“…”
The villagers had no way to argue.
After all, Lin Dagou had indeed signed a slave contract, selling Lin Xiazhi to the Chen family.
Silence fell over the courtyard.
With both of her arms broken, Wang Chuntao couldn’t do anything to Lin Xiazhi herself. Yet none of the villagers were willing to help tie the girl up. She was so anxious that blisters were practically forming on her tongue.
All the family’s silver had been stolen.
She was convinced Lin Xiazhi had taken it.
The problem was, she had no proof.
Who could she even complain to?
That money was supposed to cover all of Feicai’s travel expenses to the capital.
Once her husband returned and discovered it was gone, he would fly into a rage and surely divorce her!
Wang Chuntao’s pupils shrank.
She had suffered for half her life before finally having a chance to follow her son to the capital and enjoy a better life.
She absolutely couldn’t be divorced now.
But no one believed her.
And Chen Feicai was still lying unconscious, his condition uncertain…
“What happened here? I could hear you screaming from halfway across the village, Sister Chuntao!”
Just then, Yang Zhaodi, Wang Chuntao’s sister-in-law and close friend, walked into the courtyard.
Seeing her, Wang Chuntao immediately acted as if she’d found her savior.
“Hurry! Grab Lin Xiazhi! She stole my silver and assaulted me! Take her to the authorities!”
“What?!”
Without a second thought, Yang Zhaodi charged straight at Lin Xiazhi.
Before anyone could react, she had already grabbed Lin Xiazhi by the ear.
“You filthy little servant! Slacking off every day wasn’t bad enough, now you’ve dared steal and attack people? You’ve got a death wish!”
She gave Lin Xiazhi’s ear another vicious twist.
“Forget taking her to the authorities. Throw her into the river and drown her!”
“Drown her?!”
Wang Chuntao’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“That’s right! She’s just a servant in my household anyway. Even if we beat her to death, no one would dare say a word. Hurry! Throw her into the river!”
The pain in her ear was excruciating.
A cold glint flashed through Lin Xiazhi’s eyes.
The next instant, tears welled up.
Her voice filled with grief and resentment.
“You’ve wronged me! If I die today, I won’t spare any of you, even as a ghost!”
The villagers were stunned by Yang Zhaodi’s actions.
Only Liu Juan hurried forward to stop her.
“You can’t drown her! That’s murder! You’ll end up in prison! Let Girl Lin go at once!”
“Get lost!”
Yang Zhaodi was broad and heavyset, built like a water barrel.
With a single shove, she knocked Liu Juan onto the ground.
Ignoring everyone else’s protests, she dragged Lin Xiazhi toward the village entrance.
“I refuse to believe I can’t deal with a little servant like you!”
She had disliked Lin Xiazhi for a long time.
Why did Wang Chuntao get to have someone waiting on her hand and foot while she herself worked herself to exhaustion every day?
If this servant died…
Wang Chuntao’s comfortable life would come to an end too.
“Hurry and be careful! That little bitch really can fight…” Wang Chuntao called excitedly as she hurried after them, eager to witness Lin Xiazhi’s miserable end.
“Let go of me! I really didn’t hit anyone! I didn’t steal the silver! Everyone here can testify for me!”
Lin Xiazhi cried and struggled continuously.
Yet, despite all her resistance, she quietly allowed Yang Zhaodi to drag her forward.
A sly gleam flickered deep within her eyes.
Seeing Lin Xiazhi being hauled away, Liu Juan immediately chased after them.
“Girl Lin!”
Zhao Xiaomei followed close behind.
“I’m going to fetch Yingzi!”
Yingzi was Lin Xiazhi’s birth mother.
Something this serious had to be reported immediately.
If anything happened to Lin Xiazhi, at least someone would be there to seek justice for her.
The rest of the villagers hurried after them as well.
But before they even reached the front of the courtyard, Yang Zhaodi suddenly let out a shrill scream.
Splash!
Splash!
Two bodies plunged into the river.
“Help! Save me!”
Yang Zhaodi’s desperate cries rang out between frantic gasps.
The villagers froze.
What just happened?
Wang Chuntao stumbled toward the riverbank, her broken arms swinging uselessly.
She saw the two figures rising and sinking amid the rushing water, tangled together.
“I told you to be careful! How did that little bitch still trick you?!”
“Hang on, Zhaodi! I’ll have someone rescue you!”
She glared at Lin Xiazhi, who was also struggling in the water.
If only that little wretch would drown already!
Still, Yang Zhaodi’s life mattered more.
She turned toward the villagers and shouted,
“Hurry! Somebody get in there! Whoever knows how to swim, move!”
The villagers all shook their heads.
“We’re all landlubbers. None of us can swim…”
Besides…
Even if they could, who would dare try rescuing someone as heavy as Yang Zhaodi?
Liu Juan pushed through the crowd carrying a long bamboo pole.
“Xiazhi! Don’t be afraid! I’ll pull you out!”
Seeing this, Wang Chuntao shot her a murderous glare.
“Save Yang Zhaodi first!”
Liu Juan hesitated only briefly before ignoring her.
“Aunt Liu! Save me!”
Hearing Lin Xiazhi’s weak plea, Liu Juan immediately responded.
“I’m coming!”
Just as she rolled up her trousers and prepared to wade into the river…
Splash!
Water exploded beside her.
A tall figure leaped into the river.
Someone had gone to rescue them.
Liu Juan secretly let out a sigh of relief and remained on the bank, gripping the bamboo pole anxiously.
Meanwhile…
Lin Xiazhi was actually enjoying herself in the water.
Hidden by the darkness, no one could clearly see what was happening beneath the surface.
Every chance she got, she quietly shoved Yang Zhaodi’s head back underwater.
Then suddenly…
Someone cut through the current toward her.
Long limbs.
Powerful strokes.
Fast.
In the blink of an eye, he reached her, lifted her above the water, wrapped an arm around her waist, and swam toward the shore.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lin Xiazhi saw him viciously kick Yang Zhaodi in the head.
Yang Zhaodi sank beneath the surface almost instantly.
“…”
Lin Xiazhi turned to look at her rescuer.
At that moment, torchlight spilled across the water, illuminating his face.
His features were sharp and well-defined.
His expression was cold and stern.
His long ponytail clung tightly to the back of his neck, soaked through with river water.
His brows were knitted together, giving him the look of a young man trying very hard to appear older than he really was.
Oh.
It was Mu Zheng.
The lame youth who lived alone at the foot of the desolate mountain.
The original owner had crossed paths with him a few times while hunting rabbits in the mountains.
They had never spoken.
He wasn’t even mentioned in the novel.
Just another background character, one who never actually appeared.
Still, the original owner’s memories of him were surprisingly vivid.
She recognized him immediately.
That kick…
Yang Zhaodi was probably dead.
Was he… avenging her?
“Girl Lin’s almost ashore! Come on, everyone! Help pull her up!”
The pair soon reached the riverbank.
Holding up a lantern, Liu Juan called for everyone to lend a hand.
Lin Xiazhi was quickly helped onto dry land.
Her clothes were soaked through.
Already painfully thin, she now looked like a withered leaf clinging to the tip of a branch, as though the slightest breeze could carry her away.
As for the other person…
The villagers exchanged uneasy glances.
Not one of them dared approach the young man.
“It’s Mu Zheng.”
“He never associates with anyone in the village. I’m surprised he actually stepped in to save Girl Lin.”
“Exactly…”
Hearing the whispers around her, Lin Xiazhi couldn’t help glancing at Mu Zheng.
His face was every bit as cold as the rumors suggested.
He practically radiated the words keep away.
Sensing her gaze, Mu Zheng turned and looked at her.
Only for a brief moment.
Then he looked away.
Limping slightly, he quietly turned and walked off.
“Don’t leave! There’s still someone in the river!”
The moment he left, Wang Chuntao panicked completely.
Yang Zhaodi was still in the water!
She hurriedly looked back toward the river.
The surface had already become calm.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of Yang Zhaodi anymore.
“!!!”
Her legs immediately gave out beneath her.
She collapsed onto the ground.
Yang Zhaodi was gone.
How was she supposed to explain this to the third branch of the family?
Her eyes, filled with hatred, locked onto Lin Xiazhi.
That’s right.
This was all that little bitch’s fault.
None of it had anything to do with her!
“Xiazhi! Are you alright? Did you swallow any water? Turn around and let me see!”
“Who…?”
Someone suddenly grabbed Lin Xiazhi’s right hand, pulling her back several steps.
She quickly turned around.
A pair of tear-filled eyes met hers.
Her gaze slowly drifted downward.
She froze.
Her pupils widened.
“Mom!”
Shen Ying was stunned.
“Mom?”
Thinking her daughter no longer recognized her, tears immediately streamed down her face.
“My silly child… I’m your mother… your mother…”
She broke down into sobs.