A Jiu looked back at her father for help.
This matter naturally could not be spoken of casually.
"Village Elder, please sit." Meng Shaode, knowing his daughter was in a difficult position, first fetched a stool for the Village Elder to sit in the courtyard. The yard was packed with villagers.
Those outside hadn't yet managed to squeeze in.
"These seeds are what we brought from our old home. After all, when fleeing famine, one must bring some provisions to barely make it to your village,"
Meng Shaode's skill at weaving a tale had greatly improved, yet he wasn't lying. If they hadn't been robbed by bandits on the road, they would have had seeds now.
"So that's how it is," the Village Elder murmured, stroking his beard.
"How is that possible? My distant relative fled from the north. Not even a feather can grow there due to the dryness. We barely had a rain last year, and our crops failed. How could you possibly have seeds?"
Someone in the crowd spoke up.
Suddenly, everyone erupted like a bomb.
"I've heard too. If those refugees from the north could get some food, they wouldn't have resorted to robbery. This brother here doesn't always speak the truth."
The words sounded polite, but they hid sharp barbs.
"Exactly. Perhaps your family robbed wheat from the city and fled as refugees. If you don't tell the truth, we'll report you to the authorities."
The speaker had his hands tucked into his sleeves, his face a mask of jealousy and contempt.
Cai Lihua, peeking out from the kitchen, was about to speak when Mao Lihua pulled her back in.
"Sister-in-law, with your temper, if you butt in, won't it lead to a fight? I don't know what happened in the city, but I've also heard about refugee riots these past two days. We are outsiders, refugees. Although we're not completely heartless, we must not stir up trouble. If these people report us, none of us will escape. It's better to lie low."
"Did you hear what this brother said? We fled without touching anyone's needle or thread. How could we have robbed their grain?"
Meng Shaode looked at the crowd, numbering at least a hundred people, young and old. The pressure was immense.
He wasn't afraid of a fight, but he was most afraid that these people, in a fit of pique, would actually report them. Then it would all be over.
A Jiu lowered her head, remaining silent, contemplating. It was best to keep a low profile. She shouldn't have let her father till the land earlier; they could have just grown their own and harvested.
"Let's all say less," the Village Elder cleared his throat and stood up. His gaze, however, fell on A Jiu.
"Young Jiu, don't forget that it was Niu Dasheng who pleaded with me to help you get registered. But that doesn't mean your parents or aunt are also villagers of Heba Village."
A Jiu was afraid of the Village Elder saying this. If his parents, aunt, and grandmother were reported, what use would it be for her to stay here?
"But they are my family. I swear, my family members are all good people." A Jiu couldn't find any strong arguments.
"Good people or not, everyone is eager to plant now. You can't be the only one planting. Either everyone plants, or no one does."
A Jiu looked at the speaker, a gaunt uncle with a face full of aggressive sharpness, his eyes like hidden knives.
"Uncle, you speak this way, it's quite unreasonable. Are you perhaps trying to learn from those rogue refugees and snatch seeds? Then you're no different from them."
A Jiu was truly indignant, her face flushing red.
"I'm unreasonable? You stole grain and won't admit it. From what I see, after you arrived, that monster killed three people in the village. Could it be that someone in your family did it?"
The uncle's words grew more outrageous, causing the other villagers of Heba Village and the Village Elder to stare at him in horror.
"That's right. We only heard of deaths around Qiming Mountain before, and now they're happening in our village. And the government hasn't found the killer. It must be you outsiders who have become moles."
Others chimed in agreement.
A Jiu felt as if her heart had been struck. She took two steps back, uneasy.
"Who said that? Come out if you dare."
Cai Lihua, still not restrained by Mao Junlan, could not tolerate such words, no matter who heard them.