Several renowned mediums were consulted—fox spirits, yellow spirits, python spirits—all to no avail…

Finally, with the Song household in utter turmoil, the Song clan head brought in a white-haired old man.

This old man was a remarkable individual. With a cursory examination of Song Bao’er’s pulse, he coldly questioned them about whether they had taken something they shouldn’t have…

Song Tian and Qin Shi stammered in response. The old man didn’t press further, only instructing them to bring the object in question and lead him to its owner.

Even at this point, Song Tian showed no remorse, angrily exclaiming, “The adults suffering is one thing, but my one-year-old Bao’er is crying day and night and now has a fever…”

Qin Shi, too, wept softly.

The aged medium remained silent, only stroking his white beard, his old, cloudy black eyes fixed on Guan Guan.

Noticing Guan Guan trembling, Wei Cheng stepped forward, shielding Guan Guan behind him, and sneered, “You claim that taking back my father’s long-life lock, a gift he gave me when he was alive, constitutes ‘begging’? Or that bringing two plates of pig slop constitutes ‘kind hospitality’? Your Song family’s misfortune is due to your own wickedness and has nothing to do with these two children!”

“You!” Song Tian’s large belly trembled with rage. He wanted to strike but hesitated in the presence of Li Maode, turning his anger on Qin Shi, “This is the good son you bore! You should have gotten rid of him!”

“Wei Cheng, you’ve inherited the viciousness of those Wei people! Your own brother is ill, yet you protect that little wretch!”

“Brother? Guan Guan is the only brother I have,” Wei Cheng sneered.

Qin Shi glared at Wei Cheng like he was an enemy, spitting, “Your father was uncouth and uncivilized, and you are just as ill-mannered! Why did I bear such a wicked son?!”

“No matter how flawed my father was, he never neglected you while he was alive, nor did he starve me,” Wei Cheng retorted coldly, “I was raised by my mother but without her care, everyone in Maoxi and Jianghe Villages knows that! Even if I am truly ill-mannered, it’s not me, Wei Cheng, that others should laugh at!”

“You little beast!”

Qin Shi’s face turned pale with fury, raising her hand to strike Wei Cheng. The old man, however, intervened, causing Qin Shi to stumble.

The old man narrowed his eyes at Qin Shi and Song Tian, calmly stating, “If you wish to keep your son safe and sound, cease your abuse of these children.”

Song Tian’s face changed. He refused to believe it, “Master, you were hired by my clan head at great expense, how can you side with these lying brats?!”

“Where is the long-life lock?” the old man ignored Song Tian’s outburst.

Song Tian still wouldn’t give it up, his anger rising, “There is no long-life lock! It’s all Song family property! My Song family has suffered greatly! We’ve spent a fortune, and I don’t need Wei Cheng, this ingrate, to compensate me. I just want to get rid of this wild child, beat him to death or drown him!”

“You dare!” Wei Cheng’s eyes blazed with fierce red anger, shielding the trembling Guan Guan, “If you touch Guan Guan, as long as I have breath in my body, I will kill your entire family!”

Song Tian and Qin Shi were startled by Wei Cheng’s ferocious gaze, then thought again, it was just an eight-year-old child…

“Song Tian, your words are arrogant and disrespectful, and you don’t respect me, the Village Head of Maoxi!”

Li Maode declared authoritatively, “Whether it’s Wei Cheng or the child who came to our village, anyone who dares to harm them without reason, I, Li Maode, will not allow it. This child is a person of Maoxi Village, if you act like a bully and try to beat or kill, you must see if my villagers allow it!”

He turned to Wei Cheng, “You say they took your long-life lock?”

Wei Cheng clenched his fists, nodding, “Yes.”

Li Maode pondered, “A silver lock with auspicious cloud patterns, a silver dragon, and four bells?”

Wei Cheng’s eyes lit up, “You’ve seen it?”

“I have some impression. Your father was kind. Most of the villagers attended Wei Cheng’s first birthday celebration,” Li Maode sighed, “When your father happily showed you to everyone, people asked about the lock, saying it was exquisite. Your father said he designed it himself and had it made in town.”

Wei Cheng’s eyes reddened, his throat choked with emotion, swallowing his longing for Wei Da Nian, “I went to Song’s house to get back my long-life lock, Qin Shi and Song Tian didn’t admit it, then I found it on Song Bao’er’s neck, I got angry and tried to take it back, but they wouldn’t give it to me and even had their maids beat me…”

Qin Shi’s eyes darted around, stubbornly denying, “Nonsense! Your lock was stolen by the Wei family!”

Li Maode looked at her, sighing, “Qin Shi, even if you had a strained relationship with Wei Da Nian and the Wei family, Wei Cheng is still your son! I helped you when you sold your land, and I didn’t blame you for leaving Wei Cheng, but how can you be so cruel as to keep his lock?”

Qin Shi was stunned, her face a mixture of shame and defiance. She turned away, ignoring Li Maode.

Li Maode pondered, “If no one will help Wei Cheng, I will. If you don’t return the lock, we’ll report it to the authorities!”

Hearing about reporting it, Song Tian panicked. He’d brought the medium to exorcise evil, not to return the lock. He wanted to get rid of bad luck, but Li Maode’s interference made things difficult…

He said stubbornly, “Report it! My Song family isn’t afraid!” He could hide the lock, who could find it?

“You!” Li Maode’s beard trembled with anger.

He knew reporting it might not help, but he wanted to bluff Song Tian, who was shameless!

The white-haired old man started to leave.

Qin Shi panicked, grabbing his clothes, “Master, you can’t leave! Bao’er’s curse hasn’t been lifted!”

“The long-life lock, a life-sustaining thread. A weak body can’t bear the strong yang energy. Over time, it will damage the organs and mind, and cause skin problems. There is also a burial object…”

The old man shook his head, sighing, “In three days, prepare for your son’s funeral.”

Funeral?!

Qin Shi fainted, crying, “Master, please save my son!”

Wei Cheng didn’t understand the old man’s words, but Li Maode looked shocked.

Song Tian shouted, “Nonsense!”

The old man left angrily. Qin Shi knelt down, begging him not to leave, crying, “Master, please save my son! He’s only one year old! Why should the child suffer for the parents’ sins…” Qin Shi’s health was damaged after giving birth to Song Bao’er, and she couldn’t have sex or give birth for a year and a half. If Song Bao’er died, Song Tian would take another concubine, and she wouldn’t have a place…

Song Tian kicked her, “Stop lying!”

“Bao’er’s life is more valuable than that cheap thing!” Qin Shi shouted at Song Tian.

She took out a small silver lock and threw it at Wei Cheng, her face twisted, “Take it! I bore and raised you, what’s wrong with keeping your lock? Why did you harm me? From now on, I’m not your mother, and you’re not my son! I won’t care if you starve or freeze to death! I won’t pity you!”

Wei Cheng’s eyes trembled as he clutched the lock.

He looked at Qin Shi coldly, his eyes red, “Fine, we’re done.”

“If you’re abandoned or destitute, I won’t care!”

Song Tian and Qin Shi followed the old man down the mountain.

Only Wei Cheng, Guan Guan, and Li Maode remained.

Li Maode patted Wei Cheng’s shoulder, “Good child, you’re not wrong. If Qin Shi was ill and destitute, I might stop you from taking the lock, but look at her clothes, jewelry, and food, she’s not short of money. It’s you who suffered, and she ignored it, hating you. Such a mother is better off gone!”

“Uncle, I understand,” Wei Cheng said.

Li Maode left. He’d come because he heard Song Tian was looking for Wei Cheng.

Wei Cheng opened the lock and entered the hut, the kang was warm.

Guan Guan hugged his legs.

“Brother,”

Guan Guan looked at him, his eyes red, “Guan Guan is not a bad child.”

Wei Cheng smiled, lifting Guan Guan onto the kang.

“Don’t listen to bad people, if you believe them, they win. Bad people do bad things and don’t admit it, they blame good people. As long as we live well, who cares what bad people say? They’re probably envious.”

Guan Guan nodded, “Guan Guan remembers.”