Chapter 20: Celestial Decree Lightning Punishment

Today’s meal was another feast of fish and meat, and the aroma had already wafted out of the courtyard before it was even ready.

Xiao Ranshu swallowed her saliva and walked into the kitchen, using the excuse of chatting to keep her eyes fixed on the pot.

She had already become familiar with this family and wasn’t as socially anxious anymore.

Zhang Da Niang was a talkative person and began discussing village affairs: “Fairy, you wouldn’t know, but there’s a girl named Little Li in the village who has had a hard life!”

Xiao Ranshu responded appropriately: “How so?”

Zhang Da Niang: “Little Li was sold to Lao Qian before she even had her Mind Opening. Lao Qian doesn’t treat her like a human, beating and scolding her all the time…”

Xiao Ranshu became serious and asked, “How old is Little Li?”

Zhang Da Niang: “She just turned eighteen! She’s been in Lingshan Village for ten years, and she’s even skinnier than the stray dogs in the village! She does all the household chores and even tills the fields! Lao Qian is lazy and gluttonous, not giving her food or clothes. Every year after the autumn harvest, he takes the money to gamble, and when he loses it all, he makes Little Li go out to beg!”

Lao Zhao chimed in: “Not just begging, he even forces Little Li to sell herself in the neighboring village…”

Zhang Da Niang waved her hand: “Don’t talk about such dirty things in front of the Fairy!”

Lao Zhao sighed: “He’s always eyeing the young girls in the village who haven’t had their Mind Opening.”

Zhang Da Niang suddenly roared: “Speaking of which, I remember something! Didn’t Lao Qian try to trick Mogu into going to his house recently?!”

Lao Zhao: “Yes! That old scoundrel! Luckily, I was in the house and heard it! Otherwise…”

Xiao Ranshu frowned: “Such a heinous person deserves to be struck by lightning.”

…

Lingshan Village.

Zhao Tiezhu was weeding the fields, while Mogu, still too young for farm work, helped by handing him towels and water bottles.

By noon, the siblings took a break, sitting on the ridge and eating flatbread.

Zhao Tiezhu patted Mogu’s little head, his face full of smiles.

Which child in the village could have their Mind Opening at five years old?

Not just in Lingshan Village, but probably in Rong City and the entire surrounding area, she was the first!

Thinking about Mogu’s destined extraordinary future, Zhao Tiezhu felt full of energy, not even feeling tired after a morning of farm work.

He had already made up his mind: after saving up money from the autumn harvest, he would take Mogu to the city—not just Rong City, but straight to the imperial capital!

There were many Warriors there, and perhaps some master would be willing to take her as a disciple.

As for him and his parents, they would stay in the village and serve the Fairy well.

Zhao Tiezhu happily envisioned the future…

“Brother,” Mogu suddenly called out, pointing to the neighboring field, “over there.”

Zhao Tiezhu followed Mogu’s finger and saw a skinny woman standing in the field, looking utterly exhausted and unsteady on her feet.

It was Little Li.

In the past, his parents would have helped, but now, as a man, it wasn’t appropriate for him to go over, especially since Lao Qian from Little Li’s household would make a big fuss and demand compensation if he found out.

Zhao Tiezhu understood this well and patted Mogu’s head, saying, “That’s Aunt Li. Be a good girl, Mogu, and take her a piece of flatbread.”

Mogu obediently stood up: “Okay, I’ll take Aunt Li some flatbread.”

Watching Mogu skip over, Zhao Tiezhu’s face lit up with a smile.

Ever since Mogu had her Mind Opening, she learned everything with just one teaching.

But soon, Zhao Tiezhu’s smile faded.

From a distance, he saw Mogu just handing the flatbread to Little Li when Lao Qian suddenly appeared out of nowhere and snatched it away!

“That’s mine…” Little Li cried out.

Lao Qian snarled viciously, “Dare to eat without working?!”

With that, he kicked Xiao Li away with such force that the boy rolled on the ground and couldn’t get up for a long time.

“Hmph! This pancake smells good!” Lao Qian stuffed the pancake into his mouth haphazardly and finished it in a few bites.

After finishing, he looked ahead.

Mogu happened to hear the commotion and turned around, her bright eyes filled with innocence.

“Hey!” Lao Qian sneered, “Isn’t this the little girl from that family?”

Behind him, Xiao Li was crying out, “Lao Qian! I’ll work, don’t touch that child!”

Lao Qian turned around and cursed at Xiao Li, “You son of a bitch, what are you shouting for? Shut up, you bitch!”

His expression was extremely cunning and malicious!

Zhao Tiezhu was extremely anxious and was already rushing over with a hoe, but he was far away and the field was difficult to traverse.

If Lao Qian dared to touch Mogu…

Xiao Li was also anxious, shouting something desperately.

Lao Qian, being a local ruffian, paid no heed to others’ voices and was already stepping towards Mogu.

At that moment.

Boom!

A sudden thunderclap exploded, and a bolt of lightning appeared abruptly in the sky, splitting the clouds from top to bottom.

This lightning was not like the usual zigzagging kind, but a straight column, as if a pillar of thunder had descended from the heavens.

The thunderclap and the flash of lightning lit up the entire sky, so bright that Zhao Tiezhu was momentarily blinded.

When he closed his eyes and opened them again, where was Lao Qian?

Only a charred body remained!

All was silent, the sky clear as if washed.

The plants in the field were vibrant under the sunlight, and the green wheat seedlings swayed gracefully in the breeze.

As if nothing had happened.

Zhao Tiezhu was so shocked that he dropped his hoe.

Xiao Li’s cries stopped abruptly, staring in disbelief at the scene.

Mogu tilted her little head, her eyes filled with confusion.

…

In the afternoon.

Zhang Da Niang and Lao Zhao came down the mountain, laughing and planning to check the weeds in the fields.

Unexpectedly, they encountered several villagers heading towards the village entrance on the way.

Seeing something was amiss, the couple followed them.

They eventually arrived at Lao Qian’s house at the village entrance, where many villagers were coming and going. The house was filled with white, clearly indicating a death.

At the door, they saw Zhao Tiezhu and Mogu.

The siblings stood there hand in hand, their expressions equally dazed.

Zhang Da Niang quickly asked, “Did Lao Qian beat Xiao Li to death? Damn him!”

Lao Zhao also spoke up, “Why do the kids look so stunned?”

Zhao Tiezhu snapped out of it and said, “Today, Lao Qian was struck by lightning and died.”

It was the first time he had seen someone struck by lightning, and it happened right before his eyes, leaving the body charred!

He was so shocked that he was only just recovering.

Upon hearing this.

Zhang Da Niang and Lao Zhao both froze in place, utterly stunned!

Mogu started calling out, “Daddy, Mommy.”

But the couple didn’t hear her, their ears buzzing, their minds filled with the voice of the Fairy they had heard at the mountain top.

‘He who is utterly wicked… deserves to be struck by lightning.’

Zhao Tiezhu noticed his parents’ dazed expressions but wasn’t surprised. Such a bizarre event had occurred, and it had taken him a while to accept it.

At that moment, the old village chief Wang Chunyi came out and said, “Lao Qian is gone. He had no children, and Xiao Li is his wife, so the land deed should rightfully be in her hands.”

With the village chief’s words, several respected elders in the village also spoke up, silencing those who had other ideas.

Everyone had witnessed the life of Xiao Li and Lao Qian. In the past, they often lamented Xiao Li’s misfortune. Who would have thought that Lao Qian would be struck dead by lightning? Although Xiao Li had been sold here, she was still Lao Qian’s legitimate wife.

Who else could the land deed be given to if not her?

Xiao Li became a widow, but she was still young at only eighteen years old. Her good days were still ahead of her!