Fang Lan’s heart pounded with fear.
What were these people trying to do?
Her voice trembled as she asked Yang Houzhao,
“Village Chief, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Before Yang Houzhao could answer, his spokesman, Yang Houyao, stepped forward with his injured arm hanging limply at his side.
“What are we doing?”
He raised the useless arm.
“See this arm? Your husband did this.”
“So tell me, how are you going to compensate me?”
“Your husband already said he’d use your family’s food as payment.”
“Now where did all your food go?”
Looking at Yang Houyao’s dangling arm, Fang Lan found it hard to believe that her husband had caused the injury.
She knew her husband well.
He had some fighting skills, but he wasn’t the type to act recklessly.
Something must have happened while she was away.
Her thoughts became a tangled mess.
Suddenly, she shoved through the crowd, trying to break free and return home to find out what had happened.
But how could they let her leave before finding the food?
Yang Houyao’s vicious face loomed in front of her.
“Today, if you don’t hand over that food as compensation, you’re not going anywhere!”
Fang Lan’s eyes blazed with anger.
A storm of rage surged through her chest, yet she had nowhere to vent it.
What made her feel even more powerless was that not a single person around her was willing to help.
Everyone was merely watching the spectacle and gossiping among themselves.
She glared at Yang Houyao.
“Why should I believe a single word you say?”
“I want to see my husband first.”
“How do I know you didn’t break your own arm and decide to blame my family?”
Although she was furious, her mind remained clear.
In fact, the pressure seemed to make her think more rationally.
Yang Houyao shoved her with his good arm.
“Fine!”
“If you don’t believe me, then we’ll go confront your husband.”
“But don’t you dare try to back out afterward!”
The village chief standing nearby immediately shook his head.
His younger brother was an idiot.
Someone had dug a trap for him, and he had practically jumped in by himself.
Stepping forward, Yang Houzhao interrupted,
“Fang, where is your family’s food?”
“If you don’t explain where it went today, we won’t let you leave.”
Yang Houyao instantly realized his mistake.
Furious, he kicked Fang Lan to the ground.
“Damn woman!”
“You almost fooled me!”
“If my elder brother hadn’t been smart enough, I would’ve fallen for it.”
“Now talk!”
“Where’s the food?”
Anxiety consumed Fang Lan.
The kick had sent her crashing onto the snow, and she knew her body would soon be covered in bruises.
Yet she could think of no way out.
These people were determined to seize the food.
Lowering her head, hatred flashed across her eyes.
Then she spoke through clenched teeth.
“I already gave the food to Doctor Lu as payment.”
“My daughter was injured.”
“I had no money.”
“So I paid with food instead.”
Slowly, she lifted her head.
A strange sense of satisfaction surged through her chest.
A fierce smile spread across her face.
“So…”
“You can forget about getting even a single bite from my family.”
“I’d rather throw it all away and feed it to dogs than give any of it to you!”
“If you’ve got the guts, kill me!”
“Come on!”
“Do it!”
By the end, she was shouting from the depths of her lungs.
All the humiliation and frustration she’d endured finally erupted.
The intensity of her outburst stunned everyone present.
Yang Houyao pointed at her while backing away.
“This woman’s gone crazy!”
“She really has!”
Having cast aside all restraint, Fang Lan charged straight into the crowd.
Anyone who tried to stop her got bitten.
For a moment, nobody knew how to deal with her.
It was exactly as the saying went:
The ruthless fear the desperate, and the desperate fear nothing.
In the end, she actually managed to break through and escape.
Meanwhile, Lu Yao had already asked Song Hongsheng to send someone to investigate what was happening in Xiaoyang Village.
Even if she normally stayed out of other people’s affairs, this matter now involved her.
Since Fang Lan had given her family’s food to Lu Yao, willingly or not, she was now connected to the situation.
Song Hongsheng was curious as well.
So he sent a patrol member to gather information.
About thirty minutes later, the man returned and recounted everything that had happened.
After listening, Lu Yao frowned.
She had seen shameless people before.
But she had rarely seen people this shameless and despicable.
Her gaze fell upon Yao Rong, who lay unconscious on the ground.
A trace of pity appeared in her eyes.
Poor child.
Your family has suffered so much because of you.
If you ever learn the truth, will your young heart be able to bear it?
Although she wanted to help, this was ultimately a dispute within Xiaoyang Village.
She had no right to interfere.
Unless…
Her mind began working rapidly.
How could she save this unfortunate family?
Yao Daqiang and his three sons were seriously injured and desperately needed treatment.
At this point, all hope rested on Fang Lan.
If Fang Lan came to her seeking medical help, then Lu Yao would have a legitimate reason to bring the entire family into Songyang Village’s camp.
That would at least offer them temporary protection.
Though worried inside, Lu Yao’s face remained expressionless.
Anyone watching would think she had just heard a story that had nothing to do with her.
Song Hongsheng, however, reacted strongly.
“That village chief is a disgrace!”
“He actually allows his villagers to commit violence like this.”
“No wonder the people of Xiaoyang Village are all rotten.”
“From now on, our village needs to keep its guard up around them.”
Turning to the patrol members, he ordered:
“Spread the word.”
“Starting today, nobody from Xiaoyang Village is allowed near Songyang Village.”
“If they refuse to listen, then blades don’t have eyes.”
“If someone gets hurt, don’t blame us.”
“We’re not as easy to bully as Hunter Yao’s family.”
Lu Yao added quietly,
“Brother Hongsheng, could you make an exception for Hunter Yao’s family?”
This was the first time Song Hongsheng had ever heard Lu Yao speak up on behalf of someone else.
Even without her request, he would have looked after them.
“Don’t worry, Sister-in-law.”
“The Yao family has suffered enough.”
“We won’t make things difficult for them.”
He then instructed the messenger to exclude the Yao family from the restriction.
Fang Lan finally returned to her family’s resting place.
The moment she saw her husband and children, it felt as if the sky had collapsed.
“Children’s father!”
she screamed.
Then her eyes rolled back and she collapsed into the snow.
Yao Daqiang was lying beside their three sons.
In weather this cold, if they weren’t awakened soon, they could easily freeze to death.
Moments earlier, Yao Daqiang had still been worrying about his wife and daughter.
Now he watched Fang Lan collapse before his eyes.
Using all his strength, he crawled over and pinched her philtrum until she regained consciousness.
The events of the last half hour had shaken Fang Lan more than anything else in her entire life.
After waking, she slowly rose from the snow and walked toward her sons.
All light had vanished from her eyes.
Looking at the three boys lying motionless on the ground, her heart shattered.
Pain.
Hatred.
Rage.
All of it churned together inside her chest.
With trembling fingers, she checked each child’s breathing.
When she felt faint signs of life, her heart trembled.
Just half an hour ago they had still been lively and energetic.
What had happened while she was gone?
But now was not the time to investigate.
She needed Doctor Lu immediately.
That was the only thing that mattered.
At last, her chaotic thoughts settled into a single goal.
Ignoring her husband’s calls, Fang Lan staggered back toward Songyang Village in search of Lu Yao.
But before she could get far, the same group from Xiaoyang Village blocked her path once more.
Yang Houyao swaggered forward.
“Well?”
“You’ve seen your husband now.”
“Shouldn’t you be paying my medical expenses?”
When he looked into Fang Lan’s eyes, he felt a chill run down his spine.
The woman before him looked like a lioness on the verge of tearing someone apart.
Unconsciously, he swallowed.
The village chief shoved him aside.
“Useless fool.”
Then Yang Houzhao stepped forward personally.
“Fang.”
“Today you will hand over the food.”
“Otherwise, you’re not leaving Xiaoyang Village.”
“I know exactly where you’re trying to go.”
“But if you don’t pay compensation today…”
“Then you can collect the corpses of your husband and sons.”
Fang Lan remained silent.
Not a single word.
She simply turned around and walked back to Yao Daqiang.
Reaching him, she pulled a long saber from within their bedding.
Years ago, she had insisted on buying the weapon with money earned from selling game.
She worried that Yao Daqiang might encounter danger while hunting in the mountains.
During the refugee journey, however, she had wrapped the blade tightly in cloth and hidden it among their belongings to prevent accidents.
Now she needed that blade to carve a path forward and save her family.
Slowly, Fang Lan drew the saber.
Her face was expressionless.
Then she began walking toward Songyang Village.
With the aura of someone prepared to kill gods if gods blocked her way—and Buddhas if Buddhas stood in her path.