Qi He and Fu Xin Ci were standing by the window, deep in conversation.
The sight stung her eyes. Why should that wretched girl live in such a beautiful little building? Why was Qi He like a shadow, following her around every day?
Why?
Ever since they arrived, their family had known no good days.
As the weather grew colder, her mother constantly ordered her to gather firewood with the children of the exiled families.
She didn’t want to. Her mother’s scolding had escalated from curses to beatings with a broom.
Thinking of yesterday, when her arm had been red from her mother’s broom, her hatred intensified.
“Fu Xin Ci, you just wait, Miss.”
Fu Xin Ci had no idea that He Xiao Ni hated her, repeatedly and without cause.
He Xiao Ni: All my suffering is because of you.
If Fu Xin Ci knew what she was thinking, she would surely retort rudely, "Spit out your nonsense! What do your problems have to do with me? If you want to fight, then fight! Stop whining."
Unfortunately, Fu Da Niu was unaware that He Xiao Ni had taken a liking to her. She was currently discussing going to town with Brother Qi tomorrow.
“Brother Qi, Grandpa and I are going to town tomorrow. Are you coming?”
Fu Mei Mei asked. Qi He agreed without a second thought. “Yes. I’ll ask my dad later if he wants to bring anything.”
“Mm, okay.”
…
The next day dawned bright and clear. Early in the morning, Grandpa Meng and Qi He had discussed it, and each set off for town with a donkey cart.
Fu Xin Ci, in good spirits, sat on the donkey cart, finding the sound of the bells on the donkey's neck long and pleasant.
She couldn’t help but hum along:
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way…
Just as she started to hum, she heard someone speak, “It sounds like there’s a little girl humming up ahead. Let’s hurry over and ask.”
“Hey, little girl, we need to ask you for directions.”
Hearing the voice, Fu Xin Ci noticed several people sitting under the large tree in the distance.
The one who had spoken was an elder, about the same age as her grandfather.
Qi He, who was driving his donkey cart behind, stiffened at the elder’s voice and craned his neck to look ahead.
When he clearly saw the elder’s appearance, he exclaimed in surprise, “Village Chief Grandpa, Village Chief Grandpa.”
“Oh my, it’s young He.”
“Little He.”
“Little He.”
Two youths who had been standing next to the elder now ran forward to greet Qi He.
“Brother Xi Zi, Xiao Fang, you’re all here.”
“Yes, yes, we came with Grandpa to deliver money to Uncle Yuan Shan.”
“Deliver money? What money?”
“Isn’t it the money from selling our house and land?” Second Aunt Qi, seeing that Qi He had grown taller and plumper, and no longer as thin as before, while looking at her own three starving children, became enraged.
Upon hearing Second Aunt Qi’s words, Village Chief Qi was displeased. He first glared at Second Master Qi and said, “Useless thing, you’re truly a disgrace to our Qi family.”
Then he turned to Second Aunt Qi and reprimanded, “Wang Shi, stop spouting lies. Which piece of land in Qi Family Village did you and your man buy? And which brick and tile did you and your man acquire?”
Wang Shi: If she had, would she have dragged her family all the way here?
But admitting defeat was not in Wang Shi’s nature. “The house I lived in is mine, and the land I planted is also mine.”
“Oh really? You planted land in Xiao Wang Zhuang and lived in houses there too? Why don’t you go to Xiao Wang Zhuang and shout a few times, and see how the people of Xiao Wang Zhuang treat you.”
“She was already kicked out by her mother, her sister-in-law, and her brother’s wife,” Second Master Qi, who had been afraid to look up, grumbled softly. At a crucial moment, he still tried to cover for his wife, not saying she was beaten out.
“You!” Wang Shi was furious that he was undermining her from behind. She turned and kicked Second Master Meng, saying, “Shut up! When it’s your turn to speak, you’re silent. But when it’s not your turn, you’re chattering. Seeing your pathetic appearance makes me so angry.”
“Wang Shi, who are you calling ‘mother’? You’re ill-bred! Second Master, if you can’t handle her, send her back to Xiao Wang Zhuang. If your mother’s family can’t teach you properly, then don’t come back.”
“Uncle, it’s too far from Xiao Wang Zhuang to send her back.”
“You, you leaky sack of wind.” Village Chief Qi was also angry at this disgraceful buffoon. In his frustration, he also kicked Second Master Qi a couple of times.
Despite his age, Village Chief Qi was strong from frequent labor. He almost kicked Second Master Qi to the ground.
Second Master Qi: “Uncle, I’ve been kicked three times in just this short while.”
“Serves you right, you useless thing,” Village Chief Qi cursed, frustrated by his lack of progress.
Fu Xin Ci’s eyes darted from Qi He’s second uncle to his second aunt.
She hadn’t expected these two to chase all the way to Liaodong. They were truly something.
Her second aunt, at a glance, was not someone to be trifled with, and her second uncle was definitely the type who was completely dominated by his wife.
Thinking that Qi He had lived under these two for several years, Fu Xin Ci felt pity for Qi He for three seconds.
It was fortunate that Qi He, after his grandmother passed away, knew to find his father. Otherwise, he might have been bullied to death, and that woman wouldn’t have stopped.
And was what that old woman had just said even human language? That what she had lived in was hers? She had lived in many places on the way to Liaodong; why didn’t she dare claim them all as hers?
If she dared to talk like that, her face would be slapped crookedly, assuming her face was resilient enough.
Qi He was unaware that Fu Mei Mei was sympathizing with him. He came over to discuss with Grandpa Meng.
“Grandpa Meng, I can’t accompany you and Fu Mei Mei to town today. I have to take Village Chief Grandpa back to the garrison to find my father.”
“Go ahead. Drive slowly on your way back.”
“Understood, Grandpa Meng. You two should also be careful on the road.”
“Mm.”
Watching Qi He turn his donkey cart and head back, Grandpa Meng continued driving his donkey cart towards town.
As they walked, Grandpa Meng chatted with his granddaughter, “With so many people arriving, your Uncle Qi will have a headache today.”
“I don’t know if Uncle Qi will have a headache. But I suspect Brother Qi’s second uncle will definitely get beaten.”
“A few more beatings wouldn’t hurt. If he only grows in height and not in brains, he needs to be taught more, otherwise, he’ll also disgrace his parents.”
Grandpa Meng had heard every word Wang Shi had said just now. What did she mean, the house she lived in was hers, and the land she planted was hers?
People like that, who twisted things around, should be kept far away. Having them in one’s sight would be too much trouble.
Fu Xin Ci's eyes continuously swept over Qi He's second uncle and second aunt.