Chapter 481: Strangers in the Village

Chapter 481: Chapter 481: Strangers in the Village

In Xiangyun Village.

As twilight fell, wisps of smoke from kitchen chimneys began to rise from every household.

Out in the fields, the vast golden sun, like a fiery crow, was about to set, its light filtering through the hazy twilight.

Uncle Liu was a diligent man, always the last person to leave the fields.

He was now heading home along a narrow path through the fields, a carrying pole slung over his shoulder, the aroma of meals cooking over wood fires filling the air.

Just as he reached the village entrance, he saw two men peering furtively ahead.

Uncle Liu frowned. "Who are you!"

Startled by his resonant voice, the two men flinched.

They turned around. Both were about thirty years old, with unremarkable, forgettable faces.

"Brother, do you know if a Wu Sanfu is in this village?"

Uncle Liu eyed them with even more suspicion.

"What’s your relation to Wu Sanfu?"

"Distant relatives. We came to the Capital City to seek his help, hoping to stay with him for a few days."

Uncle Liu waved his hand dismissively. "He hasn’t been here for a long time. He and his entire family moved away from the Capital City ten years ago. You don’t even know that? You should go ask around somewhere else."

With that, he shouldered his carrying pole and walked back into the village. The two men thanked him from behind, didn’t press the issue, and turned to leave.

When he got home, Sister-in-law Liu had already prepared a table full of delicious food.

"Ah, you’re back. Go wash your hands, dinner’s ready."

Uncle Liu was silent. Even when he picked up his chopsticks and saw his wife and son looking at him, he still seemed distracted.

"Dad, what’s wrong?" Liu Hu asked curiously.

Even he could tell that Uncle Liu was out of sorts.

Uncle Liu said glumly, "It’s nothing. Just eat."

After the meal, Sister-in-law Liu had Liu Hu help clear the table and wash the dishes. Once only the two of them were left in the room, she asked, "What’s the matter with you? You’ve been so quiet and long-faced, even Hu Zi could tell something was wrong."

Uncle Liu took a sip of tea. "Something feels off. I ran into two men on my way back to the village earlier."

He told his wife what had happened.

Wiping the table, Sister-in-law Liu chuckled. "Look at you, getting all worked up. Wu Sanfu was from our village, so it’s perfectly normal for distant relatives to come looking for him. Besides, they moved away so suddenly, it’s not surprising their relatives wouldn’t know."

"Besides, these are peaceful times. And with Xiangyun Village’s reputation for being protected by the Wolf King, who would dare cause trouble here?"

Uncle Liu had a feeling he couldn’t quite put his finger on. "Their accents sounded strange, too. Really unnatural," he said. "Ah, well. Maybe I am just overthinking it."

He put down his teacup and went outside to bring in the laundry.

"Yoo-hoo! Brother Liu, you’re here! Is Sister-in-law home?" a shrill voice called from outside the courtyard gate.

It was Wang Qiao’er.

The last time she came seeking refuge, she was like a madwoman, and the old village chief’s family had absolutely refused to take her in.

It was the kind-hearted Dong Sanhua who convinced Uncle Deng to let her stay.

Now, Wang Qiao’er was living in a small village house and getting by with a little help from the villagers.

She had also cleaned herself up, and no longer seemed quite so unhinged.

Liu Hu, having finished washing the dishes, came out of the kitchen. Seeing Wang Qiao’er’s beaming smile at the gate, he couldn’t help but feel a shiver of dread.

He ran back into the house. "Mom! Wang Qiao’er is here!"

Hearing this, Sister-in-law Liu threw down her cleaning rag. "That jinx! What’s she doing at our house? I’m going to see. Your father is too honest; she’ll probably try to bully him!"

Just as she stepped into the courtyard, she heard Uncle Liu telling Wang Qiao’er, "You don’t need to bring things to apologize. That conflict was so many years ago, we’ve long forgotten about it."

Wang Qiao’er held up a basket of fried meat patties. "You can’t say that. I came specifically to make amends. Brother Liu, please call Sister-in-law out. I was wrong back then. She was looking out for me, and I still argued with her. See? I’m here to apologize for real."

Just as Uncle Liu was about to speak, a hand reached out from the side and pulled him away.

"We don’t want your things! Get lost!" Sister-in-law Liu’s voice rose as she tried to shoo her away.

Wang Qiao’er looked awkward. "Sister-in-law, look, we used to be neighbors. Why make things so ugly? I came all this way just to apologize to you."

"Who wants your apology? You villain! You think I’ve forgotten how you sided with Ba Deshun and brought harm to our village? This grudge can’t be resolved. If it weren’t for that kind Sanhua willing to take you in, the whole village would have run you out!"

After saying her piece, Sister-in-law Liu slammed the inner wooden gate shut.

She had slammed the door right in Wang Qiao’er’s face.

Standing at the gate, Wang Qiao’er could still hear Sister-in-law Liu scolding Uncle Liu and Liu Hu inside the courtyard.

"From now on, you see her, you stay far away, you hear me? Don’t let her harm you without you even realizing it!"

Wang Qiao’er gritted her teeth, a vicious glint flashing in her eyes.

The friendly facade she had put on moments ago shattered in an instant.

「Later that night.」

The village households were all settling down for the night when a sudden, piercing scream startled everyone awake.

People threw on clothes and stepped out of their homes to see what was happening.

"What happened?" the old village chief called out, draping a coat over his shoulders.

The mad scholar said, "I thought I heard a scream. It seemed to come from the direction of Wang Qiao’er’s house."

Everyone hurried over to Wang Qiao’er’s home.

They found the courtyard gate wide open. Wang Qiao’er was lying on the ground, and the mud was covered in footprints.

The villagers were shocked. A few of the village women helped her up, pressing on her philtrum and trying to give her water.

Finally, Wang Qiao’er came to, a large lump already swelling on her forehead.

She cried and complained to the old village chief, "Some goddamned thief snuck into my courtyard! I don’t know what he wanted, but he tried to run when I spotted him. I chased after him, but who would’ve thought I’d trip and fall!"

The villagers looked at each other, nonplussed.

Sister-in-law Liu sneered. "You’re dirt poor and live in the furthest corner of the village. Why would someone skip everyone else and come to your place? To steal your mice?"

Wang Qiao’er covered her face and continued to sob.

"That’s right... Why would he come and bother me? Isn’t my life bitter enough as it is...?"

Just then, Wang Qiao’er suddenly looked up. "Could it have been Fugui, coming to see me in secret?!"

At these words, the expressions of the old village chief and Uncle Deng changed.

Deng Fugui was a murderer on the run. Could he really have known Wang Qiao’er was back, but didn’t dare show himself openly, so he came to see his mother in secret?

Deep down, the old village chief still cared for his grandson.

After some discussion, the crowd concluded that if it was Deng Fugui, he might come back again.

At that, Dong Sanhua took the initiative and suggested, "Let’s have Sister-in-law Qiao’er stay next door to us. There’s an empty house there. If Fugui really does come back, he’ll be able to see his parents."

A wave of sorrow washed over Uncle Deng, and he squeezed Dong Sanhua’s hand.

"You... you really don’t mind?" After all, Wang Qiao’er was his ex-wife.

But Dong Sanhua was very magnanimous. "Since I was willing to marry you, I accepted your past. Fugui is your son, too. Putting myself in your shoes, I’m sure you want to see him again."

Uncle Deng pulled his wife into his arms, moved beyond words.

The old village chief also felt that he owed Dong Sanhua a great deal.

While the family comforted one another, Wang Qiao’er stood not far off, watching them with a cold, sinister gaze.

’They all feel like they owe Dong Sanhua,’ she thought. ’So what about what they owe me? Does that not count?’

Wang Qiao’er had never in her wildest dreams imagined that Deng Xiangji would remarry and find such a beautiful and gentle wife.

’But their happiness won’t last for long!’