《Sweet Wife Is Busy Farming》 Chapter 1 It hurt¡­ It hurt so much.. Ding Yao felt intense pain on her forehead. She opened her eyes with all her might and found herself lying at the bottom of a cliff. The surrounding vegetation was lush and there was no one around. She subconsciously raised her hand to touch her forehead and touched the blood on her hand. She was stunned¡­ she was so lucky. How did she survive a plane crash? At this moment, Ding Yao¡¯s forehead throbbed with pain, and a lot of unfamiliar information flooded into her mind. Soon, she understood her situation. She did die in the plane crash, but she transmigrated! She transmigrated to a backward village and became an eighteen-year-old village girl with the same name as her in Spirit Stone Village of Spirit Creek Town. The village girl was a pitiful person. Her mother died when she was three years old. Her father married her stepmother and didn¡¯t care about her. Her grandfather who loved her dearly died in an accident when she was seven years old. The village girl was extremely sad and cried until she lost her voice. She became a mute girl. After becoming a mute, the little village girl¡¯s life became even more difficult. Her family liked to bully her, especially the stepmother¡¯s daughter, Ding Hua. The nominal elder sister of the mute girl looked down on the mute girl very much. The mute girl¡¯s fall from the cliff also had something to do with her elder sister, Ding Hua. This morning, the mute girl went up the mountain with Ding Hua to pick up firewood. She was pushed by someone behind her back and fell off the cliff to her death. Ding Yao also crossed over at this time. Ding Yao didn¡¯t know if Ding Hua was the one who pushed the mute girl, so she didn¡¯t investigate who was the one who pushed the mute girl. Her current situation was very bad. Because this body had been abused for a long time, it was already weak. When she fell off the cliff, there were many wounds on her body. The most serious one was the bloody hole on her forehead. The excessive loss of blood made her feel dizzy. If she couldn¡¯t be treated in time, she would die again very soon. Ding Yao wouldn¡¯t allow herself to die like this when she finally got a chance to be reborn. She looked around and when she saw the purple plants not far away, her eyes lit up and she crawled forward with difficulty. She plucked the leaves of the plants and kneaded them into pieces before applying them to her forehead. Slowly, the blood on her forehead stopped. This plant was called ¡°Thistle Grass¡± and had the effect of reducing inflammation and stopping bleeding. As someone who knew medicine, it wasn¡¯t difficult for Ding Yao to use the plants around her to treat her illness. What was difficult was that this body was too weak. After the bleeding was stopped, she was still weak. It was impossible for her to rely on herself to walk out of the cliff and return home. Just as Ding Yao was thinking about how to save herself, a wild pheasant that had been shot by an arrow flapped its wings and flew in front of her. Then, it swayed and flew into the forest on the right. Ding Yao¡¯s spirits were lifted. Were there people hunting around? She stretched out her hand to catch the pheasant as a bargaining chip. When the time came, she would discuss with the hunter to bring her down the mountain. Unfortunately, her body was too weak. Although the pheasant was shot by an arrow, its movements were much more agile than hers. Just as the pheasant was about to escape into the forest, Ding Yao hit the ground. A rustling sound came from behind her. Ding Yao turned her head and saw a man who was about twenty years old with a bow and arrow in his hand and a small basket on his back walking quickly toward her. Even though the situation wasn¡¯t right, Ding Yao was still stunned by the man because he was too good looking! His facial features were exquisite and chiseled. His hair was short and thick, his skin was fair, and his eyebrows were bold! The man saw Ding Yao lying on the ground covered in blood. He paused for a moment and then went around Ding Yao to chase after the pheasant that had been shot. Ding Yao was speechless. She was a living person but she wasn¡¯t as important as the pheasant?! The man, Song Xiuyan, put the pheasant into the basket on his back. Then, he walked up to Ding Yao and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Seeing that the man still cared about her, Ding Yao hurriedly pointed at her forehead with one hand and pointed at the top of the cliff with the other. She explained with her hand gestures and mouth gestures, but she didn¡¯t know if the man could understand her. Seeing that Ding Yao kept gesturing, Song Xiuyan frowned. ¡°You don¡¯t know how to speak?¡± After a pause, he stared at Ding Yao¡¯s hand gestures and guessed, ¡°You mean you fell from the top of the cliff and hurt your forehead?¡± Ding Yao quickly nodded. Song Xiuyan stared at Ding Yao for a while, then suddenly asked, ¡°Your family lives in Spirit Stone Village¡¯s mountains? Your surname is Ding? Your grandfather is Doctor Ding?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Ding Yao nodded. In her memory, she did live in Spirit Stone Village, and her grandfather was also a doctor before he passed away. Spirit Stone Village was located in a remote area, and her grandfather was the only doctor in the village. This youth asked this question because he knew her grandfather? If he knew her grandfather, things would be easier. Chapter 2 Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression suddenly became complicated. This woman was actually his fianc¨¦e! Ten years ago, his father and Ding Yao¡¯s grandfather had decided on their marriage. At that time, Ding Yao wasn¡¯t mute, but because his father had arranged the marriage at will, he was very resistant to this marriage. Song Xiuyan put down the basket on his back and helped Ding Yao examine the wound on her forehead. He saw that the medicinal herbs applied on it were no longer bleeding and was slightly relieved. ¡°Did you learn medical skills from your grandfather? The leaves you applied have the effect of reducing inflammation and stopping bleeding. There¡¯s no need to re-treat the wound. I¡¯ll help you bandage it.¡± Ding Yao nodded and sighed at this man¡¯s intelligence. She only needed to gesture a few times before he could understand what she meant. Moreover, this man wasn¡¯t as cold as when they first met. He had become enthusiastic and helpful. Ding Yao guessed that he might know the original owner¡¯s grandfather, and might even have received help from the original owner¡¯s grandfather, which was why he changed his attitude after recognizing her identity. After bandaging the wound, Song Xiuyan took out a washed-up white handkerchief and gently wiped the blood stains off Ding Yao¡¯s face, revealing a pale but delicate little face. He stared at him with watery eyes, which looked like those of an abandoned puppy. Song Xiuyan¡¯s heart fluttered. He asked in a gentle voice, ¡°Did anyone see you when you fell?¡± Ding Yao shook her head. She didn¡¯t need to tell a stranger about her own family matters. She made gestures with her hands as she did so. Miraculously, Song Xiuyan understood what she meant. ¡°Are you saying that your sister pulled you up the mountain to collect firewood while you were still sick? Then your sister wasn¡¯t with you and didn¡¯t know that you fell, so she didn¡¯t come to find you?¡± Ding Yao nodded. Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression became more and more complicated. Five months ago, Ding Yao¡¯s stepmother, Wang Hongxia, came to look for him once and asked him to bring Ding Yao over early. She said that as long as he brought Ding Yao over, there was no need for betrothal gifts. However, Song Xiuyan¡¯s mother refused. From this, it could be seen that Ding Yao¡¯s life at home wasn¡¯t very good. The family treated her as a burden and only wanted to send her away as soon as possible. In fact, Song Xiuyan had originally planned to refuse this marriage. However, when he saw Ding Yao¡¯s current state, he couldn¡¯t bear it. Ding Yao saw Song Xiuyan¡¯s changing expression and was about to ask what was wrong when a wave of dizziness came over. She couldn¡¯t help but lean back. Fortunately, Song Xiuyan was quick enough to support her, thus preventing the possibility of Ding Yao falling to the ground and getting injured again. Seeing that Ding Yao¡¯s body was weak, Song Xiuyan moved his palm over her back slightly, and a continuous stream of internal energy slowly entered Ding Yao¡¯s body. Ding Yao only felt a heat on her back, and a warm current flowed from her back to her limbs and bones. Her dispirited feeling also vanished. This¡­ This was the legendary kung fu? This man was too amazing! After receiving Song Xiuyan¡¯s energy, Ding Yao felt that she was instantly full of energy and revived. Even the space of the medicinal field, which she hadn¡¯t felt since she transmigrated, was now connected to her again! Her herbal field space also transmigrated with her! Ding Yao¡¯s herbal field space was an ancient inheritance that she had obtained by chance in her previous life. It was only about ten square meters in size, and there were a lot of precious herbs planted in it. Most importantly, there was a spiritual spring pool inside that could cure all kinds of diseases! The original owner wasn¡¯t born deaf and mute, but she lost her voice afterwards. As long as she drank spiritual spring water every day, she could be cured! In her previous life, Ding Yao had placed many useful things in the space of the herbal field. With just a thought, she could take them out and use them. This time, she didn¡¯t have to worry about who would harm her, and she didn¡¯t have to worry about having to live a hard life! Ding Yao suppressed her joy and tried her best not to lose her composure, so that the man wouldn¡¯t notice anything strange. At this moment, the sound of footsteps came from behind again. A middle-aged woman shouted with her hands on her waist, ¡°What are you doing?! A man and a woman huddled together in the forest in broad daylight. Are you shameless?!¡± Ding Yao recognized the woman¡¯s voice. It was the original owner¡¯s stepmother, Wang Hongxia. Wang Hongxia wasn¡¯t tall. Her chin was long and sharp, and she looked mean. Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t look too good. He also recognized who it was. He withdrew his palm that was on Ding Yao¡¯s back and looked at Wang Hongxia coldly. Wang Hongxia had long recognized Song Xiuyan. She had made up her mind to throw the burden of Ding Yao to Song Xiuyan today, so she yelled, ¡°What? What are you looking at? What did I say wrong? You put one hand on Ding Yao¡¯s back and the other on her chest. You¡¯re obviously doing something shameful!¡± Chapter 3 ¡°Shut up!¡± No matter how calm Song Xiuyan was, he couldn¡¯t tolerate Wang Hongxia¡¯s slander. Ding Yao was also angered by Wang Hongxia¡¯s words. Although the body she had transmigrated into was 18 years old, due to chronic malnutrition, she had a body like a bean sprout. She had no breasts and no butt, so it was really difficult for Wang Hongxia to say that she had done something shameful with a man. Ding Yao wanted to refute Wang Hongxia and scold her. However, her original body was a mute girl. She couldn¡¯t say anything at all. It was better to let the man next to her do it! Wang Hongxia wasn¡¯t afraid of Song Xiuyan and she raised her voice again. ¡°Song Xiuyan, you little b*stard, why are you so fierce?! Although Ding Yao is your wife, you haven¡¯t even married her yet and you¡¯re already hugging her. Don¡¯t you have any sense of shame?! Since you¡¯ve already done such despicable things, hurry up and marry Ding Yao. The Ding family won¡¯t let her stay!¡± Ding Yao was speechless. Wife? Whose wife was she? In her memory, she did have a marriage. It was with the Song family, who lived village outside the mountain. Her grandfather had arranged a fianc¨¦ for her. She had never expected that the fianc¨¦ she had never met would be the handsome man in front of her! Ding Yao instantly understood why the man had such a complicated expression when he knew her name.. After knowing Song Xiuyan¡¯s identity, Ding Yao also realized Wang Hongxia¡¯s plan. She wanted to kick her out of the house! Outrageous! Ding Yao no longer cared that she was a mute. She pointed at Wang Hongxia and cursed. Wang Hongxia placed her hands on her hips as she stared at Ding Yao with a fierce look in her eyes. ¡°What do you mean? I told you to go up the mountain to collect firewood, but you shamelessly went on a date with a man and hid from me. You scared your sister, Ding Hua, into thinking you fell off the cliff. She quickly ran back to the village and called for people to look for you. We searched all over the mountains and plains, but what about you? You only know how to seduce men!¡± Ding Yao could no longer listen to these filthy words. She stood up and rushed to Wang Hongxia to teach her a lesson. However, Song Xiuyan mistakenly thought that Ding Yao was going to fight Wang Hongxia to the death. Seeing Wang Hongxia raise her hand to slap Ding Yao, he hurriedly stood in front of Ding Yao to protect her. Before Wang Hongxia could do anything, he said, ¡°I can bring Ding Yao over in advance, but if you dare to repeat what you just said, don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡± When Wang Hongxia heard that, she was immediately overjoyed. ¡°Ding Yao is your wife to begin with, so it¡¯s only right for you to take her home. As for the matter of the two of you dating, it¡¯s understandable for a young man to be unable to control himself. If you take Ding Yao away now, I don¡¯t even need betrothal gifts.¡± Song Xiuyan said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take Ding Yao home.¡± Ding Yao raised her head in astonishment and looked at the back of Song Xiuyan¡¯s head. If the original owner¡¯s memory was right, she remembered that Song Xiuyan¡¯s family had once refused to take her home in advance. To put it bluntly, she was now a mute girl that everyone despised. Song Xiuyan would divorce her sooner or later, but now¡­ not only did Song Xiuyan not divorce her, but he also wanted to take her over in advance? As they spoke, a few more people ran over. Ding Yao recognized them. They were the original owner¡¯s sister, Ding Hua, as well as third uncle, third aunt, and fourth uncle. Seeing a large pool of blood on the ground, everyone was shocked. Seeing that Ding Yao seemed to be fine, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Song Xiuyan told them about how he met Ding Yao and helped her bandage her wounds. After hearing that, Ding Yao¡¯s fourth uncle looked at Wang Hongxia with dissatisfaction. They had heard what Wang Hongxia had just said. Although she was a stepmother, how could she say that about her daughter? Wang Hongxia avoided the fourth uncle¡¯s gaze and pretended not to see it. In any case, Ding Yao had already been sent away by her. When Wang Hongxia married Ding Yao¡¯s father, Ding Qingshan, who had a broken leg, it was because Ding Yao¡¯s grandfather was a well-known doctor in Spirit Stone Village He was able to earn money, but unfortunately, the good times did not last long, Ding Yao¡¯s grandfather had died unexpectedly ten years ago. Now, Wang Hongxia not only had to raise Ding Qingshan, who had a broken leg, but also Ding Yao, the mute girl. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she and Ding Qingshan had a son, she would have left the Ding family long ago. Ding Yao¡¯s gaze swept across everyone and finally landed on the last girl standing. The girl was Ding Hua. She was one year older than her, but much taller than her. Her body was also beginning to take shape. She could be considered a grown girl. Although Ding Hua was surprised to see the blood on the ground, she didn¡¯t go forward. Instead, she peeked at Song Xiuyan from time to time. Her face was red, and she looked like a young girl who was in love. Chapter 4 Ding Yao pondered for a moment. Ding Hua didn¡¯t have a good relationship with the original host, but it was still uncertain whether she pushed the original host off the cliff. Fourth Uncle was a good person. Seeing that Ding Yao didn¡¯t make a sound, his heart ached terribly. ¡°Yaoyao fell and hurt, right? Next time, when you go up the mountain to collect firewood, you have to be more careful, understand? Come, I will carry you home.¡± As he said this, he was about to go forward, but was stopped by Wang Hongxia. ¡°Fourth Uncle, don¡¯t be nosy. Song Xiuyan just said that he will bring Ding Yao over today. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask him.¡± Fourth Uncle looked at Song Xiuyan, and Song Xiuyan nodded. Fourth Uncle frowned in disapproval. ¡°Song Xiuyan, I understand the situation at home. It¡¯s already hard for you to raise your younger brothers and sisters. With Yaoyao, can you take care of them?¡± Third Aunt also chimed in. ¡°That¡¯s right. Your family hasn¡¯t been the same since your father passed away. I heard that in order to treat your brother¡¯s illness, your family owes a lot of debt. You can¡¯t even have three meals a day. Your mother couln¡¯t stand the hardship and remarried.¡± Hearing the mention of his mother remarrying, Song Xiuyan, who had been expressionless all this time, suddenly had a much uglier expression. He directly interrupted Third Aunt¡¯s words, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to worry about the family matters. Since I dare to take Ding Yao over, I definitely won¡¯t starve her.¡± Third Aunt looked at the basket Song Xiuyan put aside and let out a long sigh. ¡°You¡¯re also a child. How can you support the family? Do you rely on hunting in the mountains? How much money can you earn?¡± Ding Yao blinked her eyes. Song Xiuyan was living such a miserable life? He had led such a miserable life, yet he still insisted on taking her in? Ding Yao wasn¡¯t sure if Song Xiuyan was acting on impulse or if he really had a way to support his family. As if sensing Ding Yao¡¯s doubt Song Xiuyan gave her a reassuring look and said, ¡°Trust me. I won¡¯t starve you.¡± Ding Yao hesitated. She wasn¡¯t afraid of being hungry. The main reason was that she would become Song Xiuyan¡¯s daughter-in-law once she went to his house. Although she didn¡¯t dislike Song Xiuyan, she was unable to accept the fact that she would be tied to Song Xiuyan right after she transmigrated. Fourth Uncle was still trying to persuade Ding Yao. ¡°Yaoyao, you have to think this through.¡± Wang Hongxia opened her mouth. When she saw that Fourth Uncle was going to ruin her plans, she cried and scolded, ¡°All of you only know how to think for Ding Yao. Then why don¡¯t you think about how a woman like me can support my family? Your eldest brother, Ding Qingshan, is disabled and can¡¯t do anything. With Ding Yao in the picture, I don¡¯t think I can live anymore.¡± Just as Fourth Uncle was about to speak, a young man¡¯s anxious voice came from the other side of the mountain. ¡°Song Xiuyan! Song Xiuyan! Where are you?!¡± Song Xiuyan replied loudly, ¡°Ah-jie, I¡¯m at the bottom of the cliff!¡± Ah-jie shouted anxiously, ¡°Song Xiuyan, hurry up! Your second brother was bitten by a snake. It seems to be the King Cobra.¡± ¡°King Cobra?¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression changed drastically. He couldn¡¯t care less about what was happening here and quickly ran up the mountain. Ding Yao was stunned for a moment. The King Cobra was one of the top ten venomous snakes in the world. After being bitten by it, if it wasn¡¯t treated effectively, people would definitely die! No matter what, she had to go and save people first! Thinking of this, she got up and chased after Song Xiuyan. Just as she ran out, she was pulled back by Fourth Uncle. ¡°Yaoyao, even if you want to go with Song Xiuyan, you have to go home and discuss with your father first. Choose a good day to go over. You can¡¯t just go with someone without any reason.¡± Ding Yao used her hand to push Fourth Uncle away. She didn¡¯t want to pull her back. She wanted to save him! Unfortunately, Fourth Uncle wasn¡¯t Song Xiuyan. He couldn¡¯t understand her words, nor could he understand her hand gestures. Seeing that Fourth Uncle kept pulling Ding Yao, Wang Hongxia swore and threatened him. ¡°If you don¡¯t let Ding Yao go over, then Ding Yao will live in your house from now on. Our family won¡¯t care anymore!¡± Fourth Uncle was stunned for a moment. After spending so much time with Wang Hongxia, he knew that Wang Hongxia was a person of her word. If his wife knew that he brought Ding Yao home, wouldn¡¯t she fight with him? While Fourth Uncle was stunned, Ding Yao quickly shook off his hand and chased after Song Xiuyan without stopping. She lost her strength midway and even secretly drank a few mouthfuls of the spiritual spring water in the herbal field. Although her speed wasn¡¯t as fast as Song Xiuyan¡¯s, she was still much nimbler than her usual self. The people below were all stunned. How did she look like the person who just fell from the cliff and broke her head? Looking at Ding Yao¡¯s back, Fourth Uncle picked up the basket on the ground and chased after her with some guilt. ¡°Yaoyao, slow down. Be careful of the injuries on your body.¡± Chapter 5 Third Uncle, who had been silent the whole time, also said, ¡°I¡¯ll go and take a look too. Most of the people who were bitten by the Cobra won¡¯t survive. Song Xiuyan¡¯s life is tough¡­¡± His father had died of illness, and his mother had remarried. His third brother had offended someone who had broken his leg and fallen ill. Now, his second brother had been bitten by a poisonous snake¡­ Under such circumstances, he was still willing to take Ding Yao in. Since Song Xiuyan was willing to marry Ding Yao, then they would be relatives in the future. No matter what, they had to lend a hand. Ding Hua also wanted to follow him, but Wang Hongxia pulled her back. ¡°You¡¯re a lady. You want to see a dead person? Hurry up and follow me home!¡± She said. However, in reality, she was worried that if Song Xiuyan¡¯s second brother died, Song Xiuyan would use this opportunity to not bring Ding Yao into the house. Therefore, she had to go home first to make preparations. Ah-jie saw Song Xiuyan coming over and immediately turned around to lead the way. ¡°It¡¯s just ahead.¡± The two of them walked very quickly and arrived at the place in a short while. Song Yang, who was 18 years old, was sitting with his back against a big tree. One of his legs was swollen and bleeding from the bite. His lips were pale. Beside him was a cobra that had been beaten to death. When he saw Song Xiuyan coming over, Song Yang shouted weakly, ¡°Brother¡­¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s body stiffened when he saw this scene. He endured the pain and bent down to say to Song Yang, ¡°Come up. I will carry you to the doctor.¡± ¡°Brother, it¡¯s too late.¡± Although Song Yang was young, he still knew some things. For example, he couldn¡¯t be saved after being bitten by a cobra. The reason he was able to hold on until Song Xiuyan came over was because he had used his inner strength to suppress the spread of the snake¡¯s poison. Now that he could see his big brother, he was already satisfied. Song Yang grabbed Song Xiuyan¡¯s hand and said him word by word, ¡°After I die, you have to be strong¡­ you still have to raise our younger brother and sister, and you have to make third brother stand up again¡­ you¡­ aren¡¯t allowed to give up¡­¡± Song Xiuyan was heartbroken as he hugged Song Yang tightly. He knew that it was already too late to send Song Yang down the mountain. Song Yang endured the pain of being infected by the poison and tried his best to comfort Song Xiuyan. ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself, blame me¡­ It¡¯s all my fault for not listening to you¡­ It¡¯s all my fault for not believing in your dream¡­¡± Song Xiuyan was even sadder. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,. It¡¯s all my fault¡­ It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± It was all his fault for being too stubborn. It was all his fault! Song Yang shook his head. He wanted to comfort Song Xiuyan, but he could no longer breathe and couldn¡¯t speak. Song Xiuyan could no longer hold back his grief. He let out a heart-wrenching roar, ¡°Ah!¡± Why, why did the heavens treat him like this?! They wanted him to relive his past life and walk the same path as he did in his previous life! Song Xiuyan was said to be a scourge from the moment he was born. He would jinx his father and mother to death, and he would be alone for the rest of his life. In his previous life, he did indeed lose his parents, his younger brother and sister, and even his fianc¨¦e whom he had never met before was killed by him! He refused to admit defeat. He fought his way out of the mountains and gained the recognition of the nobles. He set up his own company and saw a bright future ahead of him. For some reason, he was killed by someone. Song Xiuyan thought that his life would end tragically like this. Who would have thought that he would be reborn¡­ seven days before his rebirth, his father had already died and his mother had already remarried. There was nothing he could do. However, he still had a chance to protect his younger brothers and sister. At that time, his second brother, Song Yang, had not been bitten to death by a poisonous snake. Therefore, Song Xiuyan swore that he would protect his younger brothers and sister in this life. He would defy the heavens and change his fate! Therefore, he strictly forbade Song Yang from leaving the house. He also didn¡¯t allow him to go to the land that had been bitten by a snake in his previous life. He also bought a lot of realgar powder and made a realgar pendant, which he requested Song Yang to carry with him. Song Yang was puzzled by this. Song Xiuyan was unable to explain to him about his rebirth. He could only say that he had a dream and wanted Song Yang to be more careful. Song Xiuyan stayed at home for five days and five nights. Song Yang also didn¡¯t go out for five days and five nights. In the end, Song Yang couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and insisted on going up the mountain to hunt, because if they didn¡¯t go into the mountain, there would be no food at home. These five days were considered peaceful. Song Xiuyan thought that as long as he avoided the place where Song Yang was bitten by a snake in his previous life and avoided the time when he was bitten by a snake, he could change Song Yang¡¯s fate. Who would have thought that¡­ In the end, Song Yang was bitten by a cobra on the mountain! If he had known this would happen, he would never have allowed Song Yang to go out! While Song Xiuyan was crying his heart out, Ding Yao finally arrived, panting heavily. Unlike Song Xiuyan, who knew kung fu and could cross mountains and ridges very quickly, she had to be careful to avoid thorns along the way. She also had to stabilize herself so that she wouldn¡¯t fall off the cliff. Chapter 6 Ding Yao walked over and saw the corpse of the Cobra beside Song Yang. After confirming that it was indeed the cobra that had bitten Song Yang, she patted Song Xiuyan¡¯s arm and gestured, ¡°Ah Ah Ah¡­ Ah Ah Ah¡­¡± After gesturing for Song Xiuyan not to worry, she pretended to reach into her arms. In reality, she went to the space and took two flat white stones. These were the snake stones that she had seen in the cobra nest in her previous life. As long as she put these stones in the place where the Cobra had bitten her, she would be able to suck out the Cobra¡¯s venom. Song Xiuyan saw what Ding Yao was trying to say and was extremely excited. ¡°Really? Is what you said true?!¡± Saving people was more important. Ding Yao didn¡¯t explain much to Song Xiuyan and directly placed the white stone on Song Yang¡¯s leg wound. The white stone turned purplish-black and Song Yang¡¯s swollen leg was slowly swelling up.. Song Xiuyan and Ah-jie¡¯s eyes were wide open, and they were pleasantly surprised. Did this mean¡­ Song Yang wouldn¡¯t die?! Fourth Uncle and Third Uncle were one step slower than Ding Yao. They couldn¡¯t figure out how the two of them couldn¡¯t catch up to an injured little girl like Ding Yao¡­ They walked over and saw the situation here. Ah-jie was so excited that he danced around and explained the function of the stone to them. After Fourth Uncle heard it, he asked in disbelief, ¡°Could this be the legendary snake swallowing the stone?¡± According to the legend, the Cobra liked to eat stones. The snake¡¯s venom would seep into the stone over a long period of time, making it more effective in absorbing the snake¡¯s venom. Ding Yao nodded. Fourth Uncle was indeed an elder. He was quite knowledgeable. She handed the stone that had absorbed the snake¡¯s venom to Song Xiuyan and gestured with it again. Song Xiuyan said, ¡°You¡¯re saying that the two stones have to take turns to absorb the venom. The black and purple stones have to be soaked in water to release the venom before they can be used again? The patient who was bitten by the snake can¡¯t move them easily, so you want us to fetch the water?¡± Ding Yao was surprised again. How could Song Xiuyan say what she was thinking every time? Could it be that he had the mind reading ability? Fourth Uncle was also quite curious. He asked Song Xiuyan directly, ¡°How can you understand the meaning of Yaoyao¡¯s gestures?¡± Song Xiuyan explained, ¡°I can read lips.¡± Ding Yao instantly felt relieved. As long as he didn¡¯t know how to read her mind, it was fine. If he could read her thoughts, she would have to find a way to stay away from him. However, there was no need for that now. Before her muteness was cured, she could rest assured and let Song Xiuyan be her translator. Song Xiuyan turned around and was about to go down the mountain to fetch water. Fourth Uncle pulled him back with the demeanor of an elder. ¡°You and Yaoyao stay here. We¡¯ll go get some water.¡± Actually, Song Xiuyan wasn¡¯t willing to leave Song Yang at this time. Seeing Fourth Uncle take over the task, he said gratefully, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you guys. There¡¯s a wild bamboo forest under the mountain stream. You can cut the bamboo and use it to hold water.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After Fourth Uncle agreed, he brought his Third Uncle and Ah-jie to the mountain stream to cut the bamboo and turn it into a bamboo tube for carrying water. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t stay idle either. He used tools to dig a small pit at the side and picked a few large leaves to cover the bottom, so that the water wouldn¡¯t quickly seep into the soil. Ding Yao gave Song Xiuyan a thumbs up from the side. As expected of a person who grew up in the mountains. He knew how to use materials on the spot and turn waste into treasure! Song Xiuyan saw the movement of Ding Yao¡¯s lips clearly and raised his eyebrows without batting an eyelid. An eighteen-year-old girl actually called a twenty-year-old man like him a child? What a strange feeling. However, this wasn¡¯t the time to pursue this matter. He lowered his head to check the wound on Song Yang¡¯s leg and saw that the new stone on the wound was slowly turning black, and Song Yang¡¯s leg was no longer swollen. At this moment, Song Yang, who was already unconscious, slowly opened his eyes. When he saw Song Xiuyan¡¯s well-defined profile, he muttered to himself, ¡°Brother¡­ am I not already dead? How can I still see you?¡± When he saw Song Yang wake up, Song Xiuyan was extremely excited. ¡°No, you¡¯re not dead. You¡¯re saved!¡± Song Yang widened his eyes. ¡°What?! Who saved me?¡± Didn¡¯t they say that being bitten by a Cobra meant certain death? Where did youfind such a powerful doctor?! Song Xiuyan hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°It¡¯s Ding Yao. Your sister-in-law saved you.¡± At this moment, he admitted his marriage to Ding Yao. He also admitted that Ding Yao was his wife. Eeven though Ding Yao was a mute, he still acknowledged her. Ding Yao subconsciously cried out. What sister-in-law?! What wife?! She hadn¡¯t agreed yet! Chapter 7 When Song Yang heard Ding Yao¡¯s voice, he subconsciously looked up and saw that Ding Yao was speechless. He suddenly realized who Ding Yao was. She was the wife that his father had arranged for his big brother before he died! However, he felt a little confused. Wasn¡¯t his big brother dissatisfied with this marriage? Could it be that he had no choice but to admit it because Ding Yao had saved his life? Song Yang, still immersed in the joy of being alive, shook his head. He happily called out, ¡°Thank you, sister-in-law!¡± This call made Ding Yao¡¯s face turn red. She didn¡¯t retort, mainly because it was useless to retort! She pushed Song Xiuyan and motioned for him to bring the water over. Song Xiuyan saw through Ding Yao¡¯s intention and quickly passed the bamboo water bucket to her. Ding Yao took the opportunity to get some spiritual spring water from the space of the medicinal field and mixed it into the bamboo bucket. The spiritual spring water could detoxify all kinds of poisons and help the Snake Swallow Stone to absorb the snake¡¯s poison faster. After drinking the water, Song Yang felt that his breathing became smoother. He was a cheerful person and knew that he didn¡¯t need to die, so he began to talk more. ¡°Sister-in-law, did you learn your medical skills from your grandfather?¡± Ding Yao nodded. This was the best explanation. Otherwise, if a person who didn¡¯t know medical skills suddenly learned medical skills, people would think that she was a monster. Song Yang continued to ask, ¡°Then, sister-in-law, do you also know how to save people and treat patients? Like other doctors?¡± Ding Yao nodded again. In this strange parallel space, in this backward village, if she wanted to live well, she naturally had to use her skills to save people. Moreover, she also liked medicine. She liked to use her own medical skills to comfort those who were sick. After hearing this, Song Xiuyan looked at Ding Yao with a questioning gaze. He had never heard that Ding Yao had inherited her grandfather¡¯s medical skills and could save people. Song Yang didn¡¯t understand these things. When he heard that Ding Yao could treat and save people, his eyes lit up as he asked, ¡°Then sister-in-law, can you help our third brother take a look at his leg first?¡± Ding Yao didn¡¯t answer. Although she had confidence in her medical skills and had the spirit spring pool as a support, whether she could treat or not depended on the patient¡¯s own condition. Song Xiuyan saw Ding Yao¡¯s troubled expression and glared at Song Yang with dissatisfaction. ¡°You should rest for a while. Don¡¯t say that. Be careful that the snake venom will relapse again.¡± At this moment, Song Xiuyan felt a little guilty towards Ding Yao. Although he knew that Ding Yao had died in his previous life, he didn¡¯t know what had happened to her. At that time, his second brother had just been bitten to death by a poisonous snake. His third brother couldn¡¯t take the blow and committed suicide. He was so overwhelmed that he didn¡¯t have the time to pay attention to Ding Yao¡¯s news. In his previous life, Ding Yao didn¡¯t have any sense of presence in his life. Therefore, after his rebirth, he only thought about how to change the fate of his younger brothers and sister and completely ignored Ding Yao, his fianc¨¦e. When he found out that Song Yang had been bitten by a poisonous snake, Song Xiuyan regretted going up the mountain to hunt today. However, he was very glad that he had gone up the mountain today and accidentally met Ding Yao, who had fallen off the cliff, and saved her. Song Xiuyan guessed that in his previous life, Ding Yao had fallen off the cliff and was critically injured. Then, her stepmother, Wang Hongxia, was the first person to find her¡­ but in the end, Ding Yao died. It was difficult for Song Xiuyan not to think about whether Wang Hongxia had done something to her. When he thought of this, Song Xiuyan felt even more guilty. He didn¡¯t want Ding Yao to die again, so when Wang Hongxia had to force him, he decided to agree to take Ding Yao home. He knew that he didn¡¯t like Ding Yao. He just wanted to prove that he wasn¡¯t a scourge and wouldn¡¯t kill anyone. But what Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t expect was that Ding Yao could actually save his second brother, Song Yang, who was bitten by a poisonous snake. She prevented the two deaths in his previous life in an instant. If he hadn¡¯t agreed to take Ding Yao home, Ding Yao wouldn¡¯t have followed him and saved Song Yang. This was also a kind of karmic cycle. It turned out that if he wanted to defy the heavens and change his fate, Ding Yao was the key. Their fates were tied together. Song Xiuyan thought that he would try his best to compensate Ding Yao in the future. When Song Yang saw that his brother, Song Xiuyan, who had always been cold and aloof, was angry, he consciously shut his mouth and didn¡¯t dare to speak. It was because he was too impatient. His sister-in-law treated his illness through Snake Swallow Stones. It was different from treating his third brother¡¯s leg. His third brother¡¯s leg needed to be treated by a doctor. Ding Yao turned to Song Xiuyan. Her lips moved as she gestured. Song Xiuyan understood what she meant. Although he felt that it was impossible, he still translated for Song Yang, ¡°Your sister-in-law said that she will only know if it can be treated after she has seen it.¡± Chapter 8 ¡°Okay.¡± Song Yang had already calmed down. He didn¡¯t have the initial impulse. At this moment, Ding Yao¡¯s sharp eyes saw a bit of white powder on Song Yang¡¯s clothes. Without leaving a trace, she dipped her finger under her nose and smelled it. She smelled a very special fragrance. She then looked at the cobra that had been beaten to death beside her and instantly became alert. Could this white powder be related to the cobra? Ding Yao could smell the strong realgar smell on Song Yang¡¯s body. According to common sense, the snake was afraid of realgar and would avoid it after smelling it. However, Song Yang was still bitten by the snake. Ding Yao hesitated for a moment. She still didn¡¯t show the white powder on her hand to Song Xiuyan. She wasn¡¯t completely sure about the matter, so she didn¡¯t tell him first so that Song Xiuyan wouldn¡¯t be worried. However, Ding Yao didn¡¯t know that Song Xiuyan had been watching her, so she naturally saw her small movements. Therefore, he secretly used his hand to touch the white powder on Song Yang¡¯s clothes and smelled the fragrance. Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression kept changing. He looked at the cobra that had been killed and pretended to ask Song Yang unintentionally, ¡°Before you were bitten by the cobra, did you meet anyone? Or did anything strange happen?¡± Song Yang scratched his head. ¡°Nothing strange. I saw a stranger fall into a trap on the way. I went to pull him up, and he thanked me.¡± Ding Yao heard Song Xiuyan¡¯s words and realized that Song Xiuyan might have noticed the problem. She and Song Xiuyan looked at each other and thought of one possibility. When Song Yang was pulling the stranger out of the trap, the stranger took the opportunity to sprinkle some spices on Song Yang¡¯s body in order to let the snake bite him. Song Yang didn¡¯t know about Ding Yao and Song Xiuyan¡¯s suspicions. When he thought of the scene where he was being chased and bitten by the cobra, he was also very puzzled. ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯m quite unlucky. I clearly have realgar powder on me to avoid the snake, but this cobra still chased me all the way. Although I killed it, it also bit me before it died. I¡¯ve lived in the mountains for so many years, but I¡¯ve never seen such a stubborn cobra!¡± Under normal circumstances, snakes wouldn¡¯t take the initiative to attack people, not to mention the realgar powder that snakes hated on Song Yang¡¯s body. This way, the white powder on his body was even more suspicious. Ding Yao saw Song Xiuyan clench his fists, but he didn¡¯t show much emotion on his face. He continued to ask Song Yang in a very normal tone, ¡°What accent did that stranger have?¡± Song Yang shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t tell, but he shouldn¡¯t be from our place. He looks like a foreigner. Brother, do you think there¡¯s something wrong with him?¡± At this time, the three people who went to fetch water came back. Song Xiuyan could only shake his head. ¡°No.¡± Ding Yao¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t very good. She had just transmigrated when she realized that the situation wasn¡¯t very good. Someone had pushed her off the cliff behind her back and wanted her dead. Now, there was also someone who had made a move on Song Xiuyan¡¯s second brother, Song Yang; these two events happened coincidentally on the same day. She didn¡¯t know if it was the same group of people who did it. Ding Yao carefully recalled the original host¡¯s memories and realized that the person who pushed her off the cliff in the original host¡¯s memories was very strong. His palm was also very big, unlike Ding Hua. Ding Hua was a girl, so she didn¡¯t have that much strength. Most importantly, with Ding Hua¡¯s ability, it was too unlikely for her to sneak behind the original host and make a move. Ding Yao didn¡¯t know who wanted to harm her, nor did she know who Song Yang had offended. However, Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression was very interesting, as if he knew something. When Ah-jie, Fourth Uncle, and Third Uncle came back and saw that Song Yang had woken up, they let out a sigh of relief. They put the water into the pit that Song Xiuyan had dug beforehand, and then put the Snake Swallow Stone that was full of snake venom into it. The water turned black in an instant. Fourth Uncle asked in surprise, ¡°Yaoyao, did your grandfather teach you this method?¡± Ding Yao nodded. Third Uncle followed up and asked, ¡°Did your grandfather give you this stone too?¡± Ding Yao quickly shook her head and gestured repeatedly. This stone was hers. It had nothing to do with anyone else! Ding Yao knew that if this stone was given to her by her grandfather, Wang Hongxia and the others would definitely come and snatch it. The Snake Swallow Stone was a good thing. She didn¡¯t want to give it to anyone! Song Xiuyan understood what Ding Yao meant. He translated Ding Yao¡¯s words very seriously to Fourth Uncle and Third Uncle, emphasizing that Ding Yao had picked up the Snake Swallow Stone herself. After listening to him, Fourth Uncle and Third Uncle smiled and didn¡¯t say anything else. Although they were honest people, they didn¡¯t believe Ding Yao¡¯s words. After all, Ding Yao had always been thin and weak. At most, she would go up the mountain to collect firewood. How could she find the cobra¡¯s nest? The Snake Swallow Stone was most likely left behind by Ding Yao¡¯s grandfather. Chapter 9 The Snake Swallow Stone had been changed five or six times. Fourth Uncle, Third Uncle, and the others also came back to fetch water several times. Seeing that the swelling on Song Yang¡¯s leg had almost gone down, Fourth Uncle and Third Uncle decided to leave first. When they left, Third Uncle walked to Ding Yao. ¡°Yaoyao, you know the situation at home. Your father doesn¡¯t have much authority at home. Even if you go home today, you won¡¯t have a good life in the future.¡± Fourth Uncle looked at Ding Yao guiltily and said, ¡°Yaoyao, go back to their house with Song Xiuyan first. If you really can¡¯t stay there anymore, I¡¯ll pick you up later.¡± After saying that, he took out ten yuan from his pocket and gave it to Ding Yao. Ding Yao quickly waved her hands and said, ¡°Ah¡­¡± what he meant was that she didn¡¯t want the money, so he should take it back. Song Xiuyan translated Ding Yao¡¯s meaning to Fourth Uncle and Third Uncle. Fourth Uncle and Third Uncle sighed and gave Song Xiuyan a few words of advice before silently turning around and leaving. Looking at their backs, Ding Yao fell into deep thought. In this village, she actually had no family left, and there was nothing left for her to miss. Her father had a broken leg, and if it weren¡¯t for her grandfather¡¯s support in her previous life, her father couldn¡¯t even marry a wife. After her grandfather died, everything in the family was supported by her stepmother, Wang Hongxia. Her father, Ding Qingshan, didn¡¯t dare to offend Wang Hongxia, so he didn¡¯t have much pity for Ding Yao. Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle looked at her and felt pity for her, but that was all. There wasn¡¯t much more they could do. After so long, the sun had already set. Ding Yao was already so hungry that her stomach was growling. Although there were snacks in the space of her herbal field, it wasn¡¯t good to take them out to eat in front of so many people. Song Xiuyan took out a few steamed buns made from multigrains and gave them to everyone. These were the lunches they had brought before they went out to hunt. Ding Yao held onto the hard buns that could be used as bricks and didn¡¯t know how to eat them. To be honest, she had never eaten such coarse food before. Ah-jie quickly swapped his soft bread with hers. ¡°You can eat this.¡± He and Song Yang were like brothers. Ding Yao saving Song Yang was the same as saving him, so Ah-jie was very grateful to Ding Yao. Ding Yao smiled and gestured, meaning that she wasn¡¯t so high-maintenance. Then, she stuffed the nest head in her hand into her mouth and took a bite. Everyone understood what Ding Yao meant and smiled as well. Song Xiuyan looked at Ding Yao with a completely different expression. This was his wife. She was good-looking and had dimples when she smiled. Although she was mute, she had a good personality, was smart, and was kind. Most importantly, she had helped him change his fate. After eating, Song Yang looked at Ah-jie guiltily and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wasted a day of your time. You didn¡¯t catch anything. At least I caught a rabbit in the trap. I¡¯ll give you the rabbit.¡± If Ah-jie hadn¡¯t found out that something was wrong with him, he would have died if he hadn¡¯t called his big brother and sister-in-law in time. Ah-jie was also his savior. Ah-jie rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re arguing with me about this? Do you still treat me as a buddy? If I take your rabbit, am I still human?¡± Song Yang said, ¡°Of course you¡¯re my buddy. We¡¯re good buddies for life!¡± After saying that, Song Yang understood that Ah-jie didn¡¯t want the rabbit, so he could only drop the topic. Song Yang looked very optimistic. He didn¡¯t realize that someone was trying to harm him. Ding Yao tugged at Song Xiuyan¡¯s sleeve and moved her lips. She meant, ¡°I¡¯m going to dig for medicinal herbs. The snake venom in Song Yang¡¯s body needs to be completely removed by drinking soup and medicine.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± After Song Xiuyan said that, he turned around and repeated it to Song Yang and Ah-jie. At the same time, he asked Ah-jie to take care of Song Yang. Ah-jie naturally agreed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here.¡± They just had to wait for the Snake Swallow Stone to turn black before taking it down and replacing it with another piece. The matter was very simple. Ding Yao didn¡¯t expect Song Xiuyan to go with her. Although she felt that Song Xiuyan was a bit of a hindrance, she didn¡¯t object and took the lead to climb up the mountain. After walking for a while, Song Xiuyan suddenly said, ¡°The spices on my second brother¡¯s clothes attracted the cobra to attack him, right?¡± Ding Yao nodded and answered with her mouth, ¡°It¡¯s possible. Do you have any enemies?¡± Unknowingly, Song Xiuyan¡¯s hands clenched into fists again. If there were enemies, they were the people who schemed against him behind his back after he made a name for himself in the business world. Chapter 10 But the problem was that Song Xiuyan still didn¡¯t know who those people were and why they wanted to harm him. But in this life, he had to figure it out, and he would never let those people go! Previously, Song Xiuyan had always thought that he junxed the people around him. But now, he realized that the deaths of his wife, brother, and sister-in-law all had other reasons! Song Xiuyan paused for a moment and shook his head at Ding Yao. ¡°I can¡¯t think of any enemies for the time being. If I really have any enemies that I don¡¯t know about, are you afraid that I¡¯ll implicate you?¡± He wanted to ask Ding Yao if she still dared to follow him home. Ding Yao smiled and mouthed her reply. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid!¡± What was she afraid of? Besides, there were still people who wanted to kill her in the dark. Who knew who would implicate whom. Song Xiuyan saw that Ding Yao answered so readily and solemnly promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do my best to protect you. As long as I¡¯m here, no one can hurt you.¡± Ding Yao thought that Song Xiuyan was a man who was quite responsible. She admired him very much, but there was no need to protect her. She could protect herself. Perhaps she could also protect Song Xiuyan and his siblings. After all, Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t mind that she was a mute. Ding Yao continued to climb up the mountain. Song Xiuyan chased after her and asked, ¡°How about I carry you? You lost too much blood just now. Do you feel dizzy after exercising so much?¡± In fact, Song Xiuyan had always been very strange. When he first saw Ding Yao, she was so weak that she looked like she was about to die. Although he had given Ding Yao inner energy, inner energy wasn¡¯t a panacea; it was impossible for Ding Yao to hold on until now. He was afraid that Ding Yao didn¡¯t have the strength, but she was too embarrassed to say it. Ding Yao shook her head. After rejecting Song Xiuyan¡¯s good intentions, she began to slow down the speed of climbing the mountain. Then, she pointed at a herb and asked Song Xiuyan to dig it out by the roots. This herb was called ¡°Upside-down Yellow¡±. It had the effect of dispersing blood stasis and strengthening tendons. At the same time, it also had the function of cooling and stopping bleeding. It was mainly used to recuperate the swelling and pain caused by external injuries. ¡°Upside-down Yellow¡± could be used to boil water for Song Yang to drink and remove the remaining snake venom in his body. It could also be used to boil bone soup. It could also be sold for money. After Song Xiuyan had dug out the ¡°Upside-down Yellow¡± along with its roots, Ding Yao went on to ask Song Xiuyan to find the same plant as the ¡°Upside-down Yellow¡± in his hand. After that, she wanted to rest on the spot. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t suspect her and quickly looked around for ¡°Upside-down Yellow¡±. Ding Yao began to look at the plants around her. At first, she said that she wanted to dig for medicinal herbs for other reasons. At first, she didn¡¯t want to go to Song Xiuyan¡¯s house. Although she looked like an 18-year-old girl on the surface, in reality, she was a mature woman. It was impossible for a stranger like Song Xiuyan to live in his house as soon as she got to know him. She also didn¡¯t want to tie herself to Song Xiuyan for the rest of her life. However, she had thought it through now. It didn¡¯t matter if she lived in Song Xiuyan¡¯s house first. She would make plans for the future. If the people who wanted to harm her were the same as the people who wanted to harm Song Yang, she could deal with them together. Ding Yao¡¯s only worry was that Song Xiuyan¡¯s family was too poor. If she wanted to live in Song Xiuyan¡¯s house, the first thing she had to do was to solve the problem of food and clothing. Ding Yao looked left and right and finally found a dead tree not far away. There were traces of someone digging on the tree. She walked over and made the traces bigger. Then, she took out two 50-year-old wild Ganoderma and pretended to have just picked them from the dead tree. Song Xiuyan soon found two more ¡°Upside-down Yellow¡± . He turned around and wanted to tell Ding Yao, but he didn¡¯t expect to see Ding Yao. he shouted anxiously, ¡°Ding Yao! Ding Yao!¡± Ding Yao heard his voice. After standing up, she shook two Wild Ganoderma toward Song Xiuyan. ¡°Ah Ah¡­ Ah Ah!¡± She meant to say she was lucky to pick two Ganoderma! These two Ganoderma lucidum were considered relatively young in the space of Ding Yao¡¯s medicinal field. The main thing was that this place wasn¡¯t some remote mountain forest. If one took out a Ganoderma that was more than 100 years old and 300 years old, it would inevitably arouse suspicion. However, a Ganoderma that was too young wasn¡¯t worth much. She could only take the middle value and take a Ganoderma that was around 50 years old. These two Ganoderma lucidum lucidum should be able to be exchanged for a lot of money. Song Xiuyan came over. He was very surprised when he saw the Ganoderma. However, Ding Yao quickly noticed the confusion in his eyes. Song Xiuyan went over to check the picking marks on the dead wood and asked Ding Yao, ¡°How did you find them?¡± Chapter 11 Ding Yao gestured with her hands and told Song Xiuyan, ¡°I saw a dead tree here. I wanted to try my luck and see if there were any reishi mushrooms growing on it. When I opened up the dead tree, I saw two reishi mushrooms!¡± She emphasized that she only found them after opening up the dead tree. Although Song Xiuyan looked very happy, he felt confused. People often came to this mountain. Why didn¡¯t others notice it, but Ding Yao found it right away? Song Xiuyan remembered that his father once picked this kind of reishi mushroom in the deep mountains and forests. Each reishi mushroom was sold for several thousand yuan. Could it really be true to the old saying that one must have good fortune after surviving a great disaster? After experiencing life and death, Ding Yao became lucky? Ding Yao saw Song Xiuyan put the reishi mushroom in the basket and even put some leaves as a cover so that no one would see it at a glance. After doing all this, he put the ¡°Upside-down Yellow¡± that he had just picked on the top of the basket. Seeing Song Xiuyan¡¯s actions, Ding Yao thought to herself, ¡°This man is smart, sensitive, careful, and levelheaded. In the future, I have to be more careful in front of him and try not to expose that I have transmigrated. I also don¡¯t want him to know that his fianc¨¦e has been changed.¡± After picking the herbs, Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao returned to Song Yang¡¯s side. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t mention the reishi mushroom, and Ding Yao didn¡¯t mention it either. She thought that Song Xiuyan might have other plans. After all, he didn¡¯t reveal his wealth, so it was right to be more vigilant. After changing the Snake Swallow Stone a few more times, Song Yang¡¯s leg was basically no longer swollen. Ding Yao put away the Snake Swallow Stone and used her mouth to tell everyone, ¡°Song Yang is fine. You can go home now!¡± Song Yang stood up and tried to walk two steps. Then, he said happily, ¡°I can walk home on my own!¡± The group was ready to go down the mountain. Halfway down, Ding Yao slowed down. Ah-jie took the basket and carried it on his back. Then, he signaled to Song Xiuyan with his eyes. Ding Yao¡¯s forehead was injured, and she had been busy for so long, she must be exhausted. Song Xiuyan quickly acted like he was going to carry Ding Yao home. Song Xiuyan had the intention to carry Ding Yao, but he was rejected by Ding Yao. This time, he stubbornly squatted in front of Ding Yao. Ding Yao couldn¡¯t persuade him, and she was really tired, so she laid on Song Xiuyan¡¯s back. Song Xiuyan often carried his younger siblings, so he didn¡¯t feel anything special. Ding Yao was very light, so he treated her like his younger sister. However, Ding Yao was different. After all, she was a mature woman mentally. Song Xiuyan was 20 years old, so she thought he was her younger brother. Now that she was being carried by Song Xiuyan, she felt a little strange, but this feeling quickly disappeared. After all, they were all modern era people, so it wasn¡¯t a big deal to carry her. Although Song Xiuyan¡¯s life was tough, his body was still quite strong. Ding Yao lay on his back and fell asleep. When she woke up, she found that they had already walked on the small path in the village, but Song Xiuyan was still carrying her. After carrying her for so long, Song Xiuyan still looked very relaxed. Was this the physical strength of a man who knew martial arts? Ding Yao didn¡¯t forget the scene where Song Xiuyan injected inner strength into her. If he could cultivate inner strength, Song Xiuyan¡¯s martial arts skills must be very good. Even Song Yang, who had been poisoned by the snake venom, walked steadily in front. He probably had martial arts skills, like Song Xiuyan. In the original owner¡¯s memory, she had once heard from the villagers that Song Xiuyan¡¯s family were outsiders. His great-grandfather had taken a sum of money and bribed the village chief of the Song family village. He had managed to establish connections with the town, and only then was he able to buy land in the Song family village; he had even built a house and settled down in the Song family village from then on. At this moment, Song Xiuyan realized that Ding Yao had woken up. He turned around and said to her, ¡°We¡¯re almost home.¡± Ding Yao patted Song Xiuyan¡¯s shoulder and signaled him to put her down. Song Xiuyan put Ding Yao down, but he still pulled her forward. The sun had just set, and there were still villagers working on the side of the road. When they saw Song Xiuyan pulling a little girl covered in blood, they all asked who it was. Song Yang answered loudly in the front, ¡°It¡¯s my sister-in-law!¡± Sister-in-law? Song Xiuyan¡¯s wife? The mute girl from the neighboring Spirit Stone Village? The villagers¡¯ gossipy nature was instantly activated. A while ago, mute girl¡¯s stepmother, Wang Hongxia, came to their village and requested Song Xiuyan to bring mute girl into the village in advance. However, she was directly rejected. This matter had spread throughout the village for several days, Everyone thought that Song Xiuyan would divorce mute girl. They didn¡¯t expect that he would actually bring her back home now. Chapter 12 The villagers wanted to continue asking, but Song Xiuyan and the others had already gone far away. At this time, Ah-jie was one step too slow and was stopped by the villagers. He could only tell them everything he knew. After hearing this, the villagers sighed one after another. They cursed Ding Yao¡¯s stepmother, Wang Hongxia, for not being human. They all knew about Song Xiuyan¡¯s family¡¯s situation. It wasn¡¯t a wealthy family to begin with, and with a mute girl like Ding Yao, how would they live in the future? Wouldn¡¯t they starve to death? However, Ding Yao had saved Song Yang¡¯s life. It was understandable that Song Xiuyan took Ding Yao home. It was just that the future would be difficult. Soon, they arrived at Song Xiuyan¡¯s home. Ding Yao looked at it curiously. Song Xiuyan¡¯s home was definitely grand. It was a courtyard house that covered a large area. The front and back courtyards were covered by trees. The geographical location was also very good. Not far away, there was a clear stream. This meant that Song Xiuyan¡¯s great-grandfather was a person of great taste and was also a rich man. ¡°Big Brother! Second Brother!¡± At this moment, a little boy of eight or nine years old and a girl of about seven years old ran out of the house. Both of them had sallow and thin faces. Their small stomachs were round and protruding abnormally. Ding Yao could tell at a glance that these two children were malnourished. The reason for the malnutrition was partly because of their family¡¯s difficulties and their lack of food, but also because they had worms in their stomachs. The two children looked at Ding Yao curiously. Song Xiuyan was 1.85 meters tall, and Ding Yao was 1.6 meters tall because of malnutrition. The two of them stood together, forming a clear height contrast. Song Xiuyan pointed at the two children and introduced them to Ding Yao, ¡°My fourth brother, Song Yu, and my fifth sister, Song Xue.¡± After he finished, he said to Song Yu and Song Xue, ¡°This is your sister-in-law, Ding Yao.¡± Song Yu and Song Xue were both very surprised. They knew that their brother¡¯s future wife was a mute girl. Their mother had said before that mute girl wasn¡¯t good enough for their brother, but now, their brother had brought mute girl home. He even admitted that she was their sister-in-law. What was going on? Song Yang reminded Song Yu and Song Xue, ¡°Hurry up and call her sister-in-law!¡± Song Yu said, ¡°Sister-in-law!¡± Song Xue said, ¡°Hello, sister-in-law!¡± Ding Yao only realized the seriousness of the matter when she heard their crisp shouts. She didn¡¯t agree, so she turned to discuss with Song Xiuyan. ¡°I¡¯m not that old. Can they not call me sister-in-law for now?¡± Song Xiuyan thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. ¡°Sure. Song Yu and Song Xue are younger than you. Let them just call you elder sister. The few of us who are about the same age as you will call you by your name directly. How about it?¡± Ding Yao nodded happily. She once again felt that Song Xiuyan was a good person and was willing to accommodate others. However, the way he looked at her was too doting, so doting that it made her feel a little awkward. Song Yu and Song Xue were very smart. They immediately changed their way of addressing Ding Yao as ¡°Sister¡±, which made Ding Yao look at them more and more affectionately. What pitiful children. Since she had decided to move into the Song family, she wouldn¡¯t let the children of the Song family go hungry. As for their health problems, she would also solve them! When Song Yu and Song Xue saw Ding Yao¡¯s expression, they thought that Ding Yao envied them for being able to speak. The two of them felt more and more sympathetic toward Ding Yao, and they were no longer as resistant as before, nor did they feel that she wasn¡¯t worthy of their big brother. The few of them entered the courtyard. Song Xiuyan asked Song Xue, ¡°Is there still hot water in the kitchen?¡± Song Xue nodded. ¡°Yes, I just boiled a pot of hot water. I¡¯m going to help my third brother wipe his body.¡± Song Xiuyan turned to Ding Yao and said, ¡°Go take a shower first. I¡¯ll find a set of clothes that you can wear. Make do with it first. I¡¯ll bring you to town tomorrow to buy two sets of clothes that you like.¡± Ding Yao nodded. She was now covered in dirt and wanted to take a shower as well. Song Yu¡¯s fourth brother, Song Xiuyan, saw Song Xiuyan busily carrying water for Ding Yao to take a shower. He widened his eyes in shock. Was he seeing things? Song Xiuyan actually personally carried water for Ding Yao? And he even wanted to buy clothes for Ding Yao? Where did Song Xiuyan get the money? The rice that he cooked tonight was borrowed from the neighbor next door. Song Yang pulled Song Yu and Song Xue to his third brother, Song Yi¡¯s room, amd he said to them, ¡°Our whole family must treat her well, okay? You must never despise her for not being able to speak. She can cure illnesses and save lives. Not only did she save my life, but she might even cure Song Yi¡¯s leg!¡± When Song Yi heard this, his eyes lit up, and then dimmed again. His second brother, Song Yang, must have said this to comfort him. Seeing that Song Yi and the others didn¡¯t believe him, Song Yang quickly told them what had happened on the mountain, and he also showed them the wound on his leg. Chapter 13 Song Xue was so scared that she was about to cry. ¡°How could it be¡­ second brother, don¡¯t you know martial arts? How could you be bitten by a snake? If you die, what will happen to us?¡± Song Yang patted Song Xue¡¯s back and comforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯m not dead, but if it wasn¡¯t for sister-in-law, I might really have died.¡± Song Xue cried as she secretly decided that she must treat her sister-in-law well. Even if sister-in-law couldn¡¯t speak, she had to treat her sister-in-law well! Song Yi was also very shaken. No wonder his eldest brother, Song Xiuyan, brought Ding Yao home. It turned out that Ding Yao saved his life. If second brother died, they would have lost a breadwinner. Therefore, Song Yi was also grateful to Ding Yao. He would also treat Ding Yao well unconditionally. He promised not to let the people in the village bully her. Song Xiuyan put in the bath water for Ding Yao and found her a set of clothes that he had worn before. After he was done with Ding Yao, he went into the house to see his third brother, Song Yi. Song Yi was fourteen years old. Half a year ago, he had an argument with someone in the town. Amidst the chaos, his left leg was crippled. The culprit wasn¡¯t caught even until now. All the money for the treatment had to be paid for by himself. He had changed doctors several times, but none of them were able to cure him. Now, Song Yi¡¯s entire left leg had atrophied. His entire face was sallow, emaciated, and listless. Seeing his third brother like this, Song Xiuyan felt extremely sad. In his previous life, his second brother, Song Yang, was bitten to death by a poisonous snake. His family was in a miserable state. The next day, after burying his second brother, his third brother, Song Yi, pierced an awl into his heart and ended his life. In this life, if Ding Yao hadn¡¯t saved his second brother, Song Yang, and perhaps his third brother, Song Yi, would have followed the same path as in his previous life. Song Xiuyan thought about it and went to the yard to fetch the basket. He took out the two reishi mushrooms. Song Yang often wandered around the mountains. When he saw the reishi mushrooms, his eyes lit up and he asked in surprise, ¡°Xiuyan, where did you find the reishi mushrooms?¡± His Xiuyan really knew how to hide them. He didn¡¯t tell him even along the way. Song Yu and Song Xue also surrounded him. Song Yu looked at them for a while and drooled. ¡°Xiuyan, second brother, is this thing very valuable?¡± Song Xiuyan nodded. ¡°Of course it¡¯s valuable. One can be exchanged for several thousand yuan.¡± Song Yu immediately cheered. ¡°That¡¯s great! Then we can treat third brother¡¯s illness!¡± Song Xue also cheered. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s still some money left to buy meat. We can eat meat!¡± Song Yu and Song Xue were so happy that they almost jumped up. Although they were young, they knew that a few thousand yuan was a lot of money. They could buy a lot of rice and a lot of meat! Even Song Yi, who was sitting at the side, revealed a smile. It was everyone¡¯s wish to improve their lives. At this time, Song Yang quickly asked, ¡°Xiuyan, quickly tell us, where did you find this reishi mushroom?¡± Under normal circumstances, this thing grew in the deep mountains and forests, but Xiuyan hadn¡¯t been to the deep mountains recently! Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t keep them in suspense and directly told them, ¡°Ding Yao found this. When we went to dig for medicinal herbs to cure Song Yang¡¯s snake venom, she pulled open the withered branches and leaves and found the reishi mushroom hidden below.¡± Song Yang was shocked. ¡°She¡¯s so lucky?¡± Song Xiuyan nodded. ¡°Of course. Ding Yao is our family¡¯s lucky star. I have a feeling that after Ding Yao comes to our house, our days will be better and better.¡± Song Xiuyan had the memories of his previous life. Him being able to change the current situation of this family in a short period of time was due to Ding Yao¡¯s credit. He hoped that his younger brother and sister could quickly accept Ding Yao and treat her well. Song Yu was young, but he thought very thoroughly. He said in a low voice, ¡°Xiuyan, Ding Yao found the thing. Can we sell it?¡± Song Xiuyan answered affirmatively, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± He asked Ding Yao on the mountain if she was afraid of being implicated. Ding Yao said that she wasn¡¯t afraid, which meant that she was on their side. However, Song Yu¡¯s consideration was also reasonable. Ding Yao was the one who had discovered the reishi mushroom, so he couldn¡¯t directly sell it. ¡°How about this? When Ding Yao comes out later, I¡¯ll ask for her opinion. If she agrees to sell it, we¡¯ll sell the reishi mushroom. If she doesn¡¯t agree to sell it, it doesn¡¯t matter. I can go to the town and help write for people. It¡¯ll also help earn money.¡± Song Xiuyan had very beautiful handwriting. It was taught to him by his grandfather when he was young. In his previous life, he didn¡¯t know that this poor mountain village was very backward. Some people who wanted to contact their families outside needed to write letters and send them over. However, the education in the small mountain village was very backward. Some people were illiterate, so they often found someone to write letters for them. Chapter 14 In his previous life, Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t know about these things, but now that he had reincarnated, he naturally had to seize this opportunity. Song Yang was puzzled. ¡°Help someone write a letter? Can writing a letter earn money?¡± Because of his grandfather, these few children of the Song family had received an early education. They didn¡¯t know about the situation of other families, so they thought that people outside were like them and could read. ¡°I went to town a month ago and found the job.¡± Song Xiuyan had long found an excuse. His younger siblings also knew that he went to town a month ago to invite a doctor for Song Yi, so when Song Xiuyan said this, Song Yang immediately stopped asking. Song Xiuyan looked at Song Yi and said, ¡°Believe me, our family¡¯s days will definitely get better and better. Third Brother, I will soon earn enough money to get you a good doctor and take you to a big hospital outside. You have to believe that you will be able to stand up.¡± In his previous life, he had walked out of the mountains. Only then did he realize how prosperous the outside world was. Although Song Yi¡¯s condition was serious, it wasn¡¯t impossible to treat it with the medical standards of the outside world. The key was to give Song Yi a chance to survive. Song Xiuyan knew that Song Yi had the intention to commit suicide. This thought hadn¡¯t been for a day or two. In his previous life, the death of his second brother, Song Yang, was only a catalyst for Song Yi¡¯s suicide. Therefore, he had to slowly enlighten Song Yi. Song Yi sat on the bed with a bitter smile on his face. It seemed that his second brother, Song Yang, had lied to him about his sister-in-law¡¯s medical skills. His sister-in-law had no way of treating his leg. As for his eldest brother, Song Xiuyan might have lied to him too. Even if he had hired a good doctor, he might not be able to stand up again. However, he understood the good intentions of his eldest brother and second brother. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he couldn¡¯t bear to part with his brothers and sisters, he would have committed suicide long ago to avoid dragging his family down. Seeing Song Yi¡¯s expression, Song Xiuyan could guess his thoughts, so he decided to use Ding Yao as an example to encourage Song Yi. ¡°Ding Yao¡¯s mother died when she was three years old. Father married her stepmother, and her stepmother bullied her every day. Her father didn¡¯t care about her, and her grandfather, who loved her the most, died in an accident when she was seven years old. Ding Yao was so heartbroken that she cried until her throat became hoarse. From then on, she couldn¡¯t speak and was laughed at by the entire village. However, Ding Yao was still strong. Not only was she living well, but she also hadn¡¯t forgotten the medical skills that her grandfather had taught her. ¡°When your second brother, Song Yang, was bitten by the cobra, Ding Yao had just fallen from the cliff and was covered in blood. Under such circumstances, she still insisted on climbing up the mountain to save Song Yang. ¡°Look, the facts have proven that even if she lost her voice and was ridiculed by others, Ding Yao could still save people.¡± The Song family¡¯s brothers and sisters knew a little about Ding Yao¡¯s situation, but it wasn¡¯t that detailed. Now that they heard Song Xiuyan¡¯s summary, they all had different reactions. Song Yi¡¯s eyes sparkled with tears of emotion. ¡°Xiuyan, I understand what you mean. Don¡¯t worry, I will live well and won¡¯t have any bad thoughts.¡± Ding Yao was a little girl, yet she was so strong, so how could a grown man like him feel sorry for himself?! Song Yu also followed suit. ¡°Our sister-in-law came to the Song family, so she is a member of our Song family. I will protect eldest sister-in-law well. If anyone in our village dares to bully eldest sister-in-law, I will tear their mouths apart!¡± Song Yu was only nine years old, but he had been learning kung fu since he was young. Even children his age in the village couldn¡¯t beat him. The fifth sister, Song Xue, also said, ¡°I will be very, very good to sister-in-law. From now on, let me take care of sister-in-law. I will go wash her dirty clothes in a while.¡± Ding Yao, who had just taken a shower and changed into Song Xiuyan¡¯s short clothes, stood at the door and heard the conversation. She didn¡¯t know how to react. Why did these people pity her? Song Xue was only seven years old this year, but she dared to boast shamelessly that she wanted to take care of her? Fine, Ding Yao admitted that she was a little touched. Song Xiuyan sensed the movement at the door and knew that Ding Yao might have already come out of the shower, so he brought Song Yang out of the room. He solemnly announced, ¡°Tonight, we¡¯ll cook rice, stew pheasant soup, and stew hare meat!¡± Today was Ding Yao¡¯s first day at their house, so the food had to be grand. In the future, they would have money and meat. When the Song family¡¯s brothers and sisters heard this, they immediately cheered. The fourth brother, Song Yu, happily went to cook the rice. Song Xue also happily went to boil water, preparing to deal with the rabbits and pheasants. Song Yang, on the other hand, began to sharpen the kitchen knife. While everyone was busy, Ding Yao entered Song Yi¡¯s room alone. Song Yi, who was just about to lie down, slowly sat up when he saw Ding Yao. He looked at Ding Yao curiously. Was this Xiuyan¡¯s wife? She was pretty. Chapter 15 Song Yi could see that Ding Yao was wearing Song Xiuyan¡¯s clothes. He also recognized that this set of clothes was the one that his big brother treasured the most. It was a birthday gift from his grandfather to his big brother. He even gave such an important set of clothes to Ding Yao. It could be seen that Ding Yao held a high position in his big brother¡¯s heart. Ding Yao looked around. The room was very clean and had all the necessary furnishings. There were closets, desks, chairs, and mirrors. This meant that their family must have had a good life in the past. Song Yi¡¯s condition was worse than Ding Yao had imagined. His face was sallow and emaciated, and there was almost no flesh on his face. Ding Yao¡¯s heart clenched. Doctors were kind-hearted, and she hated to see patients suffer the most. She could only hope that Song Yi¡¯s leg could still be saved. With that thought, Ding Yao walked over to Song Yi and pointed at his leg. Song Yi didn¡¯t have the ability to read lips, but he still had a basic guess. He looked at Ding Yao and asked uncertainly, ¡°Do you want to see my leg?¡± Ding Yao nodded. She needed to see Song Yi¡¯s leg so that she could confirm whether it was treatable. Song Yi hesitated for a moment and then silently pulled up his pants leg, revealing his shriveled leg that looked like dried wood. He only hoped that he wouldn¡¯t scare Ding Yao. Ding Yao glanced at Song Yi¡¯s legs, then took out a silver needle. Song Yi looked at her movements and didn¡¯t stop her. Since his sister-in-law wanted to give him a needle, then so be it. He couldn¡¯t feel the pain anyway. Last month, Song Xiuyan invited an old doctor from the town. The old doctor also took a silver needle to give him a leg acupuncture, but his left leg was completely numb. The silver needle pierced more than a dozen acupoints, but he didn¡¯t feel any pain. Later, he heard the conversation between the old doctor and his eldest brother. They said that his leg could only be like this, and there was no need to waste money. Although the old doctor had already made a conclusion about Song Yi¡¯s leg, Song Yi knew that his eldest brother and second brother didn¡¯t give up. They continued to save money to hire a better doctor for him. Ding Yao looked at the scar on Song Yi¡¯s knee and understood the reason Song Yi couldn¡¯t stand up. Although the injured kneecap had grown back, there was a problem with the nerves inside. Ding Yao didn¡¯t explain to Song Yi that she couldn¡¯t speak. Song Yi might not be able to understand the gestures, so she decided to just do it. Song Yi thought Ding Yao was going to give him a needle, but Ding Yao suddenly withdrew the silver needle and kept pressing on his calf with both hands, as if she was giving him a massage. Ding Yao started pressing on Song Yi¡¯s ankle with both hands. As she pressed, she observed Song Yi¡¯s reaction to see if he felt any pain. During this process, Song Yi was like a wooden statue without any expression. However, when Ding Yao pressed on a certain acupoint on his calf, she suddenly increased her strength. Song Yi couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°It hurts!¡± Song Yi realized that he was really in pain and shouted excitedly, ¡°I can feel it! I can feel my left leg!¡± Hearing Song Yi¡¯s shout, everyone who was busy in the courtyard rushed into the room. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Song Yi couldn¡¯t help but shed tears of excitement. ¡°It¡¯s true, Xiuyan. I can really feel my leg. I can feel the pain!¡± The old doctor had said that as long as his leg below the knee felt the slightest bit of pain, there was hope to cure it! The pain he felt just now was so intense¡­ so there was still hope for his legs, right?! Song Yi looked at Ding Yao eagerly. He saw with his own eyes that Ding Yao could feel his legs with just a few pinches. Silver needles weren¡¯t even used! Song Xiuyan was the first to calm down. He looked at Ding Yao and asked, ¡°Can you cure Song Yi¡¯s legs?¡± Ding Yao nodded. Her eyes were full of confidence. Then, she pointed two fingers. Song Xiuyan understood what she meant. ¡°Song Yi can stand up in two months?¡± Ding Yao nodded again. Although Song Yi didn¡¯t believe Ding Yao¡¯s words 100%, Ding Yao¡¯s treatment was effective. He had to let Ding Yao give it a try. He wouldn¡¯t let go of any possibility of making Song Yi stand up. ¡°Just tell me how to treat you. No matter how difficult it is, I will do as you ask.¡± Ding Yao smiled and answered with her lips, ¡°It¡¯s not difficult. As long as you massage, do acupuncture, and apply medicine every day, you will be fine. Go to the pharmacy and get the medicine tomorrow.¡± Song Xiuyan nodded and brought Ding Yao to the study next door. ¡°Write down what medicinal ingredients you need.¡± The words in Ding Yao¡¯s world were quite different from the words in this world. She didn¡¯t want to expose the difference between her and the others, so she could only look at Song Xiuyan with a sad look. She used her lips to say, ¡°Although I know some words, I can¡¯t write many of them.¡± Chapter 16 Song Xiuyan immediately said that it didn¡¯t matter. He took a pen and paper and said to Ding Yao, ¡°You tell me. I¡¯ll write it.¡± Unfortunately, Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t understand Chinese medicine. Although he could understand the name of the medicinal herb that Ding Yao mentioned, he couldn¡¯t write the correct name of the medicinal herb. The words used in daily life were okay, but when it came to professional knowledge, Song Xiuyan couldn¡¯t do it. Ding Yao thought for a moment and gestured to tell Song Xiuyan, ¡°There¡¯s no need to go through so much trouble. Bring me to the pharmacy to buy medicine tomorrow. Normally, the pharmacy will mark the name of the medicine. I¡¯ll show you when the time comes.¡± Song Xiuyan nodded and accepted Ding Yao¡¯s suggestion. After settling the matter of buying medicine, Ding Yao had a chance to look around the study room. There were many calligraphy and paintings hanging in the study room, as well as unfinished pigments and ink. From the name and the inscription, these calligraphy and paintings were all Song Xiuyan¡¯s masterpieces. She secretly praised Song Xiuyan in her heart. This man was quite talented. In this backward and poor village, he could still learn to paint and write well. His paintings and calligraphy could be sold for a lot of money. No wonder Song Xiuyan dared to guarantee that she wouldn¡¯t starve to death. Song Xiuyan saw Ding Yao looking at the paintings and calligraphy in the study, and he said, ¡°Sell the reishi mushroom you picked tomorrow. Because the money in the family isn¡¯t available, I may have to use a part of it first. I¡¯ll find a job in the town to write letters to people and then give you this money¡­¡± Ding Yao interrupted Song Xiuyan¡¯s words. She gestured with her mouth and said, ¡°I¡¯m living in your house now, so I don¡¯t need to split the money so carefully. You can use it all you want.¡± Song Xiuyan understood Ding Yao¡¯s meaning and was secretly happy. He made up his mind that he would definitely make more money in the future and let Ding Yao manage all of it. Ding Yao was very interested in Song Xiuyan¡¯s paintings. In her previous life, every painting of those painters could be sold at a sky-high price. She didn¡¯t know how much a painter¡¯s painting could be sold for in this backward parallel world. Ding Yao pointed at one of the paintings and asked Song Xiuyan with her lips, ¡°How much can such a painting be sold for?¡± Song Xiuyan pursed his lips. ¡°I can sell it to the people in town for twenty to thirty yuan and sell it to the people in the county for two to three hundred yuan. If you meet someone who knows the goods, it will go up even more.¡± In his previous life, when he went out to earn money, in order to have enough start-up capital, he had no choice but to sell his paintings on the streets. By chance, he met someone who knew the goods and bought his paintings at a price of one thousand yuan each. Later on, he became famous and the person who bought his paintings recognized him. Then, he sold his paintings. Each painting was priced at 100,000 yuan, which was immediately snatched away. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t that his paintings weren¡¯t valuable, but it depended on where they were sold and when they were sold. The price of his paintings was closely related to his own value. Ding Yao heard the hidden meaning in Song Xiuyan¡¯s words and her lips moved. ¡°200 to 300 yuan is a bit of a loss.¡± Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t dare to reply. He had almost let it slip just now. After all, the current him wasn¡¯t supposed to know the price of his calligraphy and paintings in the future. In order to prevent Ding Yao from asking further, Song Xiuyan changed the topic. He looked at Ding Yao and said, ¡°From tomorrow onwards, I will teach you how to read and write.¡± It wasn¡¯t a discussion but a decision. After Ding Yao learned how to write, she would be able to communicate with his younger siblings without any obstacles. His younger siblings all knew how to read. Ding Yao nodded helplessly. This was the best solution. After all, her throat couldn¡¯t be cured in a day or two. It was really a headache. She didn¡¯t expect that one day, she would have to learn how to write and read like a primary school student! Most importantly, Song Xiuyan seemed to be quite strict. As expected, Song Xiuyan¡¯s next words were, ¡°You originally knew some words. You¡¯re smart, so you should be able to learn them quite quickly. First, set a small goal. How about learning fifty words a day?¡± ¡°Ah Ah Ah¡­¡± Ding Yao immediately gestured to protest. ¡°Fifty words is too much. I only accept twenty!¡± The words in this world were very complicated. How could she learn fifty words a day?! She didn¡¯t have supernatural powers! Song Xiuyan smiled easily. ¡°Then twenty words a day. I¡¯ll test you personally.¡± Huh? There was a test? Ding Yao felt that she had been tricked by Song Xiuyan. He said fifty words on purpose just to wait for her to bargain with him. She was digging her own grave! What was even more depressing was that Ding Yao saw affection in Song Xiuyan¡¯s eyes. She was treated like a child by him! Today¡¯s dinner was very rich. There was white rice, braised rabbit meat, stewed pheasant soup, fried rape and cold cucumber on the table. Chapter 17 Ding Yao had seen it in the front yard and back yard. The rape and cucumber were grown in the vegetable field in the back yard, and there were other vegetables in the field. They were growing well, and the house was very clean. It was impossible to tell that there was no female housekeeper in the house. The housework was done by Song Yu, who was nine years old, and Song Xue, who was seven years old. The food on the table was delicious, and it was made by Song Yi, who guided Song Yu with a cane. As Song Xiuyan had said, his younger siblings were all very capable. Song Yi was in a particularly good mood because he knew that there was hope for his leg to be healed. Ding Yao looked at the Song family¡¯s siblings and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim to herself. The Song family¡¯s siblings were all very good-looking. They didn¡¯t look like children born and raised in the countryside. She had just looked in the mirror. She knew that her looks were passable. It was just that she looked a little thinner now that she was malnourished. In the future, when her nutrition caught up, she would definitely be a beauty. While everyone was enjoying their meal, a young girl around 17 or 18 years old came in with two insoles in her hands. ¡°Wow, it smells so good. What are you guys eating at home that smells so good?¡± ¡°Caiyun!¡± Song Xue excitedly pulled Zhao Caiyun and introduced her. ¡°Tonight, our family is eating braised rabbit meat, chicken soup, and rice! As well as cucumbers and fried canola!¡± Zhao Caiyun went to the dining table and looked straight at Song Xiuyan. Unfortunately, Song Xiuyan lowered his head and ate without looking at her. Zhao Caiyun looked at the meat on the table and swallowed hard. She wanted to eat it a little, but no one asked her to eat it. She was too embarrassed to sit down herself. In a normal family, it would be good enough to have rice to eat. Meat was a luxury item, and she wouldn¡¯t see it once a month. Zhao Caiyun felt a little envious. She lived next door and knew that Song Xiuyan¡¯s family was so poor that they could barely eat three meals a day. They hunted rabbits and pheasants on the mountain and couldn¡¯t bear to eat them. They all went to town to sell them for money, yet, they were so extravagant tonight. Without even thinking about it, it must be because of that mute girl Ding Yao. Zhao Caiyun glanced at Ding Yao with obvious hostility in her eyes. How could a mute girl be worthy of Song Xiuyan? Ding Yao was baffled. She didn¡¯t even know this girl, so how could this girl be so hostile to her? Zhao Caiyun glared at Ding Yao, then turned to Song Xiuyan and handed him the insoles in her arms. ¡°Song Xiuyan, I came here to give you the insoles.¡± Song Xiuyan calmly refused, ¡°I don¡¯t lack insoles. Sorry to trouble you.¡± He knew that Zhao Caiyun liked him and would always come to their house whenever she was free, but Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t like Zhao Caiyun. He didn¡¯t like her before, and he wouldn¡¯t like her in the future. Zhao Caiyun wasn¡¯t his type. Furthermore, he had Ding Yao now. Zhao Caiyun didn¡¯t give up. She directly put down the insoles. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. I made these insoles according to your size, Song Xiuyan. I also added some stitches. Other than you, I can¡¯t bear to give them to anyone else.¡± Her words were very ambiguous. Song Xiuyan instantly frowned. ¡°My size? How did you know my size?¡± What did Zhao Caiyun mean? It was Ding Yao¡¯s first day at home, and Zhao Caiyun wanted to sow discord between them? Song Yang quickly explained, ¡°Brother, I gave it to her. The last time I saw your insole break, I took it and let Caiyun make two insoles. Of course, I didn¡¯t let Caiyun do it for nothing. I gave her family a pheasant in exchange, but I didn¡¯t expect her to make two more insoles after that¡­¡± After figuring out the information source of the size, Song Xiuyan rejected Zhao Caiyun once again. ¡°Since this insole wasn¡¯t custom-made by my family, there¡¯s no reason for you to ask me to buy it just because it was made according to my size, right?¡± Ding Yao wanted to laugh as she listened from the side. She could tell that Zhao Caiyun liked Song Xiuyan, which was why she was hostile toward her. However, Song Xiuyan clearly knew that Zhao Caiyun liked him, yet, he deliberately misinterpreted the meaning of Zhao Caiyun¡¯s words. This could be considered as giving Zhao Caiyun a way out. If Zhao Caiyun was smart, she would know that Song Xiuyan was tactfully rejecting her, and she also knew that she had to stop. Unfortunately.. Zhao Caiyun panicked and explained with a red face, ¡°Song Xiuyan, I didn¡¯t think of taking your money. I already said that I¡¯m giving it to you.¡± Song Xiuyan said seriously, ¡°Then I can¡¯t take it. Our families aren¡¯t related, so I have no reason to take your things. Besides, although our family is poor, we aren¡¯t poor enough to rely on others to give us insoles.¡± Chapter 18 Song Xiuyan¡¯s words were very clear, but Zhao Caiyun was still stubborn. She looked very wronged. ¡°Song Xiuyan, how can you say that? Our two families are neighbors. Shouldn¡¯t neighbors help each other? Your fourth brother and fifth sister came to borrow rice this afternoon, and I lent it to them without saying anything.¡± Seeing that Zhao Caiyun actually mentioned him, Song Yu couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Sister Caiyun, what you said is wrong. Borrowing something is different from accepting charity. The rice we borrowed will be returned to you.¡± After being repeatedly rejected, Zhao Caiyun felt angered, but she suppressed her anger and used the topic to ask, ¡°So you cooked the rice I lent you this afternoon in one meal? You guys will eat it all?¡± Song Xue nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Xiuyan said that this is the first day my sister-in-law ate at home ¡­¡± Before Song Xue could finish her words, she was interrupted by Zhao Caiyun. ¡°You¡¯re really a prodigal! I thought that you guys could cook rice for three days without going hungry, so I lent you the rice behind my family¡¯s back. I didn¡¯t expect you guys to be so wasteful. This way, if you ask me to lend you rice again, I can¡¯t guarantee that I can lend it to you.¡± Hearing this, Song Xiuyan couldn¡¯t listen anymore. He stood up and said, ¡°Zhao Caiyun, you don¡¯t have to say anything more. I also hope that you won¡¯t come to our house in the future. I¡¯ll definitely return the rice I borrowed from you tomorrow. If you feel that you¡¯ve suffered a loss, I can pay you back double.¡± Zhao Caiyun was so angry that she covered her face and ran home. The happy atmosphere was ruined by Zhao Caiyun. Even though she had left, no one said anything. After Zhao Caiyun made such a fuss, even the most slow-witted people could see that Zhao Caiyun was interested in Song Xiuyan. Zhao Caiyun liked Song Xiuyan. When she heard that Song Xiuyan brought Ding Yao home, she came over to make things difficult for Ding Yao. Song Xue was young and couldn¡¯t hold. She said directly, ¡°Sister Ding Yao, don¡¯t be angry. I didn¡¯t know that Sister Caiyun was such a person. I won¡¯t play with her in the future!¡± Ding Yao felt that it was funny. She gestured at Song Xiuyan and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care about such a small thing, and I won¡¯t be angry. You guys didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Why are you unhappy because of an outsider?¡± Song Xiuyan was good-looking and talented. He was different from the rural men here, so it was normal for him to be liked by girls. Song Xiuyan relayed Ding Yao¡¯s words to everyone. Seeing Ding Yao¡¯s indifferent expression, the siblings let out a sigh of relief. The atmosphere was slightly more relaxed. At night, Song Xue volunteered to bring Ding Yao to her room to sleep. She patted her chest and promised, ¡°I will take good care of you!¡± Ding Yao found it funny. She looked at Song Xue, who was only seven years old. She didn¡¯t know who was taking care of whom. However, just as Ding Yao was about to leave with Song Xue, Song Xiuyan said, ¡°Ding Yao will live with me.¡± Ding Yao was shocked. She was going to live with Song Xiuyan? Fortunately, Song Xiuyan¡¯s next sentence was, ¡°I can sleep in the study.¡± Ding Yao was brought to the Song family as his wife, so she should sleep in his room. Ding Yao¡¯s breath instantly relaxed. She was scared to death. She wasn¡¯t ready to sleep in the same room with a man. Song Xiuyan¡¯s room was the largest and most spacious in the entire courtyard house. In the room, besides the wardrobe and desk, there were also bookshelves and dressing tables. The soft bed was covered with a clean, soapy smell, there seemed to be Song Xiuyan¡¯s scent on it. Ding Yao smelled this reassuring smell and fell asleep soon after lying down. After his siblings had fallen asleep, Song Xiuyan pushed Song Yang¡¯s room open. After much thought, he decided to tell Song Yang about what he and Ding Yao had discovered. Someone had deliberately tried to kill him. He was stunned for a long time before he came back to his senses. ¡°After hearing what Xiuyan said, I also feel that it¡¯s a little strange. That foreigner didn¡¯t bring any bow and arrows for hunting, nor was he carrying a basket. It¡¯s clear that he didn¡¯t come to the mountains to hunt, nor did he come to pick wild vegetables. He might have deliberately set me up! But¡­ I don¡¯t know that man at all, and I can¡¯t think of who I have offended? Xiuyan, did you dream that someone wanted to kill me?¡± Song Xiuyan shook his head. ¡°I only dreamed that you were bitten by a snake. My dream may be a coincidence, but the current situation is that someone really wanted to harm you, so we have to be vigilant. Sometimes, I think that third brother Song Yi¡¯s leg was also deliberately broken.¡± Chapter 19 Song Yang was shocked. ¡°Xiuyan, do you mean that those people don¡¯t just want to attack me, but also want to harm our family?¡± If it was just him, he wouldn¡¯t be so worried. After he was prepared, with his martial arts skills, it shouldn¡¯t be so easy to be at a disadvantage, but if they wanted to harm his entire family, that would be a little scary. His younger brothers and sisters were still so young.. Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t too good either. He said to Song Yang, ¡°First, describe the man¡¯s appearance to me. I¡¯ll draw a portrait of him.¡± Song Xiuyan and Song Yang spent more than an hour before they finished drawing the portrait. Song Yang was uneasy. ¡°Xiuyan, are you going to take the portrait to the police?¡± Song Xiuyan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s useless to call the police. Without real evidence, the police won¡¯t accept this case. Even if they did, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. They won¡¯t be able to find him.¡± He paused, then continued, ¡°Don¡¯t tell our younger siblings about this first. They¡¯re young, so they will be scared. You don¡¯t have to worry too much for the time being. Those people didn¡¯t openly harm us. They just caused an accident behind our backs, which means that they have some misgivings. In the future, you have to be extra careful when you do things. You have to be extra vigilant against those strangers who deliberately approach you. As for our younger siblings, I¡¯ll think of a way to make them more vigilant.¡± Song Yang nodded and then thought of something else. ¡°Xiuyan, you mean that my sister-in-law knows that someone is trying to harm us?¡± Song Xiuyan nodded and reminded Song Yang, ¡°I dreamt that you were bitten by a poisonous snake. Don¡¯t tell anyone about it yet.¡± Ding Yao was very smart. If she suspected something after hearing it, it would be hard for him to explain. He didn¡¯t want anyone to know about his rebirth for the time being. Song Yang nodded and agreed. Then, he asked suspiciously, ¡°Xiuyan, did you already know that someone wanted to harm us? Or do you actually know who wanted to harm us? Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have suddenly urged us to get up early to practice martial arts.¡± Song Xiuyan shook his head. ¡°I urged you to practice your martial arts because it can strengthen your body. You can also protect yourself and our family.¡± Practicing martial arts was a wake-up call when he was killed by someone in his previous life. If his martial arts skills had been better, he would have been able to avoid death. Perhaps he would have been able to catch the people who wanted to harm him, and he would not have been so confused. In the middle of the night, Song Yu and Song Xue suddenly had a stomachache. Song Xue was still screaming in pain, and Song Yu was rolling around on the bed, clutching her stomach. Song Xiuyan and Song Yang were shocked. They thought that their fourth and fifth younger sisters had been poisoned. Ding Yao had been woken up and quickly went over to take a look. The results of the check amused her. Song Yu and Song Xue already had roundworms in their stomachs. Tonight, they had a full meal, and the roundworms in their stomachs also had a full meal. After eating their fill, the roundworms were a little excited. They moved around in their stomachs, and Song Yu and Song Xue were in pain. After Ding Yao dragged Song Xiuyan over and gave him a few instructions, Song Xiuyan felt a little relieved. He followed Ding Yao¡¯s instructions and boiled hot water. He used a handkerchief that was wet with hot water to apply it to Song Yu and Song Xue¡¯s stomachs. This went on for quite a while. The two of them finally stopped feeling pain. Song Xiuyan was startled and asked Song Yu with a dark look, ¡°Do you often touch food without washing your hands after work?¡± Song Yu felt wronged. ¡°I don¡¯t. I only eat after washing my hands!¡± Song Xiuyan asked again, ¡°Then did you dig up the root of plants in the front yard and backyard, or even near the toilet? Not only did you eat them yourself, but you also gave them to Song Xue?¡± Song Yu pursed his lips and continued to quibble, ¡°All the children in the village eat like this.¡± The root of Star Of The Sky was white, like a radish, and tasted very sweet. All the children in the village liked to dig it up and eat it. The leaves of the Star Of The Sky could also be eaten. They were sour and sweet. Without washing them, they would stuff them directly into their mouths. If they were slower, they would be snatched away by other children. Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression turned even darker. ¡°Then did you know that because you ate it directly without washing it clean, you already had worms in your stomachs, which is why your stomachs hurt? It¡¯s because the worms were causing trouble in your stomachs.¡± He told Song Yu and Song Xue what Ding Yao had just told him. He said that the worms in their stomachs were called roundworms, and the roundworms¡¯ eggs would be excreted out of their bodies along with their feces. The roundworms¡¯ eggs lived for a longer time, and their attachment ability was also very strong. Star Of The Sky grew in the ground, and children often defecated everywhere. There were also all kinds of dog feces, which were all absorbed by the roots of the Star Of The Sky. If they ate the roots of the Star Of The Sky that were attached to the roundworms¡¯ eggs, the roundworms would spread from one to ten to a hundred. Chapter 20 - She Was Fierce to Him Chapter 20 She Was Fierce to Him When she heard that her stomachache was due to the bugs in her stomach, Song Xue was so scared that she started crying. Song Yu was a boy, so he wasn¡¯t that scared. However, he felt very guilty. ¡°No wonder my stomach hurts. Ding Yao, can you treat it for us?¡± Ding Yao nodded and gave Song Yu and Song Yu a reassuring look. After saying that, she looked at Song Xiuyan and mouthed, ¡°If you were young, you would dig for those things to eat if you were hungry.¡± Song Xiuyan was stunned for a moment. Was he being scolded by his wife? Song Xue asked timidly, ¡°Big Brother, what did Ding Yao say just now?¡± Of course, Song Xiuyan wouldn¡¯t tell the truth about what Ding Yao said. He could only make up a lie. ¡°Ding Yao told you to be at ease. She will definitely cure you.¡± The next morning, Ding Yao woke up a little late. She checked the wound on her forehead. It was already starting to scar. When she changed the dressing last night, she used the spiritual spring water to clean the wound, so the wound could heal so quickly. Walking out of the room, Ding Yao saw Song Yang leading Song Yu and Song Xue to practice horse stance in the courtyard. Song Xiuyan was holding a stick at the side and occasionally pointed at Song Yu and Song Xue¡¯s postures. He looked very much like an instructor. Ding Yao was a little surprised. The Song family all learned martial arts? Seeing that Ding Yao had woken up, Song Xiuyan came over and asked, ¡°How¡¯s the wound on your forehead? Does it still hurt?¡± He wanted to help Ding Yao change the dressing last night, but Ding Yao refused. Song Xiuyan had been quite puzzled at the time. In the end, he could only think that Ding Yao didn¡¯t like the way he bandaged her wound. However, Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t expect that Ding Yao didn¡¯t want him to help her change the dressing because she didn¡¯t want him to see the bloody hole on her forehead. There was no way she could survive with such a big hole. Ding Yao smiled at Song Xiuyan. She opened and closed her lips. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore. I took a look just now, and the wound is already starting to scar.¡± ¡°So fast?¡± Song Xiuyan was a little puzzled. Ding Yao¡¯s forehead had been bleeding so much, so the wound must be very deep. It was lucky that the wound wasn¡¯t inflamed. How could it be scarred so quickly? Ding Yao blinked her eyes and explained, ¡°The wound isn¡¯t very deep. It¡¯s just that I was unconscious and didn¡¯t stop the bleeding in time, so I lost too much blood.¡± Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t delve further after listening. He turned around and called his siblings, ¡°Get ready to eat.¡± After breakfast, he was going to take Ding Yao to town. The porridge he had for breakfast was cooked with the leftover rice from last night. There were also vegetables and cucumbers. After breakfast, Ding Yao changed into her clothes that were full of patches. Song Xiuyan put the two reishi mushrooms into his backpack and hid them. The village had an ox-cart to go to the town. The villagers could hitch a ride there, but they had to pay two yuan each. If Song Xiuyan was alone, he wouldn¡¯t want to take the ox-cart. More than twenty people crowded together, and there were all kinds of smells. Anyway, the road to the town wasn¡¯t very far. He usually walked there, but he took Ding Yao into consideration. In the end, he decided to take the ox-cart. The ox-cart was Zhao Caiyun¡¯s family¡¯s. The person driving the ox-cart was Zhao Caiyun¡¯s brother, Zhao Dashan. Coincidentally, Zhao Caiyun was going to the town today. After seeing Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao, the aunties sitting on the ox-cart greeted them with a smile. ¡°Song Xiuyan, are you going to take your little wife to the town for a walk?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression had always been very cold. The aunties also shut their mouths and didn¡¯t ask any more questions. Song Xiuyan gave Zhao Dashan four yuan and carried Ding Yao onto the ox-cart. Ding Yao was right. They didn¡¯t need to let others affect their mood, so he treated Zhao Caiyun as if she didn¡¯t exist. There were many people on the ox-cart. Zhao Caiyun didn¡¯t dare to say anything too overboard. However, when she saw Song Xiuyan sitting next to Ding Yao in an obvious protective posture to prevent Ding Yao from falling off the ox-cart, she became even more jealous and dissatisfied. The ox-cart began to move forward. Zhao Caiyun couldn¡¯t help but squeeze together with Ding Yao and deliberately asked her, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Ding Yao ignored Zhao Caiyun. It was fine for a little girl to boldly pursue the man she liked, but Zhao Caiyun knew that she was a mute and couldn¡¯t speak, so she deliberately asked this question. It was a problem with her character. The people on the ox-cart all looked at Ding Yao. Song Xiuyan took the initiative to speak, ¡°Her name is Ding Yao.¡± A woman chuckled and said, ¡°Her name is quite nice, and she is also beautiful. What a pity.¡± She didn¡¯t say anything about what was a pity, or it would be rubbing salt on the wound. Chapter 21 - Punish Her Chapter 21 Punish Her However, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s goal was to make Ding Yao look bad, so she continued, ¡°Gee, I¡¯m sorry. I almost forgot that you¡¯re a mute. You only know how to ¡°Ah Ah Ah¡±. It¡¯s better to ask Brother Song Xiuyan directly than to ask your name.¡± Song Xiuyan was about to say something, but Ding Yao grabbed him and used her lips to tell him not to bother with Zhao Caiyun. Ding Yao didn¡¯t want to argue with Zhao Caiyun, but that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t angry. She quietly took out the itching powder that she had made before and hid it in her sleeve. If Zhao Caiyun didn¡¯t know what was good for her and said something nasty, she didn¡¯t mind teaching her a lesson. Zhao Caiyun didn¡¯t know what Ding Yao was thinking. She even pretended to be surprised and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have any reaction at all? Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t even know how to ¡®Ah Ah Ah¡¯? I¡¯m talking to you, but you won¡¯t answer. Are you unable to answer or can¡¯t hear me? Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯re not only mute, but also deaf¡­¡± Song Xiuyan couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. He coldly looked at Zhao Caiyun and said, ¡°Shut up.¡± The moment he opened his mouth, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s face turned red and she didn¡¯t dare to continue speaking. In addition, the people on the ox-cart were all looking at her. They seemed to be guessing why she wanted to make things difficult for a mute like Ding Yao. A few of the older women already had a look of understanding in their eyes. Zhao Caiyun quickly lowered her head. She felt that what she had done was too obvious. The road in the countryside wasn¡¯t very smooth. The ox-cart would bump from time to time. Ding Yao took the opportunity to approach Zhao Caiyun and put the itching powder in her hand into her neck. Zhao Caiyun was hit by Ding Yao and screamed, ¡°Are you crazy? You can¡¯t even sit steadily on the ox-cart? You¡¯re so dirty, but you still dare to get close to me?!¡± Song Xiuyan was one step slower. He quickly pulled Ding Yao up and asked her nervously, ¡°How is it? Did you hurt yourself?¡± Actually, he was also a little puzzled. The ox-cart was bumpy, but he had shielded Ding Yao. How did she bump into Zhao Caiyun? Could it be that he had been careless? Ding Yao shook her head to show that she was fine, but Song Xiuyan saw the evil smile on Ding Yao¡¯s lips. Zhao Caiyun wanted to curse again, but when she raised her head and met Song Xiuyan¡¯s cold gaze, she swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth. She didn¡¯t want to shed all pretense of cordiality with Song Xiuyan right now. She still wanted to marry Song Xiuyan. When Zhao Dashan heard the commotion behind him, he turned to look at Zhao Caiyun and scolded her with a dark expression, ¡°It¡¯s spacious here, so why don¡¯t you sit here? Why do you have to squeeze together with the people behind you?¡± Everyone in the Zhao family knew what Zhao Caiyun was thinking. Previously, they didn¡¯t know that Song Xiuyan had already been engaged, so they didn¡¯t care. Song Xiuyan¡¯s knowledge and looks were well-known in all the villages within ten miles. Perhaps they would have a bright future in the future. However, during this period of time, the Song family was out of luck. Now that the news of the engagement had spread and he had even brought his wife home, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s parents began to restrict Zhao Caiyun from interacting with Song Xiuyan. Unfortunately, Zhao Caiyun didn¡¯t listen at all. Zhao Dashan had seen Zhao Caiyun sneak into the Song family yesterday. If she continued like this, her reputation would be tarnished sooner or later, and it wouldn¡¯t be easy for her to get married. Zhao Caiyun was very afraid of Zhao Dashan. When she heard Zhao Dashan¡¯s words, she obediently sat to the side. Not long after, Zhao Caiyun felt an itch on her neck. She couldn¡¯t help but scratch her neck a few times, but after scratching, it became even more itchy. Her entire body was itchy. When the woman beside her saw Zhao Caiyun¡¯s actions, she kindly reminded her, ¡°What are you doing? Even if your body is itchy, you have to endure it a little. A lady can¡¯t be constantly scratching her body in front of so many people. Aren¡¯t you afraid that others will gossip about you?¡± This ox-cart wasn¡¯t only filled with women, there were also quite a number of men. Zhao Caiyun had a bitter expression on her face. ¡°I don¡¯t want to scratch like this either, but I¡¯m really itchy and uncomfortable¡­¡± Zhao Dashan, who was driving the ox-cart, turned around and berated Zhao Caiyun, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you now? Weren¡¯t you fine just now? Why are you suddenly ticklish?¡± He thought that Zhao Caiyun was trying to use this method to attract Song Xiuyan¡¯s attention. However, Zhao Caiyun reacted to Zhao Dashan¡¯s reminder. That¡¯s right, she was fine just now. Why did she suddenly start to itch? She looked at Ding Yao and scolded loudly, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you, mute girl! It must be because your body is too dirty. Just now, you came close to me and got on my body. That¡¯s why I¡¯m so itchy!¡± Ding Yao smiled. It seemed that Zhao Caiyun wasn¡¯t that stupid and realized that it was because of her. Song Xiuyan¡¯s gaze was like a knife as he looked at Zhao Caiyun. ¡°It¡¯s clearly your own body that¡¯s dirty, yet you still want to blame others? Ding Yao and I have been sitting together the entire time. Why don¡¯t you see me itch?¡± Chapter 22 - Treating Her Illness Chapter 22 Treating Her Illness The people in the ox-cart immediately burst into laughter. Zhao Caiyun was exasperated, but she couldn¡¯t think of anything to refute Song Xiuyan. Zhao Dashan angrily stopped the ox-cart, then he scolded, ¡°Since your body is so itchy, don¡¯t go to town. Hurry up and get out of the ox-cart and wash up!¡± Her body was too itchy, so Zhao Caiyun didn¡¯t dare to go to town. She was afraid of losing face, so she got out of the ox-cart with a sad look. The journey from the village to the town was actually not very far. They arrived in less than half an hour. Once they reached the place, the villagers got off the ox-cart and went to do their own things. There were many people in the town, and it was also very lively. All kinds of shouting could be heard. Song Xiuyan held Ding Yao¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t let go. It¡¯s easy to get separated if there are too many people in the town. Let¡¯s go to the pharmacy to sell reishi mushrooms first.¡± Ding Yao nodded. One Side Sky was the largest pharmacy in Spirit Creek Town. It collected medicinal herbs and also sold medicinal herbs. It even treated people. Because Song Xiuyan often bought medicine for Song Yi¡¯s legs, he became familiar with the staff of One Side Sky Pharmacy. One of the staff saw Song Xiuyan and thought that he was here to buy medicine again. He greeted him warmly, ¡°Song Xiuyan, are you here to buy medicine again?¡± Song Xiuyan replied, ¡°Sell medicine first, then buy medicine.¡± As soon as the shop assistant heard that he was going to sell medicine, he brought Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao to the back. Mr. Xu, a middle-aged man who was in charge of purchasing the medicine, saw that Song Xiuyan had taken out two reishi mushrooms that were more than fifty years old. The powder on the reishi mushroom gown was intact. He said in surprise, ¡°In the future, when you pick these reishi mushrooms again, remember to sell them to us. The price of our pharmacy is fair.¡± As he said that, he gave a very fair price, ¡°Six thousand yuan.¡± Mr. Xu also knew a little about Song Xiuyan¡¯s family situation. The medicine Song Xiuyan had bought for Song Yi before cost more than a hundred yuan per pack. He knew that Song Xiuyan hadn¡¯t had it easy. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Xu.¡± Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t bargain. After taking the money, he put it in his pocket. Then, he brought Ding Yao back to the pharmacy hall. Ding Yao stood in front of the counter selling traditional Chinese medicine and saw the required medicinal herbs. She pointed them out to Song Xiuyan. Then, she used the shape of her mouth and her fingers to gesture, telling him the quantity of each herb that she needed to buy. The herbs that Ding Yao wanted were all used to apply to one¡¯s knees. They were all common herbs that needed to be matched properly. In addition, the spiritual spring water in her space in the herbal field would produce a magical effect. This method of catching herbs was simple and convenient. Soon, Song Xiuyan remembered all the herbs and the dosage that Ding Yao mentioned. Their combination was too special. The other customers in the pharmacy looked at them curiously. Someone who knew the situation quietly told everyone that Ding Yao was Dr. Ding¡¯s granddaughter from the Spirit Stone Village in the mountains. Because of her grandfather¡¯s death, she cried until her throat became hoarse and became a mute who couldn¡¯t speak. Ding Yao and Song Xiuyan were engaged previously. After she became mute, the Song family originally wanted to divorce Ding Yao. However, they didn¡¯t expect Ding Yao to use a Snake Swallow Stone to save Song Xiuyan¡¯s second brother. In order to repay the favor, Song Xiuyan brought Ding Yao home. The villagers¡¯ gossipy nature wasn¡¯t to be underestimated. The reason Song Xiuyan took Ding Yao home had already been spread. In addition, Ding Yao¡¯s grandfather was very famous when he was alive, so gossip spread even faster. Song Xiuyan¡¯s personality was cold. He didn¡¯t care much about the opinions of the outside world. Ding Yao didn¡¯t care either. Therefore, the two of them didn¡¯t care about the discussions of others. Ding Yao gestured to tell Song Xiuyan that there were no medicinal herbs to cure roundworms. However, it didn¡¯t matter. There were some on the way back from the mountain yesterday. They could just go up the mountain and dig some. Song Xiuyan was a little surprised. It was really good to know medicinal herbs. They even saved money on buying medicinal herbs. According to Ding Yao¡¯s instructions, they bought a total of nine types of medicinal herbs and spent more than 300 yuan. Ding Yao didn¡¯t expect that ordinary medicinal herbs in this world were so expensive. She had an idea. The medicinal herbs in the space of her medicinal field were too precious. They couldn¡¯t casually take them out, but there were many ordinary medicinal herbs on the mountain here. Perhaps they could dig up medicinal herbs and sell them. It should be a faster way of earning money than hunting. Holding the medicine bag, Song Xiuyan pulled Ding Yao to the doctor. Ding Yao refused. She was a doctor herself, so she knew what kind of wounds she had. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t win against Song Xiuyan. He still dragged her to the doctor. ¡°Doctor Liu, Ding Yao fell from the cliff yesterday. She hit her forehead and bled a lot. Take a look at her injuries and see if she needs some medicine to heal her body.¡± Chapter 23 - Being targeted Chapter 23 Being targeted After Dr. Liu checked Ding Yao¡¯s pulse, he told Song Xiuyan, ¡°From her pulse, it doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s much of a problem. There¡¯s no need to prescribe any medicine. I just need to ensure that she has enough food for three meals. The young lady is malnourished.¡± Dr. Liu also knew Song Xiuyan¡¯s family situation. He didn¡¯t know where he had borrowed the money to buy the medicine. How could he have the spare money to buy more tonic medicine? Ding Yao glanced at Song Xiuyan and was a little dissatisfied. She had already said that she didn¡¯t need to see a doctor, but he refused to listen to her. She had the space of the medicinal field, the spiritual spring pool, and the pills she made. She would be able to heal very quickly. However, Song Xiuyan was very stubborn. He asked Dr. Liu to see if he could cure Ding Yao¡¯s throat. He hoped that she would be able to speak again. He didn¡¯t want her to be laughed at because she was mute. This time, Ding Yao didn¡¯t object. Although her spiritual spring pool could cure her throat, it was a good idea to see the medical skills of the doctors in this world. Dr. Liu asked Ding Yao to speak. After listening to Ding Yao¡¯s cries, Dr. Liu shook his head. ¡°It has dragged on for too long. The possibility of curing her is almost zero.¡± Song Xiuyan was a little disappointed, but Ding Yao looked indifferent. She took the medicine bag and pulled Song Xiuyan out of the pharmacy. As soon as they left, the people in the pharmacy started to discuss. The shop assistant who had just taken medicine for Song Xiuyan and the others said, ¡°Did Dr. Ding¡¯s granddaughter inherit Dr. Ding¡¯s medical skills? She can also treat illnesses and save people? The medicine she took just now seemed to be a prescription she wrote herself. They were all medicinal herbs used to treat injuries caused by injuries. Could it be that she wants to treat Song Xiuyan¡¯s third brother, Song Yi¡¯s leg?¡± Another shop assistant added, ¡°That¡¯s really possible. Didn¡¯t they say that Ding Yao cured Song Xiuyan¡¯s second brother, Song Yang?¡± This opened up the topic of conversation. The other people in the pharmacy said one after another, ¡°It¡¯s not strange that she can treat snake venom because Ding Yao has the Snake Swallow Stone. However, it¡¯s unlikely that she can treat illnesses and save people. Learning medicine is so complicated that it¡¯s difficult for normal people to learn, let alone a mute¡­¡± ¡°Although Ding Yao is a mute, she looks very smart and beautiful. I heard that Song Xiuyan was quite dissatisfied with Ding Yao before, but now it seems that¡­ Song Xiuyan treats Ding Yao quite well.¡± ¡°Exactly. Song Xiuyan¡¯s family is in debt, but he still wants to cure Ding Yao¡¯s muteness. He even wants to prescribe medicine to treat her body, as if it doesn¡¯t cost any money.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed, but Song Xiuyan¡¯s gaze toward Ding Yao is especially gentle. Song Xiuyan talks to others coldly, but when he talks to Ding Yao, he¡¯s gentle, as if he¡¯s afraid of scaring her.¡± The manager of the pharmacy, Sun Changan, was also there. When he heard these people¡¯s discussions, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What did you say just now? What Snake Swallow Stone?¡± Those who knew the situation quickly told him about how Ding Yao used the Snake Swallow Stone to save Song Xiuyan¡¯s second brother, Song Yang. Sun Changan widened his eyes and asked, ¡°Is this true?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true! I heard it from Ah-jie. Ah-jie was beside them when it happened. He saw Ding Yao take out the stone to save him with his own eyes!¡± That person said with absolute certainty. Sun Changan quickly chased after them, but there were too many people to see Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao. One of the shop assistants asked Sun Changan in confusion, ¡°Mr. Sun, why are you looking for Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao? Their medicinal herbs are still stored in our shop. They will come back to get them later.¡± Sun Changan heard that Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao would come back and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°When they come back to get the medicinal herbs, remember to bring them to see me. I have something to discuss with them.¡± The Snake Swallow Stone was a treasure that could only be found by chance. Not only could it detoxify snake venom, but it also had a miraculous effect on the bites of other poisonous insects. If their pharmacy had Snake Swallow Stone, not only could it increase their profits, but their reputation could also rise to a higher level. He knew a little about Song Xiuyan¡¯s family situation. They needed money. As long as they were given some more silver, they would definitely sell the Snake Swallow Stone. Song Xiuyan first brought Ding Yao to buy clothes. He chose two sets of the best quality cotton dresses in the store. He bought two sets of outerwear and domestic wear, which cost more than 600 yuan. The prices were quite expensive, but Ding Yao was quite satisfied. After paying, they were about to leave when a beautiful middle-aged woman in her thirties suddenly blocked their way. Upon closer inspection, the woman¡¯s facial features looked somewhat similar to Song Xiuyan¡¯s. ¡°Song Xiuyan, so you guys are here.¡± As soon as the woman opened her mouth, Ding Yao reacted. The woman who spoke was Song Xiuyan¡¯s mother, Shen Lan. Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression instantly darkened when he saw Shen Lan. He pulled Ding Yao and was about to walk around and leave. Chapter 24 - Pity the Worlds Parents Chapter 24 Pity the World¡¯s Parents Shen Lan took a step forward and stopped Song Xiuyan. She said softly, ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to see me, and you don¡¯t want to talk to me either. But as your mother, I still have some things to say. It¡¯s already hard for you to raise your younger brothers and sisters. Why did you bring a mute girl home? Aren¡¯t you afraid of starving your younger brothers and sisters?¡± Song Xiuyan said coldly, ¡°I said that you don¡¯t need to worry about our matters.¡± Shen Lan was very hurt, but she still stubbornly blocked the way. ¡°I heard others say that you brought mute girl home. I didn¡¯t believe it at first, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be true. Song Xiuyan, what exactly are you thinking? Weren¡¯t you also dissatisfied with this marriage back then?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s voice became colder. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you again. From the moment you left the Song family, we had nothing to do with each other. I won¡¯t interfere in your matters, and you don¡¯t need to interfere in our matters.¡± With that said, Song Xiuyan pulled Ding Yao out of the clothing store. Shen Lan didn¡¯t give up and chased after him. ¡°Song Xiuyan, if that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll take Song Xue over. You¡¯ll also have less of a burden.¡± Song Xiuyan suddenly turned his head. His eyes were so angry that they looked like they were about to spit fire. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it! If you dare to have designs on Song Xue, Don¡¯t blame me for being impolite to you!¡± Shen Lan had abandoned Song Xiuyan, Song Yang, and the others and married someone else. It was only right for Song Xiuyan to hate her. It wasn¡¯t easy for Ding Yao to persuade him. Many people around her saw the situation and came over to join in the fun. She couldn¡¯t help but say a few more words, ¡°Since you¡¯ve already remarried, don¡¯t pretend to care about your abandoned children again.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t say that. How can parents not worry about their children? So, even though she knows that coming here isn¡¯t welcome, she still wants to persuade him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Women love their daughters. It¡¯s normal for them to want to bring their daughters to their side to take care of them. Song Xiuyan¡¯s attitude is too fierce. It looks like he wants to hit someone.¡± Shen Lan couldn¡¯t stop her tears from falling. She just couldn¡¯t bear for her youngest daughter, Song Xue, to starve with Song Xiuyan. That was why she wanted to take Song Xue to live with her. However, Song Xiuyan¡¯s attitude was too fierce. She had never seen Song Xiuyan like that. She was sad. Song Xiuyan pulled Ding Yao and walked quickly. He didn¡¯t stop until they walked out of a street. However, he still clenched his hands tightly. The anger in his eyes hadn¡¯t been completely extinguished. Ding Yao clapped her hands and comforted Song Xiuyan, ¡°Forget it. She¡¯s just worried about you guys.¡± Song Xiuyan realized that he had lost his composure. He slowly loosened his tightly clenched hands. There was a reason he hated Shen Lan so much. His father had just died of illness last year, and his mother had found a man with a bad reputation to marry. It was said that the man had previously committed a crime and had been in prison. He was a ruthless and fearless person. When Song Xiuyan knew that Shen Lan was going to marry such a man, he knelt at Shen Lan¡¯s door and begged her for a night. However, he was unable to change Shen Lan¡¯s mind. He also missed the opportunity to study because he had a fever after kneeling for a night. The biggest reason why Song Xiuyan hated Shen Lan was because of his previous life¡¯s experience. In his previous life, his second brother, Song Yang, was bitten to death by a poisonous snake. His third brother, Song Yi, committed suicide and died. His family was miserable. At that time, Shen Lan came back and took Song Xue away. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t object to Shen Lan taking Song Xue away because he had too many things to do at home. However, he had never expected that the man Shen Lan had married was a pervert! There was once when he was drunk and Song Xue was the only one at home. He had taken advantage of the alcohol to force Song Xue, who was only seven years old, into bed and raped her! When Shen Lan returned home and saw this scene, she took the kitchen knife and hacked the man to death. Then, she used the kitchen knife to kill herself. It was also because of his previous life¡¯s experience that Song Xiuyan hadn¡¯t been able to control himself when he heard that Shen Lan was going to take Song Xue Back. He wished he could give Shen Lan a few slaps. He wanted her to see what kind of man she had married! No matter what, Song Xiuyan wouldn¡¯t let Shen Lan take Song Xue away in this life! ¡°Let¡¯s go to school first.¡± Song Xiuyan suppressed his bad mood. Ding Yao felt a little baffled and asked Song Xiuyan by mouthing, ¡°What are you going to school for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to ask the principal to suspend my studies.¡± After Song Xiuyan said that, Ding Yao¡¯s mood was a little complicated. She understood the reason Song Xiuyan had to suspend his studies. There was a house full of younger siblings to support, so there was no extra money for him to study. Moreover, he had just found out that someone wanted to harm Song Yang. At this time, he had to stay by his younger brothers and sisters¡¯ side. Under such circumstances, he could only choose to suspend his studies. Chapter 25 - A Straight-A Student Chapter 25 A Straight-A Student But no matter which world it was, studying was always useful. If one wanted to change the current situation, one had to study. Thinking of this, Ding Yao tugged at Song Xiuyan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°You don¡¯t have to quit school. I¡¯ll bring the siblings up the mountain to dig for medicinal herbs to sell. I¡¯ll make sure they have enough to eat and clothes to keep them warm. You can also earn the fees for your studies.¡± Previously, Song Xiuyan had already delayed for a year because of Shen Lan¡¯s matter. If he were to quit school¡­ Song Xiuyan stared fixedly at Ding Yao, his cold eyes sparkled. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to quit school? You want me to take the college entrance exam?¡± As his wife, she definitely wanted her husband to rise in the world. Ding Yao smiled and shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t think too much about it. I just didn¡¯t want to see your talent buried.¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s study room had all kinds of books. Every book was old. It could be seen how diligent he was and how much he loved reading. Song Xiuyan¡¯s calligraphy and painting were so outstanding, and his notes were dense. It could be seen that he had ambitions and dreams. Hearing Ding Yao praise him for his talent, Song Xiuyan¡¯s mood was slightly better. He promised Ding Yao, ¡°My talent definitely won¡¯t be buried.¡± In his previous life, he could walk out of the mountain and become a favored son of heaven. Of course, in this life, he could as well. He explained to Ding Yao, ¡°I¡¯m just taking a break from school and staying at home. But as long as I pay the tuition fee and explain it to the principal, I can keep my enrollment status. At that time, I can still take the college entrance exam.¡± Song Xiuyan had thought about it all night last night. The experiences of his previous life had once again crossed his mind. Those people who wanted to harm his family were very likely related to his background. However, Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t know much about his background. He only knew that his family had moved from the capital to the Song family village. His great-grandfather must have been injured, and his health hadn¡¯t been good, so he had passed away very early. His grandfather was brilliant and knew everything. Such a person could be very powerful, whether in government or business. However, his grandfather preferred calligraphy and painting, and wasn¡¯t interested in high-ranking officials and money. Under his grandfather¡¯s edification, Song Xiuyan was even better than his grandfather. Song Xiuyan¡¯s father was a rough man. He didn¡¯t like to study and only wanted to practice martial arts. He placed all his hopes on Song Xiuyan and asked him to study hard and stand out, because in Song Xiuyan¡¯s generation, the money left by his great-grandfather had already been spent. Song Xiuyan¡¯s father had a deep experience of the life of a poor family, which was why he had such a request for Song Xiuyan. The people who wanted to harm Song Xiuyan¡¯s family had been hiding in the dark, which was why Song Xiuyan hadn¡¯t noticed them. This also meant that those people had scruples. He didn¡¯t know exactly what they were worried about, but he was sure that those people didn¡¯t want him to find out, perhaps they were afraid that he would discover them and investigate further, which would expose some secret. Song Xiuyan¡¯s family had lived in the Song family village for three generations without any accidents, but it had happened to him. There was only one reason for Song Xiuyan¡¯s analysis, and that was that he wanted to take the college entrance exam and try to leave the mountain. Those people seemed to be afraid that he would leave this place, so as long as he hadn¡¯t walked out of the mountain, those people might get ruthless. Therefore, what he needed to do now was to suspend his studies and create the illusion that he had given up on walking out of the mountain. He wanted to see if he could calm those people down first. Ding Yao used her mouth to ask Song Xiuyan, ¡°You don¡¯t need to go to school to listen to the teacher¡¯s lecture, but you can do well in the exam?¡± Song Xiuyan nodded and showed an extremely confident expression. Ding Yao was relieved and giggled. ¡°I see, you¡¯re a straight a student!¡± Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t understand what Ding Yao meant by straight a student because he had never heard of the phrase ¡°straight a student¡±. Ding Yao also smiled and didn¡¯t explain to Song Xiuyan. After leaving the school, Song Xiuyan brought Ding Yao to buy a bag of rice and a piece of pork. He also followed bought a lot of snacks for his younger brothers and sister. He had bought all the things he wanted to buy. The two of them then went to the One Side Sky Pharmacy to get the medicinal herbs. When they arrived at the One Side Sky Pharmacy, they were informed by the shop assistant that the manager of the store wanted to see them. After meeting them, Sun Changan went straight to the point and said that he wanted to buy the Snake Swallow Stone from Ding Yao. Ding Yao wasn¡¯t willing to sell it. She shook her head and refused, then pulled Song Xiuyan to leave. Sun Changan quickly offered a high price. ¡°Fifty thousand yuan! Are you selling it or not?¡± Ding Yao gestured with her hands. ¡°I¡¯m not selling it for 500,000 yuan!¡± Song Xiuyan relayed Ding Yao¡¯s intentions to Sun Changan. Sun Changan was unwilling to accept it. ¡°If you think the price is too low, you can still raise the price.¡± But no matter what Sun Changan said, Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao were unmoved. They took the medicine bag and walked out of the pharmacy. Chapter 26 - A Jinx Chapter 26 A Jinx Ding Yao was very satisfied with Song Xiuyan¡¯s performance. He wasn¡¯t greedy for money, nor did he hesitate at all. He approved of her decision. They carried big and small bags and went to the agreed place to take the ox-cart. The ox-cart was already waiting at the intersection. Many villagers were already sitting on the ox-cart, whispering about something. When they saw Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao, they quickly shut up. Ding Yao had a premonition. The content of these people¡¯s gossip definitely had something to do with her. A woman saw that Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao had bought so many things, she revealed a pained expression. ¡°Song Xiuyan, are you afraid that you¡¯ll starve your little wife? You¡¯re buying rice and meat. I heard that you¡¯re going to town to help people write letters, and you¡¯re also going to sell calligraphy and paintings?¡± After saying this, another woman added, ¡°Although selling calligraphy and paintings to people to write letters can make money, you still have to take care of your body.¡± Ding Yao heard their words and felt that it was quite strange. Although these women sounded like they were pining for Song Xiuyan, in reality, they were clearly blaming her for coming to the Song family and increasing Song Xiuyan¡¯s burden. However, had she ever offended these women? Why did they all dislike her? Song Xiuyan explained, ¡°I didn¡¯t do any work today. The money I used to buy things was from medicinal herbs I found on the mountain. Ding Yao knows a lot of medicinal herbs.¡± He seized the opportunity to emphasize Ding Yao¡¯s abilities. The woman who spoke at the beginning sighed. So what if she knew medicinal herbs? With Ding Yao¡¯s current state, she would be a disaster if she stayed at home. The ox-cart was bumpy. The villagers bought enough things and chatted and gossiped about their neighbors along the way. When the ox-cart arrived, they saw Song Yu and Song Xue looking at the door from afar. When they saw the ox-cart, they quickly ran over to take the food ¡°Xiuyan, sister Ding Yao,¡± Song Yu and Song Xue called out listlessly Ding Yao felt a little baffled. She thought that Song Yu and Song Xue would jump up in joy when they saw so many delicious food. Why didn¡¯t they look happy at all? Why did they look so unhappy? After returning home, Song Xiuyan asked Song Yu and Song Xue, ¡°What happened?¡± Song Yu and Song Xue didn¡¯t say anything. They both turned their heads to look at Song Yang, who was chopping wood in the courtyard. Song Xiuyan simply asked Song Yang, ¡°Song Yang, tell me, what exactly happened?¡± Song Yang said, ¡°Xiuyan, it¡¯s nothing big. It¡¯s just that some people¡¯s words are unpleasant to hear. Don¡¯t bother with them. No one will say anything in two days.¡± Ding Yao thought for a moment. Song Xiuyan¡¯s family had quite a good reputation in the Song family village. It was impossible for those people to gossip about them. Did that mean that they were talking about her? Seeing that Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t continue asking, Ding Yao wanted to figure out what was going on. She gestured with her hands. ¡°I want to know what the people in the village said. If they¡¯re coming for me, I need to know what they said. Are they deliberately making things up or what they saw? I can¡¯t be gossiped behind my back for no reason.¡± Seeing this, Song Xiuyan could only say to Song Xue, ¡°Repeat what those people said. I want to hear it.¡± Song Xue was a little hesitant, but Ding Yao looked indifferent. She waved her hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay if Song Xue doesn¡¯t want to talk about it. I¡¯ll go out and ask someone.¡± There was no shortage of gossipers in the village. If something happened to a family, in less than half an hour, the entire village would know. Song Xue understood Ding Yao¡¯s actions and pulled her back. ¡°Sister Ding Yao, don¡¯t go out. If you want to know what they said, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± It turned out that after Zhao Caiyun returned home feeling itchy and uncomfortable, she still felt itchy even after washing herself from top to bottom. She sobbed and told her mother about the scene. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother was also a fierce village woman. She was very unreasonable. She directly stood in front of the front door of the Song family and cursed loudly, saying that the Song family had brought an unlucky person into the village. She said that Caiyun had only been sitting with that jinx, Ding Yao, and she had been possessed. Her entire body was inexplicably itchy. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother¡¯s scolding spread like wildfire. After a whole morning, the content of the rumor became more and more vivid. Ding Yao had turned from an unlucky person to a jinx. They even said that she had killed her own grandfather. Previously, after Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao were engaged, the Song family had extreme bad luck. First, Song Xiuyan¡¯s grandfather had died, then his father had died of illness, his third brother Song Yi had his leg broken, his mother remarried, and yesterday, Song Yang had been bitten by a poisonous snake. Song Xiuyan himself was even more unlucky. He should have taken the college entrance examination two years ago, but every time, he was delayed by various matters. Chapter 27 - Lucky Star, Not a Jinx Chapter 27 Lucky Star, Not a Jinx Song Xue recounted the rumors in the village. Song Yang spat on the side and said, ¡°Sister Ding Yao, you don¡¯t have to care about them!¡± Song Xue also quickly expressed her stance. ¡°Yes, Sister Ding Yao, my second brother is right. Just ignore them. You are our family¡¯s lucky star, not the jinx they said you were. It was you, sister Ding Yao, who saved my second brother and even found reishi mushroom.¡± Song Yu also explained, ¡°Sister Ding Yao, we aren¡¯t unhappy because we believe those words and have a problem with you. We are afraid that you will be sad when you hear what they say.¡± Ding Yao looked at Song Xiuyan in shock and exclaimed, ¡°Did these things really happen after we were engaged?¡± She herself didn¡¯t believe in the jinxing. She knew that Song Yang had been bitten by a poisonous snake and that Song Yi had been pushed by someone behind her back. However, she felt that things weren¡¯t that simple. ¡°Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild. These things have nothing to do with you.¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s eyes were filled with anger. ¡°These words were made up by Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother. I¡¯ll go find her!¡± Song Yang hurriedly took a step forward and stopped Song Xiuyan. ¡°Xiuyan, don¡¯t go. I went to confront Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother. She denied that those words were said by her. She only admitted that she called sister Ding Yao an jinx. Then, I went to ask Ah-jie. Ah-jie said that it was spread from the town. The source is in the town. I don¡¯t know who was the one who made up this nonsense.¡± Ding Yao and Song Xiuyan looked at each other and thought about the behavior of those people on the ox-cart¡­ maybe this nonsense really came from the town. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother didn¡¯t go to the town today. Unless, she had arranged these words in advance and told it to another person before letting him spread it out. The purpose of her doing this was to get Song Xiuyan to divorce Ding Yao, and then marry Zhao Caiyun? This assumption was a little far-fetched because Song Xiuyan¡¯s family situation was too terrible. From Zhao Caiyun¡¯s brother, Zhao Dashan¡¯s attitude, the Zhao family should be against Zhao Caiyun liking Song Xiuyan. Ding Yao washed her face and entered the room. Song Xiuyan followed in to enlighten her. ¡°You said it yourself. There¡¯s no need to be unhappy because of other people¡¯s words.¡± Ding Yao smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not unhappy.¡± Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t believe her and continued to explain, ¡°There¡¯s nothing going on between Zhao Caiyun and me. We didn¡¯t even talk much. It was all her wishful thinking.¡± Ding Yao turned to look at Song Xiuyan. His figure was tall and straight. Even though he was wearing a rough black shirt, he looked very good. He had wide shoulders and a narrow waist. His neck was long and slender. He was only twenty years old, but he shouldered a lot of responsibilities that he shouldn¡¯t bear at his age. Every day, he was very serious. If this face had a smile, who knew how many little girls would be charmed by it. A good-looking man would have many pursuers. Ding Yao gestured and told Song Xiuyan, ¡°I believe your words. I also know that Zhao Caiyun is just delusional.¡± It was very obvious that a girl like Zhao Caiyun wasn¡¯t worthy of Song Xiuyan. Song Xiuyan heaved a sigh of relief. Ding Yao looked at him and gestured seriously, ¡°Do you believe that I¡¯m ajJinx? Are you afraid that I¡¯ll implicate all of you?¡± Song Xiuyan quickly shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. You saved Song Yang¡¯s life. Last night was the happiest night our family has had in years. Even Song Yi revealed a long-lost smile. What Jinx? You¡¯re clearly our family¡¯s lucky star.¡± Not to mention that Song Xiuyan knew that Song Yang was bitten by a poisonous snake because of someone else. Even if no one harmed Song Yang, he didn¡¯t believe that Ding Yao was a jinx. In his previous life, Ding Yao had died a long time ago. His family¡¯s unfortunate events still happened one after another. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t believe that he jinxed his parents. How could he believe that Ding Yao was a jinx? Ding Yao asked Song Xiuyan very seriously, ¡°You said that your family has no enemies, and your second brother hasn¡¯t offended anyone. Then, have you ever suspected that the people who harmed your second brother, Song Yang, might be related to me?¡± Song Xiuyan shook his head and answered affirmatively, ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± Those people must be his family¡¯s enemies. In his previous life, his family had been wiped out by those people, and everyone had died at their hands. After a pause, Song Xiuyan still told Ding Yao, ¡°I suspect that the reason those people attacked my family has something to do with my background. However, I know very little about my background. We have implicated you.¡± Chapter 28 - Protect Me Chapter 28 Protect Me Ding Yao smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of being implicated. Didn¡¯t you say that you can protect me?¡± ¡°Yes, I can definitely protect you!¡± Song Xiuyan also smiled. This was the second time Ding Yao had seen Song Xiuyan smile. His smile was really beautiful. After lunch, Song Xiuyan followed Ding Yao¡¯s instructions and baked the medicinal ingredients in a pot to dry them. Then, he crushed them into powder. There were no modern high-tech tools in this world. It all depended on manual labor and manpower. Ding Yao thought that grinding would be more difficult, but she didn¡¯t expect Song Xiuyan and Song Yang, two martial arts experts, to finish it in a short while. Ding Yao divided the medicinal powder into ten portions and used one portion a day. The medicine she was going to use today was made into a paste by Ding Yao using spiritual spring water. Then, she wrapped it in cotton cloth for use. After she was done, Ding Yao went to Song Yi¡¯s room, She massaged his left leg. The others looked on eagerly. Song Yu couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Sister Ding Yao, do you also know acupuncture points?¡± The places where Ding Yao increased her gravity were all important acupuncture points. Currently, Song Yi could only feel pain from one of the acupuncture points. Upon hearing Song Yu¡¯s words, Ding Yao nodded, then, she turned to her second brother, Song Yang, and instructed, ¡°Steam the medicine in a pot until it¡¯s slightly hot.¡± After massaging his left leg, he would apply the medicine. The effect would double. If this persisted for a few days like this, she would be able to apply acupuncture after a period of time. Song Xiuyan translated Ding Yao¡¯s words to Song Yu. After listening to her, Song Yu couldn¡¯t take her eyes off Ding Yao¡¯s hands. Ding Yao¡¯s body had always been in a state of malnutrition, and the strength of her hands was very small. However, every massage required sufficient strength to be effective. After a few minutes, Ding Yao¡¯s forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat. Song Xiuyan naturally took out a handkerchief to wipe Ding Yao¡¯s sweat. Ding Yao¡¯s expression was very calm, and she didn¡¯t stop what she was doing because of Song Xiuyan¡¯s actions. When Song Yu saw this scene, she had an idea. ¡°Sister Ding Yao, can you teach me this massage technique? If I can learn it, you won¡¯t have to work so hard.¡± Ding Yao had just finished massaging. Hearing Song Yu¡¯s words, she smiled and opened her mouth. ¡°Sure, as long as you¡¯re willing to learn it.¡± Hearing Song Xiuyan¡¯s words, Song Yu was so happy that she almost jumped up. ¡°Sister Ding Yao, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely study hard. I¡¯m actually not stupid. The most important thing is that I know these acupuncture points.¡± The Song family¡¯s children had been practicing martial arts since young. Naturally, they had to know the human acupuncture points. Ding Yao smiled slightly, moved aside, and mouthed, ¡°Okay, then try it. I¡¯ll see how much you remember.¡± She had massaged him three times just now. Song Yu had been watching from the side, so he could probably remember it. Song Yu didn¡¯t refuse. He gently pressed Song Yi¡¯s left leg according to the way he had seen. At the beginning, he didn¡¯t dare to use too much force, since he was afraid that he would hurt Song Yi¡¯s leg. After a few times, his movements became a little more familiar¡­ Ding Yao was very satisfied, then, she looked at Song Xiuyan and mouthed, ¡°In a while, I will tell you some important points to note. Write it down and you can officially let Song Yu learn it tomorrow.¡± Song Xiuyan replied, ¡°Alright, I will teach you how to write later. Write down these points to note today. You can give it to Song Yu after you finish writing it down.¡± Ding Yao was stunned? What? Acupoints, strength, etc¡­ which acupoints were lighter, which were heavier, how deep they had to be pressed, and where they had to be wiped, would definitely be more than 20 words! Song Xiuyan was trying to trick her! As they were talking, Song Yang brought the steamed medicine bag over. Ding Yao applied the medicine bag on Song Yi¡¯s leg and tied it with hemp thread. Once the medicine bag was cold, it could be untied. A medicine bag could be used three times, once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once in the evening. As soon as she was done, Song Xiuyan pulled Ding Yao into the study to write. Don The next morning, when Ding Yao massaged Song Yi¡¯s leg, Song Yi cried out in surprise, ¡°Ah, I can feel this too! It¡¯s painful!¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s eyes lit up. Was the effect so obvious? The other siblings were also delighted. Song Yu was eager to give it a try. Last night, he had memorized the notes that Ding Yao had given him and even experimented on Song Yang¡¯s leg. The notes were densely packed with more than 500 words. Ding Yao had almost gone crazy last night. Fortunately, Song Xiuyan only asked Ding Yao to copy it once and didn¡¯t test her. When he saw Ding Yao¡¯s words for the first time last night, Song Xiuyan asked in surprise, ¡°Did you practice writing before?¡± Chapter 29 - Warning Chapter 29 Warning Ding Yao was speechless. In order to prevent Song Xiuyan from finding out, she had tried her best to make her handwriting uglier. However, she didn¡¯t expect Song Xiuyan to still sense that something was wrong, so she could only make up a lie. ¡°When my grandfather was still alive, he taught me how to write. Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t cherish the opportunity. I always thought that there would be more time in the future, so it was okay if I wanted to slack off and learn slowly.¡± Upon hearing that, Song Xiuyan immediately said, ¡°That¡¯s because you were young and playful. In addition, you didn¡¯t have a strict teacher to discipline you. In the future, you have to be more self-aware. I might be more strict than your grandfather when I teach you.¡± Ding Ya was a little regretful about her explanation! She could foresee how miserable her life would be in the future! After breakfast, Song Xiuyan told Song Yang not to go out and to look after his younger siblings at home. He wanted to go with Ding Yao to the mountain to dig for medicinal herbs to cure roundworms. When Song Yu heard this, he also wanted to go with Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao. He had just given Song Yi a massage and had even received Song Yi¡¯s praise. Song Yu was extremely excited. When he thought about how Song Yi¡¯s left leg would be healed in the future, and he would also have a part to play in it, he was in a good mood. It turned out that being a doctor and saving people had such a great sense of achievement. This gave Song Yu a bold idea. He wanted to be Ding Yao¡¯s disciple. He knew that the first step in curing people was to recognize medicinal herbs. Therefore, he wanted to follow her up the mountain to see if he had any talent. Ding Yao promised Song Yu. She had noticed Song Yu¡¯s dedication to medicine a long time ago and guessed what Song Yu was thinking. If Song Yu was really interested in medicine and had talent, then it would be good for her to take in a disciple. They didn¡¯t need to climb too far up the mountain for the medicinal herbs needed to cure roundworms. They were on the nearby mountain. Yesterday, Ding Yao asked Song Xiuyan to ask the staff of the pharmacy. He knew that the doctors here used poisonous medicinal herbs to directly poison roundworms to death. This kind of treatment method was still bearable for adults, but it wasn¡¯t suitable for children. Children were weak, and it was easy to treat them if they weren¡¯t careful. Ding Yao used the method from her world. There were medicinal herbs that could paralyze the roundworm. After the roundworm was drugged, it would be excreted through the feces. This method couldn¡¯t only effectively remove the roundworm in the body, it could also reduce the damage to the human body to the minimum. Ding Yao estimated that she would need three kinds of medicinal herbs. They could see them everywhere on the mountain nearby. They dug up a lot because Ding Yao said to store them first. They would eventually use them in the future. Ding Yao had observed that most of the children in Song family village had roundworm disease. This was what was said earlier. Children didn¡¯t pay attention to hygiene when eating and didn¡¯t like to wash their hands. As a result, the roundworm spread from one person to another. Song Yu had been very excited during the process of picking herbs. He had memorized the appearance, characteristics, and growing environment of each herb. He even begged Ding Yao to write down the effects and taboos of each herb to him. Ding Yao agreed on the surface, but she felt bitter in her heart because she knew that if she agreed, it meant that she would have to copy a lot of rare words at night. Song Xiuyan said that the test would start tonight, but it wasn¡¯t very difficult for Ding Yao. The characters in this world had some similarities with the characters in her previous world, so it was easier to get familiar with them than imagined. At noon, the three returned with a full load. There were villagers on both sides of the village road enjoying the shade. When they saw them, they pointed at them and whispered to each other. Song Xiuyan stopped in his tracks. He said to the people on both sides of the road, ¡°I have Something to tell you. Ding Yao was brought home voluntarily by me. She¡¯s my wife and my family. So I don¡¯t want to hear you say that she¡¯s not good, that she¡¯s a jinx, and so on and so forth. Whether Ding Yao is good or bad, it doesn¡¯t affect you. I don¡¯t understand why you would vilify a little girl so viciously. What benefits can you get from it? If I hear you say something bad about Ding Yao again, don¡¯t blame me for being rude!¡±After saying that, Song Xiuyan continued to walk. The villagers looked at each other and were too embarrassed to refute. Some of them even felt that their actions were indeed wrong and lowered their heads in shame. Song Xiuyan¡¯s words made sense. No matter how evil Ding Yao was, Song Xiuyan and the others didn¡¯t mind her, so why should they meddle in other people¡¯s business? Moreover¡­ Ding Yao was a pitiful girl. If Song Xiuyan chased her away because of their words, it would be a huge sin. Most importantly, the village chief of the Song family village valued Song Xiuyan very much. If Song Xiuyan went to the village chief and complained, they wouldn¡¯t be able to get anything Chapter 30 - Who Spread the Rumors Chapter 30 Who Spread the Rumors Song Xiuyan was puzzled. who spread the rumors? And what was the purpose? At first, he thought that it was Zhao Caiyun or Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother. However, Zhao Caiyun came knocking on their door early this morning and swore in front of him that she didn¡¯t spread the rumors, and neither did her mother. As she spoke, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s expression was downcast as she wrapped herself up tightly. Her body itched for the entire night and even taking a bath was useless. It wasn¡¯t easy for her to get up in the morning and her body was finally no longer itchy. However, there were scratches all over her body. Everyone in her family said that Zhao Caiyun had deserved it. They said that she had a potty mouth and provoked Ding Yao. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t like her because of the rumors. In order to not be regarded as a vicious girl in Song Xiuyan¡¯s heart, Zhao Caiyun came to Song Xiuyan early in the morning to explain. She swore that she didn¡¯t do it. But if it wasn¡¯t Zhao Caiyun, then who was it? Could it be the people who harmed his second brother, Song Yang? Those people might be afraid that Ding Yao was too smart. They also knew that Ding Yao was treating Song Yi¡¯s leg injury. They didn¡¯t want the Song family to deal with Ding Yao because Ding Yao¡¯s relationship with them was getting better and better? They wanted Ding Yao to leave their house? Ding Yao was also thinking about the problem Song Xiuyan was thinking about. Ding Yao¡¯s thoughts were even clearer than Song Xiuyan¡¯s. Those people who spread rumors were trying to get Song Xiuyan to divorce her and not leave her at home. Could it be the person who pushed her off the cliff? That person must have heard the news that she didn¡¯t die, but he didn¡¯t follow up after hearing the news. It could only mean that she was staying at Song Xiuyan¡¯s house, which made that person worry. Song Xiuyan¡¯s family were all martial artists. Ding Yao had already seen Song Xiuyan and Song Yang¡¯s abilities. They could easily crush medicinal herbs into powder, which showed that their martial arts skills were very high. When he was almost at the door of his house, Song Xiuyan saw the village chief and his wife walking over. The village chief¡¯s wife was carrying a bamboo basket in her hand, which must have contained eggs and other things. In the Song family village, only the village chief¡¯s family treated Song Xiuyan and the others well. Song Xiuyan¡¯s mother, Shen Lan, wasn¡¯t a good person. She liked to show off and was snobbish. When Song Xiuyan¡¯s family was rich, they looked down on their neighbors. They disdained to interact with them for fear of being taken advantage of. When Song Xiuyan¡¯s family declined, the neighbors naturally looked on coldly. However, the village chief¡¯s family was different. The village chief¡¯s father had a very good relationship with Song Xiuyan¡¯s grandfather. Previously, he had also benefited from Song Xiuyan¡¯s family. The village chief and Song Xiuyan¡¯s father also had a good relationship. The village chief had a good character and was someone who cherished old friendships. Those who loved talents often praised Song Xiuyan¡¯s talent and lamented that he had a hard life. Later, after Song Xiuyan¡¯s family had an accident, the village chief often asked the village chief¡¯s wife to send food over. However, this time, the two of them came together, so they definitely had something to say. Song Xiuyan hurriedly took a few steps forward. ¡°Uncle Lin, Mrs. Lin, why are you here?¡± Village chief Lin Shenghai laughed happily. However, his eyes kept glancing at Ding Yao. ¡°I heard that you picked up a wife and brought her home. Didn¡¯t you tell me? I only found out about it when other people spread the news about your family.¡± Mrs. Lin secretly tugged at Lin Shenghai¡¯s clothes. She was worried that he would spill the beans and gossip about those people, hurting Ding Yao¡¯s feelings. Mrs. Lin walked to Ding Yao¡¯s side, then she affectionately took Ding Yao¡¯s hand. ¡°This little girl is really pretty. With this new outfit, she doesn¡¯t look like a country girl at all. She looks like a pretty girl from the city.¡± After she finished speaking, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± She asked again, ¡°What¡¯s your name? How old are you this year?¡± Ding Yao smiled and then pointed at Song Xiuyan, motioning for him to answer. Ding Yao could tell that Mrs. Lin didn¡¯t have any bad intentions. She probably forgot that she was mute and casually asked. Song Xiuyan answered from the side, ¡°Auntie Lin, her name is Ding Yao. She¡¯s eighteen this year.¡± Auntie Lin patted her forehead, then she apologized embarrassedly, ¡°Gee, look at my memory. I¡¯m sorry, I forgot¡­ Ding Yao? That¡¯s such a nice name. If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll call you Yaoyao from now on.¡± Ding Yao smiled and nodded. Seeing that Ding Yao was so obedient, Mrs. Lin caressed Ding Yao¡¯s injured forehead lovingly. ¡°You look even better when you smile. Your two dimples look so cute. If you grow older and your body heals, you and Song Xiuyan will look like a match made in heaven.¡± Chapter 31 - Insect Repellent Chapter 31 Insect Repellent Ding Yao¡¯s eyes curved into a smile. No one didn¡¯t like to hear compliments about themselves. She also liked to hear others say that she was beautiful. Song Xiuyan blushed at Mrs. Lin¡¯s words and hurriedly invited village chief Lin Shenghai and village chief¡¯s wife, Mrs. Lin, into the house. Mrs. Lin explained from behind, ¡°I heard about your matter yesterday and also heard that Song Yang was bitten by a cobra. Later, he was saved by Yaoyao. We originally wanted to come over to take a look yesterday, but Mr. Lin went to town and my daughter-in-law had just given birth and couldn¡¯t leave, so we delayed until now.¡± After entering the house, Mrs. Lin took out the things in the basket. There were eggs, rice, white noodles, and even ripe wild bananas. Mrs. Lin smiled and said, ¡°We don¡¯t have anything to send. We can only send some food over. Your family will have one more person in the future. You have to plan everything well. Don¡¯t be willful, understand?¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s eyes were filled with gratitude, but he was used to keeping his emotions in check. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lin. Thank you, Mrs. Lin. Your family isn¡¯t rich either. Don¡¯t send anything over in the future. I have a way to support my younger brothers and sisters.¡± Village chief Lin Shenghai waved his hand. ¡°Why are you being so polite with me? I know you¡¯re smart. Since you dare to bring the Ding family¡¯s girl back, you must have a way to support her. Ding Yao, you can stay in the Song family at ease.¡± Song Xiuyan took the opportunity to say, ¡°Ding Yao is willing to stay, but the rumors outside are really unpleasant to hear.¡± Speaking of this, Lin Shenghai was also very angry. ¡°I came here today because of the rumors. Don¡¯t worry. After today, I guarantee that no one will spread those rumors again.¡± With the village chief¡¯s guarantee, Song Xiuyan was relieved. Mrs. Lin saw Ding Yao put the medicinal herbs that she had brought back into the yard to dry. She asked curiously, ¡°What are these things for?¡± Song Yu rushed to answer, ¡°These are medicinal herbs that can cure roundworms!¡±After saying that, he hoped that the village chief and the village chief¡¯s wife could praise Ding Yao. Unexpectedly, the village chief and the village chief¡¯s wife had worried looks on their faces. Mrs. Lin was straightforward and said directly, ¡°Yaoyao, these medicinal herbs that can remove roundworms are usually very toxic. Even the doctors in the town are very careful when prescribing medicine to cure roundworms. Are you sure you can do it yourself?¡± The village chief, Lin Shenghai, was also worried. ¡°Why don¡¯t I bring these medicinal herbs to the town tomorrow and let the doctors in the One Side Sky pharmacy take a look at them. Then, we can decide whether to give them to Song Yu and Song Xue.¡± Ding Yao waved her hand to indicate that there was no need to ask. Then, she went on and on. The medicinal herbs she used were different from the ones used by the doctors in the town. If she asked, she would be told that her medicinal herbs couldn¡¯t be used. Song Xiuyan translated Ding Yao¡¯s words for everyone to hear. ¡°Ding Yao just said that this medicinal formula for curing roundworms was left behind by her grandfather. Her grandfather had previously given it to the children in her village. It was very safe and the effect was very good. The medicine used by the doctors in the town to cure roundworms was poisonous. It would poison the worms and also harm the children¡¯s bodies. Ding Yao¡¯s medicinal formula only has the effect of numbing the worms. The harm to the human body was almost zero.¡± Ding Yao had already told this to Song Xiuyan and his sister once. At first, Song Xiuyan was a little worried, but the confidence in Ding Yao¡¯s eyes moved him. Ding Yao also said that if he was worried, she would drink a bowl of medicine when the medicine was ready. W When village chief Lin Shenghai and village chief¡¯s wife left, they were still a little worried. They worriedly urged Song Xiuyan, ¡°Don¡¯t drink so much at first. Try drinking one mouthful first. If there¡¯s nothing wrong, the next person will drink it.¡± Ding Yao understood Mrs. Lin¡¯s concern, but it wasn¡¯t good to let anyone drink first. Therefore, Ding Yao looked at Song Xiuyan and said, ¡°If you trust me, then listen to me. If you don¡¯t, then don¡¯t drink it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±Song Xiuyan, Song Yu, and the others had already made up their minds. Seeing that Song Xiuyan and the others trusted her unconditionally, Ding Yao smiled. She looked at Song Xiuyan and said, ¡°I¡¯ll drink it first thing in the morning.¡± She said, ¡°Alright. Tomorrow morning, decoct the medicine and drink it on an empty stomach. Then, don¡¯t eat meat, fish, oily, and spicy food. Give up all stimulating food. Then, drink it again the next morning. The roundworm will be expelled from your body and you won¡¯t have to worry about the roundworm anymore.¡± The next morning, Ding Yao prepared the medicinal ingredients and personally made three bowls of soup on the stove. She also added a lot of sugar. She also wanted to get rid of the roundworm all at once. Song Xue looked at the black medicine and asked worriedly, ¡°Sister Ding Yao, is this medicine very bitter?¡± Chapter 32 - She Also Knew How to Weave Chapter 32 She Also Knew How to Weave Ding Yao shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not bitter.¡± Song Xue asked, ¡°Then why did you put sugar in it?¡± Sugar was so expensive! Ding Yao gestured with her hands. ¡°It¡¯s because if we put sugar in it, the roundworms in our stomachs will fight to eat the medicine.¡± Song Xue came to a sudden realization. ¡°I understand now. No wonder we had to drink it on an empty stomach. When the roundworms are full from drinking the medicine, they won¡¯t snatch the food we eat anymore and won¡¯t dilute the effects of the medicine.¡± Ding Yao gave Song Xue a thumbs up. Why were the children of the Song family so smart?! Song Yu wasn¡¯t willing to be outdone. ¡°Sister Ding Yao, I also understand why we have to stop eating meat and fats after drinking the medicine. Because the roundworm is just like a human. When it sees something good, it will continue to eat it no matter how full it is, right?¡± Song Yu¡¯s analogy made everyone laugh out loud. Ding Yao even gave Song Yu two exaggerated thumbs up. Song Yu was a little embarrassed from being praised, so she took the lead and drank the medicine. After drinking the medicine, Song Xue touched her stomach and was a little worried. ¡°Sister Ding Yao, do you think the roundworm will be in a lot of pain after drinking the medicine? Will it jump up and down in my stomach and make us roll around in pain?¡± Ding Yao smiled and shook her head. Song Xiuyan knocked Song Xue¡¯s head. ¡°You have a lot of problems. Listen carefully. Ding Yao said that the roundworm will be paralyzed after drinking the medicine, which means that the whole body will be weak. The roundworm will be weak, so how can it jump up and down in your stomach?¡± Hearing this, Song Xue was relieved. She happily ran to the backyard to pick vegetables. Ding Yao had nothing to do in the yard, so she went with her. Coincidentally, she saw Zhao Caiyun standing outside the wall and waving at Song Xue. ¡°Song Xue, come and find me after you finish your breakfast. I¡¯ll teach you a new method of weaving. I just learned it, and the new method will sell for a higher price.¡± A flash of joy appeared on Song Xue¡¯s face, but it quickly disappeared. She waved at Zhao Caiyun and said, ¡°I¡¯m not going. I don¡¯t want to learn anymore.¡± Song Xue wouldn¡¯t have any objections against Zhao Caiyun just because she liked Song Xiuyan. However, Zhao Caiyun shouldn¡¯t have any enmity towards Ding Yao. She should not have targeted Ding Yao. She had even seized on the fact that Ding Yao couldn¡¯t speak and wanted to embarrass her. Furthermore, the rumors in the village were more or less related to Zhao Caiyun. When Song Xue thought of this, she became very angry and didn¡¯t want to play with Zhao Caiyun anymore. When Zhao Caiyun saw Song Xue¡¯s expression, she explained helplessly, ¡°The rumors in the village really have nothing to do with me.¡± Song Xue didn¡¯t reply. Zhao Caiyunwas also angry. She sneered. ¡°Fine, you said it yourself. Don¡¯t expect me to teach you how to embroider, how to weave ropes to earn money, and how to make new shoes!¡± After saying that, Zhao Caiyun left in a huff. Song Xue was a little down. She liked to embroider. Zhao Caiyun was the best embroider in the village. When others asked Zhao Caiyun for advice, Zhao Caiyun would always be indifferent. Only to her, she was patient and didn¡¯t hold back. She also liked to weave beautiful ropes. The ropes hanging on the Song family¡¯s brothers were all made by Song Xue. It gave them a sense of accomplishment. Moreover, weaved ropes could be sold for money to support the family. These were all taught to her by Zhao Caiyun. It was also Zhao Caiyun who had brought them to the town to help her sell them for money. Although Song Xue felt that it was a pity, there was nothing more important than her sister-in-law. Ding Yao picked up the ropes on Song Xue¡¯s clothes and took a look. Then, she used her hand to gesture. She knew how to weave too. In her previous life, there were all kinds of teaching videos on the internet. As she watched them, she also remembered many of them. Song Xue understood Ding Yao¡¯s meaning and was pleasantly surprised. ¡°Really?¡± Ding Yao nodded. Although Zhao Caiyun was very good at weaving, her character wasn¡¯t good. It was a good thing that Song Xue didn¡¯t play with her. She didn¡¯t want her to be led astray. After picking the vegetables, Song Xue couldn¡¯t wait to shout, ¡°Fourth brother, hurry up and wash the vegetables. I want to learn how to weave ropes from sister Ding Yao!¡± Early in the morning, Song Xue and Ding Yao stayed in their rooms. They couldn¡¯t bear to come out even after breakfast was ready. The people outside could hear Song Xue exclaiming from time to time, ¡°Wow, this method of weaving is too beautiful! I want to learn it! Wow! This method of weaving is also very beautiful! It can even be mixed in colors and added with beads¡­ This is the first time I know there are so many methods of weaving ropes¡­¡± After breakfast, Ding Yao helped massage Song Yi and apply medicine. Then, she was pulled over to weave ropes by the excited Song Xue. Song Xiuyan and Song Yang hid in the study to discuss things. Chapter 33 - Take You Home Chapter 33 Take You Home Nothing major had happened in the past few days. Their tense nerves relaxed a little, and Song Xiuyan thought of making a trip to the county town. The county town was a bigger place than the town. There would be more variety of things to buy and sell, and there would be more opportunities to make money. At this moment, Song Yu knocked on the door of the study and said anxiously, ¡°Xiuyan, second brother, come out quickly. I saw sister Ding Yao¡¯s stepmother walking toward our house with a man.¡± When Song Xiuyan and Song Yang came out, Ding Yao also came out of the room. Wang Hongxia was here? She was probably here for the Snake Swallow Stone. The news of her using the Snake Swallow Stone to save Song Yang had long been spread. It would be strange if the greedy Wang Hongxia didn¡¯t come to snatch it. However, no matter who it was, Ding Yao wouldn¡¯t hand over the Snake Swallow Stone. If Wang Hongxia acted like a scoundrel, she naturally had a way to deal with her. A stranger followed behind Wang Hongxia. Ding Yao glanced at him and confirmed that she didn¡¯t recognize him. That man was well-dressed and looked like a rich man. Wang Hongxia entered the room with a smile on her face and waved at Ding Yao. ¡°Ding Yao, come quickly. This is your biological uncle. He specifically came from the capital to see you.¡± Ding Yao was stunned. An uncle from the capital? Why did she suddenly have an uncle? The original host¡¯s mother was called Zhou Nanzhi, and she was also from Spirit Stone Village. However, she was born in the capital. At that time, Zhou Nanzhi¡¯s parents worked as small merchants in the capital. It was said that when Zhou Nanzhi was young, she was accidentally burned by an oil lamp and had her face severely disfigured. The older she grew, the uglier she became. Her parents sent her back to the countryside and she was raised by her grandmother. During this period, Zhou Nanzhi¡¯s parents didn¡¯t care about anything other than giving her some child support. After she grew up, because of her ugly face, no one came to propose marriage even when she was almost twenty years old. Later, someone introduced her to Ding Yao¡¯s crippled father, Ding Qingshan. One of them was disfigured, while the other was crippled. None of them should have disliked the other. However, whether it was Zhou Nanzhi getting married, giving birth to a daughter, or even dying in the end, her parents didn¡¯t appear. They hadn¡¯t paid any attention to her for decades, but now, they had suddenly appeared¡­ no matter how she thought about it, it wasn¡¯t right. ¡°Ding Yao? You¡¯re Ding Yao? You¡¯re so pretty Good girl, I¡¯m your uncle!¡± After seeing Ding Yao, the man was very excited. He put the things in his hands on the ground and walked over, wanting to hug Ding Yao. Ding Yao took two steps back to avoid him. What a joke. A stranger whom she had never met before wanted to hug her casually? Seeing that Ding Yao¡¯s attitude was so distant, Wang Hongxia couldn¡¯t help but scold her, ¡°You don¡¯t even recognize your own uncle? Why are you hiding?¡± Seeing this, Song Xiuyan stood next to Ding Yao and said, ¡°Ding Yao has lost her voice now and can¡¯t speak. Please forgive her, Uncle.¡± That man didn¡¯t think it was a big deal for Ding Yao to avoid him. He just looked at Song Xiuyan, then he introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯m Lin Hu. Ding Yao¡¯s mother is my sister, and I¡¯m Ding Yao¡¯s biological uncle. I just came back from the capital and came to see Ding Yao, but I was told that you brought her home early.¡± Song Xiuyan nodded and politely invited Lin Hu to the living room to have tea. Seeing that Ding Yao refused to hug him, Lin Hu held Ding Yao¡¯s hand, and tears fell. ¡°Ding Yao, I didn¡¯t know that you were having such a hard time. If he knew, I would have taken you to the capital long ago!¡± Ding Yao didn¡¯t shake off Lin Hu¡¯s hand, but was on guard. So this ¡°Uncle¡± wanted to take her to the capital? Song Xiuyan¡¯s heart thumped. His wife had just been brought home, but she was going to leave them now? Lin Hu¡¯s clothes looked okay, and he was probably doing quite well in the capital. If Ding Yao wanted to go with Lin Hu, Song Xiuyan felt that he had no right to keep her, unless Ding Yao herself was unwilling to go to the capital. How could Ding Yao not be willing to go to the capital? Thinking of this, Song Xiuyan felt somewhat depressed. Song Yang and the others weren¡¯t in a good mood either. If their sister-in-law left, what would happen to Song Yi¡¯s legs? But Ding Yao¡¯s elder sister¡¯s uncle was here to pick up Ding Yao and bring her to the capital to live a good life, so how could they have the nerve to forcefully keep her? Ding Yao didn¡¯t say anything. She still felt that there was something wrong with her uncle and needed to observe him again. Lin Hu¡¯s tears continued to fall. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ding Yao. I know that you¡¯ve suffered, so I won¡¯t ignore you anymore. I¡¯ll definitely bring you to the capital to live a good life!¡± Chapter 34 - Make It Up to Her Chapter 34 Make It Up to Her Ding Yao finally opened her mouth. ¡°Ahhh¡­ AHHH¡­¡± Song Xiuyan translated Ding Yao¡¯s words for everyone to hear. ¡°Ding Yao said that she didn¡¯t have a hard time.¡± Lin Hu immediately widened his eyes after hearing that. ¡°You¡¯re spouting nonsense! How could Ding Yao say that she didn¡¯t have a hard time? She had a hard time. Her mother died young, and her father married a stepmother who abused her every day. After the death of the only grandfather who loved her dearly, the well-behaved child cried until her throat became hoarse. I¡¯ve never seen a child who had a harder time than Ding Yao! The poor child was brought home by you at such a young age without betrothal gifts or even a ceremony, and started living with you¡­¡± When Lin Hu said this, Wang Hongxia lowered her head in embarrassment. It turned out that Lin Hu knew all the things she had done. However, Wang Hongxia was a thick-skinned person. Lin Hu went to her house first and brought a lot of gifts. She would never offend such a generous relative, so she pretended not to hear Lin Hu¡¯s words and continued to smile. Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Ding Yao did say that. I know some lip language, so I can understand what she said.¡± Lin Hu raised his voice. ¡°Bullsh*t! You¡¯re deliberately distorting Ding Yao¡¯s meaning! You don¡¯t want me to take Ding Yao away. With your family¡¯s situation, if Ding Yao doesn¡¯t marry you, you won¡¯t be able to find a wife for the rest of your life! So you don¡¯t want Ding Yao to go with me, right?¡±. Song Xiuyan looked at Lin Hu coldly. ¡°I didn¡¯t distort Ding Yao¡¯s meaning. Whether what I said is true or false, you can ask Ding Yao.¡± After saying that, he looked at Ding Yao and asked gently, ¡°Ding Yao, if I didn¡¯t distort your meaning just now, just nod your head. If I distorted your meaning, just shake your head.¡± Ding Yao nodded, and Lin Hu widened his eyes in disbelief. Seeing this, Wang Hongxia quickly tried to smooth things over. ¡°Ding Yao¡¯s uncle, Ding Yao is right. She didn¡¯t have a hard time at home. Her sister and I did all the heavy work at home, and she did some light work at home. However, after she came to the Song family, I didn¡¯t know. The Song family has a house full of children, and Song Xiuyan is a bookworm who only knows how to read. The family only relies on the agile Song Yang to hunt for money. I heard that the family can only eat porridge. If we continue to stay like this, Ding Yao will starve to death sooner or later. I wanted to let Ding Yao come back, but our family¡¯s life isn¡¯t easy either. There are small ones, crippled ones, and we¡¯re poor. So, Ding Yao¡¯s uncle, I support you bringing Ding Yao to the capital to live a good life.¡± Wang Hongxia not only put in a good word for herself, but she also stood on Lin Hu¡¯s side. With this, Lin Hu didn¡¯t dwell on the things she had done in the past. Instead, he coaxed Ding Yao nicely, ¡°Ding Yao, I¡¯ve always kept you and your mother in the countryside because my business wasn¡¯t doing well, and the family¡¯s life wasn¡¯t too good. In addition, your mother¡¯s face was disfigured, so it wasn¡¯t easy for her to get married. I owe your mother. Now that your mother is gone, it¡¯s impossible for uncle to make it up to her. However, I will definitely make it up to you. Now that my business has expanded, I¡¯ve also earned some money. When you go to the capital with me, you¡¯ll be a rich young lady. You won¡¯t have to do anything and you¡¯ll have servants to serve you. I will also spend money to hire a doctor to treat your throat.¡± After saying that, Lin Hu didn¡¯t care whether Ding Yao agreed or not. He directly turned to Song Xiuyan. ¡°I understand why you¡¯re not willing to let Ding Yao go. After I take Ding Yao away, Ding Yao will become the eldest daughter of a wealthy family. She¡¯ll be out of the league of a country bumpkin like you. With your conditions, it¡¯s really not easy to find a wife in the village. How about this? After the divorce, I¡¯ll give you some money as compensation.¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s gaze became colder and colder, and his voice was also very cold. ¡°If Ding Yao is willing to go with you, I won¡¯t force her to stay, and I won¡¯t take your money.¡± When Lin Hu heard this, he was immediately overjoyed. ¡°I know about your family¡¯s situation. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll give you ten thousand yuan as compensation. You don¡¯t have to refuse.¡± Song Xiuyan coldly replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Ding Yao had been coldly watching from the side the entire time. She could see that Lin Hu really wanted to take her to the capital, even to the extent of spending money. This was completely different from their previous style of doing things without paying any attention to their mother, Zhou Nanzhi. Did Lin Hu really feel that he owed his sister, Zhou Nanzhi, and wanted to make it up to her? Or did he have other motives? Chapter 35 - Exposed Chapter 35 Exposed Ding Yao couldn¡¯t confirm it for the time being, but she had to be careful because she hadn¡¯t forgotten that someone was thinking about letting her die. Ding Yao blinked and had an idea. She shook her head and said to Lin Hu, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to the capital.¡± After Song Xiuyan understood Ding Yao¡¯s meaning, he was a little surprised, but he still told everyone what she was thinking. Lin Hu was very surprised. ¡°Why not? You¡¯d rather stay here and live a hard life than go to the capital with me and live a good life?¡± Ding Yao let out a few gasps and explained, ¡°No one will understand what I¡¯m saying in the capital, but Song Xiuyan will understand.¡± When Lin Hu heard Song Xiuyan¡¯s translation, he waved his hand and said nonchalantly, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. I will definitely get the best doctor in the capital to cure your throat.¡± Ding Yao pursed her lips. ¡°But the doctor from One Side Sky said that my throat has been bad for too long, and it can¡¯t be cured.¡± Lin Hu snorted. ¡°How can a doctor from the countryside compare to a doctor from the capital? You just lost your voice, and you¡¯re not born deaf and dumb. Believe in me. The doctors in the capital will definitely be able to cure you!¡± Ding Yao shook her head, looking as if she wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°I¡¯m not going. I¡¯m used to living in the countryside.¡± These were her true thoughts. Even if Lin Hu didn¡¯t have any problems, she wouldn¡¯t follow him to the capital. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t bear to part with Song Xiuyan, but she had just arrived in this world. There were all kinds of medicinal herbs in the Song family village, and they were very suitable for her development. She wanted to treat this place as her headquarters, and going to the capital would only restrict her development. After all, to outsiders, it was strange for a girl from the countryside to have too many things, so no matter how one looked at it, she couldn¡¯t go to the capital. When Lin Hu saw that Ding Yao refused time and time again, he finally lost his temper. ¡°You mean, you¡¯d rather be a mute than live a good life with me in the capital? You¡¯re so self-depraved! Do you know what those people outside say about you? They say that you¡¯re an unlucky person, a jinx, and will bring disaster to your family. The Song family is already so unlucky. What if one day, he believes your words and drives you away?¡± It would have been fine if Lin Hu hadn¡¯t said those words, but after he said those words, Ding Yao suddenly had a thought. Could it be that the person spreading the rumors was Lin Hu? Only after Lin Hu lost his temper did he realize that he had lost his composure. He felt goosebumps from Ding Yao¡¯s gaze. He had a feeling that Ding Yao had seen through something, so he took a deep breath. ¡°Ding Yao, don¡¯t blame me for having a bad attitude. I was just too worried about you. Consider it thoroughly. Don¡¯t reject it all at once.¡± Ding Yao smiled slightly. Because she had a guess in mind, she wanted to see what Lin Hu would do in order to take her away. Sometimes, the more he said, the more he would do, and the more flaws he would reveal. However, Lin Hu was also a smart person. After handing the gift to Ding Yao, he said directly, ¡°I hope you can think it over. I still have other matters to attend to. I¡¯ll go back today and come back to see you tomorrow.¡± Lin Hu and Wang Hongxia didn¡¯t even have a sip of tea before they hurriedly left Song Xiuyan¡¯s house. After the two of them left, Song Xiuyan pulled Ding Yao into the study. ¡°Do you really not want to go to the capital? Why?¡± Ding Yao nodded. ¡°I can dig up medicinal herbs here and sell them. I can also use my medical skills to treat illnesses and save people. If I go to the capital, I¡¯ll become a good-for-nothing. I don¡¯t like that kind of life.¡± Song Xiuyan gave Ding Yao a deep look. So that was what Ding Yao was thinking. Using her medical skills to save people was much more important than living a good life. Ding Yao¡¯s ambition was too great! After knowing that Ding Yao wouldn¡¯t leave with Lin Hu, Song Xue happily hugged her. ¡°Sister Ding Yao, I will always be good to you!¡± Ding Yao patted Song Xue¡¯s head and silently smiled. This little girl was really cute. At night, Wang Hongxia came again. This time, she came with the second uncle of the Ding family. Ding Yao thought that this time, they must have come for the Snake Swallow Stone. She didn¡¯t expect that she would guess wrong again. As soon as Wang Hongxia entered the house, she pulled Ding Yao and was about to walk out. ¡°Ding Yao, your second uncle and I are here to bring you home. Ever since you came to the Song family, your father scolded me whenever he saw me. He said that you¡¯re so young, how could you be casually brought home by a man? He said that I had to bring you home today. Otherwise, I couldn¡¯t go back.¡± Ding Yao shook off Wang Hongxia¡¯s hand and looked at her coldly. Wang Hongxia must have taken stuff from Lin Hu and wanted to bring her back to the Song family first so that her father could ask Lin Hu to take her away as a parent. Hmph, the more Lin Hu wanted to take her away, the more she refused to go! Chapter 36 - Mute From Poison Chapter 36 Mute From Poison Song Xiuyan stopped Wang Hongxia and looked at her coldly. He had also guessed Wang Hongxia¡¯s motive. ¡°If Ding Yao doesn¡¯t want to go with you, you can forget about taking her away.¡± Seeing Song Xiuyan¡¯s fierce look, Second Uncle Ding took a step forward as he looked at Song Xiuyan fiercely. ¡°Why are you being so unreasonable? Let me ask you, did you ask Ding Yao¡¯s father for permission to take her home? Did you give her a betrothal gift?¡± At this moment, there were a few villagers who were watching the show at the entrance. Second Uncle Ding thought he had a point, so his voice became louder. ¡°There was no betrothal gift, right? Come, come, come. Everyone, come to judge. Without the parents¡¯permission, without giving her a betrothal gift, and without choosing a date, he casually brought her home. Does this count?! We must bring Ding Yao home today!¡± Ding Yao looked coldly at Second Uncle Ding. In the original host¡¯s memory, this uncle was different from Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle. He treated the original host very badly. He would always scold the original host and even beat her up. Ding Yao carefully recalled all the details and realized that Second Uncle Ding began to hate the original host after the original host¡¯s grandfather died. The reason was that she saw Second Uncle Ding and Wang Hongxia hiding in the woodshed doing something that day. The original host didn¡¯t know what they were doing. She even went in to call Wang Hongxia, but was slapped by Second Uncle Ding when he came out! At that time, the original host was still young and didn¡¯t know much. She didn¡¯t know why she was being beaten. However, Ding Yao was a mature woman in her previous life. With a man and a woman hiding in the woodshed in the middle of the night, what else could they do?! There had to be an affair! Later that night, when the original host was sleeping, Wang Hongxia uncharacteristically gave the original host a glass of water. Then, the original host lost her voice the next morning. Everyone said that the original host had cried until her voice was hoarse because of her grandfather¡¯s death, but who would have thought that her voice actually became hoarse from Wan Hongxia¡¯s poison! Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°How much betrothal gifts do you want?¡± It was indeed his fault for bringing Ding Yao home without giving her betrothal gifts. He was willing to give it. Wang Hongxia immediately demanded, ¡°At least 50,000 yuan!¡± The surrounding villagers discussed animatedly. The countryside was backward to begin with and there were few opportunities to earn money. A person¡¯s monthly salary was only a few tens of yuan. 500 yuan was enough to support a whole family for an entire year. 50,000 yuan wasn¡¯t a small fortune! Song Xiuyan was speechless. Ding Yao looked at Wang Hongxia, as if she was looking at an idiot. It was impressive for her to say it out loud. Wang Hongxia raised her voice, ¡°Don¡¯t think that 50,000 yuan is a lot of money. Ever since Ding Yao¡¯s grandfather passed away, she has been suffering from some kind of disease. Every three days, she gets sick. Her grandfather saved so much money when he was alive, and we spent it all on Ding Yao. It¡¯s not too much for us to come over to ask for it, right?¡± One of the women couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and interrupted, ¡°If you want Song Xiuyan to take out 50,000 yuan, you have to see if he can afford it.¡± A mute girl wanted 50,000 yuan as a betrothal gift. It was really hilarious. The other villagers also chimed in. Wang Hongxia had no choice but to explain, ¡°I don¡¯t really want that much money from him. It¡¯s fine if he can¡¯t take it out. If worst comes to worst, our two families will break off the engagement. I can even return the 200 yuan that the Song family gave us for the engagement.¡± A kind-hearted elder woman then whispered to Song Xiuyan, ¡°This can be done. You have to agree.¡± Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t reply. He wouldn¡¯t agree to it, but the situation in front of him was giving him a headache. Wang Hongxia and Second Uncle Ding were from Ding Yao¡¯s maiden family. It wasn¡¯t easy for him to deal with them, but if they continued to cause trouble, he wouldn¡¯t be able to resolve the situation. Song Xiuyan sighed as he tried his best to remain calm and say to them, ¡°I will listen to Ding Yao¡¯s opinion on whether to leave or not. If she agrees to break off the engagement, I don¡¯t want a single cent. But if she doesn¡¯t want to go with you, you can forget about taking her away!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take Ding Yao away now. I¡¯ll see what you can do!¡± After saying that, Second Uncle Ding came over rudely and wanted to pull Ding Yao away. Ding Yao cried out a few times and avoided Second Uncle Ding¡¯s hand. Song Xiuyan understood what Ding Yao meant. He was stunned for a moment and said, ¡°Ding Yao said just now that she won¡¯t go back with you. If you continue to make a scene, don¡¯t blame her for saying something and making things difficult for you.¡± With that, Wang Hongxia¡¯s expression changed, and so did Second Uncle Ding¡¯s. Seeing their expressions, Ding Yao guessed that the two of them were indeed having an affair! Meeting Ding Yao¡¯s mirthful eyes, Wang Hongxia was a bit nervous. If the matter between her and Second Uncle Ding was exposed, she would be condemned by the people in the village, and she would also be beaten to death by Second Uncle Ding¡¯s wife. Chapter 38 - Can a Mute Still Write? Chapter 38 Can a Mute Still Write? Song Xiuyan repeated Ding Yao¡¯s words word for word. ¡°Ding Yao just said that although her Star Of The Sky roundworm formula does almost no harm to the human body, it is a little poisonous. If the dosage is too low, the Star Of The Sky cannot be extracted. If the dosage is too high, there will be side effects. Moreover, the dosage of the Star Of The Sky roundworm medicine varies from person to person. There will be a difference in the dosage of the medicine for age, age, and severity. Therefore, she can¡¯t tell everyone what herbs to use, how to mix the herbs, and how long it will take to boil them. She hopes that everyone won¡¯t try to mix them themselves. If there¡¯s a need to expell roundworms, you can come over and let Ding Yao take a look. She will personally cook the soup for everyone. When the time comes, everyone will just have to give a little reward.¡± Most of the villagers understood the reason. Song Xiuyan¡¯s explanation was so clear that the villagers immediately agreed with Ding Yao¡¯s explanation. They asked how much it would cost to expel roundworms. Ding Yao thought for a moment and decided to give them a special discount! When the villagers learned that expelling the roundworm once only cost four yuan, they were all very happy. This price was too cheap. Immediately, a parent pulled the child to show Ding Yao. Ding Yao took a pen and paper and made a simple mark. The mark she made couldn¡¯t be understood by others, but she could understand it herself. She would definitely remember who should use what amount. When the villagers saw Ding Yao writing and drawing, they said in surprise, ¡°Ding Yao can actually write?¡± A mute could actually write? Ding Yao smiled and pointed at Song Xiuyan, meaning that Song Xiuyan had taught her. After making the record, she then announced the things to take note of. ¡°Those who have registered, remember to come over tomorrow morning to drink medicine on an empty stomach. You must drink it on an empty stomach for two mornings in a row. After drinking the medicine, you must not eat anything too oily, and you must abstain from all stimulating food, understand?¡± Just as Ding Yao was busy, Lin Hu came over again with something. Seeing the scene here, Lin Hu frowned. No wonder Ding Yao refused to go to the capital with him. It turned out that she had learned medical skills. Seeing that Ding Yao was constantly busy, Lin Hu knew that his trip had been in vain again. But Lin Hu didn¡¯t leave. Instead, for the first time, he chose to stay and eat. After lunch, Lin Hu looked as if he had thought things through. ¡°Ding Yao, since you insist on not going to the capital, there¡¯s no reason for me to tie you up. I¡¯m going back to the capital tomorrow. If you think things through and come to the capital one day, give me a message. I¡¯ll immediately come and pick you up.¡± After saying these words, Lin Hu bade farewell and left. IIIe It was unknown if Lin Hu¡¯s words were just casual words or if he had accidentally forgotten, but he actually didn¡¯t leave an address for Ding Yao. Ding Yao couldn¡¯t be bothered to ask, but she remembered this detail. She was certain that Lin Hu, this uncle, didn¡¯t have much familial affection for her. As her biological niece, even if Ding Yao was unwilling to go to the capital with Lin Hu, since he knew that Ding Yao¡¯s life was difficult, Lin Hu should still leave some money for her before he left. This was human nature, but Lin Hu didn¡¯t. From this, it could be seen that Lin Hu must have some motive for bringing Ding Yao to the capital. But what motive? According to the plot of a novel, it was usually a substitute marriage, but this guess seemed to be a little forced. Although she was beautiful, she was, after all, a mute. In any case, she wouldn¡¯t go to the capital for the time being. Ding Yao put Lin Hu¡¯s matter aside. She was going to the mountain to dig up medicinal herbs to cure roundworms. Most of the children in the Song family village had roundworms. After the children in Song family village were cured, the neighboring villages would probably come over as well. Therefore, the medicinal herbs they had on hand were far from enough. The snake venom on Song Yang¡¯s body had long been removed. He had been staying at home for a period of time and was about to die of boredom. Seeing that Song Xiuyan and the others were going to the mountains to dig up medicinal herbs, he quickly raised his hand and said that he wanted to go too. Song Xiuyan pulled him back and said, ¡°No, we have to leave one at home.¡± Song Xue was too young. Song Yi¡¯s leg was injured and it was inconvenient for him to move, so someone had to protect him at home. Song Yang¡¯s eyes darted around, and he suggested, ¡°How about this, you and Ding Yao stay at home. In a while, the children in the village might come over to see Ding Yao. Song Yu and I will go up the mountain to dig for medicinal herbs. Anyway, Song Yu will remember all the medicinal herbs we need to dig.¡± Song Xiuyan thought about it and agreed. Ding Yao¡¯s body was weak, and every time she climbed the mountain, she was so tired that she was panting. Out of consideration for Ding Yao¡¯s health, Song Xiuyan agreed to Song Yang¡¯s suggestion. Since Song Xiuyan agreed, Ding Yao naturally had no objections. In the afternoon, Song Xiuyan called Song Xue and Song Yi into the study and asked them to practice calligraphy with Ding Yao. Each of them had a chair, and Song Xiuyan held a willow branch as he walked between them, giving them pointers from time to time, he would also correct their sitting posture. He was a strict teacher. Chapter 39 - What Should Have Come Had Come Chapter 39 What Should Have Come Had Come Ding Yao was very self-aware. Her posture was dignified and her handwriting was upright. She was too mature. It would be too embarrassing if she was scolded while learning to write with a group of children. She couldn¡¯t afford to lose face. Slowly, Ding Yao¡¯s handwriting became more and more beautiful. Song Xiuyan was secretly amazed. He even took Ding Yao¡¯s writing book to set an example for Song Yi and Song Xue. ¡°Look at this. Ding Yao has only practiced for two days and she can already write so well. You guys have practiced for several years, but you¡¯re still not as good as her. How embarassing!¡± After Song Xue finished reading, she smiled proudly and said, ¡°Ding Yao is really smart! Much smarter than me!¡± Song Xiuyan said with a straight face, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Copy these words fifty times. Don¡¯t eat until you¡¯re done!¡± Song Xue immediately didn¡¯t dare to retort and hurriedly lowered her head to write. From this, it could be seen that Song Xiuyan was really very strict when it came to learning! Song Yi¡¯s handwriting was average, and Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t have high expectations of him. Song Yi didn¡¯t like studying to begin with, and when he was just a little over ten years old, he followed the county¡¯s business owner everywhere. Although he was young, he was very good at doing business. He was quick-witted and had many ideas. He made many friends and was very popular with the boss. He brought him everywhere and once even brought Song Yi to the capital. After Song Yi¡¯s leg was broken, the boss came to see Song Yi a few times and gave him two thousand yuan. Later, when he saw that Song Yi really didn¡¯t have any hope of standing up, he slowly lost contact with him. In the evening, a few villagers brought their children to see Ding Yao. Including the one in the afternoon, there were a total of six children. The next day, Ding Yao got up early. After mixing the herbs, she boiled a pot of medicinal soup and added sugar. Then, according to the condition of each child, she distributed the medicinal soup and watched them drink it, then, she asked Song Yu to tell them one by one. After lunch, Song Yang brought Song Yu up the mountain to dig for herbs. In the afternoon, someone sent a message saying that Ding Yao¡¯s father was sick and was dying. He told her to go home quickly. Maybe she could see him one last time. Ding Yao¡¯s first reaction was that Wang Hongxia was trying to trick her into going home. She didn¡¯t hear that her father was sick a few days ago. How could he be sick all of a sudden? Her second thought was, could it be that Wang Hongxia was audacious enough to poison her father? If it was the second case, she had to go back. Hearing that Ding Yao was going home, Song Xiuyan naturally had to go with her. They first went up the mountain to find Song Yang and Song Yu and told them to hurry home. Ding Yao was worried that they wouldn¡¯t be able to come back tonight, so she got the herbs that they were going to use the next day, then, she told Song Yu to cook and distribute the herbs according to the method she had mentioned earlier. When it was almost evening, Ding Yao and Song Xiuyan arrived at Spirit Stone village. As expected, Wang Hongxia was lying to Ding Yao. That day, when they left the Song family home, Second Uncle Ding scolded Wang Hongxia fiercely. ¡°You¡¯re really useless. You were actually scared by a little girl. Have you forgotten that Ding Yao is a mute? Even if she really knows about our relationship, so what? She can¡¯t explain it clearly. We can completely deny it!¡± Wang Hongxia thought about it and regretted it. So, she found an excuse to trick Ding Yao back. This time, she was absolutely unafraid that Ding Yao would say anything. Ding Yao¡¯s father, Ding Qingshan, was indeed sick, but it wasn¡¯t a serious illness. He just suffered from a cold and had a slight cough. There were many people around the Ding family¡¯s house. They were all members of the Ding family. Wang Hongxia wept and complained, ¡°Come, come, come. Everyone, please come and judge. We have a man in our family and Ding Yao¡¯s father isn¡¯t dead. Why is it that Ding Yao, a little girl, is the inheritor of the treasures left behind by the Old Master?¡± Second Uncle Ding immediately agreed, ¡°Yes, why is it that Ding Yao, a little girl, is the inheritor of the treasures left behind by the Old Master? She is an outgoing girl. She won¡¯t inherit the Old Master¡¯s treasures unless all the members of the Ding family die.¡± Wang Hongxia continued to cry, ¡°But the things that the Old Master left behind are now in Ding Yao¡¯s hands!¡± Everyone¡¯s gaze fell on Ding Yao in an instant. Ding Yao finally understood why Wang Hongxia had tricked her into coming home. She tugged at Song Xiuyan¡¯s sleeve, and Song Xiuyan explained for her, ¡°Ding Yao said that she picked up the Snake Swallow Stone by herself and that it wasn¡¯t left to her by grandfather. Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle can testify to this.¡± Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle nodded. ¡°At that time, we also asked whether Ding Yao¡¯s Snake Swallow Stone was left behind by grandfather, but Ding Yao shook her head and said no. Song Xiuyan also explained it that way.¡± Chapter 40 - Very Good Memory Chapter 40 Very Good Memory Second Uncle Ding pointed at Third Uncle Ding and Fourth Uncle Ding and cursed, ¡°You two still have the nerve to say that?! How dare you help outsiders! You knew that Ding Yao was lying at that time, but you still didn¡¯t expose them on the spot. You were deceived by a little girl. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s shameful?!¡± Third Uncle Ding whispered, ¡°At that time, we didn¡¯t know that the Snake Swallow Stone was so valuable. It was actually worth 50,000 yuan.¡± Ding Yao found it funny. No wonder Wang Hongxia suddenly came to snatch the Snake Swallow Stone. It turned out that she knew the price offered by the manager of One Side Sky. Wang Hongxia had invited so many people to gather here today. She was afraid that she had promised them a lot of benefits. If she didn¡¯t hand over the Snake Swallow Stone, these people would probably stop her from leaving. Thinking of this, Ding Yao looked at Ding Qingshan and said, ¡°You don¡¯t believe me either?¡± Song Xiuyan translated Ding Yao¡¯s words like before. Ding Qingshan hesitated for a moment. For the sake of his own livelihood, he still lied against his conscience, ¡°Ding Yao, don¡¯t deny it. When your grandfather picked up the Snake Swallow Stone, he told me about it and showed it to me. It was two small white stones with a flat surface that wasn¡¯t too smooth. They were exactly the same as what your third uncle and fourth uncle described. ¡°After your grandfather passed away unexpectedly, I couldn¡¯t find the Snake Swallow Stone. So it was hidden by you. You¡¯re really ruthless. You didn¡¯t care about the family and took the only treasure in the family for yourself!¡± Ding Yao smiled. This was the original host¡¯s biological father. For his own greed, he lied through his teeth. Was there still a need for such a father? At this time, the village chief of Spirit Stone Village was also invited over to preside over the justice. ¡°Ding Yao, according to the law, there are still people in the family. You¡¯re a daughter who married off, so you really can¡¯t take the family¡¯s property. If the Snake Swallow Stone really belongs to your grandfather, and you have no one to prove that your grandfather left the Snake Swallow Stone to you before he died, you have to return the Snake Swallow Stone to your father.¡± Everyone looked at Ding Yao. Ding Yao emphasized calmly, ¡°The Snake Swallow Stone is mine. I picked it up myself.¡± Unfortunately, everyone didn¡¯t believe Ding Yao¡¯s words at all. They retorted, ¡°There¡¯s no evidence. No matter what you say, it¡¯s useless unless someone testifies for you.¡± Ding Yao looked at Ding Qingshan calmly. ¡°You said that grandfather told you about the Snake Swallow Stone. When did grandfather tell you?¡± Ding Qingshan thought for a moment. ¡°Your grandfather died in early June. It was about three months before his death. I can¡¯t remember the exact time. I only know that the rice in the field hadn¡¯t grown tall yet.¡± Ding Yao continued to ask, ¡°Then grandfather told you that he picked up a total of several Snake Swallow Stones?¡± Ding Qingshan was stumped by the question and didn¡¯t dare to answer rashly. He was worried that Ding Yao had picked up more than two pieces of stone. If he answered incorrectly, he would lose a lot of money. When Wang Hongxia saw this, she quickly added, ¡°Old Master probably saw that Ding Qingshan didn¡¯t know medicine, so Old Master didn¡¯t tell him so much detail. He just casually said a few words. At that time, Qingshan even told me about this matter. We didn¡¯t know that Snake Swallow Stone was so valuable, so after Old Master died, we didn¡¯t look for Snake Swallow Stone in detail.¡± Ding Yao glanced at Ding Qingshan and Wang Hongxia before turning to the village chief. Song Xiuyan translated for Ding Yao, ¡°Village chief, although Ding Yao was young at that time, she still remembered that a month before her grandfather passed away, he went to the neighboring village to treat a person who had been bitten by a poisonous snake. Her grandfather used many methods to detoxify that person, but that person still died in the end. Many people probably remember this matter. If her grandfather had a Snake Swallow Stone at that time, that person wouldn¡¯t have died.¡± Hearing Song Xiuyan¡¯s words, everyone looked at each other. Everyone did remember this. After all, not many people had been bitten to death by snakes. They often went hunting in the mountains and knew how to guard against snakes. Ding Qingshan had always been lying through his teeth. Now that he heard Ding Yao¡¯s retort, he knew that his lie had been exposed. He was extremely ashamed. The village chief had originally wanted to help Ding Qingshan, but the truth was right there. If he wanted to distort the truth, his position as the village chief would have come to an end. In the end, he glared fiercely at Ding Qingshan and turned around to leave. Wang Hongxia was unwilling to lose the money just like that. She even argued, ¡°Ding Qingshan¡¯s memory has always been bad. He might have remembered wrongly.¡± Ding Yao sneered and gestured at Wang Hongxia. ¡°Ding Qingshan only broke his leg, not his brain. His memory is very good!¡± Chapter 41 - Sacrifices ¡°Maybe your grandfather didn¡¯t know that Snake Swallowing Stone can cure scorpion poison¡­¡± Wang Hongxia ventured uncertainly. Ding Yao waved her small hands fiercely as she shouted, ¡°Shut up! You have no right to belittle my grandfather¡¯s skill in medicine! My grandfather would be rolling in his grave if he heard you spouting such nonsense!¡± Wang Hongxia choked. Everyone was too embarrassed to refute Ding Yao. Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle Ding lowered their heads in guilt. How could they not have had faith in Ding Yao? Ding Yao wagged her finger imposingly and said, ¡°One should listen to reason and not close themselves or risk becoming narrow-minded and obtuse. Even if this matter were brought up to the police, I would have nothing to fear. The Snake Swallowing Stone is in my possession. If you want to take it from me, you are more than welcome to try!¡± Song Xiuyan relayed Ding Yao¡¯s awe-inspiring words. Just as they were about to leave, Wang Hongxiao shamelessly grabbed hold of Ding Yao¡¯s sleeve, squeezing out tears, ¡°Even if you managed to find a Snake Swallowing Stone and sold it, shouldn¡¯t you give your father some money as a show of respect?¡± Ding Yao shook off Wang Hongxia¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t plan to sell the Snake Swallowing Stone, so I won¡¯t have any money to give him.¡± After Song Xiuyan conveyed Ding Yao¡¯s words, the two left Spirit Stone Village. The sky gradually darkened, and the road grew difficult to see. At first, Song Xiuyan pulled Ding Yao along, but later, he carried her on his back. Ding Yao did not protest. Unlike Song Xiuyan, a skilled martial artist who could see in the dark, Ding Yao was a weak, untrained girl. It took no effort on his part to shoulder her weight. It was a quiet night with no one traversing the mountain road. Only the whisper of wind against rustling leaves and the soft patter of feet punctuated the silence. Neither Ding Yao nor Song Xiuyan spoke. Just as Ding Yao was about to fall asleep, Song Xiuyan suddenly stopped. He lowered himself into a crouch and gently unspooled Ding Yao from the nest that was his back. ¡°Go hide. Quick!¡± His tone was urgent, carrying a nervous edge. Ding Yao quivered, springing wide awake. What happened? Were they being robbed? Before she could seek shelter in the woods, two black shadows darted toward them. ¡°Ding Yao, run!¡± Song Xiuyan shouted while bravely intercepting their robbers. The three of them instantly tangled together, locked in mortal combat. By then, Ding Yao had hidden behind a large tree. She could not run away and leave Song Xiuyan behind! Although it was her first time experiencing a life-and-death situation, Ding Yao was not afraid. Doctors traversed the world, pushing the boundaries of medicine and treating those in need. How could she cower and flee when there was someone who needed her? Besides, she was not completely defenceless. ¡°Name yourselves!¡± Song Xiuyan roared, his deep baritone carrying on the wind. The black-clothed men did not answer, merely continuing their assault. The two joined hands but could not pierce Song Xiuyan¡¯s defence. They looked at each other and took a step back simultaneously, unsheathing the longswords strapped to their backs before re-engaging Song Xiuyan. Their sharp swords glimmered in the dark, causing Ding Yao¡¯s heart to jump into her throat with each exchange. Although Song Xiuyan was no pushover and could easily fight one against two, that was assuming his assailants were unarmed. Swords have no eyes, and it would not take much for a debilitating blow to take Song Xiuyan out of the fight. Seeing that Song Xiuyan was forced to retreat one step at a time, Ding Yao rummaged through her medicine bag, pulled out a bag of medicinal powder, and sprinted toward the men clad in black as if in fright. ¡°Ding Yao, don¡¯t come over!¡± Song Xiuyan tried to stop her. He could not allow the men in black to harm her, so he fought more recklessly, doing his best to stall them. When the two men saw Ding Yao, they gave up on Song Xiuyan and charged at Ding Yao with their swords drawn. Ding Yao was secretly happy. She used the cover of darkness to launch the medicinal powder into the air. Perhaps it was a stroke of luck, but the wind blew in her favour, carrying the powdered contents to the men in black. The powder quickly invaded their eyes, noses and mouths, causing them to scream in pain. Chilli powder served as the base of her powdered mix and stimulated one¡¯s pain receptors. Ding Yao called it her Wolf Repelling Powder. ¡°Ah!¡± Both men screamed in agony, dropping their longswords as they scratched their eyes and rubbed their skin. Song Xiuyan had his back turned to Ding Yao, so he did not receive a face full of Wolf Repelling Powder. The sharp smell of the chilli-based powder made him shut his mouth. With the Wolf Repelling Powder having done its job, Song Xiuyan took the opportunity to retrieve the black-clothed men¡¯s swords. The effects of Ding Yao¡¯s Wolf Repelling Powder quickly faded, but instead of launching themselves back into the melee, the two men fled. Song Xiuyan was not about to let them go so easily. He raised a sword and chased their assailants, knocking them to the ground without killing them. He wanted answers. ¡°Who sent you?¡± He asked, planting his feet firmly on the backs of the men clothed in black. Chapter 42 - The One Who Came for Her The men in black remained silent. They tilted their heads as if taking a deep breath and crushed the poison capsules in their mouths, committing suicide. Song Xiuyan pursed his thin lips and bent down to search the men in black. He did not find anything that would identify them. Since that was a bust, he turned around and hugged Ding Yao, quickly fleeing the scene. It took him a second to confirm the deaths of their assailants, after which they departed. Only with Ding Yao in his arms did he realise how fast his heart was hammering in his chest. Fortunately, Ding Yao was fine. He was exceedingly grateful for her help. Her Wolf Repelling Powder had been very effective. Assassins like those they faced earlier were sacrificial pawns of powerful families; they could not be compared to regular bodyguards. Assassins trained by these powers were often sent on secret missions, and their identities were obscured from the public eye. In his previous life, Song Xiuyan had been killed by assassins like those he faced earlier. The mysterious power backing those trained killers had sent more than ten black-robed men to silence him permanently. Although they succeeded, he had not made it easy, forcing them to expend all their strength just to kill him. There could be no doubt in Song Xiuyan¡¯s mind that those black-clothed assassins had come for him. He was not the man he used to be in his previous life. Those who wanted him dead must have lost their patience and sent assassins after his life. Song Xiuyan¡¯s mind drifted to his younger brother and sister still at home, his heart clenching at the thought of anything happening to them. He immediately picked up Ding Yao, shouldering her on his back, urging, ¡°Hold tight!¡± In a burst of speed, thanks to Qinggong, Song Xiuyan raced back to the Song family village without pausing for a breath. Ding Yao held on to Song Xiuyan tightly. He was moving so fast she worried for her safety should she accidentally let go. Her mind replayed the scene of two black-clad men switching targets, giving up on Song Xiuyan and aiming for her instead. Those assassins were probably sent to kill her! She could not think of any other reason they gave up pursuing Song Xiuyan and set their sights on her. Song Xiuyan did not know of her circumstances, so he would not know those men were after her. Song Xiuyan heaved a sigh of relief upon returning home and finding his siblings unharmed. The lights were still on in the living room. Song Yang, Song Xue and the others were seated together, waiting for them. Seeing her older brother carrying Ding Yao, Song Xue dashed over. ¡°Big Brother, Sister-in-law, you¡¯re finally back!¡± Song Xiuyan put down Ding Yao. Under the soft lamplight, Ding Yao sized up Song Xiuyan. His clothes were unstained. No one would have known he had fought off two armed men just a while ago. Song Xiuyan was happy to see his younger siblings safe and sound but could not stop himself from worrying, ¡°Did anything happen while I was out?¡± His siblings shook their heads collectively. Song Yang, the second child, said, ¡°Nothing special happened. Though¡­ someone dropped by earlier, bringing a child with them. They were looking for Ding Yao because the child has roundworms.¡± ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you all asleep yet?¡± Song Xiuyan asked. ¡°We were worried about Ding Yao¡¯s father and what those from Spirit Stone Village are planning; that¡¯s why we¡¯ve been waiting for you to come back. We could not sleep because of the worry,¡± Song Yang explained, somewhat embarrassed. Song Xiuyan nodded. ¡°Alright. Now that we¡¯re back, there¡¯s nothing you need to worry about. Ding Yao¡¯s father is fine. The rest of you should be in bed.¡± Song Yu, the fourth child, bobbed his head, listening to his older brother¡¯s words, ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll go to bed now. Big Brother, Big Sister Ding Yao, I¡¯ve heated the water for your bath.¡± Song Xue, the fifth child, waved her hand happily to say she had helped. ¡°Big Brother, Fourth Brother, heated the water long ago. I think he reheated the water at least five times. He was afraid you wouldn¡¯t have hot water to use when you came back.¡± Song Yu blushed, tugging Song Xue¡¯s arm. ¡°Shh!! You¡¯re talking too much!¡± This brotherly display touched Ding Yao. She was an orphan in her previous life. Although she grew up in an orphanage with no lack of children, they were not permanent faces, with many coming and going before she could get to know them. Everyone hoped to be adopted by a good family. Hence, building meaningful relationships with those around her was not easy. Even if she wanted to, the few cliques in the orphanage did not want her. Ding Yao was used to being alone, to be the only one to care for herself. Through Song Xiuyan and his siblings, Ding Yao felt what it was like to be cared for and loved. It made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. By the time Ding Yao finished showering, Song Xiuyan had already told Song Yang about the attack and the assassins they encountered. Song Yang¡¯s expression mirrored his older brother¡¯s in a grimace. Song Xiuyan mulled over their options before suggesting, ¡°Ding Yao, why don¡¯t you visit your uncle, Lin Hu, in the capital?¡± After what happened, Song Xiuyan wanted nothing more than to keep Ding Yao safe. As evidenced by the assassins who committed suicide when their ambush failed, they did not care about their lives. These hit men underwent substantial conditioning and were cruel and merciless, killing without batting an eye. Song Xiuyan did not want to endanger Ding Yao further. Chapter 43 - Do You Despise Me? If it weren¡¯t for Ding Yao being prepared, Song Xiuyan felt that he might have implicated her. The moment she rushed out to throw the powder, he was so scared that his heart almost stopped beating. Ding Yao shook her head and gestured, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to the capital.¡± She did not feel any kinship with Lin Hu, only a strong sense of wariness. She would not learn who wanted her head if she went to her uncle. It would be better if she stayed. Song Xiuyan did not want to send Ding Yao away, but if it meant her safety¡­ Well, it was better the known devil than the unknown. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to go to the capital. You can head to Spirit Stone Village and stay there for a few days. I¡¯ll give you all the money we earned from selling the lingzhi; that way, your father and stepmother might not force you to sell the Snake Swallowing Stone.¡± Ding Yao looked at Song Xiuyan, her eyes wide open. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d drag you down?¡± Song Xiuyan quickly shook his head. ¡°How can that be? I would have died if it weren¡¯t for your Wolf Repelling Powder.¡± He was confident in his victory over those two men if they stuck to fists and kicks, but the odds changed when they drew their swords. There was too great a room for error. Ding Yao smiled, miming, ¡°I¡¯m glad you aren¡¯t treating me like some burden. I can make more Wolf Repelling Powder for your protection.¡± ¡°My grandfather taught me how to make it. He said it deterred ferocious beasts by causing a burning sensation in those it comes into contact with. Not many people or beasts can fight through the searing pain. Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re a strong martial artist, and with the help of my medicinal powder, you¡¯ll beat them before they realise what¡¯s happening.¡± Song Xiuyan was very surprised. How could a frail young girl like Ding Yao so calmly talk about immobilising someone using medicinal powders? He thought Ding Yao would be frightened and had prepared himself to cheer her up. Recalling the events earlier that night, Song Xiuyan revised his judgement. Ding Yao¡¯s petite form hid a courageous young girl who would endanger herself for the sake of others. She was no ordinary girl. Ding Yao rolled her eyes when she noticed Song Xiuyan staring at her. What was there to see? She was nothing before Song Xiuyan¡¯s ruthlessness when equipped with a sword. He could incapacitate his foes easily just by drawing his sword. It was not something a regular country bumpkin could do. Ding Yao was sure that Song Xiuyan was hiding some profound secret. Song Yang was a fiercely loyal young man. When he deciphered Ding Yao¡¯s meaning, he smiled and said to Song Xiuyan, ¡°Big Brother, Ding Yao is right. There¡¯s nothing to worry about; we¡¯ll deal with whatever comes our way. You should protect Big Sister Ding Yao while I watch our younger siblings.¡± Ding Yao rose early out of habit. She watched Song Yu boil some soup and medicine, accurately measuring the right dosages for children with roundworms. He was mature for his age, seriously reminding the children with roundworms to be careful and observe good hygiene practices. He even instructed them not to go to the toilet without adult supervision. He was caring and patient. Ding Yao nodded discretely. She had to say that Song Yu did a good job and would be a good disciple. Once Song Yu treated his patients, he received money for his services. He counted his earnings and had to check to make sure he got the amount right. ¡°Haha! I¡¯ve made two hundred yuan! We can buy plenty of rice now! Meanwhile, Song Xue showed off the rope she had woven, boasting loudly, ¡°Big Brother, Big Sister Ding Yao, do you think it looks pretty? Choose whichever one you like best. I¡¯ll exchange the rest in town for some money. Then, I¡¯ll treat everyone to meat!¡± Song Yu laughed at her. ¡°Are you saying you will exchange a few pieces of rope for meat? Song Xue, are you dreaming?¡± Song Xue smirked, looking pleased with herself. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, do you? Third Brother, Song Yi, said these ropes go for a high price if the weaving methods used to make them are unique. If I had better materials, they would fetch an even higher price when sold to people in the capital!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Big Sister Ding Yao,¡± Song Xue said, ¡°Big Sister Ding Yao taught me how to weave!¡± Song Yi would keep his promise to Song Xue. Once his legs healed, he would go to the capital and sell the ropes woven together by Song Xue. They should fetch a good price. Unfortunately, it was not a product they could make much money for long. Competition in the capital was fierce; sooner or later, people would reverse engineer the techniques involved in their creation, thereby cutting their profits. Song Yi leaned back in his wheelchair, a soft smile on his lips. He quietly watched his Fourth Brother and Fifth Sister bicker. He was blessed to live a life full of hope. He had cute younger siblings and an amazing older brother. Even Big Sister Ding Yao was someone he viewed favourably; she was their family¡¯s lucky charm. Since she became part of the family, life had improved by leaps and bounds, and the future looked bright. Chapter 44 - Missing Bodies After Song Yi confirmed it, Song Yu no longer made fun of Song Xue. Instead, he carefully examined the beautiful ropes. He felt that each of them was unique and beautiful. Watching from the sidelines, Song Xiuyan made up his mind. He would do everything he could to keep Ding Yao and his younger siblings safe. He wanted them to live as happily as they did now. Still, he found it strange that no word had been sent regarding the dead bodies. They had left the bodies lying in the middle of the mountain road. Logically speaking, someone should have encountered them by now. The mountain roads were usually busy, with people waking at dawn to peddle and ferry their goods from the villages to the nearby towns. If the bodies were untouched, someone would have discovered them already. Song Xiuyan had agreed with Ding Yao the previous night to pretend they knew nothing if the bodies were discovered. If anyone asked, they would say they had not seen anything along the way home. Song Xiuyan found it unsettling to receive no news despite the late hour. By noon, Song Xiuyan could not fight the urge to learn if anyone had discovered the bodies. He went out, but before he did so, he charged Song Yang with taking care of their younger siblings. The village children suffering from roundworms were mostly cured. Those with larger bellies had more roundworms than their smaller counterparts. The villagers all stared bug-eyed at the parasites. No parent wanted their children to suffer such a fate. One after another, parents flocked to Ding Yao with their children, hoping she would help them. Some families had three or four children, and soon a long line formed. Despite the harrowing situation, Ding Yao remained calm. She had dug up a lot of medicinal herbs. Even though Song Xiuyan did not allow his younger siblings to help them, they had still acquired more than enough herbs to treat everyone. Mixing the herbs was no issue, but boiling so many at once was impossible. Hence, Ding Yao set a limit on the number of patients she would treat each day: no more than twenty. The village children quickly registered themselves for treatment, forming a three-day waiting list. Song Yu was so amazed that his mouth hung open. It was as if all the children in the surrounding villages had come to Ding Yao for treatment of their roundworms. His sister-in-law¡¯s name spread far and wide, with money flowing into their coffers in an endless stream. No one dared call her a jinx upon their family anymore. Instead, she became their lucky star. Song Xue¡¯s idea was similar to Ding Yao¡¯s save for a few differences. If her roundworm medicine had gained traction, she would have had to make plenty of sugar pills from the scavenged medicinal herbs. Anyone who wanted to rid themselves of roundworms would only need to take a few sugar pills. Not only were they easier to transport, but also more marketable to the general public. Song Xiuyan returned in the evening. He had enquired through various channels but had heard nothing regarding dead bodies found along the mountain path. Someone must have disposed of the bodies after they left. Whoever had done the deed probably did not want to alert the police or draw attention to the assassination attempt. Although dead men tell no tales, their bodies were a well-spring of information to the trained professional. Some secrets could not be hidden from those who knew where to look. That was as far as Song Xiuyan could guess. Those people seemed unwilling to act against him or his family out in the open. At least, not yet. Song Xiuyan called Song Yang and Ding Yao into the study and told them all he had gathered. Song Yang asked curiously, ¡°Big Brother, do you think the people who disposed of the bodies were part of the same organisation who sent those black-clothed men after you?¡± Song Xiuyan shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Back then, he was more concerned for his family¡¯s safety than verifying his surroundings or potential enemies hiding in their surroundings. While he was out, Song Xiuyan procured more ingredients for Ding Yao to make her Wolf Repelling Powder. It followed a simple recipe. With her mask firmly in place, Ding Yao baked the ingredients in a pot before grounding them into powder. A dash of lime powder to create the burning effect, and voila! A fresh batch of Wolf Repelling Powder was ready for use. The process took her a little less than two hours with Song Xiuyan and Song Yang¡¯s help. Ding Yao divided the Wolf Repelling Powder into several portions and kept the rest in a jar to prevent it from getting wet. Song Xiuyan went out again the following morning, only returning around noon. After lunch, Song Xiuyan asked Song Yang and Ding Yao to meet him in his small study. ¡°Ding Yao, I¡¯m going out with Song Yang later. I¡¯d like you to stay behind and watch over my younger siblings. Don¡¯t let them go out. We should be back by dusk,¡± he said with a certain solemnity. Chapter 45 - Saving People Ding Yao felt something was amiss and signed a question, ¡°Why do you two need to go out? Is it some secret you can¡¯t share with me?¡± Now was not the best time for them to be out and about. What could be so pressing that Song Xiuyan and Song Yang needed to do? Song Xiuyan shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re not trying to keep anything from you. I gave the portrait of the man who caused Song Yang to be bitten by a poisonous snake to a friend at school and asked him to keep an eye on that person for me.¡± ¡°Yesterday morning, he told me someone had seen that person lurking near the school in the Ling family village. I¡¯m going with Song Yang to confirm if my friend¡¯s information is accurate. Don¡¯t worry. I doubt anyone will make any overt moves during the day.¡± Song Yang immediately felt guilty upon delivering his lie. The man responsible for Song Yang¡¯s poisoning had appeared in the Lin family village five or six days ago; he was merely using that man as an excuse to step out for a bit. It was the 26th of June. On this afternoon in his previous life, General Long Jianyuan would visit the former principal of Lingxi High School, Chen Xuefeng. Along the way, General Long would be ambushed by a troupe of assassins of unknown origins. General Long did not bring many people with him. Although he was still strong for his age, he was vastly outnumbered and died at their hands. Long Zhanyuan had guarded the nation¡¯s borders for many years and made countless contributions to the country¡¯s defence. No one could have imagined he would die on a trip to visit his old friend. Since gaining this second chance at life, Song Xiuyan vowed to save General Long. The previous night¡¯s assassination attempt renewed and added to his determination. If he saved General Long, he would gain an opportunity to latch onto the illustrious officer. Those who would harm his family would think twice before taking action against them for fear of retribution from Long Zhanyuan. That was how fearsome his reputation was. In addition, Song Xiuyan wanted Song Yang to follow General Long in the army. Since Song Yang did not like studying but was fairly talented in martial arts, the army would be a good option for him. Hence, to make a good impression, Song Yang had to be present when saving General Long! Ding Yao did not notice Song Xiuyan¡¯s guilt-ridden expression. She waved her hand, indicating it was no trouble and signed, ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll take good care of your siblings while you¡¯re out. Please be careful outside.¡± Song Xiuyan may have felt conflicted by his actions but chose to continue down his path. He did not tell Ding Yao how he staked out the vicinity of Lingxi High School or that he could not find any signs of the would-be killers. Either the assassins after Long Zhanyuan¡¯s head were exceptionally well hidden, or they would only appear when the famed general arrived. Saving General Long was not without risk, but, having weighed his options, Song Xiuyan convinced himself that it was the best choice. They would save Long Zhanyuan and return home alive. Song Xiuyan and Song Yang arrived in the vicinity of Linxi High School. He did not look for his friends; instead, bringing Song Yang around to search for traces of the General¡¯s soon-to-be killers. Unfortunately, they came up empty. Song Xiuyan¡¯s original plan was to intercept the assassins and report his findings to General Long. That plan was a bust. Not only had he never met the lauded general, but the killers he meant to present to him were also nowhere to be found. Moreover, Long Zhanyuan would be travelling in disguise. Without an escort or some way to reveal his identity, finding Long Zhanyuan would not be an easy task. As time ticked away against them, Song Xiuyan decided to wait where he knew General Long¡¯s untimely death would occur. Song Yang stayed by his older brother¡¯s side, wondering what they were doing. Curious, he asked, ¡°Big Brother, why are we waiting here?¡± Song Xiuyan lied to him. ¡°This road is the only way to the Lin family village. We¡¯ll find the target if we remain here.¡± Song Yang had always admired his older brother, believing he was the smartest and wisest of all his siblings. He did not bare a shred of doubt regarding his older brother¡¯s decisions. Song Yang felt his mind drift to the man who nearly killed him with that poisonous snake, and he cursed fiercely, ¡°I¡¯ll beat that man to death when I see him later!¡± Song Xiuyan waited nervously. A few cars whizzed by, but nothing happened. A while later, Song Xiuyan noticed a black off-road vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Through the window, he could see it was full of fierce-looking men. Song Xiuyan instantly reacted. The men in the SUV were the ones who had assassinated General Long Zhanyuan! As expected, when the two cars passed by, the men in the SUV took out their weapons one after another and pointed at the black car, forcing them to stop. Song Yang was shocked and quickly pulled Song Xiuyan to hide behind a large tree by the roadside. The sound of the brakes suddenly stopped. Three men jumped out of the black car. Two of them were very young, and there was an old man around sixty years old with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was full of killing intent. ¡°Who are you?¡± There could be no doubt that this man was General Long Zhanyuan. Chapter 46 - Rescue The men in the SUV did not say much. They picked up their weapons and ran toward Long Zhanyuan. ¡°Go to hell!¡± They did not use guns. Instead, they chose the most primitive weapon, the longsword. 1 Long Zhanyuan was mad, ¡°You are courting death!¡± He fought with his bare hands and kicked off a man¡¯s long sword. After that, he held the head and twisted his neck with a click. The young men beside him fought with bare hands too. Both of them were brave and fierce. The vibe among them was truly appalling. Song Yang watched them fight and got a little heated up, ¡°Big brother, who are those people? Why do they want to kill these three people?¡± It looked like these burly men who suddenly appeared were not the opponents of these three people at all. Song Xiuyan saw that too, so he did not save Long Zhanyuan immediately. He saw another truck approaching not far away, and the back of the truck was full of people. He tugged on Song Yang¡¯s sleeve and made a sudden realization face Song Yang. ¡°I recognize him. This old man seems to be General Long Zhanyuan! I remember his appearance because I have seen his portrait!¡± he said. Song Yang was shocked, ¡°No way? How could General Long Zhanyuan appear in such a small place here?¡± His achievements had been spread around the place a long time ago. He was famous in Hua Xia. He was Song Yang¡¯s favourite hero too. ¡°Let¡¯s go and save General Long Zhanyuan!¡± Song Yang, who was full of enthusiasm, quickly made a decision. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s use the powder made by Ding Yao to deal with those strong men¡¯s helpers first.¡± As soon as Song Xiuyan finished his sentences, the car reached beside them. The men in the car drew their long swords respectively, ready to jump down and join the fight. At this moment, Song Xiuyan spilt a packet of poison powder on them! ¡°Ahhhhhhh ¡­¡± The carriage was filled with screams instantly. They covered their eyes and jumped off the carriage like crazy. The men seated at the back who were not hit started to wave their long swords towards Song¡¯s brothers and tried to kill them. Song¡¯s brothers had each solved the strong man who was hit by the powder and picked up their long swords in hand. Both of them faced the enemy by standing back to back without fear. Their family had an ancestral secret book of martial arts. The book was related to inner strength, heart, boxing, and foot moves. Other than that, they had another set of sword recipes with endless variations. Usually, they practised by using bamboo swords only. However, it did not affect their performances at the moment. A dozen men surrounded them but still couldn¡¯t hurt them for a while. At that moment, one of the men surrounding General Long Zhanyuan shouted, ¡°Are you guys blind? Our target is here! Why are you all leaving the target man unkilled, but fighting with those irrelevant people?¡± The burly men surrounding Song¡¯s brother suddenly realized and switched their targets to Long Zhanyuan. They were blocked by Song Xiuyan and Song Yang. Long Zhanyuan and his followers had grabbed their long swords in hand. However, there were too many enemies. At the same time, they used the formation technique. Therefore, they couldn¡¯t break out in a short time. Long Zhanyuan noticed them and wondered what happened outside the formation. Why did these two young men with skilful martial arts help them? The two fighting groups finally converged. All of the men gathered Song Xiuyan, Song Yang, and General Long Zhanyuan in the middle. ¡°Who are you guys?¡± While fighting with the enemy, General Long Zhanyuan asked Song Xiuyan and Song Yang in a deep voice. ¡°We are villagers from the Song family village who passed by this place. Are you General Long Zhanyuan?¡± Song Yang asked with full enthusiasm. ¡°Yes, I am!¡± Long Zhanyuan called out his name confidently. The admiration and fanaticism in Song Yang¡¯s eyes raised to a higher level. ¡°That¡¯s great! We didn¡¯t help the wrong person! You are General Long Zhanyuan!¡± he shouted. It¡¯s inappropriate to talk too much when faced with a vicious enemy, therefore Song Xiuyan kept quiet. General Long Zhanyuan stopped wasting his energy and concentrated more on the battle. Five of them fought bloodily and finished killing off all the men quickly. Apart from Song Xiuyan, the other four people had different degrees of injury. Song Yang was stabbed with a sword on his left arm. The whole arm was stained with blood. Both of General Long Zhanyuan¡¯s followers were quite injured. One of them injured his thigh, while the other injured his back. General Long Zhanyuan¡¯s right shoulder was injured. If Song Yang had not rescued him in time, his whole arm might cut off by the enemy. Without the Song brothers, Long Zhanyuan and his followers would die here. General Long Zhanyuan was always cold-hearted. But now he was full of gratitude to Song Xiuyan and Song Yang. Chapter 47 - Life Especially Song Yang, Long Zhanyuan saw the shadow of his youth from Song Yang. His personality was like he knew everything and feared nothing. Since Song Xiuyan was the only one not getting injured, he checked on the men one by one. Except for those who had been killed, others men were heavily injured and they all committed suicide themselves. No survivors. Song Xiuyan looked a little regretful. ¡°These people are all dead soldiers. Even if we catch them alive, it is difficult to ask anything from them.¡± General Long Zhanyuan said. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t stop them from committing suicide. This battle shocked a lot of people. They watched from a distance, but none of them came forward and took a look. By looking at it from a distance, there were dozens of corpses piled up in the middle of the road. The smell of the corpses was blowing with the wind. At this moment, the police rushed over after receiving a call. The students and teachers of Lingxi High School came and checked it out. Chen Xuefeng, the ex-headmaster of Lingxi High School, had received a message from General Long Zhanyuan. He was waiting and looking forward because he knew that they would arrive by today. However, he heard the news that someone blocked the road and had a battle at the intersection. By the time Chen Xuefeng and the others arrived, the fight was over. After seeing the blood-stained General Long Zhanyuan, Chen Xuefeng breathed a long sigh of relief. He took a big step forward. It seemed like he was not frightened by the corpse on the ground. Both the two old friends held their hands together. Long Zhanyuan seemed to ignore the corpse on the ground too and held Chen Xuefeng¡¯s hand. ¡± It¡¯s been decades since the last time we met, but Mr Chen is still the same! ¡± Chen Xuefeng said with emotion. Chen Xuefeng ignored the corpse on the ground and sighed, ¡± Mr Long, it has been decades since we last met each other. It¡¯s good to see you are still well and energetic! Come on, let¡¯s go over there and catch up.¡± Just as Chen Xuefeng was about to turn and leave, he saw Song Xiuyan helping Song Yang with bandaging. ¡°Song Xiuyan? Why are you here?¡± he was surprised and asked. Song Xiuyan bowed to Chen Xuefeng, ¡± I just passed by here and recognized General Long Zhanyuan, so I gave him help.¡± Long Zhanyuan didn¡¯t expect Song Xiuyan to be from Lingxi High School. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to school and bandage the wound,¡± he said. All of them followed Dean Chen Xuefeng into the school. The police confirmed the identity of General Long Zhanyuan and immediately requested a doctor. They notified the mayor and cordoned off the scene in a quick move. The intercepted case occurred in the Lingxi town, and the victim was General Long Zhanyuan who was holding the military power of the country. Fortunately, those criminals did not succeed. Otherwise, the mayor and government would be in big trouble. Back at Dean Chen Xuefeng¡¯s place, Long Zhanyuan and his followers had treated their wounds and put on clean clothes. They always brought the medicine with them and even gave a bottle to Song Yang. The followers of General Long Zhanyuan thanked the Song brothers for their life-saving grace. Song Xiuyan was introverted and didn¡¯t talk much, so both of them became familiar with extrovert Song Yang. After finding out about the Song Xiuyan family situation from Chen Xuefeng, Long Zhanyuan immediately took out a card to Song Xiuyan. The way he spoke was straightforward like a soldier. ¡°Song brothers, I will never forget the life-saving grace of yours. In the future, just let me know whenever you guys need help. This money is just to convey my gratitude.¡± he said. Song Xiuyan refused by shaking his head. Dean Chen Xuefeng looked anxiously at the side. ¡°Take it first. You can¡¯t abandon your studies because of money issues. Your talent shouldn¡¯t be buried.¡± he tried to persuade Song Xiuyan. Song Xiuyan stayed still, but he knew that Dean Chen Xuefeng said it with good intention. He explained, ¡°Old Dean, before this I promised that I¡¯m leaving school temporarily. No worries, I will take the exam next year. For the money issue, I¡¯ll figure it out myself.¡± General Long Zhanyuan had read countless people. He knew that Song Xiuyan had something on his mind. ¡± I am a straightforward person. Instead of money, is there something important that you need my help with?¡± He pulled Song Xiuyan aside and asked in whispers. This was what Song Xiuyan waited for Long Zhanyuan. He explained the reason they were here that afternoon and why Song Yang was being bitten by a poisonous snake. After that, he took out a stack of portraits. ¡°If General Long can help me to find out who is trying to harm my brother, I will never forget your help!¡± he said. Chapter 48 - I Want to Join the Army General Long Zhanyuan took over the portrait. He understood Song Xiuyan¡¯s intentions and admired his character. Song Xiuyan was concerned more about the safety of his younger brother rather than the bank card. He quickly agreed to Song Xiuyan¡¯s request because he just needed to talk with the mayor¡¯s side on the line. While the man in the portrait, General Long still can find him out even though he had left LingXi town. After the Song¡¯s brother left, Dean Chen Xuefeng and General Long Zhanyuan walked into the study room. Chen Xuefeng looked grave. ¡°Do you know who is the head of the conspiracy today?¡± he asked. ¡°Who else will be beside the top ones with such a big deal and sending so many dead soldiers all at once?¡± Long Zhanyuan said with a bad face. Hua Xia was in his prime. All the princes were still young, but the infighting between them was very fierce. General Long Zhanyuan had been covered at the national defence line for decades. The King called him back to the capital because of his age. He was in charge of security with 300,000 troops. The national defence line was given to Long Tian Lin, Long Zhanyuan¡¯s son who was in charge of another 300,000 troops too. In this way, Long Zhanyuan¡¯s family became a hot commodity. Several princes and other parties were wildly ambitious about the military power in the hands of Long Zhanyuan. At the same time, whoever could pull Long Zhanyuan into his camp would have a chance to be the head of the country. However, the general was a neutral faction who doesn¡¯t care about anyone. Those people hit a wall and couldn¡¯t take Long Zhanyuan for their use. Therefore the only way was to kill him and replaced him with their people. Chen Xuefeng thought a bit more, he hesitated for a moment. ¡°Brother Long, you seem to have missed out on someone¡­ they ¡­¡± he said. ¡°They?¡± Long Zhanyuan wondered. The current King is not the heir to the original lord. His father was the uncle of the former lord, who later staged a coup to occupy the position of the King. But before the former lord died, he passed the national seal over to his two sons and helped them escape from the capital secretly. Thirty years ago, the two sons of the old King fully prepared well and staged a coup to retake the kingdom that belonged to them, but the coup failed. Two of his sons and their descendants all died in that coup. At that time, General Long Zhanyuan was the main coach in the coup since he did not support the descendants of the original king. What Dean Chen Xuefeng meant, the descendants of those two sons were still alive. It seemed like they were taking revenge on General Long this time. After seeing Song Xiuyan and Song Yang come out, the students in the school gathered around. Song Xiuyan was always cool in front of them. Chu Weidong was their only friend in the school, so the students waited for Chu Weidong to ask. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t want to stay at the school for too long. He simply explained that he decided to help just because he recognized General Long Zhanyuan. He emphasized that it was only a small favour. After Chu Weidong heard it, he didn¡¯t ask any further questions. Previously Song Xiuyan entrusted him to find someone, but Chu Weidong kept it secret. On the way home, Song Yang talked in a low voice. ¡°Brother, did you ask General Long Zhanyuan to help us find the man who got me bitten by a poisonous snake?¡± he asked. ¡°General Long Zhanyuan had promised about this.¡± Song Xiuyan nodded and said. ¡°That¡¯s great. As long as General Long Zhanyuan is willing to help, we will be able to find out who is trying to harm us!¡± Song Yang said. He looked happy. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell him about the night we were attacked by the men in black,¡± Song Xiuyan said. Song Yang was puzzled. ¡°Why?¡± he asked. ¡°Those who are capable of training dead soldiers, their power should not be underestimated. Either they are the top people in the capital or other parties who have powerful forces. General Long is known to be a neutral faction.¡± Song Xiuyan shook his head and said. Therefore, it didn¡¯t mean that Long Zhanyuan would antagonize others because they had saved Long Zhanyuan¡¯s life. Song Yang understood what Song Xiuyan meant. It made sense to think about it. No matter what, their family would be taken care of by General Long Zhanyuan in the future. Those who didn¡¯t dare to harm their family openly would have more scruples. Anyway, it was a coincidence that they saved General Long Zhanyuan this afternoon. This luck had been brought to them by their sister-in-law Ding Yao. Without her powder, they couldn¡¯t save General Long Zhanyuan. Song Yang couldn¡¯t help. ¡°Brother, do you think General Long will agree if I ask him to join the army?¡± he asked his brother. Chapter 49 - Half of the Credit Song Xiuyan glanced at Song Yang. As he expected, if Song Yang saw General Long Zhanyuan with his own eyes, he would have the idea of joining the army. Song Yang deliberately approached General Long Zhanyuan¡¯s two followers just because he needed them to test him out. He hoped they would have a good word with General Long for him. Song Xiuyan¡¯s mouth curved up slightly. ¡°If you want to go, I will help you to ask. I guess it will work,¡± he said in a good mood. He did not want General Long Zhanyuan to know about their complicated background. Therefore, he didn¡¯t say anything about the night attack by the men in black. He was worried that Long Zhanyuan would refuse Song Yang to enter the army. If he wanted to change his life, he had to calculate every aspect. ¡°After I leave, what about the other siblings? Will they be afraid?¡± he said. Song Yang was happy but also a little worried. During this period, he and Song Xiuyan divided the work. One to protect the people who went out and the other to protect the family. The danger to the younger siblings at home became doubled if he left. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about this for the time being. After we saved General Long, the local government will soon know that we are the benefactors of General Long Zhanyuan. They will not dare to neglect us. Even if this matter is not publicized, those who want to harm our family will probably be able to get the news. They will have double scruples and stop for a while. And¡­ people can¡¯t just look at the present, but look further. Going to the army is a very good choice. Once you stand high enough, you can protect the family better.¡± Song Xiuyan shook his head and said. Song Xiuyan had enough patience with Song Yang to guide him and clarify his future path. After hearing Song Xiuyan¡¯s words, Song Yang was excited. ¡°Brother, I understand what you mean! I will work hard. From now on you¡¯ll be the main in language and I¡¯ll be the main in battle. We¡¯ll both go hand in hand!¡± he said. His brother¡¯s goal was to pass the college entrance exam. He wanted to be a top scholar and a big official. Song Yang¡¯s goal was to be a soldier and then an officer. Song Xiuyan smiled. Good! A soldier who refused to be a general was not a good soldier. Song Yang¡¯s goal was written on his face. After they returned home, Ding Yao looked at Song Xiuyan. ¡°Did you guys participate in the fight near the school?¡± she asked. The news of a brawl that happened near the Lingxi High School that caused many people to die had spread throughout the town. Although the blood on Song Xiuyan and Song Yang¡¯s bodies had been cleaned, the marks were still there. Song Yang had a wound on his arm, which meant they had a life-and-death struggle. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t want to hide it. ¡°Yes, we happened to pass by there. Since we recognized who was intercepted and killed, so we went up to help. The powder you gave helped us so much.¡± he nodded and said. Then, he recounted the story again, ¡°Without the powder, there would be more casualties on our side.¡± Ding Yao had half the credit too. At this time, Ah-jie rushed in quickly. ¡°Song Yang! I heard that you guys saved a big shot near the school. And you guys were injured?¡± he asked. He got a little more detailed information than the rumors. The reason why he knew was that the government had called all the doctors in town to the school and treat these three people. Song Yang laughed out loud: ¡°You are quite well-informed. Even knowing about my injuries. Don¡¯t worry. They are all minor injuries.¡± Ah-jie punched Song Yang¡¯s right arm, ¡°Tell me quickly. What kind of big shot did you guys save?¡± Song Yang was reminded of Song Xiuyan previously, so he spoke much more smoothly with a smile. ¡°This can not be leaked. It depends on how the government announced,¡± he said. After Ah-jie heard it, he was very sensible and stopped asking about it. Then he asked for the details again before going home. In the evening, Song Xiuyan called Ding Yao to the study room. He told her all about his decision and the status of General Long Zhanyuan in Hua Xia. When Ding Yao knew that Song Xiuyan kept quiet about the blacks who attacked them, she started to reevaluate Song Xiuyan again. This kid¡­ he had a deep scheming. Probably even Song Yi, Song Yu, Song Xue, and others were not aware of his scheming, but he told her all about it because he trusted her. However, Ding Yao admired Song Xiuyan. She might not be able to have such a strategy as Song Xiuyan if she were there. Chapter 50 - Nothing Good Can Come Out of a Dogs Mouth 1 On the next day, the mayor of Lingxi Town personally led people to send a plaque to Song Xiuyan¡¯s house with a gong and drums. The plaque was titled ¡± The Young Heroes .¡± The villagers of the Song family village all came to watch. The mayor announced in public that Song¡¯s brother helped General Long Zhanyuan who was the backbone of the country yesterday. He came from the capital to visit an old friend in Lingxi Town. The mayor did not say that they saved him, but they only helped. So even if it was publicized, it won¡¯t affect General Long Zhanyuan¡¯s reputation. Then, the Mayor gave Song Xiuyan a thick envelope that contained a stack of money. The money was estimated to be over ten thousand dollars. The villagers stared at the envelopes with extreme envy in their hearts. After the mayor and the people left, the villagers discussed among themselves: ¡°Don¡¯t be jealous, they are risking their lives to save people. Song brothers use their lives to exchange the money.¡± ¡°Yes, those who are trying to attack General Long Zhanyuan must be extremely vicious people. Although the Song brothers have been paid for their help, those who have taken action against General Long may do it again to the Song family. We don¡¯t know how it will be when those people take revenge on the brothers¡­¡± The daughter-in-law of village head Wu Mei heard these words. She couldn¡¯t help but scold them. ¡± Can you guys say something good? The Song family has just been better, now you¡¯re expecting them to be unlucky again?¡± she said. ¡°What you are saying right now is that we are bad at cursing the Song family, instead we are just discussing it. As a woman, you don¡¯t know the plot behind it. If you don¡¯t believe it, go back and ask the village chief. Then you will know whether what we are talking about is true!¡± One of the men said. Another man agreed. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s good that the government doesn¡¯t make it public. If not, the Song brothers become a target!¡± he said. Wu Mei was worried too. ¡°Stop worrying about it. The Song brothers are not easy to beat up. If they want revenge against them, they have to weigh themselves!¡± she said. The villagers did not refute anymore because they felt that what Wu Mei said was true. In the evening, Wu Mei and village chief, Lin Shenghai came to Song Xiuyan¡¯s house. They told the Song brothers not to go out during this period. Also, they told them to lock the doors and windows at night. Lin Shenghai reminded Song Xiuyan alone, ¡°I guess the government staff reward you guys with great provision. But in fact, it is because they want to lure the criminals out and catch them at once. All of you have to be extra cautious during this period. ¡± Song Xiuyan nodded. ¡± Thank you for your reminder, Uncle Lin. I will take good care of my younger siblings,¡± he said. He knew that the government wanted to use this method to lure the gangsters out, but Song Xiuyan felt that the gangsters weren¡¯t that stupid. The Song family had a peaceful day for four to five days. After Song Yu and Song Xue were cured of roundworm disease, Ding Yao began to cook with spirit spring water. The white rice mixed with spirit spring water was extremely sweet. It helped to increase appetite and improve physical fitness. All of this would speed up recovery from the minor problems caused by malnutrition. Before this Song Yu and Song Xue were yellow and thin, but now they had become more healthy. When the villagers saw the changes in Song Yu and Song Xue, they were surprised. Even if the Song family¡¯s life was now better, the changes were too fast. The most amazing thing was Song Yi started having sensations on his injured leg after five to six days of treatment. Since the treatment was so effective, Song Yi¡¯s smile had been hanging on his face for the whole day. Song Yu had mastered the massage techniques of his brother, so Ding Yao didn¡¯t need to do the massage. In addition, Song Yu also proposed to learn medicine with Ding Yao. He always watched at the side when Ding Yao was doing acupuncture. However, Ding Yao said that acupuncture was different from massage. He had to be familiar with the acupuncture points of the human body before practice. During the day, Song Yang stayed at home to convalesce his injured arm and protect his siblings. Song Xiuyan, Song Yu, and Ding Yao went to the mountains and dug up herbs. The herb was not only for roundworms but also for other useful purposes. They made a special room as a pharmacy. Each kind of herb was labelled with its name, efficacy, and contraindications. This was to facilitate Song Yu to become familiar with the various herbs. In the past few days, more children had come to get treatment for roundworm disease. There were also children from neighbouring villages. However, they stayed too far away. It was inconvenient for them because they had to come and return twice a day. After thinking about it, Ding Yao decided to tell the Song brothers about the sugar pill. Chapter 51 - Herd of Wild Boars After hearing this, Song Yu looked at Ding Yao with admiration. ¡°Sister Ding Yao, you still make sugar pills?¡± In his opinion, sugar pills were similar to pills and could only be made in some big pharmacies. Ding Yao smiled and nodded. She still wanted to rely on sugar pills to make a fortune. She did as she was told. She let Song Yu boil a big pot of thick medicinal juice, then added sugar according to the ratio. She ground the cooked japonica rice into powder and added sweet medicinal juice. after mixing it evenly, it could be pressed on the special mold to form small, semicircular sugar pills. These small sugar pills were similar to fried rice cakes. They were fragrant, sweet, and had medicinal effects. The most important thing was that it was convenient to eat. On the second day after the sugar pills were made, they wrapped the sugar pills in paper bags. Each bag had a two-day portion. Whether to eat one or two depended on the patient¡¯s condition. The points to note when eating the sugar pills were the same as before, and the price was the same. At the beginning, the villagers who received the sugar pills were skeptical. It wasn¡¯t until two days later when they saw that their children had really excreted the worms that they clapped their hands and praised them. They also helped Ding Yao promote them. Later, more and more people bought the sugar pills. Even Manager Xu, from One Side Sky Pharmacy, came to them. Manager Xu had a good attitude as he discussed with Ding Yao, ¡°Can you sell us the formula and the method to make it? We can negotiate the price.¡± One Side Sky Pharmacy was located all over the country. If they had the formula for the sugar pills, they would earn an immeasurable amount of money. Therefore, it didn¡¯t matter if they offered a higher price. However, Ding Yao directly shook her head and refused. Manager Xu knew that Ding Yao was very creative. Previously, when he wanted to buy her Snake Swallow Stone, she had said that she wouldn¡¯t sell it for 100,000 yuan. However, this time, it was the task given to him by the boss. He had to buy the formula for the sugar pills. Manager Xu smiled apologetically. He first tried to persuade Ding Yao from the perspective of a doctor. ¡°You don¡¯t have your own prescription. The sugar pill has its limitations in terms of sales. Your manpower and material resources are also limited. You can¡¯t benefit the people all over the country. You will definitely regret it. If you sell the prescription to us, we guarantee that we won¡¯t raise the price. We will continue to maintain your original price to benefit the people. We will only earn a small profit. This should be your wish. As long as you are willing to sell the prescription to us, you can name your conditions.¡± Ding Yao smiled and gestured. ¡°It is impossible to sell the prescription. We will not sell it for any amount of money. However, we can cooperate.¡± After Ding Yao gestured, Song Xiuyan translated the words to Steward Xu. Steward Xu had a headache. The boss had given him the task of buying the prescription, but Ding Yao didn¡¯t bother to negotiate with him about the price. However, when it came to cooperation, he definitely didn¡¯t have the right to decide. He would also be scolded by the boss for not doing a good job. Steward Xu wasn¡¯t reconciled, so he gritted his teeth and offered a sky-high price. ¡°How about I give you 150,000?¡± Ding Yao was unmoved and gestured. ¡°I said I won¡¯t sell it, so I won¡¯t sell it. If you don¡¯t want to cooperate, then please go back.¡± Steward Xu¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t very good, but he didn¡¯t dare to offend Ding Yao. Ding Yao looked at him with a cold gaze. She gestured and asked, ¡°Did you tell my stepmother about the Snake Swallow Stone?¡± Manager Xu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. So the little girl was holding a grudge over this matter¡­ he quickly explained, ¡°Miss Ding Yao, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I didn¡¯t specifically tell your stepmother because the staff in the pharmacy accidentally spilled the beans.¡± Ding Yao stood up. ¡°It¡¯s not for the best. I¡¯ve already made it very clear. The prescription is not for sale, and cooperation can be negotiated. If Manager Xu can¡¯t make the decision, then go back and ask your boss.¡± These words were equivalent to a dismissal order. Manager Xu had no choice but to leave the Song family. As soon as Manager Xu left, Ah Jie came over to look for Song Yang. ¡°Song Yang, you know about the group of wild boars that came to the mountain nest, right?¡± Song Yang nodded. ¡°I heard about it.¡± The mountain nest was located between two mountains, and the mountain was where the dead were buried. From the foot of the mountain to halfway up the mountain, the land of the Song family village was filled with all kinds of crops. It was now summer. The soybeans that had a relatively short growth period had already been collected. However, the peanuts that had a longer growth period would take about half a month to mature. At this time, a group of wild boars came. A male and a female brought seven to eight piglets that hadn¡¯t yet matured. They didn¡¯t eat the peanut seedlings. Instead, they ate the peanuts in the field. The peanuts that hadn¡¯t matured were scattered all over the place. The villagers of Song family village were about to die from the anger at the wild boars. They asked their men to drive the wild boar away at night. However, as soon as their people left, the wild boar would come back to wreak havoc. They couldn¡¯t send people to guard the field every day, moreover, the wild boar weighed about 400 to 500 kilograms. It was tall and big. Its long fangs were exposed. Whenever it saw people, it would ferociously rush over. Chapter 52 - Lets Go Kill Some Pigs Previously, there were five or six men who brought bows, arrows, knives, and forks to hunt wild boars. In the end, they were almost scared shitless by the wild boars that rushed over. The villagers had no choice but to cut some thorny thorns to block the edge of the peanut field, who knew that the wild boars had tough skin and thick flesh? In just a few moves, they knocked away the thorny thorns and then entered the peanut field. The peanut field was ravaged by the wild boars for several nights, and the villagers suffered heavy losses. Village Chief Lin Shenghai reported the matter of the wild boar to the town government and waited for the people of the town government to come and resolve it. However, the recent assassination of General Long Zhanyuan had caused the people of the town government to have no time to care about such a small matter. If they waited for a few more days, the villagers¡¯ peanuts would have been wasted. Some villagers had already endured the pain and pulled the immature peanuts back home. Ah Jie came to find Song Yang because he wanted to invite the Song brothers to hunt wild boars. Song Xiuyan and Song Yang¡¯s martial arts were strong, so their chances of killing wild boars would be higher. Song Yang was a little tempted, but he was also a little worried. If he and his big brother went to hunt wild boars, what if those people took the opportunity to take revenge at home? Seeing Song Yang hesitate, Ah Jie was a little dissatisfied. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve wanted to ask you and your big brother for help for a long time, but I thought that it would be inconvenient if your arm was injured, but now that your arm has recovered, aren¡¯t you going to help?¡± Moreover, it wasn¡¯t for nothing, after killing the wild boar, they could still make a considerable profit. When Song Xiuyan heard Ah Jie¡¯s words, he shook his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous for us to hunt wild boars privately. People will die. We won¡¯t go. It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t go either. Wait for the town government to send people over to take care of it.¡± He remembered that in his previous life, Ah Jie and the other people in the village went to hunt wild boars. In the end, Ah Jie¡¯s wasn¡¯t unlucky. He was stabbed in the heart by the wild boar¡¯s tusks and died. After the Song family village¡¯s people lost their lives, the town government sent more than 20 people to besiege and kill this group of wild boars. If Song Xiuyan and Song Yang agreed to help, Ah Jie would definitely go with them. He couldn¡¯t find a reason to persuade Ah Jie not to go with them, because only by going would he be able to get the wild boar meat. But if Ah Jie went with them, there was no guarantee that he wouldn¡¯t be stabbed to death by the wild boar¡¯s tusks. This was his fate. Song Xiuyan had a deep understanding of how difficult it was to defy the heavens and change fate. However, just a few days ago, he had already warned Ah Jie not to go hunting wild boars. However, Ah Jie still insisted on going¡­ Song Xiuyan was thinking of Ah Jie. However, Ah Jie¡¯s expression was very ugly. Ah Jie had been entrusted by the villagers to invite the Song brothers. At that time, he had even patted his chest to guarantee that there would be no problems. He didn¡¯t expect Song Xiuyan to reject him without any hesitation. Song Yang also felt bad. Ah Jie was his good friend. He really didn¡¯t want to reject him. Moreover, hunting wild boars was dangerous. However, he also knew his big brother¡¯s concerns. He mistakenly thought that Song Xiuyan was worried that after they left, someone would come to the house to harm his younger brother and sister. Song Xiuyan and Song Yang refused to go, and Ah Jie couldn¡¯t kneel down and beg them. He squeezed out a forced smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t go. It¡¯s my fault. The injury on your arm hasn¡¯t fully healed. If you get injured again, it¡¯ll be troublesome¡­¡± Song Yang felt a little guilty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ah Jie¡­¡± Song Xiuyan reminded Ah Jie again, ¡°You mustn¡¯t go hunting wild boars. You¡¯re young and can¡¯t outrun a male wild boar. If an accident happens, there¡¯s no medicine for regret!¡± Ah Jie¡¯s expression, which had just calmed down, turned ugly again. Song Xiuyan¡¯s words were too upsetting. He hadn¡¯t even gone yet, and he was already cursing him? Ah Jie said a little indignantly, ¡°If you and Song Yang don¡¯t go, we definitely won¡¯t dare to go!¡± After saying that, he walked out. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t stop Ah Jie. He had already made up his mind. If Ah Jie really wanted to go hunting wild boars tonight, he could only knock him out secretly. If the others wanted to go, then so be it. In his previous life, they weren¡¯t killed by wild boars either. In this life, they should be fine. Ding Yao looked at Song Xiuyan for a while, then suddenly raised her hand and gestured. ¡°I¡¯ve thought of a good way to hunt wild boars.¡± Song Xiuyan was stunned. ¡°What way?¡± Ding Yao continued to gesture. ¡°The large trumpet flower we picked previously has been dried and ground into powder. It¡¯s the main ingredient in making Monosodium glutamate. If used alone, it can also knock people out. We can boil a pot of food and add the large trumpet flower pollen into it. We can put it in the peanut field to lure the wild boars over to eat it. After they are all unconscious, we can kill them.¡± 1 Chapter 53 - Knockout Drug Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t quite believe it. ¡°Will this really work?¡± Ding Yao nodded. ¡°It will definitely work. We¡¯ll add lees to the pig food, and we¡¯ll be able to attract wild boars to eat it.¡± When he heard that lees would be added, Song Xiuyan¡¯s eyes lit up. Perhaps this method would really work! Ah Jie¡¯s family brewed wine, and lees were readily available. When Song Yang heard this, he was also very happy. He volunteered and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go and tell Ah Jie and the others! Whether this method works or not, we have to give it a try!¡± If he didn¡¯t believe it, they were just wasting some lees and pig food. If it worked, they would get rid of the evil for the people, and they could still gain something. Song Xiuyan nodded. ¡°Go.¡± Song Yang ran to the door excitedly, but after a while, he ran back and asked Ding Yao, ¡°Should I tell Ah Jie alone, or should I tell others as well?¡± If he only told Ah Jie, then only Ah Jie would get a share of the wild boar he hunted. If he told others, then there would be many people who would get a share of the pork. Wild boar meat was very valuable! Ding Yao looked at Song Xiuyan. ¡°What do you mean to do?¡± Song Xiuyan immediately understood what Ding Yao meant. She wanted to tell Ah Jie and the other villagers. She had told him before that the relationship between neighbors was very important. As the saying went, a distant relative wasn¡¯t as important as a close neighbor. She was able to remind him because she saw that his family had almost no contact with the people in the village. Song Xiuyan understood Ding Yao¡¯s good intentions. He went along with her intention and said to Song Yang, ¡°Just tell Ah Jie and some other people who will participate in the hunting of wild boars. It¡¯s not good if too many people know about it. Also, don¡¯t tell them that there¡¯s a knockout drug in the pig¡¯s food. Just tell them that there¡¯s a drug in the pig¡¯s food that can speed up the process of making wild boars drunk.¡± Song Xiuyan had just remembered that the knockout drug was a drug that the town government prohibited from being privately made. If this news got out, Ding Yao would be in trouble. Song Yang patted his head. ¡°Xiuyan is still the best. I almost forgot about this!¡± After saying that, he quickly ran into Ah Jie¡¯s house and told him the method that Ding Yao had told him. Ah Jie and the others didn¡¯t really believe that this method would work, however, Ah Jie was very excited. ¡°Whether it works or not, we have to give it a try!¡± Ah Jie¡¯s father also strongly supported him. ¡°That¡¯s right. Giving it a try won¡¯t delay anything. This method isn¡¯t dangerous at all. Those who don¡¯t want to participate can choose not to participate. However, don¡¯t leak this matter out. If there are too many people, it will cause a big commotion. It won¡¯t be good if we scare the wild boar away.¡± Hearing what Ah Jie¡¯s father said, the other men immediately changed their minds. Actually, there was no harm in trying it out. At most, it would waste a bucket of pig food and some distillers¡¯ grains. They immediately agreed that they wouldn¡¯t tell anyone about this, even their own wives. Moreover, every family would provide a handful of rice and boil a pot of fragrant vegetable porridge to make pig food. In the afternoon, a big pot of pig food was ready. Before the sky turned dark, Ah Jie used two buckets to carry it to the mountain nest. At night, everyone gathered at Ah Jie¡¯s house. Song Xiuyan and Song Yang also came with the medicinal powder. Everyone was very surprised. They thought that Song Xiuyan wouldn¡¯t participate. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t really want to participate. He was worried about the safety of his family. However, Ding Yao said that the safety of his younger brother and sister was on her shoulders. Moreover, there were people sent by the government to watch over them in secret. There was nothing to worry about. After the wild boar fainted, a large number of people were needed to carry it back. Besides, if Song Xiuyan went, everyone would be safer. Song Xiuyan was convinced, so he decided to go with them. Six or seven people brought two pig food troughs and thick ropes to bind the wild boars. Under the cold moonlight, they split into two groups and went to the mountain nest. They mixed the medicinal powder into the pig food and then poured the pig food into the pig food troughs, then they retreated to a safe place and hid. The smell of distiller¡¯s grains blew for ten miles and soon attracted the wild boars. Everyone lay motionless in the grass and waited excitedly and nervously for the wild boars to take the bait. The wild boars sniffed left and right and finally found the pig food that smelled of wine. The wild boars¡¯ IQ wasn¡¯t high. Coupled with the temptation of the aroma of the food, they didn¡¯t even think and directly ate it. In a short while, the boar¡¯s food in the two pig trough was snatched by the wild boars. The piglets were the first to faint. The two big wild boars realized that something was wrong and staggered for more than ten steps before finally falling down. Ah Jie cheered, ¡°Yeah, we did it!¡± After shouting, he was about to rush over. However, he was stopped by Song Xiuyan. ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll go over and take a look first. If there are no problems, you can come over.¡± He didn¡¯t forget how Ah Jie died in his previous life, so it was better to be careful. Chapter 54 - Killing the Boar Ah Jie retreated awkwardly. Song Xiuyan and Song Yang quickly went to the wild boar. After checking it, they beckoned for them to go over. The men lit torches and excitedly tied up the two big wild boars tightly. The piglets were also tied together. The two big wild boars were too ferocious. To be safe, they first broke the four legs of the wild boar. As for why they didn¡¯t kill the wild boars first¡­ it was because they were worried that others would think that the wild boars were poisoned. Then, no one would dare to eat the wild boar meat. If they waited for the wild boars to wake up before killing them, there was no need to explain anything. Ah Jie¡¯s father was an upright man. He took the initiative to suggest to Song Xiuyan, ¡°The method to kill the wild boars was thought up by you. The medicinal powder was also provided by you. The most dangerous thing was also done by you. We only put in a little labor effort, so how about 30-70% of the wild boar meat? 70% for you guys, 30% for us.¡± They were already very lucky to kill these wild boars without putting in much effort. With 30% of the wild boar meat, they had already taken advantage of them. After all, they really didn¡¯t do anything. Song Xiuyan looked at Ah Jie¡¯s father with clear and cold eyes. ¡°According to the rules of the village, the wild boar meat will be divided equally between us.¡± Everyone was stunned. They didn¡¯t expect Song Xiuyan to be so generous. Song Yang laughed out loud. ¡°It¡¯s settled then. It will be divided into seven portions. Don¡¯t show such an expression. Actually, my big brother is very easy to get along with. He just doesn¡¯t talk much. He does things fairly.¡± After confirming that the wild boar meat would be divided equally, everyone was very excited. Ah Jie¡¯s father was also very excited. ¡°No, it should be divided into eight portions. Song Xiuyan¡¯s wife, Ding Yao, should also have a portion.¡±After all, Ding Yao was the one who made the knockout drug. She had contributed greatly. ¡°Yes, eight portions!¡± The others also nodded. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t object this time because Ding Yao should have a portion. The men were divided into three groups and carried the wild boar back to the village in one go. Song Yang¡¯s arm was injured, so his task was to raise the torch. All the wild boars were carried to Ah Jie¡¯s door. Not long after, the two large wild boars were the first to wake up. They found that they were tied up and their four legs were in great pain. They groaned and struggled, and their movements woke up the piglets beside them. Realizing that they had lost their freedom, the piglets also groaned and protested. At the entrance of Ah Jie¡¯s house, the noises instantly became like those of a slaughterhouse. The sleeping villagers were woken up by the noise. One by one, they got up to check. When they saw the big wild boars and piglets on the ground, they widened their eyes and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± When Ah Jie¡¯s father and the others saw that the wild boars were only drunk and not poisoned to death, they were so happy that they couldn¡¯t close their mouths. They told the villagers the method that Ding Yao had told them. The villagers were very jealous. The wild boars of all sizes added up to more than 1,000 catties. Even the worst part of the pork could be sold for one or two bucks. Moreover, this was wild boar meat. It could be sold for a lot of money! Some of the more petty villagers felt a little upset about not being invited to participate in the hunting of wild boars. Before dawn, the pig butcher came over. Ah Jie¡¯s family had already prepared boiling water to boil the boar hair. The men who had been given the wild boar meat also called their wives over to help. Just boiling the boar blood alone required several large pots. The men helped the pig butcher. They worked together. Some shaved and some washed the internal organs. At dawn, all the wild boars of all sizes were finished. They were placed on a board and prepared to be carried to the town to be sold. The villagers also came over to buy the wild boar meat one after another. At this time, Song Yang ran over and said to Ah Jie¡¯s father, ¡°My sister-in-law said that the wild boar harmed the entire village. The villagers¡¯ families suffered losses. She doesn¡¯t want her share of the wild boar meat. Give it to the villagers as compensation.¡± When Ah Jie¡¯s father heard this, he immediately decided, ¡°That¡¯s right. Song Xiuyan¡¯s wife is right. We are all from the same village. We should share. Every family in the village can get two catties of wild boar meat for free. There¡¯s no need to pay. But the money for selling wild boar meat still has to be divided into eight portions.¡± The others didn¡¯t have any objections. The villagers who received two catties of wild boar meat for free cheered one by one. They all said that Song Xiuyan¡¯s wife was kind. Those who had once said bad things about Ding Yao also secretly swore in their hearts that they would never talk about Ding Yao behind her back again. Those villagers who felt upset immediately felt relieved when they heard that there was free wild boar meat. Chapter 55 - Man Found The wild boar meat was sold for a total of more than 5,000 yuan, and each person received more than 500 yuan. There was also a lot of wild boar meat, and everyone was beaming with joy. This matter caused a sensation in Spirit Creek Town, and Ding Yao became even more famous. More people came to her to buy sugar pills to treat roundworms. The villagers of the same village also had a 180-degree change in their attitude toward the Song family. Not only did they vigorously promote the miraculous effects of the sugar pills, but when they saw that Song Xiuyan¡¯s family didn¡¯t have vegetables in the vegetable garden, they would even give them some. The children of the village also came to look for Song Yu to play. Song Yu coolly expressed that he didn¡¯t have time to play. He still needed to learn about medicinal herbs and go up the mountain to dig for them. The children were very envious of Song Yu and asked him one after another, ¡°Don¡¯t you need a large number of medicinal herbs? Why don¡¯t I help your family dig for medicinal herbs? It doesn¡¯t matter if the price is a little cheaper.¡± Ding Yao smiled and nodded. She gestured and said, ¡°Those who want to dig for medicinal herbs can come over and find Song Yu to learn how to identify medicinal herbs. We will buy a large number of medicinal herbs at a fair price.¡± Even if she didn¡¯t cooperate with a big pharmacy, she believed that there were other pharmacies that were willing to cooperate with her, so the medicinal herbs had to be prepared first. The children were so happy when they heard this that they wanted to jump up and down. They could also dig for medicinal herbs to earn pocket money! Ding Yao handed the task of collecting medicinal herbs to Song Yi. His leg injury hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet, so there was one thing he could do while he was recuperating. It wouldn¡¯t be too boring. Song Yi¡¯s talent in calculating money surprised Ding Yao. He could estimate the weight of a pile of medicinal herbs with just a glance. No matter how heavy the medicinal herbs were, he could immediately quote a price, it was as if he had a calculator in his head. It would be a waste for such a genius not to do business. Ding Yao was secretly happy. No matter how big her business was in the future, she could rest assured with Song Yi around. The little girls in the village also began to look for Song Xue to play with. Song Xue generously taught them the method of weaving ropes step-by-step. The little girls were very grateful to Song Xue. One by one, they shared their unique skills. Zhao Caiyun felt very sad when she saw that Song Xue didn¡¯t come to play with her anymore. It could be said that Song Xue was a bridge between her and Song Xiuyan. She didn¡¯t expect to have a falling out with Song Xue. It directly cut off the chance for her to meet Song Xiuyan at his home. Originally, Zhao Caiyun wanted to use a new method to lure Song Xue to submit to her. However, she didn¡¯t expect Song Xue to have an even more novel method. She heard that it was taught to her by Ding Yao. When she saw Song Xue teaching the little girls step by step, Zhao Caiyun was very angry! What made her even angrier was that Ding Yao¡¯s abilities were impressive, and she was also getting more and more famous! Zhao Caiyun originally hoped that Ding Yao would bring bad luck to the Song family. When that time came, Song Xiuyan would divorce her. She didn¡¯t expect the opposite. After Ding Yao came to the Song family, the Song family was blessed with endless good luck. This way, Song Xiuyan would only dote on Ding Yao even more. Why would he divorce her? Zhao Caiyun felt jealous. No way! She had crushed on Song Xiuyan for so many years. She would never give up so easily! On the morning of the tenth day after Song Xiuyan and Song Yang saved General Long Zhanyuan, General Long Zhanyuan and his entourage drove the car to Song Xiuyan¡¯s house. They even took out a gunny sack from the car and carried it to the Song family¡¯s courtyard. The gunny sack contained, it was the man who had caused Song Yang to be bitten by a poisonous snake that day. General Long Zhanyuan laughed heartily. ¡°I¡¯ve already helped you find him. If you want to kill him or flay him, feel free to do so.¡± When Song Yang saw his enemy, he was burning with anger. He kicked the man fiercely with his foot. ¡°Why did you want to harm me? You¡¯d better tell me the truth! Otherwise, I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± The man had already been interrogated once. He had already said everything he needed to say. In front of Song Yang, he had no choice but to repeat it again. ¡°I¡¯m a member of Spring Breeze Pavilion. Last month, I received a business deal from the West Qin Casino. They wanted you dead because you once taught a fellow of theirs a lesson outside the West Qin Casino, and this fellow happened to be a relative of the boss.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Song Yang was stunned. What the man said was true. The West Qin Casino was in Spirit Creek Town, and he had indeed taught a hooligan a lesson outside the casino. Last month, Song Yang and Ah Jie went to the mayor to look for an uncle of Ah Jie. The two of them wanted to go to the town to find a job. Coincidentally, at the entrance of the West Qin Casino, Ah Jie accidentally bumped into a gangster. That gangster only staggered from the bump, but he grabbed Ah Jie and insisted on claiming that he was injured, so he had to pay a thousand yuan. Chapter 56 - Go to the Capital Song Yang couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so he took action and taught the hooligans a lesson. With just a few punches, he knocked the hooligans to the ground. The hooligans were afraid of being beaten, so they didn¡¯t dare to ask for compensation. Was such a small matter worth them hiring someone to kill? That wasn¡¯t right. It was impossible! If it weren¡¯t for the existence of the two black-clothed assassins, he would have believed this story! Song Yang looked at Song Xiuyan. Song Xiuyan looked very angry and kicked the man twice. He knew in his heart that the man wasn¡¯t telling the truth, but the man¡¯s actions still made him angry. After Song Xiuyan vented, he looked at General Long Zhanyuan. ¡°Let the police handle this matter.¡± He had no intention of interrogating the man alone. Even if he interrogated him again, the result would be the same, because it was impossible for this man to know the truth. General Long Zhanyuan laughed heartily and said, ¡°Alright!¡± He then said to Song Xiuyan, ¡°The West Qin Casino has been closed down. The owner of the gambling den and all the people involved in the case have been arrested. In addition, the Spring Wind Pavilion, which is involved in murder and breaking the law, has also been completely eradicated.¡± He was telling Song Xiuyan that they no longer had any worries. Song Xiuyan thanked him sincerely, ¡°Thank you, General Long.¡± Long Zhanyuan was really generous. Spring Breeze Pavilion had at least a few hundred people, and in just a few days, he had already eradicated them. As for the West Qin Casino, he had also sealed it. This was to tell the world that their family was under Long Zhanyuan¡¯s protection. This was also the result Song Xiuyan wanted. The owner of the West Qin Casino wasn¡¯t a good person to begin with. Now that he had become a scapegoat, Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t have any psychological burden. There were many villagers who came to watch the show. Only then did they know the truth about Song Yang being bitten by a poisonous snake. They all discussed that the owner of the West Qin Casino was too ruthless. After Ah Jie found out about this, he also felt very guilty. He didn¡¯t expect Song Yang to almost die, and it was actually because of him. He secretly swore that he must be careful when he walked in the future and never bump into anyone again. Long Zhanyuan asked his attendant to throw the man back into the car and then asked Song Yang, ¡°Do you have any thoughts of entering the army to gain experience?¡± Song Yang said in surprise, ¡°Yes!¡± General Long Zhanyuan said with a straight face, ¡°Then you have to think carefully. Once you enter the amy, you might go to the battlefield at any time, and your life will be in danger at any time.¡± Song Yang answered firmly, ¡°I have thought it through.¡± General Long Zhanyuan was very satisfied with Song Yang¡¯s answer. He nodded and said, ¡°Okay, then it¡¯s settled. You will leave with us in two days.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Song Yang puffed out his chest and stood straight. He already had the aura of a soldier even before he entered the army. General Long Zhanyuan laughed loudly. He liked Song Yang very much. Ding Yao had been busy in the pharmacy all the time. It was only when she came out to wash her hands that General Long Zhanyuan saw her. General Long Zhanyuan was suddenly startled for a moment, but his expression quickly returned to normal. He tilted his head and asked Song Xiuyan, ¡°This is your wife?¡± Song Xiuyan nodded. ¡°Yes, her name is Ding Yao.¡± General Long Zhanyuan looked at Ding Yao with a smile and asked, ¡°Miss Ding Yao, did you make the anti-wolf powder?¡± Ding Yao smiled politely and then nodded. ¡°How much stock do you have now? Can you make 1,000 catties for me?¡± General Long Zhanyuan asked again. 1,000 catties? Ding Yao raised her eyebrows, then smiled and shook her head as she gestured. ¡°Not much stock. General Long, are you thinking of using the wolf-proof powder on the battlefield?¡± Song Xiuyan translated from the side. General Long Zhanyuan laughed heartily. ¡°Young lady, you¡¯re really smart. Hahaha, it doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t have much stock. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t take your medicinal powder for free.¡± Ding Yao reminded long zhanyuan, ¡°Two days is too short. It¡¯ll be too late.¡± As Long Zhanyuan listened to Song Xiuyan, he suddenly had an idea. ¡°Song Xiuyan, are you willing to move your entire family to the capital? You can live in my manor first, or you can live outside. The house is ready-made. I can ask for the best team of doctors in China to treat Ding Yao¡¯s throat. At the same time, she can make me wolf-proof powder anytime and anywhere.¡± Go to the capital? Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t want to go to the capital. If he went to the capital, the people who had harmed him in his previous life would probably immediately attack him. He didn¡¯t have any power at the moment, and he didn¡¯t have the ability to face them head-on. However, if he could hire the best medical team for Ding Yao¡¯s throat, the chances of her being cured were very high. Thinking of this, Song Xiuyan looked at Ding Yao. ¡°Do you want to go to the capital to treat your throat?¡± Ding Yao shook her head and mouthed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go, nor do I need to hire a professional medical team. My voice is already healing, and I can make simple sounds.¡± Chapter 57 - Able to Speak Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t quite believe it. Ding Yao simply said, ¡°¡­ Song¡­ Xiu¡­ Yan¡­¡± Although her voice was soft, it was clearly audible. Song Xiuyan momentarily lost his composure. ¡°You can really speak? When did you discover that you could speak?¡± Ding Yao said, ¡°Yesterday¡­ at night¡­¡± Song Xue hugged Ding Yao excitedly. ¡°That¡¯s great! Sister Ding Yao can speak!¡± The others were also very excited. When General Long Zhanyuan saw this scene, he didn¡¯t mention the matter of going to the capital, but towards Ding Yao, he had an additional impulse to learn more about her. After general Long Zhanyuan left, the villagers of the Song family village all knew that General Long Zhanyuan was going to bring the Song family to the capital. The entire village was talking about it, saying that the Song family¡¯s luck had turned for the better. When Zhao Caiyun heard this, she became even more upset. If Song Xiuyan¡¯s family went to the capital, she would be completely cut off from Song Xiuyan. What should she do? At night, many villagers came to Song Xiuyan¡¯s house. First, they asked if Song Xiuyan wanted his family to move to the capital. Second, they wanted to send some things to Song Yang. Song Yang was definitely going to the capital to join the army. In particular, Ah Jie¡¯s family had sent many, many things. There were only two pairs of shoes, which Ah Jie¡¯s mother had prepared for Ah Jie. Now that time was tight, there was no time to make them again. Fortunately, Song Yang¡¯s feet were the same size as Ah Jie¡¯s feet. They were grateful that Song Yang had stood up for Ah Jie, but they also felt guilty that they had almost caused Song Yang¡¯s death because of Ah Jie¡¯s matter. Song Xiuyan faced the villagers and said with certainty, ¡°My family won¡¯t go to the capital. Only my second brother, Song Yang, will join the army.¡± Zhao Caiyun, who had shamelessly followed them, heaved a sigh of relief when she heard these words. As long as Song Xiuyan¡¯s family didn¡¯t go to the capital, she still had a chance to marry Song Xiuyan. She first found Song Xue and sincerely apologized. Then, she pestered Song Xue to teach her how to weave ropes. Song Xue thought of how good Zhao Caiyun had been to her before, so she agreed. The two of them could be considered to have reconciled. 2 Song Yang thought about how he would be going to the capital in two days. He had to hurry up and do something for his family. He was no longer needed to dig for medicinal herbs. The children in the village could dig a lot every day. There were even some adults who helped dig. In any case, Ding Yao said that she would buy a large number of them. Therefore, Song Yang went to chop firewood. He made several trips a day. Today, he made two more trips. After lunch, he went up the mountain. No one could stop him. Song Yu also went up the mountain with the children to dig for medicinal herbs. Song Xiuyan taught Ding Yao how to write in the study while Song Xue was in Song Yi¡¯s room. She was talking to Song Yi while making ropes. Zhao Caiyun came to look for Song Xue again. She said that a girl from a relative¡¯s family came to her house and wanted to learn how to make ropes. However, the girl from a relative¡¯s family was too shy to come over, so Zhao Caiyun came to look for Song Xue. Song Xue readily agreed. She informed Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao before going to Zhao Caiyun¡¯s house. Not long after, Zhao Caiyun came to look for Ding Yao again. She said that they had obtained a new type of complicated weave rope, and none of them could understand it. She hoped that Ding Yao could come over and help take a look. Ding Yao was already tired of writing to begin with. Thinking that it was fine to go out for a walk, she followed Zhao Caiyun to her house. She wasn¡¯t afraid that Zhao Caiyun would plot against her. if she dared to plot against her, she would definitely pay back tenfold. When they arrived at Zhao Caiyun¡¯s house, Ding Yao saw Song Xue and a little girl studying how to weave a complicated rope. Seeing Ding Yao, Song Xue was very happy and immediately showed the complicated rope to Ding Yao. With an expectant look on her face, she asked, ¡°Sister Ding Yao, you can see how this rope is woven, right?¡± Ding Yao took it over and carefully examined it. After seeing some clues, she instructed them on how to weave it. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother also came over to take a look. She asked this and that, asking non-stop. Then, she asked Zhao Caiyun to check if the sugar water was ready and said that she would treat them to some sugar water later. However, Zhao Caiyun went for a long time and didn¡¯t come back. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother said that she would also go over to take a look. Then, she turned around and disappeared. Ding Yao felt confused. She felt that Zhao Caiyun and her daughter were acting strange. Coincidentally, she had finished giving them pointers, so she bade farewell to the little girl and pulled Song Xue home. She didn¡¯t care about the sugar water in Zhao Caiyun¡¯s house. She was curious about what Zhao Caiyun and her mother wanted to do. Ding Yao and Song Xue had just walked out of Zhao Caiyun¡¯s house when they heard Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother¡¯s cries coming from their courtyard. ¡°What a sin! How could this be?! My daughter! What should we do now?!¡± Chapter 58 - Catching an Adulterer In Bed Ding Yao frowned. She didn¡¯t know what Zhao Caiyun and her daughter wanted to do, so she quickly pulled Song Xue and ran home. At this time, several women had already run over when they heard the sound. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother¡¯s crying was too terrifying. Her voice was so loud that it was almost audible to the entire village. Ding Yao and Song Xue ran into the house and saw Zhao Caiyun beating her chest and stomping her feet as she cried, ¡°Song Xiuyan, you bastard. Caiyun was kind enough to bring you some sugar water to drink, but you had the heart to give her¡­¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s expression was as cold as ice. ¡°Shut up!¡± The woman who had already entered the room immediately asked what was going on. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s sobbing came from the room. ¡°Don¡¯t come in¡­ This is a private matter between Song Xiuyan and me. I don¡¯t want you to see me like this¡­¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother also said, ¡°Caiyun invited Ding Yao and Song Xue to my house to help her with the knot tying. I was kind enough to boil some sweet water for them to drink. Caiyun also brought a bowl of sweet water for Song Xiuyan, but she didn¡¯t come home for a long time. I was worried and came over to check it out. Who would have thought that in just a short while, Song Xiuyan would defile Caiyun!¡± In the room, Zhao Caiyun was also crying, ¡°Mother, please don¡¯t blame Song Xiuyan. Although Song Xiuyan took the initiative in this matter, I didn¡¯t object. I¡¯ve always liked Song Xiuyan. He just said that he would marry me and be responsible for me.¡± Song Xiuyan was so angry that he wanted to kill someone. However, he couldn¡¯t throw Zhao Caiyun out of the room because Zhao Caiyun shamelessly took off her clothes! Song Xiuyan was reading in the study when Zhao Caiyun wanted to bring him some sweet water to drink. He coldly rejected her request. Zhao Caiyun said that she would give it to Song Yu. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t object. Who knew that she would actually take off her clothes in his room and accuse him of touching her?! Then, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother came in and shouted. The mother and daughter worked together seamlessly! Song Xiuyan looked at Ding Yao. ¡°Ding Yao, don¡¯t listen to their nonsense.¡± Ding Yao nodded calmly. She definitely trusted Song Xiuyan. Song Yi, who was leaning on his walking stick, also explained to Ding Yao worriedly, ¡°Sister-in-law, don¡¯t believe what they say. I can guarantee with my head that big brother never touched Zhao Caiyun!¡± He would never believe that Song Xiuyan would lay a finger on Zhao Caiyun! It was all his fault. Why would he take an afternoon nap? He didn¡¯t even know that someone had entered the house! After Song Xue heard the whole story, she rushed into the room and scolded, ¡°Zhao Caiyun, you specifically called us to your house. So you wanted to scheme against my big brother. How dare you frame my big brother? I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart!¡± Zhao Caiyun threw out the bloody pillow and shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t come in. I¡¯m naked!¡± At this moment, more and more villagers came into the house to watch the show. It was shocking enough for Zhao Caiyun to say that she was naked, not to mention that the pillow she threw out had blood on it. Some people saw that something was wrong, they quickly ran to ask village chief Lin Shenghai to come over and uphold justice. Ding Yao calmly entered the house, but Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother pulled her back. ¡°This isn¡¯t something you should be involved in!¡± 1 Ding Yao flung Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother¡¯s hand away. She shouldn¡¯t be involved? They were plotting against her future husband, yet she shouldn¡¯t be involved? Then who should be involved? Ding Yao pushed the door open with a cold expression. The bed was in a mess. Zhao Caiyun sat on the bed, covered in a thin blanket and crying. Her shoulders and arms were exposed, and there were red scratches on them. Her clothes were all thrown onto the bed. The most eye-catching part was the blood on the bed. Anyone who saw this would think that Song Xiuyan had gone berserk and defiled Zhao Caiyun. Ding Yao wasn¡¯t frightened by the scene on the bed. She looked at Zhao Caiyun coldly and said three words, ¡°Wear¡­ your¡­ clothes.¡± Zhao Caiyun was stunned. Ding Yao could speak? But she quickly reacted and sobbed. ¡°I can¡¯t wear my clothes. My whole body hurts. Song Xiuyan, come in and help me put on¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to put on clothes?¡± Ding Yao took a step forward and mercilessly dragged Zhao Caiyun out, scaring Zhao Caiyun so much that she cried out Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother heard the noise and rushed in to help. When she saw the blood on the bed, she cried out again, ¡°What a sin! So much blood has been shed! Caiyun, how can you be so stupid? You don¡¯t even have a status yet, yet you let Song Xiuyan do whatever he wants! He won¡¯t admit it even after it¡¯s done! There¡¯s nothing we can do now. We can only ask the village¡¯s women to help take a look and then testify that you were really defiled by Song Xiuyan.¡± Chapter 59 - There Were Other Things That Could Be Used Soon, two women who had a good relationship with Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother were called into the room and examined Zhao Caiyun. After the examination, the two women told everyone, ¡°Zhao Caiyun¡¯s hymen has ruptured and is red. There are also many marks on her body that have been pinched red.¡± The villagers discussed animatedly and waited for village chief Lin Shenghai to come over and administer justice. Ding Yao watched coldly as Zhao Caiyun put on her clothes. After putting on her clothes, Zhao Caiyun still refused to come out of the house. Village chief Lin Shenghai and his wife, Wu Mei, soon arrived. Lin Shenghai asked with an ashen face, ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother recounted the incident. Song Xiuye also recounted the incident. Then, Song Xue and Ding Yao testified, proving that they were indeed sent away by Zhao Caiyun and her daughter. Both sides had their own reasons. Even though Lin Shenghai knew that Song Xiuyan wouldn¡¯t do such a thing, there were witnesses and evidence, so he couldn¡¯t make a conclusion at once. In addition, the villagers were all on Zhao Caiyun¡¯s side. They thought that Zhao Caiyun had taken the initiative to seduce Song Xiuyan, and Song Xiuyan¡¯s willpower wasn¡¯t strong enough, so he touched Zhao Caiyun. Song Xiuyan had taught Ding Yao to write for more than ten days, so she had memorized most of the commonly used words. She felt that it was inappropriate for Song Xiuyan to recount some of the words, so she might as well write them down herself. Thinking of this, Ding Yao went to the study room and took out a pen and paper. She wrote a few words on the paper. ¡°The hymen can be pierced by things other than a man.¡± She showed the words on the paper to everyone. Lin Shenghai¡¯s eyes widened. How did Ding Yao know this? There were men who could read, and when they saw the words written by Ding Yao, they all held back their laughter. A young lady who knew medicine was indeed different from the rest. She really knew a lot. The women continued to ask Ding Yao, ¡°How can one break it without a man?¡± Ding Yao wrote another line of words on the paper, ¡°Replace it with something similar.¡± The men finally couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and burst into laughter again and again. The women also laughed until they fell back. Song Xiuyan¡¯s face unconsciously turned red when he saw Ding Yao¡¯s handwriting. She and he were thinking about the same thing, however, he hesitated and didn¡¯t know how to say it. He didn¡¯t expect Ding Yao to write it directly. The most amazing thing was that Ding Yao was very calm when she wrote it. She didn¡¯t feel embarrassed at all. Village chief¡¯s wife, Wu Mei, said loudly at this time, ¡°Ding Yao really knows a lot. As expected of a medical student. I also understand what she said. There are a lot of things similar to men, such as eggplants, cucumbers, and so on¡­¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± The women burst into laughter after hearing that. ¡°Village chief¡¯s wife, this metaphor of yours is too vivid.¡± They laughed so hard that they staggered back and forth, completely forgetting that there was a crying Zhao Caiyun in the room. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother¡¯s expression changed drastically, she was both anxious and angry. ¡°You bunch of goddamned people. My daughter was raped by Song Xiuyan, yet you still want to humiliate my daughter like this? Everything needs evidence. Now, go into the room and search. See if you can find what you¡¯re talking about!¡± Ding Yao wrote on the paper again. ¡°The thing is with Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother.¡± Everyone couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. They laughed until their stomachs hurt. If that was really the case, it would really be a big joke! Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother stood behind Ding Yao. She couldn¡¯t see what she was writing, but she kept urging, ¡°Go into the room and search. I Won¡¯t stop you!¡± Village chief¡¯s wife, Wu Mei, mocked, ¡°What search? When you dressed Zhao Caiyun just now, you brought the things out!¡± When Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother heard this, she raised her feet and walked out. As she walked, she scolded, ¡°You bastards, you¡¯re bullying me because there are no men in my house, right? Just you wait, I¡¯ll go and call them!¡± Ding Yao panicked and shouted, ¡°Stop¡­ stop¡­ her¡­¡± If Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother walked to the door and lost the evidence, things would be bad. Village chief¡¯s wife, Wu Mei, looked at Ding Yao in surprise. ¡°Ding Yao, you can talk now?¡± Seeing Ding Yao¡¯s anxious expression, she rushed up, grabbed Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother¡¯s collar, and pulled her back. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother¡¯s strength wasn¡¯t as strong as Wu Mei¡¯s, so she couldn¡¯t do anything to her. She could only sit on the ground and make a scene. Wu Mei pressed down on Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother and searched her chest for a while. Sure enough, she took out a sawed-off rolling pin. It was about half a foot long, and there were some blood stains on the smooth side of the rolling pin. Everyone squeezed over when they saw it. ¡°Oh my God, it¡¯s a rolling pin? Zhao Caiyun used this thing to break her hymen?¡± 1 Chapter 60 - Self ¡°Bah, what bad luck!¡± Wu Mei spat and cursed. She handed the rolling pin to the woman next to her. After the women finished reading it, they showed it to the men. Now that the evidence was in front of them, the villagers couldn¡¯t laugh. They didn¡¯t expect Zhao Caiyun and her daughter to be so disgusting. In order to marry Song Xiuyan, they even did such a dirty thing. After the truth was exposed, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother was so ashamed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground so that she could crawl into it. In the room, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s face was as pale as death. She didn¡¯t expect her mother to be useless. The evidence of her crime had been found so quickly. How could she still have the face to live under such circumstances? Zhao Caiyun walked out of the room and gambled everything. She shouted, ¡°Song Xiuyan, I am your person in this life. If I die, I will be your ghost!¡± As she said that, she crashed into the wall! Song Xue, who originally wanted to scold Zhao Caiyun, was quick-witted. She stepped forward and pushed Zhao Caiyun. ¡°If you want to die, someone else will die. Don¡¯t dirty my house!¡± Although she was young and didn¡¯t understand what the adults were laughing about, there was one thing she understood. It was Zhao Caiyun who had caused herself to bleed and then accused her brother of causing it! Zhao Caiyun was really thick-skinned! Shameless! She had been blind to be friends with her for such a long time! Song Xue had been practicing martial arts since she was young. Although she was young and didn¡¯t have much strength, she pushed Zhao Caiyun in a fit of rage. Not only was Zhao Caiyun pushed to the ground, but her forehead had also hit the ground. There was a big bump on her forehead, and she was in so much pain that she was seeing stars. She couldn¡¯t help but wail loudly. The villagers all gathered around to look at her. Zhao Caiyun thought that the opportunity to turn the tables had come. She hugged Zhao Caiyun and cried out loudly, ¡°My daughter, how can you be so stupid? If Song Xiuyan doesn¡¯t admit it, we can go to the government and sue him! You bastards, you¡¯re heartless. If your daughter was raped, would you still be so cold-blooded and indifferent? If she wasn¡¯t really raped, why would Caiyun try to commit suicide in despair?¡± A woman refuted Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother, ¡°You keep saying that Song Xiuyan raped your daughter. How do you explain that rolling pin?¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother threw caution to the wind. ¡°It was for my own use. I was afraid of being discovered, so I brought it with me!¡± The villagers were in an uproar. Someone asked, ¡°If you used it for yourself, why is there blood on it?¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother gritted her teeth. ¡°Can¡¯t I have my period?¡± At this point, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother still wanted to quibble. Ding Yao didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry, she wrote on the paper again, ¡°There¡¯s another way. Call the police. Have the police check Zhao Caiyun¡¯s body to see if there¡¯s any male semen in her body.¡± A woman quickly echoed, ¡°That¡¯s right. This is a good idea. However, there¡¯s no need to call the police. Whether there¡¯s any male semen or not, we¡¯ll know with just a sniff.¡± This time, everyone laughed again, the two women who had just examined Zhao Caiyun¡¯s body explained, ¡°We didn¡¯t take a good look at it when we were examining it just now.¡± Someone cursed angrily, ¡°Then what were you examining? You didn¡¯t even look at anything and you¡¯re just spouting nonsense?!¡± The two women¡¯s faces were filled with shame. They didn¡¯t expect Zhao Caiyun and her daughter to be so despicable. They only thought that they had a good relationship with Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother, so they naturally had to speak up for her. When Zhao Caiyun heard that she was going to call the police and have her body examined, she completely broke down. ¡°Stop examining! I admit that I broke it myself to marry Song Xiuyan!¡± When the villagers heard Zhao Caiyun admit it, they couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°She¡¯s so shameless! What a sin! She¡¯s crazy!¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s father and brother, Zhao Dashan, had already left to work. When they heard the news, they quickly ran back. They just happened to hear Zhao Caiyun¡¯s words and found out about the whole matter. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s father gave Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother two slaps on both sides. ¡°You¡¯re a disgrace. Hurry up and go home!¡± He was really enraged! His own daughter was a scoundrel. Not only did her mother not stop her, but she also helped her to do ridiculous things. How shameful! Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother hurriedly pulled Zhao Caiyun home. However, she was stopped by Ding Yao. Ding Yao used her lips to ask, ¡°We can not report this matter to the police, but you have to tell us who ordered you to do it.¡± Song Xiuyan also saw the problem. He repeated Ding Yao¡¯s words. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s eyes flashed with despair as she said sadly, ¡°I was the one who wanted to do this¡­¡± Ding Yao¡¯s gaze was sharp as she looked at Zhao Caiyun. ¡°You¡¯re lying. If you wanted to do this, your mother definitely would not help you!¡± Chapter 61 - Under Whose Orders Ding Yao looked at Zhao Caiyun, she said word by word, ¡°You like Song Xiuyan, but your family doesn¡¯t support you. And you don¡¯t like Song Xiuyan to the point of throwing your life away, so your act of wanting to die just now is very suspicious. Tell me, who was the one who ordered you to do this?!¡± After hearing Ding Yao¡¯s words, Song Xiuyan was extremely impressed by Ding Yao¡¯s insight. This little girl could see through people¡¯s hearts even more than him, who had lived a new life. That¡¯s right, Zhao Caiyun didn¡¯t love him to the point of giving up her life. In her previous life, Zhao Caiyun had boldly confessed to him. At that time, he didn¡¯t pay any attention to her. At that time, his bad luck was on the line, and the people in the village avoided him as much as possible. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s parents also objected to Zhao Caiyun¡¯s contact with him. Zhao Caiyun also hesitated. In the end, in order to live a comfortable life, she married a rich local widow, a man about the same age as Zhao Caiyun¡¯s father. It showed that Zhao Caiyun was a very realistic woman. She wasn¡¯t stupid. She knew that this matter would easily be exposed. If it was exposed, her life would be ruined. In short, Zhao Caiyun wouldn¡¯t do such a crazy thing just because she liked him. Song Xiuyan relayed Ding Yao¡¯s words. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s father also felt that it was strange. He grabbed Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother and asked, ¡°Are you hiding something from me and Dashan?¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother looked at Zhao Caiyun in fear. Zhao Caiyun had previously told her that they couldn¡¯t tell the truth. If they did, their entire family would be doomed! Zhao Caiyun was obviously very afraid, but she immediately sobbed to cover it up. ¡°I¡¯ve been screwed by Ding Yao¡¯s stepmother!¡± Everyone quickly asked what was going on. How did this matter involve Ding Yao¡¯s stepmother, Hongxia? Zhao Caiyun quickly explained that a strange woman had approached her last night and asked her if she wanted to marry Song Xiuyan. She was silent for a moment and said that it didn¡¯t matter. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t like her, so the woman said she should seduce him and fight for her own happiness. She said that Song Xiuyan was different from before. His family was rich now, and they didn¡¯t need to suspend school anymore. It was only a matter of time before they left the mountains for a bigger city. In addition to the relationship between Song Xiuyan¡¯s family and General Long Zhanyuan, the Song family¡¯s days would only get better and better. Zhao Caiyun was tempted by his words. Later, the woman made a move on her and said that she had a way to ensure that Song Xiuyan could marry her. She should first drug Song Xiuyan¡¯s food and then seduce him. If Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t fall for it, she would use the second method. She would use other things to break her hymen, and Song Xiuyan would be responsible for her. At that time, Zhao Caiyun was shocked and asked the strange woman why she had encouraged her to do this. What was her motive? Did she know how terrible her fate would be if she was seen through? However, the woman said, ¡°Wealth comes from risks. Although this kind of thing has risks, the chances of winning are higher. As long as you do this, Song Xiuyan won¡¯t be able to explain himself. He will have no choice but to marry you. If he doesn¡¯t marry you, there will be a lawsuit. At that time, his future will be gone. If he marries you, he will have to break off the engagement with Ding Yao. Ding Yao has no place to stay, so she has to go back to her father¡¯s house. She has the valuable Snake Swallow Stone and the sugar pills that can cure roundworm disease. I heard that Steward Xu from a big pharmacy went to Song Xiuyan¡¯s house and offered a sky-high price for the prescription in Ding Yao¡¯s hands. Therefore, Wang Hongxia can¡¯t wait for Ding Yao to come back.¡± Zhao Caiyun asked the woman, ¡°Who are you to Ding Yao?¡± The strange woman replied, ¡°I¡¯m a relative.¡± After saying that, she gave Zhao Caiyun a bag of medicine and a thousand yuan. She also promised to give her a sum of money after the deed was done. After saying that, Zhao Caiyun cried and complained, ¡°I was really possessed and agreed to that woman.¡± She knelt down in front of Ding Yao and Song Xiuyan, she cried out loudly, ¡°Please don¡¯t call the police. I¡­ I can give you the thousand yuan¡­¡± The villagers all looked at Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao. If they called the police, the government would definitely accept the case on account of General Long Zhanyuan. They would also severely punish Zhao Caiyun. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s life was almost over, and she still had to take care of her mother. However, they had brought this upon themselves and weren¡¯t worthy of sympathy. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother was also frightened. She knelt down with Zhao Caiyun and begged for mercy. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s father and brother, Zhao Dashan, were both angry and sad. If something happened to the two women in the family, the family wouldn¡¯t be like home anymore. Chapter 62 - Confession Song Xiuyan looked at Ding Yao calmly. ¡°Whether you call the police or not, it¡¯s up to you.¡± If she called the police, Ding Yao¡¯s father and stepmother would be involved. Moreover, he felt that this matter wasn¡¯t that simple. Ding Yao saw the terror in Zhao Caiyun¡¯s eyes. What was a person who even had the determination to die afraid of? Afraid of the consequences if she called the police? It seemed that she had not told the truth. Thinking of this, Ding Yao waved her small hand. ¡°No¡­ I called the police.¡± It wasn¡¯t that she was soft-hearted, but she didn¡¯t believe that her father and stepmother were behind this. If it was really them, why didn¡¯t they tell Zhao Caiyun themselves and instead find a relative? Wasn¡¯t it better for fewer people to know about such sinister things? Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother apologized to Zhao Caiyun before lowering her head and returning home. The villagers were all very kind and understood Ding Yao¡¯s decision. After all, it involved her stepmother. However, they still had to scold Zhao Caiyun and her daughter for the dirty things they had done. ¡°I really admire these two people. B * tches!¡± The village chief¡¯s wife, Wu Mei, couldn¡¯t help but scold, ¡°They were too easy on them! Song Xiuyan¡¯s future was almost ruined by them! If this matter were to spread, our village¡¯s reputation would be ruined!¡± However, she thought of Ding Yao¡¯s concerns, she didn¡¯t continue and changed the topic, ¡°Ding Yao, when were you able to speak?¡± Song Xiuyan answered on Ding Yao¡¯s behalf, ¡°I discovered it two days ago. It healed naturally. However, I can¡¯t speak fluently now. It will be much better after more practice.¡± Wu Mei laughed out loud, ¡°That¡¯s great! Song Xiuyan, you really did a good job in accepting Ding Yao¡¯s family! Your family¡¯s luck has changed, and Ding Yao¡¯s luck has also changed. Not only is her face becoming more and more beautiful, she can even talk now. The two of you are destined to be a couple. You make her happy, and she makes you happy. Hahaha, isn¡¯t that right, everyone?¡± The villagers chimed in. That was indeed the case. Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao were blushing from everyone¡¯s laughter. After the fun was over, the villagers dispersed to do their own farm work. The filthy things that Zhao Caiyun and her daughter had done were enough for them to gossip for three days and three nights. Village chief Lin Shenghai also brought Wu Mei home. After everyone had left, Ding Yao brought Song Xiuyan to the study. ¡°Will you feel uncomfortable if I choose not to call the police?¡± Song Xiuyan shook his head. ¡°No, I know you definitely have a reason not to call the police.¡± Ding Yao smiled and asked with her lips, ¡°You can also tell that Zhao Caiyun and the others are not telling the truth?¡± Song Xiuyan nodded. ¡°Zhao Caiyun and her daughter aren¡¯t stupid. They should have thought of the consequences of doing this, but they still did it. It¡¯s very likely that they were forced to do this. Your father and stepmother don¡¯t have the courage and ability to force them. If they do this and report it to the police, they will face a lawsuit. Therefore, there must be someone else who ordered them to do this. They deliberately said your stepmother so that you wouldn¡¯t report it to the police.¡± Ding Yao looked at Song Xiuyan while thinking that this kid was really smart. She slowly asked Song Xiuyan, ¡°Then who do you think ordered them to do it?¡± Song Xiuyan replied, ¡°It must be my family¡¯s enemy! Because you ruined their plan twice, they wanted to drive you away.¡± Now that things had come to this, Ding Yao didn¡¯t want to hide it from Song Xiuyan anymore. Her train of thought became clearer and clearer. Someone wanted her dead. This was 100% certain. The two men in black from before must have come to kill her. She lived in Song Xiuyan¡¯s house, so it wasn¡¯t easy for those people to kill her. First, they spread rumors that she was a jinx and wanted Song Xiuyan to send her away. Now, they were forcing Zhao Caiyun to do such a thing. Their goal was also to get her to leave Song Xiuyan. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t know about these things. The reason he felt that he had implicated Ding Yao was because he didn¡¯t know about these things, and she shouldn¡¯t continue to hide things from him. Ding Yao told Song Xiuyan everything. Song Xiuyan fell into deep thought. In fact, after the incident with the black-clothed men, he had suspected that the black-clothed men were coming for Ding Yao, but he also felt that those people must have felt that Ding Yao was a hindrance. Therefore, he took care of Ding Yao first. He didn¡¯t expect that these people had attacked Ding Yao before and even pushed her down the cliff. Ding Yao continued to analyze, ¡°Your second brother, Song Yang, was bitten by a poisonous snake. It might really be because he taught a lesson to the relatives of the West Qin Casino¡¯s boss. Everything that happened after that should have been aimed at me. I¡¯m the one who dragged you all down.¡± Song Xiuyan shook his head. He didn¡¯t agree with Ding Yao¡¯s view. ¡°You were pushed down the cliff. It¡¯s not possible to rule out that it was your stepmother, Wang Hongxia, and the others who did it. The men in black may have wanted to kill you, but it¡¯s also not possible to rule out that they thought you were too smart and hindered their plan to harm me.¡± Chapter 63 - Who Were They Targeting? Thinking back to his experiences in his previous life, Song Xiuyan came to the conclusion that the people who wanted to harm his family didn¡¯t openly harm them. Instead, they created accidents. They didn¡¯t kill them all at once. Instead, they resolved them one by one. They wanted everyone to think that he had killed his family. He still didn¡¯t understand the purpose of these people¡¯s actions. However, he had thought of one thing. These people didn¡¯t want him to go to the capital. they also didn¡¯t want him to have a foothold in the capital. Ding Yao looked at Song Xiuyan with a strange gaze. ¡°You are very stubborn. Why are you so sure that someone must have wanted to harm your entire family?¡± So far, other than the evidence of Song Yang¡¯s murder, there was no other evidence. They had lived in the village for several generations. If they had enemies, they would have found them long ago. Even if they had just found them, they should have wiped out Song Xiuyan and the others. That was why she felt that those men in black were here to kill her. They also knew that Song Xiuyan¡¯s martial arts skills were very strong and would protect her, so they thought of a way to break them up. Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t want to tell Ding Yao that he had reincarnated. He asked in return, ¡°Then why are you so sure that those men in black are here for you?¡± Ding Yao took a deep breath and said with a serious look, ¡°Because I have a suspect!¡± Song Xiuyan immediately thought of it. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you suspect is your uncle?¡± Ding Yao nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Don¡¯t you think that his appearance was too sudden? You saw how he couldn¡¯t wait to bring me to the capital. You should also be able to see that he doesn¡¯t have any kinship with me. The guilt he displayed was also very fake. Even though he knew that our lives were difficult, he didn¡¯t leave us a single cent. If he wants to take me to the capital, he must have some sort of scheme. He might set me up to die in an accident. I suspect that these things have something to do with my mother¡¯s background.¡± 1 Ding Yao voiced her guess unreservedly. Although she didn¡¯t have any evidence to prove it, her sixth sense had always been very accurate. Her Lin Hu didn¡¯t seem like a good person. In fact, Song Xiuyan also saw that there was something wrong with Lin Hu, but he didn¡¯t understand why Lin Hu wanted Ding Yao to die? Ding Yao¡¯s mother was Lin Hu¡¯s biological sister, unless Lin Hu wasn¡¯t Ding Yao¡¯s biological uncle, and Ding Yao¡¯s mother was also his enemy. However, this explanation didn¡¯t make sense. If Ding Yao¡¯s mother was Lin Hu¡¯s enemy, she should have been sent to the countryside to have children with someone else. Ding Yao had also thought of what Song Xiuyan had thought of, but Ding Yao had thought of another possibility. Could it be like the plot in the TV series? Her mother was picked up, but she had a noble status. Lin Hu had taken the token to impersonate her, but he was worried that she would ruin things, so he wanted to kill her. In the original owner¡¯s memory, someone had said that her eyes were exactly the same as her mother¡¯s, and her face was also very similar. However, these were all guesses and couldn¡¯t be brought up for the time being. Ding Yao didn¡¯t argue with Song Xiuyan. Instead, she discussed with him. ¡°I¡¯m still guessing now, but I have to clarify this matter. Can you ask General Long Zhanyuan to help investigate Lin Hu¡¯s matter?¡± Song Xiuyan nodded. ¡°I will.¡± If General Long Zhanyuan wanted to investigate a person, it was only a matter of a sentence. When the time came, he would say it more tactfully so that General Long Zhanyuan wouldn¡¯t be able to see that they were suspecting Lin Hu. The next morning, General Long Zhanyuan and his entourage personally came to pick up Song Yang, giving the Song family enough face. Although Song Yang couldn¡¯t bear to part with his eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, and younger brother and sister-in-law, he couldn¡¯t help but be excited when he thought about going to the army to train. Song Xue stuffed the woven rope to Song Yang. With red eyes, she said, ¡°Second brother, put it on. If you lose it, you can change it to a new one.¡± Once Song Yang left, she didn¡¯t know when she would be able to meet him again. Song Xue¡¯s face was filled with reluctance. Song Yang scratched her nose and teased her, ¡°My little sister made it with her own hands. I can¡¯t bear to throw it away. I also keep the old ones. If you want to see them, you can take them out and have a look.¡± Song Xue¡¯s tears turned into a smile. ¡°Alright, this is what you said. I¡¯ll have to check it out the next time we meet.¡± Song Yang hugged his third brother, Song Yi, and warned him, ¡°You have to be more optimistic. Don¡¯t think about all that nonsense.¡± Song Yi quietly promised, ¡°Second brother, don¡¯t worry. After my leg recovers, I¡¯ll go to the town to continue working and learn how to do business. I want to earn a lot of money so that big brother, sister-in-law, and younger brother and sister-in-law can live a good life. We won¡¯t have to worry about food and drink.¡± 1 Song Yang laughed loudly and patted Song Yi¡¯s shoulder, telling him to take care of himself first and not worry too much. Chapter 64 - Song Yang Leaves Song Yi said seriously, ¡°Second brother, you can become a soldier. Xiuyan will definitely become an official in the future. At that time, the money I earn will be your strongest support.¡± Whether it was being a soldier or an official, they had to rely on money to support themselves. This way, they could always have a firm position and also ensure that they would always be upright. ¡°Okay, I will wait for you to become the richest in the world!¡± Song Yang definitely wouldn¡¯t pour cold water on Song Yi at this time. Song Yu also promised from the side, ¡°I will also learn medical skills from Ding Yao and become a good doctor!¡± Song Xue thought for a moment and also promised, ¡°Sister-in-law said that she can send me to learn embroidery. She also said that if I want to learn, I will learn the best. I want to be the most outstanding embroiderer!¡± In the study room, Song Xiuyan handed the portrait of Lin Hu to General Long Zhanyuan, his words were very tactful. ¡°This person is Ding Yao¡¯s uncle. A few days ago, he came once and wanted to bring Ding Yao to the capital. Ding Yao was unwilling to go because she was afraid that she was unfamiliar with the place. However, she also wanted to know the situation of her uncle¡¯s family. I wonder if General Long can help us with this?¡± General Long Zhanyuan had an expression that said, ¡°No problem. Leave this matter to me.¡± Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t expect General Long Zhanyuan to agree so quickly, he said, ¡°We don¡¯t know Lin Hu¡¯s address for the time being. We might have to ask Ding Yao¡¯s father and the others to know the exact address. When the time comes, I¡¯ll write to General Long and tell him.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to go through so much trouble. A portrait is enough.¡± General Long Zhanyuan shook his head. Song Xiuyan said gratefully, ¡°Thank you, General Long.¡± General Long Zhanyuan patted Song Xiuyan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s there to thank? I¡¯m not helping you for nothing. I still need to ask your little wife for the prescription for the anti-wolf powder.¡± Ding Yao said happily, ¡°Deal!¡± She immediately took a pen and paper and wrote down the prescription for the anti-wolf powder on the paper. General Long Zhanyuan took this opportunity to ask Ding Yao in a low voice, ¡°Little girl, are you suspecting that Lin Hu is plotting something?¡± Ding Yao was stunned for a moment. Long Zhanyuan smiled like an old fox. ¡°Little girl, you don¡¯t have to worry. I will definitely help you investigate Lin Hu¡¯s background.¡± Ding Yao smiled reservedly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Long Zhanyuan looked at the delicate-faced Ding Yao and said regretfully, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that you don¡¯t want to go to the capital.¡± Ding Yao had a baffled look on her face. Why did they all want to take her to the capital? Was she really that cute? Or was there another reason? Unfortunately, before she could ask, General Long Zhanyuan had already shouted outside, ¡°Song Yang, get ready to set off!¡± The Song brothers and sisters sent Song Yang and the others into the car. Some people from the village also came to see them off, including the village chief and his wife. Song Xiuyan looked at the car that had gone into the distance, and the words that General Long Zhanyuan had told him in private rang in his ears. ¡°Song Xiuyan, have you ever suspected that the person who wanted to harm your second brother, Song Yang, was actually not the owner of the West Qin Casino?¡± Song Xiuyan asked in surprise, ¡°General Long, did you discover any clues?¡± General Long Zhanyuan laughed out loud. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so nervous. For the time being, I haven¡¯t discovered any other clues.¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s heart tightened. For the time being, he hadn¡¯t discovered anything, which meant that General Long Zhanyuan had doubts. It was very likely that he would continue to investigate. ¡°If there really is something else behind Song Yang¡¯s murder, have you ever thought that your situation is actually very dangerous?¡± Without waiting for Song Xiuyan to speak, General Long Zhanyuan continued, ¡°However, I¡¯ve already informed the people of the Spirit Creek Town government and made my stance clear. If there are still people who aren¡¯t afraid of death and want to provoke you, then it means that the people who want to harm you aren¡¯t simple. When the time comes, you¡¯d better reconsider whether or not you want to come to the capital.¡± Song Xiuyan was silent for a while before replying, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to Ding Yao¡¯s wishes.¡± General Long Zhanyuan laughed at him. ¡°You¡¯re really obedient to your wife.¡± Song Xiuyan¡¯s face was a little red, but he didn¡¯t argue. He didn¡¯t know what was going on, but he was willing to listen to Ding Yao¡¯s words. On the second day after Song Yang went to the capital, Manager Xu came to visit. ¡°Miss Ding Yao, our boss said that we can work together and split the profits 40-60. What do you think?¡± Ding Yao felt baffled. What did the boss of One Side Sky Pharmacy mean? She had originally thought about 30-70%. Why was he giving away the profits now? Did they not want the money they got? Did they have other motives or something? However, she agreed without hesitation. She didn¡¯t care what the owner of One Side Sky Pharmacy meant. After all, if she worked with him, the pharmacy would only earn money and not lose money. She felt at ease taking 40% of the profits. Chapter 65 - You Are Not An Outsider After signing the official contract with One Side Sky Pharmacy, the matter of purchasing medicinal herbs for the treatment of roundworms was also handed over to One Side Sky Pharmacy. This time, it was truly a large-scale purchase. The villagers of Song family village and the neighboring fvillages were all beaming with joy. There were many things to do on the mountain, and they had an additional way to make money. These were all brought by Ding Yao. The sugar pills in Ding Yao¡¯s hands were all sold at a discount to One Side Sky Pharmacy. Soon after, she posted a notice at the door saying that those who wanted to treat roundworms could go to One Side Sky Pharmacy to buy them at the same price. The process of making the sugar pills was very simple, and the herbs were ready-made. In just one day, the sugar pills from One Side Sky Pharmacy could be sold in large quantities. In a few days, the sugar pills could be shipped to other branches, Ding Yao was in a very good mood because she could receive a considerable bonus after a month. Her words became more and more coherent, so she discussed with Song Xiuyan whether she could cut her daily writing task in half. In other words, she wanted to learn it every other day. Song Xiuyan agreed to Ding Yao¡¯s request easily, but he asked her to learn martial arts with him. The reason he gave was that only with martial arts could he ensure his personal safety. Moreover, he found that Ding Yao was as light as a swallow. She was a good candidate for learning martial arts. Ding Yao was a little speechless. Did Song Xiuyan want to be her master after becoming her teacher? She looked at Song Xiuyan and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t ordinary martial arts manuals not allowed to be passed on to outsiders?¡± Song Xiuyan replied, ¡°You¡¯re not an outsider.¡± Alright, forget it. Ding Yao thought about it and felt that what Song Xiuyan said made sense. Although she had all kinds of weapons in her herbal field space, it was undoubtedly better to have martial arts with her. Learning martial arts wasn¡¯t as simple as learning to write. Just the simple horse stance alone was unbearable. After half an hour, her back was aching. Song Xiuyan usually doted on Ding Yao, but after becoming a martial arts master, he was stern and ruthless, like a different person. Every morning, Song Xiuyan held a stick in his hand and wandered between Ding Yao and Song Yu and Song Xue. He would correct anyone who performed the horse stance incorrectly. Ding Yao was a big girl. In order to avoid being punished by Song Xiuyan, she could only perform the horse stance earnestly and meticulously. Fortunately, she was nourished by the spirit spring water. The spirit spring water could change a person¡¯s physique, and learning martial arts would be twice the result with half the effort. During this period of time, although Ding Yao didn¡¯t cook, she would enter the kitchen every day. She would either add the spirit spring water to the rice or add it to the cooked dishes. Therefore, the physique of the Song family members was quietly changing. Song Xiuyan was the first to notice the abnormality. Then, it was Song Yu and Song Xue. They were surprised to tell Song Xiuyan that during this period of time, their internal energy had improved by leaps and bounds. Song Xiuyan explained that they had been eating well recently and that their nutrition had caught up. That afternoon, Ding Yao and the others were eating when Ah Jie rushed over. ¡°Ding Yao, your stepmother, Wang Hongxia, has brought five men with her. They are here with sticks in their hands!¡± When Song Xue heard that, she rushed over to close the door. Ding Yao stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to close it.¡± If Wang Hongxia dared to make a scene, she wouldn¡¯t be polite to her anymore. However, to her surprise, Wang Hongxia directly brought her people to Zhao Caiyun¡¯s house. When they arrived at Zhao Caiyun¡¯s house, Wang Hongxia cursed loudly, ¡°You two b*tches! The b*tch mother gave birth to a b*tch daughter who specialized in doing b*tchy things! She did it, but she didn¡¯t dare to admit it! Put the blame on my head. Get the hell out here! Tell me clearly!¡± At noon, most of the villagers were resting at home. When they heard the commotion, they came out to see what was going on. Not long after, there were many people surrounding the entrance of Zhao Caiyun¡¯s house. Zhao Dashan held a thick iron rod and stood at the entrance of his house with a livid expression. No matter what his mother and sister did, they wouldn¡¯t let anyone bully them. Wang Hongxia continued to curse, ¡°Do you two b*tches have ulterior motives? You¡¯ve done something despicable, but why did you say that I was the one who instigated it? I¡¯m just a stepmother. It¡¯s already an awkward position, but you¡¯re still slandering me like this. How am I supposed to hold my head up in the future? Everyone in our village doesn¡¯t know the truth and spits at me every day! Everywhere I go, people point fingers at me!¡± Seeing the person beside Wang Hongxia, Ding Yao had some impression that it was someone from Wang Hongxia¡¯s family. Zhao Dashan¡¯s father also came out and stood beside Zhao Dashan. He pointed at Wang Hongxia and said, ¡°What do you want now? Do you want to fight?¡± Chapter 66 - Seeking an Explanation Wang Hongxia raised her voice. ¡°I want the two b*tches of your family to come out and explain to everyone! I didn¡¯t order them to do such a despicable thing! I can swear that if I did so it, I will die a horrible death! Tell them to get out and see if they dare to swear to the heavens that they weren¡¯t lying at that time and that they didn¡¯t frame me!¡± The villagers well all watching the drama. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s father suppressed his anger. ¡°What if they don¡¯t come out?¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t blame me for being heartless! Ding Yao is kind and won¡¯t call the police, but I will!¡± Wang Hongxia said resolutely. Hearing that Wang Hongxia was going to call the police, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother rushed out of the house. She explained anxiously, ¡°Ding Yao¡¯s mother, you can¡¯t say that. It¡¯s not that we¡¯re framing you. My daughter said that there was indeed a woman who claimed to be a relative of yours who said those things to her. If you want to say that she¡¯s framing you, it¡¯s that woman who¡¯s framing you!¡± Wang Hongxia spat at Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother. ¡°Bah! Would anyone believe what you said? If someone told you to eat sh*t, you would eat it? It was clearly you who had taken a fancy to Song Xiuyan¡¯s money and committed a despicable act. Yet, you still wanted to defend yourself and falsely accuse me of giving you a thousand yuan. If I had a thousand yuan, I wouldn¡¯t be unable to afford a doctor even if Ding Yao¡¯s father was sick! In short, I can¡¯t take this lying down. Unless you give me some other reason, I will definitely call the police!¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother was panicking. If she were to call the police, it would be troublesome. Now, she could only try and see if she could use money to get rid of Wang Hongxia. She said with a bitter look, ¡°Ding Yao¡¯s mother, we¡¯re also the victims. We believed that woman¡¯s words. However, this matter is indeed our fault. My daughter, Zhao Caiyun, is already in such a state. If you call the police, she definitely won¡¯t be able to live on. Ding Yao¡¯s mother, you¡¯re also someone¡¯s mother. Please pity me. Don¡¯t call the police. I can compensate you with 500 yuan.¡± Wang Hongxia put on such a grand display for the sake of money. Seeing Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother take the initiative to offer compensation, she was very happy. However, she said, ¡°500 yuan isn¡¯t enough to compensate for the loss of my reputation.¡± She had heard clearly that that woman had given Zhao Caiyun 1,000 yuan. Since she had become infamous for no reason, the 1,000 yuan should belong to her. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother looked troubled. ¡°I can¡¯t take out any more. Ever since that day, my daughter has been sick. In just a few days, she has become very ill. Just the treatment fees alone cost several hundred yuan.¡± As she said that, she took out a money bag from her bosom. ¡°This 500 yuan was originally for my daughter¡¯s medicine¡­¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s brother, Zhao Dashan, shouted at this moment, ¡°Forget it! If you want to call the police, then call the police. I also want to know who the woman who tricked my sister into doing something stupid is!¡± When Wang Hongxia heard that, she hurriedly snatched the money bag. ¡°500 then. I¡¯m not such a vicious person. From now on, I won¡¯t mention the matter of calling the police. Everyone has seen it clearly. If they are willing to compensate, it proves that this matter wasn¡¯t instigated by me. Don¡¯t scold me anymore in the future!¡± The surrounding villagers had contemptuous looks on their faces. Even if Zhao Caiyun wasn¡¯t instigated by Wang Hongxia, Wang Hongxia¡¯s reputation was already bad enough. No one dared to praise her for her conduct. With 500 yuan in her hands, Wang Hongxia had achieved her goal. She waved to the men behind her and said, ¡°Go to the town and wait for me. I¡¯ll be there in a while.¡± She still had to make a trip to Song Xiuyan¡¯s house. Song Xue reluctantly let Wang Hongxia into the house. Ding Yao couldn¡¯t be bothered to watch Wang Hongxia and Zhao Caiyun¡¯s house fight, so when she heard that Wang Hongxia was going to Zhao Caiyun¡¯s house, she continued writing in the study until Wang Hongxia came looking for her. When she saw Wang Hongxia come in, Ding Yao looked displeased and asked directly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± When she suddenly heard Ding Yao¡¯s words, Wang Hongxia was shocked at first. Then, she showed an exaggerated expression of surprise. ¡°Ding Yao, you can speak? That¡¯s great. It¡¯s really miraculous. Your father nagging every day that he¡¯s willing to lose ten years of his life in exchange for you to speak again was not in vain¡­¡± Ding Yao couldn¡¯t bear listening anymore and interrupted Wang Hongxia directly. ¡°Shut¡­ up!¡± She pointed at the door. ¡°Hurry up and¡­ get out!¡± No matter how thick-skinned Wang Hongxia was, she couldn¡¯t say anything more. However, she still had to tell Ding Yao the purpose of her visit this time. ¡°Ding Yao, I¡¯m not here to make things difficult for you. I have something very important to tell you.¡± Chapter 67 - There Was Indeed a Problem With the Uncle ¡°Speak.¡± Ding Yao¡¯s attitude was cold. Wang Hongxia hesitated for a moment. She wanted to ask for money and exchange it for a secret. However, before she could say anything, Ding Yao looked like she wanted her to leave as soon as possible. Wang Hongxia instantly dismissed the idea of asking for money. Forget it, she had to establish a good relationship with Ding Yao first. She would think of a way to get the money later. Thinking of this, she said in a low and mysterious voice, ¡°It¡¯s best not to let too many people know about this.¡± Ding Yao brought Wang Hongxia to a corner. Wang Hongxia said in a low voice, ¡°Ding Yao, I think there¡¯s something wrong with your uncle.¡± Ding Yao looked at Wang Hongxia and guessed what she was going to say. Wang Hongxia continued, ¡°Didn¡¯t your uncle Lin Hu say that he was going to return to the capital that day? In the end, he didn¡¯t return. Just a day before Zhao Caiyun did those despicable things, someone in our village had seen him in town. Just yesterday, my brothers from my family had also seen him in town. It wasn¡¯t a hallucination, but it really was him. On the day he came to my house to look for me, my brothers from my family happened to be there as well, so they couldn¡¯t have mistaken him for someone else. Moreover, Lin Hu wasn¡¯t alone. There was also an expressionless man by his side. My brothers from my family said that that man was intimidating. It was very likely that he knew martial arts, so he should be a bodyguard.¡± When Ding Yao heard this, she furrowed her brows. There was indeed a problem with Lin Hu. Wang Hongxia continued, ¡°When your second uncle and I wanted to bring you home and ask Song Xiuyan for the betrothal gift, Lin Hu asked me to do it. He said that he would give me 5,000 yuan after it was done. Previously, Lin Hu didn¡¯t care about you. Now, he¡¯s thinking of ways to bring you to the capital. He was willing to spend a lot of money to bring you there. It¡¯s very likely that he doesn¡¯t have good intentions and might sell you to a bad place. After all, you¡¯re so beautiful¡­ I wonder if Lin Hu was the one who ordered Zhao Caiyun to do this.¡± Ding Yao was a little surprised by Wang Hongxia¡¯s guess. She didn¡¯t expect this woman to be so smart. Of course, she also understood why Wang Hongxia told her all this. It was because she knew that she could earn a lot of money and wanted to please her. She wanted to get money from her? The host might have been poisoned mute by Wang Hongxia. She hadn¡¯t settled the score with her yet! She was also cheating on the host¡¯s father! No matter what Wang Hongxia did, she didn¡¯t want to let her have her way. Ding Yao said coldly, ¡°I already knew¡­ long ago.¡± Wang Hongxia was stunned for a moment, but soon, she wiped her tears and said, ¡°Ding Yao, in the past, I did a lot of things wrong, but it was all because my family was poor. I had no choice. I was also very helpless. Now that you¡¯re lucky, your life is getting better and better. I hope that you don¡¯t forget your father because your grandfather taught you how to make money. Your father is your grandfather¡¯s son. Your late grandfather definitely doesn¡¯t want to see your father be sick and have no money to hire a doctor. I forced him to speak about the Snake Swallow Stone last time. If you hate me, then hate me alone. Don¡¯t blame your father¡­¡± Ding Yao couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Enough!¡± Only then did Wang Hongxia leave in embarrassment. That night, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother came to look for Ding Yao with red eyes. ¡°Ding Yao, Caiyun said that she wants to talk to you for a few minutes.¡± Ding Yao refused immediately. ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother sniffed sadly. ¡°Caiyun¡­ might not be able to make it through tonight.¡± No way. Ding Yao frowned. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother explained, ¡°It¡¯s true. Caiyun said that she was drugged.¡± Ding Yao immediately changed her mind when she heard this. ¡°Alright, bring me there.¡± Song Xiuyan was worried and wanted to go with her. When they arrived at Zhao Caiyun¡¯s house, they saw Zhao Caiyun¡¯s father and her brother, Zhao Dashan, guarding the door. Their eyes were red and it was obvious that they had cried. When they saw Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao coming over, one of them looked away while the other lowered his head. If it weren¡¯t for Ding Yao, Zhao Caiyun wouldn¡¯t have done such a crazy thing. They couldn¡¯t scold Ding Yao, and they didn¡¯t have the nerve to scold Ding Yao. However, they didn¡¯t want to talk to Ding Yao at the moment. After all, Zhao Caiyun was about to die. Why would she want to see Ding Yao before she died? They didn¡¯t know what she was thinking. It wasn¡¯t convenient for Song Xiuyan to enter the girl¡¯s room, so he could only stay outside. Ding Yao used her eyes to tell Song Xiuyan, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Upon entering the room and seeing Zhao Caiyun, Ding Yao was shocked. It had only been a few days, but Zhao Caiyun was already in a terrible state and on the verge of death. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother wiped away her tears. ¡°Caiyun, I¡¯ve already brought Ding Yao over. You can tell her whatever you want to say.¡± Chapter 68 - Mystery of Ones Birth Zhao Caiyun weakly said, ¡°Mother, go out first and close the door.¡± She didn¡¯t want her family to know what she said to Ding Yao. Ding Yao kept looking at Zhao Caiyun and slightly frowned. She looked like she had been poisoned. Why were those people behind her so cruel? After Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother left, Zhao Caiyun weakly said to Ding Yao, ¡°I found you¡­ because¡­ you will kill Song Xiuyan.¡± Ding Yao didn¡¯t say anything after listening and waited for Zhao Caiyun to continue. Zhao Caiyun looked like she couldn¡¯t even breathe, and it was impossible for her to continue speaking. She paused for a moment, then, she continued, ¡°I¡¯m not a fool¡­ that strange woman taught me to do this¡­ how could I be so stupid as to do what she said¡­ I just didn¡¯t expect that one night, a man silently broke into my room and forced me to eat a poison pill¡­ he said that if I didn¡¯t do what he said, I wouldn¡¯t live for more than ten days¡­ He gave me a bottle of poison¡­ if I didn¡¯t break my hymen, he would poison your food¡­ After the deed was done, he would give me the antidote¡­ that man threatened me not to tell anyone¡­ otherwise, he would kill my entire family¡­ I didn¡¯t want to kill you¡­ so I used the method of breaking my hymen¡­ Those people wanted you dead. If you continue to stay in Song Xiuyan¡¯s house, you will only kill their entire family!¡± It took Zhao Caiyun a long time to finish what she wanted to say. She took out a small porcelain bottle from under her pillow. ¡°This is¡­ the poison that man gave me¡­ I put some in the water for my chickens to eat¡­ they died immediately after eating¡­ I don¡¯t blame anyone. I only blame myself for not caring about the consequences¡­ if I behaved myself, perhaps no one would have known that I like Song Xiuyan, and no one would have found me and used me¡­ although I like Song Xiuyan¡­ I don¡¯t like him enough to give up my life¡­¡± Before she died, Zhao Caiyun realized that she would rather live a good life than fall in love with Song Xiuyan. Unfortunately, there was no use regretting it now. She was going to die. It was good. She wouldn¡¯t drag her family down with her. She looked at Ding Yao with a pale face. ¡°Go.¡± She had said everything she needed to say. Ding Yao took out a pill and asked Zhao Caiyun, ¡°Do you want¡­ it¡­ ?¡± She decided to save Zhao Caiyun¡¯s life. Although Zhao Caiyun was guilty, she didn¡¯t deserve to die. The members of the Zhao family weren¡¯t evil people. Her purpose in studying medicine was to save the dead and heal the injured. Zhao Caiyun smiled miserably. ¡°Do you want to send me on my way ahead of time? That¡¯s fine too¡­¡± Ding Yao put down the pill. ¡°This¡­ can protect you¡­ from dying tonight.¡± After saying that, she left the room and pulled Song Xiuyan back home. The Zhao family couldn¡¯t hear what Zhao Caiyun and Ding Yao said. However, Song Xiuyan heard everything. After entering the house, Song Xiuyan asked, ¡°Can you save her?¡± Ding Yao nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Seeing that Ding Yao had started to fiddle with the small porcelain bottle that Zhao Caiyun had given him, Song Xiuyan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is there really poison inside?¡± Ding Yao nodded. She had just opened it and looked at it. It was white and tasteless. It should be a high-end poison that could kill anyone who ate it. Thinking of this, she raised her head and looked at Song Xiuyan. ¡°Did you hear what Zhao Caiyun said?¡± Song Xiuyan nodded. He didn¡¯t need to hide anything from Ding Yao. Ding Yao shrugged and said, ¡°You should believe it now. Those people came for me. The two men in black also came to kill me. The person who harmed Song Yang might really be the owner of the West Qin Casino, so no one wanted to harm your family. The person they wanted to harm was me.¡± Ding Yao wanted Song Xiuyan to relax a little. Unfortunately, Song Xiuyan didn¡¯t quite agree. ¡°That man wanted Zhao Caiyun to poison our food. He wanted to poison all of us. It wasn¡¯t just against you. Moreover, from the poison pills he gave Zhao Caiyun, it looked more like he was targeting me. If Zhao Caiyun successfully refused to leave my house and the poison took effect, I would seem like the person who poisoned her. The police would have investigated me.¡± Ding Yao was speechless at Song Xiuyan¡¯s stubbornness. She didn¡¯t understand why Song Xiuyan always thought that those people were coming for him. Song Xiuyan had experienced his previous life, so his thoughts were clearer than Ding Yao¡¯s. He was now certain that someone wanted to harm his family, and someone wanted to harm Ding Yao. The person who wanted to harm his family might have something to do with his background, and the person who wanted to harm Ding Yao might also have something to do with Ding Yao¡¯s background. Thinking of this, Song Xiuyan suddenly held Ding Yao in his arms and firmly promised, ¡°No matter if those people are targeting you or me, don¡¯t panic. With me here, no one can hurt us.¡± Chapter 69 - A Premonition How was she panicking? However, in Song Xiuyan¡¯s warm embrace, Ding Yao was stunned for a moment. She tried to push him away, but he hugged her even tighter, causing her little face to turn red. She even felt her heart beat faster. What the hell? Song Xiuyan wasn¡¯t flirting with her, so why did her heart flutter? After a long while, Song Xiuyan released Ding Yao. He realized that Ding Yao¡¯s little face was red. He felt baffled. Why was his wife feeling bashful? He didn¡¯t do anything. He just hugged her. It wasn¡¯t the first time he hugged her, and he even carried her on his back before. She didn¡¯t seem shy at all at that time. The next morning, Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother came over. When she saw Ding Yao, she fell to her knees with a thud and kowtowed twice. ¡°Thank you, Ding Yao. You saved Zhao Caiyun¡¯s life. I will always remember your great kindness. Caiyun ate the pills you gave her yesterday. She can get up and eat now.¡± Ding Yao didn¡¯t pull Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother up. Instead, she avoided her kowtow and said calmly, ¡°She hasn¡¯t fully recovered¡­ she still needs¡­ to continue taking the pills.¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother hurriedly got up from the ground. ¡°What medicine does she still need to take? How much is it? No matter how much money it costs, I¡¯m willing to pay.¡± Ding Yao gave the prescription that she had written yesterday to Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother. ¡°Once a day¡­ take it for ten days straight.¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother took the prescription and quickly ran home. After a while, she caught two big roosters. ¡°Ding Yao, our family has no money. We¡¯ll give you two chickens first. Once we gather the money, we¡¯ll give it to you immediately.¡± After saying that, she ran back home. She wanted to quickly go to town to sell eggs and roosters and get the medicine. After Zhao Caiyun fell ill, they hired several doctors. They spent several thousand dollars and used a lot of good medicine, but they still couldn¡¯t save Zhao Caiyun¡¯s life. They thought that Zhao Caiyun wouldn¡¯t be able to survive last night. They didn¡¯t expect that Ding Yao would be able to pull Zhao Caiyun back from the gates of hell with just one pill. Most importantly, Zhao Caiyun, who had just returned from the gates of hell, finally had the courage to live. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother didn¡¯t ask Ding Yao how much money it was. No matter how much money it was, she was willing to give it. Her family¡¯s man and son had the same intention. Just as Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother was about to go out, Song Yu ran over and said, ¡°My sister-in-law said that we don¡¯t need to give any more money for the diagnosis. Two roosters are enough. Also, boil two times a packet of medicine, three bowls of water and one bowl of medicine, morning and evening. Take it on an empty stomach. Remember that.¡± Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother hurriedly nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll remember it. Tell your sister-in-law that we¡¯ll definitely pay the consultation fee. If we don¡¯t, we¡¯ll feel bad.¡± As she spoke, her tears fell profusely. She was extremely regretful for what she had done previously. In the afternoon, the villagers were all discussing: ¡°Did you hear? Zhao Caiyun was about to die, but Ding Yao saved her with a pill!¡± ¡°Really? After Zhao Caiyun got sick, I saw a few doctors go to her house and buy a bunch of medicine, but it didn¡¯t work at all. I heard that Zhao Caiyun was waiting for her death at home. Yesterday, I saw her mother crying in the corner.¡± ¡°Really! Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother said it herself. She even said that Ding Yao gave her a prescription that would heal her after ten days of drinking. The key was that the prescription was not expensive. It was only a hundred yuan in total. The medicine prescribed by other doctors cost a hundred yuan each! Moreover, I heard that the consultation fee was very cheap. She accepted two roosters and refused to accept any more money after that.¡± ¡°Sigh, Ding Yao is really good-hearted. Zhao Caiyun and her daughter did such a thing, but she still saved her. I¡¯m really impressed!¡± ¡°You know that Ding Yao is good-hearted only now? I knew that Ding Yao was good-hearted from the time she divided the wild boar meat. Although Ding Yao is young, she¡¯s very popular! The most important thing is that she¡¯s good at medicine. She can cure diseases that the doctors in the town can¡¯t cure in a short time. The money she receives isn¡¯t enough. I¡¯ll go and see her when I¡¯m sick in the future!¡± In the afternoon, Ding Yao was administering acupuncture to Song Yi while Song Xiuyan and Song Yu watched from the side. It was the middle of summer in July and the weather was hot. Song Xue was fanning Ding Yao with a cattail leaf fan, but Ding Yao¡¯s forehead was still sweating. Song Xiuyan took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat. When Ding Yao thought of Song Xiuyan¡¯s warm embrace last night, she felt her heart palpitate. Ding Yao despised herself. In her previous life, she had never been in love, but after transmigrating and reincarnating, Song Xiuyan made her heart flutter so easily. It was such a joke. She had a feeling that in this life, she would probably fall head over heels for Song Xiuyan. Chapter 70 - Patient Flow After Ding Yao gave Song Yi the injection, Song Yu quickly applied a steaming hot medicine pack to Song Yi¡¯s knee and wrapped it with bandages. His movements were standard and skillful. Ding Yao watched from the side and nodded to herself. This little disciple of Song Yu¡¯s was pretty good. He was diligent and eager to learn. He was also smart and could see through everything with just a little bit of effort. In half a month¡¯s time, Song Yi¡¯s originally atrophied calves had begun to gain weight. Because he was in a good mood, Song Yi¡¯s appetite had increased greatly. His entire body had gained more weight, making him look even more handsome. In fact, of the five Song siblings, apart from Song Yang, who was more muscular, all of them were handsome, especially Song Xiuyan. Ding Yao initially thought that Song Xiuyan looked a little like his mother, but in fact, he wasn¡¯t. After looking at Song Xiuyan¡¯s great-grandfather¡¯s portrait, she realized that Song Xiuyan looked the most like his great-grandfather. Both his body shape and charm were very similar. Song Yi and Song Xue were more like their mother, while Song Yu was more similar to Song Xiuyan. However, there was a big difference between her and Song Xiuyan¡¯s great-grandfather in the portrait. This difference could be due to their temperament. Ding Yao had just finished treating Song Yi¡¯s leg when a few villagers entered the door. There were two women and a man. They were here to see Ding Yao. Ding Yao wasn¡¯t surprised at all. She had saved Zhao Caiyun and knew that news of her medical skills would spread. Previously, the villagers didn¡¯t believe that she could cure the disease. They thought that she had saved Song Yang because of the Snake Swallow Stone, she knew how to treat roundworm disease because her grandfather left a prescription for her. As for treating Song Yi¡¯s leg, she could only believe it when Song Yi could stand up. Now that Zhao Caiyun had made an advertisement for Ding Yao, the villagers would naturally come to her for treatment. Ding Yao gestured, ¡°You guys¡­ sit properly first and follow the order.¡± Everyone understood Ding Yao¡¯s meaning, but Song Yu still dutifully explained beside her, ¡°My sister-in-law said that those who come first will be examined first. Those who come later will have to wait for a while.¡± The woman who coughed very badly was the wife of Mr. Liu. She quickly said, ¡°I was the first to enter the house. Let me be examined first.¡± Ding Yao gestured for her to sit on the chair. Mr. Liu¡¯s wife coughed for a while, she told Ding Yao about her symptoms, ¡°I went to One Side Sky Pharmacy in the town to see a doctor. I also took medicine, but I haven¡¯t seen any improvement.¡± As she spoke, she showed the prescription of the doctor in One Side Sky Pharmacy to Ding Yao. Ding Yao glanced at it. Although the handwriting on the prescription was messy, as a doctor, she could still understand the familiar names of the medicine. Mr. Liu¡¯s wife was suffering from pneumonia, so it might not be that serious at first. The doctor in One Side Sky Pharmacy was more cautious with the medicine, and the prescription was relatively mild. According to Mr. Liu¡¯s wife, she didn¡¯t drink any more after drinking three packets of medicine, and the result was even worse. Ding Yao wrote down three types of medicinal herbs on the paper, then, she pointed at the first two types and said, ¡°We have these two types of medicine here¡­¡± Then, she pointed at the last type and said, ¡°Go to the pharmacy and buy five portions¡­ Take it once a day, five days for a course of treatment¡­¡± When Song Yu heard Ding Yao¡¯s words, he immediately ran into the prescription to get the medicine. He took it out and handed it to Ding Yao. Ding Yao divided the two types of medicine into five portions and instructed Mr. Liu¡¯s wife to add them together and boil water to drink after buying the last type of medicine. Once a day was enough, and then she drank it for five consecutive days. Ding Yao received a total of forty yuan for the medicinal herbs and the consultation fee. It was really cheap! Mr. Liu¡¯s wife ran home happily. She wanted to tell her husband, Mr. Liu, to hurry to town to buy the medicine. The remaining couple was a man and a woman. They looked quite young. The man was accompanying his wife. When Ding Yao asked about the woman¡¯s symptoms, the woman grabbed her sleeves and was embarrassed to speak. Generally speaking, women were embarrassed to talk about their symptoms. Most of them were gynecological diseases. Ding Yao kindly brought her to the pharmacy. After hearing about the woman¡¯s symptoms, she found out it was indeed a gynecological disease. Her lower body was inflamed. The woman looked at Ding Yao worriedly and asked, ¡°Can you treat this?¡± If Ding Yao couldn¡¯t treat it, she would be too embarrassed to go to the town to look for a male doctor to treat her. Ding Yao nodded. ¡°Yes¡­ come tonight¡­ to get the medicine.¡± After the woman heard this, she pulled the man and left doubtfully. Soon after, another mother and son came. They should be from same village. The woman was in her thirties, and the boy was about twelve years old. He raised his head, and his nose was stuffed with cotton, which was soaked in blood. The woman looked at Ding Yao with a worried expression and asked, ¡°Ding Yao, our son often has nosebleeds. I don¡¯t know where the problem is. Can you examine him?¡± Chapter 71 - Do You Know How to Concoct Poison? After Ding Yao examined him, she nodded. ¡°It can be cured.¡± She asked Song Yu to bring over the medicinal herbs she had previously ground. She wrapped twelve small packets of them in a white paper, each containing about three grams. She instructed the woman to mix honey into boiling water and consume them for three days. As the woman listened, she grew troubled. ¡°I don¡¯t have any honey at home¡­¡± She began. In normal farming households, even sugar was a luxury item, not to mention honey. Ding Yao took a small bowl and poured some honey from a bottle into the woman¡¯s mouth. She also added some spirit spring water. The young boy¡¯s body was fine, but he was a little weak. Ding Yao charged a hundred yuan for the medication because honey was quite expensive. For a few days in a row, people came to see Ding Yao. Although Song Xiuyan did not go to school, he insisted on reading daily. Besides managing the household chores, Song Xue spent her free time knitting ropes or teaching the girls in the village how to do it. Since Ding Yao came into the picture, Song Yu had not needed to forage for wild vegetables. Instead, she followed Ding Yao, learning her craft. The family hardly went out. Song Xiuyan¡¯s family originally owned many acres of land, and they hired people to farm the fields. However, as the family¡¯s economic situation deteriorated, they slowly sold off what they could to support themselves. The remaining few mu of land was hardly enough to support the family in Song Xiuyan¡¯s generation. When Song Xiuyan¡¯s father fell ill and was bedridden for half a year, they had no choice but to sell the last of their land to pay for treatment. All they had left was the old house and a small backyard of no more than 1,000 square metres. Afterwards, as if plagued by misfortune, Song Yi broke his leg. By then, the family was so tight on finances that they had no choice but to borrow from everyone they could. The money they needed to borrow exceeded 2,000 yuan, and people began asking Song Xiuyan if he was willing to sell the old house. However, he refused, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not selling!¡± Unless necessary, Song Xiuyan did not want to sell the old house Grandpa Zeng had built. Ding Yao taught Song Yu how to massage his legs, which would speed up his recovery. After a few tries, Song Yu managed to stand with a grin. ¡°I think my leg will recover in two months. I will write to the boss and tell him the good news!¡± Song Xiuyan pursed his lips, worried about his younger brother. He had only told his second brother, Song Yang, that someone wanted to harm the family. What if Song Yu was injured again after he recovered and ran around with the boss? General Long¡¯s reputation was enough to dissuade most evildoers, but that did not mean his protection was absolute. Accidents always happen, and it would not be surprising if those lurking in the shadows orchestrated something to that effect. There was only so much he could do to protect his younger siblings. He could not very well expect them to live their lives locked away all the time. The alternative was to ensure they could defend themselves adequately. However, cultivating the body with martial arts was not a matter of minutes; it took months of hard work to be even remotely proficient. The one shortcut he thought of was introducing them to hidden weapons, perhaps those of the deadly variety. ¡°Do you know how to make the poison?¡± Song Xiuyan asked Ding Yao. Since she could concoct antidotes, poison should not be too difficult for her. Ding Yao nodded. ¡°Yes, I do.¡± She looked at Song Xiuyan curiously and asked, ¡°What are you going to do with the poison I make?¡± Song Xiuyan explained himself to Ding Yao. Although Ding Yao found it curious that Song Xiuyan would insist that someone was out to get them, she attributed it to him wanting to be prepared. Fortunately, Song Xiuyan¡¯s younger siblings were level-headed. They would not use it recklessly if they were warned that the poisons were only meant for self-defence. Song Xiuyan bought the medicinal herbs Ding Yao requested. She refined the herbs into several kinds of poison. Some she turned into powder, a few she turned into pills, and the rest she laced on a few hidden weapons. Each of them had its uses. The next day, another lesson was added to their martial arts lessons: How to use hidden weapons. Song Xiuyan¡¯s method of throwing hidden weapons amazed Ding Yao. It was fast, accurate, and powerful. He could hit a target the size of a peanut with a small stone from more than ten meters away. However, Song Xiuyan was best at using throwing knives. He could bisect a fly with his knives from more than ten metres away, perfectly slicing the poor insect in two. Song Xiuyan always kept a short dagger on his person. From a glance, one could tell it was not your everyday item. When she asked him about it, Song Xiuyan said his great-grandfather had left it behind. Although he always had the dagger on hand, he did not use it under most circumstances; it was too precious. Even when assailed by those black-clothed assassins, he had been reluctant to draw it from its sheath, preferring to use the hitman¡¯s longsword as a flying knife. Song Xiuyan seemed to grow more and more mysterious by the day. ¡°Your family¡­ ancestors¡­ what exactly¡­ did they do?¡± Ding Yao prodded. Ding Yao had lived in seclusion in the Song family village for many years, but she could not think of any explanation for how they had nurtured someone like Song Xiuyan. He was calm, knowledgeable and proficient in martial arts, unlike most youths his age. Chapter 72 - To Go, or Not to Go? Song Xiuyan shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I once asked my grandfather. He said we should let go of the past; he only wanted us to live simple and happy lives¡­¡± He paused, collecting his thoughts before saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know what my ancestors did or what enemies they may have made. Perhaps my great-grandfather might have told my grandfather, but he certainly did not mention anything to my father or me. Grandfather probably felt we were safe enough living out of the way in the Song family village, but he¡¯s wrong. Even if we hid away from the world, the world would inevitably draw us back; we can¡¯t hide forever.¡± Ding Yao listened and vaguely sensed this was why Song Xiuyan believed someone wanted to harm the family. Still, there was one thing she could not wrap her mind around. If she were the enemy and learned of Song Xiuyan and his siblings, Ding Yao would have struck swiftly, dealing with them in one fell swoop instead of picking on them while they had their guard up. In her opinion, Song Xiuyan was overthinking things. Song Xiuyan did not continue explaining his train of thought because there were many things he could not understand. Fortunately, Ding Yao was highly capable and could provide him with ample support. She possessed considerable ability in her expertise and showed she was a fast learner. Whether it was learning to write or learning martial arts, the speed with which she picked things up impressed him. Ding Yao was the smartest girl he had ever seen, second only to him. They were truly a match made in heaven. 1 The days flew by, and soon a month passed. They received the first month¡¯s bonus of 20,000 yuan from Steward Xu. ¡°The first month¡¯s bonus isn¡¯t as much because we just established our partnership. Things should settle from next month onwards,¡± Steward Xu explained. Ding Yao expressed her understanding. She felt a little dizzy as she held the money. The days ahead looked much better if money continued filling their coffers like this. On this day, the principal of Linxi High School, Chen Xuefeng, sent a message inviting Song Xiuyan for a meeting. When Song Xiuyan returned, his mood was complicated. He met the people left behind by General Long Zhanyuan at principal Chen Xuefeng¡¯s home. During this month, they followed all the clues, but they still could not find the culprit who set a poisonous snake on Song Yang. However, what they did find out was just as disturbing. Something was amiss with Ding Yao¡¯s cheap uncle, Lin Hu. Lin Hu brought three bodyguards with him when he visited the countryside but only returned to the capital with one. The other two seemed to have vanished into thin air. Song Xiuyan guessed that the woman who had seduced Zhao Caiyuan was most likely one of Lin Hu¡¯s bodyguards. Someone had seen Lin Hu in Spirit Creek Town that day. It was too much of a coincidence for Lin Hu to appear in the vicinity where Zhao Caiyun was poisoned, probably by one of his said guards. Lin Hu must have extracted a promise from Zhao Caiyun in a bid to bring Ding Yao to the capital. The investigations in the capital did not turn up anything wrong with Lin Hu. Still, it was best to be safe than sorry. General Long suggested that Ding Yao should make a trip to the capital to see what Lin Hu wanted; if anything, it would throw off any suspicions he might have had. Song Xiuyan was worried about letting Ding Yao go to the capital alone, but he could not leave his younger siblings behind to go with Ding Yao. This put him in a difficult position. General Long¡¯s subordinates saw through Song Xiuyan¡¯s concerns. They told him that if Ding Yao decided to go to the capital, they would escort her the entire way and guarantee her safety. Song Xiuyan told Ding Yao what General Long had in mind. Ding Yao considered the proposition and decided to wait and see. If Lin Hu did not make any more moves, she would not take the initiative to see him. However, if he decided to play more tricks, she would not take another step back and would meet him head-on. With another month and a half of treatment, Song Yi could probably stand on his two legs again. He was so happy that he finally resembled a child again. Song Yi¡¯s former boss, Cheng Guanren, received song Yi¡¯s letter and came to see him. When he saw Song Yi walking hesitantly on his two feet, Cheng Guanren laughed. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic! Your sister-in-law is a marvellous doctor!¡¯ Song Yi told Cheng Guanren he would be able to return to work in a few days. Song Xiuyan did not object to his younger brother¡¯s decision. He merely reminded him to be careful. Song Yi¡¯s accident reminded him too much of Song Yang¡¯s set-up. Song Yi followed Cheng Guanren everywhere he went, so he was aware of the dangers of Jianghu. However, he also knew he could not stay under his big brother¡¯s protection for the rest of his life. ¡°Big Brother, don¡¯t worry. After what happened last time, I¡¯ve learned to be more careful! Big Sister Ding Yao taught us the thirty-six escape strategies. If it¡¯s someone we can¡¯t beat, we should run away. There¡¯s no need to worry about firewood if the forests still stand. Even if we can¡¯t win, we¡¯re strong enough to escape,¡± he assured his older brother. Chapter 73 - Recurring Incidents Song Yi, who had once lost hope in life, felt the spark rekindle even though there could be people lurking in the shadows, waiting to harm him. Ding Yao had wanted to wait and see, but she did not expect her uncle, Lin Hu, to make another move so soon. Two of General Long¡¯s subordinates rushed over from the capital that night. They had come under the orders of General Long to protect Ding Yao because they discovered one of Lin Hu¡¯s bodyguards in Spirit Creek Town¡¯s vicinity. General Long¡¯s subordinates had been keeping tabs on Lin Hu¡¯s bodyguard and learned he had gone to Yaohe Village, just a stone¡¯s throw away from Spirit Stone Village. General Long had ten personal guards bearing his surname as a title. The two who had arrived were Long Liu and Long San, ranked sixth and third, respectively. Song Xiuyan arranged for them to stay in the guest room. The next morning, Wen Jiang, her mother¡¯s cousin, his wife, Xu Zhizhi, and a strange man knocked on Song Xiuyan¡¯s door. Wen Jiang was about thirty years old and had an honest look. Ding Yao remembered as much sifting through the memories of her current body. Wen Jiang and his wife would visit Spirit Stone Village bearing gifts even after the passing of her current body¡¯s mother. The couple treated her current identity with sincerity and kindness, addressing them affectionately as uncle and aunt. Ding Yao adapted her mannerisms according to those she remembered. When Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi saw Ding Yao, they inquired about her current situation and were surprised to hear her speak again. The couple were truly happy for Ding Yao and explained the purpose of their visit. Ding Yao¡¯s maternal grandmother in the capital, Wen Huiying, who was also Lin Hu and Lin Nanzhi¡¯s mother and Wen Jiang¡¯s aunt, was now seriously ill and did not have much time left. She wanted to meet the rest of her family before she passed, expressing her deep concern for her granddaughter, Ding Yao. Being the filial son, Lin Hu quickly sent someone to the countryside to bring her and the rest of the family to the capital. Wen Jiang¡¯s parents were too old and could not undergo the long journey to the capital, so they would remain with the children while he and his wife represented the younger generation. ¡°I¡¯ve heard from your uncle that you aren¡¯t willing to go to the capital. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll bring you back as soon as we see your grandmother,¡± Wen Jiang said. Her aunt, Xu Zhizhi, clasped Ding Yao¡¯s hands, gently persuading her, ¡°Ding Yao, you¡¯re a good, sensible girl. We¡¯ll come back together, I promise. Let¡¯s go and see your grandmother, okay?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t seen your grandma in a long while. She doesn¡¯t have much time left. You don¡¯t want her to pass on with regrets, do you?¡± The man following the couple hurriedly interjected, ¡°Miss Ding Yao, my name is Lin Qiang. Boss Hu is afraid you¡¯ll misunderstand, so he asked me to tell you that it¡¯s your choice whether you would like to stay in the capital or not.¡± Ling Qiang¡¯s words and Wen Jiang¡¯s promise made it difficult for Ding Yao to refuse. She turned to Song Xiuyan somewhat hesitantly and said, ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ make a trip there.¡± 1 Song Xiuyan nodded with mixed feelings. ¡°If you want to go, then go.¡± It was a topic they had discussed previously. They would not cower in fear even if Lin Hu decided to pull more tricks. Seeing Song Xiuyan¡¯s worry, Ding Yao whispered mischievously in his ear, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be back before you know it.¡± It was just a trip to the capital; there should not be anything for her to worry about. Not only was she trained in self-defence, but she was also a capable medical practitioner; she would not die so easily. Moreover, Long Liu and Long San would protect her from the shadows. Ding Yao wanted to know what Lin Hu was scheming, or rather, what his next move would be. Hearing Ding Yao¡¯s words, Lin Qiang¡¯s face lit up joyfully. ¡°There¡¯s no time like the present! We¡¯ll set off for the capital immediately.¡± What was the rush? Well, it did not matter. Song Xiuyan had already reminded Ding Yao several times to be careful. She could probably rehearse his whole speech backwards if prompted. Ding Yao did not have much to bring with her. She packed two sets of clothes to change, and that was it. Song Xue¡¯s eyes were red as she tugged at Ding Yao¡¯s luggage worriedly, ¡°Sister Ding Yao. You¡¯ll come back, won¡¯t you?¡± Ding Yao nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ come back.¡± Song Xue was still worried, her small fingers hooking onto Ding Yao¡¯s clothes. It was only after a while that she reluctantly let go. Song Yu also did not want Ding Yao to leave. What if sister Ding Yao did not return? He had just settled on a goal in life ¨C to study medicine. If Ding Yao did not come back and he could not study under her, he would be devastated. Though he was as worried as his sister for Ding Yao¡¯s safety, he could not allow himself to cry. He would be strong and follow his big brother¡¯s example. Chapter 74 - Departure Song Yu glanced at his older brother. Song Xiuyan may have seemed stoic, but he knew his big brother was likely chewing on his nails, beside himself with worry. Song Yu hoped his sister-in-law would not go back on her word, continuing to bring joy and laughter to their family. Song Yi was the calmest person in the Song family. He smiled and said to Ding Yao, ¡°I¡¯ve already agreed with Boss Cheng. I¡¯ll report to the company the day after tomorrow. Boss Cheng plans to go to the capital to discuss business. Maybe he¡¯ll let me tag along. Let¡¯s meet up in the capital.¡± Song Yi even got the address from Lin Qiang. Ding Yao gave Song Yi a big smile. ¡°Okay, then¡­ the capital¡­ I¡¯ll see you there.¡± When the people in the village knew that Ding Yao was going to the capital, they all put down the work they were doing to send her off. They were all unwilling to let Ding Yao leave, worried that she would not return after seeing the capital¡¯s prosperity. No one in the village had had to go to town for treatment since Ding Yao settled down. They could trade a few kilograms of rice with Ding Yao for medicine to treat an illness that would cost them hundreds of yuan in town. Although Ding Yao was young, her medical skills were the real deal. So far, she had been able to treat all the diseases the villagers contracted. Ding Yao and Song Yu even taught them about medicinal herbs for free. As long as they were not afraid of getting their hands dirty, they could save money by foraging for medicinal herbs in the mountains during their spare time. It was many times better than working part-time. At first, people thought Ding Yao was an omen of bad luck, spreading her ill fortune to any who got close to her. They did not expect her to be a little fairy spreading good luck everywhere she went. No one could bear the thought of her leaving and not coming back. Big Head Liu¡¯s wife, who had been cured of pneumonia after drinking medicine for five days, quickly went to her house to packing peanuts and sunflower seeds that had just been dried and gave them to Ding Yao. She told her to treat them as snacks on the way to the capital. Another woman, whose son had suffered a nose bleed, packed some sweet potatoes and hand-made noodles into a box for Ding Yao to enjoy. The other villagers also brought many things, saying they were for Ding Yao¡¯s grandmother and grandfather. Zhao Caiyun¡¯s mother brought even more things, all homemade farm snacks; Ding Yao only brought peanuts, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, and the things she could carry. Before she left, she left Song Xiuyan a 10,000 yuan passbook and brought the other 10,000 yuan as a backup. Before Ding Yao got into the car, Zhao Caiyun pulled her to the side and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m overthinking things¡­ but I feel like there¡¯s something wrong with your uncle. The woman who tried bribing me the other day was likely a man pretending to be a woman.¡± ¡°He wore makeup and had the capital¡¯s accent. The person who poisoned me also had the capital¡¯s accent. They¡¯re probably the same person. It¡¯s too much of a coincidence for a place as small and remote as Spirit Creek Town.¡± ¡°Very few people venture out here from the capital. Moreover¡­ that day¡­ I¡¯m pretty sure I saw your uncle lurking around. In any case, you should be careful. If you¡¯ll take it, my advice is not to go where he is, but if you must head there, be careful. Don¡¯t throw away your life.¡± After Zhao Caiyun finished speaking, he realised everyone was staring at him. He lowered his head, shuffling awkwardly away. Ding Yao said a quiet ¡°thank you¡± to Zhao Caiyun¡¯s retreating form. The villagers felt it was rather strange. How could someone like Zhao Caiyun be worthy of Ding Yao¡¯s gratitude? Lin Qiang heaved a sigh of relief when Ding Yao stepped into the carriage. Spirit Creek Town rented a small, shabby carriage. It had two rows of seats. Lin Qiang and Wen Jiang sat on one side, while Ding Yao and Xu Zhizhi sat on the other. There was a small coffee table separating the two sides. Though the carriage was not in the best condition, it was stable. It was Xu Zhizhi¡¯s first time going on a long journey. She buzzed with excitement and a sense of trepidation. She wanted to lift the carriage curtain to see outside but felt it would be rude to impose on those seated in front. Before setting out, Xu Zhizhi¡¯s grandfather had spoken to her regarding the basics of etiquette. Xu Zhizhi listened seriously and thought she would have to repeat what she had learned to Ding Yao. She did not expect Ding Yao to be much calmer than her. Ding Yao smiled and placed the snacks the villagers had showered upon her on the coffee table and said, ¡°Everyone¡­ let¡¯s eat.¡± Ding Yao helped herself to some peanuts. Her movements were elegant, and her expression was natural. Ling Qiang was in a good mood as he ate some peanuts. ¡°These peanuts are delicious. They¡¯re so sweet and aren¡¯t greasy at all. They¡¯re the best peanuts I¡¯ve eaten,¡± he said. Wen Jiang added, ¡°You may not know this, but these peanuts are a speciality of Spirit Creek Town. It grows in the sandy soil unique to the area. They would still taste sweet even if you were to eat them raw. Just boil them in salt water and leave them to dry; you don¡¯t need to add anything else, and they¡¯ll taste great.¡± Chapter 75 - Fire! Lin Qiang asked with great interest, ¡°Why do peanuts in sandy soil taste so good?¡± Wen Jiang entered the conversation. In a lively chatter, he said, ¡°These peanuts aren¡¯t grown in fertile soil with a high mineral content or a barren wasteland with no moisture. Loose, sandy soil is the best if you want to get them just right. Our peanuts aren¡¯t oily but plump and juicy. It is the type of peanut our ancestors cultivated, and now we cultivate today.¡± ¡°All you need to do is boil them in salt water and dry them; it¡¯s simple. This is how our ancestors derived a sweet and fragrant peanut that can be preserved.¡± Ding Yao was surprised by Wen Jiang¡¯s depth of knowledge. These peanuts tasted very similar to a certain brand of peanut she knew in her previous life, and they were both very delicious. On the way to the capital, the four chatted and familiarised themselves. The gloomy atmosphere filling the air dissipated. Occasionally, jokes would be tossed, though it was limited to Wen Jiang and Lin Qiang. Ding Yao did not want to raise her voice over the chatter, so she chose to speak as little as possible. Xu Zhizhi was mostly reserved throughout their journey. She remembered her grandfather¡¯s words on social etiquette and tried her best to remain silent unless addressed. The journey to the capital would take a few days, so they stopped to rest for the night in a small hotel. Xu Zhizhi and Ding Yao shared a room, while Wen Jiang and Lin Qiang shared another. Dawn broke with nothing disturbing their rest. Lin Qiang went off to rent a new carriage for the next leg of their journey. While he was away, Long San discretely handed Ding Yao a note. The note read: ¡°Everything is normal. No dangers have been detected. There¡¯s no need to worry.¡± Long San and Long Liu were her escorts, and they shadowed her diligently. They were a source of silent strength for Ding Yao, assuaging her worries. She clambered onto the newly rented carriage with the rest of her party, repeating their stay at an inn come nightfall. Strangely, they were the only guests in that inn. A while later, she received another note from Long San saying, ¡°Be careful. Don¡¯t worry; we¡¯re here with you.¡± That night, Ding Yao heard shouting, ¡°Fire! Fire! Get Up and run for your lives!¡± It was Long San¡¯s voice! Ding Yao quickly shook Xu Zhizhi awake. ¡°Hurry, we need to escape!¡± The two women dressed in the blink of an eye and rushed out of their room. A fire had started at the woodshed outback, near Ding Yao and Xu Zhizhi¡¯s room. Ding Yao trusted Long San and the others to handle the fire while she and Xu Zhizhi fled. The room they stayed in was on the second floor, where everything seemed to have been made from wood. By the time they reached the stairs, Long San and Long Liu had managed to put out the fire, but it did nothing for the billowing clouds of smoke rising through the stairwell. Xu Zhizhi was so scared her skin took on a ghostly parlour. Nothing else was on her mind save her husband and his well-being. ¡°Wen Jiang! Wen Jiang!¡± She called desperately. Ding Yao¡¯s face darkened. It seemed her uncle, Lin Hu, wanted her dead. She did not know of any enmity between them, yet he still took steps to kill her. Ding Yao felt hatred coiling in her chest. Wen Jiang heard his wife¡¯s cries and soon arrived by their side. He shepherded them down the stairs and to the inn¡¯s lobby. More than a dozen people were standing around, all in shock. Lin Qiang was berating the owner of the inn, ¡°What kind of establishment is this? How can your safety measures be so poor? Is there no one on duty? Someone set the woodshed on fire using gasoline. If it weren¡¯t for someone discovering it and alerting everyone else, wouldn¡¯t we all have died in the fire?¡± Lin Qiang was referring to Long San, who had shouted the warning earlier. When their eyes met, Long San may have pretended not to know her, but Ding Yao recognised him immediately. Why was General Long so concerned for her safety? She could not understand why he would think so highly of her that he would secretly send his bodyguards to protect her. Song Xiuyan and Song Yang had saved the wizened general, not her. The owner of the inn dragged a young man with a large bump on his head over, explaining, ¡°We did have someone on night duty. However, someone knocked him out. Fortunately, someone find him¡­¡± Lin Qiang interrupted the inn owner, ¡°Stop spouting nonsense and trying to justify yourself! We should call the police and have them investigate the matter. If your inn is at fault, I¡¯m sure the police will forcefully close the establishment. Otherwise, your negligence would drag more innocents to an early grave!¡± Lin Qiang¡¯s words sparked anger in those milling about, watching the drama unfold. One after another, they decried the inn¡¯s owner, calling for him to be arrested and charged by the police. The owner of the humble inn was so nervous his forehead was beaded in sweat. ¡°Please calm yourselves. We have never hurt anyone, let alone caused undue harm due to negligence. I¡¯m afraid other actors are at play, which caused the fire.¡± If the police were brought into the picture, the inn would certainly be closed pending an investigation. He might not even be granted permission to reopen. The innkeeper knew he had no enmity with anyone, yet, he also knew he would not be able to escape unscathed with the public up in arms. His only choice was to beg for clemency and hope for the best. Chapter 76 - Poisoning At this moment, Long Liu should have knocked out the arsonist and taken him away. The guests were all making noise. The boss had to promise everyone free food and accommodation before everyone went back to their rooms. Xu Zhizhi couldn¡¯t sleep anymore after the fright. She stared at the ceiling and muttered to herself, ¡°No wonder there¡¯s a saying ¡®East or west, home is best¡¯. They were barely away for two days and they almost lost their lives.¡± Ding Yao comforted Xi Zhizhi, ¡°Nothing¡­ will happen again¡­tonight. Go to sleep, don¡¯t worry¡­¡± Xu Zhizhi was rather curious as she looked at Ding Yao and asked, ¡°You¡¯re clearly younger than me, why aren¡¯t you afraid of such an incident?¡± Ding Yao smiled but didn¡¯t answer. She was not a little girl. She was an imp that had lived two lifetimes. ¡°Go to sleep,¡± Ding Yao said finally before she closed her eyes to sleep. She knew that Long San and Long Liu were in the inn, so she fell asleep very quickly. The next day, they changed to another carriage. Lin Qiang was still chatting and laughing with Wen Jiang as if nothing had happened. On their third night away, Ding Yao received another reminder from Long San, ¡°Be careful of poison-laced food.¡± Long San and Long Liu¡¯s disguise was different from before. This time, they stayed downtown. The inn was bigger and there were more guests. There were many people eating in the hall and it was almost full. Ding Yao watched Lin Qiang eat. He ate every dish at the table since the start, which meant that none of those dishes were laced with poison. When the last dish, a steamed sea bass, was served, Ding Yao noticed that the waiter had steady feet and sharp eyes. It was obvious that something was wrong since she had been on guard the whole time. The waiter placed the steamed sea bass on the table and left. Lin Qiang took the serving chopsticks and started to break up the fish. He tried his best to introduce the most delicious part of the sea bass as he was doing so, as it Ding Yao and the rest had never had a steamed sea bass. Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi had indeed never tried it before so listening to Lin Qiang¡¯s introduction alone made their mouths water. Ding Yao was as calm as ever. What had she not tasted in her previous life? Lin Qiang put pieces of fish on Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi¡¯s bowls. Seeing that Wen Jiang was about to eat some with his chopsticks, Ding Yao suddenly said, ¡°Wait¡­ Let me see¡­ if it¡¯s poisonous¡­¡± Everyone was stunned. Xu Zhizhi reacted and quickly held down Wen Jiang¡¯s chopsticks. She said, ¡°Listen to Ding Yao. We¡¯ll eat it later.¡± After Lin Qiang recovered from his shock, he said, ¡°Miss Ding Yao, are you kidding? How can these dishes be poisonous? People would laugh us to death if they heard this. Also, don¡¯t let the inn owner hear your words or he¡¯ll kick us out.¡± Ding Yao ignored Lin Qiang and poked a silver needle into the fish sauce. When she took out the needle, it was black. She turned her head, pointed at the waiter who just served the dish and shouted, ¡°Catch him! He poisoned the dishes!¡± The waiter was shocked and ran out immediately. The hall was instantly chaotic as some zealous people hurriedly chased after him. Lin Qiang was shocked but quickly followed suit. Xu Zhizhi was so frightened that she put down her chopsticks and stood three meters away from their table. With a sad face, she said to Wen Jiang, ¡°What if we don¡¯t go to the capital? It¡¯s been so scary along the way¡­¡± It had barely been three days and they had almost lost their lives twice. It¡¯s really east or west, and home was the best! Wen Jiang was also scared out of his wits. He patted Xu Zhizhi¡¯s hand and comforted, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. Fortunately, Ding Yao is smart and cautious.¡± Ding Yao was not worried that the waiter would escape. She knew that Long San and Long Liu would catch him. Not long after, the waiter was indeed dragged back by Long San, but no matter how they beat him, he clenched his teeth and did not say a word. Lin Qiang went up and gave him a few fierce kicks. His kicks were very powerful, as if he wanted to kick the waiter to death. When his last kick was aimed at the waiter¡¯s heart, Long San stopped him, ¡°If we kick this person to death, we won¡¯t have any clues to follow up on.¡± Usually, for a person who was bribed to poison someone at the last minute, even if they kept him alive, they would not be able to discover the real mastermind. Moreover, the people working at the inn all said that they had never seen this person before. It was likely that this person had sneaked into the kitchen waring a waiter¡¯s uniform. As to why he had poisoned their dishes, they would only know after interrogating him. Someone had already called the police. Not long after, the police came and took away the waiter. Chapter 77 - An Inquiry The next morning, Lin Qiang came over and told them that the police station had sent a message saying that the fake waiter had confessed. Someone had paid him to poison the people at their table, and he was just doing his job. He had no idea why that person wanted to kill them. Xu Zhizhi was really afraid now; she wished that Wen Jiang would take her home right away. Wen Jiang was also scared, but he was braver than Xu Zhizhi and more thoughtful. His aunt was seriously ill. As the younger generation, they should see her one last time as she wished. Lin Qiang¡¯s eyes rolled as he pulled Ding Yao aside and asked her in a low voice, ¡°Miss Ding Yao, did you offend anyone? Do you think those people are coming after you?¡± Ding Yao sneered in her heart. Lin Qiang was asking her about the situation to see if she suspected him? Since he was pretending, she would play along. Long San and Long Liu also hadn¡¯t exposed Lin Qiang all this while. They probably didn¡¯t have any evidence. The trail went cold for this poisoning incident, also probably for the fire last time. Ding Yao shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t have any enemies¡­ If I did¡­ it might be because my fianc¨¦, Song Xiuyan¡­ who previously saved General Long Zhanyuan.¡± Lin Qiang looked as if he had suddenly realized something. ¡°It makes sense now that you said it. I¡¯ve been wondering. The first time could have been a coincidence, but not the second time. It seems that someone was indeed after your life. No wonder you were so cautious and even tested the food for poison before eating. I¡¯ve been too careless and didn¡¯t think of this. I must test all dishes before eating in future and eat only if they tested negative for poison.¡± After a moment of thought, Lin Qiang continued, ¡°Your fianc¨¦, Song Xiuyan, who saved General Long Zhanyuan¡­ I heard that General Long Zhanyuan was very grateful and left a group of people to protect him in secret. Is that true?¡± Ding Yao nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Qiang¡¯s expression changed briefly before he continued to probe, ¡°Did they send one or two people to follow you when you came on this trip?¡± He felt that something was off since both attempts on her life had been uncovered very quickly with the culprits caught. Ding Yao¡¯s calm demeanor also made him very suspicious. Ding Yao looked at Lin Qiang strangely. ¡°Do you think¡­ that¡¯s possible? I only know that General Long Zhanyuan left people behind¡­ to lure the snake out of hiding. As for the rest¡­ I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± Lin Qiang did not continue to probe, instead, he comforted Ding Yao. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Regardless of whether someone is following you to protect you, you don¡¯t have to worry too much. We¡¯ll arrive at the capital tonight and it¡¯s very safe in the capital. Those people wouldn¡¯t dare to make a move there.¡± Ding Yao nodded. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi heard the conversation between Ding Yao and Lin Qiang. It turned out that both incidents happened because of Ding Yao. Xu Zhizhi felt some regret in her heart. If she had known this, she wouldn¡¯t have persuaded Ding Yao to come to the capital with them. However, Xu Zhizhi was a simple and kind person at the end of the day. She didn¡¯t blame Ding Yao for this matter. She would simply distance herself from Ding Yao so she could stay out of harm¡¯s way. Ding Yao naturally would not argue with Xu Zhizhi. However, she hated Lin Hu¡¯s guts. In order to kill her and not be suspected, he dragged Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi, two innocent people, to be buried with her. Lin Qiang changed to a comfortable carriage, with a berth for naps. Before Ding Yao got into the carriage, she received a note from Long San. ¡°There is naturally dangerous spot on the mountain road ahead. It is very suitable for manufactured accidents, to have the carriage fall off the cliff. If there is an accident, we will try our best to stop the carriage. However, for safety¡¯s sake, it is best for you to get out of the carriage and walk that stretch of the road before getting back onto the carriage.¡± She understood Long San and Long Liu¡¯s intent; they didn¡¯t want to put her in danger. Since they couldn¡¯t get any evidence of Lin Qiang harming them, they would first make sure that she got to the capital safely. Once they arrived there, they would watch what Lin Hu was up to. Long San and Long Liu knew that Lin Hu had sent people to kill her, but they didn¡¯t know why. Perhaps even Lin Qiang, who had been tasked with the job, didn¡¯t know what was going on. This time, Lin Qiang didn¡¯t sit in the carriage. Instead, he sat outside with the coachman who was driving the carriage. In the afternoon, the carriage drove into a mountain road. This mountain road wasn¡¯t the only way into the capital. There were very few carriages coming and going. Ding Yao pulled open the carriage curtain and looked outside. The person riding a horse in front of the carriage was Long San, and the person riding a horse behind was Long Liu. Perhaps they had reached the naturally dangerous spot. Someone in front shouted, ¡°The road is blocked by rocks. We won¡¯t be able to get through. Everyone, come and help.¡± Chapter 78 - Must Get off the Carriage The carriage stopped and the coachman jumped off. Ding Yao remembered what the note said and wanted to jump off as well. Lin Qiang quickly stopped her. ¡°You can¡¯t help much as a child. Just wait in the carriage and don¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± Ding Yao looked at Lin Qiang and said, ¡°Uncle¡­ Aunt¡­ I am an adult. I can help¡­ Leaving me alone in the carriage¡­ It¡¯s boring.¡± She then nimbly jumped off the carriage. There was another carriage on the other side of the road. There were quite a number of people, at least enough to remove the rocks blocking the road. Xu Zhizhi saw Ding Yao walk past the rocks and followed behind her. This spot was indeed naturally dangerous. The road ahead was very narrow, and there was a sharp curve. She was so scared that her heart was pounding. It was better to walk it than to ride in the carriage. Lin Qiang¡¯s expression was a little ugly. They had planned for the carriage to lose control and fall off the cliff when it travelled the sharp curve. He and the coachman were supposed to jump off the carriage to save their lives and then go to the bottom of the cliff to save the others. If Ding Yao didn¡¯t die from the accident, they would kill her. If Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi didn¡¯t die, they would be rescued to testify that it was an accident. But now, their plan had failed yet again. Lin Qiang sometimes didn¡¯t understand the eldest young master, Lin Hu. Since he wanted Ding Yao dead, there were so many methods, why did they have to manufacture an accident? When he took the assignment, he thought that it would be very easy. But he had failed three times now. It was obvious that the rocks were placed on the road deliberately. He didn¡¯t know if Ding Yao had someone helping her from behind the scenes. After passing this stretch of the mountain road, they would arrive at the outskirts of the capital. If Lin Hu didn¡¯t have any other instructions, he could only bring Ding Yao back to the Lin residence. Forget it. Lin Qiang didn¡¯t want to think about it anymore. He would just wait for Lin Hu¡¯s instructions; he had no choice. After all the rocks had been removed from the road, the carriage continued forward. Very soon, they had exited the mountain road. Ding Yao knew that there were people guarding the front and back, so she wasn¡¯t very worried; she even took a nap. Lin Qiang looked at the sleeping Ding Yao and felt so angry that his heart hurt. If he couldn¡¯t complete the assignment, he wouldn¡¯t get the rest of his money. Night had fallen when they reached the outskirts of the capital. Lin Qiang said they wouldn¡¯t stop and would enter the capital. At this moment, he saw two groups of people fighting with knifes and swords on the road in front of them. Their carriage was forced to stop, but the fighting groups came close to their carriage and in the chaos, their two horses were hacked to death. The coachman was so scared that he abandoned the carriage and ran away. The fighting groups used the carriage as cover, and as they went back and forth, their knives and swords hacked at the carriage. Lin Qiang took an iron rod, opened the carriage door, and said anxiously, ¡°Quick, quick, quick, get out quickly. Don¡¯t let them hurt you by accident.¡± Ding Yao was the first to come out. She stuck her head out and looked outside. Lin Qiang was secretly happy. If Ding Yao was the first to get off the carriage, he could guarantee that she would be hacked to death by accident! However, Lin Qiang didn¡¯t expect that Ding Yao would splash powder medicine out with a wave of her hand. The powder medicine scattered. The men who were waiting to kill Ding Yao covered their eyes and wailed. Ding Yao took the opportunity to jump off the carriage; Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi immediately followed suit. Xu Zhizhi was so scared that her face turned pale. She hugged Wen Jiang¡¯s arm tightly the whole time, not daring to look outside. Lin Qiang shielded them with a dark face. However, he was only protecting Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi and left a big hole for the killers to get Ding Yao. He thought to himself, ¡°Quick, go up and hack her to death.¡± Meanwhile, two horses rushed over, and two whips cracked at the same time. The men who were there to kill Ding Yao fell under the whip one by one, screaming. The people riding the horses jumped off their horses. One of them looked at Ding Yao in surprise and asked, ¡°Miss Ding Yao, why are you here?¡± It was Long Liu. Ding Yao knew that Long Liu was pretending, so she replied in surprise, ¡°Brother Long Liu¡­ Why are you here?¡± Long San scolded the men as he whipped them, ¡°Who are you? Why are you fighting here?¡± Lin Qiang¡¯s face was as dark as a dead person in a coffin. He recognized the voice. These two men were the ones who had ruined their plans along the way! This time, their plan was going to fail again. Lin Qiang thought that at most, he would just say he failed the assignment and get scolded by the eldest young master, Lin Hu. Who would have thought that Long Liu, who was teaching those men a lesson, would suddenly turn around and attack him? He subconsciously defended himself. The two of them struggled, and a dagger fell to the ground with a clang. Lin Qiang was then subdued. Chapter 79 - No Evidence So Fabricate Evidence Long Liu pressed down on Lin Qiang and scolded through gritted teeth, ¡°You b*stard, I just turned around and you want to kill Miss Ding Yao with a dagger?¡± Lin Qiang was stunned. ¡°You misunderstood, I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Long Liu stepped on his chest and secretly exerted force. Lin Qiang¡¯s face instantly turned livid and he could no longer speak. When the other men saw how strong Long San and Long Liu were, they quickly scattered and ran. Long Liu shouted at Long San, ¡°San, catch them and don¡¯t let them escape. These people are in cahoots. They¡¯re fighting here deliberately, as a cover to kill Miss Ding Yao!¡± Ding Yao laughed in her heart. She didn¡¯t expect that a decent person like General Long Zhanyuan would have subordinates who employ such underhanded methods. They couldn¡¯t find any evidence for Lin Qiang¡¯s actions along the way to the capital, so they pinned a crime on him. The other men didn¡¯t know why Lin Hu wanted Ding Yao dead, but Lin Qiang might. Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi were scared, and the sky was dark, so they didn¡¯t see clearly what happened. When they saw Lin Qiang being stepped on by Long Liu, Wen Jiang asked anxiously, ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± Ding Yao pointed at Lin Qiang and explained with a terrified expression, ¡°Uncle¡­ This person¡­ was going to stab me¡­ Fortunately, Brother Long Liu found out and saved my life.¡± Actually, Wen Jiang had heard Long Liu¡¯s words, but he still asked in disbelief, ¡°Lin Qiang¡­ Why would he want to kill you?¡± Ding Yao shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Maybe we¡¯ll find out when we get to the police station.¡± Long San subdued all the men who didn¡¯t manage to escape in time. They were all tied up and thrown on the ground. At this time, another five or six people arrived on horses and took those would had been subdued onto the carriage. Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi were still in shock. They couldn¡¯t figure it out. Didn¡¯t they say that those who came to kill Ding Yao wanted to take revenge on Song Xiuyan? How did it become that Lin Qiang wanted to kill her? They entered the capital and went straight to the police station. The men who had started the fight were also brought to the police station. When they heard that the case involved General Long Zhanyuan¡¯s people, the police department took it very seriously and quickly sent people to interrogate them. Long Liu and Long San told the police what happened. They said that they were working in the suburbs of the capital and saw two groups of people fighting, so they went up to stop them. They didn¡¯t expect that they would accidentally save Ding Yao. They even highlighted that Ding Yao was Song Xiuyan¡¯s fianc¨¦e and that Song Xiuyan was the young man who saved General Long Zhanyuan. They had visited Song Xiuyan¡¯s home before, so they recognized Ding Yao. Next, the police took statements from Wen Jiang, Xu Zhizhi, and Ding Yao. Why they came to the capital, dangerous situations they encountered along the way, and so on. All three statements matched up. Then, the men who were fighting were interrogated. Two of them could not withstand the interrogation and quickly confessed. Those men who were fighting were paid to create a smokescreen while they execute their mission to kill Ding Yao. The men who set the fire and poisoned the food also confessed. They said that they were just gangsters who were paid to do these jobs; they had no idea who the mastermind was. Lin Qiang was the last one to be interrogated. The police asked him, ¡°Why do you want to kill Ding Yao?¡± Lin Qiang had already been interrogated by Long Liu while he was on the horse. Long Liu¡¯s methods were much more effective than those of the police department. There was no blood or injuries, but his entire body felt uncomfortable, as if he had been bitten by something. It was an awful feeling and unless he was made of iron, he couldn¡¯t withstand the torture. Lin Qiang had told Long Liu everything he knew. His heart was dead now and he told the police the same thing when asked again. Lin Qiang was one of Lin Hu¡¯s confidants. Last time when Lin Hu returned to the countryside, he did not go back with him. This was a special assignment given to him by Lin Hu, which was to go to the countryside to pick up his relatives. But Lin Qiang must work with Lin Hu¡¯s other people on their way to the capital and let Ding Yao have an accident on the road so she wouldn¡¯t reach the capital. This was because Ding Yao¡¯s maternal grandparents had heard that Ding Yao had become a mute and had married a poor country boy. They felt extremely guilty towards this granddaughter of theirs, so they wanted Ding Yao to come to the capital and give her some things as compensation. Lin Hu did not want to split his family assets with others but he knew that his parents had made up their minds, so he thought of this sinister method. In order not to arouse his parents¡¯ suspicion, Lin Hu reminded Lin Qiang repeatedly to make it look like an accident, or it would look like someone was taking revenge. Lin Hu also promised Lin Qiang that once the assignment was completed, he would reward him with a large sum of money. Chapter 80 - Scapegoat Lin Qiang¡¯s previous plans had been foiled. He wanted to take advantage of the chaos to kill Ding Yao this time. However, he did not expect to meet General Long Zhanyuan¡¯s men, and his plan fell through yet again. Lin Qiang¡¯s final testimony was coerced. If he did not confess, he would be tortured. Long Liu even said that torture by the police would be more severe than his. Lin Qiang felt that since he was going to die anyway, he might as well come clean quick to avoid torture. Wen Jiang and Xu Zhizhi¡¯s faces were filled with anger when they heard Lin Qiang¡¯s confession. They really regretted persuading Ding Yao to come to the capital with them. She almost lost her life! Lin Hu was indeed despicable to want to kill his own niece and take both their lives in the process. He was worse than an animal! Ding Yao, on the other hand, wore a calm expression. She felt that Lin Qiang¡¯s confession was not the truth. Lin Hu had tried to kill her repeatedly, and he paid good money every time. If he was willing to spend all that money, why would he hesitate to lose a shop or two? The police went to the address given by Lin Qiang to arrest Lin Hu on the same night to corroborate Lin Qiang¡¯s statement. However, Lin Hu claimed that he was wronged and that Lin Qiang was lying. He even questioned Lin Qiang, ¡°Tell me, were you instructed by someone to frame me?¡± Lin Qiang gritted his teeth as he said, ¡°You were the one who instructed me, you were the one who put me in this situation!¡± Lin Hu sneered, ¡°If you claim that I was the one who instructed you, do you have any evidence?¡± Lin Qiang was dumbfounded. Lin Hu spoke to him alone and there was no third person present. Although he had paid him in advance, money alone could not prove anything. He did not know any of the people whom he had to work with. This was bad. If Lin Hu denied everything, would he be interrogated again by the police? But who could he point out? If he could not find anyone else, he would be tortured to death. At the thought of this, Lin Qiang wished he could eat Lin Hu¡¯s flesh. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Eldest young master, I am your trusted subordinate. This is the evidence!¡± Lin Hu sneered again. ¡°Trusted subordinate? You flatter yourself too much. You are only a servant of the Lin family. Moreover, the master you followed in the beginning was not me.¡± Lin Qiang immediately came around. Lin Hu was going to blame everything on the third young master. Lin Qiang used to work for the third young master, Lin Jiaxing. Lin Jiaxing was an illegitimate son and was very unloved in the Lin family. When Lin Hu asked to keep him, Lin Qiang did not hesitate to abandon Lin Jiaxing. It seemed that Lin Hu had planned for all this when he asked to keep him! Meanwhile, Lin Hu¡¯s father, Lin Biao, personally brought the third young master, Lin Jiaxing, and a few witnesses to the police station to turn him in. Lin Jiaxing was still a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy. He was a good-for-nothing profligate son of a large family and only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun. Because his family had money, he did a lot of bad things. Lin Jiaxing was brought to the police station by Lin Biao, all ignorant and not knowing what was going on. He had no clue that Lin Biao had already abandoned him and was about to make him Lin Hu¡¯s scapegoat. Lin Biao pulled Lin Jiaxing and turned him in to the police. ¡°I¡¯ve already found out that Lin Jiaxing was the one who instructed Lin Qiang to do this. He deliberately framed his eldest brother, Lin Hu. Now that I¡¯ve brought him here, you can deal with him according to the law.¡± Lin Jiaxing turned pale with fright. Only now did he know why Lin Biao had brought him here. He wanted to say something, but he realized that he couldn¡¯t say anything at all. He realized now that because his father was going to make him Lin Hu¡¯s scapegoat, the tea that he had drunk earlier had been laced with poison, making him speechless and unable to refute! ¡°Ah ah ah ah¡­¡± Lin Jiaxing spluttered in panic as he tried to explain that he didn¡¯t do anything and he hadn¡¯t instructed Lin Qiang to frame Lin Hu. Lin Biao glared fiercely at Lin Jiaxing. ¡°Please don¡¯t pretend to look pitiful here. You¡¯re afraid that it would be difficult to explain if the matter was exposed so you fed yourself medicine that would make you lose your voice. Do you think that I¡¯ll feel sorry for you? I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s impossible! Your voice will come back in a few days!¡± Lin Biao continued to reprimand him bitterly, ¡°I know why you did this. You think that you can take over the Lin family¡¯s assets just because you destroy Lin Hu. You¡¯re dreaming! It¡¯s all because I¡¯ve coddled you too much that you disregarded kinship and did such an infuriating thing! You didn¡¯t just want to harm your big brother, you even wanted to harm your niece!¡± Lin Jiaxing¡¯s face was filled with tears. ¡°Ah ah ah ah¡­¡± He wanted to say that he was also his father¡¯s biological son. How could his father treat him like this? He had never thought about taking over the Lin family assets. He knew his place and minded his own business, so why wouldn¡¯t his big brother let him off? Chapter 81 - Sensing Murderous Intent Lin Biao¡¯s heart also ached. After all, Lin Jiaxing was also his biological son. But in order to protect Lin Hu, he could only continue teaching Lin Jiaxing a painful lesson, ¡°You¡¯d better confess now to avoid suffering physical pain!¡± As he said that, he turned around and said to Lin Qiang, ¡°Kneel down! How dare you instigate third young master Lin Jiaxing to do such a vicious thing? You should also be punished!¡± Lin Qiang shuddered. He knew that Lin Biao was a ruthless person, even more ruthless than Lin Hu. His gaze just now seemed to be telling him that if he did not do as he said, his family would suffer. Lin Qiang thought hard and finally compromised. He could not bear to put his family in danger. Lin Qiang admitted quickly that Lin Jiaxing was the mastermind. Lin Jiaxing lost his voice and couldn¡¯t speak. Lin Qiang could say whatever he wanted to say, and all blame would fall on Lin Jiaxing. Lin Hu would basically get off scot-free. Lin Biao also explained that their family didn¡¯t just own one or two stores but more than a dozen. It was Lin Hu who proposed to compensate Ding Yao by giving her a store. Whatever Lin Qian said about Lin Hu having this as a motive to kill Ding Yao was untrue. Lin Hu was naturally acquitted after all this. Although Long San and Long Liu still felt that there was something fishy about the matter, they couldn¡¯t say anymore because Lin Biao had brought Lin Jiaxing here to turn himself in, and there were witnesses. They could only continue to look for evidence. What was originally an attempted murder case had become a case of brothers framing each other. Having personally witnessed the filthy affairs of a wealthy family, even Wen Jiang felt that this trip to the capital was a huge mistake! Such relatives should be kept at a distance! Lin Hu pulled Ding Yao in front of Lin Biao and introduced her with some excitement, ¡°Dad, this is Ding Yao. I didn¡¯t lie to you, right? She¡¯s really beautiful!¡± Lin Biao seemed to be stunned. He looked at Ding Yao without blinking. She was indeed beautiful. Ding Yao looked calmly into Lin Biao¡¯s eyes and didn¡¯t miss the flash of murderous intent in his eyes. Lin Biao looked a little fierce. Even if he squeezed out a smile, his face still made people feel that he wasn¡¯t friendly. Xu Zhizhi and Wen Jiang dared not get too close and kept shrinking back. At this time, Lin Hu suddenly opened his mouth to remind Ding Yao, ¡°Ding Yao, quickly call Grandpa. He¡¯s your biological grandfather.¡± Ding Yao realized that she couldn¡¯t say it out loud. She still didn¡¯t know if Lin Biao was her biological grandfather. Just the murderous intent in his eyes showed that he really wanted her dead. Why on earth would this person want her dead? Ding Yao couldn¡¯t figure it out. But this could be a secret very few knew. Perhaps only Lin Biao and Lin Hu knew about it. That was why Lin Biao sacrificed Lin Jiaxing just now to protect Lin Hu. Lin Biao saw that Ding Yao wasn¡¯t willing to call him out loud but he didn¡¯t force her. He only said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home first.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± A dignified voice sounded at this time. General Long Zhanyuan, in civilian clothes, came in with two attendants. When he saw Ding Yao, he laughed heartily. ¡°Hello little Ding Yao, were you scared stiff?¡± Ding Yao shook her head. ¡°No.¡± She knew that she would be in danger the whole way, so she was fully prepared. She also knew that Long San and Long Liu were protecting her. How could she be scared stiff? ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± General Long Zhanyuan seemed to be in a good mood. At this time, the person in charge of the case quickly went forward and said, ¡°General Long, why are you here? You should have told me in advance so that I could go outside to welcome you¡­¡± General Long Zhanyuan waved his hand. ¡°There¡¯s no need for such hypocritical ostentation. Tell me first how the investigation is going.¡± The person in charge knew General Long Zhanyuan¡¯s temper. He smiled slightly and replied, ¡°The suspects have all confessed, but there are some details that need to be investigated and corroborated. It would take a while to completely close the case.¡± Lin Jiaxing¡¯s eyes instantly lit up. If it would take a while to completely close the case, he still had a chance to get out of it. Lin Biao and Lin Hu¡¯s hearts skipped a beat when they heard that. It would be very bad if General Long Zhanyuan interfered in this matter! The person in charge briefed General Long Zhanyuan about the investigation. General Long nodded and said, ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll wait for the final result of your investigation.¡± He didn¡¯t continue asking more questions as his gaze fell on Lin Biao and turned icy. ¡°Ding Yao is wife of the person who saved my life, but she almost lost her life because of internal strife in your family. It¡¯s your fault for not teaching your children well. You¡¯re also guilty.¡± 1 Lin Biao quickly lowered his head and put on a humble look. ¡°I know I¡¯m wrong. I¡¯ve already sent Lin Jiaxing to the police station of my own accord. We have no objection to the verdict.¡±