Aren't the villagers supposed to be simple and kind?

Now it's confirmed that there's at least one mother and one younger brother in the family. One is bedridden, and the other was jilted at marriage. Their lives must have been very difficult while she was away.

“Miss Xiao Lan, people are both good and evil, you don’t need to take it to heart,” Qiao Lian’er said.

"Thank you, Princess. If it weren't for you by my side, I'm afraid I would have been drowned in their spittle."

Xiao Lan was a little worried: "They say I'm going to the capital to climb the social ladder. Was I a vain person before? My mother is like this, yet I'm going to the capital. Will I abandon her heartlessly for wealth?"

“If that’s the case, I’d rather have amnesia for the rest of my life than go back to my old ways.”

Qiao Lian'er said, "The fact that you can think this way means that you were probably not like this before. Kindness or evil is a long-accumulated habit."

He patted the back of her hand: "Trust yourself, there must be more to the story."

Upon reaching the west end of the village, a simple main house with two side rooms came into view. The mud walls and gray tiles did not make it look too shabby. The rest of the area was enclosed to form a courtyard. There was a small enclosure to the south, but no chickens, ducks, or pigs were kept there.

To determine if her judgment was correct, Qiao Lian'er stopped nearby.

The gate was closed, and some pebbles and rotten vegetable leaves fell outside, leaving marks on the gate.

It's obvious that someone deliberately sabotaged it.

Qiao Lian'er frowned. Why couldn't the villagers tolerate this family just because Xiao Lan had a pretty face and wanted to go to the capital to seek wealth and status?

Xiao Lan did as she was told, calling out "Mother" and then "Brother".

Footsteps echoed in the courtyard, and soon the door opened, revealing a young man dressed in a linen top. He was of medium height, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, but still retained a childish air, appearing to be around sixteen or seventeen years old.

Upon seeing Xiao Lan, Ye Liang was very surprised: "Sister, why are you back? Didn't Mother tell you never to come back?"

Xiao Lan didn't know how to answer the question, so she paused for a moment and introduced Qiao Lian'er, who was standing next to Ye Liang.

“This is a friend I made in Beijing. Her surname is Qiao. She came back with me to visit you.”

Ye Liang looked at Qiao Lian'er, and was taken aback by the calm and control she exuded.

She was a beautiful woman with a decisive and ruthless air about her; her demeanor far surpassed her appearance.

"Hello, Miss Qiao, please have a seat in my home."

Ye Liang entered the house, brought two bowls of water, and said to Qiao Lian'er.

"There's no tea at home, young lady, please make do with this to quench your thirst."

Qiao Lian'er took a sip of the mountain spring water, which was very refreshing. It had been a long time since she had felt this kind of native, invigorating feeling.

"Where's Mom? The villagers say she's not doing well lately, so I'm going to go see her," Xiao Lan said.

Ye Liang sighed softly: "Mother is resting in her room. She's had several prescriptions from a folk doctor, but they haven't helped."

"Qiao'er, come in." A faint voice came from the room.

Between the two rooms on the left and right, Xiao Lan couldn't tell where her mother lived, but when she heard the voice, she walked towards the room on the east side.

"Mother, I brought a friend with me. She also cares about your situation."

"Cough cough, don't pass on your illness to the guests."

“Auntie, I’m not afraid, I’m healthy,” Qiao Lian’er said.

The woman inside chuckled softly: "You're so kind, young lady."

Upon entering the room, one sees a woman leaning against the bed, her hair half white, her appearance withered and emaciated, nothing but skin and bones, her original face unrecognizable.