Chapter 624 - 537: Warning
Chapter 624: Chapter 537: Warning
Xiao Man and Liang Xiuzhen often corresponded, so Xiao Man knew that a few years back, Uncle Liang had insisted on dragging Liang ManCang over to help with his new factory. As a result, Man Cang missed the prime opportunity to contract a mountainside plot for growing herbs. Uncle Liang’s factory got off the ground, but he never paid Liang ManCang. He just said the factory was new and short on funds, so family had to take a temporary loss to keep the other workers happy. Liang ManCang, however, knew the truth: Uncle Liang was docking his wages to settle a debt. Years ago, when Aunt Liang was sick and needed medicine and the kids were in school, Liang ManCang had borrowed money from his sister a few times. He figured it was time to repay it anyway, so he kept quiet.
Meanwhile, the first families in Gongdao Village to start herb plantations all earned a substantial income, pulling themselves out of poverty. Those who planted a lot of high-quality herbs even became "ten-thousand-yuan households." Aunt Liang tended to their small vegetable plot herself, following the village’s vegetable supply schedule. The money from selling vegetables each year was enough to cover their daily expenses and also support Liang Xiuzhen’s living costs at school.
Whenever Liang Xiuming and Liang Xiuzhen came home for vacation, they often urged their dad that he would regret it if he didn’t seize the opportunity. So this year, Liang ManCang was determined not to go help Uncle Liang. After all, he was only providing brute strength, not skilled labor for the factory. At the beginning of the year, he contracted a plot of mountainside land from the village production team to prepare for growing herbs. Xiao Man figured that when the time came, she would ask Grandpa to supply Uncle Man Cang with good seedlings for free. It wouldn’t be a problem to help the Liang family’s situation improve within a year or two.
On the way back from the Liang family’s house, Xiao Man thought they would also have to visit Granny Han’s home. But Grandma said that Uncle Han had left the army and was now working in the county seat. The Han family’s eldest son was assigned to a post in Wancheng after graduating, and their two daughters had both been transferred back to the county seat. Two months ago, Granny Han had also moved to the county seat, taking the old lady with her. The whole family had now settled there, only returning to the village for festivals to visit and pay respects to their ancestors.
Since they weren’t going to the Han family’s, they wouldn’t have to pass Mo Guoqiang and Liu Fengying’s courtyard, sparing them the eyesore.
Grandma then made a point to warn Xiao Man, "When you’re walking around the village, if you run into Mo Xiaosu, just ignore her. That girl is rotten to the core now, and completely shameless. Stay as far away from her as you possibly can!"
Xiao Man was taken aback. "Mo Xiaosu was released? Did she serve her full sentence?"
"I don’t know if her sentence was up, but she’s been back for over a month."
Xinghua said, "She was in juvenile detention. She was supposed to be in for three years, but I heard she did something good. Oh, right, at her work assignment, she carried out someone who had a severe stomachache, which gave the medics enough time to save them. The person’s family even wrote her a letter of thanks, so her sentence was reduced... At least, that’s what Little Tiger who lives behind us said."
Grandma snorted. "They say a leopard can’t change its spots. Even if that’s not always true, I’ve watched that girl for over a decade, and I don’t believe for a second she’s changed for the better. My stance is this: The people in that Mo family courtyard, good or bad, have nothing to do with us. Ignore them and be on guard at all times. Our door is never to be opened for them. Don’t let them take a single step inside!"
Xiao Man looked at Xinghua, then back at Qiuyan. Xinghua was speechless and shot her a look. ’Why are you just looking at me? This lesson is for you too, you know.’
Qiuyan, however, nodded eagerly. "I heard you, Grandma!"
"Just listening isn’t enough, you need to remember it well! Your Sister Xiao Man suffered terribly at their hands. If she’d been any less clever or a bit less fortunate, they would have done her in long ago! Liu Fengying is cruel, and she attacks openly. But that Mo Xiaosu is insidious; she schemes in the shadows, hiring people to ambush and harm others in secret. She’s just a teenager, but her heart is more terrifying than a viper’s! You’re no match for her schemes, so you will stay far, far away from her!"
For the past two years, Qiuyan had been diligently practicing martial arts with her father and brothers. She had grown strong and sturdy, and much bolder. She clenched a fist and swung it. "Who would dare scheme against us? I’ll beat them up!"
Grandma burst out laughing. "That little bit of strength you have? She’d take you down in a few moves. Did you not see them a few days ago? The mother and her kids were brawling at their gate, and Mo Xiaosu took down three or five boys all by herself. She doesn’t know any formal martial arts; she learned how to fight in prison from being bullied and getting into brawls. It’s a lot more dangerous than your pretty, impractical moves!"
Qiuyan retorted indignantly, "They’re not pretty, impractical moves! I’m strong too! I even beat Dapeng yesterday!"
Xinghua smiled and teased her younger sister, "Dapeng is scrawny and not very strong. It’ll be truly impressive when you can beat Da Zhi."
"In a couple of days, when the moon is fuller and brighter, we can all go to the drying terrace in the herb garden at night. Everyone can test out their skills, and I’ll see how you’re doing," Xiao Man said, patting Qiuyan’s head. ’You can never have too many skills,’ she thought. ’Even in these peaceful times, it’s good for a girl to master a skill. It’s useful for self-defense against creeps, staying fit, building courage, and it gives you a lot of confidence.’
Qiuyan nodded happily.
Xiao Man then asked Grandma, "Does Mo Laoer and his family come here to cause trouble often?"
Grandma replied, "They used to come all the time. But last year, your Grandpa gave the couple a harsh beating with a wooden stick, and they didn’t dare come back after that. It’s the same with Liu Fengying; lectures don’t work, she only learns her lesson after you beat her and chase her off. But ever since Mo Xiaosu got out, she’s been coming over every now and then, crying and making a scene. She claims that since she’s called us Grandpa and Grandma since she was a child, she’s our real granddaughter and insists on living with us. Of course, your Grandpa and I would never agree. Let’s not even mention that we have you and your uncle’s family; even if none of you were around, we would never take her in. Do you know how wicked she is? The moment she heard us refuse, she immediately called over a whole gang of boys and girls to fight your Grandpa and Jiabao. It’s a good thing our whole family practices martial arts to stay healthy. Your Grandpa, Jiabao, and Da Zhi knocked down a few of those young punks and threw them out. That intimidated them and scared them off. Otherwise, who knows what kind of havoc Mo Xiaosu would have wreaked on our home? And just a few days ago, when your Sister Xinghua and Junlin had just returned, we were happily slaughtering a sheep for a welcome-home feast. Mo Laoer and Liu Fengying showed up again, dragging their children along. Giving them a nice meal would have been fine, but Mo Xiaosu was being sarcastic and saying awful things. Your Grandpa got furious, chased them all out, and locked the door, refusing to let them in or give them any food. Then, her brothers and sisters all started blaming each other, and they ended up getting into a fight right there. Mo Xiaosu kicked and stomped her own brothers until they were bleeding!"
Xiao Man shook her head. "Letting a dangerous person like that out is a menace. She’s bound to cause trouble sooner or later. The main issue is her ability to gather other delinquents. Two fists are no match for many hands, so everyone needs to be careful. Qiuyan, Da Zhi, Dapeng, and Sister Xinghua—it’s best if you don’t go out alone."
Grandma said, "I’ve already warned all of them. Now I’m telling you. You must remember to be on your guard. Wherever you’re going, have Xinghua and Qiuyan accompany you. Don’t let Liu Fengying or Mo Xiaosu get anywhere near you."
Xiao Man readily agreed. ’A creature like a venomous snake... just the sight of her is nauseating. If she dares to get close, I’ll strike her down without a shred of mercy.’
Around noon, Guan Ailan, Mo Shuiling, and Mo Shuixia came over. In the countryside, every family has an endless amount of work. The girls had to get up early to finish a batch of farm chores before they were given permission to hang out for the afternoon.
Grandma made cold noodles. The ground pork sauce was fried to a glistening golden brown and served with a vibrant red tomato sauce, fragrant fried peanuts, and fried chilies. Tossed with some fresh, crisp celery and green onions, the dish was irresistible. The whole group ate without even looking up, hissing as the spice hit them but still exclaiming how incredibly satisfying it was.