Chapter 5: A Thing Subdues Another Thing

“I’ll prove it then, prove that those two beasts killed Youyou.

Others are afraid of offending them, but I’m not. I’d rather give them my worthless life.”

As he spoke, the newcomer rushed to the kang.

“Grandma Wen, you’re here!” Seeing the newcomer, Bai Changpu’s chilled heart finally warmed slightly.

“Doctor Bai, how is Youyou?

Ah… so much blood!

Youyou… Youyou… can you hear me?

Doctor Bai, Youyou, she really…”

“Grandma Wen!” Leng You suddenly opened her eyes, staring straight at the aged face full of worry and heartache leaning over her, her watery eyes filled with an overwhelming longing and deep guilt.

In her past life, it was this unfortunate woman, widowed for most of her life, who saved her countless times from starvation, scraping portions from her meager rations.

It was this woman who rescued her time and again from Ma Dahua’s beatings; otherwise, she wouldn’t have just died, she would have been crippled.

It was also this woman who mended her tattered clothes and made her the first pair of cotton shoes in her life (although those shoes were taken off and given to Ma Dahua’s daughter as soon as she got home).

This woman, seeing her pitiful state, had repeatedly begged Ma Dahua and her nominal father to adopt her…

However, to this woman who was truly kind to her, who cherished her deeply, she had not given anything in return.

Instead, when this woman repeatedly warned her to stay away from the problematic Wang Zicheng, she resented her and secretly ran away to Pingdu with Wang Zicheng.

Scenes from her past life replayed vividly in her mind, and Leng You was in tears.

“Youyou, you… you’re awake!

Oh dear! Why are you crying? Tell Grandma Wen, where does it hurt?”

Wen Jiuyue excitedly reached out to touch Leng You’s face, but seeing the shocking bloodstains, she immediately stopped. She then tried to hold her hand, but was again deterred by the blackened blood.

“What’s wrong?” Xiang Wentian’s expression turned serious, striding forward.

This child hadn’t shed a single tear before encountering the “miracle.”

“Nothing!” Leng You wasn’t good at expressing emotions, she just shook her head slightly. Closing her eyes, she forcefully held back her tears.

“It’s a miracle, Xiao Youyou fell into such a deep valley, apart from some minor bruises, she only had a nosebleed, although it was quite a lot, it didn’t affect her overall health.

It seems that even heaven favors this poor child!”

Knowing that in this village, Wen Jiuyue was the only one who truly loved Leng You, Bai Changpu didn’t hide anything.

“But I heard people in the village say…” Wen Jiuyue swallowed the rest of her words.

“We did it on purpose, so that Youyou could stay away from her home for a few more days.”

Xiang Huaixin  considered himself invincible on the battlefield, but dealing with a woman as tough as Ma Dahua was truly challenging.

“Sigh! It’s understandable that Ma Dahua, as a stepmother, is so vicious, but Leng Shugen is Youyou’s biological father! How could he be so cruel? Even wolves protect their cubs, let alone a human!

No, I have to find Ma Dahua, I must get Youyou back, otherwise, even if she escapes this time, there will be another time.

You saved her this time, but what about next time?”

Wen Jiuyue wiped away her tears, her expression firm as she stood up.

“Grandma Wen, not now!” Bai Changpu hurriedly stopped her.

“Calm down!” Xiang Huaixin  also advised.

“Grandma Wen!” Leng You grabbed Wen Jiuyue’s finger.

“Youyou, don’t be afraid, Grandma Wen will never let those two beasts harm you again.” Based on her understanding of Leng You, Wen Jiuyue thought she was scared.

“Grandma Wen, I want to be with you.”

But not now.

Leng You couldn’t express much at this moment, after all, she was just an “eight-year-old” child.

Since she had a chance to start over, she must rewrite her life.

Leaving that home was certain, but before that, some accounts needed to be settled properly.

“Good, good, good, my dear Youyou, Grandma Wen will even sell everything to get you back.” Wen Jiuyue was instantly moved to tears.

This was the most decisive statement Leng You had ever made. Before, whenever she was asked, she only gave a timid nod, although Wen Jiuyue knew it was because Leng You was afraid of her beastly parents.

“They have to give her up willingly, otherwise, there will be big trouble later.” Xiang Wentian spoke calmly like an adult.

After learning about Leng You’s background from everyone’s words, the feeling of heartache tore at his nerves again.

Leng You secretly looked at Xiang Wentian, her eyes full of admiration; Xiang Wentian’s words were exactly what she wanted to say but couldn’t.

Xiang Huaixin  and Bai Changpu both nodded.

Then, they carefully discussed and made a preliminary plan.

“I’ll go home to cook, and bring it over later. Wentian has traveled so far, he must be starving.”

Wen Jiuyue looked outside through the window patched with old newspapers, although the faint light didn’t allow her to tell the time, she still got up.

“Absolutely not! Grandma Wen, we know your situation is difficult, that little food you have is not enough for you and Xiao Youyou.

We have food here, we can cook ourselves… we can cook ourselves.”

Bai Changpu quickly waved his hand.

These grown men couldn’t possibly accept her kindness.

“Once the snow stops, I’ll take Wentian to the city to find some food.”

Xiang Huaixin  glanced at the worn cloth bag by the wall, the coarse cornmeal inside probably didn’t even weigh five kilograms. Looking at his son who had come all this way to see him, he sighed deeply.

“There’s food here.” Suddenly, Xiang Wentian took out four large sweet potatoes from his schoolbag, like small pillows.

“Xiaotian, you… brought them from Pingdu?” Bai Changpu was surprised.

“No, from the valley.

And, I’ll dig more tomorrow.”

Xiang Wentian’s tone was as calm as if he were talking about the weather.

“There are such things in the valley? In this season?” Xiang Huaixin  was quite incredulous.

“That valley…” Wen Jiuyue felt uneasy.

“That valley is special.” Xiang Wentian’s gaze lingered on Leng You.

Leng You understood the multiple meanings of “special.”

“Let’s go take a look later.” Having been a soldier for half his life, Xiang Huaixin  didn’t believe in strange things.

“Me too, me too, I want to go too!” Bai Changpu almost raised his hand.

“You…” Xiang Wentian looked at the two men, both over fifty, and didn’t even bother shaking his head.

“You brat, you look down on your old dad, don’t you? Forgotten how much of your skills I taught you, huh?

I’m not yet sixty, my skills haven’t weakened, if you don’t believe me, let’s practice outside.”

Just one look from his son made Xiang Huaixin , who had frightened enemies on the battlefield, jump up.

“I’ll carry Youyou.” Xiang Wentian ignored his father, put the sweet potatoes into his schoolbag and handed it to Wen Jiuyue, then wrapped Leng You in his scarf and carried her on his back, walking out first.

“This kid… this kid…

Old Bai, did you see that! This brat…”

Xiang Huaixin  pointed at his son’s receding back, his thin cheeks and stern eyes filled with satisfaction.

“Humph! A thing subdues another thing.” Bai Changpu scoffed.