Gu Baoshan told the villagers who had been watching to leave.
Zhao Shi, full of resentment, was about to leave with her sons and daughters-in-law when Gu Baoshan stopped her, pointing to Lin Dahu lying on the ground.
“Zhao Shi, take him away.”
Lin Dahu had been lying there for a long time, unconscious and badly hurt. But as long as he was still breathing, Gu Baoshan didn’t intend to bother with him further.
Suppressing her anger, Zhao Shi had her two sons carry the towering Lin Dahu away.
Now, only Gu Baoshan and Su Manman with the children remained.
Gu Baoshan glanced at the collapsed wall.
Although they had forced Zhao Shi to pay fifty taels of silver today, honestly, it would be difficult for a frail woman like Su Manman to actually keep that money.
As village chief, he had helped her recover the silver. If the Su family needed help, he wouldn’t just stand by.
He thought it best for Su Manman to use the silver to repair the house first. That way, the villagers wouldn’t keep staring at her.
“Su Manman, if you want to repair the house, I can arrange for someone to help.”
Su Manman was grateful to Gu Baoshan. After all, he had genuinely helped her, and she knew his offer to fix the house came from good intentions.
But she had no intention of repairing the house.
Her husband was still alive. Why should she sit here like a widow, enduring hardships unnecessarily?
These two children were the male protagonist’s. No matter what, they should be raised by him. She intended to go find him.
Even if she had to demand a separation, she would secure compensation for herself. She had no intention of staying here like Wang Baochuan, waiting for her husband to return.
“Uncle, I won’t repair the house.”
Until now, Su Manman had always addressed Gu Baoshan as Village Chief. But thinking of all his help, she respectfully called him “Uncle.”
Gu Baoshan didn’t mind the change of address but was a little displeased that she refused his suggestion.
“Su Manman, the house is in this state. If you don’t repair it, how do you plan to survive this winter?”
Su Manman said, “Uncle, please don’t be angry. I’m not repairing the house because I plan to take Xiao Man and the two children to live with my maternal uncle.”
She didn’t mention that she was going to find Gu Tianye. Everyone still believed he was dead. If she claimed he was alive, how could she explain it?
Gu Baoshan frowned. He remembered that Su Manman’s parents had fled to Gujia Village as refugees, and no relatives were ever mentioned over the years.
“Uncle, I’m not lying. I do have an uncle, but he’s far away, so I’ve never visited him. But now you see, my children and I are not safe in this village. This was also my father’s dying wish—to let me and my brother take the children to live with our uncle. With family to look after us, my father’s spirit can rest in peace.”
Seeing her earnest expression, Gu Baoshan didn’t doubt her.
After all, there was no reason for her to lie.
“Where is your uncle?”
Su Manman: “Lu Zhou, Da’an County.”
She remembered clearly—the male protagonist’s military camp was in this region. The exact unit didn’t matter; the direction was enough. Once in Da’an County, she could search for him.
Gu Baoshan was shocked. Lu Zhou was so far away—it was on the frontier.
“Do you know how far Lu Zhou is?”
Su Manman: She didn’t know exactly, but she had read about it in the book. From Gujia Village, it would take at least half a month of travel.
“I don’t know exactly, but I can ask along the way.”
Gu Baoshan thought she was crazy. A woman who had never even left the county was planning to take several children to the frontier.
“Su Manman, I understand your wish to find family, but such a long journey won’t be easy.”
Su Manman: “Uncle, I’ve thought it through. After today’s incident with Zhao Shi, staying in the village is unsafe for me and my children. Since that’s the case, it’s better to take a chance.”
Gu Baoshan sighed. “We’re all from the same village. If Zhao Shi goes too far, I won’t ignore it either.”
Su Manman: “Uncle, I can’t always rely on you to protect us. I will write to my uncle and have them meet us halfway. There are too many painful memories here for me—my parents and my husband are gone. I… I want a new environment to live in.”
Seeing the sorrow in her eyes, Gu Baoshan said nothing further.
“You’ve really thought this through?”
Su Manman nodded. “I have.”
Of course she had. Staying would only lead her to the fate in the original novel. When she remembered that the original story had the female lead helping the male lead find the children as the start of their romance, she felt disgusted. That plot was designed to make her a tool and cannon fodder. Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
“All right, I’ll help clear the way for you.”
Su Manman looked at Gu Baoshan gratefully.
“Thank you, Uncle. I will never forget your great kindness.”
Looking at the mother and three children, Gu Baoshan sighed. What a plight—orphans and widows. Su Manman was different from before; hopefully, she could find a way to survive.
“Take care of yourselves.”
Once Gu Baoshan left, Su Manman breathed a sigh of relief.
She turned to see six shining eyes staring at her.
“All right, stop staring and go pack your things.”
Xiao Man still couldn’t believe it. “Sister, are we really leaving? Did Dad really want us to go to our uncle before he died?”
Su Manman glanced at the collapsed hut, thinking that if they didn’t leave, they might not see the next sunrise.
“Go. We must go.”
Xiao Manman, only six years old and completely devoted to her sister, immediately obeyed and started packing.
Da Bao and Xiao Bao helped too.
Watching them work, Su Manman didn’t feel burdened. Poor children learn to manage early. She intended to be in charge now—no one would be their master under her watch.