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The implication was clear—if Xiang Fu got spanked, it meant Yaya was the favorite.

Then... if Xiang Fu wasn’t beaten, naturally, it meant she wasn’t cherished!

Mao Shi went pale!

Xiang Shan kept quiet, his expression strained.

Whether Mao Shi had beaten Afu or not, he knew perfectly well.

He remembered his own childhood—whenever he caused mischief, it was always his older siblings who got the spanking.

So...

Xiang Shan’s expression darkened slightly as well.

Wei Pozi smirked to herself!

This damn woman, daring to play such tricks in front of her and even dragging my Xingxing into this!

If she didn’t tear off this vile woman’s fake act today, she wouldn’t bear the surname Wei!

Seeing the situation turning against her, Mao Shi gritted her teeth and forced out an explanation: “...Yesterday, I was too worried about Yaya to have the heart to discipline Afu. I’ll go do it now—”

Though she said this, her movements were slow as molasses, and she shot a glance at Xiang Shan, clearly waiting for him to stop her.

But Xiang Shan, having just been prodded by Wei Pozi, was now turning things over in his head and didn’t notice Mao Shi’s silent plea.

Mao Shi was left stuck in a bind—

Wei Pozi watched her with a cocky grin, leisurely adding, “Go easy on her—she’s still a girl, after all.”

—In reality, she was urging, *Hurry up and go beat her already!*

Mao Shi shuffled over to the neighboring room.

Wei Pozi let out a dramatic gasp and slapped her thigh, “Oh no, I’m still worried. What if Ah Shan’s wife is so upset about Yaya that she goes overboard and hurts Afu badly?”

She made a show of muttering to herself, “If she really hits her too hard, I’ll have to step in.”

Then, she made a show of pulling Xiang Shan along. “Ah Shan, you come too. If your wife goes too far, we’ll need to stop her. Afu is still just a girl.”

Given Wei Pozi’s seniority, Xiang Shan dared not resist as she dragged him along.

Xiang Fu’s room was in the little east-facing room.

Xingxing, who had visited Yamei’er’s home before, widened her eyes in surprise. “Isn’t this Yaya’s room?”

Xiang Shan explained, “...Afu has a weak fate—she needs to live where the good energy is strong. Yaya is young, so swapping rooms with her sister isn’t a big deal.”

Wei Pozi scoffed. “Weak fate, huh? Then she ought to stay indoors more, Ah Shan—didn’t you know? Our Nan’tuo Village saw battles years ago, and many died. If Afu goes out and runs into something, what then? ...Oh, maybe Xingxing and Yaya falling into the water was because Afu’s weak fate drew in bad luck, and those two poor kids stumbled into it! Otherwise, how could my Xingxing—the little lucky charm of our village—be so unlucky as to fall in?”

Xiang Shan wasn’t a fool; he heard the resentment in Wei Pozi’s words. He opened his mouth but managed weakly: “...Wasn’t it because Xingxing and Yaya were playing carelessly that they fell in...?”

Wei Pozi let out a cold laugh.

By then, they had reached the eastern room’s door.

Mao Shi had been making a show of yanking Afu off the bed, making a show of preparing to strike her.

But she hadn’t expected Wei Pozi and Xiang Shan to follow her in, with Wei Pozi shouting, "Easy now, easy!" Mao Shi could no longer keep up the act and had to grit her teeth, putting real force behind the slaps she landed on Xiang Fu.

"You were supposed to watch your sister! What were you doing?!"

"Both girls fell into the creek—how could you let that happen?!"

Xiang Fu was stunned. She hadn’t expected her mother to actually hit her. After the initial shock wore off, she was overwhelmed with hurt feelings, and she burst into tears, trying to dodge the blows.

Xiang Shan couldn’t bear it and let out an "Ah," moving to intervene. But Wei Pozi was quick—she grabbed his arm and deliberately twisted his intention: "Enough, enough! Her mother’s punishment is plenty. You’re her father—what if you hit her too hard and hurt her?"

Xiang Shan: "..."

In the commotion, Xiang Fu took a few more hits from Mao Shi.

Wei Pozi was coldly enjoying the spectacle, but Xingxing grew anxious.

She shouted urgently at Mao Shi, "Auntie, stop hitting Sister Afu! She won’t throw the rattan ball into the creek next time!"

Wei Pozi’s sharp ears caught her granddaughter’s words. She pulled Xingxing close. "What was that, sweetheart?"

Xingxing bit her lower lip, glancing worriedly at Xiang Fu.

"Grandma, Sister Afu asked me to help her find pearls in the freshwater mussels. I really tried, but I couldn’t find any. Sister Afu called me a liar, and Yaya stood up for me." Xingxing sighed like a little adult, explaining the matter clearly. "Sister Afu said Yaya didn’t want to be sisters with her anymore, and in a rage, she threw Yaya’s favorite rattan ball into the creek! She said she didn’t want that dumb ball—she wanted a new one!"

"Yaya panicked and tried to get it back—she loved that ball so much, the one Uncle Xiang made for her! She even fell while trying to reach it!... I helped Yaya too, but we were so careless. We weren’t careful and ended up falling into the creek..."

Xingxing was clear-spoken, imitating how they talked as she recounted the events. For such a little girl, speaking so coherently was already remarkable, but she also managed to make it vivid—leaving no room for doubt in anyone’s mind.

By the end, Xingxing looked completely downcast, clearly still shaken by the memory of her and Yamei'er’s falling in.

Wei Pozi was stunned. She had assumed Xiang Fu either just stood there or was too frightened to act.

She never expected this twist!

Fury surged through Wei Pozi.

Xiang Shan felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.

He had always thought both children fell into the water simply because they were playing carelessly by the creek—being naughty and slipping in.

But there was more to it!

Mao Shi, hearing this, panicked and hurriedly said, "...Xingxing, good girls don’t lie. Our Afu never told me any of this!"