"Husband, isn’t this bad? Doing this will offend people."
"Afraid of what? Others might fear Liu Qing, but I don’t. He can’t beat me, nor does he dare to provoke me."
With four sons, aside from the village chief’s family, there truly wasn’t anyone in the village who dared to mess with him.
Even upright officials struggle to resolve family matters, not to mention an outsider like him. Though he has a decent relationship with Liu Kai and has helped protect a few children, he couldn’t do anything about their possessions.
The woman thought so too. Just as she was about to loosen her grip, she tightened it again, "Still no, I can’t shake this uneasiness."
With so many men outside, the woman genuinely didn’t dare.
"Don’t worry, trust your husband’s judgment."
These people indeed seemed quite formidable, but among them were both young and old, and though some were as emaciated as they were, their eyes were quite different, much brighter.
It was as if... right, as if there was hope.
Unlike them, who, despite receiving grain seeds, still lived anxiously, unable to get a restful sleep at night, with nothing but uncertainty about the future.
"But..." The woman still didn’t want to let her husband go, but how could she hold him back? After a few reassuring words, he patted her hand and turned to leave.
"Husband of my children..." The woman stomped her foot in anger, fortunately, the sons had gone to the fields, otherwise with their temper, they would definitely have followed, causing even more concern.
After a moment’s hesitation, she didn’t listen to her husband and stayed in the tent, instead following him out.
Zhao Daxin’s sudden appearance instantly drew the attention of many at the back of the line. Everyone’s gaze naturally turned to him, thankfully without malice; otherwise, Zhao Daxin might really have had to think twice.
With a tight-lipped smile, Zhao Daxin walked towards Liu Kai.
"Liu Kai, Liu Kai," he shouted as he walked.
"Someone’s calling you," Hua Qiang, beside Liu Kai, turned his head to glance.
Liu Kai heard too and quickly said sorry to the brothers carrying him, asking them to stop.
"Brother Zhao," he smiled at the newcomer.
Finally seeing someone familiar, everyone was so guarded, and what’s more, in his current state, he could only patiently hold back.
In fact, his character wasn’t one for talking much, unless he really couldn’t hold it in.
There were only a few people in the village with whom he had good relations, Brother Zhao being one of them.
"Liu Kai... it’s really you." Zhao Daxin, who ran up to Liu Kai, also showed an earnest smile.
This scene was noticed by others too, and they realized that there were people from their village in the crowd, though not all had Zhao Daxin’s courage, including the village chief’s family.
"Yeah, I’m back late."
"It’s good to be back, it’s good to be back." After glancing over Liu Kai’s bruised face, Zhao Daxin’s eyes fell on Liu Kai’s wooden board-clad legs, "Brother, this..."
"No worries, just had a little accident, but I’m lucky to have met good people." Liu Kai gazed gratefully at the people of Hua Village, smiling with lingering fear.
"Being alive is what matters..." In these times, surviving was a blessing indeed. Zhao Daxin empathetically patted his brother’s shoulder.
"Right, you should hurry back, your uncle’s family has taken over your place... anyway, better go back and have a look." Zhao Daxin reminded him.
"Really?" Liu Kai’s smile paused, his face turning grim.
Thinking of having been missing for days, without him, that black-hearted uncle of his could indeed do such a thing. After all, his family had been eyeing their house for a long time, since theirs was one of the few brick houses in the village, and one of the intact ones left after the disaster.
Liu Kai suddenly became anxious.
He could imagine how his wife and children were being bullied by them, and his father’s health. The more he thought, the more anxious he became, quickly looking at Hua Qiang.
Hua Qiang had heard their conversation, saying nothing more, everyone’s pace visibly quickened.
Zhao Daxin wanted to follow but was held back again by his wife who caught up.
"Husband, take your time before going."
After all, it was from the same village, offending any party wouldn’t be good, the woman couldn’t help but think more, reminding her husband.
This time Zhao Daxin took his wife’s advice, being late by a while wasn’t a big deal, Liu Kai with so many people shouldn’t suffer much loss.
He waited in place for them all to pass before joining.
Although anxious, Liu Kai couldn’t do much. His eyes kept glancing towards the end of the village.
Luckily, having entered the village, Shangrao Village wasn’t a big place, and in his anxiousness, they quickly reached the back of his house.
Because it was in the rear, they hadn’t noticed any outsiders entering the village, and he was back. Through his low fence, he could clearly hear piercing voices, and Liu Kai’s face grew darker.
"He Shi, you sly creature, don’t you know filial piety? I am your elder, hurry up and wash the clothes in the basin..."
"Why should my mother wash? My grandfather is still here. Filial piety should be for my grandfather. You are bad people, robbers. This is my house. You bad people get out." Young Liu Wen stood firmly, protecting his mother, eyes raging with anger.
Though trembling, the ten-year-old held tightly onto an arm-thick stick, standing firmly before his mother.
His older brother and sister had said that their mother was too soft, and he must protect her.
Don’t underestimate a ten-year-old; when he swings that stick, it really hurts.
"He Shi, is this how you teach your child, speaking to elders ? It’s outrageous, you scoundrels born without fathers to raise you. I bet your father was cursed to death by you little bastards. And you, He Shi, always looking pitiful like a little harlot. Haven’t been without a man for days and already itching. Maybe my nephew was harmed by your lover on the side. It’s just our kind hearts, otherwise, we’d have beaten you to death long ago to avenge my nephew. I advise you to know your place, or don’t blame us for being ruthless, driving you ingrates out. Without our protection, you won’t even know how you’ll die."
"My dad isn’t dead, and you aren’t my family’s elders. Dare curse my mother, I’ll kill you..."
Then there was a loud shout, followed by an unrestrained old woman’s curses.
"Oldest, second, third family, you cursed ones, hurry over and help."
A ten-year-old’s outbreak could still be quite threatening, the exasperated voice evidently showed the old woman took a loss.
"You can’t hit my son, I’ll fight you" a feeble woman’s voice came through as well.
"Dare hit my mom... old witch, I’ll kill you..." The little boy’s voice, filled with hatred, came out clearly.
Listening outside, Liu Kai felt his fury mounting, wishing he could rush into the yard immediately, but... Liu Kai looked at his legs, frustration making his eyes redden.
"Village chief, Brother Hua Qiang, please help me."
In his current state, let alone protecting his wife and children, it would be a blessing not to be a burden to them.
Liu Kai moved to bow, only to be stopped by Hua Qiang.
"Don’t want your legs anymore? Sit properly." Saying this, Hua Qiang kicked the thin wooden gate open, startling those entangled in the courtyard.
At the moment, a disheveled woman was pinned tightly underneath, a younger woman clung firmly to her, and the old woman was slapping the pinned woman hard, while another was snatching the stick from the boy’s hands.