Cai Lihua was even more bewildered. She knew Old Meng was a scoundrel, but she didn't realize he was so detested.
A Jiu, with sharp eyes, was the first to recognize the man carrying a hoe as Uncle Ma.
He was actually a good person, just too honest. Her own father used to bully him constantly.
"Uncle Ma," A Jiu got out of the cart and ran ahead.
Tuoba Yan saw that things weren't good and followed closely, protecting her with Zhao Kun on either side.
"This… A Jiu girl?" Ma Dabiao raised his torch and squinted to see her clearly.
Everyone in the village knew how unfortunate this girl's life was.
"It's me, Uncle Ma. We've been traveling for days to catch up with you."
A Jiu's eyes sparkled with the torchlight, looking exceptionally bright.
"Come here..." Ma Dabiao pulled A Jiu behind him protectively.
"Your father is not a good person. Follow me, I'll protect you. I promise your father won't dare to hit you again."
Meng Shaode understood. He put his hands on his hips, his feet apart, and turned his back with a sigh.
"Alas..."
He had said that being born into such a lazy body was a disgrace.
Only Cai Lihua understood his inner grievance. He walked back and complained to his wife, "Wife, I'm innocent..."
"Uncle Ma, my father hasn't hit me. He's changed," A Jiu said, shaking Uncle Ma's hand.
Ma Dabiao looked at the distressed girl behind him.
"You're just too kind-hearted. Everyone in the village knows your father is a scoundrel. Go tell him that only you and your mother are welcome. As for him, tell him to get lost, or I'll have to bring out my tools."
"Especially your grandmother, tell her to get lost too," added Song Fengshou from the Song family nearby.
Everyone knew how sharp-tongued Madam Wang was. When the head of the Song family lost a chicken that wandered into her yard, she ate it and brazenly claimed it was the chicken's fault for coming to her house.
It had also eaten all her yard vegetables, and in the end, she demanded compensation from the Song family for the vegetables.
Such an old woman was formidable, but one could always avoid her.
"Uncle Song, isn't older brother changed now?"
Meng Shaode and his wife had discussed it. Times were different now. They would try to reason with them.
"Who knows if you've changed?" Song Fengshou stubbornly replied, looking as if no amount of sweet talk would help.
A Jiu sighed and looked at the elderly, children, and women behind them. She saw no trace of favor towards her father or grandmother in their eyes.
A Jiu hadn't considered continuing their journey alone, especially since they had a carriage.
"Uncle Song, can I ask you something? Have you seen my elder brother Nanxing?"
Once they clarified that they wouldn't be staying, they could leave.
"Nanxing? Isn't that him..." Uncle Song rubbed A Jiu's head. Many villagers couldn't stand the suffering this girl endured. Look at her, fifteen years old and still so petite.
Uncle Song pointed behind him with his stick.
A Jiu followed his gaze and saw Meng Nanxing, disheveled. When he was pointed out, he actually shrank back into the group of women.
"Big Brother," A Jiu ran towards him.
Meng Nanxing retreated. Seeing this, he seemed about to turn and run. A Jiu hugged his legs tightly.
"Big Brother, please don't run. You don't know how worried Mom and Dad are, afraid you'd be captured. We've been looking for you all this way."
"Oh dear," Meng Nanxing stamped his foot in anger, but seeing his little sister clinging to his legs, he said, "Sister, don't get involved. Don't you see everyone dislikes our parents? If I'm driven away because of them, how will I live? I still have to find my sister-in-law."
A Jiu finally understood. Her elder brother was afraid of being implicated.
"Exactly," a woman nearby chimed in.
"In my opinion, Nanxing is better tempered than his father and is well-read. If your father were with us, we wouldn't be able to sleep soundly."