Xiao Anguo and the others were enjoying themselves freely in the 1:1 time-flow zone, eating, drinking, and playing, while Ye Xiaoxiao entered a training room running at a 1:200 time-flow ratio.
After staying inside for two days, Ye Xiaoxiao realized something was off and asked Dawei. That’s when she discovered the mismatch in time.
Dawei explained: only after rebirth and nirvana could one see the space in its entirety and automatically activate the space’s time-flow. While he was in the space, he could always perceive its flow, but once the next successor took over, the space’s permissions would be restricted.
Meanwhile, at the Li family village, the Li family had been pushed to the center of gossip.
As the “richest in the commune,” it was scandalous to have a family of poor people. How poor? So poor that even drinking a simple soup required working for it! Not even the old landlords would exploit people this way, right?
If Ye Xiaoxiao had stayed at the foot of the mountain for only half a day, no one would have said anything.
But the key was that Ye Xiaoxiao and the children didn’t return for two full days and nights.
Many of the older women regretted not stopping Ye Xiaoxiao. Those children! The oldest was only seven, the youngest just three.
The team leader’s veins bulged with anger. “Damn it! I always knew Li Father wasn’t a good man, but I didn’t expect him to be so utterly heartless. Every month he takes Li Tianyou’s hard-earned money, doesn’t give it to his wife and kids… is he even human?”
The accountant stayed silent. Honestly, if Ye Xiaoxiao were dead, he’d be delighted. If not for her, his daughter would already be living well in the army.
The old secretary’s frown hadn’t eased. Yesterday, he had returned late from a meeting and no one told him. This morning, they were all busy; only at noon did someone mention it. Sensing trouble, he asked around, and coincidentally, the county had matters for him and the team leader.
By the time they returned, it was already late.
He wanted to curse—if only Li Father had been standing there!
Ye Xiaoxiao was part of a military family. If she and the children had been taken up the mountain for food and eaten by wild beasts, and the news reached the army, it wouldn’t just be the Li family getting blamed—they would be implicated too.
The main subjects of gossip—Li Father and Li Mother—were furious.
Li Mother ran to the team office, shouting for justice: “Old Secretary! Team Leader! You must stand up for us! That Ye Xiaoxiao, that damn sword-wielding girl, usually bossing around at home, eating well, drinking well…
And now she dares to say we didn’t feed her? Heartless! This… this is trying to drive me to death!” She charged at the office wall.
Chen Xiuying, Tian Jiali, and Ma Yuzhen couldn’t just watch. Couldn’t—they had to help, otherwise how would the drama play out? Li Mother’s performance was top-notch because her three good daughters-in-law would hold her up; she wouldn’t actually crash into the wall.
Sure enough, two grabbed an arm each, and one held her, while Li Mother waved her hands as if charging forward—but in reality, she stayed in place, wailing.
Her cries were pitiful, almost heart-rending.
As luck would have it, someone had to point out the truth: “Heavens, Ma Li, let your daughters-in-law go and act properly. I have to admit, you’ve been wailing nonstop—what’s the point?” Li Mother shot a glare.
Big Aunt Ge caught it and laughed, clapping her hands.
The spectators glanced at Li Mother, then at Big Aunt Ge. There was nothing unclear. Some nosy ones stepped forward to pull aside Chen Xiuying, Tian Jiali, and Ma Yuzhen. Li Mother felt utterly powerless, like punching cotton.
“Old Ge, mind your own business! You little sword girl, meddling in heaven and earth—are you going to control my eating and… pooping too?” Li Mother fumed.
“Ma Li, you’re overthinking. My arms aren’t that long. I’m just giving a friendly reminder: you’re overdoing the acting; it’s so awkward I don’t know where to look. Too much eye-pain, got it? Alright, don’t be mad. I’m leaving, okay?” Big Aunt Ge jabbed again, and Li Mother felt like she’d “cough up three bowls of blood.”
Once Big Aunt Ge left, Li Mother couldn’t continue her act. Without someone holding her, she might have actually hit the wall.
Her brain hadn’t gone faulty—sometimes the worst is a truth-teller: seeing everything, yet not speaking up. Got it? Big Aunt Ge didn’t even have the basic manners of a spectator.
Later, Ye Xiaoxiao heard of Big Aunt Ge’s divine assist. One night, she knocked on Big Aunt Ge’s door and gifted a mountain chicken and two fat rabbits. Big Aunt Ge grinned from ear to ear, solidifying her resolve to help Ye Xiaoxiao. But that’s another story.
Li Mother returned in a huff, frustrated that her anticipated reversal didn’t happen.
Meanwhile, the old secretary and the team leader didn’t even step out, yet a few dramatic scenes had already played out outside their door.