"Ouch!" Liu Delei's face twisted in pain, and he sank down onto the ground, wincing.
Liu Qingsong saw bright red blood seeping from Liu Delei's arm.
In other words, last night's thief was one hundred percent Liu Delei.
After guessing what Liu Qingsong's tap on his arm meant, Liu Delei's expression instantly changed, turning into one of panic.
Without waiting for Wang Jiahe or Wang Xiaohe to say anything, he scrambled up and fled in a sorry state.
He had to flee. If Liu Qingsong exposed his deepest secret with Tao Guoqing present, Liu Delei might not even know how he would die.
But Wang Xiaohe and Wang Jiahe had no idea what was going on! They assumed Liu Qingsong's tap had done something to Liu Delei and caused this reaction.
Once the two brothers came to their senses, shock, confusion, and bewilderment appeared on both their faces.
After all, Liu Delei was a grown man in his mid-thirties, and he weighed over a hundred and eighty pounds.
Under those circumstances, Liu Qingsong knocked him down with one tap, and Liu Delei even fled in fright. The brothers found it baffling.
Tao Guoqing and the little rascal watched Liu Delei flee into the distance, both stunned. The grandfather and granddaughter asked no questions and quietly resumed fishing.
Half an hour later.
Liu Qingsong's Fish Keepnet was nearly full.
From the direction of Wild Boar Ridge came Liu Lijuan's voice, calling out: "Qingsong, Hongxia, Little Mochi... stop fishing and come back for lunch!"
"Got it!" little sister called back, then began packing up the Fishing Gear with Little Mochi.
Seeing this, Pangdun pursed his lips, looking a bit unhappy.
Noticing this, Liu Qingsong couldn't help but ask with concern, "What's wrong?"
"I... I haven't caught a single fish." Pangdun mumbled, stammering.
If he went home without catching a fish, his parents and the other children would certainly tease him.
Once Liu Qingsong understood, he laughed and shook his head. "Who says you didn't catch any fish? Aren't these fish?"
As he spoke, Liu Qingsong took out two wild Diaozi Fish, each about a pound, from his fish keepnet and handed them to Pangdun.
Seeing Pangdun looking a bit stunned, Liu Qingsong urged him, "Take them! You came out fishing with Older Brother, and Older Brother won't let you go home empty-handed. You can even tell your parents you caught them yourself."
"Really?" Pangdun was overjoyed. He took the Wild Diaozi Fish and strung them together with Cogon Grass.
"Of course it's true." Seeing that Little Mochi and little sister had packed up the fishing gear, Liu Qingsong strained to haul the fish out of the river from the keepnet, then looked down at the little rascal. "Let's go! Come eat at Older Brother's house—we've got spicy Diaozi Fish to eat."
"Mm, mm!" The little rascal had been waiting for Liu Qingsong to say that. She happily took Little Mochi's hand and skipped toward the foot of Wild Boar Ridge.
Liu Qingsong, with Pangdun and little sister, hurried along close behind.
Tao Guoqing watched this scene unfold.
After exchanging a glance with the two young men beside him, he had no choice but to follow along with a wry smile.
There was no helping it. The little rascal had congenital heart disease, and she wanted to eat at Liu Qingsong's Home, so they had to indulge her. At worst, Tao Guoqing could give Liu Qingsong's family some money after the meal. That would satisfy the little rascal and keep Liu Qingsong's family happy.
But Wang Xiaohe did not want to see this happen!
He knew this was not a good sign for him.
As long as the little rascal and Tao Guoqing stayed beside Liu Qingsong, Wang Xiaohe could do nothing to him. Liu Qingsong might even use this opportunity to keep him in check.
So after exchanging a glance with Wang Jiahe, Wang Xiaohe stepped forward, blocking Tao Guoqing's path. "Elder Tao, the sanitary conditions at Liu Qingsong's house are terrible. If you're concerned about the little rascal's safety, you'd better call her back right now!"
"That's right. Liu Qingsong's family is so poor they can only eat Sweet Potatoes at every meal. If the little rascal goes with them, she probably won't even get to taste the Spicy Diaozi Fish." Wang Jiahe added another slanderous remark.
"Is that so?" Tao Guoqing glanced at Wang Xiaohe and Wang Jiahe. "How bad could the sanitary conditions be? And what is wrong with eating Sweet Potatoes at every meal? Don't you two think those words should not be coming from your own mouths?"
"If you two refuse to go to Liu Qingsong's Home, gather the villagers and discuss tomorrow's Post-Autumn Hunting. Stop following me."
With that, Tao Guoqing turned and walked away.
Taking the two young men with him, he quickly caught up with Liu Qingsong's pace.
Watching Tao Guoqing walk off into the distance, Wang Jiahe frowned. "Xiaohe, what should we do now?"
"What else can we do?" Wang Xiaohe replied furiously. "You go find Zhong Xinbing and arrange the Post-Autumn Hunting. I'll stay with Elder Tao. Otherwise, we're both finished."
"Fine! Fine!" Wang Jiahe turned and left.
Wang Xiaohe hurried after Tao Guoqing.
At the same time, he couldn't quite understand—why had a simple fishing trip turned into this mess, spiraling out of control to the point where even he, the Production Team Captain, had been put on the back foot.
If Liu Qingsong, Liu Lijuan, Wang Yaoqing, and the others exposed the unscrupulous things he had done in the Locust Tree Production Team, he would be unable to escape the consequences.
At that thought, Wang Xiaohe's eyes grew sharp and vicious. "No, I can't let this continue. I have to fight back. I have to make Liu Qingsong rein himself in."
"If he won't listen to reason, then don't blame me for being cold-hearted."
.....
At the foot of Tiger Mountain.
At the entrance of Liu Qingsong's home.
When Little Mochi returned holding hands with an adorable little girl her age, Liu Lijuan noticed that the girl's clothes were unlike those worn by anyone from the Huajiao Production Brigade. She froze in surprise.
But Little Mochi paid no mind to any of that, tilting her little head up to introduce the little girl: "Second Aunt, she... she's my good friend, called little rascal, she came back with me for lunch."
"Is that so?" Still puzzled, Liu Lijuan looked toward Liu Qingsong as he approached.
Behind Liu Qingsong stood a white-haired elderly man, two young men, and Wang Xiaohe, whom she despised to her very core. Liu Lijuan stared in astonishment.
After all, the family had no surplus grain to spare for Wang Xiaohe or unfamiliar outsiders from another village.
She could understand Little Mochi being too young to know better. But Liu Qingsong was sixteen, and he was doing the same thing. She could not understand it.
She was about to ask what was going on.
Liu Qingsong spoke first: "Second Elder Sister, don't ask questions or say anything. If there isn't enough food, make more. We have guests today."
"Oh, and don't make any food for Captain Wang."
"He said he's not eating."
Wang Xiaohe: "..."
That damn Liu Qingsong—had he ever said that?
"Oh! Oh!" Though still puzzled, Liu Lijuan hurried off toward the kitchen.
Liu Qingsong then led Little Mochi, the little rascal, and little sister toward the main hall.
Tao Guoqing hesitated for a moment before following behind with the two young men beside him.
Wang Xiaohe frowned. After weighing the pros and cons, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and follow them.
In the main hall, a large bowl of freshly served pickled mustard tuber sat on the Eight-Immortals Table. Wang Xiaohe sneered inwardly at it.
He was about to use the bowl of pickled mustard tuber to make trouble in front of Tao Guoqing when he froze.
.....