Chapter 149

Before half the day had passed, the sky was already dark.

It was just after noon, a time when the sun should be at its peak, but now the sky was covered with dark clouds.

The sky was filled with rolling black clouds, pressing down and making the world below dim and gray.

In the courtyard, a fierce wind raged, as if it would tear off the roof in the next moment.

The doors, firewood, and straw all rattled noisily.

Fan Qian stood at the doorway of the main hall, the strong wind blowing into the house, his eyes looking outside.

“Dad, Zhaodi is still outside,” Fan Dazhu reminded, looking at the courtyard gate being blown by the strong wind.

Fan Sizhu pursed his lips and muttered, “If she doesn’t come back, who will cook and fetch water?”

He certainly couldn’t expect the men to go into the kitchen and do women’s work.

Fan Qian was irritated at the moment and snapped at the two noisy men, “Whoever is worried should go find her and bring her back!”

Only now, with his daughter not at home, did he realize she was right about everything she had said before.

It was just one morning, and the water at home was cold, no one cooked, his mother kept complaining of discomfort and needed someone to attend to her, and no one washed the dirty clothes…

Thinking of the chaotic household, he took a deep breath and decided that once Zhaodi came back, someone would handle these chores again.

“Your sister is not at home, but we won’t starve. Go, wake your mother and ask her to cook. We can’t let us men go into the kitchen!”

Receiving his instructions, Fan Dazhu ran into the parents’ room to notify them.

On the road, Fan Jin and three others were struggling to move forward.

The dark sky made it hard to see the path, but the more serious issue was the storm that seemed capable of blowing people away.

The wind and sand were so strong they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

The heavy items on the ox cart weren’t blown away, keeping it from rolling backward.

Hu Tuhu and Hu Wenhua, each carrying baskets, were often blown about by the wind.

Mother Hu clung tightly to the edge of the ox cart, fearing that a single slip would cause the wind to blow her over.

What should have been a half-hour journey took over two hours due to the conditions, and they finally reached the boundary of Shanshui Village.

Hu Tuhu saw a shadow rolling towards him and instinctively blocked it with his hand.

Despite the strong wind making it hard to open his eyes, he squinted and saw it was a little girl.

He shouted loudly, “Hey, what’s this? A person!

Hey little girl, which family are you from? Did you lose track of time playing and not go home?”

He then realized something was wrong. The little girl was thin and small, carrying a huge load of straw on her back. She didn’t look like she was playing; she was clearly working!

Her parents must be careless, letting such a small child out in this weather without worrying about her safety!

The girl was carrying a lot of straw, with sharp edges that even Hu Tuhu, with his thick skin, felt pain from.

He quickly removed the straw and, with his son’s help, shifted the items in one of the baskets to the other side, then placed the little girl in the basket!

Afraid of scaring the child, his face full of muscles smiled, and in a booming voice, he said, “You’re from Shanshui Village, right? Don’t worry, my son-in-law is from there too!

We’re from the same village. We’ll take you home to see your parents once the wind stops.”

Hu Wenhua watched from the side, thinking his father looked like a villain!

He smiled kindly and shouted, “My sister and brother-in-law are from your village. We’re going to their house now. Come with us, it’s okay!”

Two burly men, shouting to a little girl amidst dark clouds and raging winds, looked terrifying.

But strangely, Fan Zhaodi felt reassured.

They didn’t recognize her, but she recognized them!

These were the maternal grandfather and uncles of the eldest and second sisters.

In the past, when the families hadn’t split up, her own maternal grandfather and uncles never spared her a glance. But whenever the eldest and second sisters’ maternal grandfather and uncles visited, they always made sure she had her own portion of candy, even if Jiang, He, and Hu, the three boys, didn’t get any.

They would tell her, even if she hesitated, that candy was meant for little girls, not boys.

Her mother would then come out and make her accept the gift, scolding her later for not knowing to take good things from others.

However, her own maternal grandfather and uncles never gave anything to the eldest and second sisters, nor even to Jiang, He, and Hu.

They made clear distinctions.

Huddled in the basket, Fan Zhaodi finally felt the unbearable pain from the wounds on her body, arms, and legs.

Previously, she had been focused only on cutting straw, afraid that if she brought back too little, she would be scolded, and also not wanting to return early to endless chores and beatings.

By the time she realized the weather was changing, it was too late. The fierce wind could knock her over, and as she stumbled back home, places with trees were fine, but in open areas, she was blown back three steps for every one she took forward.

Countless times, she wished her parents or brothers would come to the mountain forest to find her and bring her home.

But not one came…

Fan Jin and Hu’s mother were on the ox cart in front, aware that the father-in-law and Wenhua had encountered someone, but the wind was too loud and the sky too dark to see or hear clearly.

Regardless of who it was, they couldn’t think about sending anyone back now; they had to get home first and wait for the wind to die down.

From entering Shanshui Village’s territory to reaching home, what used to take less than the time of burning an incense stick now took more than half an hour.

When they finally arrived home and entered the courtyard, everyone, both those returning and those waiting, felt a great sense of relief.

With the high walls of the courtyard providing shelter, the wind suddenly lessened considerably.

Ling Ran, Yan Qiuxing, and Fan Jiang ran out from the house to help unload.

Clothes and bedding were sent to the west wing, cured meats and salted fish to the storeroom, and pickled jars to the kitchen.

Shuiqing was making dinner with Fan He and Fan Hu in the kitchen.

Seeing everyone return, she told the two to keep an eye on the fire and was about to head out when she bumped into her father.

“Qing’er, take a look, this little girl’s hands are bleeding!” Hu Tuhu hurriedly led Fan Zhaodi inside, his voice anxious.

“Auntie,” Fan Zhaodi said, shrinking her hands and looking up in gratitude.

Hu Tuhu was surprised, “You know each other! Well, of course, you’re from the same village.”

He chuckled awkwardly.

Shuiqing sighed and reminded him, “This is my elder brother’s youngest daughter. You’ve seen her several times before, Father.”

Hu Tuhu was even more astonished.

He scrutinized her for a long moment before saying, “Kids change every day. Besides, it’s been almost a year since the family split, and I haven’t seen her for nearly two years. How could I remember?”

Then he turned to Fan Zhaodi, smiling sheepishly, “Little granddaughter, don’t blame me. Your old grandpa’s eyes aren’t what they used to be!”

This child used to call him grandpa, and today he hadn’t even recognized her, which was embarrassing.

Fan Zhaodi shook her head and earnestly thanked him, “Thank you, Grandpa, for saving me.”

Hu Tuhu remembered the wounds on her hands and told his daughter, “Check her for other injuries. I’ll head out first.”

He didn’t think much of his son-in-law’s family, but he liked this little girl.

Whenever he brought food for his own grandchildren, her brothers would almost snatch it, but she would stand in the back with only envy in her eyes.

So Qing’er’s mother always made sure to prepare an extra portion for her.

A good child should be treated well.