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The winding mountain road twisted and turned, flanked on both sides by rising and falling hills. From time to time, flocks of sheep could be seen grazing on the green slopes.
As the scenery grew more and more familiar, Wei Ci’s memories slowly returned.
The gentle, loving parents. The steady, doting two older brothers. The uncles and aunts who always greeted her warmly. These were the most precious memories of the original Wei Ci’s short life.
Unlike other “fools” who drooled and laughed vacantly, the original Wei Ci had always been quiet. With her rosy lips and white teeth, she looked like a little jade doll. The villagers would smile at her when they saw her, and often pressed wild fruits or flowers into her hands.
But there were degenerates everywhere. At the age of nine, she had nearly been taken advantage of by an old bachelor. After that, she never went out alone again. Her eldest or second brother was always by her side. Later, when her eldest brother enlisted in the army, she almost stopped going out altogether and stayed home most of the time.
The ox cart rocked along, carrying with it Third Aunt’s endless scolding, until they reached a large bridge. On the other side stood a tall phoenix tree, quietly watching over the village entrance.
Ma Gou Village was large. As soon as they entered the village, many old ladies and aunts who were chatting at the threshing ground looked up. When they saw Wei Ci nestled quietly at Wei Qingfeng’s side, one slapped her thigh and shouted in a loud voice that carried far across the fields:
“Good heavens! Isn’t that Ah Ci? Where on earth did you find her?”
“Isn’t that just it! Little Ah Ci, where did you run off to? The whole village was searching for you!”
Before long, the ox cart was surrounded.
On Wei Ci’s snow-white little face was a handprint, which scared her so much that she hid behind Wei Qingfeng.
Too scary. Far too scary. The way these women were staring at her was like they wanted to eat her alive.
“Eh? Old Third Wei, what happened to your wife? And—oh my! Qingmiao girl, why is your head bleeding? What on earth happened to you all? Did a pig run into you? Why are you all black and blue?”
Second Uncle Wei’s family had just lifted their butts, ready to sneak away quietly, when someone caught hold of them. Turning their heads, they were met with several pairs of bright, curious eyes. Even a fool could see the villagers were eager for gossip.
Third Aunt Wei, who had been holding back her wails the whole journey, finally broke down. She slapped her thigh, sat on the ground, and started howling. Between sobs, she shoved all the blame onto Wei Qingmiao, crying buckets of snot and tears without the slightest hindrance to her clear, detailed retelling of the entire incident from start to finish.
The villagers were stunned, surprised beyond words. They glanced at Second Uncle Wei’s family, then at Third Uncle Wei’s family, and finally their eyes all landed on the Wei siblings.
Wei Ci’s eyes reddened. Her pale little face looked even more fragile as her hands nervously clutched Wei Qingfeng’s sleeve. Just as the crowd’s gaze fell on her, two clear tears rolled down her cheeks, tugging at everyone’s heartstrings.
“Oh heavens! Such sin! Ah Ci is such a good child, and she still has her elder brothers to care for her. How could you people from the second and third branches be so heartless as to harm her?”
“Exactly! Back then, didn’t your eldest brother treat you two so well? Even the money for your weddings and children came from him! He hasn’t even been gone seven days, and you’re already tormenting his children! Aren’t you afraid his spirit will come back at night to find you?”
The village’s oldest elder, Granny Ji, tapped her cane with an expression of bitter disappointment. She glared at Second and Third Uncle Wei, looking as if she wished she could jab the cane straight into their faces.
Under the villagers’ harsh stares, Wei Qingmiao forced herself to look calm.
“We didn’t. We never thought Qinghao would do something like that. We’ve always taken care of Qingfeng and Ah Ci. Our neighbors can testify to that!”
The villagers, though doubtful, thought it made some sense. After all, they were family—what overnight grudges could there be? Perhaps Qinghao had simply made a foolish mistake.
Wei Ci lowered her eyes. Then suddenly, her body swayed as though about to collapse. Wei Qingfeng’s heart nearly stopped, and he rushed to support her, his voice frantic:
“Ah Ci! What’s wrong?”
Wei Ci lifted her tear-streaked face. She was crying like pear blossoms in the rain, her pale cheeks pitiful, her curled lashes wet and clumped together. She looked so fragile and sorrowful as she whispered:
“Brother, I’m sorry… I couldn’t protect the things that belong to our family…”
She clutched her chest and began to sob bitterly.
“After you left, Second Uncle and Third Uncle emptied our house. It’s my fault—I wasn’t strong enough to guard our home. Then Brother and Sister tricked me outside to sell me, and I almost couldn’t make it back. I even dragged the whole village into this, making everyone search for me so long… wuu wuu… I was so scared I thought I’d die…”
Putting on weakness—who couldn’t do that? This was a skill she had honed since childhood, as natural to her as eating or drinking.
Her grief-stricken sobs made Wei Qingfeng’s nose sting. He nearly cried with her. Gently wiping the big tears from his little sister’s cheeks, his voice choked as he said:
“Ah Ci, don’t cry. It’s not your fault. How could you have thought to guard against your own relatives? You are not useless—it’s me, your brother, who’s useless, for not protecting you!”
The siblings clung to each other and wept. Around them, the aunts and grannies also began shedding tears, their sorrow quickly turning into rage and disgust as they cast their eyes on Second and Third Uncle’s families.
This was what they called “taking good care” of them? By stripping the house bare?
Under the scorching gazes, Wei Qingmiao bit her teeth so hard she tasted blood. Her eyes burned with fury as she glared at Wei Ci, nearly spitting fire. But the next second, Wei Ci lifted her tear-streaked face from her brother’s embrace. Her eyes, still damp, suddenly curved into a smile laced with provocation. Her rosy lips parted, and the words she spoke nearly made Wei Qingmiao cough up blood:
“You wait. I’ll take back everything you owe me, bit by bit.”
Wei Qingmiao’s gaze went vacant. Looking at that delicate face, it was as if she were seeing once again the Wei Ci of her previous life—the Wei Ci who was radiant, adored by everyone, the Wei Ci who had been cherished all her life, and the very same Wei Ci she had envied to death.
Her fingers clenched so hard her nails carved crescent marks deep into her palm, blood seeping out. Yet she seemed not to feel the pain, lost in her own madness, until a sudden slap jolted her awake. All she caught then was the team leader clapping his hands and ordering people to help move back the things the two families had stolen.
“Return everything you took from Ah Ci’s home. As for the grain you ate, the money and ration tickets you used, you’ll compensate fully. And the clothes and quilts you wore—convert them into cash and hand it to Qingfeng!”
When he finished, he cast the two patriarchs of the second and third households a fierce glare, his tone sharp:
“If this happens again, your entire families can roll out of Ma Gou Village!”
Second and Third Uncles hunched their heads, not daring to utter a word.
“Team Leader! What about my Qinghao? He can’t be locked up! He’s still young—if he goes in, his whole life will be ruined!”
Third Aunt flung herself onto the team leader’s leg, scaring him so badly he leapt on the spot and backed far away, terrified of being entangled.
“What else can be done? Nothing! I’m just the production team leader. I only manage the farm work, not murders and arson. He dared to sell people, then he has to bear the consequences!”
“But it was Qingmiao, that useless girl, who came up with the idea to sell her! My son’s been wronged!”
Team Leader Wei Jianguo glanced at the dazed Wei Qingmiao, who had just been slapped, and clicked his tongue.
“Is it my word or yours that counts here? The police said she’s not guilty. What, you want me to drag her over and force her into prison?”
Besides, even if he bent the rules for family, it would only ever be for Wei Ci and her brother.
When he finished, he waved his hand. His booming voice couldn’t conceal his fury:
“What the hell are you all standing around for? Move the stuff! Yes, I’m talking to you! You big men—why are you watching the show? Don’t you have work? Don’t you want your work points? Don’t you want your kids to have food at home?”
With a rush, several friendly aunts and young men went to help move things from the second and third households, while the rest shouldered their tools and muttered as they headed to the fields.
Wei Jianguo took a long draw on his dry tobacco pipe, then looked back at the Wei siblings. His eyes immediately softened, his voice gentler than ever.
“Ah Ci, are you better now? I heard you even made a great contribution. Truly worthy of being the daughter of my brother Jiandang! Strong!”
Wei Jiandang—Wei Ci’s father in this lifetime.
With that, he stuck up a thumb and began to shower praise. His warm, cheerful words made Wei Ci’s little face flush red. Shy and embarrassed, she ducked behind Wei Qingfeng, unwilling to show her face.