Chapter 7

Yun Shuang’s mouth twitched slightly.

That Madam Wu—her verbal skills were sharp. She could insult someone without uttering a single curse.

Xu Changyong glanced at Yun Shuang with a worried expression, as if concerned she’d be upset by the mother-daughter duo’s remarks.

Not far off, Liu Pei’er kept glancing back at Xu Changyong. Seeing him hovering around Yun Shuang had her biting her lip in frustration, unable to hold back any longer. “Brother Changyong, I just saw your mother head over to the Wu house—aren’t you going to look for her?”

Xu Changyong’s expression changed instantly. He quickly turned and offered a hasty apology—“I’ll go ahead”—then hurried off.

Yun Shuang looked completely unimpressed, as if she cared whether he stayed or left.

Just as this absurd little drama came to a close and Yun Shuang prepared to leave, a cheerful voice rang out from nearby: “Oh! Miss Yun—I just heard someone call your name and thought I’d misheard it! You’re here to see the commotion at the Wu house, too?”

The voice belonged to Sister Hua, a kind-faced woman with a petite frame dressed in a reddish-brown cloth skirt. She quickly made her way through the crowd in front of the Wu house. She lived next door and had always looked after Yun Shuang and the children. Whenever the original Yun Shuang had fallen ill, it was Sister Hua who helped care for them.

Arriving in front of Yun Shuang, she grabbed her hand and looked her over, happily exclaiming, “You’re fully recovered today? That’s wonderful!
That Wu Chengqi finally got what he deserved! Years ago, he dared to harbor indecent thoughts toward you just because you were young, beautiful, and alone. Look at him now—he’s become a deserter! His reputation’s ruined, and the garrison officers have come for him directly!
Come on, let’s go see the show. You’ve recovered—maybe it’s fate that you get to witness his downfall with your own eyes!”

Wu Chengqi had indeed harassed the original Yun Shuang.

The Wu family had two sons. The older one had died on the battlefield five years ago. According to Da Qi’s military law, conscripted men had to be at least sixteen years old. Wu Chengqi managed to delay it for a few more years and was forced to join the army three years ago.

It was only then that the original Yun Shuang escaped his harassment.
Realizing she couldn’t avoid this drama, and hearing what Sister Hua said, Yun Shuang thought that perhaps if the original version of her were still here, she too would want to see her former tormentor get his due. So she let Sister Hua drag her along.

Sister Hua was something of an expert in watching spectacles. With strategic nudges left and right, she managed to squeeze Yun Shuang to the front of the crowd.

The villagers were all quite surprised to see Yun Shuang—after all, she’d been sickly for years and rarely appeared in public. However, a bigger spectacle was unfolding, so they put their surprise on the back burner.

Not far away, Liu Pei’er saw that Yun Shuang had actually come and bit her lip again, glaring at her.

Yun Shuang pretended not to notice.

Once they reached the front, Yun Shuang immediately saw more than a dozen soldiers standing stiffly in front of the Wu house, all clad in armor. Their faces were stoic, devoid of emotion, and their whole demeanor radiated the fierce aura of battle-hardened warriors.

Erya’s little face had turned pale. She clung to Yun Shuang’s leg and murmured, “Mother, those uncles look so fierce.”

Though Goudan said nothing, he took a defensive stance in front of his sister, warily eyeing the soldiers.

Two men stood at the forefront of the armored troop—clearly the leaders.
One was upright and imposing, his face clouded and unreadable, eyes cold as he stared at the panicked, huddled members of the Wu family.
The other was tall and powerfully built, with a finger-length scar on his temple and a vicious look on his face. He stood even farther forward than the first, and suddenly shoved Wu Youjin—the father of Wu Chengqi—who’d been frantically trying to explain something.

“Cut the crap!” the soldier snarled. “Tell me! Where’s that disgrace of a son hiding?”

“M-my lord…” Wu Youjin, pushed to the ground, didn’t dare protest. Trembling, he said, “I—I really don’t know where that rascal ran off to! Our Wu family is humble, but we have never harbored a deserter. My right leg—this very one—was injured in battle when I was young! Even now, I need a cane to walk! My eldest… My poor eldest son died on the battlefield! If that ungrateful brat comes back, I would never hide him. Even if you didn’t come knocking, I’d report him myself…”

“Yes! We would never dare harbor a deserter!”

Crying out, Madam Fan—the woman behind Wu Youjin—rushed forward. “Everyone knows it’s a crime to desert, but hiding a deserter is an even greater offense! Look at us: old people, women, and children. Chengqi may be my son, but I have two grandsons! I may be an illiterate village woman, but I know what matters most!”

“Enough talk. Men!” The leading officer waved his hand. “Search every corner of the house. Don’t leave even a mouse hole unchecked!”

Good heavens—it was that serious?

The crowd watching the commotion began to whisper. This wasn’t some ordinary deserter hunt.

The soldiers immediately followed orders, moving with disciplined precision as they poured into the Wu home and started searching. One by one, all sorts of odds and ends were tossed outside: an old table with uneven legs, four timeworn wooden chairs, shoes belonging to the elderly and the children—two tiny pairs for the grandsons, and two larger pairs for Wu Youjin and Madam Fan. Since it had rained the night before, mud still clung to their soles. In the kitchen, bamboo baskets lay piled haphazardly. One held a stack of unwashed bowls and dishes—still slick with oil and residue.

Yun Shuang’s eyes narrowed slightly. Tch. This Wu family isn’t as innocent as they claim.

Just then, an angry shout suddenly drew everyone’s attention. “Yun Goudan! What are you doing here? I bet you came to laugh at us because you’re mad I keep calling you a fatherless mutt!”

The voice came from a small boy, around six or seven years old, standing outside the Wu house with Madam Fan gripping his arm. He was trembling, eyes bloodshot, staring at Goudan with a ferocious expression—like he wanted to tear him apart.

Yun Shuang instantly remembered—this grandson of the Wu family had a bit of history with Goudan.

Once, the two had gotten into a fight and Goudan had injured the boy’s forehead. That old spitfire from the Wu household had stormed over, waving a wooden club, ready to cause trouble. If it hadn’t been for Sister Hua and some kind-hearted villagers stepping in to mediate, the original Yun Shuang and Goudan might not have gotten away unscathed. After that, no matter how much anyone asked, Goudan refused to explain why they fought. It now seemed that little brat had long been bullying him. And all these years, Goudan had only fought back once. He must have swallowed down countless acts of cruelty in silence.

The crowd, sensing the tension, turned to look at Goudan and the Wu boy—even the two officers posted at the gate glanced over. They were also from humble backgrounds; bullying like this in village life was something they were all too familiar with.

Goudan shot the boy a cold stare, then turned his face away—clearly unwilling to engage. That expression made the Wu grandson explode with rage. With a low growl, he shouted, “How dare you disrespect me! How can a fatherless brat like you dare!” Then suddenly yanked free from Madam Fan’s grip and charged straight toward Goudan.