Chapter Twenty-Six: The Cry

  Lan Niang thought that she still had to wait for several months, and she was annoyed. She couldn't wait to see the wonderful expressions on these people's faces.

  The village is now busy with spring planting, and the work in the fields can't be done quickly enough. Who has time to idle around? During this period, it's better to behave a bit more obediently, let's wait until after this busy period and see what happens next.

  ……

  A month later, the pumpkin seedlings had grown to be about a foot high, and Zhi Xiao finally put his mind at ease. This was going to be the family's reliance for the future, their entire livelihood depended on this patch of pumpkins.

  She and Erniu Mian Tian are only responsible for watering every four or five days.

  Knowing from Liu Jianping's daily conversations with Lian Niang, he knew that the grain yield was not ideal at this time, so it was still planned to rely on pumpkin cultivation. The money earned quickly, and planting other crops required the same or even more effort, but the returns were not necessarily greater than those of pumpkins. On this point, Lian Niang and Liu Jian also gained a lot of inspiration from selling pumpkins.

  During the New Year, Lan Niang had some spare money on hand, so she bought fabric for everyone to make new clothes for winter. Erni and Mochen were also included, and she even saved them two people's living expenses. The two children didn't slack off in digging and planting pumpkins. Lan Niang couldn't bear to take this money from them, and Zhi Xiao agreed with her.

  After breakfast, I went to the front yard to check on the wild vegetables that were planted together. The warming weather has also accelerated their growth rate, and they are growing particularly well.

  In the distance, a small figure was rushing towards this place at high speed, not looking at the road, but with his head down and running forward with all his might. Fortunately, he had become familiar with the mountain roads over the past few months, otherwise, just by looking at him running like that, something bad could have happened.

  "Back already." Zhi Xiao raised his head and asked faintly.

  "Uh-huh." A thin layer of sweat appeared on Mu Tianhong's radiant face. "Li Dazhuang is walking up the mountain."

  "What is he doing here on the mountain so early in the morning?" Knowing that she had thrown away a handful of weeds, she saw him put down a small stool and sit beside her, helping to pick out the weeds from the ground.

  "Who knows, I saw him on the small path and didn't go forward to bother him." Mu Tian was somewhat depressed. When he was driven out of the house, his anger wanted to find Li Da Zhuang's trouble. As time passed, it didn't fade away at all. His hatred for him was so strong that it came from the bone.

  "Will you see that we have planted pumpkins on the mountain and want to come and share a cup of soup?" Zhi Xiao asked with his head down, pulling out weeds.

  "Really?" Mu Tian was shocked and stood up straight.

  "What's he doing now that it's still so cold in the early morning?" After all, this kid often walks around at the foot of the mountain and may have heard some rumors.

  "What's going on? Is he really coming for us?" Mu Tian started to get up anxiously, and that day should not have been seen by anyone, he and Zhi Xiao were very careful.

  Before anyone knew it, Erni came out of the house.

  "Don't be so startled, it's nothing." She gently tapped his sweaty forehead.

  Erni looked in the direction of the mountain below, and a cold voice came over, "If he is still greedy and blocks our way out, I will make a big deal with him this time, and I won't stop you from going."

  Erni gritted her teeth, her icy gaze fixed on Mutian. You can't cheat people forever, Li Dazhuang had taken a lot from them already, and it wouldn't be that easy next time.

  Erni's usual warmth and gentleness had changed, her whole body was filled with a biting chill.

  Zhixiao and Mochen exchanged a knowing glance, a silent understanding that only they shared.

  "Haha, Erni is quite formidable after all. Never mind, what's he going to do? It's not his family's anyway. Can he even come and grab it? He didn't even plant the pumpkin, we're busy from dawn till dusk, while he's sleeping at home. What reason does he have? Whatever he says won't stand."

  Zhī xiǎo turned to look at him, his eyes darting back and forth with a mixture of guilt and nonchalance. He shot Mù Tiān Shǐ a warning glance, signaling him not to reveal their shared secrets. Then, Zhī Xiǎo turned to comfort ēr Nī, saying:

  "I'm just a little worried, it shouldn't be discovered. When we planted them, didn't we take turns guarding the road at the foot of the mountain? No one came up the mountain then, and they were all planted. He shouldn't find out. It's just that this person has a bad impression of me, so I'm thinking about it. Seeing you guys being tense, I was just curious and asked."

  No one would have suspected them of that thing, and it was so dark that day, who could see, let alone what he was doing.

  "Zhixiao sister is right, sister. Maybe Li Dazhuang will come up the mountain to hunt wild rabbits or something?" Mutian understood what Zhixiao meant.

  "Is that all?" Erni laughed out loud, "He only has the portion of a pot-snatcher. I'll go take a look, don't let him head in the direction of the gourd field." Erni still said with concern, "Now Uncle and Aunt are busy with farm work at the foot of the mountain, you know not to go, Mùtiān Mùtiān come with me to check it out, see what tricks he's up to."

  Erni had just washed the dishes in the room, with a dishcloth still dripping from her hand. She turned around and wrung it out, then hung it up to dry in the sun. Pulling Mutian along, she headed down the mountain. Zhi Xiao was left behind to watch the house, but he too wanted to join in on the fun. Zhi Xiao could only lower his head and continue weeding the wild vegetables with his hands. The weather had warmed up, and the weeds were growing fast.

  Besides, it's none of anyone's business, but she didn't want to join in the commotion, just a little uneasy in her heart, wondering if that sensational thing would be discovered by others.

  While pulling out the weeds on the ground, he furrowed his brow in deep thought. But that day they had planned everything so well, not even Erni and Lanniang had revealed a single hint, how could he have known?

  No, she shook her head knowingly, stood up straight and looked at the mountain path leading to the waist of the mountain. Now she was somewhat curious about what Li Dazhuang had come for today.

  Recalling Lanniang's idea to herself, although some were forced, buying land and taking money to smash that Liu Gui, it seems that this is also the only way to get down the mountain.

  Although there are parents accompanying her on the mountain, after all, there is no one else around. Every day, opening her eyes to see only these few people, without any new ideas, and nothing to do, she also wants to go down the mountain. Even if the people below are noisy and uncomfortable, it's still a kind of flavor in life. Staying on this mountain is really too dull and boring, every day waking up and looking around to see only these few people, without any fresh air or new faces.

  As soon as she thought of this, she wanted to scold people. Why did they drive her out of the village? Those feudal-minded, backward and ignorant villagers would eventually make them regret driving her to the mountain.

  When she's fine, she'll be okay with this group of people fighting, but if she's unhappy, you can't expect to be happy either.

  Last time because of Ling's daughter hugging her and crying, Zhi Xiao was deeply frightened.

  Afterwards, Mu Tian secretly went to ask about it and found out that it was actually like this: the mother wanted her to move back to the mountain, but they were relentless in their pursuit, not letting up for a single step. What she had thought of was indeed beautiful.

  Since she came to me herself, let's solve it her way then.

  Knowing that she would be ruthless and merciless in her attack, he concealed his true strength and didn't reveal any weaknesses in front of Ling Nang, just like he did every day.

  Behind the scenes, however, he was busy asking Mu Tian, who had some unreliable days and had deep-seated animosity and hatred towards Li Dazhuang, and got a lot of exclusive insider information from him.

  Why did she frame him? It's because the woman of this family was involved, last time it was her who intervened and used the method of expelling herself from the village to threaten her mother.

  Avoiding Lan Niang's tight surveillance over the past few days, taking advantage of her dozing off for a moment, Mu Tianqiang was pulled into a cave on the mountain.

  But hearing the constant noise of shouting and yelling in her ears, she got angry.

  "What's wrong with you, shout again and I'll take care of you, do you believe it or not!" A loud shout from someone who knew him, pointing at his nose in anger, completely silenced the noisy guy.

  Only Mu Tian was still afraid, shrinking and looking around in all directions, his face even more miserable. The more pitiful he looked, the more pitiful he became.

  "What are you trying to do? I'm not going to listen to you."

  He's absolutely furious now.

  With a swift slap, he was beaten until he didn't dare to shout and yell randomly. This little kid is always thinking about something in her brain all day long. Fortunately, she still has some sense of where she came from. As soon as you hear it, you understand that the place is quite open-minded about such things, but not too concerned about the occasion or location. But this little guy in front of me now, with his hair not even grown yet, can he just say whatever comes to mind?

  Only then did I realize that this little brat actually had experience, but please don't misunderstand, it's viewing experience. But also don't misunderstand again, in fact, it's nothing, for the people there, such things are seen a lot.

  But for this child, it was different, he saw a vivid and profound image that left a lasting impression.

  This proves that Mu Tian didn't stay at Li Da Zhuang's house for nothing, at least he got some of this person's preferences.

  Li Dazhuang, as the name suggests, is a bit sturdy, but he doesn't look great, with a face full of acne and not very tall, and even has a hunchback. However, this person has advantages, which are only known to those who understand him, while for his family, it's just a source of trouble and hatred.

  Li Dazhuang had two great hobbies in his life. One was loving money, otherwise he wouldn't have driven the two little ones out of the house. The other was women...

  Knowing that it is combined with its current ability, there is only the second option left.

  On a dark and windy night.

  Two small ones quietly lay behind a big tree, one of whom silently pointed with his hand to the front door.

  Another tightly pursed his lips and didn't speak, with a face full of excitement nodding enthusiastically, with an excited red glow flashing on his face.

  Li Dazhuang was sneaking out of a house, and the woman also politely saw him off at the door. However, it's likely that due to the dim lighting, she didn't get a good look, and in any case, she wouldn't have thought that someone who steals food would be looking for an old, worn-out woman like her. Maybe it was just the lighting.

  A shrill, hoarse cry suddenly pierced the night sky, echoing throughout the village, and the lights in every household flickered to life as people rushed out of their doors to gaze outward.

  As expected, the old woman finally arrived.

  Zhixiao and Mochen exchanged a glance, finally bursting out laughing, but it didn't matter anymore, for who would still hear their laughter.

  Knowing now makes me want to laugh, recalling that night's memories, poking my head out to look at the mountain path over there, I don't know why he rushed up the mountain so early today.