Chapter 26: Then Please, Official, Educate the Thief

“I gave this to the child, please keep it.”

What Jiang Wan didn’t say was that these candies were taken from the Chen family.

She remembered a storeroom filled with snacks, candies, and melon seeds. It seemed that the Chen family’s business was large, and the wife probably didn’t even remember them.

“Please keep it.”

Chen Ce, who had been standing next to his wife, suddenly spoke. He rarely spoke, but Jiang Wan could tell that everything in the Chen family was under his control.

Sure enough, once Chen Ce spoke, Madam Chen no longer refused and instead said to Chen Wenhao:

“Wenhao, you must remember Auntie’s kindness.”

“I remember, Mother.”

Chen Wenhao was so obedient that it made Jiang Wan’s heart soften. It was so pitiful that such a young child had to follow them into exile.

However, she didn’t have much time to pity him because the sky was gradually darkening, and they were still spending the night in the mountains.

For dinner, they had black steamed bread. Jiang Wan secretly threw her portion into the space and took out some sweet potatoes to roast. The family ate happily.

The two branches of the Song family were furious, but they didn’t dare to do anything for now; after all, they weren’t quite hungry enough to that extent.

When night fell, everyone went to sleep. Jiang Wan then quietly entered the space. The stockpiling task was still unfinished, and the space was still dark.

But Jiang Wan didn’t mind. She casually washed up and had a meal of hot dishes bought from a restaurant. After that, she contentedly left the space.

The weather had been hot these days, so everyone rested casually by the big tree, and Jiang Wan was no exception. She was a light sleeper and could hear every little noise clearly.

So when her bag was gently pulled, Jiang Wan immediately woke up and met the stunned gaze of Song Lao San.

Almost instinctively, Jiang Wan pinned him to the ground and gave him a thorough beating. She was ruthless, and Song Lao San cried out in pain.

“Ah, it hurts so much! Stop! Stop!”

“Jiang Wan, you cruel woman, I’m your third uncle!”

The repeated cries woke everyone who had been sleeping soundly. Jiang Wan didn’t hold back, as those who were exiled didn’t dare to strike people easily.

But this time, it was Song Lao San who came at her, and Jiang Wan didn’t hesitate to take the opportunity to beat him severely.

She used both hands and feet, leaving no good flesh on Song Lao San’s body. It was far worse than what happened to Song Lao Er and Song Chen.

When Ren Bang and the officers arrived, Jiang Wan kicked him away and apologized to Ren Bang:

“Official, I’m so sorry. As soon as I woke up, I saw him rummaging through my things. I thought he was a thief.”

Following Jiang Wan’s direction, the group saw that her bag was indeed scattered on the ground, with some oil-paper-wrapped snacks exposed.

Jiang Wan was very relieved that she had put something in the bag for cover. Otherwise, this scoundrel would’ve caused her death.

From now on, she would have to hide and eat anything she took out, which was really frustrating.

“Official, I… I didn’t do anything! I was just passing by to relieve myself!”

Song Lao San was almost furious. He had been watching Jiang Wan and the others eat and drink so lavishly, thinking she must be hiding something, so he had planned to take a little bit. He never expected Jiang Wan to be so ruthless.

“Hubby!”

Song San Niang finally ran over, hugging the disheveled Song Lao San, who was lying on the ground.

Song Yang, like a firecracker, rushed towards Jiang Wan. “You’re a bad luck star! It’s all your fault. You beat my dad! I’ll beat you!”

For the past few days, Song San Niang had been keeping Song Yang in check, and he had finally found the chance to act out.

Everyone thought Jiang Wan would soften because he was a child, but instead, Jiang Wan also kicked him away.

“Don’t pinch me!”

“Yang’er!”

Old Madam Song, feeling distressed, hugged her beloved grandson and immediately scolded, “Jiang Wan, this is your younger brother!

How could you be so cruel? Our Song family has brought a woman like you into the family, we’re doomed!”

“Clearly, you all stole things first. Not only are you unrepentant, but you’re also slandering Sister Jiang. Are you all crazy?!”

Little Deng, young and straightforward, had been saved by Jiang Wan and immediately started confronting them.

Song Jiu Chi gritted his teeth and said, “This is our family’s rations. Uncle, you’re really a good elder!”

Song Jiu Li opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word. Deep down, she still thought of her family as the same family they used to be.

Maybe they were just having a small disagreement and would reconcile soon. But everything now told her that it was no longer possible.

They were no longer the same family that loved and relied on each other. Song Jiu Li felt a chill in her heart, a coldness creeping through her.

Song Da Niang, with her frail body, stepped forward to protect Jiang Wan. “Mother-in-law, our Wanwan didn’t do anything wrong.

It’s pitch dark here, and we can’t see anything. Who knew the thief would be my brother-in-law? Since she beat him, let it be. Don’t delay everyone’s rest.”

Old Madam Song was speechless at Da Niang’s words, and Song San Niang nearly went mad.

Earlier, she had been beaten half to death by Jiang Wan, and now her husband had been beaten half to death. “This can’t go on! How can you beat him like this?”

“Then please, Official, educate the thief.”

Song Jiu Yuan spoke calmly. “Although we’ve been exiled, we are not criminals. But since my third uncle is a thief, let the official handle him as such.”

Ren Bang:…

Well, well, you’ve arranged everything so clearly. Have you all kept an eye on him?

But Song Jiu Yuan’s words successfully frightened Song Lao San. He remembered how his second brother and nephew had been whipped, and hurriedly said:

“No, no need! I was just joking with my niece-in-law. No need for the official to intervene.

I’m really sorry for disturbing everyone’s rest. Please continue resting.”

Song Lao San reluctantly pulled his unwilling wife, Song San Niang, and decided to take the silent loss.

No matter how unwilling Song San Niang was, she could only swallow her anger, cursing Jiang Wan in her heart.

Since the beating had already happened, Ren Bang didn’t care anymore and went back to rest, his hands behind his back. No one dared to speak out.

Jiang Wan, on the other hand, was in a better mood and no longer sleepy, so she sat there with her eyes closed, entering the space to organize things.

Earlier, she had hurriedly collected items, and many things hadn’t been properly sorted. Jiang Wan took this opportunity to classify the items.

Gold, silver, treasures, grains, fruits, vegetables, clothes, shoes, and hats were all sorted separately. Household items were gathered into piles. She didn’t finish until the morning.

In the past few days, they had entered Minzhou, and Jiang Wan noticed that Song Er Niang’s expression seemed slightly anxious. It probably had something to do with Song Jiao Jiao.

Sure enough, that evening, as they passed a few villages, Ren Bang led them to a place to rest.

But Jiang Wan noticed Song Er Niang was a bit restless. She must have been waiting for someone, probably for Song Jiao Jiao.

Shen Qian leaned over and whispered to her, “Mother, don’t worry. After Jiao Jiao hears the news, she won’t just stand by.

When we meet her, we’ll have her prepare some ointments for Father and Husband. They’ll heal faster.”

She mainly still remembered the things her sister-in-law had given her.