Chapter 044

Chapter 044

Entering the house, illuminated by the light, Tong Sui noticed that Xiao Zhen's short brown robe was stained with a lot of blood.

It felt as if they had returned to the small forest where they buried nineteen refugees. Tong Sui forcibly suppressed the urge to vomit.

As the daughter of a hunter, Tong Sui had handled many game animals, but human blood was different from animal blood; no matter how many times she saw it, she could never get used to it.

"It's from those refugees. I wonder if it can be washed clean tomorrow."

Xiao Zhen, observing her reaction, said casually.

Tong Sui was distressed for the fabric and attempted to avoid overthinking. She encouraged him, "Remove it. I'll start by washing... the soiled areas."

Xiao Zhen: "I'll do it. Your delicate arms would take forever to scrub."

Tong Sui: "You've been up half the night already..."

Xiao Zhen: "It doesn't matter for another quarter hour."

He began to undress, and Tong Sui went to fetch the washbasin. Her hand almost touched the edge when she remembered an old basin that Xiao Zhen used before their marriage, which had been left unused behind the back door. Tong Sui quickly retrieved it, rinsed it briefly, and brought it back to help Xiao Zhen scrub the blood-stained robe.

She stood nearby, watching Xiao Zhen squat at the back door with the old basin. He had taken off his undershirt, revealing his muscular upper body. As he clenched his fists to scrub the clothes, his entire arm tensed slightly.

"Pour me some soapnut powder," Xiao Zhen said after checking the washed areas.

Tong Sui hurried to pour it for him.

The smell of the bloodstains intensified when wet, but Xiao Zhen seemed unaffected, his expression calm.

After changing the water three times and thoroughly scrubbing away the blood, Xiao Zhen tossed the clothes into the basin, waiting for A Fu to take them to the river in the morning for a thorough wash.

"You go wait inside. I'm going to take a shower."

Tong Sui nodded.

No need to heat water specifically, Xiao Zhen washed quickly, even using a wrung-out towel to wipe the dust from his hair until it no longer dripped.

When he entered the northern room, fresh and composed, Tong Sui looked more exhausted than someone who had been up all night.

Watching Xiao Zhen lie down, she couldn't help asking, "What exactly happened over there?"

She had only heard Zhang Wengong’s cry for help, mentioning “refugees slaughtering the village.” The conversation between Xiao Zhen and his grandfather in the West Court did not reach the eastern courtyard.

Xiao Zhen first pulled her into his arms before giving a brief account.

Tong Sui couldn’t control her trembling.

Xiao Zhen patted her back. "They’ve all been caught. The officials will handle it tomorrow. Believe that other refugees won’t dare to do such things again."

Tong Sui sympathized with the villagers who died unjustly and worried about her own family. "Taohuagou is smaller than Pine Village. Could it happen there?"

Xiao Zhen: "No, I interrogated a few of them. They killed indiscriminately to gain allegiance with the Prison Dragon Ridge Gang. Prison Dragon Ridge is on the Western Ridge of Longxing Mountain, while Taohuagou is on the Eastern Ridge. They wouldn’t take a detour."

The Longxing Mountain Range was majestic and rugged, spanning hundreds of miles across multiple counties and towns. In this county, the terrain resembled a protruding dragon’s spine, forming the Eastern Ridge where Taohuagou was located and the Western Ridge where the Prison Dragon Ridge Gang resided. Lingshui Village was situated on the southeastern part of the ridge.

Tong Sui had naturally heard of the Prison Dragon Ridge Gang and knew the geographical relationship. The gang had never troubled Lingshui Village, let alone a remote village like Taohuagou.

Thus, Xiao Zhen’s explanation was convincing.

"Go to sleep."

Xiao Zhen kissed her slightly cool forehead, returned to the adjacent bed, and lay next to her, thinking.

—

The next day, before dawn, Tong Sui got up. She needed to prepare breakfast, and with so much on her mind, lying in bed would have been unbearable.

Xiao Zhen opened his eyes briefly, and Tong Sui softly coaxed him, "Sleep a little more. I’ll call you when breakfast is ready."

Xiao Zhen then continued sleeping.

Tong Sui tiptoed out of the eastern room and saw Liu Chu waiting in the courtyard, looking just as unrested—Tong Sui had at least learned the details from Xiao Zhen, but Liu Chu knew nothing.

While fetching firewood from the backyard, Tong Sui quickly recounted the events to Liu Chu.

Liu Chu, pale-faced, said, "Over a hundred people, over a hundred..."

Tong Sui thought of Old Lady Qi, whom she had met just yesterday, and recalled her annoyance when the old lady rudely asked for help. But now, after a single night, that person was gone, making all those emotions meaningless, like smoke dissipating.

Meeting He Shi and Xiao Yuchan in the central courtyard, both looked worse, one with bloodshot eyes and the other with swollen eyes like walnuts.

For the first time, Tong Sui proactively advised them to rest. The pies were prepared yesterday, and heating them up this morning would be easy, as would boiling porridge.

He Shi sighed, setting the table and bowls in the northern hall, then sat down, saying to Tong Sui, "You’ve heard everything, right? If I had known this would happen, I should have agreed readily yesterday. At least she would have had a peaceful half-day. Why did I have to scold her?"

Xiao Yuchan started crying again.

Tong Sui consoled them, "Second Aunt, Yuchan, don’t think about it. No one could have predicted this. After breakfast, are you planning to go see them?"

He Shi: "We have to. The Qi family has only a daughter-in-law and two children left. We need to help them manage the situation."

If their daughter didn’t show up after such a tragedy, they would face harsh criticism from neighbors.

Tong Sui: "Focus on helping them. I and Eldest Sister will take care of things here. You don’t need to worry."

He Shi looked at her second niece-in-law sitting by the stove, her gentle tone finally matching her delicate face. She realized that Tong Sui truly meant what she said—she wouldn’t allow her or her daughter to slack off, nor would she stand idly by when they faced difficulties.

Breakfast was ready, and nine refugees squatted in the backyard eating, while the Xiao family and Zhang Chao sat in the hall.

Xiao Mu said to his two grandsons, "Later, you'll drive the cart to take them over. When you get there, tell Fourth and Fifth to come back and work the fields."

The brothers nodded.

Xiao Mu stared at Xiao Yan, "Listen to your father and Second Brother for anything that happens; don't act on your own."

Xiao Yan glanced at Lin Ningfang at the women's table and muttered sheepishly, "I know, every time before we leave you say this. I'm not a child anymore."

Xiao Mu: "You're worse than a child. Little Chao is more sensible than you."

Xiao Yan glared at Zhang Chao, whom he had coached in martial arts.

Zhang Chao buried his head in his porridge.

After the meal, Xiao Yan went to hitch up the mule cart. Xiao Zhen addressed the nine refugees in the household, "The village massacres outside have nothing to do with you. Just focus on diligently working the fields. If anything happens, our Xiao family will speak up for you, but if you dare harm others, even if you flee to the south, I will hunt you down."

"Second Master, rest assured. We know right from wrong and won't do anything so heartless."

"Yes, even if we were given a hundred guts, we wouldn't dare."

Soon, He Shi, Xiao Yuchan, Qi Yao, Zhang Chao, and Xiao Yan all sat on the mule cart. Xiao Zhen exchanged a glance with Tong Sui, who came out to see them off, then drove the cart away.

Xiao Mu and the nine refugees also took their farming tools and seeds to continue working the fields. A Fu and Ah Zhen carried a pile of clothes to the river.

Now, only Tong Sui, her two sisters-in-law, and eight-year-old Mianmian remained at home.

Tong Sui closed the front gates of the three courtyards and the back gate, then told Mianmian, "Go to the school to practice writing. Don't come out unless necessary."

Mianmian looked worriedly at her mother.

Liu Chu explained gently, "We need to watch the courtyard. If you suddenly run around, we might think a thief has entered."

Mianmian obediently went to the school.

Tong Sui then instructed her two sisters-in-law, "Stay in this main room and try not to separate."

Lin Ningfang asked, "What about the east and west courtyards?"

Tong Sui pointed to the roof, "I'll go up there to keep watch. I can spot anyone approaching from either side."

With that, Tong Sui ran back to the eastern courtyard. When she returned, she was wearing men's clothing, a straw hat she had woven for Xiao Zhen, and carrying a bow and arrows.

Liu Chu and Lin Ningfang were stunned.

Tong Sui pointed to her outfit and explained, "These are old clothes Second Brother found last time to give to my brother. The left sleeve had a hole bitten by bugs, which we discovered while sorting them. Second Brother kept them, and they fit me perfectly."

Lin Ningfang admired, "Second Sister-in-Law standing on the roof looks like a young man from afar."

Tong Sui smiled, reiterated not to separate, and moved the ladder from the back courtyard to the middle courtyard, climbing onto the roof nimbly.

From her vantage point, Tong Sui could see the entire street and the villagers working the fields in the distance.

Suddenly, she paused, looking towards the dirt road in the west where a mule cart was heading west.

On the cart, Xiao Yan lay stiffly on one side, dozing. He Shi and Xiao Yuchan conversed quietly. Qi Yao, only four years old, was still unaware of the events of last night and looked around idly.

Zhang Chao, sitting facing the direction they came, suddenly changed expression and pointed at the roof of the Xiao residence, "Second Master, there's a thief in your house!"

He often followed his uncle to the Xiao residence for martial arts training and knew all the men in the family. The man on the roof was clearly none of them.

Xiao Zhen turned sharply, and Xiao Yan sprang up, recognizing the situation on their roof. Xiao Yan, angry and alarmed, shouted at the intruder, "If you know what's good for you, scram! Wait until I get back and catch you, I'll skin you alive!"

They had just set off, and taking a shortcut through the fields, they were only half a mile from the Xiao residence. Thus, Tong Sui heard Xiao Yan's shouting clearly.

Knowing he had misunderstood, Tong Sui smiled and whistled crisply in response.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan became even more anxious, turning to Xiao Zhen, "Second Brother, they have an accomplice. You should unhitch the mule and go back first, or I can go back!"

Xiao Zhen glanced at him, "That's your Second Sister-in-Law."

Xiao Yan: "..."

He looked again at the roof and finally realized that if it were truly a thief, why would they be so brazen?

He Shi, seeing her son's foolishness, mocked, "Look how worried you are. If your sister and I were in danger, you wouldn't be this concerned."

Xiao Yan, chided by his mother, sat next to Xiao Zhen and complained, "Why is Second Sister-in-Law on the roof dressed like that?"

Xiao Zhen replied, "There are no men at home now, and A Fu and Ah Zhen won't be back from washing clothes for a while. Even if Second Sister-in-Law can guard one courtyard alone, can Elder Sister and Third Sister-in-Law? They'd be scared sick alone in such a large courtyard. With Second Sister-in-Law watching from above, they can feel safe."

Xiao Yan fell silent.

Xiao Yuchan squinted her eyes and interjected, "I noticed Second Sister-in-Law is carrying a bow and arrows. She must be quite vigilant."

Zhang Chao asked, "Does Second Lady know how to shoot arrows?"

Xiao Yuchan: "Yes, she shoots very well."

Xiao Yan, who had never seen it, blurted out, "You don't know anything. Women don't have the strength to draw blood even if they hit the target."

Xiao Yuchan retorted, "I know you! Why don't you challenge Second Sister-in-Law when we get back?"

Xiao Yan: "Fine, let's see who can hit a bullseye from a hundred paces."

The siblings bickered, but Xiao Zhen merely smiled.