady Li. ¡°That¡¯s just her way; in Mo Family Village, the most meddlesome woman is her. Just ignore her,¡± another woman added. Lady Li sneered, ¡°Pfft, ignore me all you want; I don¡¯t care to talk to you poor wretches anyway.¡± Lady Li, with just a bit more land than others in the village, carried herself as if she were a major landowner, always looking down on everyone else. ¡°Tsk tsk! Look at that awful attitude of hers.¡± The woman was so infuriated she wished she could slap Lady Li right across the face. ¡°Let it go, let it go, we know what kind of person she is, don¡¯t be angry, don¡¯t stoop to her level,¡± another woman quickly advised. ¡°Hmph!¡± Thinking it over, the woman realized it wasn¡¯t worth getting upset over such a person and chose to remain silent. A hush fell over the carriage; before long, they reached the entrance to the market. The market was bustling with people, and ox carts were not allowed inside. Everyone grabbed their things and got off the cart. The passengers took out their copper coins, lining up in front of the cart to pay for their ride. ¡°Hehe...! Big brother.¡± When it was Lady Li¡¯s turn, she approached with empty hands, her face breaking into a fawning smile. ¡°Lady Li, what¡¯s it this time?, Running short on fare again? You didn¡¯t pay last time, and that just won¡¯t do. I¡¯m running a small business and have a family to support,¡± the middle-aged cart driver saw through her immediately. Coupled with his distaste for her usual pretentious airs of affluence followed by her refusal to even part with a single copper coin. Chapter 102 102: 102: A Grin Without a Smile Chapter 102: Chapter 102: A Grin Without a Smile Before Lady Li could open her mouth, Xuexue, who was following behind with an innocent smile, exclaimed loudly to the middle-aged man, ¡°Uncle, Auntie Li is a wealthy woman, how could she ever do something like evading debts? Perhaps she might even give you extra Copper Coins as a reward. Don¡¯t you all agree?¡± After finishing her declaration, she turned her head and winked at the several women following her. The women immediately understood that Xuexue wanted to make fun of Lady Li. ¡°Yes, yes, Lady Li is not like that, she¡¯s usually very generous.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement, though internally they thought, Lady Li was habitually a miser, how generous my ass! Seeing everyone praising her, Lady Li held her chin up high, feeling extremely proud, like a conceited rooster, only lacking a tail to cock up in the air. ¡°That¡¯s good. Now hurry up and pay, don¡¯t hold up the people behind. It¡¯s not easy for everyone to come to the market, and we still have things to buy,¡± one person gently urged, easing the middle-aged man¡¯s expression. ¡°Hehe... Sure.¡± ... Having been flattered by everyone, Lady Li felt too embarrassed not to pay the carriage fee. She reached into her bosom and pulled out five Copper Coins but bent her head, contemplating to pocket three of them. Quick on her feet, Xuexue who was following behind snatched them; shortly after, she placed them in the hands of the carriage driver, all the while smiling brightly, ¡°See, I told you Auntie Li is a rich lady, very generous. Usually, we poor folks ride for just one wen money, but she¡¯s sure to pay double.¡± Finally, she tilted her head and asked with a smile, ¡°Auntie Li, isn¡¯t that right, what Xuexue said?¡± ¡°Hehehe... yes, right!¡± The fare was only two Copper Coins in total, and yet Lady Li ended up giving five. It pained her heart deeply, but having just been praised for being generous, it would be too shameful to go back on her word. So, with a forced smile, she agreed, hating Xuexue all the more. She stomped her foot quietly and turned around, storming off in a huff. ¡°Xuexue, you teased her today, be careful of her revenge.¡± The women all warned Xuexue in turn. ¡°Thank you for your reminders, Aunties. Xuexue stands upright and fears no crooked shadow.¡± Having said that, she handed the middle-aged man three Copper Coins. The middle-aged man, also aware that Xuexue had just made fun of Lady Li, helping him recover the fare, and even earning him an extra three Copper Coins, didn¡¯t want to take money from Xuexue at first. However, since she insisted, he accepted two Copper Coins. Having paid the fare, everyone went their separate ways, planning to return there in the evening if they needed a ride home from the market. Armed with her previous experience, Madam Xie made her way competently to the spot where they¡¯d set up before, and sure enough, the Aunties who bought jewelry had already saved a spot for them. As time passed, they all grew more familiar with each other. Xuexue called her Aunt Zhang, knowing she lived in the town and arrived early, which made reserving the spot more convenient. ¡°Oh my! There¡¯s an extra little sister today! She looks so lovely,¡± Aunt Zhang expressed her surprise upon seeing Chuner for the first time, finding her appearance endearing. While setting up the wares, Xuexue replied with a smile, ¡°This is my sister, Chuner.¡± Afterwards, she turned to Chuner, ¡°Say hello to Aunt Zhang, she¡¯s been taking good care of us.¡± ¡°Hello Aunt Zhang! Thank you for looking after our family,¡± Chuner¡¯s voice was young and crisp as she spoke. Chuner was so polite that Aunt Zhang grew even fonder of her, casually picking a brightly colored hairpin flower from the heap of jewelry and placing it on her head. ¡°Oh no! Big Sister Zhang, that¡¯s not right. This jewelry is for sale to provide for your family, you shouldn¡¯t give it to Chuner,¡± exclaimed Madam Xie, alarmed, as she tried to remove the hairpin flower from Chuner¡¯s hair. ¡°No need, no need, it¡¯s just a small trinket, not worth much,¡± Aunt Zhang hurriedly intervened. Chapter 103 103: 103 Hairpin Flower Chapter 103: Chapter 103 Hairpin Flower ¡°This...¡± Aunt Zhang refused to take back the hairpin flower, causing Madam Xie some distress. Seeing the delicate and exquisitely made hairpin flower, which also seemed suitable for children, Xuexue lowered her head to Chuner and asked, ¡°Chuner, do you like the hairpin flower Aunt Zhang gave you?¡± Chuner clearly liked it, but after glancing at Madam Xie, she hung her head, not daring to speak, because she knew that normally, her mother did not like her to accept things from others. She said that even though one is poor, they should not lack ambition. Although Chuner didn¡¯t understand what it meant, she knew it was right not to accept things from others. Seeing how Chuner shrank back timidly, Xuexue said again, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Chuner. If you like it, your sister will buy it for you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ... Chuner suddenly lifted her head, her eyes sparkling. ¡°Mhm, your sister made some money selling river snails,¡± Xuexue nodded firmly. ¡°I like it! Chuner has never worn such a pretty hairpin flower before,¡± Chuner pondered for a moment and then said honestly. It was true, during their days with the Mo family, affording basic sustenance was a problem, let alone Madam Xie, being penniless, having any money to buy hairpin flowers for Chuner. Not to mention Chuner, even Xuexue had never worn a hairpin flower all her life. ¡°As long as Chuner likes it, we will buy it.¡± Immediately, Xuexue stood up and called out to Aunt Zhang, ¡°Auntie, how much for the hairpin flower?¡± ¡°Oh my! Why talk about money with me? My business flourishes thanks to you all the time. What¡¯s one hairpin flower worth? It¡¯s not worth much at all,¡± Aunt Zhang stubbornly refused to accept payment. ¡°If you don¡¯t take it, my mother will feel uneasy. Just take it,¡± Xuexue pulled out a few Copper Coins from her embrace and handed them to Aunt Zhang, ¡°Auntie, see if this is enough? If it¡¯s not, I¡¯ll give you more.¡± Aunt Zhang glanced at Madam Xie, saw that she was finally smiling, and reluctantly took the Copper Coins without even looking at them, saying, ¡°That¡¯s enough, that¡¯s enough. Really, making such a fuss over a hairpin flower.¡± Having arrived by ox-cart today, they had gotten there much earlier than usual, and most people coming to the market had not yet arrived. There were only a sparse few passersby strolling on the street. After setting up their stall, Xuexue thought that before the market got busy, she should buy some steamed buns to eat; they had got up early and had not eaten all morning, so they were hungry. ¡°Mother, I¡¯ll go buy some buns from the Great Harmony Restaurant.¡± Having been to town a few times, Xuexue had heard how delicious the food was at the Great Harmony Restaurant, and she had longed to try it. ¡°Okay! Go and come back quickly.¡± Madam Xie thought about the early morning journey, and that her two daughters must be hungry. Though the Great Harmony Restaurant was expensive, the breakfast was reasonably priced, and most households could afford it, so she did not object. Soon, Xuexue turned two streets and arrived at the front door of the Great Harmony Restaurant. At the entrance, steaming baskets of breakfast items were lined up on both sides while several waiters bustled with enthusiasm, both collecting money and packing breakfast for customers. Xuexue also queued up with the crowd. Just as it was almost Xuexue¡¯s turn, suddenly, a barrage of angry curses came from the restaurant: ¡°You damned fool, how dare you sneak into our restaurant to steal food!¡± Hearing the angry shouts, everyone stopped what they were doing and craned their necks to see. Soon after, a middle-aged man emerged dragging a ragged man by the sleeve, cursing non-stop: ¡°You wretched pauper, not having money and still daring to steal food from our restaurant. You must have the ¡®Courage of Bear¡¯s Heart and Leopard¡¯s Gall.''¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on, Chef Ding?¡± one waiter stepped forward and asked. ¡°You dare to ask me? Are all of you blind? Someone sneaked into the back kitchen to steal food, and you all didn¡¯t see,¡± Chef Ding said angrily as he lifted his head. Chapter 104: 104 The Fool Chapter 104: Chapter 104 The Fool Xuexue recognized at a glance that this Chef Ding was the same person who had tasted the river snails, refused to pay the other day, and even quarreled with her. ¡°We¡¯ve been insanely busy, and didn¡¯t notice for a moment.¡± The Waiter felt somewhat aggrieved, as it was the busiest time for the restaurant. The neighbors from the food market, who found the restaurant¡¯s breakfast not only delicious but also economical, were all crowded at the door, lining up to buy as early in the morning. The several waiters were frenzied with activity, wishing they each had a couple more hands to package the breakfast orders. They had no time to keep an eye on the entrance. Chef Ding, with his sharp and menacing triangular eyes, glared, ¡°So you think you have a reason?¡± The Waiter lowered his head, no longer daring to make a sound. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going back to work instead of standing here waiting for your meal?¡± The Waiter immediately turned his head and ran back to his station to continue selling breakfast. After reprimanding the Waiter, the pointy-faced, vindictive Chef Ding finally simmered down. However, as soon as he turned around, he saw the simpleton he had caught still nonchalantly eating his bun. Immediately, his anger flared up again. He raised his hand and slapped the bun out of the man¡¯s hand, scolding, ¡°You damn fool, daring to come here and steal food, do you believe I¡¯ll beat you to death?¡± After speaking, he wound up his fist and struck down. The man, who had been happily eating, was startled as his bun was suddenly knocked out of his hand and he burst into loud wailing, ¡°Wahhh...! Why did you knock my bun out of my hand? Compensate me, you owe me.¡± The man continued to cry, ignoring the punches from Chef Ding that fell on him like rain. The neighbors in line to buy breakfast shook their heads at the scene: ¡°Chef Ding too, it¡¯s just a fool after all, why bother arguing with him over such trivial things? Just chase him out.¡± While everyone was shaking their heads in dismay, the beaten man suddenly wiped off his tears and snot from his face and said in his foolish manner, ¡°You bad man, you knocked down my bun and bullied me. Believe it or not, if you hit me again, I¡¯ll fight back, and I¡¯ll send you flying to the sky.¡± Chef Ding, gasping from exerting himself, stopped and burst into loud laughter, ¡°My, my! You damn fool, you dare to threaten me? You¡¯ve got nerve! Hit me flying to the sky?¡± As he spoke, his expression suddenly turned fierce, ¡°I¡¯m going to beat you, what about it, huh? Today, I¡¯ll cripple you, you damn fool.¡± With that, he raised his fist and struck the man hard again. The crowd averted their faces, unable to bear watching, thinking that this time, even if the fool was not beaten to death, he would be seriously injured. For just a few buns, Chef Ding beating someone to such a degree was totally uncalled for. Source: , updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Suddenly, a thunderous boom resounded in front of the Great Harmony Restaurant. Then, a piercing scream rose into the air, echoing like the wails and howls of ghosts and wolves. The crowd, unsure of what happened, all looked up. Upon looking, they were shocked and their colors drained. They saw Chef Ding somehow beaten up to the roof of the Great Harmony Restaurant, teetering on the edge. ¡°I told you not to hit me, but you wouldn¡¯t believe it. I can send you flying to the sky.¡± The man stood in place, looking at his own palms, still speaking in his foolish manner. The crowd, hearing this, were once again astonished. They never expected the fool to possess such strength to send a man flying onto the rooftop. The Great Harmony Restaurant was known as the tallest and most luxurious building in town, standing four stories high¡ªit¡¯s no wonder everyone was amazed. Having shown this display of strength, Xuexue was also taken aback. In such a remote backwater, there was such an expert. She had only seen his back just before, but now the man turned around. Xuexue took a look and immediately felt uneasy. The man¡¯s face was dirty, but the more she looked, the more he resembled the man whom Gong Sui had attacked that night. However, remembering how cold and arrogant that man had been, he didn¡¯t quite seem like the foolish man before her now. She was extremely puzzled in her heart. Chapter 105: 105: Saving Lives Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Saving Lives Like in a dream, Chef Ding, who was strutting around on the ground just a moment ago, found himself thrown onto the rooftop the next minute. By the time he realized what had happened, he was already teetering precariously on top of the roof with roof tiles clattering down. At this critical moment, when he didn¡¯t even know if he could survive, he couldn¡¯t care less about the pain all over his body and began screaming like a slaughtered pig, ¡°Aah...! Help! Help!¡± With this sudden turn of events, the entrance of the restaurant was already in complete chaos. The neighbors, who had snapped to their senses, no longer cared about buying breakfast, and instead started to scatter and take cover, fearing that Chef Ding might unfortunately fall off the roof and land on them, leaving them nowhere to turn for injustice. In the midst of the mayhem, a kind-hearted person didn¡¯t forget to slap a dazed fool standing still, ¡°Brother, aren¡¯t you going to move faster? Wait till Chef Ding comes down, and you¡¯ll really have it.¡± ¡°Move? Where do I go?¡± asked the fool with a blank face and a silly tone. ¡°Going anywhere is better than waiting here to die, sigh!¡± Knowing he was intellectually challenged and unable to reason with him, the man gave up, sighed, shook his head, and followed the crowd. Everyone else had run off, but the waiters wanted to run yet didn¡¯t dare. If someone died in this restaurant, when the Owner returned, they surely wouldn¡¯t be spared. Thus, they had no choice but to stay put, nervously shouting towards the rooftop with heads held high, ¡°Chef Ding, don¡¯t move, please don¡¯t move, or you¡¯ll fall.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t move, I won¡¯t move, please think of a way to save me quickly, awoo...¡± Suspended in the perilously swaying half-air, and feeling that any movement could be fatal, Chef Ding, overwhelmed by fear, began crying uncontrollably. His crying caused his whole body to shake, and even more roof tiles clattered down. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, please don¡¯t cry! Chef Ding, take deep breaths, hold it in!¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu...! I won¡¯t cry, I won¡¯t cry.¡± Terrified, Chef Ding bit his lips and lay flat on the high roof, trembling like a lone leaf in the autumn wind. He looked pitifully fragile, completely lacking his previous imposing demeanor. Down below, the waiters were also frantically busy and in a state of panic, not knowing what to do, and for the moment, everyone had forgotten about the fool, the main culprit. Taking advantage of the chaos, Xuexue also left. She hadn¡¯t managed to buy breakfast and had suffered a needless fright. Moreover, the fool¡¯s appearance had truly startled her, but she didn¡¯t dwell on it, considering him just another stranger. Passing a bun shop, Xuexue went in and bought a few steamed buns, planning to head back to the market. She had been away for some time and was worried Madam Xie would be concerned. Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï Turning around, bun in hand, Xuexue was too focused on the buns to notice and bumped into someone. ¡°Ouch!¡± Xuexue cried out in pain and was just about to scold the person for not watching where they were going when, raising her eyes, she froze, ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± ¡°My lady, I¡¯ve finally found you.¡± The man, having sized up Xuexue, was extremely happy and stepped forward, grabbing her arm excitedly. As it turned out, the man who bumped into Xuexue was none other than the fool who had thrown Chef Ding onto the rooftop. With a sidelong glance, Xuexue looked displeased at the grimy hand grabbing her arm and her tone turned frosty, ¡°Let go, I don¡¯t know you.¡± ¡°You are my lady. I¡¯ve been looking for you for a long time. My lady, they all bully me, they even hit me just now.¡± The fool tilted his head, thought hard for a moment, and then declared with conviction. Seeing his serious demeanor, and knowing well that people with intellectual disabilities find it difficult to lie, it appeared he might not be fibbing. Chapter 106: 106 Portrait Chapter 106: Chapter 106 Portrait ¡°Lunatic! I haven¡¯t even had my hairpin ceremony yet, what wife? Beat it.¡± Xuexue was getting impatient and pushed him away before walking off; she had to get back to her business and couldn¡¯t be bothered with his senseless blabbering. ¡°Really, really, I¡¯m not lying to you,¡± the fool kept babbling as he followed her. Xuexue ignored him, walking back to the market, but, to her dismay, the fool persisted in following closely behind, tirelessly trying to convince her. As she was approaching her stall, the nuisance was still hot on her heels. Annoyed, Xuexue stopped in her tracks, turned around, and pretended to be fierce, ¡°If you keep following me, watch out, I¡¯ll hit you.¡± However, after saying it, she instantly regretted it. Although the man seemed foolish, his martial power was unfathomable¡ªas evident when he sent Chef Ding flying several stories high with just a palm strike. Her own meager kung fu skills were nothing compared to his; she¡¯d be easily defeated in seconds. As if perceiving Xuexue¡¯s hesitation, the fool wore an innocent smile, ¡°You¡¯re my wife, so relax, I won¡¯t hit you. I¡¯ll protect you instead.¡± ¡°Tch! Who needs your protection? Just stay away from me,¡± Xuexue responded, somewhat relieved yet feeling powerless. ¡°But you are my wife, aren¡¯t you?¡± The fool seemed to take it as a given. ¡°What proof do you have?¡± ¡°Proof? What kind of proof?¡± ¡°Proof means evidence. You need evidence to prove I¡¯m your wife. Otherwise, you can¡¯t make wild claims; it would ruin my reputation,¡± Xuexue thought she had finally convinced the simpleton, just about to breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°I have it, I have evidence.¡± The fool tilted his head, thinking hard for a moment, and then suddenly let out a loud cheer. Passersby in the street turned their heads to look at them. The fool¡¯s shout startled Xuexue, ¡°Are you trying to kill me with that noise? Why so loud, do you want to scare me to death?¡± Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï The fool was extremely excited and fumbled about his person. Finally, he pulled out a dirty drawing and happily stretched it out in front of Xuexue, slowly unfolding it, ¡°Look, wife.¡± Xuexue was puzzled as she took it and looked. To her shock, the person in the painting was clearly herself. She murmured, ¡°What in the world is going on?¡± ¡°Evidence, evidence, hehehe...!¡± The fool was overjoyed, spinning around Xuexue nonstop. ¡°Where did you get this painting?¡± she asked. ¡°It came from me.¡± This was a no-brainer, and Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but feel deflated, knowing she wouldn¡¯t get any useful answers from him. She was too tired to inquire further, throwing the painting back at him, ¡°This doesn¡¯t prove anything, it doesn¡¯t count.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s always been with me. If you¡¯re not my wife, why would I carry your portrait with me?¡± The fool looked genuinely puzzled. ¡°How should I know? I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t follow me again.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± The initial joy on the fool¡¯s face instantly wilted, and he responded pitifully. Seeing him agree, Xuexue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Convincing this idiot had been difficult. She turned and stepped back to her stall, ¡°Mother, I¡¯m back.¡± Madam Xie, who had been bustling about, glanced up at her and, knowing that Xuexue had returned, felt at ease and resumed her bustling. ¡°Chuner, are you hungry?¡± The obedient Chuner, sitting quietly to one side, lit up with joy upon Xuexue¡¯s return, nodding eagerly, ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Here, have a steamed bun. It¡¯s filled with meat and so fragrant.¡± She picked up a bun, gently tore it open, and the moment it split, a delicious smell of meat wafted out. Chuner couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard. It had been so long since she last ate a meat bun; she remembered it was before their father had taken a concubine when he returned from the town once and brought some for them. Chapter 107: 107 Auntie Zhang Chapter 107: Chapter 107 Auntie Zhang ¡°Here, eat.¡± Xuexue placed the torn bun into Chuner¡¯s hand. ¡°Mmm.¡± Chuner happily accepted it, took a small bite, and then offered it to Xuexue¡¯s lips, ¡°It¡¯s really delicious, sister, you eat too.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Xuexue smiled warmly and bit into the bun as Chuner suggested, chewed a few times, and said in content, ¡°It really is delicious.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Chuner truly felt joyous now, sitting beside Xuexue and enjoying the bun. ¡°Chuner, sister is full now, I¡¯ll go relieve our mother for a while.¡± Xuexue quickly stuffed the bun into her mouth and mumbled indistinctly. Madam Xie had been busy all morning, not only had she skipped breakfast, but she had also not even had water to drink; Xuexue couldn¡¯t bear to see her mother overwork herself. ¡°Sister, sister.¡± Just as Xuexue was about to turn around and help Madam Xie sell river snails, Chuner¡¯s voice sounded somewhat anxious. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuexue turned her head, puzzled. ¡°That... that... why is that person always staring at us?¡± Chuner pointed towards someone in the distance. Following her gesture, Xuexue was taken aback, it was the simpleton who had followed her home; he hadn¡¯t left but was squatting not far away, staring at them eagerly, continuously wiping drool from his chin ¨C his appearance hinted at hunger. ¡°Sister, is he hungry? Being hungry is so uncomfortable, let¡¯s give him a bun to eat.¡± Chuner, having often been hungry at the Mo family, knew all too well that being belly-to-back was an unpleasant feeling and suggested with sympathy. ¡°Our Chuner really has a heart of a Bodhisattva. Okay, you sit here and eat nicely, sister will take a bun to him.¡± After speaking, Xuexue took a bun and walked over, stopping in front of him, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± The simpleton¡¯s eyes lit up as soon as he saw Xuexue and he eagerly nodded. ¡°Here you go.¡± ¡°Hehe..., I knew my wife would treat me the best.¡± The simpleton took the bun and bit into it voraciously, his face brimming with satisfaction. ¡°You....¡± Xuexue was infuriated, even a simpleton knew to take advantage; seeing him covered in dirt and squatting awkwardly on the ground, wolfing down the bun, she knew he was famished, and she didn¡¯t bother arguing with someone of his mental capacity. Turning around, she went back to the stall to relieve Madam Xie. Because they had come twice, everyone knew their river snails were delicious and affordable; whenever people passed their stall, they would buy some. In this cold winter day, the spicy river snails could also warm them up. Soon, by the time it approached noon, they had sold all the river snails they had picked, and they had collected a big bag of Copper Coins. Madam Xie, fearing someone might get greedy upon seeing it, purposely covered it up with other things. That made sense; the three of them, mother and daughters, were all women without a man to support the household ¨C if they could keep a low profile, they did so, to avoid the attention of those with ill intentions. ¡°Chuner, let¡¯s go! Time to buy pork lard cakes.¡± Xuexue shouted gleefully, pulling Chuner¡¯s hand. ¡°Okay.¡± Seeing her sister happy, Chuner also beamed with joy. After packing up, they greeted Auntie Zhang, who sold jewelry, and the mother and daughters from the Mo family picked up their carrying poles and left. Taking advantage of the early hour, Xuexue discussed with Madam Xie that they needed to buy many household supplies, as they were lacking in practically everything. As they passed a general store brimming with goods, both edible and usable, they had everything one might need. ¡°Mother, let¡¯s buy from this shop, it has a wide variety, and we won¡¯t have to walk back and forth, which is exhausting.¡± Xuexue tugged at Madam Xie¡¯s arm, suggesting. ¡°Hmm, that sounds good.¡± Madam Xie put down the carrying poles and walked into the shop, looking here and there, feeling that everything was so expensive, she was somewhat reluctant to buy. Chapter 108: 108 The Horse Goes Mad Chapter 108: Chapter 108 The Horse Goes Mad Xuexue understood her mother¡¯s worries and stepped forward, speaking in a low voice, ¡°Mother, don¡¯t worry, the money we spend can be earned back. We have no rice left at home, and we cannot live on sweet potatoes every day. Even if we can endure it, Chuner is weak and cannot bear it.¡± Old Lady Mo, that stingy ghost, only divided a few bags of sweet potatoes for them when they separated the family¡¯s assets. Even the rice they had just finished eating was fiercely reclaimed by Xuexue, which helped them survive the past ten days. Hearing this, Madam Xie turned back to look at Chuner, and it was true, her little daughter had just recovered from a serious illness, and her body had not yet recovered. Suddenly, her heart softened, and she nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± Having persuaded Madam Xie, Xuexue didn¡¯t wait even a moment longer, promptly calling the shopkeeper of the grocery store over to weigh what needed to be weighed, and even totaling up some prices without measuring, because she was afraid that Madam Xie might change her mind later, which would mean they would have suffered for nothing, holding onto the Silver. Seeing the two baskets she had carried now filled to the brim, Madam Xie had a troubled look on her face as she said with a pained expression, ¡°Oh my! Xuexue, how much Copper Coin did these things cost? You are young and don¡¯t know the hardships of life. Now we, mother and daughters, worry about each meal as it comes, we should still try to save where we can.¡± ¡°Mother, look for yourself, these are all daily essentials like rice, oil, salt, lamp oil, and candles; there has been no wasteful spending.¡± Xuexue said, handing over all the remaining Copper Coin to her, ¡°Here, you keep this for self-defense; that should be okay, right?¡± With a big bundle of Copper Coin in hand, Madam Xie became puzzled again, ¡°Xuexue, where did the money for buying these things come from?¡± ¡°From the money we earned last time, wasn¡¯t I holding on to it?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Only then did Madam Xie feel assured. Madam Xie, carrying two baskets full of items, walked ahead, while Xuexue and Chuner, holding hands as sisters, followed behind. As they passed by a cake shop, the scent of cakes wafted out, and Chuner paused in her steps, looking longingly in that direction, and Xuexue immediately understood. ¡°Chuner, wait for me here, Big Sister will be back in a moment.¡± After speaking, she let go of Chuner¡¯s hand and ran quickly into the cake shop, ¡°Shopkeeper, how much are the pork lard cakes sold for?¡± ¡°Six wen per pound.¡± The shopkeeper was a plump middle-aged woman who, seeing a customer, greeted her with a friendly smile spread across her face. ¡°I¡¯ll take three pounds.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The woman cheered up upon hearing the order, picked up a piece of greased paper, swiftly wrapped up the cakes, and handed them to Xuexue. ¡°Shopkeeper, here are eighteen Copper Coins, please count them.¡± Xuexue, receiving the cakes with one hand, placed the Copper Coins on the counter with the other. ¡°Eh!¡± The woman acknowledged, actually counted them, looked up with a beaming smile, and said, ¡°Hehe, young lady, the amount is correct.¡± Xuexue, carrying the bag of cakes, called out from a distance as she walked out, ¡°Chuner, Big Sister bought you pork lard cakes!¡± Chuner turned her head and saw Xuexue smiling radiantly. ¡°Move aside, move aside, the horse has gone mad, it¡¯s out of control, everyone quickly get out of the way.¡± ¡°Clip-clop, clip-clop...!¡± Suddenly, a rapid sound of horse hooves accompanied by frantic shouting filled the entire street. By the time Xuexue realized what was happening, the rampaging horse was already charging beside Chuner, and it seemed as if her young life was in jeopardy. Passersby on the road exclaimed in shock. ¡°Chuner, run away quickly,¡± Xuexue called out in panic. Chuner, seeing her sister¡¯s terrified face, didn¡¯t understand what was happening. By the time she heard the horse hooves behind her and turned around to see a horse charging wildly at her, she was petrified with fear... Madam Xie, who was nearby waiting for them, also froze in shock. She dropped the burden she was carrying and wanted to rush forward to save Chuner, but she was too far away, and it wasn¡¯t that easy. As the horse raised its front hooves high, about to trample on Chuner... Just when everyone thought the innocent little girl would surely die under the horse¡¯s hooves, at this critical moment, a shadow flashed by, swept up the frightened Chuner in an embrace, and rolled away, narrowly avoiding disaster. Chapter 109: 109: We Are All Family Chapter 109: Chapter 109: We Are All Family The passersby on the street regained their composure and saw that it was a young man in ragged clothes who had saved the little girl, and they all let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Oh! That was too dangerous, but luckily a noble happened by; otherwise, this little girl¡¯s life would surely have been lost today.¡± ¡°Exactly, it was really too risky; I got scared into a cold sweat.¡± ¡°Who is that heartless bastard who let a mad horse run wild in the street? Today is the market day, with so many people around, it could easily have been a big disaster.¡± The people on the street were filled with righteous indignation, all condemning the owner of the mad horse. ¡°Little sister, you¡¯re safe now, hehe...!¡± The man took Chuner to a safe place and set her down. Chuner stared blankly at the big brother who had saved her, her face completely expressionless. ¡°You haven¡¯t been scared silly, have you?¡± The man looked at the little girl in his arms with concern, shaking his hand in front of her eyes back and forth to catch her attention. But Chuner, overwhelmed with fright, still had no reaction whatsoever, continuing to stare at him with wide eyes, dazed. Xuexue regained her composure and noticed that the man who suddenly jumped out to save Chuner was actually the fool. She was overjoyed and hurried over, quickly pulling Chuner from the fool¡¯s arms into her own, murmuring to herself as if she had narrowly escaped death, ¡°Chuner, you scared sister to death.¡± ¡°Wife, she¡¯s all right, don¡¯t worry. I will protect you,¡± said the fool on the side. Although he spoke foolishly, his words were full of warmth. Just now, it was truly fortunate he was there; otherwise, Chuner¡¯s life would certainly have been in great danger. Xuexue felt grateful but also self-blame, cursing herself for not taking Chuner with her into the bakery. If something had actually happened to Chuner, she wouldn¡¯t know how to face her adoptive mother, who had been so kind and generous to her. ¡°Wah wah wah...!¡± It was only then that Chuner finally responded, realizing she had just been through a walk at Ghost Gate Pass, and she couldn¡¯t help but burst into loud crying. At that moment, Madam Xie also rushed over in a flustered state, ¡°Chuner, Chuner, are you all right?¡± ¡°Mother, Chuner is fine; she was saved by someone.¡± Xuexue pointed at the fool beside her. ¡°Then why does she keep crying nonstop?¡± Madam Xie was still unsettled, looking at Chuner who was continuing to cry her heart out. ¡°She¡¯s just been frightened; she¡¯ll be fine after crying for a bit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great; heaven truly has eyes.¡± Madam Xie bent down and hugged Chuner tightly, unable to refrain from crying tears of joy. After a while, as if remembering something, she vigorously wiped the tears from her eyes with the sleeve of her garment, stood up, sniffled, and said gratefully to the fool, ¡°Big brother, thank you for saving our Chuner. From today on, you¡¯re our family¡¯s great benefactor.¡± She finished speaking and bowed deeply. ¡°No need, no need; we¡¯re all family, hehe...!¡± The fool graciously waved his hands and shook his head. ¡°Family?¡± Madam Xie looked up, puzzled, ¡°Big brother, do we know each other?¡± ¡°You are my wife¡¯s mother, so you¡¯re also my mother, no need for thanks, no need for thanks, hehe...!¡± ¡°Who is your wife?¡± Madam Xie was even more perplexed. ¡°Her.¡± The fool pointed at Xuexue, smiling suggestively. It was just a pity that his face was so filthy, one could hardly make out his original features. Xuexue felt a surge of anger; if it weren¡¯t for this fool having just saved Chuner, she really felt like slapping him to death. ¡°Xuexue, what¡¯s going on?¡± Madam Xie turned to look at Xuexue. ¡°Mother, this man has problems with his mind; don¡¯t listen to his nonsense.¡± Xuexue said this while giving the fool beside her a fierce glare. Just a moment ago, she thought he wasn¡¯t that bad, but in the blink of an eye, how could he become so annoying, really. Chapter 110: 110: The Life Saver Chapter 110: Chapter 110: The Life Saver ¡°Mother, Mother, I have evidence,¡± the fool said as he fumbled out a portrait from his clothes and handed it to Madam Xie. ¡°Who are you calling ¡®Mother¡¯?¡± Xuexue snapped furiously, glaring at him with eyes that wished they could sew his mouth shut to stop his reckless talking. ¡°Haha...! My wife¡¯s mother is my mother,¡± the fool laughed, his teeth gleaming brightly. Madam Xie was startled by his address, the man before her was her younger daughter¡¯s lifesaver; she couldn¡¯t very well lose her temper. She casually took the portrait, opened it, and was stunned to see it was a portrait of Xuexue, ¡°Big brother, how do you have a portrait of my daughter?¡± ¡°My wife¡¯s portrait naturally stays with me,¡± the fool said firmly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Madam Xie: ¡°This...¡± ¡°Mother, don¡¯t ask anymore, can you expect to get an answer from looking at him?¡± Xuexue expressed, already feeling too exasperated to argue further. Chuner had cried her heart out by now, her mood slowly settling as her tears gradually ceased. Just as Madam Xie was about to say more, a strong man appeared, leading the horse that had earlier ran wildly. He purposefully approached them to apologize, ¡°Little girl, I¡¯m sorry, my horse frightened you earlier.¡± ¡°You make it sound so light? My sister almost lost her life just now,¡± Xuexue¡¯s temper flared upon seeing him, knowing that without the fool with them today, Chuner might have been dead. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, miss, I¡¯m just a clerk from the cloth shop up ahead. This horse is usually very gentle. It just happened today, during unloading, it started acting wildly out of nowhere,¡± the strong man said, somewhat breathlessly, clearly feeling guilty for not managing his horse, which almost resulted in a fatal accident. Besides losing his job, he might have also faced legal repercussions. Seeing the distressed look on the clerk¡¯s face, and considering Chuner was unharmed, Madam Xie said, ¡°You need to be more careful next time, you might not always be so lucky.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I will definitely be more careful in the future,¡± seeing that Madam Xie wasn¡¯t pursuing his responsibility, the strong man was relieved, thanked her repeatedly, and then led the horse away. ¡°Mother, how can you let him go so easily? He almost killed Chuner,¡± Xuexue recalled the incident, still shaken. ¡°Let it be, Chuner is fine after all,¡± she replied. ¡°He should at least compensate somehow, so he remembers this lesson,¡± Xuexue protested. ¡°We all have our hardships, Xuexue, we should be merciful when others are at fault,¡± Madam Xie counseled. Regarding Madam Xie¡¯s view, Xuexue disagreed. In her last life, she had followed Madam Xie¡¯s teaching of treating others kindly, but why did it end so tragically? Therefore, in this life, she intended to defy fate. ¡°Wife, wife, let¡¯s go home,¡± the fool¡¯s silly voice timely chimed in. It was then that Madam Xie remembered that he was still there. She turned her head and scrutinized him seriously, noting his behavior was indeed different from others. She asked, ¡°Big brother, where do you live?¡± ¡°Where my wife lives, that¡¯s where I live.¡± The man¡¯s nonstop referral to Xuexue as his wife could potentially ruin her daughter¡¯s reputation. Madam Xie¡¯s expression grew somber, but considering he was Chuner¡¯s rescuer, she refrained from scolding him and instead asked, ¡°Then what is your name?¡± ¡°Name?¡± The fool looked down and thought hard for a while before looking up with a troubled expression, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know your own name?¡± ¡°Hmm, I can¡¯t recall,¡± the fool said with a pained face. ¡°What are we to do now?¡± The man was, after all, her daughter¡¯s lifesaver, but now he couldn¡¯t even remember his own name or where he lived. Madam Xie couldn¡¯t help but worry for him. Xuexue lifted her gaze and noticed a patch of dried blood clung to his hair at the back of his head. Chapter 111: 111 Renhe Tang Clinic Chapter 111: Chapter 111 Renhe Tang Clinic ¡°Mother, look, there¡¯s blood on his head, it seems like the injury is not light.¡± Xuexue pointed at his head. Madam Xie took a closer look and was startled; she hurriedly asked, ¡°Big brother, how did you injure your head? Does it hurt?¡± ¡°Hehe...! It doesn¡¯t hurt, it¡¯s already healed,¡± the fool laughed as if nothing had happened. Seeing that the bloodstain appeared relatively fresh, Madam Xie thought he was not very bright and might not even realize his pain. Grateful that he had saved Chuner, she decided to take him to the Renhe Tang Clinic to see a doctor. After doing this, they would go back home; she picked up the basket and had Xuexue accompany him to the clinic in town. In the clinic, Madam Xie put down her carrying pole and led the fool inside: ¡°Doctor, he has injured his head. Could you bandage it and also check how severe the wound is?¡± The doctor, an amiable man in his sixties, examined the fool¡¯s wound while muttering to himself, ¡°Strange, the bloodstain indicates a severe injury, but the wound seems almost healed.¡± Then he looked up and asked, ¡°How long ago did he get hurt?¡± Madam Xie and the others hadn¡¯t spoken yet when the fool rushed to answer, ¡°About two days ago.¡± ¡°A wound from two days ago couldn¡¯t have healed so quickly.¡± The doctor shook his head in denial. The fool said earnestly, ¡°Really, Doctor, I¡¯m not lying to you; it was still bleeding two days ago.¡± ¡°Impossible, such a big wound, still bleeding two days ago, and now it¡¯s healed? Young man, are you doubting my medical skills, deliberately challenging me?¡± Clearly, the fool¡¯s persistence was beginning to anger the Old Doctor, who felt his skills were being questioned. ¡°Doctor, Doctor, please don¡¯t be angry; his mind is a bit...that...¡± Madam Xie sheepishly pointed at her own head. ¡°Uh.¡± The Doctor understood, reassessed the fool, and asked, ¡°Could it be that he is the hero who threw Chef Ding onto the roof?¡± ¡°What hero? What throwing onto the roof?¡± Madam Xie was completely bewildered and didn¡¯t understand at all. Xuexue then explained what happened that morning. Madam Xie was stunned upon hearing and realized why Chuner had been able to survive under the hooves of horses¡ªapparently, they had encountered a highly skilled individual. Upon hearing that this young man was the one who had injured Chef Ding, the doctor quickly said, ¡°Chef Ding had just had his wound dressed here and was carried away. Now, the staff of the Great Harmony Restaurant are scouring the streets for a fool who hurt Chef Ding. I urge you to leave quickly before they catch you and give you a beating you won¡¯t easily recover from.¡± ¡°Huh? What should we do then?¡± Madam Xie was somewhat panicked; it turned out that their lifesaver was also in trouble. ¡°Psh! Chef Ding is just a chef; what right does he have to order the restaurant staff to look for someone? Old Doctor, you must be joking with us,¡± Xuexue said incredulously. The Doctor replied, ¡°You don¡¯t know, Chef Ding is the uncle of the shopkeeper of the Great Harmony Restaurant; he has a strong backing. Seeing that you are ordinary folks, I can¡¯t bear to see you get into trouble, so I¡¯m sincerely advising you.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s how it is!¡± Xuexue suddenly understood. ¡°Thank you, Doctor, you really are a good person,¡± Madam Xie was extremely grateful. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, you should hurry on your way,¡± the Doctor waved his hand, urging them to leave quickly to avoid any trouble. ¡°Eh!¡± Madam Xie agreed, picked up the basket, and hurriedly left the clinic. ¡°Mother, we don¡¯t know him anyway, let¡¯s just leave him behind and sneak away,¡± Xuexue said in a low voice, gritting her teeth as she walked beside Madam Xie. ¡°No, they saved us, we can¡¯t be so ungrateful,¡± Madam Xie was also deeply conflicted inside. Chapter 112: 112 Filthy Chapter 112: Chapter 112 Filthy ¡°What should we do, then? Take him home?¡± ¡°No, people are quick to judge.¡± Madam Xie, without a second thought, flatly refused. This fool was stubborn beyond hope, constantly addressing her daughter as his wife. Given his demeanor, not even ten bulls could make him alter his words. Bringing him home would surely tarnish her daughter¡¯s reputation. Just then, not far ahead, a few workers from the Great Harmony Restaurant were storming over with great momentum. ¡°Mother, look.¡± Xuexue, with sharp eyes, grabbed Madam Xie, stopping her from walking any further. Otherwise, they would inevitably collide with them. She also pointed it out to her. ¡°What should we do now?¡± Upon seeing this, Madam Xie also panicked. Glancing around, just by chance, there was a Ready-made Clothes Shop not far away. Xuexue quickly pulled the fool inside and didn¡¯t forget to look back as they walked. ¡°Mother, you guys wait here for a moment.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Madam Xie, left behind, was completely baffled but didn¡¯t dare to call out loudly to Xuexue for fear of drawing the workers over. She could only stand there with Chuner, hearts in their throats, anxiously waiting. ¡°Wife, where are we going?¡± The fool was quite delighted, as Xuexue was finally talking to him, even holding his hand. ¡°To buy you new clothes,¡± Xuexue said in exasperation. This fool, in his tattered clothes with long hair full of bloodstains and in complete disarray, would be recognizable by anyone as a simpleton, even without his foolish demeanor. Xuexue thought that by changing his clothes and sprucing him up a bit, they might just get by unnoticed. ¡°Wife, you are so good to me, hehe...!¡± The fool, upon hearing this, grinned from ear to ear, his face beaming with happiness. Xuexue pursed her lips, saying nothing. She thought to herself that if it weren¡¯t for him saving Chuner, she wouldn¡¯t bother with him at all. ¡°Shopkeeper, find a set of clothes for him to wear.¡± As soon as they entered, Xuexue said bluntly. ¡°Eh! Okay, okay.¡± The shopkeeper, a skinny man, eager to make a sale, promptly came forward to serve them. ¡°Sir, what price range are you looking at for the clothes? The better the fabric, the more expensive it is, and the worse...¡± ¡°Cheap, the cheapest kind,¡± Xuexue interrupted him impatiently. She was merely acquainted with this fool by face; it was already generous enough to offer him clothes. Why spend more? Really. ¡°Eh eh! Alright then!¡± Complying, the shopkeeper quickly went inside and came back with a set of coarse clothes. ¡°Sir, this is the cheapest outfit, only costs twenty copper coins.¡± ¡°Okay, Shopkeeper, find a place for him to change, and also tidy up his hair a bit.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The shopkeeper paused for a moment. They didn¡¯t offer that kind of service at their store. ¡°I¡¯ll give you five more copper coins,¡± Xuexue bit her lip and said. ¡°Alright then!¡± Hearing the extra money, the shopkeeper agreed, then turned to lead the fool to the back room. ¡°Big brother, come this way to change your clothes.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to be separated from my wife.¡± The fool stubbornly refused to move, gripping the wall tightly with both hands. ¡°Sir, this...¡± With such a strong reaction from the fool, the shopkeeper was also troubled, looking helplessly at Xuexue. ¡°Look at you, all dirty. If you don¡¯t change into clean clothes, I won¡¯t like you anymore,¡± Xuexue had to pretend to be angry. The fool looked down at his clothes, which were indeed filthy and ragged at the hem, and quickly said, ¡°I¡¯ll change, I¡¯ll change. Wife, please don¡¯t dislike me.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Xuexue gave a forced smile. ¡°Oh.¡± The fool then followed the shopkeeper to change his clothes and soon came out tidied up. Chapter 113: 113 Full of Foolishness Chapter 113: Chapter 113 Full of Foolishness Xuexue heard footsteps and turned her head to look, only to be stunned... The man who emerged from the rear hall was tall and striking, with a face like sculpted jade, his exquisite features as if carved by a knife. Coarse clothes clung to his body like a hanger, giving him an unexpectedly noble air. Of course, that was before he spoke. ¡°Wife, wife, do I look good?¡± he asked with utter foolishness, and instantly, the impression he¡¯d made moments ago completely crumbled. ¡°You look good.¡± Xuexue was a bit dazed herself; this fool, after having washed his face, looked even more like the man she had encountered in the hollow after being affected by the aphrodisiac, except for the lack of that imposing aura. The shopkeeper also came out, smiling and praising, ¡°Brother, you have a great figure, you made our shop¡¯s lowest quality clothes look like they belong to the nobility.¡± ¡°Hehe...! Wife likes it.¡± With the shopkeeper hearing such a simple-minded tone, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh internally. Such a handsome man, yet a shame about his wits, it really seemed like fate was playing a cruel joke. ¡°Ahem...! Shopkeeper, here is the money.¡± Xuexue came back to her senses, thinking that in her past and present life, she certainly wouldn¡¯t have been so unlucky as to force herself on a man for survival. Comforting herself with this thought, she took out twenty-five copper coins from her bosom, placed them on the counter, and turned to pull the fool out of the shop. ¡°Mom, we¡¯re back.¡± Xuexue led the fool back to Madam Xie¡¯s presence. Madam Xie, who had been anxiously waiting, heard the voice and turned around, ¡°Xuexue, have you returned? And who is this...?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but be stunned at the sight of the handsome man before her. ¡°Mmm, perfect! Now even mother can¡¯t recognize you, the servers at the Great Harmony Restaurant will be even less likely to.¡± Xuexue appraised the fool again, feeling satisfied. Madam Xie¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, ¡°Is this really Big Brother?¡± Indeed, clothes make the man and a good saddle makes the horse; changed into clean attire, he looked like a completely different person. ¡°Mom, Big Brother is so pretty, just like sister,¡± said Chuner, who always thought her sister was the prettiest. Today she finally saw a Big Brother as pretty as her sister and couldn¡¯t help but say so in her childish voice. ¡°Pfft!¡± Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud; a grown man was being called pretty by Chuner. ¡°Sister, why are you laughing? Did Chuner say something wrong?¡± Chuner pouted, her face showing hurt. ¡°No, no, you¡¯re very smart, Chuner. Big Brother is pretty,¡± Xuexue quickly agreed. ¡°Hmm!¡± Chuner was finally happy. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! Wife says I¡¯m pretty,¡± the fool also shouted with joy. Passersby on the road threw them curious glances. Several servers from the Great Harmony Restaurant, hearing the commotion, approached them and slapped the fool on the shoulder, ¡°Hey! Brother, excuse me, have you seen a filthy fool around here?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Just as the fool turned his head to respond... If he spoke, his foolish tone would give him away. All of a sudden, the servers stood before them, and Madam Xie and the others, taken by surprise, were stunned and stared dumbly without reaction. In her urgency, Xuexue stepped forward and covered his mouth, turning her head to reveal an expression of deep concern. In a mournful voice, she said to the servers, ¡°Brother, my husband has a sore throat, he lost his voice and can¡¯t speak; we are on our way to the Medical Hall to see the Doctor.¡± ¡°Oh! Are you new to town?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xuexue nodded, praying in her heart they would leave quickly. ¡°Seeing their appearance, they probably don¡¯t know either. Let¡¯s go over there and check,¡± one of the servers said. ¡°Alright!¡± The servers turned and headed in a different direction, muttering as they went, ¡°Ah, if we can¡¯t find that fool, we¡¯ll surely get a scolding when we get back. Chef Ding is too annoying, relying on being the Shopkeeper¡¯s brother-in-law; he already oppresses and bullies us regularly, and today, it was his own fault for messing with someone he shouldn¡¯t have, getting his legs broken, yet he vents his anger out on us.¡± Chapter 114: 114: Maternal Nephew Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Maternal Nephew ¡°No way around it, to feed the family, we endure the most humiliation. We have to hold it in, don¡¯t we? After all, we need this job, sigh!¡± another worker sighed. Madam Xie and the others stood where they were, watching as the figures of several workers from the Great Harmony Restaurant walked away, disappearing into the distance as if it had all been a dream. ¡°Xuexue, quickly let go of this big brother, he¡¯s about to suffocate,¡± Madam Xie, having caught her breath, noticed the idiot¡¯s face turning beet red as Xuexue covered his mouth and nose, his eyes almost rolling back, and hurriedly called out. ¡°Huh.¡± Xuexue suddenly realized that in her panic, she was still covering someone¡¯s mouth and nose, and she quickly let go. ¡°Phew...!¡± The idiot took a few deep breaths, his complexion gradually returning to normal, and then he cracked a smile and said, ¡°Hehe...! No problem, I¡¯m happy when my wife covers me.¡± ¡°Of course you should be happy; I did it to save you,¡± Xuexue said fiercely, concealing her slight embarrassment. ¡°Hehe...!¡± The same silly laughter. ¡°Mother, we¡¯re leaving, but what about him?¡± Xuexue indicated the idiot with a nod of her chin. That day, ever since running into him at the pastry shop, this fool had been following her, insisting that she was his wife for the sake of the portrait he carried, and if they left by ox cart, Xuexue guessed he would follow them to Mo Family Village. Then, causing a commotion in the village would make things even more unmanageable. Xuexue thought, although he was foolish, he excelled in martial arts. In the future, when she returned to the Capital for revenge, she would need trustworthy people by her side. Why not keep him close and make use of him? ¡°Sigh! I don¡¯t know either.¡± Looking at the ox cart not far away, Madam Xie was also troubled. ¡°Mother, let big brother go to our house. He saved Chuner¡¯s life; he¡¯s her lifesaver,¡± Chuner begged Madam Xie with puppy-dog eyes. ¡°No, it will ruin your sister¡¯s reputation,¡± Madam Xie insisted. ¡°Mother, just say he is your nephew from your maternal family and has been betrothed to me since we were young. Then, no one can criticize us,¡± Xuexue proposed, intending to enlist the idiot in her service. Anyways, Madam Xie¡¯s maternal family was far away and rarely in contact; nobody would know the idiot was an imposter. This was the safest bet. ¡°This..., no, you are betrothed; wouldn¡¯t your father know?¡± Madam Xie thought for a moment, then shook her head. ¡°Then just insist that you had mentioned it before, but he always wanted a son and forgot about it,¡± Xuexue suggested, touching on the very chord that pained Madam Xie¡¯s heart. Her face instantly darkened, her voice weak, ¡°Indeed, okay then.¡± ¡°Mother, I didn¡¯t mean to,¡± Xuexue, knowing that being divorced by the Mo family for not bearing a son was a deep wound for her mother, quickly apologized. ¡°It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s decide on that and go home.¡± Having said that, she moved forward to pick up the basket. ¡°Mother, mother, let me do it,¡± the idiot snatched the carrying pole and easily shouldered the baskets on each end, grinning at Xuexue with a mouthful of shiny teeth, ¡°My dear, where are we going?¡± The idiot was so cooperative that it amused Xuexue, ¡°We¡¯re going home.¡± Then she led the way. The idiot carried the baskets on his shoulders, trotting along happily behind her. ¡°This....¡± Madam Xie was stunned. ¡°Hey, Mother, what are you spacing out for? Let¡¯s go; they¡¯ve all walked far ahead,¡± Chuner came up and took Madam Xie¡¯s arm, pulling her along. Because it was early in the Shichen, their ox cart was still empty except for them. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m going to buy some things; I¡¯ll be back in a little while.¡± Xuexue thought about how everyone at home was malnourished and decided to buy a few pounds of pork to improve their diet. Chapter 115: 115: The Nearest Pavilion Gets the Moon First Chapter 115: Chapter 115: The Nearest Pavilion Gets the Moon First ¡°Hmm! Then you go, come back early or the ox cart will be full and leave.¡± Too much had happened today, and Madam Xie¡¯s mood still hadn¡¯t recovered, leaving her in a daze. ¡°My wife, I¡¯ll go too.¡± The fool sitting in the ox cart, upon hearing this, stood up, also wanting to follow Xuexue. ¡°Stop adding trouble. The clerks from the Great Harmony Restaurant are still looking for you all over town. You¡¯d better just sit here quietly and wait for me to come back.¡± Xuexue turned her head and said crossly. ¡°Yeah, you better not go. It was so dangerous just now.¡± Madam Xie also nodded in agreement, recounting how just moments ago, several clerks from the Great Harmony Restaurant had suddenly appeared behind her, scaring her half to death. Even thinking about it now was tremendously startling. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. I know martial arts. I could send them all to the roof to cool off.¡± The fool waved his hands, mimicking the posture of a martial arts master. ¡°Keep babbling, and see if I don¡¯t kick you out of my house and make you wander the streets.¡± Xuexue¡¯s face hardened, and she spoke fiercely. ¡°Eh.¡± Intimidated by Xuexue¡¯s fierceness, the fool slouched back down, looking utterly dejected. Seeing that the fool had quieted down, Xuexue finally smiled satisfactorily, turned around, and quickly stepped into the street, soon disappearing into the crowd. ¡°Big brother, don¡¯t be sad. Sister is very kind, she¡¯s only scaring you because she doesn¡¯t want bad people to catch you,¡± Chuner, seeing the fool¡¯s listless demeanor, comforted him. ¡°Hmm! I know my wife means well.¡± The fool then smiled broadly. ¡°Why do you keep calling my sister your wife?¡± Chuner, though young, was sharp-minded. ¡°She is my wife! I have a token, don¡¯t believe me? Let me show you.¡± Saying this, the fool took out a portrait from his bosom, holding it as if it were a precious treasure, and carefully handed it to Chuner. Chuner unfolded the portrait and indeed, it was of her sister. However, she wondered why there were so many blood stains on the portrait, making the whole picture look dirty. ¡°It really is a portrait of sister! Mother, look.¡± Chuner handed the portrait to Madam Xie. Madam Xie had already seen the portrait when Chuner got scared earlier, and it was definitely of Xuexue. She had been puzzled for a long time, but facing this man, who appeared simple-minded, she couldn¡¯t ask for much. Madam Xie took the portrait again and examined it carefully. The clothes Xuexue wore in the portrait looked very familiar, reminiscent of the outfit she wore the night the incident at the Mo family occurred. ¡°Big brother, this portrait seems to have been painted recently, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Madam Xie asked tentatively. The fool scratched his head, thinking hard, and finally curled up in agony, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just can¡¯t remember. Whenever I try to think, my head feels like it¡¯s going to explode, it hurts so much.¡± While speaking, he began to slap his head vigorously with both hands. This action terrified Madam Xie and Chuner: ¡°Big brother, if you can¡¯t remember, then stop trying. Don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± ¡°Big brother, stop hitting yourself, it must hurt a lot,¡± Chuner also said anxiously. It took a while, but the fool finally calmed down. Madam Xie dared not ask him anything more, fearing he might harm himself again. ¡°Big brother, you are truly pitiable, having forgotten your past and not even knowing your own name, yet remembering only this portrait,¡± Chuner said sympathetically as she returned the portrait to him. Soon, the women who had gone to the market started to return one after another. Seeing a handsome young man on the cart, they couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances. His features were outstanding, not just in Mo Family Village but in the entire town, no wonder their eyes gleamed. ¡°Madam Xie, this handsome young man, what¡¯s his surname and given name, where does he live, is he married yet?¡± One of the aunties, seeing Chuner sitting close to the handsome man and whispering to him from time to time, and knowing he must be a relative of Madam Xie¡¯s family, thought it a good opportunity to find a potential son-inlaw for her daughter, thus inquired. Chapter 116: 116 Lady Chapter 116: Chapter 116 Lady ¡°This....¡± Madam Xie, after all a sincerely honest person, stuttered as she told her first lie. Fortunately, just at this crucial moment, Xuexue came back with a big bag of things. ¡°Wife, wife, you¡¯re back.¡± The fool excitedly stood up, his face beaming with a radiant smile as he looked at Xuexue. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m back.¡± Xuexue responded and stuffed a big bag of meat into the basket. When she bought the meat, she had specifically asked the Pork Seller to use oil paper to wrap the pork in several layers, to prevent those nosy villagers from seeing and then broadcasting that they had meat to eat despite their separation. The few women on the cart were utterly dumbstruck by the fool¡¯s words. ¡°Madam Xie, what did he call Xuexue?¡± The women couldn¡¯t help but widen their eyes, disbelief written all over their faces. ¡°He...he...he is Xuexue¡¯s fiance?,¡± Madam Xie said, swallowing hard and struggling to speak. ¡°Xuexue¡¯s fiance?? When did Xuexue get engaged? How come we¡¯ve never heard of it?¡± The women looked at each other, their faces filled with surprise. ¡°What¡¯s so strange? I¡¯m betrothed in a child engagement,¡± Xuexue calmly claimed. ¡°Oh! No wonder we haven¡¯t heard about it, it was a child engagement?¡± the women nodded in understanding. At first, the woman who was looking for a son-in-law also wisely fell silent. ¡°Oh my! I¡¯m exhausted.¡± Lady Li also came back carrying a big load and, as soon as she sat on the cart, she used her sizeable backside to try and shift and claim more space to put her stuff, as she was the last one to board and the earlier passengers had already filled up all the available space. ¡°Wife, this fat woman is harassing me.¡± Seated next to her just happened to be the fool, who, growing impatient from being squeezed by Lady Li¡¯s vast backside, simply said loudly to Xuexue. ¡°Pfft!¡± Laughter suddenly erupted inside the cart. Xuexue covered her mouth and snickered; though the fool was simple-minded, his words were blunt and hit the mark. Two women who didn¡¯t ever get along well with Lady Li now laughed boisterously without any restraint, ¡°Ahahaha...! Lady Li, you¡¯re no spring chicken. How come you still can¡¯t restrain yourself around a handsome young man?¡± As Lady Li was contentedly claiming her space, she initially didn¡¯t understand why everyone was laughing, until the two women called her out by name. ¡°Bah! I wouldn¡¯t fancy you even if you were the last man on earth,¡± Lady Li shouted, frustrated and embarrassed. She stood up, hands on her hips, and started cursing the fool fiercely. ¡°Wife, why is this fat woman so fierce?¡± the fool blurted out another remark, not bothering to lower his voice at all. The laughter in the cart grew louder. ¡°Ignore her,¡± Xuexue pulled him to sit down, and said with biting sarcasm, ¡°She¡¯s just a crazy woman.¡± ¡°Hey! Xuexue, turns out this bumpkin is with you?¡± ¡°So what if he is?¡± ¡°Just now, did you purposely teach him to frame me for harassing him?¡± Lady Li, hands on hips, glared at Xuexue, looking ready to fight. ¡°What frame? Everyone can see with their own eyes, it¡¯s not just me who saw it.¡± Then, Xuexue turned to ask a few women, ¡°Ladies, am I right or what?¡± ¡°Right, right, don¡¯t blame Xuexue. We all saw clearly. It was you continuously using your big butt, relentlessly bumping into Xuexue¡¯s fiance?, ahahaha...¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Lady Li became even more infuriated, standing and stomping on the cart. Just then, the cart suddenly started moving, and it jolted a few times. As Lady Li furiously cursed, she lost her balance and ended up sprawling on top of the fool. Chapter 117: 117 Too Much Bullying Chapter 117: Chapter 117 Too Much Bullying ¡°Ouch! You fat lump, what are you doing!¡± The simpleton, without any care for the consequences, reflexively swept her away from himself with a slap, clearly disgusted. ¡°Owie! That hurts me to death.¡± The carriage itself was already bumpy, and as Lady Li was jostled about disorientedly, the simpleton¡¯s push made her tumble into a pile of items, most of which were baskets woven from bamboo strips, very hard, making her grimace in pain and cry out. Lady Li was usually so overbearing in the village, with her nagging mouth, always gossiping about the east owner and the west owner. The women had long grown tired of her and, seeing her in such a disgraceful state, not only did no one offer to help her, they even erupted in laughter... ¡°Lady Li, is your husband¡¯s ¡®thing¡¯ not up to the task, eh? Seeing how desperate you look, throwing yourself at any handsome young man, you really have no shame, hahaha...!¡± A woman laughed so hard tears streamed down her face, not forgetting to throw in a taunt. ¡°Exactly, just now you were accusing Xuexue of slandering you, and now you can¡¯t deny it, can you? With both eyewitnesses and physical evidence, you might as well admit it, hahaha...!¡± Listening to everyone¡¯s mockery, Lady Li¡¯s face turned the color of pig liver. She struggled to her feet and moved to her own seat to sit down. This time, she didn¡¯t dare try to squeeze in with her large behind but sat quietly without uttering a word. ¡°Lady Li, why aren¡¯t you cursing at people now?¡± It was rare to see Lady Li at a disadvantage, and the woman who had previously lost to her sharp tongue felt extremely pleased. ¡°Don¡¯t push people too far. It¡¯s only because the carriage is too bumpy, and I bumped into this blockhead by accident. These kinds of things happen all the time in a bullock cart.¡± Not willing to suffer in silence, Lady Li retorted. ¡°Ordinarily, decent women might bump hands or feet, but I¡¯ve never seen someone throw her entire body into another¡¯s arms. Lady Li, you still won¡¯t admit there¡¯s something fishy, that you can¡¯t control yourself at the sight of a handsome young man?¡± The woman¡¯s mouth was vicious, and to add insult to injury, she said, ¡°Does your husband even know you¡¯re such a flirt?¡± This huge accusation made Lady Li quiver with rage. Usually, she was the one making accusations, and she hadn¡¯t expected to be on the receiving end one day. She stuttered in response, ¡°You... you... you¡¯re talking nonsense.¡± ¡°Hahaha...!¡± The women inside the carriage, seeing Lady Li so enraged, couldn¡¯t help but burst into another peal of laughter. Of course, they knew it was not true; they just wanted to teach her a lesson for her usually sharp and spiteful tongue. ¡°Wife, I don¡¯t want to sit with this dead fat woman. I want to swap places with you.¡± The simpleton, a little unhappy now that everyone was joking about him and the fat woman next to him, pouted and spoke. ¡°Alright!¡± Country women, used to boundless freedom, spoke bluntly without filters, saying things that could be quite rough and unpleasant. Seeing his look of hurt, Xuexue swapped seats with him to spare him the embarrassment. After this incident, Lady Li sat there like a turtle shrinking into its shell, not daring to make a sound. Soon, the bullock cart arrived at Mo Family Village, and everyone got off one after another. As Xuexue stood up, intending to bend down and move the loaded baskets out of the cart, a pair of large hands beat her to it, lifting a basket out of the carriage. When she looked up, to her surprise, it was the simpleton. Unexpectedly, he possessed such strength. The load of baskets and goods must have weighed over a hundred pounds, yet he lifted one in each hand as if they were mere vegetable baskets, easily stepping down to the ground. ¡°Wow, Madam Xie, your son-in-law is something special, eh? Not only is he handsome, but he¡¯s also so strong. I think from now on, no one in Mo Family Village will dare to bully you and your daughter anymore.¡± The women who were about to leave were all amazed. ¡°Hehe..., yes.¡± Madam Xie felt a bit guilty upon hearing the word ¡®son-in-law¡¯. Chapter 118: 118: Robbery Encounter Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Robbery Encounter After paying for the cart, the fool carried the basket, and the family happily headed home. Since it was already dark, there were hardly any people on the road. Before long, they arrived at the old residence and shockingly found the locked main gate violently smashed open... ¡°Oh my, what happened?¡± Madam Xie, upon seeing this, hurriedly rushed in to check. Fortunately, her family was as poor as they come, having even eaten up their most valuable rice, and except for two bags of partly good, partly bad sweet potatoes, there was nothing of value left. They had just recently divided their family property, and the house was this poor, yet to be robbed? Xuexue was very skeptical. Turning around, she took a lamp out of the fool¡¯s carried basket, lit it, and then, stepping back into the rooms, she wanted to check if the packet of gold and silver jewelry had been found by anyone. ¡°Wifey, wifey, where are you going?¡± the fool followed closely behind. ¡°You go stay with Chuner; I¡¯ll come to the kitchen shortly to cook something for you to eat.¡± ¡°No, I fear for your safety, wifey, I must protect you.¡± ¡°This is my home, what danger could there be here?¡± As they spoke, they reached the door of a room, and Xuexue pushed the door open... ¡°Creak.¡± The light from the lamp revealed a scene of disarray ¡ª clearly, the room had been searched. A cold look in Xuexue¡¯s eyes suggested the mess could have been the doing of the Mo family. Indeed, when they divided the family property, they got just a few bags of sweet potatoes, and the house was so poor that it echoed, a fact known throughout Mo Family Village. What thief would target such a home? Only Madam Ruan and Xiuzhi, who had seen that packet of Copper Coin, might have come over, taking advantage of their absence to smash the door and rummage around. Xuexue walked to the bed, crouched down, and shone the lamp under it, finding no signs of disturbance; she finally felt relieved. Fortunately, she had the forethought to bury the valuable money under the bed, or it would have been stolen long ago. ¡°Wifey, what are you looking at?¡± Seeing Xuexue staring blankly at the empty space under the bed, the fool became curious and also lay down on the floor, intensely trying to look under the bed like her. ¡°Pfft! What a fool.¡± Xuexue saw the fool laying on the floor like a little dog, intensely staring under the bed with his butt sticking up high, and couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. ¡°Wifey, what are you laughing at?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, hurry up and get up; let¡¯s go out and cook something to eat,¡± she said, taking the lamp and turning to leave. ¡°Hey! Hey! Wait for me, wifey, I¡¯m afraid of the dark.¡± Seeing Xuexue leaving, and finding himself alone in the pitch-dark room, the fool quickly scrambled up and ran after her. Catching up to Xuexue, the fool looked pitifully aggrieved, ¡°It was so dark just now, I was scared to death, wifey, why didn¡¯t you wait for me?¡± ¡°Who asked you to come? I told you not to, but you wouldn¡¯t listen,¡± Xuexue spoke as she walked ahead with the lamp. Back in the kitchen, Madam Xie was washing rice. ¡°Mother, did you find anything missing?¡± Xuexue asked while placing the lamp on the stove. ¡°Nothing¡¯s missing, just everything tossed all over the place.¡± Madam Xie was also extremely perplexed, what kind of burglar doesn¡¯t steal anything but leaves everything in a mess? ¡°Next time you go to the town, I¡¯ll stay at home. If someone is home, thieves won¡¯t dare come,¡± Chuner wisely said. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it later; let¡¯s cook now, I¡¯m nearly starving,¡± Xuexue said, pulling out the packet of pork from the basket, a whole five pounds of it. ¡°Oh dear! Xuexue, you bought pork as well? Such a large piece, how much was it?¡± Xuexue pulled out a big chunk of pork, startling Madam Xie. ¡°Not much, just a few Copper Coins. We¡¯re out of oil at home, so I thought the fat could be rendered into oil, and the lean used for frying. Besides, it¡¯s been so long since we had any meat, it¡¯s time we really nourished ourselves.¡± Chapter 119: 119 Flatten Him Chapter 119: Chapter 119 Flatten Him Madam Xie, despite her heartache over money, couldn¡¯t argue with Xuexue¡¯s logic. They had to use oil for cooking, no matter how frugal they were, so she said no more. ¡°That¡¯s great! That¡¯s great! We have meat to eat, mother, I want to eat braised pork.¡± Chuner clapped her hands in excitement, her joy reminiscent of the Lunar New Year celebrations. In the past, at the Mo family¡¯s house, only during festivals and celebrations were the women allowed a few slices of meat, of course, except for Old Lady Mo who had meat at every meal; the rest of the females led a tough life. Even Madam Ruan, who had a son by her side, was no exception. If not, she wouldn¡¯t have had to wrack her brains to steal Old Lady Mo¡¯s meat. All the miseries were caused by Old Lady Mo, that stingy old miser. Seeing her younger daughter¡¯s longing for meat, Madam Xie also became happy and couldn¡¯t help but smile broadly as she said, ¡°Good, tonight we¡¯ll have braised pork.¡± ¡°Mm! Mother, I¡¯ll make the fire.¡± Chuner sat excitedly in front of the stove, ready to help make the fire and cook. ¡°Chuner, I¡¯ll help you.¡± The fool came over and sat beside her. Actually, he wanted to help Xuexue cut the meat, but the moment Xuexue gave him a stern look, he backed off. Xuexue divided the meat in half, cooking the lean half for Madam Xie and slicing the fatty half to render oil after dinner. The rendered oil would be stored in jars enough for the entire month. Madam Xie put the spices in the pot to sizzle, then added the pork and stir-fried it briefly. Instantly, the kitchen filled with a tantalizing aroma, causing Chuner, who was helping with the fire, to swallow hard and peer intently into the pot with eager eyes. ¡°Stop looking; it¡¯s not cooked yet. You¡¯ve never been this hungry before.¡± Madam Xie laughed when she saw her daughter¡¯s greedy manner. In the past, at the Mo family¡¯s place, she¡¯d never seen her this voracious and eager when frying meat. ¡°How could it be the same! Back then, none of that meat was meant for me; it was for Grandma and Dad to eat. Being hungry was useless, but now it¡¯s different¡ªit¡¯s ours,¡± Chuner blurted out. Indeed, at the Mo family, Old Lady Mo ruled the house. By nature stingy and narrow-minded, and even harsher on them since the main branch had not produced a male heir. Even hoping not to starve was fortunate; how could they be any expectations for more? ¡°Following me, you¡¯ve suffered,¡± Madam Xie said, feeling down as she remembered the tough old days. ¡°Those days are past, mother. Don¡¯t dwell on it; our lives will only get better,¡± Xuexue comforted her. ¡°Perhaps leaving the Mo family was a blessing in disguise for us,¡± Madam Xie finally admitted, feeling for the first time that they could live well even away from the Mo family. The past resentments seemed to have dissipated quite a bit. ¡°Of course; we used to only get a few slices of meat during the New Year, but now, we can eat meat every day,¡± Xuexue laughed. ¡°Right, right, and best of all, we no longer have to fear Grandma,¡± Chuner added eagerly. Having just come through a life-or-death experience, Chuner used to tremble whenever Old Lady Mo berated Madam Xie. At night, she would have nightmare after nightmare, filled with Old Lady Mo¡¯s cursing and yelling. She¡¯d wake up in cold sweat, soaking her clothes through, but Chuner never dared tell Madam Xie, afraid of making her sad. ¡°Mm! From now on, no one will scold or beat us anymore! I promise you that,¡± Xuexue ensured, nodding her head. ¡°My dear, who hits you? Tell me, and I¡¯ll flatten him,¡± the fool, hearing the words ¡®hit¡¯ and ¡®scold,¡¯ ran over to Xuexue and raised his fist, saying earnestly. Chapter 120: 120 Beaming with Joy Chapter 120: Chapter 120 Beaming with Joy The fool¡¯s behavior warmed Xuexue¡¯s heart a little. Although he was simple-minded, everything he showed was sincere, so she laughed and said, ¡°With you around, who would dare to hit or scold me?¡± ¡°Hehe...! True,¡± the fool scratched his head honestly. After Xuexue finished chopping the meat and cleaned her hands, she wiped them with her apron and took a glance at the fool before speaking to Madam Xie, ¡°Mom, he doesn¡¯t have a name, and it¡¯s always inconvenient. If people in the village find out, they will surely suspect us. Then, there will be nothing but gossip flying around.¡± Upon hearing this, Madam Xie became nervous all of a sudden, ¡°What should we do then?¡± ¡°We should give him a name. First, it¡¯ll dispel others¡¯ doubts, and second, it¡¯ll be more convenient to call him,¡± Xuexue proposed. Madam Xie: ¡°That makes sense.¡± Xuexue turned to the fool with a warm smile and said, ¡°I¡¯ll help you pick a name, how does that sound?¡± ¡°My wife giving me a name, great! Too great,¡± the fool replied. ¡°Hmm,¡± Xuexue thought for a moment, considering his strength was immense, capable of lifting a basket weighing over a hundred pounds with one hand, she suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s call you Big Bull, what do you think?¡± ¡°Great! Too great, now I have a name, I¡¯m called Big Bull,¡± the fool cheered around Xuexue. Madam Xie and Chuner looked at Xuexue with a deadpan expression. ¡°Sister, why is this name as unpleasant as Xiao Gougou¡¯s? Xiao Gougou often gets laughed at by other kids in the village because of his name, he doesn¡¯t even know how many times he has cried about it,¡± Chuner sympathetically said while looking at Big Bull. ¡°Well! It does sound a bit common,¡± Madam Xie expressed more subtly. ¡°Is that so? I think it¡¯s quite nice, being common is good! It makes it easier for people to remember,¡± Xuexue glanced sideways, looking at an ecstatic Big Bull, and beamed, ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Yes, the name Big Bull is good, I like it,¡± Big Bull nodded in agreement. Seeing them please each other, Madam Xie smiled and didn¡¯t say anything more. After all, it was just a name. She leaned over and lifted the lid off the pot, and immediately, a rich aroma of meat wafted out once again. ¡°Wow! It smells so good!¡± Suddenly, everyone¡¯s attention focused on the fragrant pot of meat. Seeing Chuner almost drooling, Madam Xie scooped up a few slices of meat with a spoon and held them out, chuckling, ¡°You little glutton, try it for me, will you?¡± Chuner¡¯s eyes lit up like a wolf¡¯s at the sight, and she couldn¡¯t wait to pick up a piece of meat, blowing on it while stuffing it in her mouth. It was so hot she started hopping, yet she didn¡¯t want to spit it out, which made Xuexue and the others laugh. ¡°Mmm! Tasty!¡± Chuner chewed a few times and mumbled indistinctly. ¡°How does it taste?¡± Madam Xie asked on purpose. Actually, she knew perfectly well that the flavor was sufficient in every aspect. Otherwise, if she tasted every dish at the Mo family like she used to, Old Lady Mo would have killed her. ¡°It¡¯s enough, enough, so delicious,¡± Chuner nodded vigorously, as if her tongue would fall off from the taste. That night, everyone enjoyed a hearty meal and had a great time, especially Chuner, who, being a child, was as excited as if it were New Year¡¯s. After dinner, Madam Xie cleaned the dishes, then washed the iron pot and began to render pork fat. Xuexue, carrying an oil lamp, went to tidy up another vacant room for Big Bull to sleep in. ¡°Big Bull, from now on, you¡¯ll sleep here,¡± she said. ¡°Wife, it¡¯s dark, I¡¯m scared,¡± Big Bull looked around pitifully. ¡°Scared of what? I live right next door,¡± she reassured. ¡°I want to sleep with my wife.¡± ¡°No, men and women should not touch,¡± Xuexue glared, speaking fiercely. She needed to be strict, fearing the fool might really come to her room in the middle of the night. ¡°Oh,¡± he responded, sounding very aggrieved. Chapter 121: 121 Washing Clothes Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Washing Clothes The next day At dawn, Xuexue got up early to wash up before heading to the river to wash the clothes. Groggy and yawning, she got dressed and shuffled towards the door. Suddenly, she stumbled over something at her feet, nearly tumbling over... ¡°Ah...!¡± Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. She remembered the direction towards the door was clear, always free of any clutter. What was going on? She quickly rubbed her eyes and took a clearer look¡ªshe had kicked a person! Startled, she hadn¡¯t realized anyone was in her room. She quickly bent down and carefully approached, parting the long hair from the person¡¯s face... ¡°Big Bull?¡± Big Bull, having been kicked by Xuexue, woke up. He opened his seductive, peach blossom eyes and said lazily, ¡°My lady, good morning!¡± ¡°You... why are you sleeping here?¡± Xuexue¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She had clearly seen Big Bull return to his own room last night. How had he ended up in her room by morning? And to be sleeping on the floor¡ªit was winter, just the thought of lying on the cold floor was painfully chilling. ¡°I... I¡¯m afraid of the dark,¡± he admitted. Remembering what Xuexue had said the previous night, Big Bull seemed to realize his mistake, his voice slightly lacking in strength. ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold?¡± she asked, squatting down and taking his icy hand with concern. ¡°Not cold, I spread some corn stalks on the ground,¡± Big Bull pointed to the row of corn stalks on the ground where he had slept the night before. ¡°You¡¯re such a fool, with a room available, why come here to sleep on the floor and suffer?¡± ¡°My lady, are you angry?¡± he asked very cautiously. ¡°I¡¯m not angry. It¡¯s you who are cold, not me. Just don¡¯t let my mother see this. If she finds out you¡¯ve been sleeping in my room, she will definitely throw you out.¡± Upon hearing this, Big Bull was startled and quickly covered his mouth: ¡°I won¡¯t say, won¡¯t say, I don¡¯t want to leave my lady.¡± Knowing he lacked the capacity to take care of himself, Xuexue helped him clean out the trash caught in his hair and combed it neatly, then fastened it with a hair tie. ¡°Let¡¯s go wash up.¡± After washing up, Xuexue and Big Bull went to the river to wash the clothes. Country folks wake up early. By the time they arrived, there were already small groups of women washing clothes by the river, surprised to see Xuexue with an unfamiliar man. Indeed, when they returned last night, it was already very dark, and not many people saw them. ¡°Xuexue, who is this young man? He¡¯s quite handsome,¡± an elderly woman asked while tirelessly scrubbing clothes with a washing board. ¡°Handsome, right? He¡¯s my fiance?,¡± Xuexue introduced proudly. Upon hearing this, the old lady stopped her activity, looking at Xuexue with curiosity, ¡°Xuexue, are you engaged? How come we haven¡¯t heard about it?¡± ¡°Yeah, we haven¡¯t heard about it either. Just a while ago, her stepmother was still looking everywhere for a matchmaker, trying to find a family for her,¡± said another woman washing clothes nearby. ¡°Pah! That filthy creature, let¡¯s not talk about her. I just get angry thinking about it. I feel like slapping her. The Seductress Fox is just a seductress, scheming to hook up with someone¡¯s father and even arranged a man to ruin Xuexue¡¯s reputation. Luckily, Xuexue is blessed and managed to evade that. Otherwise, a fine young lady would have been destroyed by her hands,¡± the old lady said angrily. In the past couple of days, the entire Mo Family Village had heard about Aunt Sun¡¯s actions. Some detested her to the point of gritting their teeth, and others who loved to see turmoil hoped Xuexue would gain a bad reputation just to have something to talk about after meals. Chapter 122: 122 Finding Faults Chapter 122: Chapter 122 Finding Faults ¡°Exactly! Auntie Sun sought out the matchmaker just for show, in the end, she found that man herself,¡± another woman chimed in. ¡°If you ask me, this woman is truly sinister, acting like a good person on the surface, while doing filthy things in secret that can¡¯t be seen in daylight.¡± ¡°Indeed, who knows if that man from the other night is her secret lover. I always find Auntie Sun to be quite coy, always applying makeup before stepping out, hardly the conduct of a decent and respectable lady.¡± ¡°God forbid, we can¡¯t just say things like that. If the Mo family hears about this, it would be the end of us.¡± ¡°Pfft, what¡¯s there to be afraid of? They can do all those filthy deeds and yet we¡¯re not allowed to have our say?¡± The group of women buzzed with various opinions, and for a moment, they completely forgot about the presence of Big Bull. Xuexue was very clear about Auntie Sun framing her, and this grievance, as well as the grudge from her past life when Auntie Sun caused the death of her foster mother, she would slowly reclaim, otherwise, her second chance at life would be in vain. ¡°Big Bull, let¡¯s wash over here.¡± Xuexue found a spot and instructed Big Bull to set down the wooden tub full of clothes. Now that it was winter, one didn¡¯t need to change clothes daily, but since they wore more layers, there were more to wash. Washing a big tub of clothes took so much time that by the time they finished, the sun had risen. ¡°Oh my! We¡¯re finally done!¡± Big Bull stood up, stretched his back, and felt some joy. Now that the laundry was done, he could finally go home for breakfast, his stomach was already growling in hunger. ¡°Gurgle gurgle!¡± Just as Big Bull spoke, his stomach made a rumbling sound like thunder, he covered his stomach and looked at Xuexue with an embarrassed smile. ¡°Hungry, aren¡¯t you?¡± Xuexue understood that they had been washing clothes for so long, it was not early anymore. Big Bull, a young man, naturally burned through his energy quickly, and even she was already starving. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s head home for some food, mother must have kept the meal warm for us.¡± After Xuexue spoke, she bent down, picked up the wooden tub, and started walking. ¡°My lady, let me do it.¡± Big Bull stepped forward, took the wooden tub from Xuexue¡¯s hands. The Old Residence Madam Xie and Chuner were sitting at the doorway, and as soon as they saw them return, they came over to greet them... ¡°You went to the riverside to wash clothes early in the morning, aren¡¯t you frozen?¡± Madam Xie took the wooden tub from Big Bull, but her eyes were fixed on Xuexue, filled with worry and pain. Xuexue smiled and said to Big Bull, ¡°I¡¯m not cold, with Big Bull with me, it was much faster than usual.¡± Only then did Madam Xie turn to Big Bull and said, ¡°Hurry inside and have something hot to eat, warm up a bit. Leave the clothes to me to hang and dry!¡± ¡°Mother, won¡¯t you eat with us?¡± Xuexue stopped in her tracks and turned to ask. ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for you for so long, Chuner was hungry, so we ate first. We left the rest warm in the pot for you, go on and eat.¡± Madam Xie waved them off. ¡°Okay!¡± While Xuexue and Big Bull were eating in the main hall, a commotion came from outside. Amidst the din, they heard a man¡¯s harsh shouts and the desperate pleas of Madam Xie. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Xuexue and Big Bull exchanged glances, put down their chopsticks, and stood up together. ¡°Big Bull, don¡¯t go, just sit down and finish your meal,¡± Xuexue thought it should be nothing serious, most likely the Mo family causing trouble again. It was perfect timing since they hadn¡¯t settled the score for the broken lock the day before. ¡°But...¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, don¡¯t worry. On my mother¡¯s turf, they wouldn¡¯t dare to cause a disturbance,¡± Xuexue interrupted him, forcibly pushing him back down onto the stool. ¡°Uh! Alright then.¡± Big Bull watched as Xuexue walked out, feeling helpless, he picked up his bowl to continue eating, but his ears were attentively listening to the noise outside. Chapter 123: 123 Strong Man Chapter 123: Chapter 123 Strong Man Several strong men, looking fierce and menacing, were carrying a sedan chair hastily placed at the entrance of the old residence. The person leading the way was Auntie Sun. She pointed to the dilapidated house in front of her and said, ¡°Xuexue lives right here! If you want someone, just go in and catch her yourselves.¡± Auntie Sun had clearly become a lot haggard. Indeed, after struggling for years in Yihong Brothel, the wealth she had earned vanished overnight. It was enough for her to beat her chest and lose sleep night after night. Unfortunately, Old Lady Mo was on her heels every day with a bill, pressing her for money. These days, she was virtually living in Hell, with both her body and mind severely tormented, and her life was miserably tough. How could she look good under such circumstances? Being able to breathe was just proof that her time in the brothel hadn¡¯t been endured in vain, teaching her the principle that clinging to life, no matter how poor, was better than dying. Butcher Yu said, ¡°My sweet darling, you can¡¯t deceive me. Today, I can¡¯t go back with this sedan chair empty no matter what. Otherwise, if the neighbors find out, I¡¯ll lose all my face. Wouldn¡¯t that be a laughing stock?¡± ¡°Please show some decency, what are you doing in broad daylight.¡± Auntie Sun dodged in panic. This place was in the village, and being seen here could lead to trouble if word reached the Mo family. She was now penniless and still depended on the Mo family for her livelihood for a while. Upon hearing this, Butcher Yu burst into loud laughter, finding it hilarious that a woman dared to tell him to show restraint. Hearing the laughter, Madam Xie, who was not far and hanging clothes, looked up and saw Auntie Sun leading several strong men carrying a sedan chair stopping at her doorstep. Immediately, her nerves tightened. Feeling guilty, Auntie Sun, upon seeing Madam Xie looking over, approached Butcher Yu nervously. Biting her teeth, she whispered angrily, ¡°Butcher Yu, if you dare spread my affairs, I¡¯ll leave you, and don¡¯t expect to get the Beautiful Lady either.¡± Butcher Yu immediately stopped laughing, sneered, and disdainfully said, ¡°As for your little scandals, everyone in the County Town knows them if they just ask around. I sure don¡¯t care to publicize them.¡± Auntie Sun breathed a sigh of relief. She pointed to Madam Xie nearby, who was anxiously watching them, and said, ¡°She is Xuexue¡¯s mother. Go and ask her.¡± Upon hearing this, Butcher Yu stood still, cleared his throat, and shouted at Madam Xie in a loud, harsh voice, ¡°Mother-in-law, I¡¯m here today to take Xuexue into my home. Please come here.¡± Seeing several ferocious strong men at her doorstep, Madam Xie, who was already extremely nervous, felt her legs go weak and almost collapsed to the ground at his words. ¡°Ahahaha...! Look, my mother-in-law is so happy to see her son-in-law that she can barely stand.¡± Butcher Yu turned his head, and laughed loudly with the strong men he brought along. ¡°Yes! Yes! The in-laws are too happy!¡± The strong men, with their fierce visages, all burst out laughing as well. Auntie Sun rolled her eyes, completely disagreeing with Butcher Yu¡¯s explanation. In her view, Madam Xie, this stinky lady, was actually scared by them, not happy. ¡°What in-laws? What son-in-law? Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Madam Xie, ignoring her clothes, rushed over as Xuexue was still inside the house and could not be taken by them. Chapter 124: 124 Jackals and Wolves Chapter 124: Chapter 124 Jackals and Wolves Upon hearing this, Butcher Yu immediately stopped laughing, glared at Madam Xie charging towards him, and said viciously, ¡°Don¡¯t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Your Mo family has taken my silver.¡± ¡°Whoever took your silver, you go find them. You didn¡¯t have a matchmaker, nor a betrothal gift. With nothing but your bare words, on what basis do you claim that my daughter has been promised to you?¡± Madam Xie was so angry she was nearly in tears. The Mo family was bullying them too much. They had already moved out and even had their own household registration, which the village head had helped them with at the government office. To get that registration, she still owed the village head five taels of silver. And now they still had to suffer from their disaster; it was just too much. After hearing this, Butcher Yu turned his head to look at Auntie Sun, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t you say that Xuexue is your husband¡¯s daughter, and that you had the right to handle her marriage matters? And, that it wasn¡¯t necessary to go through the trouble of hiring a matchmaker, but simply giving silver was enough?¡± ¡°Yes, I indeed am Xuexue¡¯s stepmother and have the right to decide on her marriage matters. You just relax. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go around the village and ask.¡± Since Auntie Sun had something on her held by Butcher Yu, in spite of her unwilling heart, she had to help him complete this matter. Otherwise, it would become impossible to stay in Mo Family Village. ¡°Auntie Sun, you woman are so vicious, actually hurting my daughter like this. I know you resent her for biting off your ear, but Xuexue didn¡¯t do it on purpose. She was delirious with fever that day.¡± Madam Xie, hearing Auntie Sun¡¯s words, trembled with anger. ¡°Just by saying it was a delirium, you want to turn over a new leaf? It¡¯s not that simple. My beauty was ruined by that little cheap person, and now, I will make her suffer, what about that?¡± With Mo Xiaoqiang not around, Auntie Sun was unrestrained. Furious, Madam Xie glared deathly at Auntie Sun: ¡°You... .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about your grievances. Anyway, I¡¯ve spent the silver, and today, no matter what, I shall take a wife home.¡± As Butcher Yu spoke, he turned his head and said to several strong men beside him, ¡°Brothers, go inside the house. Fetch the person for me. Tonight, come hell or high water, I will embrace a beauty in my arms.¡± Having returned last time without success and still fuming about it, almost harming himself, this time, Butcher Yu had learned to be smart. He spent some silver to summon his usual do-nothing companions who gathered for food, drink, and gambling, prepared to take her by force if soft tactics didn¡¯t work, and forcefully abduct her back home. In short, he could not let his twenty taels of silver go to waste. ¡°You¡¯re trespassing on private property, you can¡¯t go in.¡± As soon as Madam Xie saw several strong men with menacing looks charging towards the house, she quickly stood at the doorway, arms outstretched, refusing to let them in. ¡°Go, go, move aside, don¡¯t delay our Big Brother Yu¡¯s wedding night.¡± A few fierce-looking men didn¡¯t even consider the frail Madam Xie, not halting for a moment, they simply pushed her to the ground. ¡°Ah...!¡± Pushed by someone, Madam Xie fell to the ground. Her wrist was scraped, but she couldn¡¯t care less. She quickly got up and chased after them, her voice carrying a plea, ¡°Master, I beg you, please let Xuexue go, she truly isn¡¯t engaged to you.¡± ¡°You wretched village woman, you don¡¯t even appreciate that I am willing to be your son-in-law. You don¡¯t rejoice, and now you cry with a mournful face, how unlucky. Go die to the side.¡± Watching Madam Xie blocking his way again and again, Butcher Yu was thoroughly annoyed. Rolling up his sleeves, he slapped Madam Xie fiercely across the face. ¡°Smack!¡± ¡°Ah...!¡± Struck across the face, Madam Xie became dizzy, stumbled, and fell to the ground again. Her hair became disheveled, scattering as she sat on the ground, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth... ¡°Mother, Mother, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuexue, who had just come out, rushed over, helping Madam Xie wipe the blood from her mouth, asking urgently. ¡°Xuexue, Xuexue, quickly go, don¡¯t mind your mother.¡± Madam Xie, in a panic, pushed Xuexue away. Despite the pain all over her body, she hadn¡¯t forgotten that several predators were eagerly eyeing her daughter. Chapter 125: 125 Spring Fragrance House Chapter 125: Chapter 125 Spring Fragrance House Several fierce strong men, upon seeing someone rush out, halted their steps and focused their gaze, only to see a girl about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a delicately carved face. Although she was not yet of age, her stunning beauty had already begun to show, and in a few more years, she would surely become a great beauty. ¡°Little lady, you¡¯ve finally come out, ahahaha...,¡± Butcher Yu exclaimed upon seeing Xuexue, his face shifting from impatience to a smile. ¡°Xuexue, you better hurry.¡± Madam Xie fiercely pushed Xuexue. ¡°Leave? Where would she go? She can only go into my palanquin,¡± Butcher Yu boasted confidently, certain that Xuexue could not escape this time. He turned his head and chuckled at the several strong men, ¡°Right, brothers?¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± several of his scoundrel friends quickly agreed. ¡°Big Brother Yu is truly blessed with beauties, this little lady is so charming, even more beautiful than the Top Courtesan at Spring Fragrance House.¡± And then, a wave of laughter broke out, the kind only understood among men. Butcher Yu felt even prouder; initially, he was interested in Xuexue because she was a young virgin, and now, even more for her stunning beauty. It seemed that the forty taels of silver were well spent. Upon hearing this, Madam Xie¡¯s face grew even grimmer. She knew that Spring Fragrance House was a brothel in town and that Mo Xiaoqiang would spend days there whenever he had silver. Over time, she, a village woman who rarely went out, became very familiar with Spring Fragrance House. Now, hearing them compare Xuexue to a prostitute, her expression could only look ugly. Xuexue gently patted Madam Xie¡¯s back with her hand, signaling her to calm down. Her eyes fixed on Butcher Yu, she asked coldly, ¡°Was it you who hit my mother just now?¡± ¡°Oh! Xuexue, you don¡¯t understand, your mother-in-law blocked my way to find you, but it wasn¡¯t really a hit, just an accidental nudge.¡± Butcher Yu eyed Xuexue with a lustful gaze; she had looked alluring enough under the dim lights that night, but in daylight, she seemed even more enticing. ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t shout nonsense, who is your mother-in-law?¡± ¡°Oh my! Little lady, you deny knowing me now, huh? Your stepmother already promised you to me. If you hadn¡¯t run away that night, I would already be your...¡± ¡°Slap, slap, slap...!¡± Recalling the events of that night, Xuexue became furious, raised her hand, and landed several slaps on him. Before Butcher Yu could finish his sentence, his face endured several slaps from Xuexue. Immediately, the men beside him were stunned; this girl, who seemed delicate and frail, turned out to be so fierce. ¡°You filthy lady, hitting me again?¡± Butcher Yu caressed his cheek, looking at Xuexue in disbelief. That night, he had been beaten till his head bled and one of his eyes turned black by Xuexue, but he had never mentioned it to others. A Great Master like him being knocked out by a little girl was utterly humiliating. ¡°Oh dear! Uncle, your skin is really too thick, just like pigskin; it¡¯s killing my hands,¡± Xuexue said, fiercely shaking her palm with a look of disgust. ¡°Filthy lady, asking for death.¡± In front of everybody, humiliated by a little girl, Butcher Yu, enraged and embarrassed, stepped forward and fiercely slapped toward Xuexue. With a deft sidestep, Xuexue dodged, then turned around, channeled all her strength, and gave a fierce kick right into Butcher Yu¡¯s groin. That area, a man¡¯s Achilles heel, immediately had Butcher Yu clutching his groin, screaming like a slaughtered pig. ¡°Ah...! It¡¯s killing me.¡± The several strong men were stunned. Although they had experienced myriad women over the years, this was the first time they had seen such a ferocious girl, who targeted the most vulnerable spots with life-threatening kicks, regardless of consequences. Chapter 126: 126: Breaking into a Cold Sweat Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Breaking into a Cold Sweat ¡°Let this be a lesson to you, don¡¯t be too arrogant when you¡¯re in someone else¡¯s house,¡± Xuexue stood with her hands on her hips, facing Butcher Yu fearlessly. Who did he think he was, ganging up with Auntie Sun to frame her, and now daring to bully her at her own doorstep? The audacity. She had been reborn not long ago and had not yet gained strength. Give her a year or so to cultivate her powers from various sources, and killing him would be no issue at all. ¡°Ah...! You idiots, why aren¡¯t you getting this damned woman and bringing her to me already, tie her up and bring her back to Yu family village,¡± Butcher Yu wailed, yet he didn¡¯t forget to bark orders even through his pain. The strong men finally snapped back to reality, having been paid silver by Butcher Yu for this job. Standing on the sidelines as mere spectators wasn¡¯t quite right. So, the strong men rolled up their sleeves and slowly began to encircle Xuexue, vowing to capture her and carry her off in a sedan to the Yu family village. Xuexue had kicked Butcher Yu and frightened Madam Xie out of her wits. For a moment, she even forgot to tell Xuexue to run away. A major incident had occurred at the old residence, and naturally, the surrounding villagers gathered to witness the commotion. Chuner and Xiao Gougou sat innocently under a distant tree, each enjoying pork lard cakes, one after another. ¡°Chuner, why are there so many people around your house? Did something happen?¡± Xiao Gougou, glancing over by chance, noticed a dense crowd surrounding the old residence. ¡°Oh no, something¡¯s happened,¡± Chuner looked up, quickly set her pork lard cake in Xiao Gougou¡¯s lap, and sprang to her feet to run. ¡°Chuner, where are you going?¡± Seeing that Chuner was running in the opposite direction of the old residence, Xiao Gougou called out after her. ¡°I¡¯m going to find Uncle Village Chief.¡± Chuner¡¯s voice carried back from afar. The clever little girl knew something serious had happened at her home since it had attracted such a crowd. Without a second thought, she took off running towards the Village Chief¡¯s house. As the five strong men bore down on her with menacing intent, Xuexue¡¯s heart raced. Her modest Kung Fu skills were likely no match for them. She wished she had thought to bring Big Bull along. Glancing around, she noticed the ax usually used for chopping wood not far off. She dashed over and grabbed it tightly in her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer, or I¡¯ll chop you to pieces,¡± Xuexue threatened with the ax in hand. Although she had some Kung Fu skills, the odds of facing so many were overwhelming, and her heart wasn¡¯t truly in it. Having witnessed her ferocity before, two of the men hesitated, their steps faltering. ¡°Scarface, Zhu Gan, are you kidding me? Scared off by a little girl? You call that courage?¡± Three others laughed as they saw their companions stall, taunting them. ¡°Who¡¯s... who¡¯s scared? It¡¯s... It¡¯s just that we moved a little too slowly,¡± they retorted, unwilling to admit they were afraid of a little girl, as that would be too embarrassing. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Now come on, do you really think she¡¯ll chop us? She¡¯s just a girl.¡± With that, Scarface and Zhu Gan felt reassured and hurried to catch up. Seeing them closing in, Xuexue steeled her resolve, closed her eyes and, wielding the ax, charged: ¡°Ahh...! I¡¯ll show you bullies a lesson, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Caught off guard by Xuexue¡¯s desperate boldness, the men scattered, trying to evade her swings. ¡°Idiots, complete idiots! She¡¯s armed, why didn¡¯t you grab weapons too? Are you all dumb?¡± Butcher Yu cursed them loudly in frustration. Upon hearing that, the men finally realized their mistake and turned around to look for weapons. Chapter 127: 127 Crying for Daddy and Calling for Mommy Chapter 127: Chapter 127 Crying for Daddy and Calling for Mommy Quickly, they each grabbed a piece of firewood and crowded around again. ¡°You heartless bastards, don¡¯t you dare hurt my daughter.¡± Seeing her daughter in danger, Madam Xie couldn¡¯t help crying out in alarm, recklessly rushing to the front and standing in front of Xuexue. ¡°Mother, why did you come here? What if you get hurt in the fight? You must leave at once.¡± Outnumbered and with little chance of winning, Xuexue felt a headache coming on as Madam Xie joined the fray. Madam Xie, gripped by intense nervousness, didn¡¯t hear a word as she faced the ferocious strong men approaching step by step with clubs in their hands. ¡°You gangsters, in cahoots with that Seductress Fox, Auntie Sun, bullying us, a mother and daughter alone in the world¡ªmay you come to no good end!¡± Madam Xie, disheveled with blood at the corner of her mouth, looked desperately wretched as she pointed and cursed at the several strong men before her. ¡°Quit your yapping with this madwoman. Once we grab this brat, we¡¯re off to Spring Fragrance House to hug the Beautiful Lady,¡± one of the strong men said with a loud laugh. Indeed, Butcher Yu had not only paid them in silver to come but also promised that, after they captured Xuexue, they would get a free visit to Spring Fragrance House to pick any girl they wanted for the night, free of charge, to soak in the pleasures of the flesh; otherwise, why would these drinking buddies go through so much trouble to help him? ¡°Mother, step back.¡± The longer the delay, the worse it got for them. Xuexue decided to strike first. She forcefully pushed Madam Xie aside and rushed forward in a flurry of wild slashes. The strong men were stunned by Xuexue¡¯s boldness and reckless bravery. They were caught off-guard, allowing Xuexue to break several of their wooden clubs. In the chaos, someone¡¯s club struck Xuexue¡¯s wrist, slicing it open, and blood spurted out, staining the bracelet she wore. The bracelet under her sleeve emitted a strange blue light, which vanished in an instant, returning to its usual luster. Growing impatient inside the house, Big Bull stepped out and saw the menacing strong men surrounding Xuexue; he erupted in rage. ¡°You lowly bastards, dare to bully my wife¡ªI¡¯ll kill you!¡± With that, he charged from behind and kicked one of the strong men flying with a single blow. ¡°Ah!¡± The strong man let out a wail of pain as he tumbled away in the distance. The other strong men were shocked and began to retreat. ¡°Big Bull.¡± Xuexue was overjoyed to see Big Bull come out; she was worried that the simpleton would really stay in the main hall without coming to help. ¡°Wife, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here,¡± Big Bull said, looking at Xuexue with a silly grin. Seeing an opportunity as the few hesitating men noticed this formidable man was only talking to Xuexue, with no guard against them, they raised their clubs high, ready to attack him silently from behind... ¡°Big Bull, watch out behind!¡± At the critical moment, Xuexue, with her sharp eyes, cried out in warning. Hearing the whooshing sound behind him, Big Bull didn¡¯t turn around; he ducked and avoided the oncoming club. Aiming for the back of the man¡¯s head, the strong men swung their clubs in a furious assault, thinking to make him cry for mercy. But when they paused and refocused, where was the man? He had vanished into thin air. ¡°Enjoying yourselves? Now it¡¯s my turn.¡± Suddenly, a foolish voice came from behind them; before they could figure out what happened, they were lifted into the air and thrown out. This sudden turn of events startled the gloating Butcher Yu. He turned to Aunt Sun and asked, ¡°This man is formidable¡ªwho is he? Why would he be in this wretched woman¡¯s home?¡± Faced with a stunningly handsome man entering the fray, Aunt Sun was also confused and shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know; I¡¯ve never seen him before.¡± Chapter 128: 128 Big Bull Chapter 128: Chapter 128 Big Bull The villagers watching the commotion saw that just a moment ago, the five strong men who had been menacingly surrounding Xuexue and ready to strike were now at the mercy of a handsome young man¡ªholding one in his left hand, another in his right, casually tossing them out of the front door of the old residence like they were little ducks. They landed one on top of another, stacked like burlap sacks on the ground. Being rudely slammed onto the ground was painful enough, but then having their companions piled on top, one after another, added insult to injury¡ªthey began to wail like slaughtered pigs. ¡°Ouch! Dammit, Zhu Gan, why the hell are you crushing me?¡± ¡°Ouch! You think I want to be on top of you? You¡¯re not a girl, are you? I was just carelessly thrown out by that Plague God and accidentally landed on you.¡± ¡°Ah...! My back! You useless louts, get the hell off me.¡± Underneath the pile, the poor devil being crushed by four strong men felt as though he could hear his own bones breaking and, in an instant, began to wail loudly. The onlookers steered clear, fearing they might accidentally get hurt themselves, which would really not be worth it. ¡°Wife, I¡¯ve thrown them out,¡± Big Bull declared, dusting off his hands and turning around with a goofy smile at Xuexue. ¡°Look! There are still two over there!¡± Xuexue nudged her mouth in the direction of Butcher Yu and Aunt Sun. ¡°Huh? There are still some?¡± Big Bull turned around to see the trembling Butcher Yu and Aunt Sun, ¡°Are you with those bad guys outside?¡± ¡°No, no, hero, I don¡¯t know them,¡± quivered Butcher Yu, his calves trembling, clearly still in shock. He shook his head and waved his hands frantically in denial. ¡°My wife says you were.¡± ¡°She... she... she¡¯s mistaken,¡± Butcher Yu stammered, then turned around and tried to run. Big Bull grabbed him by the back of the neck and hauled him back, asking curiously, ¡°If you¡¯re not, then why are you running so fast?¡± ¡°I... I... I¡¯m going home to eat.¡± ¡°Should I give you a ride?¡± ¡°No need, no need, no need to trouble yourself, Master,¡± Butcher Yu replied hastily, unable to move while being held by the back of his neck by Big Bull. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, I don¡¯t charge for this.¡± After saying this, Big Bull, regardless of Butcher Yu¡¯s look of despair, hoisted him up, gathered his energy, and hurled him forcefully towards the front door. ¡°Swoosh!¡± Like an arrow released from a bowstring, Butcher Yu sailed over the crowd and headed straight for the distance. ¡°Bang...!¡± A loud crash echoed from afar, sounding like a boulder thrown into water. ¡°Wow! That handsome man at Xuexue¡¯s place is too formidable, he actually threw the bad guy into the fish pond more than two hundred meters away,¡± exclaimed one of the spectators, unable to contain their surprise. Unbelievably, Mo Family Village had acquired such an impressive figure, and the villagers began to whisper amongst themselves. Meanwhile, Aunt Sun had taken advantage of the chaos to stealthily make a getaway, not wishing to be thrown out as well. ¡°Big Bull is really awesome.¡± With the bad guys driven away, Xuexue relaxed, and only then did she feel a stinging sensation on her wrist. Rolling up her sleeve, she saw a gash on her wrist, which although no longer bleeding, burned painfully. ¡°Oh! Wife, did they make you bleed? That¡¯s unforgivable. I¡¯ll go beat them up again to vent your anger, and see if they dare to bully you in the future,¡± Big Bull said indignantly, turning around and ready to seek out those strong men to continue the fight. Now, as she was yet to spread her wings and was still just a village girl, Xuexue feared that Big Bull might not know his own strength and could cause a fatality, which would bring about troublesome legal repercussions. She quickly pulled at him and said, ¡°Let it go, they¡¯ve learned their lesson for today. Let¡¯s just spare them for now.¡± Chapter 129: 129 The Mouse Chapter 129: Chapter 129 The Mouse ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to the missus,¡± Big Bull said with resignation, as Xuexue tugged on his clothes. ¡°Xuexue, are you hurt?¡± Madam Xie also ran over anxiously to check her wrist. The scare had nearly killed her, but thankfully Big Bull was there, and they had narrowly escaped disaster. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a minor injury. But what about you, mother? Are you okay?¡± Xuexue had seen her spitting blood. If she had sustained internal injuries, that would be troublesome. ¡°Mother¡¯s fine too, just took a fall and hit my mouth. It will heal in a few days.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Only then did Xuexue feel relieved. Butcher Yu was flung by Big Bull into a fish pond far away. The water in the pond was stagnant, left unchanged for years. Plus, the villagers often disposed of dead chickens and mice there. Thrown into the fish pond without warning, the disoriented Butcher Yu didn¡¯t even know where he was. Instinctively, he gulped down a few mouthfuls of the foul-smelling water. Driven by the instinct to survive, he dog-paddled, drenched and bedraggled like a soaked hen, until he clambered out of the pond in total disgrace. Feeling both cold and frightened, Butcher Yu didn¡¯t dare to cause further trouble at the old residence and decided to lead his similarly disheveled cronies out of the village, limping and defeated, prepared to make their way home. ¡°Alas! Big Brother Yu, I truly feel indignant for you. You spent so much silver, not only did you not get the wife, but you also ended up beaten. There¡¯s no justice in this,¡± one strong man complained, rubbing a bruise on his cheek with an angry look on his face. ¡°What can we do? The little bitch has such a formidable Plague God protecting her, who would dare to provoke her? It would simply be seeking death,¡± the man with a scar on his face said. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± As Butcher Yu rubbed his chin in contemplation, the more he thought, the angrier he got. Why should he, after spending silver, be beaten time and time again? He blamed Concubine Auntie Sun for setting such a trap for him. He didn¡¯t dare provoke Xuexue, the little ghost, but why couldn¡¯t he take out his anger on the Mo family? With that thought, he stopped and said, ¡°Brothers, let¡¯s not go.¡± After saying that, he turned around and headed back toward the village. The strong men looked at each other, feeling reluctant to follow Butcher Yu back to the village to provoke Xuexue, knowing that such a powerful character was protecting her. Going back would be a suicide mission. After a few steps, he looked back and saw that they were all standing still, looking timid. Butcher Yu became furious and pointed at them, yelling, ¡°All of you, little cowards! Normally you¡¯re all bullish, bullying men and women alike. But when you face a tough nut, you turn into turtles hiding in their shells?¡± ¡°Just think of us as turtles hiding in our shells then.¡± One of the strong men said dejectedly with a resigned tone, better to be a coward than to be beaten to death. ¡°We¡¯re not going to the little bitch¡¯s house; we¡¯re going to settle the score with that bitch, Concubine Auntie Sun,¡± Butcher Yu had to clarify, and besides, with that man there, even if he had the guts of a barrel, he wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke her. ¡°Oh, is that so? Hey! Big Brother Yu, you should¡¯ve said so earlier,¡± the strong men suddenly realized, instantly reinvigorated. And so, the group of men once again made their grand return to the village heading straight for the Mo family¡¯s place... Auntie Sun fled back to the Mo family in fear, worrying that Butcher Yu would come to settle the score with her after suffering such a loss. It was only when she heard from the villagers that they had left the village that she finally relaxed. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang...!¡± The main gate of the Mo family was being pounded fiercely. Old Lady Mo, who happened to be in the courtyard, went to open the door, asking with impatience as she walked, ¡°Who is it? Pounding so hard, are you trying to knock the house down?¡± Chapter 130: 130: Furious Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Furious ¡°Creak.¡± Just as the courtyard door cracked open, Old Lady Mo had not yet seen what was happening. Butcher Yu and five other strong men barged in. One of them, annoyed at Old Lady Mo for being in the way as she opened the door, pushed her aside forcefully while cursing, ¡°Get out of the way, you old hag. This doesn¡¯t concern you, scram!¡± ¡°Ow, hey!¡± Pushed by the towering strong man, the elderly and frail Old Lady Mo stumbled, nearly taking a nosedive to the ground. Thankfully, quick reflexes allowed her to catch herself on the door frame, narrowly avoiding a fall, and she immediately became furious. ¡°You sons of turtles, are you bandits or what? Coming into someone¡¯s home and acting all high and mighty,¡± Old Lady Mo stood at the entrance with her hands on her hips and began to loudly scold them. Old Master Mo had indulged her in every way for decades of marriage. She had always been the one to call the shots in the Mo family, aggressive and tyrannical without ever having been at a disadvantage. And now, out of nowhere, these strong men had almost taken her life as soon as they entered. It was no wonder Old Lady Mo was on the edge of exploding. ¡°You, you old hag, you¡¯d better watch your mouth. Otherwise, don¡¯t blame us brothers for not respecting our elders,¡± Butcher Yu, already full of anger, became even more incensed by her insults. He turned around, raising his fist in a threatening manner. Each of the opponents was a strong, strapping man, and they had the advantage of numbers. Old Lady Mo felt a chill in her heart but remained defiant, raising her voice again to ask, ¡°What are you doing at my house? We don¡¯t even know each other.¡± ¡°Ptui! Don¡¯t know each other? Call out that stinking woman Auntie Sun. I paid silver, didn¡¯t even get to sleep with a virgin, and got beaten up like this,¡± Butcher Yu grumbled furiously. Just then, there happened to be a stool under his foot, and in a fit of rage, he kicked it away... ¡°Crash.¡± The stool hit a clay jar, which immediately broke into pieces. Startled by their aggressiveness, Old Lady Mo realized that these men were the same ones who had smashed up her home a few days earlier. She couldn¡¯t help but feel hatred for Auntie Sun¡ªthis woman hadn¡¯t given her a grandson and had now brought such trouble upon them. ¡°Hehehe...! Big brother, it¡¯s all the trouble caused by that stinking woman Auntie Sun. It has nothing to do with us, the Mo family. Go find her instead, she¡¯s inside the house,¡± Old Lady Mo¡¯s expression changed, putting on a placating smile. She feared that these strong men would wreak havoc just like a few days ago, which would be disastrous. The silver for replacing the destroyed items had not even been repaid by that stinking woman Auntie Sun; if they smashed everything again today, it would be an utter loss. ¡°She married into your Mo family, so she is one of the Mo family. If the silver is not returned, none of you will have peace,¡± Butcher Yu glared fiercely as he spoke. ¡°This...¡± Old Lady Mo was utterly dumbfounded. ¡°Brothers, show some muscle and smash this place,¡± Butcher Yu ordered. The several strong men had been holding back their frustration at the old residence, and now they could finally vent. They rolled up their sleeves and went to work, trashing the Mo family home until it was thoroughly beaten up. Old Master Mo and his two sons were not at home, leaving Old Lady Mo alone. She anxiously followed the strong men, helpless and unable to do anything as she watched her household possessions being smashed to bits, feeling a pain as if her heart was dying¡ªall of those were worth silver, after all. In the end, Butcher Yu dragged Auntie Sun out from a room, her face pale with fright. ¡°So how do you suggest we settle this?¡± Butcher Yu, posturing as a creditor, looked down upon Auntie Sun with arrogance. ¡°Repay the money, I am willing to repay the money,¡± Auntie Sun said with a mournful face, internally cursing Butcher Yu thousands of times over. This damn bastard, knowing full well he had stolen all her money, refused to acknowledge it and was now pressing her to repay it. What money could she possibly have? However, with her at his mercy, she had to swallow this bitter pill in silence. Chapter 131: 131 The Honest Man Chapter 131: Chapter 131 The Honest Man Butcher Yu, upon hearing this, his complexion improved slightly, ¡°I am a straightforward man; I won¡¯t ask for much from you. Twenty taels as the principal amount and an additional five taels for the medical fees, altogether twenty-five taels of silver. Hurry up and bring it here; I still need to see the doctor.¡± ¡°What? Twenty-five taels?¡± Auntie Sun could not help but scream out loud, cursing Butcher Yu in her heart for being so ruthless and excessive. In just a few days, the amount had increased by five taels of silver¡ªit was even more ruthless than bandits. At the same time, she deeply regretted provoking this scoundrel to come back, causing her to lose both her money and her beauty. And there she was, suffering in silence, with the bitterness known only to herself. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You¡¯re not willing?¡± Butcher Yu drew closer to Auntie Sun with a threatening tone. Glancing at Old Lady Mo, who was sitting on the ground crying her heart out, he bit his teeth and whispered menacingly, ¡°Since you¡¯re unwilling, maybe I should have a little chat with that old hag?¡± ¡°Willing, willing.¡± Auntie Sun, with her guilty conscience, nodded repeatedly, knowing exactly what he meant. ¡°Hurry up and bring it here; I still have to see the doctor.¡± ¡°What?¡± Auntie Sun asked blankly, caught off guard. ¡°The silver! What now? Having second thoughts?¡± Butcher Yu was getting annoyed. ¡°No, not that, I don¡¯t have any silver on me. You should ask my mother-in-law for it; she has silver.¡± Auntie Sun cautiously pointed towards Old Lady Mo, who was sitting on the ground, clutching a heap of broken items, wailing loudly. ¡°You have no money? Who are you trying to fool? I know exactly where you came from. You think you can deceive me? Not a chance.¡± Butcher Yu wore a look of disbelief. Auntie Sun used to mix in the Yihong Brothel; how could she have no money? She must be joking. ¡°Really, it was all stolen a few days ago. Otherwise, why would I go to your house? You think I have nothing better to do?¡± Auntie Sun was fuming inside but couldn¡¯t afford to have an outburst. Butcher Yu: ¡°All right then, I¡¯ll take your word for it this time. But in a few days, you¡¯ll need to stop by my place again; I need to speak with you.¡± Auntie Sun knew he was looking to take advantage again. She was seething inside yet didn¡¯t dare to voice her anger, so she could only agree in a dejected manner. Butcher Yu gave a smug smile, knowing that as long as he got the silver back, he wouldn¡¯t be at a loss. ¡°Hey! Old Maid, bring twenty-five taels of silver here, and make it quick. Otherwise, I¡¯ll burn down your house.¡± Turning around, Butcher Yu raised his foot and gave Old Lady Mo, who was on the ground, a kick. Of course, he didn¡¯t dare to kick too hard; at her age, an accidental death would land him in a lawsuit. ¡°What silver? What does any of this have to do with me, an old woman?¡± With so many of her belongings destroyed at home, Old Lady Mo was in deep distress. When she was suddenly asked for silver, twenty-five taels no less, she broke out into wailing. ¡°Your daughter-in-law doesn¡¯t have the money; shouldn¡¯t you be the one to pay?¡± ¡°What daughter-in-law? She¡¯s merely a concubine of my son; she¡¯s not even worth twenty-five taels if sold. Why don¡¯t you take her with you? After all, seeing her just clogs up this old woman¡¯s heart.¡± Old Lady Mo too was a heartless person. Just then, the village head walked in from outside, his brow furrowed at the sight of the chaos unfolding... ¡°Auntie Mo, what happened here?¡± He¡¯d just come from the old residence, aware of the issues caused by Aunt Sun and Mo Xiaoqiang that day, and had decided to come over to see how the problem could be resolved. Letting it drag on was no solution; if it kept up, it might lead to a serious incident one day. Chapter 132: 132 Jingshan Town Chapter 132: Chapter 132 Jingshan Town As soon as the village head entered, Old Lady Mo wept as if she had seen a family member, crying and saying between sobs, ¡°Village head, you¡¯ve come at just the right time, you must stand up for me. It¡¯s all this old hag¡¯s fault. Why should the Mo family have to pay the silver? Anyway, I have no money left, only this one life, oh woo woo woo...¡± With the village head present, thinking she had someone to back her up, Old Lady Mo became fearless and began to throw a tantrum. Unable to get any money, Butcher Yu became furiously embarrassed, he stepped in front of Old Lady Mo, raised his fist, and said viciously, ¡°You old hag, don¡¯t push your luck, hand over the silver now or be careful I might punch you to death.¡± ¡°Village head, you see, you see, like bandits, he¡¯s threatening my wife! Is there no justice left, no imperial law, oh woo woo woo...!¡± ¡°Who are you calling bandits? Debt repayment is a natural duty, even if we go to the Yamen, I¡¯m still in the right,¡± Butcher Yu was also very annoyed, having spent his own silver and been injured, now being called a bandit. Old Lady Mo was notoriously stingy and miserly in Mo Family Village, asking her to give up twenty-five taels of silver at once was practically asking for her life. Knowing it was pointless to reason with her, the village head didn¡¯t bother to persuade her and changed the subject by asking, ¡°Where¡¯s the old master? Why don¡¯t I see him?¡± ¡°They went to the town early in the morning, just before this gang of bandits came to my house to wreak havoc, bullying an old woman like me, village head look, look what they¡¯ve done to my house, damn it all, everything was bought with silver.¡± With the village head present, Old Lady Mo felt quite settled and began to incessantly complain. ¡°You are the village head, right?¡± Butcher Yu glared at the village head and asked in a coarse voice. ¡°Yes.¡± The village head nodded. ¡°Then what do you think should be done about this matter? Repaying debts is just and right, I¡¯m not asking for much, either return the money or give us a person, we can¡¯t be left empty-handed. Although Jingshan Town is small, we still abide by the imperial law.¡± Since the Old Maid was always talking about the imperial law, Butcher Yu wasn¡¯t stupid and also mentioned it, giving extra emphasis on these words, to show that what he was doing was legal. The village head lowered his head and thought for a while, then said, ¡°You guys go back today, and come back in a few days, I¡¯ll give you a satisfying answer then.¡± ¡°No, this matter can¡¯t be delayed any further,¡± Butcher Yu flatly refused. ¡°You see, their head of the family is not here, Old Lady Mo, a woman of the inner quarters, can¡¯t possibly come up with that much silver,¡± the village head patiently explained. Although he knew Old Lady Mo ran the household, he couldn¡¯t help it because she was a miserly miser; asking her to give up money was harder than killing her. Butcher Yu thought about it for a while, turned his head, and murmured with a few strong men for a good while, before looking up to the village head and saying, ¡°Alright, just for you this time, we¡¯ll come back in two days. But if there are still no taels of silver, we¡¯ll burn down the house.¡± After stating this, Butcher Yu left in a huff with a few strong men. ¡°Look, look, bandits, true bandits! Village head, you should report this to the officials and arrest them all.¡± When Old Lady Mo heard about her house being burned, she started wailing and crying again. ¡°This isn¡¯t their fault, you were in the wrong from the start.¡± The village head glanced at Aunt Sun, who was crouching on the side too afraid to make a sound, his tone full of reproach. Just then, Old Lady Mo looked up, following the village head¡¯s gaze, spotted Aunt Sun, and in a burst of rage, she rushed forward and began beating her furiously. ¡°You disgraceful woman, selling my granddaughter and making me pay the money, I¡¯ll kill you, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Aunt Sun was not like Madam Xie, who would just take it and blame herself without fighting back. After a few punches, she snapped back to reality and immediately fought back, quickly grappling with Old Lady Mo. Chapter 133: 133 Eating Meat Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Eating Meat Old Lady Mo and Auntie Sun were like dogs fighting over a bone, tangled in a brawl. The village head, being a grown man, and considering the propriety between men and women, found it inconvenient to intervene and risk giving people something to talk about, hinting at him using his status to take liberties with women, which would be terrible. After much deliberation, for the sake of his own reputation, the village head decisively swept his sleeves and left. As for the troubles of the Mo family, it was out of sight, out of mind for him. He would wait until Old Master Mo returned and then mediate Butcher Yu¡¯s matter. There was no rush. The Old Residence After the recent harrowing fight, Madam Xie had a complete 180-degree change in attitude towards Big Bull. Though Big Bull was a bit simple-minded, he was strong as an ox and seemed to have some Kung Fu skills. Most importantly, he could protect Xuexue. Actually, taking him as a son-in-law wasn¡¯t a bad idea. The more Madam Xie thought about it, the more she liked it, especially since Xuexue had mentioned that Big Bull was only temporarily injured in the head. Who knows? Maybe when that healed, his foolishness would be cured too. ¡°Hehe! Big Bull, come, have some food.¡± Madam Xie felt grateful for the great help he had provided and kept adding food to his bowl with enthusiasm. Now, she only had eyes for Big Bull and even forgot about her two daughters. ¡°Enough, enough, it won¡¯t fit anymore.¡± Big Bull was somewhat overwhelmed by Madam Xie¡¯s sudden warmth. The pork bought yesterday had hardly any leftovers to begin with. Now, all of it had ended up in Big Bull¡¯s bowl. Chuner¡¯s small mouth puckered for quite a length, and she looked on with eyes full of silent reproach but didn¡¯t dare make a sound. Xuexue could hardly bear to watch anymore, put down her chopsticks, and said, ¡°I¡¯m full, going back to my room.¡± Having said that, she stood up and walked off. ¡°Wife, I¡¯ll go too.¡± Big Bull put down his bowl and chopsticks, intending to stand up and follow her out. Madam Xie grabbed him with a beaming smile, ¡°Big Bull, you haven¡¯t eaten enough yet! Finish your meal before you go, you don¡¯t want to harm your body by going hungry, and after all, Xuexue is still home, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± With Madam Xie¡¯s fiery enthusiasm and Big Bull¡¯s difficult refusal, he had no choice but to eat absent-mindedly, picking up his bowl and chopsticks again. ¡°Big Bull Brother, do you not want to eat meat?¡± Chuner¡¯s crisp voice rang out. ¡°Huh?¡± Big Bull was utterly confused. ¡°Look, it¡¯s all over the table.¡± Chuner pouted; her mother was clearly playing favorites, giving all the meat to Big Bull Brother without thinking to save her a slice or two to satisfy her craving. ¡°Uh.¡± Big Bull then noticed that Madam Xie had stuffed his bowl so full and high that some of the meat had even spilled onto the table. Looking up, he saw that only a few wilted vegetables remained on the platter, feeling an onset of regret. Madam Xie had given all the meat to him while they were left to gnaw on vegetables. They had just separated from the main house, and the Mo family had not allotted them any land to grow crops. It was still too early for them to harvest anything they started growing, so they could only forage for wild vegetables from the mountain and fields to get by. Fortunately, they had bought some oil yesterday, which made even the wild vegetables more palatable. ¡°Chuner, come here, Big Bull Brother can¡¯t finish all this meat by himself. I¡¯ll give you some.¡± Big Bull said in his simple-minded way, passing half of the meat from his bowl to Chuner. ¡°Mm.¡± Chuner beamed with a wide smile, ¡°Big Bull Brother is so nice!¡± ¡°You little imp, are you suggesting your mother doesn¡¯t treat you well?¡± Madam Xie teased and scolded. ¡°No, Mother is my birth mother, you are good to me. Who else would you be good to?¡± Chuner said contentedly, her voice muffled with food, and her former melancholy vanished instantaneously. ¡°I¡¯m going to find my wife.¡± Big Bull, holding his unfinished meal, darted off like a shot. ¡°Eh! Where is that child going with his bowl?¡± Madam Xie muttered unconsciously as she watched Big Bull¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°To find Sister, of course.¡± Chuner, wise beyond her years, said smoothly. ¡°He hasn¡¯t finished eating, what¡¯s he looking for her for? Really now.¡± ¡°Big Bull Brother cares about Sister; he¡¯s definitely taking the meat to her.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Xuexue eat already?¡± Madam Xie was confused. ¡°Eat what! Tonight, both Sister and I couldn¡¯t get a single piece of meat; you gave it all to Big Bull Brother!¡± Chuner felt wronged. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Uh...!¡± Madam Xie admitted she hadn¡¯t done it on purpose. Her heart was just overflowing with gratitude for Big Bull saving Xuexue, and she lost control for a moment, forgetting her two daughters eagerly watching by the side. Chapter 134: 134 Space Chapter 134: Chapter 134 Space Xuexue returned to her room and lay on the bed feeling very dejected. Thinking about what happened today, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a wave of fear. Having been reborn recently, vulnerable and alone, she had been too careless. Thankfully Big Bull was there, or else the consequences could have been unthinkable. While pondering, she unconsciously rolled up her sleeve to inspect the wound on her wrist. The wound wasn¡¯t big, and it seemed like nothing much. However, the bracelet on her wrist caught her attention. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was an illusion, but she noticed that the bracelet appeared even more delicate and transparent than before, as if it had its own life force. Her hand involuntarily caressed it. ¡°Sigh! It seems I¡¯m indeed tired today. I¡¯m even having illusions when looking at things,¡± Xuexue closed her eyes and laughed at herself in self-derision. After resting for a while, when she smelled a rich fragrance of flowers and opened her eyes again, she was greatly surprised. She was no longer in that shabby room, but had found herself amidst a sea of flowers, lying on a bed covered in fresh blooms, and surrounded by a dazzling array of flowers. ¡°Could it be that I¡¯m really too tired? Am I actually hallucinating?¡± Xuexue felt bewildered. She had clearly been lying in her room, resting on the bed. How had she ended up in this strange place? While trying to make sense of the situation, she pinched her thigh hard: ¡°Ouch... my goodness! That really hurts!¡± Upon lifting her clothes to look, she saw a red mark on her thigh, and Xuexue couldn¡¯t help feeling upset inside. It seemed it wasn¡¯t a dream after all, but what exactly was going on? She wished someone would tell her. In the midst of her confusion, suddenly, she heard Big Bull¡¯s calling voice, growing closer from afar... ¡°Wife, wife.¡± Hearing Big Bull¡¯s voice meant she wasn¡¯t far from home, which puzzled Xuexue even more. She definitely wasn¡¯t dreaming, so how could she have ended up here out of the blue? Having lived in Mo Family Village for over ten years, she was certain there was no such place in the village. Outside, Big Bull¡¯s calls became more urgent: ¡°Wife, wife, are you angry? I¡¯ve brought some meat for you to eat.¡± As Big Bull¡¯s calls grew frantic, Xuexue grew anxious too. Not knowing where she was, she irritably held her head and lay on the bed that was like a sea of flowers, yelling, ¡°Oh! This is so annoying, what should I do? I need to get out.¡± ¡°Ah...! A ghost!¡± Big Bull saw a silhouette swoosh onto Xuexue¡¯s bed and couldn¡¯t help but let out a terrified shout. The bowl he was holding was flung away... With a ¡®clang¡¯, the bowl fell to the ground, scattering rice and porcelain shards all over. Hearing Big Bull¡¯s cry so close by, Xuexue opened her eyes and looked. Hey! She immediately felt amused. She was back in her room, still lying on the bed, as if she had never left at all. Seeing Big Bull looking scared, his entire body curled up like a shrimp, shivering on the floor. ¡°Big Bull, Big Bull, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Xuexue sat up from the bed and stretched out an arm to pat his shoulder. ¡°Ah...! A ghost, don¡¯t catch me, my flesh isn¡¯t tasty.¡± Big Bull trembled even more fiercely when Xuexue tapped him. ¡°It¡¯s me, Xuexue, not a ghost. What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Seeing him looking as if he were possessed, Xuexue simply got off the bed, went over to him, and shook his shoulders with all her might. ¡°Wife, it¡¯s really you? Oh my gosh! You scared me to death.¡± Big Bull snapped back to his senses and hugged Xuexue tightly. ¡°Cough cough...! Let go, let go, Big Bull you¡¯re choking me.¡± ¡°Uh...! Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± The silly Big Bull quickly released Xuexue and let out a silly laugh: ¡°Hehe...!¡± ¡°Why were you so scared just now? What on earth happened?¡± Remembering how Big Bull had behaved, Xuexue was extremely puzzled. Chapter 135: 135 Valuable Chapter 135: Chapter 135 Valuable ¡°Wife, why did you suddenly pop out from here just now? You scared me to death; I thought I saw a ghost,¡± Big Bull pointed at the bracelet on Xuexue¡¯s hand, still looking frightened as he recalled the event. ¡°You¡¯re saying I came out from here?¡± Upon hearing this, Xuexue herself was baffled and incredulously raised her wrist, carefully asking while pointing at the bracelet, ¡°Big Bull, are you sure you¡¯re not seeing things? Did I really come out from here?¡± ¡°Yeah! You just whooshed out, faster than anything, even quicker than my Qinggong, it scared me to death.¡± Big Bull nodded, still shaken by the experience. Although the bracelet was of great value, in her previous life, she had never heard of it having any special functions. What on earth was going on? Xuexue¡¯s eyes fixated on the bracelet, trying to discern some sort of magic. Suddenly, Xuexue saw a faint red glow within the bracelet, which was very strange to her. She clearly remembered that this bracelet had no impurities; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been worth an entire city. In her past life, Situtu Qinger coveted this bracelet for that very reason and did everything possible to take it from her. Glancing upwards at the wound on her wrist, she had a moment of clarity ¨C could it be that the bracelet had absorbed her blood and gained this function because of that? ¡°Big Bull, you can¡¯t tell anyone about what happened just now, understand? This is our little secret,¡± Xuexue warned Big Bull earnestly. If this bracelet truly had such a function, akin to a legendary portable space, it was a treasure beyond compare. Throughout the entire Moli Country, no one had heard of anyone actually possessing such a thing. It was a rare jewel that should not be leaked; otherwise, it might bring about fatal danger. ¡°Is it because others might react like you just did, thinking the wife is a ghost?¡± Big Bull leaned in close to Xuexue, nervously asking. ¡°Exactly, they would catch me, lock me up, and then, they wouldn¡¯t give me any food or water. I¡¯d starve to death.¡± As Xuexue spoke, she vividly gestured the tragic scene, deliberately frightening Big Bull. ¡°No way, Wife; I will protect you. Rest assured, I¡¯d die before I told,¡± Big Bull hastily said, becoming anxious as he circled around Xuexue, as if she might be snatched away at any moment. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t tell, I¡¯ll be fine!¡± Xuexue, dizzy from being circled, then remembered how desperate Big Bull¡¯s calls for her had been earlier and asked, ¡°By the way, why were you looking for me in such a hurry just now?¡± ¡°Uh...!¡± Reminded of the situation, Big Bull deflated a little as he pointed to the shattered bowl on the ground, ¡°Wife, I was bringing you some meat, but I accidentally broke it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just had my meal. Why did you suddenly decide to bring me meat?¡± ¡°Earlier, Auntie gave me all the meat, and you didn¡¯t get any. I was afraid you¡¯d be angry,¡± Big Bull said earnestly. With Xuexue¡¯s insistence, he finally switched from calling Madam Xie ¡°mother¡± to ¡°Auntie.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Unable to contain herself, Xuexue burst into laughter. Although Big Bull was a bit dull, it was precisely this endearing simplicity and his honest, straightforward nature she found so lovable. ¡°Wife, you¡¯re not angry?¡± ¡°Not angry,¡± Xuexue smiled, shaking her head. In her previous life, after returning to the General¡¯s Mansion, she had eaten all sorts of delicacies; how could she be upset over a few pieces of meat? She was just vexed that her own abilities were insufficient, failing to beat a few riff-raffs. But now, she had a portable space, which was a massive advantage. Thinking this, she lifted her wrist and stared at the bracelet, lost in thought. ¡°Wife, did you really go inside just now?¡± Seeing Xuexue wasn¡¯t angry, Big Bull felt relieved and leaned in, imitating her focused gaze upon the bracelet. ¡°Yes, I did. I have no idea how I got in there, but it was so beautiful, a sea of flowers. The fragrance was so potent, it filled the air... it was like paradise,¡± Xuexue said, her face glowing with delight as she described the scene. Chapter 136: 136 Ice and Snow Cleverness Chapter 136: Chapter 136 Ice and Snow Cleverness ¡°Darling, can I go in and have a look?¡± Xuexue had described it so vividly that Big Bull was utterly fascinated by the place. ¡°We¡¯ll see another time, I still can¡¯t figure how to get in there yet.¡± Xuexue also wanted to try and see if she could bring someone into the space with her, but she really didn¡¯t know how to enter; she had stumbled in there by accident the last time. ¡°Okay then.¡± Big Bull stood up, glanced at the mess of broken bowls mixed with food on the ground, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go get a broom and clean up the room.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Big Bull turned and walked out. Xuexue waved to Big Bull absently, then flopped back onto the bed and began to muse deeply, gently stroking the bracelet and murmuring, ¡°When I came out, I said ¡®I want to leave,¡¯ and then I was out. But how do I get in? Sigh, it¡¯s so annoying.¡± Amidst her troubles, a familiar fragrant scent wafted over again: ¡°Eh?¡± Xuexue was puzzled and glanced up, only to break into laughter; she had somehow entered the space again. This time, the clever girl finally understood how it worked¡ªit was simply a sigh that did the trick. Leaving seemed quite normal; after all, she said ¡®I want to leave.¡¯ This time, she wasn¡¯t as panicked as her first visit; she leisurely strolled through the sea of flowers. There were flowers everywhere, without a single other plant in sight. ¡°Darling, darling, where did you go again?¡± It was Big Bull¡¯s voice calling out. ¡°I¡¯m inside the bracelet.¡± Xuexue answered reflexively, but alas, Big Bull seemed unable to hear her, and he continued to call out for her anxiously. It seemed this bracelet had the function of allowing her to hear people outside, but those outside couldn¡¯t hear any sounds from within the bracelet. ¡°I want to leave,¡± Xuexue whispered to herself. ¡°Darling, where did you go?¡± After shouting a few times with no response, Big Bull, holding the broom, sat down by the bed with a downtrodden look mumbling to himself, ¡°Darling must not like me anymore, she goes out to have fun without me.¡± ¡°Who says I don¡¯t like you?¡± Xuexue¡¯s voice, filled with mirth, came from behind him. ¡°Darling, how come you¡¯re here?¡± Hearing her voice, Big Bull turned around in disbelief, looking at Xuexue: ¡°I searched the whole room and didn¡¯t see you just now?¡± Xuexue said nothing, just looked at him with a smile. ¡°Could it be that you were in here just now?¡± Big Bull gestured towards her bracelet, full of suspicion. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Hehe...! Darling, can you take me inside to play?¡± Big Bull tossed the broom aside and eagerly moved closer to Xuexue, his eyes shining brightly. ¡°Sure!¡± Xuexue agreed quickly; it was the perfect opportunity to experiment if she could bring someone into the space. ¡°You¡¯re too good to me, darling.¡± Big Bull had no idea of her thoughts and continued to smile naively, looking utterly content. Xuexue took Big Bull¡¯s hand and stroked the bracelet with the other, sighing, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m so unfortunate.¡± ¡°Darling, don¡¯t sigh, tell me if something¡¯s bothering you, I¡¯ll help you,¡± Big Bull offered earnestly, patting his chest with a foolhardy air. Xuexue secretly chuckled; today¡¯s misfortune had turned into a blessing, as she now had a portable space. She would have more confidence returning to the capital for her revenge, so how could she be anything but happy? ¡°Big Bull, what do you think this place is?¡± Knowing she couldn¡¯t explain things clearly to him, Xuexue skillfully changed the subject. ¡°Huh?¡± Big Bull turned his head to look, and he was stunned, his mouth hanging wide open, forgetting to close it. After a while, he shouted excitedly, ¡°Wow! So many flowers! So beautiful! Darling, look, you have to see this.¡± Chapter 137: 137 Beating ones chest and stamping ones feet Chapter 137: Chapter 137 Beating one¡¯s chest and stamping one¡¯s feet The Mo family Old Master Mo and his two sons had just returned from the town when they entered their house. What met their eyes was a scene of utter devastation, which took them by surprise... ¡°My goodness! Who could do such a heartless thing? These items were bought just a few days ago.¡± The old man saw things smashed ruthlessly on the ground and felt an extreme heartache. To manage the silver needed for the household items, Old Maid had been hounding Aunt Sun to repay her debts daily. Now, everything was messed up, and she would surely make a huge fuss if she found out. The first thing that came to Old Master Mo¡¯s mind was the image of Old Lady Mo beating her chest and stamping her feet in frustration. What Old Master Mo didn¡¯t know was that Old Lady Mo had already lost her temper. The more Mo Xiaoqiang looked around, the guiltier he felt. The scene resembled the one a few days ago when Butcher Yu had smashed up the place. His legs began to tremble, for this matter had already made him a target of gossip among the neighbors, who called him a worthless dad, selling out even his own daughter. Father and sons inspected the entire route and arrived at the main hall. A figure caught their eyes, resembling a madwoman, her clothes disheveled and hair unkempt as she sprawled on the ground. It was a bit frightening at first glance. Old Master Mo cautiously approached and tentatively called out, ¡°Old Maid? Is that you?¡± Old Lady Mo looked up blankly, her black-and-white hair concealing her face. Through the gaps, she faintly saw it was Old Master Mo and his sons. Suddenly, she screamed at the top of her lungs, flailing her arms and crying loudly, ¡°Ohhh... Old man, you¡¯re finally back. That wretched Aunt Sun, she... she hit me, ohhh... I can¡¯t live this life anymore!¡± It really was Old Lady Mo, so wretchedly on the ground, her clothes nearly torn apart. Old Master Mo found it hard to believe. ¡°You... you... who did you say hit you?¡± ¡°That wretched Aunt Sun. I took good care of her, and look, she¡¯s beaten me to this state. Look, look at this.¡± Angrily, she pushed her hair back from her face and thrust her face close to Old Master Mo. The father and sons could barely recognize her in her battered state. Old Lady Mo¡¯s face was swollen blue, her eyes puffy like a panda¡¯s, and there were traces of blood at the corners of her mouth, clearly scratched by someone¡¯s nails. ¡°That wretched woman, I¡¯m going right now to deal with her, how dare she do this to my mother,¡± said Mo Xiaoqiang, turning around furiously. ¡°Yes, Qiangqiang, give her a good beating, avenge your mother, ohhh...! There¡¯s no justice, a daughter-in-law actually assaulting her mother-in-law, it would be the talk of the town,¡± Old Lady Mo cried out vengefully from behind. ¡°Old Maid, what on earth happened? Why are all the things in our house smashed?¡± Old Master Mo turned and asked as he surveyed the chaotic scene, frowning deeply. Old Lady Mo, sobbing, recounted the day¡¯s events. ¡°Ah! It¡¯s all your fault. You shouldn¡¯t have decided on your own to take Aunt Sun as a concubine. Look, she¡¯s turned our Mo family upside down,¡± Old Master Mo said reproachfully. ¡°Stop talking, I already regret it so much, that vile woman is the bane of our family, set on our ruin,¡± thought Old Lady Mo, her heart and soul aching as she considered arranging more silver to replace the items. That evening, the village head called Old Master Mo for a long talk that lasted several Shichen. After returning, Old Master Mo surprisingly agreed to compensate Butcher Yu with twenty-five taels of silver. When Old Lady Mo found out, it resulted in another round of intense crying and raging. All the usual tricks that had worked before were futile; Old Master Mo was resolute about paying the money. Chapter 138: 138 Market Chapter 138: Chapter 138 Market That day was yet another market day, and with the New Year fast approaching, it was a rare occasion to see a bit of sun. Madam Xie stayed home with Chuner to wash clothes and quilts, so they could welcome the New Year clean and refreshed. Heading to town to sell river snails, only Xuexue and Big Bull were left. Although the weather was cold, with the end of the year drawing near, there were still many people on the streets. Plus, it was not the first time for Xuexue and her snails, well-known for their good taste, so she had many repeat customers. By midday, the two buckets of cooked river snails had already been sold out. ¡°Xuexue, your business is really getting better and better,¡± said Auntie Zhang, who sold jewelry next to them, enviously, as they began packing up before noon. ¡°Auntie, you only see the good side of my business, but not when we go to pick the snails, braving the freezing cold, rolling up our pants, and wading into the water with bare feet, it¡¯s so cold.¡± ¡°Oh? Doesn¡¯t your fiance? help you?¡± Auntie Zhang teased with a smile, glancing at Big Bull beside them. Xuexue¡¯s fiance? was indeed handsome, with a tall and imposing figure, but it was a pity that he was a bit slow-witted. Last time Big Bull was in town, he was filthy and disheveled, his clothes tattered and threadbare, with long hair hanging loose. Today, clean and tidy, his handsome face was unrecognizable to Auntie Zhang, who thought she was seeing him for the first time. Xuexue couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain. It was better if she didn¡¯t recognize him, which meant even if they encountered someone from Great Harmony Restaurant, they wouldn¡¯t recognize the person who had fought Chef Ding¡ªit was Big Bull. ¡°Big Bull has also been a lot of help, but these little river snails need to be fished out one by one, and it sure is tough work.¡± As Xuexue spoke, packing up, she looked up and, glancing through the crowd by chance, spotted a familiar figure disappearing around a corner ahead. Wasn¡¯t that Auntie Sun? What was she doing at the market? A myriad of questions flashed through Xuexue¡¯s mind. ¡°Auntie, could you watch my stuff for a bit?¡± Xuexue tossed the weighing scales into the basket, grabbed Big Bull, and took off. ¡°Hey! Xuexue, where are you off to so fast?¡± Auntie Zhang called out loudly from behind as they quickly made their getaway. ¡°We¡¯ll be back in a bit,¡± came Xuexue¡¯s distant reply. ¡°Xuexue always does things in such a hurry,¡± Auntie Zhang muttered, standing up to tidy the basket and place it aside, before sitting back down to sell her jewelry. ¡°Wife, where are we going?¡± Big Bull, having been dragged for quite a distance, looked utterly confused but couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity and asked. ¡°I clearly saw her come this way, so how could she just vanish?¡± Pulling Big Bull along, Xuexue entered a narrow alleyway, looking around. ¡°Wife, who is it?¡± ¡°An acquaintance,¡± Xuexue responded offhandedly. ¡°Let¡¯s call out loudly here; maybe she¡¯ll come out.¡± ¡°If she knows we¡¯re following her, won¡¯t she just run away?¡± Xuexue turned around and gave him a knock on the head. ¡°Ouch!¡± Big Bull winced in pain, scratching his head foolishly, muttering, ¡°True, you¡¯re smarter, wife.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Xuexue twirled around confidently, about to search house by house when suddenly, there was a rustling from a decrepit house nearby. She quickly pulled Big Bull over to the window, licked her finger, poked a hole in the paper windowpane, and peered inside... Chapter 139: 139 Suffering Chapter 139: Chapter 139 Suffering Inside the house A man and a woman were sitting together, talking... Woman: ¡°These past few days, that old hag from the Mo family has been keeping a close eye on me, I can¡¯t get away.¡± The man¡¯s voice was rough: ¡°You could use the excuse of going to the market.¡± ¡°Since Madam Xie was divorced by her husband, all the housework has fallen to me, when do I have time to step out? Look, all ten of my fingers have gotten rough.¡± ¡°Oh dear, that¡¯s pitiable.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? My days at the Mo family have been tough. I thought that marrying a decent person would mean a normal life, but look what¡¯s happened.¡± ¡°Who told you to be someone else¡¯s concubine, you¡¯re bound to be aggrieved.¡± ¡°Ah, let¡¯s drop it, the more we talk the angrier I get.¡± Outside the window, Xuexue saw that it indeed was Butcher Yu and Auntie Sun speaking quietly together inside the house. Big Bull, imitating Xuexue, poked a hole in the window and peered inside with one eye squinted, saying, ¡°Wifey, what are they doing?¡± ¡°Who knows? Let¡¯s watch and find out.¡± ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that your second mother?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s her!¡± ¡°What are the two of them, a lonesome man and a widowed woman, doing in the house?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, that¡¯s why we¡¯re taking a look.¡± ¡°Wifey, stop watching, it¡¯s surely nothing good.¡± Saying this, Big Bull suddenly covered her eyes. Just having discovered Auntie Sun and Butcher Yu¡¯s affair, Xuexue was gnashing her teeth with hate; unexpectedly, Big Bull covered her eyes, causing her to feel both annoyed and amused, yet she dared not raise her voice in protest. ¡°Wifey, let¡¯s head home, don¡¯t peek at others.¡± Big Bull said earnestly. Xuexue: ¡°Big Bull, I have things to do now, I¡¯ll go back later.¡± ¡°What could you possibly have to do besides spying on others?¡± ¡°You... stop talking nonsense.¡± Big Bull kept pestering Xuexue to leave, which irritated her a great deal, so she stomped hard on Big Bull¡¯s foot and then turned to walk away without looking back. ¡°Ah...!¡± Big Bull clutched his foot, jumping up and down on the spot. Inside the house, Auntie Sun looked nervously at Butcher Yu: ¡°Who¡¯s outside?¡± ¡°No need to be so nervous, we¡¯re near the street; it¡¯s normal for people to pass by,¡± Butcher Yu said nonchalantly. ¡°Our affair can¡¯t be known by others, otherwise, I can¡¯t stay in Mo Family Village anymore.¡± Ever since Auntie Sun had a fight with Old Lady Mo, her status in the Mo family had plummeted. Old Lady Mo detested her for causing the Mo family to compensate Butcher Yu with so much silver and for beating up her old maid, making her the laughingstock of Mo Family Village. Thus, she tormented her daily, either demanding this chore or that, making Auntie Sun¡¯s life miserable. ¡°If it¡¯s so hard to stay at the Mo family, then don¡¯t stay there at all,¡± Butcher Yu scoffed. ¡°Would you marry me?¡± Upon hearing Butcher Yu speak like that, Auntie Sun¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened; being with Butcher Yu surely beat suffering and toiling at the Mo family. ¡°...¡± Butcher Yu fell silent, thinking, what a joke! Marrying a woman like her would surely make his parents turn in their graves, maybe even rise from their tombs to beat him. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You don¡¯t dare?¡± Seeing Butcher Yu not responding straightaway, Auntie Sun got a bit angry. Butcher Yu: ¡°Don¡¯t be mad! Things are pretty good between us as they are.¡± ¡°Good? If we get discovered by someone, I¡¯ll be back-stabbed and judged. Just thinking about it twists my heart.¡± ¡°We just have to be careful, that¡¯s all. Nothing will happen; we¡¯re far from Mo Family Village,¡± Butcher Yu said nonchalantly. True, being on his own, he of course didn¡¯t care about his reputation. Besides, in Moli Country, the chastity of women was prized, while there were no such restraints on men; otherwise, why would some wealthy Great Masters have many wives and concubines? Chapter 140: 140 Pitiable Chapter 140: Chapter 140 Pitiable Big Bull accidentally made a noise, almost alarming the two people inside. Xuexue got somewhat angry, kicked Big Bull in the foot, and turned to leave. Xuexue turned out of the alley and entered the bustling street, heading straight for her stall. ¡°Madam, Madam, wait for me.¡± Big Bull chased after her breathlessly from behind. Xuexue walked quickly ahead without a word, feeling somewhat angry. ¡°Madam, what exactly did I do wrong? Did I make you angry?¡± Big Bull pitifully followed behind and asked. Xuexue had suddenly become angry and even stepped hard on his foot, he genuinely didn¡¯t know what had happened. Xuexue thought about it and realized that this fool was not all there mentally, he didn¡¯t even know what he had done wrong, so why waste her energy being angry at him? ¡°I¡¯m not angry, I just want to hurry back to the stall to get something.¡± After thinking it through, she grabbed his hand and walked on. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± As they were about to reach the stall, two men looking like officials walked past them, chatting as they went, and their conversation caught Xuexue¡¯s attention¡ª ¡°Eh! Have you heard?¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°The Ghost King of our Moli Country, who had immense power, mysteriously disappeared along with several of his men after hastily leaving the capital some days ago. I heard The Emperor is anxiously searching for him, saying that alive or dead, he wants to see the body.¡± ¡°How could they search for him? I heard the Ghost King is so hideous, he always wears a green-faced and fanged mask, and hardly anyone has seen his true face.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be called the Ghost King. But, he is also our Moli Country¡¯s protective deity, nothing can happen to him.¡± The two officials chatted as they walked and slowly passed by. Xuexue paused in her steps, turning around to watch the backs of the two officials, lost in thought. ¡°Madam, what¡¯s wrong? Let¡¯s go.¡± Seeing her standing still, Big Bull pulled vigorously at her sleeve, trying to move her along. ¡°Oh!¡± Coming back to her senses, she walked on. In her past life, this Ghost King of immense power had disappeared during the same period, and later, to ingratiate himself to her, the Crown Prince Zhang Ruixuan told her that The Emperor was behind the disappearance. The Emperor feared the Ghost King¡¯s rising influence would overshadow him, so he sent a Gold Medal Assassin again and again to hunt the Ghost King, hoping to eliminate him. ¡°Madam, Madam, we¡¯re here.¡± While Xuexue was lost in her reverie, she walked past their destination without realizing it, and Big Bull hurriedly pulled her back. ¡°Oh!¡± Xuexue paused in her step. ¡°Xuexue, what were you thinking about? You walked right past and didn¡¯t even notice, luckily Big Bull was here,¡± Auntie Zhang said laughingly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I was just thinking about what to buy for the house,¡± Xuexue found an excuse off the top of her head. ¡°Hmm! That¡¯s true, the New Year is coming up, it¡¯s time to start preparing the New Year¡¯s goods. Even though we¡¯re poor, poor people have to celebrate New Year¡¯s too,¡± Auntie Zhang nodded in agreement. After getting back her item, Xuexue and Big Bull roamed around; whenever she saw something she liked, she bought it without worrying about carrying it. After all, Big Bull was her strongman. Without realizing it, they filled a basket with candy, seeds, rice, flour, and various seasoning items. ¡°Big Bull, let¡¯s go buy some pork. It¡¯s almost New Year¡¯s, we can¡¯t just eat wild vegetables every day,¡± Xuexue said, dragging the burdened Big Bull excitedly towards the market meat section. ¡°Sure!¡± With a shoulder yoke balanced on his shoulders, Big Bull followed along easily. Xuexue wanted to buy pork, and he couldn¡¯t wait. Indeed, who could bear to eat wild vegetables every day? ¡°Shopkeeper, how is this pork sold?¡± At a pork stall, Xuexue pointed to the half-fat half-lean pork and asked. Chapter 141: 141 Cloth Shop Chapter 141: Chapter 141 Cloth Shop ¡°Sixteen wen per jin, miss, this is good meat,¡± said the muscular man, seeing a potential sale and quickly added with a smile on his face. ¡°That¡¯s not right; just a few days ago I bought from you, and it was only thirteen wen per jin. Shopkeeper, you¡¯re not being honest,¡± Xuexue said, then turned to leave. ¡°Hey! Miss, I¡¯m not lying to you, it¡¯s just that New Year is approaching, and the price of pork has gone up,¡± the pork seller quickly explained. ¡°Is that so?¡± Xuexue turned around, glared at the man, clearly skeptical. ¡°Really, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can go around and ask about the prices before you come back to buy, I¡¯ll take off one extra wen for you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuexue turned and walked away, really went around the market stalls to inquire, and indeed, as New Year was nearing, the price of pork had gone up. Returning to the original pork stall, the muscular man was already waiting for Xuexue. As soon as he saw her approaching, he greeted her with a smile, ¡°Miss, how about it? I didn¡¯t lie to you, did I?¡± Seeing his enthusiasm, Xuexue stopped in her tracks, ¡°Shopkeeper, you just mentioned taking off one wen, is that true?¡± ¡°Truly, truly, you¡¯re a regular after all. I¡¯ll sell it to you for fifteen wen per jin,¡± the man said generously, ¡°Miss, how much would you like?¡± Thinking of the approaching New Year, Xuexue decided to buy more. If they couldn¡¯t finish it, they could make cured meat, so she said, ¡°Thirty jin.¡± Hearing this, the pork seller was delighted, thinking it was fortunate he hadn¡¯t offended the lady, or else a big sale would have flown away. His smile could hardly be hidden as he picked up the sharp pork knife, made a big swipe, and deftly weighed out thirty jin of pork for Xuexue. ¡°Here you go, Miss.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Xuexue took the pork and handed it to Big Bull standing behind her. Seeing a big pile of pork leg bones next to the pork stall, she asked, ¡°Shopkeeper, how do you sell these?¡± ¡°Uh! Those don¡¯t have much meat, not worth much. If you want them, miss, just add ten wen for all of it,¡± the pork seller said, giving her a deal partly as a gesture for buying so much pork at once. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll take them all.¡± Recalling that her family had recently separated and didn¡¯t even have vegetables to eat, Madam Xie had been constantly carrying a basket to the mountainside to pick wild greens. Hearing it was only ten wen, Xuexue didn¡¯t hesitate, Eventually, Xuexue counted out four hundred and sixty wen from her river snails¡¯ purse and gave it to the pork seller before departing. Big Bull, looking at the fully loaded baskets, said, ¡°Wife, are you still buying? There¡¯s no more room.¡± ¡°No matter, I¡¯ll carry it if it doesn¡¯t fit.¡± Thinking that New Year was coming and everyone at home needed new clothes anyway, she hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to spend the silver she had sneakily taken from Auntie Sun. ¡°Oh!¡± Big Bull obediently carried the goods, following behind her. ¡°Hey! Big Bull, there¡¯s a cloth shop ahead, let¡¯s go and take a look,¡± Xuexue said as she stepped forward and walked in. This cloth shop was large, with fabrics of all sorts filling the store to the brim. ¡°Guest, what kind of fabric would you like to buy?¡± asked the strong man, coming out from the back hall. Xuexue looked up, slightly surprised, ¡°Is it you?¡± ¡°Miss! Do we know each other?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not know you. That day, your horse almost ran over my sister,¡± Xuexue said indignantly, recalling the perilous moment. ¡°Oh! So it¡¯s Miss,¡± the strong man realized, and then with a face full of apology, he added, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry about that day. I don¡¯t know what happened; my horse just suddenly went crazy, and I couldn¡¯t control it.¡± Chapter 142: 142: Enemies on a Narrow Road Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Enemies on a Narrow Road ¡°Forget it! That¡¯s in the past! Let¡¯s not talk about it anymore,¡± Xuexue waved her hand impatiently. ¡°Thank you, miss! You are truly magnanimous,¡± the waiter said. ¡°Enough, stop flattering me. I remember you mentioned last time that you are the waiter here?¡± Xuexue asked. ¡°Hehe...! Miss has a good memory, yes, I am the shop assistant here at the cloth shop,¡± the waiter replied. Xuexue looked up at the cloth on the shelves and said, ¡°We¡¯d like to buy two bolts of cloth. Do you have any recommendations?¡± Madam Xie was skilled in tailoring, and making clothes was cheaper than buying ready-made ones, so Xuexue planned to buy two bolts of fabric and have Madam Xie make outfits for each of them. ¡°Does the young lady want something of higher quality or just average quality?¡± the strong man asked energetically, as if invigorated by business. ¡°Average is fine,¡± Xuexue replied lightly. Given their current situation at home, everyone in Mo Family Village thought they were poor. Wearing something too lavish might draw suspicion; it was better to keep a low profile. ¡°Miss, this fabric is quite nice, it¡¯s both cheap and good value, only costing one tael of silver,¡± the strong man said as he presented a bolt of finely patterned flower fabric on the counter for Xuexue, thankful that they had not held him responsible for the scare they had last time. He recommended it diligently. ¡°Hmm!¡± Xuexue touched the fabric; it was cotton and quite thick, truly nice and even the color was fitting¡ªa light pink, which was festive for the New Year. ¡°Good! We¡¯ll take this one,¡± Xuexue nodded and added, ¡°I need another bolt for a man.¡± With her and her daughter getting new clothes for the New Year, it was only proper to make an outfit for Big Bull as well. ¡°Alright!¡± The strong man glanced at Big Bull waiting by the door and immediately understood, turning around, he brought out a bolt of blue fabric and placed it on the counter: ¡°Miss, take a look, this one is quite good, suitable for a young man.¡± ¡°Hmm! It looks really nice, how much does it cost?¡± ¡°This one¡¯s a bit better, slightly more expensive, it costs two taels of silver,¡± the strong man said cautiously, knowing Xuexue¡¯s modest dress, which had many patches, indicated they were not well-off and worried she might not afford it. Unexpectedly, Xuexue readily agreed: ¡°Okay!¡± This fabric was nice, and two taels of silver were indeed reasonable. Xuexue casually pulled out three taels of silver from her bosom and placed them on the counter: ¡°Waiter, please pack these two bolts together for me; it¡¯s easier to carry that way.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Having made a sale, the strong man was pleased and quickly tied the two bolts together with a string and handed them to Xuexue. Having finished their shopping, they were ready to head back. ¡°Big Bull, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Aye!¡± Big Bull, who had been waiting at the door, swiftly shouldered his load and followed Xuexue. Xuexue, with the fabric slung over her shoulder, walked ahead briskly. At the area where the ox-cart was waiting, several women were already seated in the cart. Just as they joined, the cart became full, and once they boarded, the ox-cart started to make its journey back. ¡°Wow! Xuexue, did you strike it rich? Buying so much stuff,¡± a voice taunted irritably. Xuexue looked up and saw, as fate would have it, it was Lady Li. She was intently staring at the basket of goods, her eyes filled with jealousy. ¡°It¡¯s the New Year, even if we¡¯re poor, we still need to buy things for the celebration,¡± Xuexue coldly retorted. ¡°Oh, dear! Just these two bolts of cloth must have cost a good deal of silver,¡± Lady Li eyed the two bolts in Xuexue¡¯s hands gleamingly, and then she reached out to push aside the miscellaneous items on top of the basket, curious to see what else was inside. Chapter 143: 143 Ditch the Car Chapter 143: Chapter 143 Ditch the Car Who would¡¯ve thought this person¡¯s skin could be so thick? Xuexue didn¡¯t react immediately and before she knew it, her basket had been lifted at one corner, revealing the pork inside. ¡°Aiyo wei! Still saying you¡¯re not making a fortune? With both cloth and pork.¡± Lady Li exclaimed with pretended astonishment; She was both envious and jealous deep down, her eyes darting around, pondering some way to get her hands on the goods. ¡°There must be plenty of other good things in there, right?¡± Lady Li said, as her hand attempted to sneak further down. Xuexue slapped her cloth down onto the basket with all her might, hitting Lady Li¡¯s arm in the process. ¡°Ah...!¡± Lady Li winced in pain, and hastily retracted her hand, her frustration turning to fury as she berated Xuexue, ¡°You wild girl, born with a father but not taught by one, no wonder your dad doesn¡¯t want you. So violent, you deserve it.¡± Feeling slighted, Lady Li didn¡¯t miss a chance to sneer at Xuexue, pointing out even her own father had abandoned her. ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone teach you, ¡®Look with your eyes, don¡¯t touch with your hands¡¯? You flip through other people¡¯s things without their permission, so who¡¯s the one with no manners?¡± Xuexue glared back and retorted, ¡°As for the matter with my dad, right and wrong will judge itself. There¡¯s no need for someone as gossipy as you to prattle on about it.¡± ¡°Aiyo wei! Look, everyone, just look.¡± Lady Li turned around, pointing at Xuexue, and said to the other women on the cart, ¡°Such a grown girl speaking such foul language, no wonder she¡¯s only fit to match with a fool.¡± Hiding her mouth with her hand, she giggled. The last time she was on the ox cart, she had been laughed at all along the way, and she still held a grudge against Big Bull. Upon hearing that Big Bull, while handsome, was a bit slow-witted, she was overjoyed and went around the village spreading the news that Xuexue¡¯s fiance? was a fool. Among the women, some watched the commotion from afar, not wanting to get involved, while others couldn¡¯t bear to watch. ¡°Lady Li, let it go. Marriage is predestined by heaven. Besides, Xuexue didn¡¯t provoke you ¨C you were the one who provoked her,¡± an old woman said. ¡°How did I provoke her? I just took a look at her stuff, and she hit me with the cloth. Look, it¡¯s all red,¡± Lady Li said, while wiping non-existent tears and rolling up her sleeve to show everyone her ¡®wound¡¯, hoping to garner their sympathy. ¡°Xuexue, how could you do this to Lady Li?¡± some people envious of Xuexue¡¯s many purchases also spoke up for Lady Li. Upon hearing someone taking her side, Lady Li felt secretly pleased and pretended to sob, ¡°This wild girl is vicious. Auntie Sun just entered the family and she bit off her ear. No wonder she¡¯s to be sold off. Anyone would feel upset about that.¡± ¡°Yeah! They say she was delirious from fever but that doesn¡¯t excuse it, does it?¡± a woman, who was kept in the dark, echoed in agreement. ¡°Hmm.¡± Everyone thought about it and seemed to agree, nodding their heads in unison. ¡°Xuexue, you hurt me today. How will you compensate me?¡± Seeing that everyone was siding with her and feeling that the time was right, Lady Li¡¯s eyes set directly on the basket, her intentions very clear. Turns out, after all the circling around, Lady Li was eyeing someone else¡¯s belongings, and then, the women in the cart all fell silent. ¡°So what would you like, then?¡± After all the foreplay, Xuexue almost felt like clapping. She glanced at her and asked coldly. ¡°Give me the pork to nourish myself.¡± Lady Li didn¡¯t bother to hide her intentions any longer, shamelessly stating her demand and again attempting to lift the corner of the basket. ¡°Hold on a second.¡± Xuexue stepped onto the basket firmly. ¡°What are you doing? You injured me, if you don¡¯t compensate, be careful, I might report you to the village head.¡± Lady Li was furious, seeing the good stuff within reach only to be blocked by Xuexue. In the midst of the commotion. ¡°My lady, is this fat hag bullying you?¡± Suddenly, Big Bull¡¯s foolish-sounding voice rang out. ¡°Yes! She wants to grab our things.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll throw her off the cart.¡± As soon as Big Bull finished speaking, his figure moved as swiftly as lightning, grabbing Lady Li with one hand and tossing her out of the cart... ¡°Ah...!¡± A scream from Lady Li came from outside, while the ox cart continued to clop along, the carter, completely oblivious to what had happened, just focused on driving the ox cart forward. Chapter 144: 144 Shivering Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Shivering This sudden change had happened too quickly; the women inside the carriage were all stunned. By the time they reacted, Lady Li¡¯s screams were already inaudible. ¡°Xuexue, what...?¡± With Big Bull revealing his capability, the women on the carriage dared not question him and looked at Xuexue in terror. Especially the woman who had been singing along with Lady Li, she was trembling all over, fearing she might be next, and was filled with regret. How could she forget there was a fool among them? Despite appearing foolish, he was truly a harbinger of death. A few days ago, some strong men who looked like sheer evil had burst into the Mo Family Village, and he had tossed them into the fishpond as if they were mere chicks. Not to say the women were terrified, even Xuexue was somewhat astonished. She hadn¡¯t expected the usually mild-mannered Big Bull to throw someone off the carriage without a word, and so swiftly that she didn¡¯t even have a chance to stop him. ¡°Um..., that....¡± Seeing all the women in the carriage looking at her in fright, Xuexue was at a loss for words for a moment. ¡°My lady, don¡¯t be afraid, if anyone dares to bully you in the future, I¡¯ll beat them up for you, hehe...!¡± he ended, scratching his head and smiling foolishly. it didn¡¯t seem at all like he was someone who would throw people out of a carriage without a word. The women who had witnessed the whole event, hearing this, all bowed their heads, not daring to make a sound. They felt like they were sitting on pins and needles, uncomfortable all over, hoping to quickly return to the Mo Family Village, get off the carriage, and get as far away from Big Bull, the harbinger of death, as possible to feel safe. ¡°Big Bull is really great!¡± Xuexue laughed upon hearing this, also coming to a realization in her heart that it was better to be feared by others than bullied. Soon, they returned to the Mo Family Village. Like avoiding the plague, the people on the carriage hurried past Big Bull and scrambled down, paid the carriage driver, and then ran off as if being chased by ghosts. The carriage driver, completely baffled, thought it was understandable for a person or two to hurry, but the sight of seven or eight people running off in a swarm was something he had never seen before. ¡°Xuexue, what¡¯s going on with them?¡± Seeing them hurry off as if ghosts were chasing them, the carriage driver couldn¡¯t help but ask. The carriage driver had been focused on driving from outside and with the noise of the carriage wheels being so loud, he had no idea what had happened inside. ¡°Who knows! Maybe they are in a rush.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really strange that they all hurried together!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it, just a coincidence I guess.¡± Xuexue said earnestly. ¡°Oh! How come there are still things left in the carriage! Whose are they?¡± the carriage driver, used to checking the carriage after the passengers were gone, peered inside and noticed a basket on the carriage. Lifting the cloth cover, he discovered it was filled with eggs. Xuexue knew they belonged to Lady Li, who, although thrown off by Big Bull, had left her belongings on the carriage. ¡°Uncle, I saw Lady Li sneaking away just now, did she by any chance not pay the carriage fee again?¡± Xuexue asked, eyes twinkling mysteriously. Upon hearing this, the carriage driver was instantly infuriated, ¡°That wretched woman, every time she rides the carriage she doesn¡¯t want to pay, and I have to nag her repeatedly before she¡¯ll hand over the money, now she¡¯s getting more brazen, even daring to run off?¡± ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re not at a loss! Isn¡¯t there a basket of eggs? Just take them in place of the fare,¡± Xuexue suggested. ¡°This..., is that okay? A basket of eggs is worth dozens of Copper Coins,¡± the carriage driver hesitated, his fare was just one Copper Coin, and the basket of eggs could pay for dozens of rides. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Everyone in the Mo Family Village knows that Lady Li has a bad reputation, what¡¯s wrong with taking a basket of her eggs? Uncle, don¡¯t worry, heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know; I won¡¯t tell, and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re in the clear,¡± Xuexue reassured him, patting her chest. The carriage driver, also a poor man with several children to feed, knew that eggs were considered a luxury in the rural area where common people could hardly afford them. With the New Year approaching, adding some eggs to his children¡¯s meals seemed like a good idea. ¡°Alright then,¡± the carriage driver secretly rejoiced but pretended to be reluctant. Xuexue, without pointing it out, prepared to pay the fare and then head home with Big Bull. The carriage driver stubbornly refused to accept the money. Xuexue understood; having taken a whole basket of Lady Li¡¯s eggs, he feared she might expose him, hence his reluctance to take the two Copper Coins for the fare. Chapter 145: 145 New Years Goods Chapter 145: Chapter 145 New Year¡¯s Goods ¡°Madam, that carriage driver was so nice, he didn¡¯t even charge us for the ride,¡± Big Bull, carrying the basket, chatted happily with Xuexue as they walked. ¡°It¡¯s because we were good to him, so he was good to us,¡± Xuexue smiled enigmatically. This time, Lady Li suffered both physically and mentally. A whole basket of eggs¡ªthat would hurt her for a quite while. She dared to target us, so she had to pay through the nose. ¡°Eh! Big Bull, when you threw Lady Li off the carriage, she wasn¡¯t seriously hurt, right?¡± Xuexue, realizing only afterward, now thought of the consequences. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! She¡¯s fine, I didn¡¯t use much force, just tossed her off the carriage,¡± Big Bull said, though simple-minded, his face showed a touch of nonchalance. ¡°Oh! Then I¡¯m relieved.¡± Xuexue breathed a sigh of relief; after all, this was a remote and poor place, being too ostentatious wouldn¡¯t be good. ¡°At most, she might have scraped her skin, or broken a leg,¡± Big Bull gulped down some saliva and continued. ¡°What?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Madam, did I do something wrong?¡± Xuexue¡¯s voice raised noticeably, and Big Bull quickly asked. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine! Hehe...!¡± Xuexue laughed dryly. Big Bull was only trying to help her; she couldn¡¯t find it in her to scold him. Xuexue just laughed dryly a few times. Besides, Lady Li really had it coming. Since it was done, so be it. Next time, she¡¯d just have to remind Big Bull to be a bit gentler. The old residence Chuner sat at the door waiting for Xuexue and Big Bull to return. As soon as she saw them appear around the corner, she bounced up and dashed towards them... ¡°Big Bull Brother, sister.¡± ¡°Chuner is so good, waiting for your sister to come back, right?¡± ¡°Mm! Mom is cooking; I couldn¡¯t help, so I waited at the door.¡± ¡°What did you and Mom do at home today?¡± Xuexue, one hand on the fabric on her shoulder, the other tousling Chuner¡¯s hair, asked with a smile. ¡°Washed clothes, cleaned the quilts, swept the house, and also went to the hillside to dig up wild vegetables,¡± Chuner counted on her fingers, listing each task. ¡°Chuner is amazing, you did more things than we did at the market.¡± Big Bull also said with a smile. ¡°Not at all, Big Bull Brother is the greatest, both can beat up the bad guys and help sister carry things,¡± Chuner said, glancing eagerly into the basket, ¡°What did you buy today? It looks rather heavy!¡± ¡°We bought New Year¡¯s goods; there¡¯s so much stuff. We¡¯ll show you one by one once we get back home,¡± Xuexue said with a beaming smile. ¡°Really? That¡¯s great! We have New Year¡¯s goods too!¡± Chuner clapped her hands in delight. In her memory, at the Mo family, other than getting an extra piece of meat for the New Year, things like New Year¡¯s goods had nothing to do with them. Now, hearing that Xuexue had bought New Year¡¯s goods, Chuner couldn¡¯t help but feel excited as any child would. During their talk, they had already entered the big gate of the old residence. Hearing the noise, Madam Xie came out of the kitchen. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Madam Xie immediately noticed the fabric on Xuexue¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Xuexue, did you buy fabric?¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s New Year¡¯s after all, we can¡¯t be too shabby, can we? So I bought two pieces of fabric to make a new set of clothes for everyone in our family.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, you two sisters haven¡¯t worn new clothes for many years.¡± Madam Xie looked at Xuexue, who was clad in garments covered with patches, and felt guilty. She came from a noble background, yet was unfortunate to undergo family misfortune, becoming a simple country girl in a remote village, eating wild vegetables with her every day. Xuexue knew that today¡¯s setback for Lady Li would not be the end; she certainly wouldn¡¯t let it go. Given her close relationship with Madam Ruan, and their like-mindedness, she would definitely go to the Mo family and add fuel to the fire, exaggerating the story of their New Year¡¯s shopping. Chapter 146 - 146 146 Plotting Harm ?Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Plotting Harm Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Plotting Harm ¡°Mother, I¡¯ll take the fabric to my room for now. When I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll take it out to make clothes.¡± Thinking of this, to prevent the Mo family from causing trouble, Xuexue decided to put the stuff into storage first. At the same time, she regretted not having stored everything initially¡ªwouldn¡¯t that have prevented any trouble? No one would have seen anything to covet then. ¡°Hmm! Go ahead and store it first.¡± Madam Xie nodded. She didn¡¯t have time at the moment anyway, as she needed to gather some firewood from the mountains before the New Year; otherwise, there would be no cooking during the celebrations. Xuexue put away the items and came out. Big Bull and Chuner grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, cracking them open merrily nearby. As Madam Xie was taking items out of the basket one by one, she saw Xuexue come out and said, ¡°Xuexue, why did you buy so much pork? We can¡¯t finish all that.¡± ¡°Mother, it¡¯s not much. Look, this pack is all bones for making soup,¡± Xuexue explained as she opened one of the packs. Madam Xie leaned in to see, and indeed it was bones, so she said painfully, ¡°Xuexue, there¡¯s hardly any meat on these bones, what a waste of money!¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t cost much, this big pack was only ten wen money!¡± Xuexue grinned. She could see clearly that there was still a good amount of meat on the bones, and this was quite a bargain. ¡°Such a big pack for only ten wen money?¡± Madam Xie was astonished. ¡°Yes, the shopkeeper at the pork store, seeing how much we bought from him, gave us a deal¡ªhalf selling, half giving it away. Anyway, he isn¡¯t at a loss.¡± ¡°Oh! So that¡¯s how it was!¡± Madam Xie finally felt relieved. She had been worried Xuexue was too young to understand and might have been cheated without knowing it. ¡°What else did you think?¡± Xuexue teased with a mischievous smile. ¡°This cheeky girl, mocking your mother, your mother was just scared by Butcher Yu, that¡¯s why she was concerned,¡± she retorted. ¡°I¡¯m not foolish. If it were Butcher Yu¡¯s pork, I wouldn¡¯t take it even if it were given to me, let alone pay silver for it.¡± Remembering Butcher Yu and Aunt Sun¡¯s affair today, Xuexue then asked, ¡°Mother, do you know where Dad has been these past few days?¡± ¡°Who knows? I haven¡¯t seen him in the last few days,¡± Madam Xie said as her smile faded after mentioning Mo Xiaoqiang. After sharing a bed for over a decade, not only had her husband divorced her, but he had also connived with another woman to harm their daughter, leaving Madam Xie feeling extremely distraught and mixed with emotions. ¡°Where would he usually go when he wasn¡¯t at home before?¡± ¡°To the brothel, of course! What kind of man your father is, everyone in Mo Family Village knows. Money burns a hole in his pocket. He runs to the brothel and only leaves when kicked out by the procuress,¡± Madam Xie said, usually heartbroken by this, but strangely calm today, apparently utterly disappointed in her worthless husband. ¡°Oh!¡± Xuexue nodded with a knowing smile. ¡°Xuexue, why are you asking about your father? Did they do something to you again?¡± Madam Xie tensed up all over. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was just asking casually. He is my father, after all. It¡¯s only right to be concerned about him,¡± Xuexue said, hardly believing her own words. ¡°Really? You better not be deceiving your mother!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not deceiving you, I¡¯m off to fry the meat.¡± To avoid Madam Xie¡¯s scrutinizing stare, Xuexue grabbed the bag of bones and turned to leave. That evening, from those pork bones, Xuexue picked out the meatier ones to make sweet and sour ribs and braised pork, accompanied by a dish of wild vegetables, which left everyone slurping with greasy lips. ¡°Mmm! The sweet and sour is really tasty.¡± Chuner, gripping a bone in her hand and nibbling on it, looked completely satisfied. Then, turning to Madam Xie, she said, ¡°Mother, it would have been nice if we had split from the family earlier. You wouldn¡¯t have to always endure Grandma¡¯s scoldings, and we¡¯d still have meat to eat.¡± Remembering the suffering the Mo family had endured, Madam Xie¡¯s face instantly sagged. ¡°Having food still doesn¡¯t shut you up, does it?¡± Xuexue stuffed a few pieces of the braised pork into her mouth. ¡°Mmm.¡± Suddenly, Chuner¡¯s mouth was so full that her cheeks puffed out, and she couldn¡¯t speak, only able to stare helplessly as everyone laughed at her comical appearance. Chapter 147 - 147 147 The Evil Star ?Chapter 147: Chapter 147: The Evil Star Chapter 147: Chapter 147: The Evil Star The next day Early in the morning, Xuexue had not yet woken up, half-asleep and half-awake, when she heard a commotion outside. Helpless and too sleepy, she just couldn¡¯t open her eyes. ¡°Wife, wife, get up quickly!¡± Big Bull, who had already been up, rushed into Xuexue¡¯s room, flung off her blanket, and shook her vigorously. ¡°Big Bull, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Roused by the shaking, Xuexue finally opened her eyes, yawning her head off as she asked. Because she had spent the previous night dealing with the pork and gone to bed late, she who usually woke up early was now still asleep. ¡°There¡¯s a bunch of people outside, looking pretty fierce. I wasn¡¯t sure whether to throw them out, so I came to ask you.¡± ¡°A bunch of people?¡± ¡°Yes! Men and women, especially an old hag who¡¯s really fierce. She started berating Auntie Sun the moment she walked in, and Chuner turned pale with fear.¡± Hearing this, Xuexue knew that Old Lady Mo had brought people over to make trouble. Suddenly, all her sleepiness vanished, and she flung off the blanket and got out of bed, ¡°Let¡¯s go and have a look.¡± ¡°Wife, whatever the case, you should put on some more clothes. It¡¯s very cold outside early in the morning.¡± Seeing Xuexue going out wearing only a thin garment, Big Bull hastily pulled her back. ¡°Right, I was too rushed to remember.¡± Reminded by Big Bull, Xuexue suddenly felt a chill throughout her body and quickly turned around to find a cotton garment to put on. Madam Xie was always afraid of Old Lady Mo, who behaved like a small lamb in front of her. Xuexue was afraid that her mother was being bullied again, which was why she hastened to go out. It was almost the New Year, and they couldn¡¯t afford to get hurt. ¡°Wife, let me quickly do a simple hair bun for you.¡± The considerate Big Bull, noticing Xuexue¡¯s disheveled hair, picked up a comb and came forward to tidy her hair. ¡°Do you know how?¡± ¡°I think so, let me give it a try.¡± While Xuexue was getting dressed, Big Bull quickly bundled up her long hair. ¡°Wife, look in the mirror and see if you like it?¡± At that moment, Xuexue¡¯s mind was set on going out to see what was going on; she had no intention of looking in the mirror, and she casually replied, ¡°I like it.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even look.¡± Big Bull¡¯s voice was full of disappointment. ¡°As long as it¡¯s done by Big Bull, I like it.¡± With that, Xuexue rushed out like the wind. Big Bull stood there with a silly smile, mumbling to himself, ¡°The wife likes Big Bull, hehe...!¡± Kitchen Old Lady Mo, with the entire entourage of the Mo family, young and old, stood with her hands on hips, hurling a barrage of abuse at the solitary Madam Xie, ¡°You rotten woman, eating our food, wearing our clothes, and now you¡¯ve got the nerve to steal our silver.¡± Listening with her head bowed and shrinking from the cold, Madam Xie quickly raised her head and asked, ¡°Who stole the silver? Mother-in-law, you can¡¯t talk nonsense about this.¡± ¡°What nonsense, I have eyewitnesses and evidence.¡± Old Lady Mo glared fiercely, looking extremely vicious. Being stingy was her usual habit, but these past days, for the sake of Concubine Sun, she had spent quite a bit of silver and was in a terrible mood. Now, hearing that Madam Xie and her daughter had allegedly stolen the Mo family¡¯s silver and were living a comfortable life in the old residence, it was no wonder she was so vicious. ¡°Who is it?¡± Madam Xie asked in a trembling voice, feeling uneasy inside. ¡°Me.¡± A very affected voice rang out. Madam Xie carefully looked up and to her astonishment, it was Concubine Sun, her eyes nearly spewing fire: ¡°You?¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s me.¡± Concubine Sun advanced forward with a smug look, twisting her slender waist. Yesterday, after her secret rendezvous with Butcher Yu, she had just returned to the Mo family from the town when she encountered Lady Li, crippled and battered, crying and howling about how horribly ferocious Xuexue was, calling her a stupid fiance?, throwing her off the moving ox cart, leaving her covered in bruises. And that little cheap person Xuexue, although she had already bought two large baskets of New Year¡¯s goods, countless pieces of pork and fabric, still greedily plotted to take her basket of eggs. Since Big Bull, the evil star, was there, she didn¡¯t dare to make trouble at the old residence for fear of another beating from Big Bull, so she had no choice but to come and wail at the Mo family¡¯s home. Chapter 148 - 148 148 Trembling with Rage ?Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Trembling with Rage Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Trembling with Rage Upon hearing this, Auntie Sun immediately suspected that Xuexue had stolen her silver jewelry. No wonder Butcher Yu, that dead ghost, despite her efforts in bed, refused to admit he had taken her money. It turned out this little cheap person had stolen it, and she couldn¡¯t help but secretly despise her. Just then, Old Lady Mo, holding an account book and cursing under her breath, came over. Determined, Auntie Sun declared that all her money had been stolen by Madam Xie. If Old Lady Mo wanted the silver, she should ask Madam Xie for it. Thinking that Xuexue was cunning and hard to control, unlike Madam Xie, who was weak in character and particularly afraid of the old hag, Auntie Sun figured intimidating her might just make her confess everything. Since Big Bull had thrown Butcher Yu into the fish pond over two hundred meters away a few days earlier, he had become the hero of Mo Family Village, and even Old Lady Mo didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble at the old residence alone. Thus, early in the morning, without even stopping for breakfast, they roused all of the Mo family, young and old, and with a great number of people, they boldly marched toward the old residence. ¡°You shameless Seductress Fox, I don¡¯t know where you found that wild man, almost ruining Xuexue¡¯s innocence, and now you falsely accuse us of stealing your silver? How black is your heart?¡± Madam Xie, usually not one for words, surprisingly strung together quite a few out of anger. ¡°Madam Xie, you stinking witch, you still argue? If you didn¡¯t steal our silver, where did you get so much silver to buy New Year goods?¡± Old Lady Mo was furious, and as she looked up, she spotted a large plate of steaming pork on the stove, which fueled her rage even further. She raised her hand and fiercely slapped Madam Xie, cursing, ¡°I, an old woman, have no meat to eat, yet you lowly creatures dare to? Do you really want to revolt?¡± In the Mo residence, she was the authority. Except for her, the women had no meat to eat unless it was a holiday. Now, just after they had disowned Madam Xie, she was indulging in meat, and Old Lady Mo was furious. Perhaps knowing that dodging was useless, Madam Xie resignedly closed her eyes, prepared to endure a beating from Old Lady Mo, something she had grown accustomed to over the past decade. The Mo family, including Mo Xiaoqiang, watched silently as if it were a show, all thinking that with Madam Xie¡¯s weak character, after being brutally beaten by Old Lady Mo, she would surely kneel and beg for mercy, then obediently hand over the silver and New Year goods to them. Everyone was cheerful at the thought, and Madam Ruan even chuckled discreetly, her gaze occasionally darting to the plate of pork on the stove, uncontrollably salivating, planning to take it home later for a feast. As the slap was about to land on Madam Xie¡¯s face, Old Lady Mo smiled triumphantly. This clutchless old hen thought that being disowned by the Mo family meant she was beyond reach. Dream on! She loved to hit whenever she pleased, without error. At this critical moment, suddenly, a figure swiftly darted in; everyone had yet to react to what was happening, when Old Lady Mo¡¯s wrist was already tightly gripped. Just as the slap was going to reach Madam Xie, Old Lady Mo suddenly felt an excruciating pain in her wrist, and couldn¡¯t help but scream like a slaughtered pig: ¡°Ah...! It hurts, it¡¯s killing me.¡± ¡°Grandmother, so you know pain too?¡± A chilling voice rang out. Everyone looked up and saw that it was Xuexue. ¡°Xuexue, you dead girl, she¡¯s your grandmother, let her go at once.¡± Seeing his mother in pain and screaming, Mo Xiaoqiang hurriedly stepped forward to intervene. ¡°Who are you?¡± Xuexue glanced at him with a sneer on her face. ¡°Xuexue, have you gone mad? Can¡¯t you recognize your own father?¡± ¡°Father?¡± Xuexue scoffed: ¡°Since ancient times, I¡¯ve never heard of a father who would let another man ruin his daughter¡¯s reputation. Saying it out loud is simply laughable.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang flushed and was speechless: By now, he had already been the subject of much laughter. ¡°Such an enormous disrespect, this is too much!¡± Old Master Mo pointed at Xuexue with a trembling hand, his facial hair quivering with anger. Chapter 149 - 149 149 This Girl is Crazy ?Chapter 149: Chapter 149 This Girl is Crazy Chapter 149: Chapter 149 This Girl is Crazy ¡°Grandfather, are you talking to me?¡± Xuexue turned her head slightly, glancing disdainfully at the furious Old Master Mo, her lips curling into a mocking smile. ¡°You... you... you hopeless girl, release your grandmother this instant! She is your elder, and you... you... you even dare to hit her? Aren¡¯t you afraid that Heaven will strike you with bolts of lightning?¡± ¡°You all come storming into my house, beating up my mother, if Heaven really had eyes, it would strike you down instead.¡± ¡°You insolent girl, we are your elders, what¡¯s wrong if we beat and scold you?¡± Old Master Mo, infuriated, puffed up his beard and glared, his limbs trembling uncontrollably. ¡°Nonsense, you Mo family have already disowned my mother, what right do you have to beat her?¡± Old Master Mo was left speechless and trembling with anger due to Xuexue¡¯s words. Aunt Sun¡¯s eyes were bulging with rage, nearing combustion, fueled by the hatred for the ¡®little cheap person¡¯ before her who, despite her young age, was malicious enough to bite off her ear and steal all her possessions. Grinding her teeth audibly, she said through clenched teeth, ¡°It was because you stole the Mo family¡¯s silver that we came knocking.¡± Aunt Sun deliberately emphasized the words ¡®Mo family¡¯ to provoke a shared outrage among the Mo family members. Xuexue turned around, her eyes coldly glaring at Aunt Sun, this despicable woman, colluding with Butcher Yu, thinking no one knew of their deeds, hmph! She would see how well she fares later. With furrowed brows, she coldly asked, ¡°Stolen silver?¡± ¡°Yes, all my silver and jewelry,¡± Aunt Sun said, her teeth clenched in hatred. ¡°Yours? Or the Mo family¡¯s?¡± Xuexue raised an eyebrow. ¡°I am born a member of the Mo family, and I will die a ghost of the Mo family, so naturally, my possessions are also the Mo family¡¯s.¡± Aunt Sun, not truly believing her own words, said this needing the support of the Mo family at the moment. ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true, look at my mother, a living evidence. She gave birth to us three sisters and slaved away for the Mo family for over a decade, only to be disowned in the end. And you think you, a mere concubine, would be any different?¡± Xuexue scoffed. ¡°I am different,¡± Aunt Sun retorted haughtily, lifting her chin. ¡°Indeed, with your seductive ways, you can¡¯t even compare to a single finger of my mother!¡± Xuexue scoffed repeatedly. ¡°You, you little cheap person, what nonsense are you spouting?¡± ¡°Whether I¡¯m spouting nonsense, you know it in your heart, don¡¯t you?¡± Xuexue retorted. Aunt Sun was secretly shocked, could this ¡®little cheap person¡¯ know something? Then she thought again, it shouldn¡¯t be the case, every meeting with Butcher Yu had been so secretive, and she was somewhat reassured. Xuexue clutched Old Lady Mo¡¯s wrist without letting go, her mouth sharp as ever, leaving the Mo family members at a loss for what to do with her. Old Lady Mo, frail with age, winced as Xuexue¡¯s grip tightened like a vice on her wrist, causing cold sweat to break out on her forehead as she wailed loudly in pain, ¡°You hopeless girl, release me at once! How dare you strike your grandmother, aren¡¯t you afraid of being criticized for lacking filial piety?¡± ¡°Filial piety? There¡¯s no need for that towards people with such malicious hearts,¡± Xuexue snapped, tightening her grip provocatively on the wrist. ¡°Ah...!¡± Immediately, Old Lady Mo cried out again as if being slaughtered, ¡°Old man, save me, old man, this girl... she... she¡¯s gone mad.¡± Old Master Mo was anxious, but powerless against Xuexue; if even Mo Xiaoqiang, her father, couldn¡¯t handle her, what could an old man do? Although Madam Xie was angered by them bullying her daughter, for Xuexue¡¯s reputation, she still said, ¡°Xuexue, she is your grandmother, let her go.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Upon Madam Xie¡¯s intervention, Xuexue scornfully humphed and finally released her. Chapter 150 - 150 150 Grinding Teeth ?Chapter 150: Chapter 150 Grinding Teeth Chapter 150: Chapter 150 Grinding Teeth Old Lady Mo finally got her freedom and hastily kept her distance from Xuexue. That damned girl, since she woke up from that fever, her previously docile nature had completely changed; she was like a little devil, not caring about the consequences of anything she did. Even Old Lady Mo had to admit defeat. Mo Xiaoqiang was scolded by Xuexue so badly that he couldn¡¯t even lift his head, so it seemed they couldn¡¯t count on him either. Thinking of last night, with Lady Li describing those two baskets full of New Year¡¯s goods, all of them of high quality, the people of the Mo family were itching with desire, wanting to leave but not willing to give up. Especially Auntie Sun, who was gritting her teeth in hatred. She had worked as a prostitute for so many years, earning her hard-earned money, only for it to end up in someone else¡¯s pocket. Looking at Xuexue, she just wanted to flay her and strip her bones, that kind that would only be satisfied by even drinking her blood. ¡°What¡¯s the matter! Are you not leaving?¡± Xuexue started issuing her order to clear out. Seeing the large group from the Mo family wavering between wanting to leave and not wanting to, Xuexue understood that they had their eyes on her family¡¯s New Year¡¯s goods. ¡°You damned girl, no matter what, we are your elders. Since we are here, not even offering us a cup of tea, shouldn¡¯t you at least treat us to a meal before we go?¡± At this moment, Old Lady Mo finally regained her strength, and her wrist didn¡¯t hurt anymore, her old eyes fixating on the plate of pork on the stove¡ªunable to get the New Year¡¯s goods, having some meat to eat was good enough. The damned old maid, she didn¡¯t eat that much meat in a whole month combined, and these lowly bones were wasting so much, cooking up so much pork for a single meal. This old creature, she remembers the food but forgets the beatings; Xuexue felt like spitting in her face. Right at that moment, Big Bull entered, looking clueless as ever: ¡°Wife, is there food? I¡¯m starving?¡± ¡°Right, we¡¯re starving too,¡± the people of the Mo family shamelessly chimed in unison. ¡°Big Bull, if you¡¯re hungry, go eat with Chuner first,¡± Xuexue turned her head and said to Big Bull. ¡°And what about us?¡± the people of the Mo family asked eagerly. ¡°Where did you come from, roll back to where you came from!¡± Xuexue roared fiercely. ¡°Mother-in-law, look at this, this dead girl has no filial piety at all. She eats meat herself, yet lets us, her elders, just watch her eat,¡± Madam Ruan huffed angrily, she had been eyeing that plate of pork all morning, and now it was about to go into someone else¡¯s stomach; no wonder she was anxious. ¡°Big Bull, they want to steal our pork to eat,¡± Xuexue said slyly, her eyes glinting mischievously. ¡°Then I¡¯ll throw them out.¡± ¡°Big Bull, where do you plan to throw them? Are you going to toss them into the fish pond like you did with Butcher Yu and the others?¡± Xuexue enunciated every word, making herself very clear. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll make sure they land preciselty in the fish pond, without fail. With the practice from last time, this time it¡¯ll definitely be a sure shot,¡± Big Bull cooperated wholeheartedly. ¡°That won¡¯t do, it¡¯s so cold now. Throwing them into the fish pond could freeze them, after all they are old and young, and they are weak, aren¡¯t they? We might even have to pay for their medicine later,¡± Xuexue said. The conversation between Xuexue and Big Bull gave the people of the Mo family the chills. The events of a few days ago involving Big Bull had spread throughout Mo Family Village, and Auntie Sun had witnessed it, it was no fabrication. So when they heard Xuexue speaking as if she was pleading on their behalf, they all nodded in agreement and said in unison: ¡°Yes, yes, we are weak and can¡¯t withstand the cold, it will freeze us.¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking to my wife, what¡¯s it to you? Keep blabbering, and believe it or not, I¡¯ll throw you out right now,¡± Big Bull sulkily puckered his lips, annoyed. Chapter 151 - 151 151 Faster Than a Mouse ?Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Faster Than a Mouse Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Faster Than a Mouse Don¡¯t be fooled by this fool; he might look silly, but he¡¯s a real menace. Not only is he incredibly strong, but he also seems to know some martial arts. When he gets angry, no one from the Mo family dares to make a sound. They all fear that if they accidentally anger him, they¡¯ll end up like Butcher Yu, tossed into the fishpond. In this freezing weather, even the thought of it is chillingly delightful. ¡°Hehe..., my dear, it¡¯s alright, they¡¯ve stopped talking.¡± Big Bull moved closer to Xuexue, trying to please her, ¡°Where do you think I should throw them?¡± Concerned for their safety, everyone from the Mo family was all ears, including Auntie Sun, who held a deep grudge. After all, money can be earned back, but if they lost their lives, what use would money be then? Having been troubled all morning, Xuexue grew impatient and said, ¡°Just toss them beside the fishpond will do, where there¡¯s no water and the ground is dry and hard, and it won¡¯t be cold.¡± Upon hearing this, the Mo family members immediately turned and scattered like bees, rushing away in a frenzy. All thoughts of silver, New Year¡¯s goods, and pork were forgotten at that moment. When their lives were threatened, all of it was damn ephemeral. ¡°Hey! Come back, I haven¡¯t thrown you yet.¡± Seeing them run, Big Bull was frantic and quickly chased after them. As Big Bull chased them from behind, the Mo family ran even harder, terrified of being caught and thrown two hundred meters away. In that case, it wouldn¡¯t be a matter of feeling cold, but a question of whether they¡¯d be alive at all. As they ran for their lives, they cursed Xuexue in their hearts. This damned girl was too malicious, having the fool throw them two hundred meters away to the fishpond¡¯s edge. Wasn¡¯t this seeking their demise? Falling into the pond might just chill them, leaving them alive, but being thrown onto dry land would surely turn them into dried persimmons, dead for certain. Even Old Master Mo and Old Lady Mo, who usually feigned illness, were now throwing aside their walking sticks and running nimbly, almost taking the lead. Madam Xie was perplexed about the Mo family members and wondered when they would stop their commotion and leave, when suddenly, she saw them all running away like a swarm, leaving her stunned. ¡°Xuexue, what¡¯s happening with them? Why are they all running off?¡± Madam Xie felt as if she was in a dream, knowing they came with a purpose, how could they leave without getting anything? ¡°Isn¡¯t it better that they ran away? Or did you really want to keep them for dinner? We don¡¯t have that much rice to feed them,¡± Xuexue said with a serious face while secretly laughing inside. ¡°Well, it¡¯s better that they left, to avoid damaging your reputation.¡± ¡°Psh, what reputation do I have? My reputation was gone long ago, wasn¡¯t it? Besides, with Big Bull here, I don¡¯t need to find a husband¡¯s family, which is quite nice.¡± Having been reborn, she was filled with hatred and never thought of marrying again in this lifetime. Her husband from the previous life, with whom she had spent many nights, had turned heartless. Not only did he inflict a thousand and one cuts on her, but he also burned their own daughter alive, turning her into charcoal. What man in this world could be trusted? Xuexue swore to herself, she would never marry in this life. ¡°Right, I¡¯ve realized that, although Big Bull isn¡¯t very bright, he¡¯s really good to you,¡± said Madam Xie, comforting her. ¡°My dear, my dear, it¡¯s too aggravating, they all ran away, I didn¡¯t get to throw them,¡± Big Bull said dejectedly as he walked back. ¡°Pfft!¡± Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but laugh and asked, ¡°How many alleys did you chase them down?¡± ¡°One, two, three, four, five, six, I can¡¯t remember clearly, it seemed like a lot, they were so quick, zigzagging faster than mice,¡± Big Bull said, scratching his head and looking displeased. Chapter 152 - 152 152 Luxurious Mansion ?Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Luxurious Mansion Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Luxurious Mansion Madam Xie was again in a daze, ¡°Big Bull, what are you chasing them for?¡± ¡°Madam told me to throw them toward the fishing pond, and I was going to throw them over there. I must listen to Madam,¡± said Big Bull confidently, but then his face fell, and he added listlessly, ¡°It¡¯s a pity, they slipped away, and I didn¡¯t catch them.¡± ¡°Oh my, Big Bull, you mustn¡¯t throw them. That could lead to someone¡¯s death,¡± Madam Xie turned pale with fright. Having been in a fog before, Madam Xie finally realized what was going on. No wonder the people from the Mo family ran so fast; it turned out their lives were threatened. In the end, Madam Xie turned her head to Xuexue and said, ¡°Xuexue, tell him, you can¡¯t just throw people around. Last time throwing Butcher Yu was lucky, just so happened to throw him into the pond, and he got his life back, but it¡¯s not always that lucky. If it leads to a death, that could mean a lawsuit.¡± ¡°Big Bull, did you hear that? You can¡¯t just throw people around. Do you understand?¡± Xuexue patted Big Bull¡¯s head and said earnestly. ¡°I know! Madam, I won¡¯t throw them around anymore. I¡¯ll listen to you,¡± he promised. ¡°Good boy, Big Bull. Come on, let¡¯s go pick wild vegetables,¡± Xuexue praised him. Having driven away the people from the Mo family, Xuexue felt quite pleased. Because the New Year was just a few days away and there was no need to search for river snails, Xuexue planned to take Big Bull to the mountainside. With time to spare, she intended to dig up some wild vegetables to bring back. The mountain was to the east, and their house was to the west. To get to the mountain, they had to pass by several households in the village. As they walked in front of a house, Big Bull halted and stared intensely at the building. ¡°Big Bull, why have you stopped?¡± ¡°Madam, this house is really beautiful,¡± he remarked. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the most beautiful house in our Mo Family Village. Look, the other houses are either made of mud bricks or are thatched huts, and they¡¯re all low structures. Only this one, with its blue bricks and roof tiles, stands three stories tall¡ªit¡¯s a luxurious mansion with four sections,¡± Xuexue explained as Big Bull gazed at the house, which belonged to Old Money Mo. ¡°Madam, one day I will build a house for you, ten times more luxurious than this one,¡± Big Bull declared with a burst of pride. ¡°Okay!¡± Xuexue thought he was just speaking off the top of his head and casually agreed. Just then, the large doors of the mansion swung open. ¡°Creak,¡± Several individuals who looked like servants rushed out, positioning themselves in two lines at the door, creating an imposing presence. Seeing this display, Xuexue knew that Old Money Mo was about to leave the house, so she pulled Big Bull aside to stand clear. Soon enough, Old Money Mo, hunching his back and walking with a noticeable sway, emerged. His movements seemed more strenuous than before, and those little ghosts were perched on his shoulders just as always. Seeing Xuexue, the little girl ghost cracked a smile at her; this being the third encounter with the ghost, Xuexue¡¯s fear had diminished significantly. Suddenly, the little girl ghost stared intently at Xuexue¡¯s wrist. Following her gaze, Xuexue realized that her bracelet had somehow been revealed and quickly pulled her sleeve down to cover it. ¡°Madam, Madam, that old man is so funny, carrying so many kids on his back, hehehe...!¡± Big Bull laughed boisterously, his words fast-spilling before Xuexue could stop him. Old Money Mo, having heard the noise, was already looking their way. ¡°Xuexue, is this your fiance??¡± gasped Old Money Mo as he approached. Whatever happened in every household of Mo Family Village, he would come to know about it even without inquiring. There was no helping it, with a gossiping steward at home, who would chatter about every major or minor event in the village. Over time, he had become accustomed to it. Chapter 153 - 153 153 Old Money Mo ?Chapter 153: Chapter 153 Old Money Mo Chapter 153: Chapter 153 Old Money Mo ¡°Yes, fiance?, haha...!¡± Xuexue chuckled dryly, her heart also quite shocked. She had not expected that Big Bull, like herself, also possessed the Yin-Yang Vision and could see the seven little ghosts on Old Money Mo. Old Money Mo struggled to lift his head, his triangular eyes greenly staring at Big Bull, ¡°Young man, what did you just say?¡± In truth, he had heard it and believed it entirely. No wonder these past nights he always felt someone choking his throat, and not just one person. It felt like several were taking turns, endlessly choking him, making it impossible for him to sleep and putting him through agony. He was just about to go out to seek a master for divination when he heard Big Bull mention he was haunted by little ghosts, which terrified him; he just wanted to confirm it. ¡°I said you have on your back... uh...¡± Big Bull had not finished speaking when Xuexue stretched out her hand and forcefully covered his mouth. ¡°Old Master Mo, he¡¯s just joking with you,¡± Xuexue said, while still covering Big Bull¡¯s mouth. At that moment, Big Bull, struggling to breathe under her grasp, forcefully pried her hand off, took several deep breaths, and said resentfully, ¡°Wife, I wasn¡¯t lying, why are you covering my mouth? You¡¯re nearly suffocating me.¡± ¡°You still say you weren¡¯t lying? What person is there on Old Master Mo¡¯s back?¡± After speaking, Xuexue turned to the side, at an angle unseen by Old Money Mo, and urgently gestured to Big Bull with her eyes. Helplessly, Big Bull, the blockhead, showed no reaction, instead leaning closer to Xuexue, and said in a goofy manner, ¡°Wife, what¡¯s wrong with your eyes? Are they cramping?¡± Xuexue¡¯s face darkened, ¡°You¡¯re the one cramping, idiot.¡± ¡°Wife, are you mad?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Xuexue turned and walked away, hoping Big Bull would also hurry and leave, to avoid Old Money Mo bombarding them with questions. They couldn¡¯t let someone know they had the Yin-Yang Vision, else others would fear them and treat them as monsters. ¡°Wife, wait for me.¡± Sure enough, seeing Xuexue leave, Big Bull quickly followed her. ¡°Young man, wait a moment, you haven¡¯t answered my question yet!¡± Old Money Mo was utterly anxious, as this was a mystery that had baffled him for over a decade. Numerous reputed doctors and masters had failed to see the signs, and yet, Big Bull had inadvertently revealed it, a secret Old Money Mo had carried in his heart for many years. He couldn¡¯t easily let Big Bull go. ¡°What question? Ouch! Didn¡¯t you see my wife has left?¡± Big Bull turned to look at the figure of Xuexue walking away, stamping his foot in anxiety as well. ¡°You were talking about the children on my back, right?¡± Old Money Mo grabbed Big Bull by the hands, his triangular eyes eagerly looking at him. ¡°Ah! That issue!¡± Big Bull turned back, glanced at the few little ghosts on Old Money Mo¡¯s back. The little ghosts all stared back at him uniformly, baring their teeth, looking menacing, with the little girl even speaking up, ¡°Dummy! Your wife has left.¡± ¡°Right, right, I need to chase my wife,¡± reminded by the little ghost, Big Bull moved to leave again. ¡°Young man, no hurry, no hurry, it won¡¯t hurt to talk a bit more before you go!¡± Old Money Mo was nearly frantic, utterly unaware that it was the little ghosts on his back pulling at his legs. ¡°Ouch! Don¡¯t you know whether you have anyone on your back? Why ask me?¡± Constantly being tugged at by the old man, unable to break free to follow Xuexue, Big Bull was also annoyed. ¡°I really don¡¯t know, that¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you!¡± Old Money Mo was also exhausted, talking to an idiot was truly tiring. Chapter 154 - 154 154 The Fool ?Chapter 154: Chapter 154 The Fool Chapter 154: Chapter 154 The Fool ¡°Alright then! So I¡¯ll tell you, there is...¡± Big Bull was just about to say that there were a few children on his back when someone stomped hard on his foot mid-sentence, causing him such pain that he clutched his foot and began hopping intensely, ¡°Ah...! Pain... Pain... It¡¯s killing me.¡± Old Money Mo was listening intently when suddenly Big Bull burst into loud cries of pain. As he turned his head, he saw Xuexue, who had run back for some reason unknown to him. She looked angrily at Big Bull as he hopped on one foot and furiously said, ¡°Just now you said my eyes were cramping. Let me tell you, I¡¯m very angry, and there will be serious consequences, Humph!¡± Having said that, she turned and walked away, looking genuinely upset. ¡°Wife, wife, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Big Bull, no longer minding the pain in his foot, hurried after her. Everything happened so quickly that Old Money Mo was stunned, staring blankly as Big Bull¡¯s figure ran farther and farther away, gradually disappearing. ¡°Old Master, they have left, are we still going out?¡± The person who looked like a steward stepped forward and asked. ¡°Sigh! Forget it, forget it.¡± Old Money Mo was in turmoil, in no mood to go out anymore. The secret he had hidden for over a decade was exposed by a word from Big Bull. He thought that the deed he had done years ago was safely concealed from heaven and earth, that no one would ever know what shameful act he had committed. Little did he know, the retribution had already arrived; it was just that he himself was unaware. No wonder his back had hunched overnight more than a decade ago and remained so for many years since. Despite having seen countless famous doctors, none could help. From Big Bull¡¯s simple words, he had begun to guess what was really happening. ¡°Old Master, your health is getting worse. It might be better to see a doctor,¡± the steward suggested with concern. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, this sickness of mine is not something a doctor can cure,¡± Old Money Mo said with a gloomy face, slowly turning around and swaying back into the mansion. ¡°Wife, wife, wait for me.¡± Big Bull chased desperately behind her, and upon reaching the mountain side, finally caught up with Xuexue. Panting heavily, he said, ¡°Wife, don¡¯t be mad at me; I didn¡¯t mean to say that about you.¡± To his surprise, Xuexue turned around with a smile brimming on her face, ¡°You¡¯re such a fool, I¡¯m not angry at all. I was just leading you here on purpose because you talked too much with Old Money Mo.¡± ¡°Oh, so you weren¡¯t really angry, you tricked me, huh?¡± Although Big Bull wasn¡¯t the sharpest, seeing Xuexue¡¯s beaming smile, he immediately understood. ¡°Yep! I¡¯m telling you, from now on you¡¯re not allowed to tell him about the children on his back,¡± Xuexue said seriously. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°This...¡± How could she tell him that the children were ghosts? That would surely scare Big Bull to death. Remembering how she had scared him half to death the night she came out of the space, Xuexue dared not reveal to him that the children were ghosts. Unable to think of a way to deceive him on the spot, she could only pretend to be angry and say, ¡°Just don¡¯t tell anyone, okay? If you see them, you must pretend you didn¡¯t. Understand? Otherwise, I¡¯ll get angry and won¡¯t talk to you ever again.¡± ¡°Oh! Wife, please don¡¯t be angry, I¡¯ll keep silent,¡± Big Bull replied, genuinely afraid that Xuexue would ignore him. He didn¡¯t understand why, but he always felt terrible whenever Xuexue didn¡¯t pay attention to him. Having promised not to tell, Xuexue was happy. She acted this way to protect him, for he was so naively innocent, unaware of the wickedness of people¡¯s hearts. The two gathered a lot of wild vegetables and picked wild fruits along the mountainside, and only when the evening grew dark did they return home joyfully. ¡°Wife, the mountainside is so fun, with fruits to pick. Shall we bring Chuner along tomorrow? Would that be alright?¡± Big Bull said cheerfully, holding a wild fruit in his hand. ¡°Sure! There are a few wild fruits left in the basket, let¡¯s take them back for mother and Chuner to try.¡± Chapter 155 - 155 155 A Scheme for Money and Murder ?Chapter 155: Chapter 155 A Scheme for Money and Murder Chapter 155: Chapter 155 A Scheme for Money and Murder The Old Residence The doorway was noisy and bustling with a crowd of people, looking quite lively. Approaching the bend, Xuexue lifted her gaze to see their own doorway crowded with people. She got a shock, thinking the Mo family had come to cause trouble again, and hurriedly ran back with Big Bull in tow. ¡°Make way.¡± Dragging Big Bull along, she pushed through the crowd of onlookers and barged in to see. It was Old Money Mo, who had brought several house servants with him, carrying a large assortment of gifts to visit their home. He truly was a rare guest, no wonder so many neighbors had gathered around to watch the excitement. Madam Xie was seated in the main hall, keeping him company. Upon seeing Xuexue and Big Bull return, peering around the entrance of the main hall, she quickly called out loudly, ¡°Xuexue, Big Bull, come here quickly, Old Master Mo is looking for Big Bull.¡± Xuexue slyly squeezed Big Bull¡¯s hand and winked at him. ¡°My lady, you...¡± ¡°Hmm? Don¡¯t you dare say I have leg cramps again, or I¡¯ll really get mad.¡± Big Bull hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Xuexue gave him a fierce look, cutting him off mid-sentence, then she leaned closer to his ear and whispered, ¡°This is our secret signal, meaning you shouldn¡¯t talk recklessly. Remember what I told you by the mountain just now, do you understand?¡± She didn¡¯t trust this fool one bit, so Xuexue gave him another reminder. ¡°Oh! I understand, my lady.¡± ¡°Look at this lovely couple, Madam Xie. They aren¡¯t even married yet, but they¡¯re already so attached to each other.¡± Old Money Mo had a lot on his mind, but still forced out a very strained smile, which looked exceedingly odd. ¡°Hehe...! Yes, Big Bull really is a good boy. Even though he¡¯s not that sharp, he¡¯s sincerely devoted to Xuexue and has an honest and simple nature, which is truly rare.¡± Speaking of Big Bull, Madam Xie was quite satisfied and laughed from the bottom of her heart. ¡°Big Bull, don¡¯t just stand there with Xuexue. Old Master Mo is waiting for you; come over quickly.¡± Madam Xie waved him over and called out. ¡°Oh!¡± Big Bull walked in, approached Old Money Mo, and mimicked Xuexue, ¡°Old Master Mo, what did you want to see me about?¡± ¡°This... hehe...!¡± Old Money Mo hesitated, looking at Madam Xie with a troubled expression, clearly wanting her to leave. ¡°Er...! Ahem...! Old Master Mo, you two talk, it¡¯s getting late. I¡¯ll go and cook dinner. You can eat before you leave.¡± Madam Xie noticed his troubled look and understood what it meant: there was something he didn¡¯t want her to hear. She tactfully stood up, and made her way out of the main hall. ¡°Mother, why did you come out?¡± Xuexue was in the kitchen, looking over the gifts brought by Old Master Mo. Wow, there was quite a lot: food, items for use, clothes, a big pile of stuff. By her estimate, these things must have cost quite a bit of silver. To think Old Money Mo was willing to spend so much just because of what Big Bull had said. He must have done something guilty. With those little ghosts clinging to his back, their origins were certainly no simple matter. They refused to leave him, which suggested he might have committed some grave deed to acquire wealth at the cost of lives, drawing the little ghosts to haunt him for over a decade. Old Master Mo seemed like he didn¡¯t want me to be there, so I left.¡± Madam Xie replied, then muttered to herself in confusion, ¡°Logically speaking, Big Bull hasn¡¯t been in our village for many days, so he shouldn¡¯t know Old Master Mo. What could he possibly want with him?¡± She turned her head then loudly asked Xuexue, ¡°Xuexue, do you have any idea?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you. You¡¯re with Big Bull every day, how does he know Old Master Mo?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, we just went to the mountainside today to dig wild vegetables and happened to speak a few words when we ran into Old Master Mo, that¡¯s all.¡± She knew but couldn¡¯t say. No matter what, Madam Xie was just a country woman. To tell would likely scare her. Chapter 156 - 156 156 Facing Death ?Chapter 156: Chapter 156 Facing Death Chapter 156: Chapter 156 Facing Death ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± Madam Xie was extremely puzzled, ¡°although Old Master Mo is the village¡¯s Wealthy Master, he wouldn¡¯t just squander silver. Besides the Village Chief¡¯s House, he has never given such many gifts to any family.¡± In the countryside, there are hardly any secrets; whatever small events happen in one household, the whole village would quickly know. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much, Mother. Since he has sent them, we should just accept them,¡± ¡°Is that really okay?¡± Madam Xie picked up a piece of silk fabric, touched it, and felt its smooth, comfortable texture. She couldn¡¯t help but look surprised. She had been too busy attending to Old Money Mo earlier and hadn¡¯t taken a close look at these gifts, ¡°Goodness gracious! Such fine fabric, it must be worth quite a lot of silver, right?¡± ¡°This fabric, it¡¯s worth at least several taels of silver.¡± In her past life, having returned to the General¡¯s Mansion, Xuexue had seen all kinds of fabrics and could tell the value of the silk with just one glance. ¡°Oh my goodness, that expensive!¡± Hearing this, Madam Xie was instantly scared, somewhat flustered, ¡°Xuexue, what should we do? Should we return it?¡± Countryside families, even after scrimping and saving for a year, couldn¡¯t spare more than a few Copper Coins; several taels of Silver really was an astronomical price. It¡¯s no wonder Madam Xie felt uneasy receiving such a valuable gift without any apparent reason. ¡°Return what? Old Master Mo sent them over willingly, and we didn¡¯t ask for them. The wealthy families care about their reputation; if we return them, Old Master Mo won¡¯t be happy.¡± With the New Year approaching, Xuexue didn¡¯t want to give them back. ¡°Is that so!¡± Madam Xie thought it over and agreed. Rich folks tend to be peculiar; as they were weak and outnumbered, it would be better not to offend him. ¡°Sigh! Receiving such valuable gifts for no reason, who knows when we¡¯ll be able to return the favor. Maybe we should cook a meal to properly entertain Old Master Mo,¡± Madam Xie muttered to herself as she picked up a cage of chickens, preparing to cook. These chickens were also part of the gifts sent over by Old Master Mo along with the other presents. Main Hall Old Master Mo stared at Big Bull without saying a word. Big Bull felt uncomfortable under his gaze, ¡°Hehe... Old Master Mo, if you have any questions, just ask. I am waiting here for you to ask.¡± ¡°Look around this room; besides me and you, is there anyone else here?¡± Old Money Mo¡¯s triangular eyes stared intensely at Big Bull, hoping to detect a hint of something. Big Bull looked around; apart from a few children on Old Money Mo¡¯s back, there were only him and Old Money Mo in the room. But his wife had said not to tell, which made him somewhat confused. Big Bull thought hard and lowered his head, ¡°Err...!¡± ¡°Idiot, he¡¯s tricking you,¡± the little girl on Old Money Mo¡¯s back said as if watching a play. Hearing this, Big Bull immediately looked up at the little girl, ¡°Huh? What should I do then?¡± The little girl curled her lip, ¡°You¡¯re silly, just say there¡¯s no one, only you and him is enough.¡± Big Bull nai?vely nodded, ¡°Oh! Alright then.¡± ¡°Big Bull, who are you talking to?¡± Old Money Mo was clearly panicked. Did he really have a few children on his back? His heart was filled with terror. ¡°No one, I¡¯m talking to you, am I not?¡± This time, Big Bull finally played it smart. ¡°Really?¡± Old Money Mo¡¯s tone clearly showed disbelief, but could one blame him? The strange events that had transpired over the last decade were too peculiar, it was no wonder he confronted Big Bull based on a mere word, bearing gifts and paying a visit, for he was desperate for answers. Moreover, his health was declining day by day. He felt that if he didn¡¯t resolve the issue soon, he would not live much longer, especially with the nightly feeling of being strangled to the point of death, which almost drove him to the edge of insanity. Now, just the sight of darkness filled him with dread, and he dared not sleep at night, fearing someone would come and choke him in his sleep. Chapter 157 - 157 157 Dead Old Man ?Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Dead Old Man Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Dead Old Man ¡°I feel like you were not actually talking to me just now,¡± Old Money Mo contemplated shrewdly, thinking to himself, the Old Master has lived a lifetime and now in his old age, he refused to believe that even a fool¡¯s intelligence could not be outdone. ¡°Is that so? Hehe...!¡± Big Bull, clumsy and not good with words, could only scratch his head and laugh foolishly. ¡°Big Bull, I know you¡¯re a good kid, so for the sake of this old man, tell me the truth. Are there little ghosts on my back?¡± ¡°Little ghosts? No, there are a few children though.¡± Looking at the few exquisitely carved children on Old Money Mo¡¯s shoulders, some even wearing open-crotch pants, so adorable, not at all like little ghosts, Big Bull blurted out without thinking. As soon as he finished speaking, he realized he had misspoken, quickly covering his mouth with his hands, and his eyes widened in alarm. Old Money Mo, finally getting his answer, slumped onto the stool, mumbling to himself, ¡°A few children, could it really be retribution?¡± Big Bull looked at Old Money Mo, anxiously pacing in circles, and his speech became incoherent: ¡°I... I... I didn¡¯t say anything, you can¡¯t go tell my wife that I said there are seven children on your shoulders!¡± ¡°Seven?¡± Upon hearing this, Old Man Mo¡¯s face turned ashen; he stood up shakily and walked toward the door, oblivious to anything Big Bull was saying. Madam Xie was plucking chicken feathers at the doorway and looked up to see Old Money Mo wandering out of the main hall like a lost soul, staggering, nearly falling several times. ¡°Hey! Old Master Mo, be careful, don¡¯t fall,¡± Madam Xie exclaimed in horror, reminding him loudly. Outside the kitchen, there was a table where the servants who had come with Old Money Mo to bring gifts were sitting, drinking tea and eating sunflower seeds. Hearing Madam Xie¡¯s voice, they turned their heads and gasped in shock. Their Old Master was walking tremulously; he normally had a severe hunchback, his head nearly drooping to his knees, and now, in his daze, he was on the verge of toppling over several times. ¡°Old Master, be careful,¡± the servants quickly put down their teacups and rushed over to support Old Money Mo. ¡°Old Master Mo, why don¡¯t you eat dinner at our place tonight before you leave? I¡¯m slaughtering a chicken right now.¡± Feeling somewhat embarrassed for having received such generous gifts for no good reason, Madam Xie warmly insisted. But Old Money Mo, as if deaf, continued his vacant, dazed walk outside. ¡°Ahahaha...!¡± Out of nowhere, a ghostly laugh erupted behind Old Money Mo, filling the entire old residence with its sound. Of course, aside from Xuexue and Big Bull, no one could hear it. They just felt a sudden wind gust through the old residence. Xuexue, hearing the noise, rushed out of the kitchen immediately. ¡°Ahahaha! Today is the happiest day for my Little Honey Peach; this dead old man will soon meet his end. Luckily, a noble helped us, so we could scare him to death alive and settle our sisterly grudge,¡± the little girl on Old Money Mo¡¯s back laughed maniacally. The other little ghosts also cried and laughed, creating a spectacle so magnificent, Xuexue¡¯s skin crawled with goosebumps. What¡¯s called a ghost weeping and a wolf howling, this was the true nature of such howling. ¡°Xuexue, look, Old Master Mo brought so many gifts but left without having a meal,¡± said Madam Xie, who couldn¡¯t hear the cries of the ghosts, still composed. Xuexue, listening to the continual ghostly laughter, was feeling terrified. ¡°Xuexue, what are you doing? Your mother is talking to you.¡± Seeing Xuexue unresponsive, Madam Xie turned and asked. ¡°Oh!¡± Xuexue came to her senses: ¡°Old Master Mo is leaving! I¡¯ll go see him off.¡± Saying that, she walked toward the doorway. Chapter 158 - 158 158 My Lady is Really Nice ?Chapter 158: Chapter 158: My Lady is Really Nice Chapter 158: Chapter 158: My Lady is Really Nice ¡°Madam, Madam, what happened? Who is laughing? It sounds too eerie,¡± Big Bull rushed out clumsily, asking as he ran, and accidentally bumped into Madam Xie. ¡°Big Bull, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Nothing much! I just heard a chilling laugh and came out to check.¡± He had done something wrong and was afraid Xuexue would blame him, so he didn¡¯t dare to come out at first. However, the sound of that eerie laughter eventually drove him to act. ¡°What laughter?¡± Madam Xie looked confused. ¡°Just now! It was so loud that it shook the whole house; can¡¯t you hear it?¡± Big Bull looked puzzled and then added with concern, ¡°Madam, is there something wrong with your ears? I¡¯ll take you to see a doctor tomorrow.¡± Who knew, Madam Xie glared at him irritably, ¡°If I really were deaf, could I hear you talking? Silly boy.¡± Having said that, she turned around and carried the basin with the chicken back to the kitchen, preparing to gut and cook it for dinner; if Old Master Mo wouldn¡¯t eat it, they certainly could. ¡°Ugh!¡± Big Bull scratched his head, also a bit perplexed. She could hear him talking, so why couldn¡¯t she hear someone laughing? Just then, Xuexue, pulling Chuner, walked in from the main gate. Big Bull shivered and turned to slip away. ¡°Big Bull Brother, where are you going?¡± Chuner¡¯s crisp voice rang out. ¡°No...nothing! I... I just wanted to see who was laughing.¡± Big Bull stopped helplessly, his eyes continuously darting around, looking everywhere but directly at Xuexue. Chuner listened intently and said innocently, ¡°Big Bull Brother, you heard wrong, no one was laughing.¡± ¡°Not now, just before, when even the house was shaking. I was afraid it would collapse, so I came out to check.¡± ¡°Can someone¡¯s laugh shake a house to collapse?¡± Chuner looked puzzled, she had never heard of a laugh that could collapse a house. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I was just worried. You see our house, it¡¯s so decrepit, it¡¯s hard to say.¡± Although Big Bull was talking to Chuner, his body was stiff, his gaze was wandering, and he didn¡¯t even glance at Xuexue once. Just by looking at him, it was clear he had done something guiltily. ¡°Alright, Chuner, go help mother light the fire in the kitchen. Sister has something to talk about with Big Bull Brother.¡± Xuexue gently ruffled Chuner¡¯s hair, speaking softly. ¡°Okay!¡± Chuner agreed with a cheer and bounced off towards the kitchen. ¡°Madam! What... what do you want to talk... talk about?¡± Big Bull stammered, filled with regret. Madam had instructed him many times not to tell Old Master Mo about carrying children on his back, yet he still messed it up. ¡°I know all about it, don¡¯t blame yourself, it¡¯s all fate.¡± Just now, at the entrance, Xuexue learned what had happened from that little ghost called Little Honey Peach. The affairs concerning Old Money Mo were none of her business anyway, she didn¡¯t care to deal with them, nor would she ask those little ghosts to spare him. Xuexue always believed in the principle of karma; if Old Money Mo hadn¡¯t done something to offend the spiritual world, why would he have suffered from several little ghosts for over a decade? ¡°Huh? Madam, you know.¡± ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s leave it at that this time, but don¡¯t let it happen again, understood?¡± ¡°Understood, heh heh...!¡± Big Bull finally smiled happily. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he asked again, ¡°Madam, earlier someone laughed eerily, did you hear it?¡± ¡°I heard it, next time such a thing happens, you only tell me, and you must not ask anyone else, understand?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Big Bull responded, then asked, ¡°Can I tell Madam?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°What about Chuner?¡± ¡°No, not allowed.¡± ¡°Then...!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xuexue glared. ¡°Madam, I haven¡¯t said anything yet.¡± Big Bull¡¯s plaintive voice sounded. ¡°Alright, you¡¯ll have a chicken leg as a reward tonight.¡± Xuexue smiled, her lips curling. ¡°Madam is really great!¡± Big Bull cheered. Chapter 159 - 159 159 Yanyan ?Chapter 159: Chapter 159 Yanyan Chapter 159: Chapter 159 Yanyan the Mo family ¡°Old man, did you hear? Yesterday, Old Master Mo brought a lot of gifts to the old residence.¡± At the dining table, Old Lady Mo held her rice bowl and picked up a piece of cured meat, her face dark with gloom. The cured meat she used to take such pride in now lost its flavor after she¡¯d been to the old residence and seen that large platter of pork. Jealousy filled her heart, those lowlifes getting to eat meat with every meal. But, with Big Bull, the calamity star, there, she didn¡¯t dare to make trouble. That day, she was scared to the point of wetting herself in panic, and when she returned home and felt her crotch, it was wet through. She had actually peed herself in fear, but she never made it known, as it was too humiliating. Old Master Mo also had a belly full of anger. That day, being chased by Big Bull down nine alleys, he became the butt of jokes in Mo Family Village. Now, whenever he stepped outside, the neighbors would joke that if there was a running contest for the Mo Family Village elders, he and Old Lady Mo would surely win first place. After all, if they could escape so swiftly, they were undoubtedly just as fast at running. ¡°Smack!¡± Old Master Mo¡¯s face was overcast as he slammed down his bowl and chopsticks, huffing, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about the old residence again, it¡¯s irritating.¡± With that, he left the table without finishing his meal. ¡°You dead old man, why take your anger out on me? If you¡¯re so capable, go vent at the old residence!¡± Old Lady Mo was also infuriated. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be upset, eat.¡± Mo Daoyan spoke while picking a piece of cured meat into his own bowl, but thought to himself, the less they ate, the more meat for him. ¡°Eat what! Thinking of those cheap bones eating my meat every day makes my heart, liver, and lungs ache.¡± Madam Xie¡¯s money always ended up in her pockets, daring not to utter a word. Old Lady Mo subconsciously believed that everything belonging to Madam Xie was hers. ¡°Yelling here like a maniac is useless, you don¡¯t have the guts to go up to the old residence.¡± Auntie Sun¡¯s voice was filled with mockery. She hated Xuexue with a passion in her heart but also feared Big Bull, her abundant resentment had to be bottled up. ¡°It all comes back to you, you stinky wench, inciting us to make trouble at the old residence that day. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have fallen out with them,¡± Old Lady Mo glared resentfully at Auntie Sun with her old eyes. ¡°Exactly, Madam Xie used to listen to Mother-in-law. It¡¯s all because of you, you Seductress Fox causing trouble,¡± Madam Ruan chimed in, still pained by the loss of so many New Year¡¯s goods she failed to get her hands on. Seeing they were blaming her, Auntie Sun refused to take it, clutching Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s arm and shaking it vigorously, speaking in an even more coquettishly sweet voice, ¡°Husband, look, they are bullying me, that day we all went there together.¡± Auntie Sun¡¯s suddenly coquettish voice gave Mo Daoyan¡¯s family the creeps. And yet, Mo Xiaoqiang appeared to enjoy it, ¡°Exactly, you all made quite a scene then; you can¡¯t blame everything on my wife when things go south.¡± ¡°Big brother, I think you should be the one to step in, you¡¯ll definitely succeed. After all, you are their biological father, aren¡¯t you?¡± Mo Daoyan rubbed his arms, trying to dispel his goosebumps. As soon as Mo Xiaoqiang heard the suggestion he intervene, his face fell, his voice deflated, ¡°You all saw Xuexue¡¯s reaction that day, she hates me to death; there¡¯s no chance.¡± ¡°Are you dumb? There¡¯s still Chuner, and if that fails, bring Yanyan back to help.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang¡¯s spirits lifted immediately, slapping his thigh, ¡°Right! How could I forget Yanyan? Back in the day, we were the closest.¡± Chapter 160 - 160 160 The Benefits Are Substantial ?Chapter 160: Chapter 160 The Benefits Are Substantial Chapter 160: Chapter 160 The Benefits Are Substantial ¡°Who is Yanyan?¡± Just by listening, one knew it was a woman¡¯s name, and Auntie Sun felt a tinge of jealousy. Seeing how excited Mo Xiaoqiang looked, this woman seemed to be someone special. ¡°A little beauty. Big brother likes her the most, giggle giggle...!¡± Madam Ruan said with a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. She disliked Auntie Sun¡¯s coquettish and seductive behavior and deliberately wanted to annoy her. ¡°Oh my! Little brother, keep your wife in check. She¡¯s stirring up nonsense.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang addressed Mo Daoyan, then turned his head, patted Auntie Sun on the back, and cooed soothingly, ¡°My sweet darling, don¡¯t think too much! She¡¯s my daughter, my eldest daughter.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard you mention that you have an older daughter.¡± ¡°She got married and went far away, so I never brought her up to you.¡± Mo Xiaoqiang explained. Actually, the main reason was that his daughter¡¯s in-laws were too poor, and he was afraid it would be embarrassing. In a soft voice, Auntie Sun said, ¡°That¡¯s perfect, isn¡¯t the New Year coming up? Have her visit her parental home, and take advantage of the old residence, where there are plenty of good things.¡± ¡°Yes! Big brother, let¡¯s do just that,¡± Mo Daoyan said in agreement, voicing his support repeatedly. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll send someone with a message right away to have Yanyan come back in a few days,¡± Mo Xiaoqiang readily agreed. Only then did Old Lady Mo smile brightly, as long as she could grasp control over those worthless women in the old residence, she could have a rich New Year. She had heard that Old Master Mo had sent a huge cage of chickens over to the old residence, and according to the gossipers, there were no less than four large fat chickens. As for the fabric, she heard it was silk. She had never worn silk in her life, and just the thought filled Old Lady Mo with joy, as if those items were already laid out before her. The next day Xuexue and Big Bull went to the market again, unbeknownst to them, countless eyes from Mo Family Village secretly watched them, curious to see what good things they would bring back this time. Little did they know, when they returned, they brought back only a basket of garlic. The curious onlookers were both surprised and puzzled. What could Xuexue, that little lass, want with so many garlic bulbs? They would go bad if not eaten, what a waste! On the way home, Big Bull carried a large basket of garlic bulbs, and asked with confusion while walking, ¡°Wife! What do we need so many garlic bulbs for?¡± ¡°Do these look like garlic bulbs to you?¡± ¡°Yes! They¡¯re definitely garlic bulbs,¡± Big Bull confirmed, looking over and over again, finding no mistake¨Cthey were genuine garlic bulbs. ¡°Then how come all I see is silver?¡± ¡°It¡¯s silver?¡± Big Bull picked up a garlic bulb, looked at it from the left, then the right, but no matter how he looked, it was still a garlic bulb, prompting him to laugh and say, ¡°Wife! Have you lost your mind? These are clearly garlic bulbs.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s lost your mind!¡± Xuexue said with a knowing smile, ¡°Right now they¡¯re not, but give it some time, and I have a way to turn them into shiny silver.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Big Bull looked at Xuexue skeptically. Xuexue¡¯s smile vanished and her eyes narrowed, ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± ¡°No no no.¡± Big Bull quickly corrected himself, ¡°I believe, I believe, my wife is smart.¡± ¡°Hmm! That¡¯s more like it,¡± Xuexue said, satisfied. The old residence ¡°Chuner, where¡¯s mom?¡± Xuexue asked as she put down her things and searched the house without finding Madam Xie. She then turned to Chuner, who was sitting at the door playing with Xiao Gougou. ¡°Mom went to work in the fields. She said Sister mentioned wanting to plow the land, so since she had some time today, she went to loosen the soil,¡± Chuner explained. The Mo family had allocated two acres of barren, rocky land to them, Xuexue had mentioned wanting to plant something a few days ago, and unexpectedly, today Madam Xie had gone to plow the fields. ¡°Oh! So that¡¯s it,¡± Xuexue replied. ¡°Sister, Xiao Gougou wants some candy. Can I take some to share with him?¡± Chuner asked. Xuexue looked up at Xiao Gougou. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Xiao Gougou spoke up in a small voice, ¡°Sister Xuexue, I didn¡¯t ask Chuner for candy. She insisted on giving it to me.¡± Chapter 161 - 161 161 Breaking Ground ?Chapter 161: Chapter 161 Breaking Ground Chapter 161: Chapter 161 Breaking Ground In the countryside, candy was quite a luxury, and ordinary families couldn¡¯t afford it, and even if they did buy some, they were reluctant to share it with others. It¡¯s no wonder Xiao Gougou was so anxious; countless women from the village have stormed to others¡¯ homes, scolded their ancestors for eighteen generations over their children sharing a little tasty treat with friends, and only stopped after completely venting their anger. ¡°Hey! It¡¯s just candy, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± Xuexue, with a smile brimming on her face, didn¡¯t care at all; she had bought those candies for Chuner in the first place, and now that she wanted to share them with her good friend, she let her be. The anxiety that Xiao Gougou had been holding in her heart finally settled down, and she felt that Chuner¡¯s sister was even more amiable than before. Xuexue looked down, rubbed Chuner¡¯s little head, and said, ¡°Chuner, go on, bring out some candy for Xiao Gougou to try. You are good friends after all, and you can¡¯t be stingy, okay?¡± ¡°Sister, you¡¯re so nice.¡± Chuner cried out joyfully and turned to run into the house. Xuexue, holding a worn-out hoe, instructed Chuner to watch the house and then went out with Big Bull. ¡°Wife, where are we going?¡± ¡°To the fields to play.¡± ¡°Is it fun?¡± Big Bull asked with a curious face. This fool, once cleaned up, actually had delicate and tender skin, clearly having never done rough work before¡ªcould he be the Eldest Young Master from some wealthy family? Looking at Big Bull, Xuexue had a thoughtful expression on her face. ¡°Wife, what are you thinking about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m wondering if, after the wound on Big Bull¡¯s head heals and he remembers his family and his own name, whether he will forget about us?¡± Upon hearing this, Big Bull immediately stopped in his tracks, looked at Xuexue earnestly and foolishly, and said, ¡°Wife, you can rest assured, Big Bull will not forget you for his whole life. I will even build a big house for you to live in.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± ¡°Big Bull swears to heaven, I¡¯m not lying,¡± Big Bull declared, while lifting up two fingers in a ridiculous and comical oath. ¡°Pfft!¡± Xuexue burst out laughing, ¡°Never thought you knew how to swear, huh?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how I saw Xiao Gougou swear to Chuner that day.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xuexue looked surprised, ¡°Why did Xiao Gougou swear to Chuner?¡± ¡°He said that when he grows up, he will definitely marry Chuner, or else be struck by lightning.¡± ¡°My goodness! That little runt¡ªhe¡¯s not even fully grown and he¡¯s already flirting?¡± Xuexue was both irked and amused. ¡°He said it¡¯s called ¡®preparing for a rainy day¡¯.¡± ¡°That little runt hasn¡¯t even attended a private school yet, and he already knows how to use idioms. Not bad at all, he¡¯s got potential.¡± ¡°Wife, you¡¯re not angry?¡± Big Bull asked tentatively. ¡°What¡¯s there to be angry about? It just shows that our Chuner has been charming since she was little, and won¡¯t have to worry about getting married when she grows up.¡± Chatting as they walked, they inadvertently arrived at the edge of the fields. There they saw Madam Xie in the field, laboriously picking up stones. In the freezing cold that made people shiver, Madam Xie was working up a sweat. ¡°Mother!¡± Xuexue called out loudly from the edge of the field. Madam Xie looked up, quite surprised, ¡°Xuexue, Big Bull, what are you doing here? Go back, Mother is enough here.¡± Although Xuexue was originally from a noble background, she became a country girl after following her mother¡¯s sudden death, making Madam Xie feel guilty and naturally not wanting her to do such heavy work. ¡°We¡¯ve come to help. How long can you manage by yourself?¡± As Xuexue spoke, she went down into the field, walking towards Madam Xie. The ground was covered with rocks of all sizes, and at the sight, Xuexue¡¯s anger flared up: ¡°The old folks from the Mo family are too despicable, actually giving us such a lousy piece of land.¡± Chapter 162 - 162 162 Picking Up Stones ?Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Picking Up Stones Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Picking Up Stones ¡°Forget it, having something is better than nothing, right? Being able to get them to allocate two acres to us is already pretty good,¡± Madam Xie wiped the sweat from her face with her sleeve as she spoke. Indeed, even for those two acres of poor land, the Mo family had felt the pinch for quite some time. Old Lady Mo went around the village saying that they had done their duty by them. Even divorced daughters-in-law had gotten two acres from the Mo family¡ªwhat more did they want from them? ¡°But look at all those stones, how can we pick them up?¡± Xuexue was still visibly angry. Some stones were firmly embedded in the ground, requiring tools to pry them loose¡ªone should not be too abusive. ¡°It¡¯s alright, mother will take her time. You and Big Bull go back,¡± Madam Xie said, then squatted down again to pry up the stones from the ground. ¡°How long will it take for you to do it alone? We should help you,¡± Xuexue insisted, seeing that Madam Xie had started working again. ¡°Wife, I¡¯ll pry the stones. You pick them up.¡± After watching Madam Xie pry up a few stones, Big Bull had figured it out. He knew what to do and called out to Xuexue. ¡°Sure!¡± Turning her head to look at Big Bull, she saw him holding a sharpened bamboo stick, seemingly effortlessly prying up a stone, then another, as if he were just playing, doing it with great speed. Xuexue laughed when she saw this, picked up a basket from the ground and ran over to collect stones. In a short while, she had gathered two baskets full of stones. Xuexue picked up the carrying pole, ready to haul the stones to the edge of the mountain. Since the surrounding area was all fields, dumping them in someone else¡¯s field would earn her a scolding. ¡°Wife, let me carry it,¡± Big Bull said, paying close attention to Xuexue even while prying stones. ¡°Alright, you know where to dump them, right?¡± Xuexue pointed about two hundred meters away to the edge of the mountain. ¡°Hmm! Sure.¡± Without a word, Big Bull picked up the baskets and set off. On the rough terrain of the field, he moved surprisingly fast. ¡°Big Bull is clearly cut out for farming. Xuexue, you¡¯re sure to have good days ahead,¡± Madam Xie stood up, rubbed her back, and said with a satisfied expression. Upon hearing Madam Xie¡¯s comment, Xuexue could hardly agree; in her heart, she scoffed. This guy¡¯s got soft, delicate skin¡ªwhat eye did her mother use to see that he was good at farming? And why imply she¡¯d only have good days with Big Bull? Without him, she could have good days just the same. However, she wouldn¡¯t dare to dampen her mother¡¯s spirits with her thoughts. ¡°Mother, stop prying stones. It¡¯s too tiring! Look, Big Bull has pried quite a few. There are enough for us to pick up,¡± Xuexue tried to change the subject. Unfortunately, things don¡¯t always go as planned. Madam Xie looked where Xuexue pointed, seeing the loose stones on the ground, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh again, saying, ¡°Big Bull really is a capable lad.¡± Then she added, ¡°Xuexue is truly blessed.¡± Xuexue¡¯s smile instantly collapsed. Did her mother realize that she was her daughter, after all? Xuexue felt deeply hurt inside. Big Bull came back with the empty baskets. Half-heartedly, Xuexue piled the stones together and went up to him, asking with concern, ¡°Wife, what¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you feel well?¡± ¡°Hmm! I feel awful,¡± she replied. ¡°Huh? Wife, where does it hurt? I¡¯ll take you to the doctor,¡± Big Bull said anxiously, dropping the carrying pole he was holding. ¡°My heart aches.¡± ¡°Is it serious? Come on, I¡¯ll carry you to the doctor,¡± Big Bull was very worried and, while speaking, crouched in front of her, back towards her: ¡°Wife, get on quickly, I¡¯ll take you to the doctor.¡± Chapter 163 - 163 163 Are You Itching for a Spanking ?Chapter 163: Chapter 163 Are You Itching for a Spanking? Chapter 163: Chapter 163 Are You Itching for a Spanking? ¡°I¡¯m not going to see the doctor, the doctor can¡¯t save me anyway,¡± Xuexue said, looking listless, as if she had lost all will to live. ¡°If even the doctor can¡¯t save you, then what are we going to do?¡± Big Bull paced around Xuexue anxiously, hopping up and down in distress. ¡°She can save me.¡± Xuexue pointed at Madam Xie. ¡°Big Madam?¡± Big Bull looked confused. ¡°But Big Madam isn¡¯t a doctor, how can she save you?¡± ¡°She¡¯s more formidable than a doctor, she can kill a person with her words.¡± Xuexue had Big Bull going around in circles, and Madam Xie couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°You mischievous girl, Big Bull has been so nice to you and yet you play him for a fool. Don¡¯t you feel a bit of conscience?¡± Then, turning to Big Bull, she said, ¡°Big Bull, don¡¯t bother with her. This mischievous girl is not sick, she¡¯s just jealous because I treat you well.¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± Big Bull looked puzzled once again. ¡°My lady likes to be jealous?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Xuexue is very prone to jealousy.¡± ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll buy a few jars of vinegar from the market in a few days, let my lady have her fill,¡± Big Bull said cheerfully. ¡°Great! Then buy a few more jars, our Xuexue loves to be jealous,¡± Madam Xie raised her voice deliberately, glancing at Xuexue¡¯s increasingly pouting mouth, but she was laughing secretly so hard it was cramping her insides. ¡°The two of you are ganging up to bully me, I won¡¯t stay with you anymore, I¡¯m leaving,¡± Xuexue said, turning around and walking away huffily. ¡°Hey! My lady, where are you going?¡± Big Bull called out loudly. ¡°To be jealous,¡± Xuexue¡¯s muffled voice came back. Madam Xie couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Since recovering from her fever, this was the first time Xuexue had been put in her place, and by Big Bull no less. She must be feeling somewhat uncomfortable inside. ¡°Big Madam, I¡¯m going to chase after my lady.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Watching the two of them get along so well, Madam Xie couldn¡¯t be happier. ¡°My lady, wait for me.¡± With his tall stature and long legs, Big Bull quickly caught up with Xuexue. ¡°Why are you following me instead of helping Mother with the rocks?¡± ¡°If my lady leaves, I want to leave too,¡± Big Bull said with a pitiable expression. ¡°So you like following me around that much?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just feel so comfortable and peaceful inside whenever I see my lady,¡± Big Bull said, tilting his head naively after a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°Alright then.¡± Xuexue thought about the stones in their two fields. They could not be cleared in one or two days, and besides, it was already getting late. It was time to go back and cook dinner. As they were nearing home, they could hear Chuner¡¯s cries and saw a gaudy figure snatching something from her hands in the distance. Xuexue hurried over and took a good look. It was Xiuzhi, trying to take the candy from Chuner¡¯s hands! Chuner was crying in fright. ¡°Mo Xiuzhi, are you itching for a beating?¡± Xuexue¡¯s voice rose coldly behind her, and the guilty Xiuzhi immediately let go of Chuner. ¡°Waah...! Sister, she bullied me.¡± Chuner burst into tears when she saw Xuexue. ¡°Mo Xiuzhi, aren¡¯t you ashamed? You¡¯re actually trying to steal candy from a child,¡± Xuexue¡¯s eyes glared at Xiuzhi, almost spitting flames. ¡°Who... who... who¡¯s stealing her candy? I... I... just wanted to see what brand it was so I could have my mom buy some,¡± Xiuzhi shivered all over when she saw Xuexue, fumbling over her words. ¡°Ha! Who would believe such a tall tale? You think you¡¯re dealing with children here?¡± Xuexue sneered disbelievingly. Chapter 164 - 164 164 Beating up a Girl ?Chapter 164: Chapter 164 Beating up a Girl Chapter 164: Chapter 164 Beating up a Girl ¡°Who... Who fooled you, I... I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± As a grown woman, snatching a child¡¯s candy, it would indeed be embarrassing if word got out. So, with a stiff neck, Xiuzhi absolutely refused to admit that she had snatched Chuner¡¯s candy, after all, no one had seen it just now, there were no witnesses to her death, right? At the same time, Xiuzhi¡¯s heart was wailing non-stop, that little cheap person, Xuexue, had clearly seen her going to the field with that Demon, Big Bull, how could she have returned so quickly? Her luck was truly rotten. ¡°Wife, why did you run so fast?¡± At this moment, Big Bull also walked over. They were chatting while walking just now, and everything had been fine until Xuexue suddenly took off running with all her might, leaving him utterly confused. Hearing Big Bull¡¯s approaching footsteps, Xiuzhi¡¯s face instantly turned pale. Seeing Xiuzhi¡¯s face turn deathly pale, Xuexue understood that she was truly afraid of Big Bull from the bottom of her heart. ¡°Big Bull, she snatched Chuner¡¯s candy, what do you think we should do with her?¡± Xuexue deliberately said. ¡°Such a big person, snatching candy from a child, that¡¯s really shameless.¡± Big Bull might be simple-minded, but he despised her behaviour. ¡°Hmm! That is quite shameless.¡± Xuexue nodded in agreement, then added, ¡°But even more shameless is still to come! I am a witness, I saw with my own eyes her snatching the candy from Chuner¡¯s hand, and she still won¡¯t admit it.¡± ¡°So despicable, she deserves a beating.¡± The language and actions of Big Bull and Xuexue were becoming increasingly in sync. ¡°Hmm, that idea doesn¡¯t seem too bad.¡± While Xuexue rubbed her chin with her hand, she glanced at Xiuzhi trembling on the side and secretly thought, I¡¯ll scare you to death, let¡¯s see if you dare to bully Chuner in the future. ¡°You... you... don¡¯t... don¡¯t mess around.¡± Listening to their devilish conversation, Xiuzhi¡¯s face turned pale and her lips white, and her whole body started shaking. ¡°Big Bull, should you just give her a beating directly, or throw her over to the fish pond?¡± Xuexue¡¯s chilling voice rang out again. The words ¡°fish pond¡± had become a nightmare for the Mo family members, everyone in Mo Family Village knew that Big Bull had casually thrown Butcher Yu from the old residence¡¯s doorway, and he flew straight into the fish pond two hundred meters away. A few days ago, Big Bull even boasted that he would throw the Mo family members to the fish pond, resulting in a chase down several alleys, exhausting them like dogs and turning it into a joke in Mo Family Village. Xiuzhi had been there too, so no wonder she was scared. ¡°Ah...! Mother, save me!¡± Instantly, Xiuzhi screamed and ran off like a startled rat. Big Bull was baffled: ¡°She¡¯s crazy, her mother isn¡¯t even here, why is she shouting for her mother?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand, a child who hasn¡¯t been weaned, when they¡¯re extremely scared, they tend to call for their mother.¡± Xiuzhi was just like that; although her body was grown, she was extremely dependent on Madam Ruan psychologically. ¡°How old is she, still nursing?!¡± ¡°How would I know, you go ask her.¡± Realizing she was discussing a sensitive topic with Big Bull, Xuexue blushed, her tone becoming impatient. ¡°Wife, are you unhappy because I didn¡¯t beat her up?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xuexue was clearly sulking. Unfortunately, Big Bull, the fool, didn¡¯t understand: ¡°Then I¡¯ll go catch her now, give her a beating, and vent your anger.¡± Having said that, he really turned and started to walk away, intending to catch Xiuzhi and bring her back. Xuexue hurriedly grabbed him: ¡°Are you stupid? I¡¯m joking with you.¡± ¡°Wife, you¡¯re not angry?¡± ¡°A little.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll beat her up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a grown man, always talking about beating up a girl, don¡¯t you feel embarrassed?¡± Chapter 165 - 165 165 Spring Festival ?Chapter 165: Chapter 165 Spring Festival Chapter 165: Chapter 165 Spring Festival ¡°Shame?¡± Big Bull¡¯s eyes were baffled, indicating that he didn¡¯t understand. Xiuzhi, terrified, clutched her head and scurried away in a very awkward escape, while Chuner was secretly delighted. Having Big Bull Brother in their house was a blessing. Despite his somewhat dull wits, he was incredibly strong and knew Kung Fu. People with ill intentions would go weak at the knees at the sight of him. ¡°Sister, why do you talk about Big Bull Brother like that? Sister Xiuzhi is a bad person; she deserved to be hit,¡± Xuexue said about Big Bull, which immediately made Chuner defend him. Xuexue felt wronged too: ¡°I didn¡¯t tell him to actually hit her, just to scare her a bit. This fool, in broad daylight, really wanted to grab her. If we really wanted to hit her, we could do it secretly so no one would know it was us.¡± ¡°Yeah! Besides hitting someone outright like that is wrong anyway,¡± Chuner nodded in agreement, but within a moment she crisply added, ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t talk about Big Bull Brother like that either. His brain has been injured, and he¡¯s not very sharp. Can¡¯t you speak to him more kindly?¡± Alright, when all is said and done, it¡¯s still my fault. Helplessly, Xuexue stepped forward and apologized to Big Bull: ¡°Big Bull, I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have spoken about you that way. I was wrong.¡± ¡°Wife, you... you did nothing wrong. It¡¯s all my fault for making you angry,¡± Xuexue apologized, and Big Bull, distressed and at a loss, paced about helplessly. Chuner, like a little grown-up, took Big Bull¡¯s hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Big Bull Brother. Your brain doesn¡¯t work well, and sister shouldn¡¯t have spoken to you like that. She should apologize to you.¡± ¡°Chuner, my brain is fine. I¡¯m certainly not stupid.¡± Despite his obviously silly air, Big Bull insisted he wasn¡¯t stupid. ¡°Big Bull Brother is the best, he only has a brain injury.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Finally, Big Bull cracked a big, silly smile. Xuexue secretly pouted and muttered under her breath, Everyone is right, and I¡¯m the only one who¡¯s wrong. A few days later, the first day of Chinese New Year. Every house in the village, having prepared a day earlier, had red couplets pasted up early, making the whole village look very festive. In front of the houses of the wealthy, there was a constant crackle of firecrackers. That night, Chuner was so excited that she couldn¡¯t sleep until after midnight, eager for dawn so she could wear the new clothes she had longed for. She couldn¡¯t help herself because, ever since she could remember, she hadn¡¯t worn new clothes. This Chinese New Year was truly wonderful. They had moved out of the Mo¡¯s house and not only did they not starve, but they also had new clothes to wear and meat to eat. She wouldn¡¯t have to live in constant fear of being beaten by her grandmother for no reason anymore. Thinking of these things, Chuner smiled even in her dreams. At the crack of dawn, having hardly slept, Chuner sprang up and grabbed the new cotton jacket Madam Xie had placed by the bed, hurriedly putting it on. ¡°Mom, Mom, does my new dress look good?¡± Chuner bounced out of the room and asked Madam Xie, who was in the kitchen. Being used to waking up early at the Mo¡¯s house, at this Shichen Chinese Time, Madam Xie was usually already up. ¡°Oh my! Chuner, you girl, why are you up so early? Go back and sleep some more,¡± she said. Since it was the first day of the New Year, Madam Xie wanted to cook a lavish breakfast for everyone, so she had gotten up early and had been busy in the kitchen for a while. Hearing the noise, she turned around and saw Chuner, dressed in pink, cutely appearing before her. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep, so I got up!¡± Chuner said joyfully: ¡°Mom, is my dress pretty?¡± Saying this, she grabbed her skirt and twirled on the spot, her face beaming with happiness. Madam Xie laughed, realizing that the little girl had gotten up so early because she was excited about her new dress. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful. My Chuner is the prettiest.¡± ¡°Not true, Mom is lying,¡± Chuner playfully accused. ¡°Oh! How am I lying?¡± Chapter 166 - 166 166 Troupe ?Chapter 166: Chapter 166 Troupe Chapter 166: Chapter 166 Troupe ¡°It¡¯s true, the aunties in the village have all been gossiping behind our backs, saying sister is growing more stunning by the day and has become the belle of Mo Family Village. Now that Big Bull Brother has arrived, Chuner really doesn¡¯t have a chance,¡± ¡°Who said that? In Mother¡¯s eyes, you and Xuexue are both equally beautiful, forever my precious darlings,¡± Madam Xie said with a smile. Xuexue¡¯s birth mother, back in her days in the Capital, was a beauty that could topple empires, ranking at the very top. Now, as Xuexue gradually grew up, it seemed she increasingly resembled her birth mother in looks. ¡°Hmm! Alright then.¡± After all, Chuner was only five years old, and she wouldn¡¯t really dwell on these issues. She then cheerfully added, ¡°Mother, I want to go play with Xiao Gougou for a while before I come back.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Madam Xie peeked outside and said, ¡°Chuner, it¡¯s only just dawn, Xiao Gougou might not be up yet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true, we agreed yesterday that we¡¯d get up at dawn to see whose new clothes are prettier. Xiao Gougou¡¯s mother also made him a new outfit.¡± ¡°This...¡± ¡°Oh, Mother, please let me go,¡± Chuner implored, tugging at Madam Xie¡¯s arm and shaking it vigorously. Seeing no chance to do her work, Madam Xie could only concede, ¡°Alright, you go take a look, and if Xiao Gougou isn¡¯t awake, come straight back, understood?¡± ¡°Eh! Okay!¡± Chuner agreed joyfully and bounced out the door. ............... Since today was the first day of the New Year, Madam Xie had gotten up early to knead dough and make dumplings especially for the occasion. ¡°I heard that today, the Wealthy Master in the next village hired a whole opera troupe to perform at his house,¡± Madam Xie said leisurely as she picked up a dumpling and took a bite. That morning, as Madam Xie went to the riverside to fetch water, she overheard a few women chatting about it. They had even planned to go watch it right after breakfast. Anyway, the custom here on the first day of the New Year was to just cook meals and not do other work. Besides, it didn¡¯t cost any silver to go there, so checking it out to broaden one¡¯s horizons could be nice. ¡°Is that so? Let¡¯s join the fun,¡± Xuexue said excitedly upon hearing about the opera, putting down her chopsticks, her eyes sparkling. Big Bull chuckled, ¡°Sure!¡± Madam Xie, who had first brought it up, however, seemed listless. She shook her head, ¡°There will be too many people, I¡¯m afraid of the crowd. You two go on your own.¡± Xuexue: ¡°What about Chuner?¡± ¡°She went to play with Xiao Gougou early in the morning and had just come back. After grabbing a bowl of dumplings, she ran out again.¡± ¡°Should we call her back to go with us?¡± ¡°You go with Big Bull, leave her be. She¡¯s too small. Even if she went, she wouldn¡¯t be able to see over the crowd and would just get anxious.¡± Today being the first day of the New Year, everyone had time to spare, and with the play being free on top of that, there were bound to be many people going to watch. Describing the scene as packed with people was an understatement. ¡°Alright,¡± Madam Xie said so, and Xuexue thought it made sense, thus she didn¡¯t say anything more. After the dumplings, Xuexue and Big Bull set off on foot to the neighbouring village. Along the way, they saw many people from Mo Family Village also heading in that direction. Upon asking, it turned out they all wanted to go watch the play in the next village too. When they arrived, the entrance to the Wealthy Master¡¯s house was already crowded, with people even perched atop of the surrounding walls. There was no place left to watch the play from, they could only stand on the outskirts and gaze at the back of other people¡¯s heads. ¡°Big Bull, what do we do? Should we go back?¡± ¡°Wife, do you want to watch the play?¡± What a silly question! If she wasn¡¯t interested, why would she bother to walk such a long distance and come all this way? Was it really just to look at the back of people¡¯s heads? Chapter 167 - 167 167 Foolish Acts ?Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Foolish Acts Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Foolish Acts ¡°So what if I like it? Isn¡¯t there nowhere to watch it now?¡± ¡°My lady, come with me, I have a way.¡± Big Bull pulled Xuexue away. ¡°What are you doing? You aren¡¯t planning on barging in there, are you?¡± Big Bull wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed, and she hoped he wouldn¡¯t do something foolish just because she mentioned liking the play. Xuexue felt a twinge of horror. ¡°Big Bull, you better not mess around, okay? This is someone else¡¯s property.¡± Xuexue tried to halt her steps, but Big Bull was too strong, and she couldn¡¯t wrestle free from his solid grip. Her legs involuntarily kept pace with his strides. In the midst of her incessant talking, Big Bull had already stopped walking. ¡°My lady, look, there¡¯s nobody here; it¡¯s quite good.¡± Collecting her wits, Xuexue saw that they were at the back of the Wealthy Master¡¯s house, which was hosting the big play. She felt a pang of dismay and said, ¡°Of course there¡¯s no one here, because you can¡¯t see the play from this spot at all.¡± No sooner had she spoken than she felt Big Bull¡¯s arms wrap around her waist. Xuexue was about to resist when she heard a whooshing sound by her ear. By the time she came to her senses, she was standing on an icy roof. ¡°Big... Big Bull, how... how did you bring me up here?¡± With no mental preparation for being so high up suddenly, and feeling dizzy looking down, Xuexue¡¯s legs couldn¡¯t stop trembling, and her hands were clutched tightly around Big Bull¡¯s waist. The size of the Wealthy Master¡¯s mansion was comparable to Old Money Mo¡¯s luxurious residence, standing several stories tall. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to watch the play? I brought you up here to see it,¡± said Big Bull matter-of-factly, eventually wearing a grin as he asked, ¡°My lady, are you surprised?¡± ¡°Yes, very, surprised,¡± Xuexue replied, her limbs wrapped firmly around Big Bull, her teeth chattering as she articulated every word. If Big Bull wasn¡¯t brain-damaged, a bit simple-minded, she would have suspected he was deliberately tormenting her. ¡°My lady, let¡¯s not stand, let¡¯s sit down to watch, it¡¯s more comfortable.¡± With Xuexue clinging onto him for dear life, he couldn¡¯t pull her off, and so Big Bull had no choice but to speak. With Big Bull¡¯s suggestion, Xuexue realized she was hanging onto him like an octopus; her face instantly flushed red, and she quickly let go, her speech stammering: ¡°That... ahem... it wasn¡¯t intentional.¡± ¡°Hehe...! My lady, please take a seat quickly, the big show is about to start.¡± Big Bull was lying on the roof tile, chuckling as he watched her. ¡°Uh!¡± Forgetting this numbskull wasn¡¯t normal, and that explaining to him was futile, Xuexue brushed off her residual embarrassment and focused on sitting down to watch the play. Indeed, Big Bull hadn¡¯t chosen a bad spot; from the rooftop, they could see the entire stage in the courtyard below. Now, the noise of gongs and drums filled the air, and the grand play was about to begin... ¡°My lady, had I known this was such a good spot, I would have called Chuner to join us.¡± Xuexue barely resisted rolling her eyes, thinking to herself, do you think this is your backyard? She had been scared half to death getting up here, and if Chuner had come, she might have fainted or screamed. That would have roused the homeowners, and who knows, they might have had to suffer the consequences. ¡°It¡¯s starting, it¡¯s starting! My lady, look quickly, it¡¯s ¡®The Legend of the White Snake.''¡± Big Bull pointed excitedly towards the stage. Indeed, there was a placard, upon which was written ¡®The Legend of the White Snake¡¯ in large characters. Xuexue glanced sideways, taking another careful look at Big Bull. His features were strikingly handsome, his thin lips pursed, his eyes sharp and clear. When he wasn¡¯t grinning foolishly, there seemed to be a glint of killing intent in those eyes, but in an instant, it vanished without a trace. Shaking her head, she blinked her eyes, suspecting she¡¯d been mistaken. Chapter 168 - 168 168 Bandits ?Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Bandits Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Bandits ¡°My lady, why are you staring at me? Let¡¯s watch the performance, it has already begun.¡± As Xuexue was full of confusion, Big Bull had already turned his head toward her, reverting back to his silly demeanor, and smiled as he spoke to her. ¡°Big Bull, do you know how to read?¡± In rural families, it¡¯s not easy to raise a scholar. Even the slightly wealthier households have to tighten their belts and save on food and clothing to afford it. For the children of poor families, attending a Private School is even more of a luxury. Therefore, Xuexue concluded that since Big Bull could read, he must not come from a poor family. ¡°Yes, I do.¡± ¡°Have you attended a Private School?¡± Big Bull turned his head and thought hard for a moment, then shook his head with a hint of distress, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I can¡¯t remember.¡± Seeing him struggle so hard, it didn¡¯t seem like he was faking, Xuexue could only let it go. At the same time, she comforted herself, surely she had been seeing things earlier. Even if Big Bull wasn¡¯t foolish and was indeed the son of a wealthy family, it was unlikely he would exude a murderous aura. Looking at the occasional noble temperament he exhibited, he couldn¡¯t possibly be a bandit, could he? Suddenly, Xuexue remembered that night when Auntie Sun had trapped her with an Aphrodisiac. In the hollow of the hills, she was overwhelmed by a man whose demeanor had seemed all too similar to Big Bull¡¯s, but the temperament was quite different. Could it be because he was wounded that even his personality had changed? All these doubts twined around in Xuexue¡¯s heart. ¡°Impossible,¡± she shook her head unconsciously, murmuring to herself, ¡°How could such coincidences happen in the world?¡± ¡°My lady, are you cold?¡± As the cold wind howled on the rooftop, amidst Xuexue¡¯s inner turmoil, Big Bull¡¯s considerate words came through. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°How about I give you a coat to block the wind? The performance has just started, and the wind is quite strong up here.¡± As he was speaking, Big Bull took off his coat and draped it over Xuexue, then carefully wrapped and fastened it around her. After giving his coat to Xuexue, Big Bull was left wearing only a thin undershirt. ¡°What a fool you are. You¡¯re only wearing a thin shirt, aren¡¯t you cold?¡± Xuexue felt touched by Big Bull¡¯s genuine kindness. Although Big Bull was foolish, his sincerity was pure and untainted, a kind of affection that was the most innocent and worthy of cherishing. ¡°I¡¯m not cold, I am a man,¡± Big Bull declared, but just as he spoke, a gust of cold wind blew over him, making him shiver and sneeze uncontrollably, ¡°Achoo, achoo.¡± ¡°What a fool. And you say you¡¯re not cold?¡± Seeing Big Bull sneezing forcefully, obviously cold with a runny nose and still stubbornly persisting, she felt both moved and amused. She quickly took off his coat from herself and put it back on him, ¡°Don¡¯t catch a cold. The wind is too strong on the rooftop. Let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°But my lady, don¡¯t you enjoy watching the opera?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel like watching it now.¡± Xuexue didn¡¯t want to explain, lest the simple-minded Big Bull do something astonishing again. ¡°All right.¡± Big Bull tried to stand up, but when he applied force with his foot, he accidentally kicked a protruding roof tile and sent it flying... ¡°Ah!¡± Xuexue couldn¡¯t help but let out an exclamation! With so many people below, the tile falling from high above could cause unimaginable consequences if it hit someone. Her heart leaped to her throat, and she was extremely anxious. Onstage, the performance had reached its climax... Inside and outside the estate, the crowd was vast. Hundreds of eyes were intently fixed on the stage when suddenly, a roof tile descended out of nowhere... ¡°Clatter.¡± It landed in the middle of the stage and shattered on impact. Immediately, the performers were thrown into chaos, scattering across the stage with their hands over their heads.