"Who are you? What do you want?"
Zhu Yuling was also scared by the beating, her voice trembling as she spoke.
Wang Xianghua sneered, "Who am I? That's none of your business!"
"How can you say that? I... I am Shen Zizhen's lover!"
"Nonsense! Shen Zizhen is my brother-in-law. He's got the marriage certificate, the country recognizes it!"
Wang Xianghua spat at Zhu Yuling, cursing loudly in the local dialect.
Fortunately, the dialect here was a bit different from Mandarin, but Zhu Yuling could understand it.
She looked at Shen Zizhen resentfully, as if betrayed by him.
"Grandma tells you, if you dare to cause trouble in our Red Heart Brigade area, don't blame my stick for not having eyes!" Wang Xianghua continued.
Her commanding presence made Su Xiaotian chuckle.
This auntie was truly adorable.
Su Xiaotian couldn't help but give her a thumbs-up.
"You shrew..." Zhu Yuling wanted to retreat, but she was blocked from behind and couldn't.
She was afraid of pain, and even more afraid of the dirty stick hitting her. Wouldn't that be disgusting?
"Get lost! If you don't, my stick will come down on you!"
Seeing Zhu Yuling's expression, Wang Xianghua became even more smug.
Shen Zizhen said to Su Xiaotian, "Xiaotian, let them go!"
After all, they were family once. He felt there was no need to make such a scene, so he pleaded.
Although he pleaded, Zhu Yuling didn't appreciate his kindness. Instead, she glared at him fiercely.
Su Xiaotian, following Shen Zizhen's wishes, first released her grip and gave a push. Shen Wen Yuan stumbled, almost falling to the ground, but fearing further beating, she quickly ran to Zhu Yuling's side.
Seeing his mother and Shen Wen Yuan about to leave, Shen Fei Wen quickly shouted, "Wait for me!"
Su Xiaotian then remembered that she was still stepping on someone. Not wanting to make Shen Zizhen more awkward, she released her foot.
Shen Fei Wen quickly rolled away from the range of Su Xiaotian's foot.
After all, he was her own son. Zhu Yuling still stepped forward and pulled him up.
The mother and her two children looked at the menacing people and were truly frightened.
What kind of place was this, where even a ten-year-old girl was so fierce?
Wouldn't others be even more formidable?
If she were hit by that vulgar woman with that dirty stick, wouldn't she be beaten to death?
They ran as if someone was chasing them, disappearing quickly.
The three of them ran, blaming each other for the whole ordeal, until they were no longer audible.
Zhu Yuling left, but Su Taohua was lost in thought, gazing at the spot where they had disappeared, wondering about something.
However, her dejection went unnoticed by everyone. They were busy asking Su Xiaotian if she was injured.
"How could I be? I'm so powerful, how could I get hurt!"
She wasn't injured, but Shen Fei Wen would be in pain for several days.
Serves him right. Who told him to try and hit her? Did he think he could bully her just because she was young?
Su Xiaotian said proudly, then remembered she might have said something she shouldn't have today.
She couldn't help but look at Shen Zizhen.
Shen Zizhen was also looking at her, lost in thought.
"Uncle Shen, I was just saying it casually," Su Xiaotian quickly explained.
"Xiaotian, you were really just saying it casually?" Shen Zizhen didn't believe her.
"I just felt that from their appearance to their personalities, they didn't resemble Uncle Shen at all, so I said that."
Su Xiaotian couldn't explain how she got the information, so she just found a random excuse.
However, this excuse convinced Shen Zizhen.
In fact, Shen Zizhen had also noticed that his children didn't resemble him.
He had just never thought about it, never considered that these two children might not be related to him.
Now, with Su Xiaotian's reminder, he suddenly felt that it was possible.
After all, the difference was too great!
This matter was worth investigating!
Chi Ge asked in a low voice, "Xiaotian, was what you said earlier true?"
Su Xiaotian nodded, "When I went to the county town, I heard some rumors. It might be soon!"
Hearing Su Xiaotian say this, Shen Zizhen suddenly understood.
"No wonder they came to find me at this time. I guess there really is some movement."
He would be returning soon. He just didn't know if the others could leave together.
Having interacted with them for so long, he knew that these people were actually very good.
If they really left, he would be reluctant.
Chi Ge clearly thought of this too. Shen Zizhen could return, but they might not, especially him and Chi Yiyuan, with their overseas connections. This was something that couldn't be changed.
Su Xiaotian was afraid of revealing more, so she didn't dare to continue.
"I have some things to do at home, so I'll be going back now. Uncle Shen, Aunt Taohua, Grandpa Chi, Grandpa Du, Grandma Yu, if you need anything, just have Brother Yiyuan call me. I'm very capable."
Hearing the little girl talk about herself like this, with such a proud demeanor, everyone laughed.
Since Su Xiaotian was leaving, Su Sangong and the others had to leave too.
They felt that if they didn't leave now, they might be held responsible!
After all, Wang Xianghua was currently glaring at her son and nephews.
Seeing her sons leaving with Su Xiaotian, Wang Xianghua unceremoniously chased after them.
Those who had come with Wang Xianghua, seeing that there was nothing else, also left, except for Su Xiaomei.
She saw that her mother's mood was not good, her expression even worse than when her biological father had gotten involved with that educated youth Kang.
It was also at this moment that Shen Zizhen realized that Su Taohua looked very wrong.
He recalled and felt that he hadn't protected Su Taohua well, which was why Su Taohua was dejected.
"Taohua, what's wrong?" Shen Zizhen asked. "Did Zhu Yuling hurt you earlier?"
Su Xiaomei, who was about to go comfort her mother, stopped when she saw her stepfather approaching her mother, and stood next to Yu Ruiyuan watching.
Yu Ruiyuan glanced at Su Xiaomei, smiled, and said nothing.
Su Taohua only looked at Shen Zizhen, her gaze filled with too many complex emotions, and she didn't speak.
Shen Zizhen was still blaming himself, "It's all my fault, for not protecting you!"
Su Taohua suddenly burst into tears.
Su Taohua had always been a very strong person and had never been so fragile as to shed tears.
Her tears caused Su Xiaomei to worry and immediately move forward.
However, her hand was held by Yu Ruiyuan. Yu Ruiyuan shook her head at her, then gestured with her mouth to continue watching.
Su Xiaomei saw that her stepfather was flustered, fumbling to help her mother wipe away her tears.
"I know I'm not good enough, I didn't protect you, and I hurt you. If you're in pain, I'll rub it for you. Taohua, please don't cry!"
Su Xiaomei was astonished. Was her mother the type of person to cry from pain?
It shouldn't be!
Su Xiaomei clearly remembered that after her father got involved with that educated youth Kang, her mother had fought with her father many times. Each time the fights were fierce, and she had never cried.
Why was she crying this time?
Seeing Su Taohua's tears flow uncontrollably, Shen Zizhen became even more anxious.
"Taohua, how about you hit me a few times to vent your anger, and stop crying, okay?"
Seeing Shen Zizhen's flustered state, Yu Ruiyuan was surprised.
How had she never noticed this side of Professor Shen before?
As for the others, they were naturally very surprised and couldn't believe what they were seeing was real.
Shen Zizhen didn't realize he was being watched while trying to appease Su Taohua.
"Teacher Shen, I, I don't deserve you!"
She felt inferior.
If nothing else, Zhu Yuling was miles ahead of her in every aspect.
A rough person like her didn't deserve such a gentleman.
"Why are you calling me Teacher Shen now? Didn't you always call me Zizhen?" Shen Zizhen quickly persuaded her. "Don't overthink it. If anyone doesn't deserve anyone, it's me who doesn't deserve you!"
"Xiaotian said you might be going back. When I married you, I thought you might spend your whole life in the Red Heart Brigade, and I never thought you..."
He might be leaving soon, soon to exit her world.
Once he returned to the capital, they would become people of two different worlds.
"Then I won't go back. Living here is actually very good!" When Shen Zizhen suddenly said this, he startled himself.
He hadn't thought at all why he would say such a thing.
He had always longed for the day he could return and hold his head high.
Why, as that day approached, would he say something like this?
Was this his true feeling, or a momentary lapse in judgment?
Shen Zizhen didn't know. He only knew that Su Taohua was a good woman, and he didn't want to lose her!
Chi Ge smiled and said, "Alright, alright, don't think about it so much. Isn't it not time to go back yet?"
Shen Zizhen, however, shook his head seriously and said, "I'm serious. The people here are simple. If we were in a place where people's hearts were wicked, we would probably not survive!"
Everyone fell silent.
Accustomed to life here, could they adapt to that kind of life again after returning to the capital?
"Don't think about it for now, Teacher Shen. If you can really go back, I suppose your treatment will be resolved, and it should be possible to bring Taohua and her children to the capital with you!" Yu Ruiyuan said.
Shen Zizhen had a good reputation. No one would object to such a person bringing his family back.
Su Taohua, upon hearing this, did not feel happy. As a country woman, could she really adapt to city life?
If she knew nothing, wouldn't she be laughed to death?
She didn't even believe in herself.
************
Wang Xianghua chased the brats all the way home, not forgetting to tell the others to go back and look after the chicken farm first.
"You brats, stop right there! What's the point of raising you if you can't even protect your little sister!" Wang Xianghua finally caught up with them at home, panting as she scolded.
Su Sangong had thought that if he couldn't catch up, his mother wouldn't chase them.
After all, his mother was someone who dedicated her life to the chicken farm, so how could she come home?
But the reality was, not only did she come, but she came for them.
"Mom..." Su Sangong said with a fawning smile.
"Don't call me that. What did you guys say before? You said you'd take good care of Xiaotian, but you let Xiaotian get into a fight!" Wang Xianghua stepped forward, grabbed Su Sangong's ear, and twisted it as she scolded, "I'm telling you, if there's a next time, watch your skin."
She looked around and realized two children were missing from home.
She asked again, "Where are the eldest and second eldest? Where did they run off to?"
"Mom, Mom, let go of my ear first! It's about to fall off!" Su Sangong cried out in pain, begging for mercy.
When his mother was scolding, couldn't she let go of his ear first? Ears were made of flesh too, they knew pain!
"Speak, where are those two scoundrels? They're always here, but they disappear when it matters!"
"Auntie, don't blame Brother Sangong, and don't blame Brother Da Ge and Brother Er Ge. Those two are on the mountain. Brother Sangong really couldn't beat me."
After watching the commotion for a while, Su Xiaotian couldn't bear it and stepped forward to hug Wang Xianghua's arm and act spoiled.
"Look, I'm fine, aren't I? I'm okay. If two like them came, even ten or eight, I could handle them!"
Su Xiaotian had this confidence, not because she thought she was that powerful, but because the two children from Uncle Shen's family were too weak.
"From now on, let your brothers handle these rough matters. If one can't beat them, the two of them should go together. Aren't they raised to protect you? Xiaotian, you mustn't take risks, understand?" Wang Xianghua still felt scared thinking about it.
She glared fiercely at the brats. So useless, what were they good for? They couldn't even beat their little sister!
Su Xiaotian couldn't help but give a wry smile and look at her brothers. How upset they must be!
Wang Xianghua continued, "When Grandma gets back later, you watch. She'll skin you alive."
Su Xiaotian then remembered. Wasn't there this matter?
She had actually forgotten about it.
Grandma was not someone to be reasoned with, and she would definitely investigate this matter.
Moreover, her grandma's combat power was much stronger than Auntie's. The brothers were in trouble, and she seemed to be in trouble too!
"Auntie, how about we don't tell Grandma about this, okay?" she asked tentatively.
Keeping it a secret was the best option.
"If you don't tell, and I don't tell, then who will tell?" Wang Xianghua glared at Su Xiaotian.
This child was usually very smart, why was she so confused at this moment, even coming up with such a method.
Indeed, more than one or two people had seen what happened today, so it was inevitable that the news would leak out.
"Your grandma will definitely deal with you for taking risks. You wait! And you brats, you're all waiting to be skinned alive!"
Su Xiaotian stuck out her tongue. She hadn't expected so many troubles.
If she had known, she might as well have let her brothers go.
Well, she decided. From now on, she would let her brothers do the fighting, and she would just watch from the sidelines.
When Grandma returns, she would confess proactively and strive for lenient treatment!
After disciplining her sons, Wang Xianghua gave a few more instructions, which were all about taking good care of their little sister and not taking risks.
The brats dared not say no, and all respectfully agreed.
Wang Xianghua then hurried to the chicken farm, as if she had wings.
In fact, the chicken farm was already well-managed, and it would have been fine even without Wang Xianghua.
But Wang Xianghua was used to it and couldn't leave for even a moment, fearing that something would go wrong in her absence.
And this time, something did go wrong!