“Xiao Yan, why are you kneeling here?”
Snowflakes drifted in the sky. Tian Xiao Yan had been kneeling at the doorway for an unknown time. The snow on the ground had frozen her until she trembled. The falling snow continued to land on her, leaving traces on her head and shoulders.
When several adults tried to lift her, Tian Xiao Yan pulled out a sharp awl from behind her back.
“No, I can’t get up. If Uncle Yong doesn’t let my father work, I’ll kneel here until I die. If I go back without succeeding, I won’t survive either.”
The awl glinted coldly in the light – one thrust would leave a hole in her neck.
Who would dare touch the child now?
Xia Xiao Lan felt deeply disturbed – her previous tactics were now being used against her. How could she not be unsettled?
Xia Xiao Lan had once held scissors to her neck to escape from the Xia family.
Tian Xiao Yan was only eleven years old – even if precocious, she couldn’t have thought of this tactic herself. Her family must have taught her. For this small advantage, the Tian family had truly abandoned all dignity – on New Year’s Eve, when killing chickens and gutting fish might draw blood, how could they risk seeing human blood? How could they celebrate the New Year after that?
If they refused, they would truly be forcing Tian Xiao Yan to her death.
If they agreed, Xia Xiao Lan’s entire family would have to swallow this bitter pill.
Liu Fen was so angry she wanted to hit someone. She didn’t even go out, yet trouble found its way to her – supposedly to pressure Liu Yong, but the real reason was Third Uncle Tian’s designs on her.
Those without shame are unbeatable – how could anyone use their child for something like this?
When Liu Fen tried to go outside, Li Feng Mei grabbed her. “Don’t go out. Stay inside. Going out would only give them face!”
Grandmother Yu also forbade Liu Fen from going out: “Why care so much about someone else’s child? This is nothing – not even worth a fart.”
Third Uncle Tian thought he was so clever.
If Grandmother Yu were Liu Yong, she would agree today, make everything sound nice and pretty, then take Third Uncle Tian out of town… Once in Shenzhen, it would be Liu Yong’s territory. With so many workers under his command, how could he not handle one troublemaker? She would make Third Uncle Tian completely submissive, trembling at even the sound of the name “Liu.”
An even harsher method would be to ensure Third Uncle Tian never returned once he left, though Grandmother Yu doubted Liu Yong could be that ruthless.
In any case, to Grandmother Yu this was trivial. There were so many solutions – how could a room full of adults be threatened by a little girl?
“Find Third Uncle Tian!”
Chen Wang Da didn’t know when his authority had become so weak. Third Uncle Tian causing trouble? More likely the Tian family had long harbored ambitions to challenge authority, hence their repeated provocations.
Even without Chen Wang Da’s word, everyone eating at Xia Xiao Lan’s house that day felt their hands itching. After all, they relied on Liu Yong for work opportunities away from home. Liu Yong was righteous – they couldn’t just watch him be bullied! As soon as Uncle Da spoke, several people immediately ran to find someone from the Tian family.
They hadn’t beaten Third Uncle Tian hard enough before!
Xia Xiao Lan’s thoughts aligned with Grandmother Yu’s – how hard could it be to deal with one scoundrel?
With so many people watching, Tian Xiao Yan’s hand holding the awl trembled. All it would take was one person to circle behind her and snatch the awl away. How could adults not overpower a half-grown child? But even if they took this away from her this time, she might find other ways to harm herself when people weren’t watching.
Liu Yong lit himself a cigarette. How could adult matters involve children? Third Uncle Tian was truly worthless – he had beaten him too lightly before.
Everyone knew Third Uncle Tian was in the wrong, but with Tian Xiao Yan kneeling in the snow, holding an awl to her neck, the women’s hearts softened. Compared to his wanting to remarry Liu Fen, Third Uncle Tian merely wanting Liu Yong to give him work didn’t seem so excessive.
“What if Third Uncle Tian has changed?”
Someone muttered softly. Grandmother Yu noticed public opinion trending toward Third Uncle Tian.
Grandmother Yu wasn’t surprised – foolish people had always outnumbered the clever ones. Expecting these people to have their own opinions was unlikely.
Xia Xiao Lan looked at her uncle. Liu Yong extinguished his cigarette. “First get the child inside to warm up by the fire. She’s such a little girl – what if her knees are permanently damaged from kneeling?”
Many people sighed in relief.
This situation would be frustrating for anyone. That bastard Third Uncle Tian was despicable, but they couldn’t just watch Tian Xiao Yan freeze to death. Including Chen Wang Da, no one spoke up – they could only wait for Liu Yong’s decision. Speaking up would just be forcing Liu Yong’s hand.
Fortunately, Liu Yong didn’t contemplate too long. Before the people searching for Third Uncle Tian returned, Liu Yong ordered someone to lift Tian Xiao Yan.
Tian Xiao Yan would only listen to Liu Yong. “Uncle Yong, you agree to let my father work? My father said he doesn’t need high wages – just the same as others from the village!”
Liu Yong wanted to slash Third Uncle Tian a couple of times.
This was the very definition of giving an inch and taking a mile!
If he took Third Uncle Tian with him, he’d be giving away money to support him, and the monthly payment couldn’t even be too small… Third Uncle Tian thought Liu Yong was a pushover. If village troublemakers could threaten him, how could he continue doing business in Shenzhen?
Liu Yong wasn’t entirely law-abiding either – he had even done some smuggling before, though not for long, showing he had courage.
“The same wages, definitely the same. When Uncle Yong promises, it’s settled. Quick, get up and come warm yourself by the fire.”
Liu Yong spoke kindly, though Tian Xiao Yan remained half-believing.
But she was truly too cold. With so many people watching, Uncle Yong wouldn’t go back on his word, right?
The aroma of food wafted from Xia Xiao Lan’s house. Tian Xiao Yan swallowed. Xia Xiao Lan not only had good food but also a beautiful house. Unfortunately, Sister Xiao Lan wouldn’t let her and her brother visit. They wouldn’t eat much, just some leftover food. They didn’t need new clothes either, just enough to keep warm.
Such small requests – why wouldn’t Sister Xiao Lan agree?
Tian Xiao Yan met Xia Xiao Lan’s gaze. There was no pity in Xia Xiao Lan’s eyes. Several village women embraced Tian Xiao Yan, and this time she didn’t struggle. The awl was easily taken away.
Xia Xiao Lan then saw the men return empty-handed from searching for Third Uncle Tian:
“The Tian family all went to the White Stream Temple fair this morning. There’s not a single person at home, old or young.”
All direct relatives had gone to the White Stream Temple fair, and other people, hearing that Tian Xiao Yan was kneeling there, refused to get involved. Xia Xiao Lan wanted to laugh – running to White Stream Temple in the snow? The Tian family hardly had such leisure. They had deliberately gone into hiding.
Before she could speak, three people approached, walking unevenly through the snow.
“This is Fen’s house. Oh good, you’re all outside. Xiao Lan, your relatives are here. The snow’s too thick at the village entrance – their small car couldn’t get through.”
What relatives? The people the villagers were leading were none other than Tang Hong En and Little Wang!
Tang Hong En’s arrival was so sudden that Xia Xiao Lan hadn’t recovered her senses. Liu Yong’s jaw nearly dropped. Third Uncle Tian and Tian Xiao Yan were completely forgotten in Liu Yong’s mind. On New Year’s Eve, Mayor Tang had come from Shenzhen to Seven Wells Village-
“Mayor Tang… how- how did you come here?”