That figure and face – it was unmistakably Liu Fen’s elder brother, Liu Yong!

In Xia Xiao Lan’s memories, her Uncle Liu Yong had always cared for her more than her father Xia Da Jun. Now that someone had finally come to stand up for the two women who had been bullied by the Xia family, influenced by the original owner’s remaining emotions, Xia Xiao Lan’s eyes immediately welled up with tears.

“Uncle, I’m here!”

Liu Yong, who had been grabbing Old Mrs. Xia with veins bulging in his neck and ready to storm in to wreck the Xia household, heard a soft, delicate voice. He turned to see his poor niece.

He released Old Mrs. Xia and quickly stepped forward:

“Xiao Lan, where have you and your mother been?”

Liu Yong was a mason who helped build houses during farming off-season. He had just returned from the neighboring county yesterday when he heard about Xia Xiao Lan’s situation. He rushed to Dahe Village today, even buying white sugar and noodles from the supply and marketing cooperative to show support for the mother and daughter. The Xia family had accepted his gifts before telling him that Xiao Lan and her mother had moved to live in the old house by the riverbank. Liu Yong had gone to the old house to look for them but found it empty.

Liu Yong suspected the Xia family had done something to them, so he stayed at their house for half the day, demanding Old Mrs. Xia produce the mother and daughter.

Villagers typically ate two meals a day – one at 9 or 10 in the morning and another at 3 or 4 in the afternoon. The Xia family was waiting for their afternoon meal when Old Mrs. Xia tried to drive him away, leading to their argument moving from inside to outside the house, resulting in the earlier scene.

After hearing what had happened, Xiao Lan quickly tried to calm her uncle:

“We’re living in the old house by the riverbank now. Because we left in a hurry, Grandmother only gave us 20 jin of sweet potatoes. We didn’t get any cookware, and they forgot to let us take our clothes and bedding. We were just coming back to get our things when we ran into you, Uncle.”

Seeing his niece standing alive before him, Liu Yong felt half the weight lift from his heart. The bandage wrapped around Xiao Lan’s head had been replaced with a small gauze patch covering the wound, making it look less frightening. Liu Yong grew angry again: “How could Xia Da Jun let the whole family bully you two?”

Living in the old house by the riverbank? That house was so dilapidated even dogs wouldn’t stay there – how could people live there? Xiao Lan and her mother had been driven out!

Old Mrs. Xia’s face turned extremely dark.

When she saw the mother and daughter appear, she thought they had spent one night in the old house and found it unbearable, coming back to beg forgiveness.

She had imagined that even if Liu Fen brought Xiao Lan to kneel and plead, she wouldn’t relent… Who knew Xiao Lan would say they came back for their things – after being driven out, what things could they possibly have?

But Liu Yong was here.

Unlike the weak-willed Liu Fen, when Liu Yong threatened to wreck the Xia household, he really would do it.

Old Mrs. Xia’s expression twisted: “Brother-in-law, you heard them – they’re the ones who chose not to stay in a perfectly good house. Tell me honestly, what daughter-in-law abandons her mother-in-law? I’m just a useless old woman who can’t control anyone. When Da Jun returns, let him deal with it himself!”

The onlookers all chimed in, supporting Old Mrs. Xia.

Liu Fen swayed unsteadily, shrinking into herself.

Liu Yong figured he’d have better luck with his niece than his sister – Xiao Lan seemed more composed after everything that had happened.

“You all just want to watch the drama, don’t you? This is between our two families. Everyone make way – go back to whatever you were doing.”

Liu Yong drove away the gossiping women. Xiao Lan liked her uncle’s style, and combined with the original owner’s lingering feelings, she felt quite close to Uncle Liu Yong.

“Uncle, when my father returns, he might beat me to death. What should we do?”

Liu Yong’s eyes widened, “He wouldn’t dare!”

Liu Yong looked down on Xia Da Jun for failing to protect his wife and child. However, Liu Fen had always defended the Xia family before, which frustrated Liu Yong deeply. Take this situation – if Liu Yong had heard the rumors from the neighboring town, how could Xia Da Jun not know? The Xia brothers all had arms as thick as women’s thighs – if they had stood up together to defend Xiao Lan, who would dare spread gossip?

Letting rumors spread throughout the area had ruined Xiao Lan’s reputation. How could a good young woman not be driven to hit her head against a pillar?

Thinking of it this way, staying with the Xia family was suicide.

Liu Yong pushed past Old Mrs. Xia at the door:

“Go get your clothes, I’ll decide for you today. Don’t stay in that broken house anymore – come back home with me!”

Moving to the Xia family’s old house was one thing, but returning to her mother’s family was another matter entirely.

Liu Fen’s steps were weak and powerless, but Xiao Lan became entirely cheerful. She hadn’t planned to stay at her uncle’s house long-term, but she could conduct business from there – it would be a miracle if anyone in Dahe Village would sell eggs to her now.

When Liu Fen didn’t dare move, Liu Yong told Xiao Lan to go pack their things.

Third Aunt’s voice was piercing:

“Xiao Lan’s uncle, can’t you leave some room for reconciliation? Do you have to break up their family of three? Can you support them for their entire lives?”

Traditionally, relatives from the mother’s side should only counsel reconciliation, not separation.

Xiao Lan could leave since she was just a pampered miss. But Liu Fen was the family’s workhorse – with her gone even for a day, Third Aunt would have to do Liu Fen’s work, which she found unbearable.

Liu Fen trembled even more violently.

She knew her brother was serious this time. Her mind was in chaos – one moment thinking that following her brother’s wishes would break up her family, the next moment wondering why her husband Xia Da Jun hadn’t returned yet when even her brother had come to defend Xiao Lan… Was there no resentment? There was! But after being timid for so long, she didn’t dare voice her grievances.

Xiao Lan let out a cold laugh, “Third Aunt, my uncle might not be able to support me for life, but can you? Tell your Hong Xia to return my clothes – I’m taking them with me.”

The third Aunt immediately fell silent.

Without any men to stand up for them, the entire Xia family couldn’t overcome Liu Yong. Xiao Lan rushed into her room like the wind. The shoes under the bed weren’t hers… In just one night, Xia Hong Xia had eagerly moved in. The wooden box on the bed contained all of Xiao Lan’s possessions, secured with a large iron lock. The key hung around Xiao Lan’s neck – she hadn’t expected to have the chance to take it with her.

Xiao Lan struggled to carry the box out.

Liu Fen didn’t dare collect her things – Old Mrs. Xia’s years of oppression had seeped into her bones.

Liu Yong didn’t bear the Xia surname – if he went in to gather things, it would change the nature of the situation.

But Xiao Lan dared. Ignoring Old Mrs. Xia’s face turning black as a pot bottom, she went back to pack Liu Fen’s clothes… Liu Fen didn’t have many clothes to begin with, and they were all tattered and worn. Liu Yong frowned at the sight.

“Uncle, we still have some food stored in the old house.”

Liu Yong waved his hand:

“We’ll take it all – I came by bicycle today.”

Indeed, a brand new Forever brand bicycle stood against the wall – such a bicycle would cost at least 200 yuan. Liu Yong was a master mason, earning 2 yuan per day. Xiao Lan wondered, had her uncle struck it rich?