In the Meng family living room, Lin Hanqiao listened to Meng Pengtao’s words. Though still feeling aggrieved, she understood the importance of prioritizing matters.
She wiped her tears and said softly, “I understand. I’ll be careful. When do you plan to go?”
“Within the next couple of days. The sooner, the better.”
Meng Pengtao frowned deeply. “I’ll put matters at the factory aside for now. We need to stabilize the situation with the old master first…”
As they were speaking, footsteps sounded from the staircase.
Meng Feifei descended step by step, wearing her favorite floral dress, her face showing concern and obedience.
“Mom, Uncle,” she called out softly, walking over to Lin Hanqiao and linking arms with her.
“Mom, don’t be sad anymore. Dad must have just temporarily lost his senses.”
Looking at her daughter, Lin Hanqiao finally felt some comfort and patted her hand.
Meng Feifei then turned to Meng Pengtao, her eyes carrying a hint of expectation and pleading. “Uncle, I accidentally overheard you saying you’re going to Blue Bay Village?”
Meng Pengtao looked at his niece and nodded. “Yes, there are some matters I need to handle there.”
“Uncle!” Meng Feifei immediately responded, her tone deliberately self-blaming. “Can… can I go with you? Last time… last time I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said those things about Sister Jiaojiao. I’ve been feeling terrible since we returned. I want to see with my own eyes how she’s doing and apologize to her properly.”
“Also, I’d like to visit Uncle Jianhua and thank him for taking care of my sister.”
Her words were beautifully crafted, completely absolving herself of blame while appearing both sensible and caring about sisterly bonds.
Lin Hanqiao was the first to object. “No! Why would you suffer going to that impoverished backwater? And who knows how much resentment Meng Jiao holds against us now? Wouldn’t you just be asking for trouble?”
“Mom~” Meng Feifei shook Lin Hanqiao’s arm, beginning to act coquettishly.
“I know you’re concerned about me. But I realize I was wrong, and I want to personally apologize to my sister. Besides, with Uncle there, what hardship could I possibly face? I’ll just go see her and return with Uncle right away, okay Mom~”
As she spoke, she cast pleading looks toward Meng Pengtao.
Meng Pengtao initially didn’t want to bring along dead weight, but upon second thought, bringing Meng Feifei might help ease tensions with Meng Jianhua’s side.
After all, this involved matters between younger family members. With Feifei taking the initiative to apologize, Meng Jianhua might be more receptive, making it easier for him to investigate the situation.
Considering this, he pondered for a moment before saying to Lin Hanqiao, “Hanqiao, since Feifei has this intention, let her come along.”
“It would be good for the sisters to clear the air. I’ll take good care of her.”
“Uncle, you’re the best!”
Meng Feifei immediately beamed with joy, her heart leaping with excitement—she had actually succeeded.
Seeing that Meng Pengtao had spoken thus, though still reluctant, Lin Hanqiao had no choice but to reluctantly agree.
“Well… alright then, Feifei. Listen to your uncle when you’re there, don’t wander off, and don’t start any conflicts if you see Meng Jiao.”
“Got it, Mom! Don’t worry!”
Meng Feifei readily agreed, but inwardly she sneered.
Conflict? Of course she wouldn’t start conflicts—she was going to reclaim the opportunity that rightfully belonged to her.
Over in Blue Bay Village, Meng Jiao remained completely unaware of the visitors soon to arrive.
That afternoon, the weather grew even more stiflingly hot, as if rain was approaching.
Meng Jiao and Xiao Cao had finished cutting pigweed early and were about to head home when they suddenly heard a clamor of shouting and crying from next door.
“Sounds like it’s coming from Gu Yan’s place…” Xiao Cao tilted her head to listen, whispering softly.
Meng Jiao’s heart sank.
Gu Yan? Was his alcoholic father on another drunken rampage?
“Xiao Cao, you go back first. I’m going to check it out.”
Meng Jiao thrust her small basket into Xiao Cao’s hands and sprinted toward the source of the noise.
“Hey! Jiaojiao!”
Xiao Cao called after her, but Meng Jiao was too fast and soon disappeared from sight.
When Meng Jiao reached the low, dilapidated adobe house near Gu Yan’s home, she saw several villagers gathered outside the courtyard, pointing and gossiping, but no one stepped forward to intervene.
In the yard, Gu Yan’s father—flushed and reeking of alcohol—stood swaying unsteadily, brandishing a firewood stick while spewing vulgar insults.
“…You worthless brat! Useless burden! What’s the point of raising you all these years? Huh? Can’t even handle simple tasks! I’ll beat you dead today!”
Gu Yan was curled up on the muddy ground, arms wrapped around his head, silent.
His father’s stick landed repeatedly on his back and arms with dull thuds.
The boy’s thin frame trembled faintly under the blows, yet he stubbornly refused to beg for mercy or cry out, only biting his pale lips hard.
Meng Jiao’s heart clenched.
She knew Gu Yan’s father was despicable, but witnessing this scene firsthand made her both furious and heartbroken.
What era was this? How could anyone still beat a child like this?!
“Stop! Don’t hit him anymore!”
Meng Jiao couldn’t hold back her shout, pushing through the crowd to rush inside.
Interrupted, Gu Yan’s father blinked drunkenly at Meng Jiao, paused briefly, then cursed even more fiercely.
“Where’d this little bitch come from? Get lost! I’m disciplining my own kid—none of your damn business!”
Hearing Meng Jiao’s voice, Gu Yan stiffened abruptly, his arms loosening slightly around his head.
Through the gap between his arms, the boy caught sight of the girl standing against the light, her face filled with anger.
Disbelief flickered in his eyes, followed by deeper humiliation and shame—he didn’t want her to see him like this…
“Hitting people is wrong! He’s just a child!”
Though frightened of the drunken man, Meng Jiao mustered her courage and shouted.
“If you keep hitting him, I… I’ll go find Village Chief Grandpa!”
“Hey! You little wench dare threaten me?!”
Drunk and enraged, Gu Yan’s father raised the stick as if to intimidate Meng Jiao.
Just then, Gu Yan—who had been silent all along—suddenly lifted his head sharply. His dark eyes fixed on his father like a wolf cub’s, gleaming with an almost ferocious light.
He didn’t speak, but that gaze made his father hesitate, the stick halting mid-air.
The onlooking villagers began murmuring among themselves.
“Gu Laosi, enough now! Why take it out on a child?”
“Drunk some horse piss and forgot your own name!”
“Stop hitting him, let the boy get up…”
Embarrassed by the crowd’s remarks and unsettled by Gu Yan’s piercing stare, Gu Laosi threw down the stick resentfully and staggered toward the house, still cursing.
“Damn brat, just wait till I deal with you later…”
As the commotion died down, the crowd gradually dispersed.
Meng Jiao hurried to Gu Yan’s side, crouching down as she hesitated over how to help him up. “Gu Yan, are you… are you alright? Does it hurt?”
Gu Yan lowered his lashes, avoiding her gaze as he pushed himself up from the ground slowly and with visible effort.
He brushed the dust off his clothes, wincing slightly when the movement tugged at his injuries.
“I’m fine.”
His voice was hoarse, still carrying that familiar cold detachment that kept others at arm’s length.
But Meng Jiao noticed how he staggered when standing up, coupled with his pale complexion, and knew he must be in considerable pain.
Remembering the half-eaten pancake still wrapped in a handkerchief in her pocket from breakfast, she quickly retrieved it and offered it to him. “Are you… hungry? Here, have this.”