Prefect Chen's face paled in panic, and he strode out.
"Who dares to be so bold as to hit my daughter?"
He had just developed a good impression of Dashui Village, and now such a thing had happened.
The orderly whispered, "It's, it's the Yun family's youngest daughter."
"What?" Prefect Chen stopped in his tracks and looked back at Old Man Yun and Madam Gu who were following.
Why would Xiao Tian Bao hit someone for no reason?
Outside the Yun family's gate.
When Prefect Chen arrived, Chen Xiao Ran was already crying so hard she was about to pass out.
Madam Huang glared at Xiao Xi Tian with a dark expression, her eyes blazing with fire.
"Mother!~" Xiao Xi Tian pulled her second nephew and ran to Madam Gu's side.
"Daughter, are you hurt?"
Madam Gu squatted down and patted the dust off Xiao Xi Tian's skirt.
"Mother, I'm fine!~"
Chen Xiao Ran had already been taught a lesson. She felt quite pleased.
When encountering such unreasonable people, one shouldn't be polite.
Scolding her was the least she deserved.
If she met someone with a quick temper, she'd have to accept a beating.
Prefect Chen frowned deeply and asked in a low voice, "Xiao Ran, what exactly happened?"
His daughter, when had she ever suffered such a grievance?
Chen Xiao Ran cried and wailed, making a continuous 'wuwuwu' sound.
Madam Huang, heartbroken, glared at Xiao Xi Tian and the others and began to complain.
"My lord, that wild child is too ill-mannered. Xiao Ran was sitting in the carriage, and she came over to curse at her."
"When cursing didn't work, she found a group of wild children to beat her!"
"Hmph, truly, the poor mountains and bad waters breed many commoners. I've truly seen it all..."
Xiao Xi Tian: "......"
I've also witnessed your ability to twist facts.
"Grandma, Grandpa, she's lying! Clearly, that stinky girl bullied little aunt first!"
Yun Jin Shan was indignant and retorted loudly.
They say children lie and are unreasonable.
But Madam Huang was an adult, and the Prefect's wife.
Why did she speak such nonsense?
"That stinky girl also called us wild children, said we were all plague-ridden and deserved to die!~"
Yun Jin Shan clenched his small fists, so angry he was spitting fire.
When Old Man Yun and Madam Gu heard the words 'plague-ridden', their faces instantly darkened.
This young girl, though not old, how could her mouth be so venomous?
Who did she take after?
Madam Gu narrowed her eyes and looked at Prefect Chen, "Prefect Chen, the common people all know you are an upright official, incorruptible and dedicated to serving the people."
"Perhaps you have been too busy with official duties and have neglected your child's upbringing?"
These words struck a nerve with Prefect Chen, piercing him deeply.
Boundless anger surged to the crown of his head. Prefect Chen stared coldly at Chen Xiao Ran.
He sternly asked, "Did you say these words?"
Madam Gu quickly stepped forward to intercede, "My lord, Xiao Ran is very well-behaved. How could she say such things?"
"You shut up and let her speak!"
Prefect Chen was furious, feeling utterly humiliated and awkward.
He truly regretted bringing these two women out.
Now everyone in Dashui Village knew that he, the dignified Prefect, had married a lying wife.
And his own daughter was an arrogant, overbearing, and difficult girl.
Chen Xiao Ran lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
She sniffled and mumbled, "Yes... I said it!~"
There was no point in denying it, as so many wild boys had testified against her.
Upon hearing this, Prefect Chen almost fainted from anger.
He pointed at Chen Xiao Ran, his hand trembling, "You unfilial daughter, get into the carriage!"
"My lord, Xiao Ran is your daughter, how can you..."
"You get in too. We'll see how I deal with you when we get back to the mansion!"
Prefect Chen's chest heaved, as he tried to suppress his anger.
If it weren't for all the people watching, he would have slapped her long ago.
Madam Huang bit her lip and cried pitifully.
Under the villagers' gaze, she pulled Chen Xiao Ran into the carriage, lowered the curtain, and sobbed softly...
Prefect Chen was a seasoned official.
He knew that if he showed favoritism to his daughter in such a situation, he would be subjected to gossip.
They would say he abused his power and didn't uphold justice for the common people.
Once his reputation and prestige were tarnished, his path to promotion would be blocked.
The most crucial point was that he had once seen a token in Xiao Xi Tian's satchel.
It was a symbol of supreme imperial authority.
Let alone a mere Prefect like him.
Even officials older and higher-ranked than him would not dare to act presumptuously in its presence.
Prefect Chen smiled and cupped his hands towards Old Man Yun and Madam Gu, "Xiao Ran has been spoiled by her mother and doesn't know her place. I apologize to you here!~"
The villagers were somewhat stunned.
Prefect Chen, a man of his stature, was willing to bow and apologize.
It was truly as if the sun had risen from the north.
However, Madam Gu did not accept his apology. Instead, she pulled Xiao Xi Tian and asked her, "Daughter, have you forgiven them?"
Calling her a plague-ridden wild girl was truly excessive.
If her daughter did not forgive them, Madam Gu saw no need to be cordial with Prefect Chen.
Xiao Xi Tian tilted her small head and said in a milky voice, "Wo am not a wild child......"
Fu Xiao Qiang and Yun Jin Shan also loudly agreed, "That's right, we have fathers and mothers, we're not wild children!"
Prefect Chen was almost mortified.
His expression almost cracked.
"Yes, yes, none of you are wild children. You are good youths of Dashui Village!~"
Prefect Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Alas, when had he ever been so subservient?
When he returned, he would have to discipline that mother and daughter properly.
He had brought shame upon himself.
Xiao Xi Tian pursed her lips and giggled, "Mother, I'm hungry..."
After all the arguing, her little stomach was empty!
Seeing that her daughter had forgiven them, Madam Gu stroked her head, "Come, Mother will make you steamed egg custard!"
"Mmm!~"
Prefect Chen let out a long sigh and looked at Old Man Yun, "Brother Yun, please trouble you to send those earth dragons and wild wolves to the mansion!"
He had spent over two hundred taels of silver but was filled with anger.
He guessed the wolf meat wouldn't even taste good anymore.
Old Man Yun nodded, "Alright, I'll have Er Man send them over!~"
After Prefect Chen left, Old Man Yun poked Yun Jin Shan with his pipe.
Before he could say anything, Yun Jin Shan, scared, scrambled away, covering his head.
Grandpa isn't going to beat him again, is he?
"Grandpa, didn't you say no one should bully little aunt?"
Yun Jin Shan looked wronged and mumbled, "I just... I just wanted to protect aunt, I didn't want to fight!"
This strong survival instinct made Old Man Yun chuckle.
"You brat, I'm not hitting you, why are you running!" Old Man Yun said with a mixture of tears and laughter.
"You did very well today. Xiao Tian Bao is your aunt, you should protect her and dote on her at all times."
After speaking, Old Man Yun took out three copper coins from his pocket and threw them to him, "Here, buy some candy!"
Yun Jin Shan's eyes lit up.
He actually got a reward.
"Thank you, Grandpa!~"
This fight was truly worth it!
Yun Jin Shan felt great, but Fu Xiao Qiang suffered.
When he got home, Fu Da Qiang whipped him with a cane dipped in cold water, beating his bottom until it was raw.
"You dare to hit even the Prefect's daughter? I think you're trying to reach for the sky."
"Ah! Wuwuwu!~"