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Granny Wei came over and gently pulled Xingxing into a hug.

Xingxing whispered in Granny Wei's embrace, "Grandma, today I heard that Uncle Jinnan was adopted too... Xingxing, Xingxing's adopted too."

Granny Wei was startled.

Though Xingxing was young, she understood more than most kids her age.

Xingxing whispered, "Grandma, don’t worry. Xingxing won’t turn out bad like Uncle Jinnan. Grandpa and grandma raised Xingxing, gave Xingxing clothes to wear and food to eat. If it weren’t for grandpa and grandma, there would be no Xingxing... Xingxing will be filial to grandpa and grandma, to Uncle, Auntie, Second Uncle, Second Auntie..."

Xingxing went through all the Yu family members on her fingers.

Granny Wei had initially been getting emotional, but when Xingxing started listing the Yu family members one by one, she had to laugh.

"That's my girl, grandma knows, grandma understands. Our Xingxing, is the best little girl in the world."

Her Xingxing was always like a little sun—obedient, kind, positive, and uplifting.

An ungrateful rat like Li Jinnan didn’t even deserve to have his name mentioned alongside Xingxing’s—it would be an insult to her precious granddaughter!

The next day, before daybreak, Liu Ge'er was already waiting outside the main house.

Yesterday, Xingxing had saved his mother and the baby she's carrying. Liu Ge'er was moved to tears and worried sick.

His Xingxing, so tiny and fragile...

He hadn’t slept well all night and decided to come wait early in the morning.

Granny Wei and Xingxing woke up around the same time. Hearing that Liu Ge'er was waiting outside, Xingxing quickly finished dressing and slid off the heated bed to find him.

"Third Brother!" Xingxing called softly as she ran out.

Seeing Xingxing as lively and spirited as ever, Liu Ge'er finally relaxed, a smile spreading across his face as he swept her up in a hug. "I’m so glad you’re okay, Xingxing!"

Xingxing gave a shy little laugh, then hurriedly asked, "How’s Second Auntie? Is the baby doing well too?"

"Both are doing great!" Liu Ge'er replied cheerfully.

"That’s wonderful!" Xingxing beamed.

Granny Wei stepped out from the back room with a smile.

Seeing her grandchildren so loving toward each other first thing in the morning made her grandma's heart swell.

Normally, it would have been Bai Xiaofeng’s turn to cook, but Li Chunhua, understanding that Bai Xiaofeng was still in her early pregnancy, had taken over the cooking duties recently.

Li Chunhua prepared a large stack of steaming hot pancakes, pickles, and porridge, setting them all on the table.

"Dad, Mom, I’m not going to work today," Yu Erhu growled over breakfast. "I reckon that Li Jinnan will show up again, and I’m going to show him what's what!"

When he had returned last night and learned what had happened to his wife, it scared the life out of him!

If only the Li family’s village weren’t so far from Nantuo Village, he would have gone over there and then to drag that brat out and tanned his hide!

Yu Daniu’s face was like thunder.

This was his wife's family's doing, and it burned him up inside.

"Mom..." Yu Daniu began.

He hesitated, not knowing what to say.

Li Donghua sat at the table, her face anxious.

It was all because of her that her sister-in-law's whole family was unsettled.

Old Man Yu waved his hand: "Let's eat first. After the meal, Fourth Son and I will go to work. Today, Eldest and Second can rest at home. You've been working hard for days—take a break and recover. Tomorrow, Eldest and Second can go to work, and Fourth Son and I will rest at home."

Yu Sanbao had gone to the prefectural city for business and wasn’t home. Old Man Yu’s arrangement was quite reasonable.

No one in the family had any objections.

Li Donghua’s lips trembled slightly as if she wanted to say something, but she didn’t know what to say.

Fortunately, the Yu family didn’t expect her to say anything.

After breakfast, Old Man Yu took Yu Siyang to work at the western estate, while the Yu family boys went together to the village school in the neighboring hamlet.

Yu Daniu, full of strength, chopped firewood silently in a corner of the yard.

By how he swung the axe, it seemed he wasn’t splitting wood but Li Jinnan’s bones.

Yu Erhu, meanwhile, climbed onto the roof with a ladder, using the good weather to fix it.

Under the warm sun, Wei Pozi had Li Chunhua and Su Rouer help wash and air out the family’s quilts. Bai Xiaofeng, being pregnant and after yesterday's scare, was told to rest in her room.

The Yu household bustled with activity.

Xingxing lingered, wanting to go outside.

Ju Ge'er strode over: "Why are you sneaking around?"

Ju Ge'er had recently learned several new idioms from Liu Ge'er and loved using them whenever he could.

Xingxing didn't quite understand, but she still said wistfully, "...I want to visit Yaya’s house. But Grandma said Xingxing just got hurt and shouldn’t go out alone these two days."

Ju Ge'er immediately thumped his chest: "No problem! I’ll take you!"

Xingxing was overjoyed: "Really?"

Ju Ge'er lifted his chin proudly: "Wait here—I’ll ask Grandma!"

Ju Ge'er ran off to inform Wei Pozi.

Granny Wei wasn't completely comfortable. Putting down her sewing, she came out and saw Xingxing waiting eagerly by the gate. She had no choice but to give Xingxing a few more instructions: "...If anyone from the Xiang family bullies you, run straight home with Ju Ge'er, understand?"

Xingxing nodded hard: "Grandma, Xingxing understands."

Wei Pozi then reminded Ju Ge'er to keep an eye on his little sister before letting them go.

As soon as they stepped outside, Xingxing couldn’t help breaking into a run toward the Xiang house.

She had visited Yaya the day before too, and Yaya seemed much better.

Surely today she’d be able to get out of bed!

Ju Ge'er, in his best big-brother voice, called after her: "No, Xingxing! You just got hurt—don't run so fast!"