Chapter 30: Thinking of You

“I don’t care! Why does Xiao Huai’an’s family have meat to eat, but we don’t?!” Zhang Da Shan continued to howl.

“It’s all because of that little slut from the Ye family. Ever since she came, they’ve been eating meat every few days. If they didn’t make it, we wouldn’t even smell the meat and get tempted!”

Zhang Po Zi climbed up from the cellar ladder, shaking the dirt off her body. “Son, don’t think they’ve been eating meat these past few days. How much can Xiao Huai’an earn at a time? After buying the medicine, how much silver would be left? That ugly woman he just married must have spent all the silver he saved. They’ll end up eating one meal and skipping the next. In a few days, they won’t even have porridge to drink!”

“I don’t care! I don’t care! They have meat, so why don’t we? That meat used to be ours! Mother, you have to find a way to get that meat!”

“How can I get it? Xiao Huai’an is still at home!”

“Then you figure something out!”

Zhang Po Zi looked at her son, who weighed around 170 or 180 pounds, her eyes full of pity.

These past few days, her son hadn’t been eating properly, and had even lost weight.

It was all Ye Xin Ran’s fault!

She had to find a way to get her out of here!

With her mind made up, Zhang Po Zi stood up and went outside. Just then, she saw Xiao Huai’an walking out.

She immediately put on a wide smile and approached him.

“Young Master Xiao, you’re not rushing to the mountains today?”

Xiao Huai’an coldly nodded in acknowledgment.

He scrutinized Zhang Po Zi. He had never noticed how ugly her face was before.

Unfortunately, Zhang Po Zi, preoccupied with her craving for meat, didn’t notice the cold expression on Xiao Huai’an’s face.

She sighed deliberately and continued, “Young Master Xiao, as an outsider, I shouldn’t get involved in your family’s matters, but as farmers, we all know that we must live carefully. This year’s harvest hasn’t been good, and everyone is tightening their belts. With your son Chang An being sick, your family should be more frugal. I see that Madam Ye hasn’t planned to live a proper life with you, otherwise, how could she eat meat one day and fish the next? Is she planning to spend all your money and then run off?”

Everyone knew about Ye Xin Ran rejecting the marriage back then.

Zhang Po Zi believed that by saying this, Xiao Huai’an would realize Ye Xin Ran’s bad intentions.

She looked up and, as expected, saw Xiao Huai’an’s face grow darker.

Quickly, she continued, “I heard that her former lover was the son of the country magistrate, and he was handsome. It’s normal for her to still be thinking about him. It’s just a pity for your family…”

Xiao Huai’an stared at her incessantly moving mouth, and gradually, he could no longer hear her voice.

At that moment, his only thought was to strangle her wrinkled neck in half so she would finally shut up.

Finally, he rubbed his fingers together, his eyebrows slightly lifting.

“My family’s matters are not for you to worry about.”

“I’m just thinking of the children’s well-being!” Zhang Po Zi quickly added.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Huai’an’s expression changed once again.

His dark eyes fixed on Zhang Po Zi. “You’re thinking of the children’s well-being?”

Zhang Po Zi felt a chill down her spine, and her hair stood on end. “I, I’m not, I… I really am thinking of the children’s well-being.”

She stammered, unsure of what to say, afraid that Xiao Huai’an would strike and her life would end right there.

“I’m truly doing this for your family’s good!”

Just as she was about to collapse and kneel, Zhang Da Shan heard some noise and came out from the courtyard.

“Mother, what are you doing?” he shouted, bringing Zhang Po Zi back to her senses.

Suddenly, Zhang Po Zi remembered that Xiao Huai’an was an exiled convict. He was a criminal, so how could he dare to lay a hand on them, the locals?

With this thought, Zhang Po Zi’s tone became firm again.

“Xiao Huai’an, I see you’re too foolish to tell right from wrong. You’ve listened to that woman’s slander and started doubting me, haven’t you? I’ve worked hard all year to help take care of your children, and this is the thanks I get! I’m really unlucky!”

As she spoke, her voice grew louder and more tearful.

Since Xiao Huai’an arrived in the area, it had been Zhang Po Zi who looked after the children, so Xiao Huai’an felt some gratitude toward her.

However, after this incident, all of that gratitude had completely vanished.

“What you’ve done to Chang An and Chang Ping, I’ll keep a note of it. I hope from now on, you’ll behave yourselves. If you dare speak ill of my family again, I won’t go easy on you,” Xiao Huai’an said.

Zhang Da Shan, seeing Xiao Huai’an threatening his mother, immediately supported his mother and shouted, “Xiao Huai’an, you’re truly a vile man, taking advantage of others when they’re weak! My mother has done so much for your family, and now you want to harm her? A family like yours shouldn’t be allowed to stay in our village! Doesn’t everyone agree?!”

By now, a few villagers had gathered around to watch the scene. Zhang Da Shan immediately addressed them.

This was where being from the same clan came in handy. An outsider like Xiao Huai’an, who still tried to show off in the village, was dreaming!

If he wanted to stay in their village, he’d better behave himself!

Zhang Po Zi, emboldened by the presence of others, began speaking more boldly.

“Everyone, look at this. I’ve been helping Xiao Huai’an with his children all this time, and now they treat me like this. Wasn’t the village head blind when he took this family in? They’re a bunch of venomous snakes, and they’re going to harm our village!”

The villagers had already had doubts about Xiao Huai’an’s identity, and hearing Zhang Po Zi’s words, they began to murmur among themselves: “I said it from the start, he’s a murderer, leaving him here will cause trouble sooner or later!”

“Exactly! The village head is too soft-hearted. Just look at how tall and strong he is. If it comes to a fight, how many of us can beat him?”

“Ah, maybe we should ask the village head to kick them out sooner!”

At this point, some villagers had already gone to fetch the village head.

When the village head heard the murmurs, his goat beard twitched in irritation.

“You guys really have big appetites and short memories. Do you forget who found the kudzu root yesterday and led you to dig it up?”

“How could they, with nothing but a handful of rice, possibly harm you? How would that help them gain merit?”

The village head, kind-hearted yet fiery-tempered, made this remark, and the few who had been talking immediately shut up.

“Uncle Village Head is right. I’ve seen the Xiao family settle in for more than a year, and from my observations, they’ve kept to themselves. They don’t seem like the troublemakers everyone makes them out to be,” said Er Dan’s father, speaking up first.

“Yes, yes, I feel the same way,” another villager added in agreement.

The villagers had been eating from Xiao Huai’an’s table, so their mouths were soft.

As the crowd continued to grow, the village head finally spoke up.

“Since so many of you are here today, I’ll let you all know that the Xiao family has been living in our village for over a year now. After observing them closely, I’ve decided that, from now on, they will officially become citizens of Yun Bian Village!”