“Fifty taels?! What nonsense are you spouting?!” Wang Mazi shouted in shock.

“That turtle soup really is expensive!” a villager said.

“Master Wan in town loves it—heard he sometimes pays dozens of taels for just one meal!”

“And if it’s got ginseng in it too? That’d make it even pricier!”

“Can’t imagine what it tastes like… I’d love to try a bite someday.”

The villagers’ comments made Wang Mazi anxious.

“Just because you say it’s worth that much doesn’t make it true! Who would believe it? Lu Xixi is a poor orphan—how could he afford something like that?

Master Wan’s dogs eat white flour buns, and this kid can’t even get a bite of cornmeal cakes!”

Hearing this, Grandma Liu’s eyes welled up.

She blamed herself for being useless, unable to feed the child properly.

They used to have a plot of land, but one year Xixi got severe stomach pain and they couldn’t afford treatment… she had to sell it.

Xixi glared furiously at Wang Mazi, tilting his chin up defiantly to show his strength.

He hated people’s disgusted looks—but he hated their pitying ones even more.

He didn’t need their self-righteous sympathy.

Didn’t need them whispering, “Poor kid, no parents.”

Even if he had to eat chaff or dirt, it was none of their business.

He would grow up, earn money, and live well with Grandma!

But that was all self-deception.

In truth, he was just a lonely child starved for love.

No one protected him. No one loved him. He went hungry, wore thin clothes.

And all he could do was use a tough front to protect what little pride he had.

Lu Qingqing’s once-calm face turned icy.

Her eyes were like blades as she stared at Wang Mazi.

Her voice sharpened:
“Lu Xixi has a father and mother. His father was a hero who fought on the battlefield! Wang Mazi, the reason you get to live peacefully in this village is because warriors like him left their homes to guard our borders—with their lives!

Even the emperor said:
‘The loyal souls at the frontier cement our land’s foundation. Every soldier is a hero.’ And you—enjoying the peace they won—turn around and bully a hero’s son?

Wang Mazi, sure, you had parents to raise you. Too bad they raised a coward, a scumbag, a beast not even worthy of pigs or dogs!”

The entire place went silent.

Wang Mazi was left dumbstruck—shaken by her cutting words, his face twisting in rage and panic, yet he couldn’t utter a word.

Xiao Xixi stared at Lu Qingqing, stunned.

The moon had risen, casting a silver glow across her face, making her look solemn and noble.

Lu Qingqing turned to the crowd:

“There are many in Liuyun Village who went to war and never came back. Are their families being bullied too? Is it right to bully those who’ve lost sons, husbands, fathers? Is your conscience dead?

A real man should stand tall and lend a hand to heroes’ parents.
A real woman should show compassion and protect heroes’ children!

Not sit by coldly, saying ‘it’s not my business.’ Otherwise, when misfortune befalls you one day, don’t expect anyone to speak up for you!”

Lu Qingqing knew there were still over ten families in Liuyun Village with similar stories.

She said this to wake them up.

If they stuck together, they wouldn’t be so easily bullied.

“Well said, little sister,” Lu Feng and Lu Yun looked at Lu Qingqing with admiration, eyes shining.

Then, a villager shouted: “She’s right! My son was a hero too! He died fighting the Northern Barbarians.
And now you dare bully me, an old man close to the grave? You heartless animals!”

Another chimed in: “My big brother was a hero!”

Grandma Liu covered her face and wept: “My son was a hero too! He protected you all! His grandson is all he left behind—you can’t keep bullying him…”

Xiao Xixi’s eyes filled with tears so thick he couldn’t see clearly.

All his life, he had heard people say: “No parents. Poor kid. Wild child. Won’t amount to much.”

At best, they’d say, “At least his dad wasn’t a coward. Kid should try harder, grow up fast.”

But never—never—had someone so confidently said: His father was a hero.

A hero even the emperor acknowledged.

That was something to be proud of.

And those like his father—finally—found the courage to speak up.

For the first time, Xixi felt like he could truly hold his head high.

“Wang Mazi! Meng Zhaodi! Don’t think we don’t know how you’ve been bullying that grandmother and grandson!”

“Yeah! If you lay a hand on them again, I, Erzhu, won’t stand by!”

“And your brat Wang Jincai—always bullying kids smaller than him—you better do something about him.
If you won’t, don’t blame us for stepping in!”

..

The villagers began openly scolding Wang Mazi’s family.

It left them flustered and panicking.

Madam Meng was still lying on the ground—now unsure whether to get up or stay down—and she looked helplessly toward Ding Hongshi.

He subtly shook his head.

As if she’d found her backbone, she suddenly shouted:

“So just because he’s a hero’s son, he can beat up whoever he wants?! Look what he did to my son!
And you, Lu Qingqing—your family didn’t produce any heroes! What gives you the right to hit people?!”

“I already said I’ll pay for the medical fees. But you need to compensate us for the turtle-and-chicken soup!”

“I won’t! You’re a liar! A bowl of soup worth fifty taels—who do you think you’re fooling? You say the turtle’s 20 years old, so we just believe you? You say there’s ginseng, and we’re just supposed to buy that?!”

“She’s right,” Ding Xiang couldn’t help but cut in.

“Lu Qingqing, even if we let Xixi off the hook, you can’t just hit people. A bowl of soup worth fifty taels—what a joke! Not even the county magistrate’s tasted soup that expensive.

We saw the turtle, but thirty-year-old ginseng? You think it’s as easy to find as a carrot? My dad can taste it and tell if there’s ginseng. Dare let him try it?”

Lu Qingqing sneered, “Your father’s not worthy.”

“Lu Qingqing!” Ding Hongshi’s eyes turned vicious, face dark as ink.

“Dr. Ding, don’t be angry,” she said lightly. “Anger leads to illness, and if you die from it—I’d be thrilled.”

“…”

Lu Qingqing looked at him coolly, and added: “Doesn’t matter how big your talk is—without a medical license, I don’t trust you. If someone has to taste it, let’s bring in the best: Doctor Pang from the county seat.

Let him also check whether your diagnosis of Madam Meng’s injuries is accurate.

Xixi, go fetch the village head. I’m reporting this to the authorities. Let the county magistrate judge fairly. So no one can say I’m making false claims.”

Lu Yun chuckled, “Heh, didn’t you all know? My little sister saved Lin Zhuang, and the medical fee he gave was a thirty-year-old wild ginseng root.”

Xiao Xixi bolted off to fetch the headman.

“Stop!” Ding Hongshi shouted. “We’re all villagers—no need to report anything. Let’s talk this out peacefully!

It doesn’t even concern me—I’m staying out of it! Wang Mazi, once this goes to the officials, even if you’re in the right, it won’t end well. Work it out! Don’t make things worse!”

And just like that, Ding Hongshi and his daughter turned and left.

Wang Mazi was dumbfounded.

He’d counted on Ding Hongshi’s help—after all, he had connections with the county magistrate!

But just like that… they washed their hands of the matter?

Lu Qingqing sneered coldly.

She’d guessed right—those two were definitely afraid of Doctor Pang.

They were probably terrified he’d find out they’d faked being the county magistrate’s saviors.

Trying to pull off a job meant for real experts? Without the skills?

They’d dug their own graves.