Chapter 158 - 158 I Can Kill You Now
158 I Can Kill You Now
Little Cat’s mother Tao Yinzhen was washing clothes in the yard. Little Cat ran back happily and grabbed her hand. “Mother, come with me.”
Tao Yinzhen was busy working and shook off his hand. “There’s half a sweet potato in the nest. After you eat it, go get water and wash your feet before sleeping.”
Little Cat looked around and lowered his voice to say excitedly. “Mother, I have something more delicious than sweet potatoes. Come with me.”
Little Cat revealed a corner of the oiled paper. Tao Yinzhen was stunned. Her eyes darkened and she grabbed his ear. “Did you steal money to buy something?”
Little Cat shook his head quickly. “No, no. I earned it.”
“You earned it?” Tao Yinzhen looked unconvinced. “If you dare to spout nonsense again, I’ll skin you alive. We’re poor, but we can’t be spineless and do sneaky things. Otherwise, you will be a trash like your father!”
Lintian Village was unlike Youjia Village that could be reclaimed. They only had the exact amount of land that they had. After paying the grain tax, if the men in the family did not think of a way to earn extra money, they would only have meals on some days in spring.
It was already good enough that she did not have to pay a debt with such tough life. Tao Yinzhen would not believe that someone would pay a half-grown brat to work.
Seeing that Tao Yinzhen was about to hit him with a bamboo stick, Little Cat hurriedly ran into the house. Tao Yinzhen was even angrier. “Good kid, how dare you run!”
When Little Cat entered the house, he immediately opened the oiled paper packaging and reached out to pick up the rice cake. He raised it in front of Tao Yinzhen as if it was a treasure. “Mother, I’m really not lying to you. This is the rice cake that Madam Bai from the neighboring village gave us. I spent another two copper coins to specially buy it for you.”
He said proudly, “I earned two copper coins by picking mulberries. Madam Bai collects mulberries, cherries, and prickly berries. I’ll still go tomorrow so that I can earn copper coins.”
When Tao Yinzhen met his happy gaze and learned the whole story, she felt relieved. She asked with heartache, “Madam Bai is too black-hearted. A rice cake costs two copper coins?” She probed Little Cat quietly. “You didn’t only earn two copper coins and used them to buy a rice cake after going out for a day, did you?”
Little Cat immediately took out a small money bag excitedly. “I earned 25 copper coins! I used two copper coins to buy rice cakes and gave a basket of mulberry fruits to Madam Bai. Madam Bai is really kind. She even gave me this money bag. Not only is it fragrant, but there’s also a chrysanthemum on it. It’s especially beautiful. The money is all for Mom to buy steamed buns. We can eat white flour steamed buns every day.”
If a man from the mountains went to the town to work for a day, it would be considered a lot if he could earn 25 copper coins.
Many shops hiring people would only give them a meal. But there were still many people fighting to work.
Whereas, Little Cat had actually earned 25 copper coins. Tao Yinzhen was stunned.
The few copper coins she had secretly hidden were actually not as much as what Little Cat had earned that day.
She took the money bag from Little Cat with trembling hands. The silky fabric was spread out in her rough and calloused hands. Looking at the lifelike flowers on it, Tao Yinzhen was once again shocked.
With just this small money bag, with its material and embroidery skills, it was worth at least a few copper coins.
What kind of immortal life was this woman from the neighbouring village leading?
Envy flashed in her eyes. She picked up the purse again and took a deep breath. It smelled good, as expected.
Little Cat had exchanged a basket of mulberries for it. It was simply worth it.
Tao Yinzhen happily put the money bag into her arms and patted Little Cat’s head. “I’ll keep the money for you. When you grow up, you can use it to marry a wife.”
There was no hope for the men at home. Tao Yinzhen looked in the direction of the neighboring village and said to Little Cat, “Madam Bai is a good person. Tomorrow, go and pick more mulberries for Madam Bai. It’s fine even if you don’t get as many copper coins. You must make Madam Bai like you.”
She had heard of Madam Bai from the neighboring village. She had heard that she was the most respected existence in the neighboring village. Even Lord Yang had to give her some face. If Little Cat could catch Madam Bai’s eye, he would have something to rely on for the rest of his life.
Little Cat thought of Madam Bai’s gorgeous face and beautiful courtyard and said in an inferior manner, “I also want Madam Bai to like me, but I’m too dirty and my clothes are too tattered. I’m also barefoot. Madam Bai probably won’t like me.”
His words were like a sharp knife stabbing into Tao Yinzhen’s heart. Her eyes were red with sadness as she hugged Little Cat and said, “When we go to the market next time, I’ll buy you clothes and shoes. We won’t be dirty. We’ll definitely make Madam Bai like you.”
Little Cat’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Yes, I won’t lie to you.”
“Then can I still buy steamed buns after buying clothes and shoes? I promised to treat the children from the neighboring village to steamed buns. If they didn’t bring me to see Madam Bai, I wouldn’t have been able to earn copper coins.”
Tao Yinzhen was about to nod when the door was pushed open. The drunk man’s cheeks were red and he reeked of alcohol. His gaze landed on the exquisite rice cake on the table that was out of place. He walked over, grabbed it in front of the child, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Little Cat grabbed Ren Shuixing’s arm and said anxiously, “I gave this to Mom. I worked hard for this rice cake. What right do you have to eat it!”
How could his small arms and legs stop Ren Shuixing?
He finished the rice cake in two big mouthfuls and looked down fiercely. Tao Yinzhen quickly stood in front of Little Cat and was slapped hard.
Tao Yinzhen’s ears rang and she fell to the ground.
Ren Shuixing still felt that it was not enough to vent his anger. He kicked Tao Yinzhen’s thin body a few times. “You’re all mine. What’s wrong with me eating a piece of rice cake! Not only do I want to eat it, I want to beat you to death.”
Little Cat cried and stopped him. “Father, don’t!”
Ren Shuixing’s lips curled into a dark smile. He was even worse than a beast. He slapped Little Cat’s face again. “Remember, I’m your father. If you f*cking dare to not respect me, I’ll kill you right now.”
Little Cat’s nose was bleeding and his tender cheeks were swollen. Tao Yinzhen struggled to get up and hugged Little Cat. She comforted him softly, “Little Cat, don’t be afraid. It’s fine, it’s fine…”
The more pitiful they looked and the angrier Little Cat’s eyes were, the more excited Ren Shuixing’s brain, which was under the influence of alcohol, became. His attacks became more and more vicious. He grabbed Tao Yinzhen’s hair and kept smashing it against the wall.
The intense pleasure of wantonly bullying the weak could make him feel like an emperor who was high and mighty and held the power of life and death. He was omnipotent and fearless.
Tao Yinzhen was already used to it. She knew that it was useless for her to resist. Instead, it would make Ren Shuixing even more excited. She did not say a word and tried her best to smile so that Little Cat would not be so afraid.
Fortunately, Ren Shuixing had drunk too much and was tired. He threw Tao Yinzhen to the ground and touched her chest.
Tao Yinzhen covered the money bag that he suddenly touched and finally cried out. “You can’t take this money! This is Little Cat’s money!”
Ren Shuixing punched her again. Tao Yinzhen was hit in the eye and stopped moving completely.
Little Cat shook Tao Yinzhen’s body and cried hysterically. The entire village heard it, but they were used to it.