As her three older brothers left the room, Tang Yue quickly got up and went to the east room, pressing a ball of spiritual energy the size of an apricot kernel that she had accumulated overnight into Tang Shengkai's forehead. Feeling that Tang Shengkai's breathing had become a little more steady, she then took her short legs and left the room.

"Lin Cuicui, are you crazy? How dare you use a kitchen knife to attack someone!"

Tang Shengli was banging on the door, cursing, when Lin Cuicui opened it and brandished a kitchen knife. Tang Shengli couldn't dodge in time, and his arm was slashed again. This time it was worse than yesterday's cut; cotton stuffing from his cotton-padded coat fell out like broken eggs.

A bloody gash, about the length of a hand, was visible on his arm. Tang Shengli let out a howl and jumped back several steps in fright.

Tang Yue heard her second aunt Li Yuanzi's questioning voice, and upon closer listening, she could hear a tremor in it. Tang Yue's lips curled slightly; this mother was quite brave.

Without saying a word, Lin Cuicui raised the kitchen knife and slashed at Li Yuanzi. Li Yuanzi screamed "Oh my god!" and ran away as fast as she could.

Tang Shengli, clutching his arm, turned back and muttered curses as he ran towards home. His face was as white as a ghost; he was clearly terrified.

A few villagers stood not far away watching the commotion, pointing and whispering.

Lin Cuicui, holding a kitchen knife and with her hands on her hips, said, "Tang Shengli, Li Yuanzi, if you dare to throw any broken pot lid or stinky turd at my son again, I'll take this kitchen knife to your house and chop you up."

Anyway, I'm barefoot and have nothing to fear. It's all the same now, I'm not afraid of anything.

Pointing a cleaver at us, she said, "Trying to bully us widows and orphans? My husband isn't dead yet. We'll just go with him."

Before that, if anyone dares to bully us again, I'll drag them down with me.

Lin Cuicui's shouts were a bit hoarse, but they were still quite intimidating. Tang Shengli, having been slashed, ran home without daring to utter a sound, not daring to even think about seeking compensation.

Tang Bei and Tang Dong clenched their fists as they watched their mother shouting at the gate, tears welling up in their eyes.

Tang Nan jumped up and down excitedly, gesturing and shouting, "Go, Mom! Mom is the best! Mom, when I grow up I want to be as amazing as you!"

Lin Cuicui wiped away her tears, turned around and smiled at Tang Nan, "Yes, Mom will protect me when you grow up."

"Yes, Mom, I definitely will."

Lin Cuicui noticed the thin little figure standing at the door. She handed the kitchen knife to Tang Bei, stepped forward, and squatted down in front of Tang Yue. Before she could speak, her hand was grasped by a small, bony hand.

"Mom, it will all pass."

Lin Cuicui could no longer hold back her tears; her lips trembled, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Yet, she forced a smile and nodded vigorously at her little daughter.

"Yes, Mom, I know."

Tang Yue raised her hand to wipe her mother's tears, but the gesture was too intimate; she had never done it before, and it felt awkward and difficult.

Unexpectedly, her mother took her little hand and gently kissed it, saying, "We have our little Yueyue in our family, and Mommy and Daddy will try our best to live strong lives."

Tang Yue suddenly felt a pang of sadness. It turns out that it's so hard for ordinary people to just live.

Then she wouldn't want to be an ordinary person. Her standards were higher.

Perhaps it was Lin Cuicui's action of wielding a kitchen knife that intimidated Tang Shengjun, because he didn't come over to cause trouble all morning.

Tang Yue spent the whole morning trying to find her second brother to ask him for some information, but the three brothers were busy helping their mother chop firewood and carry water, and she couldn't find a moment to talk to him.

Is anyone there?

The voice arrived before the person.

Lin Cuicui greeted him from the east wing, brushing the dust off her clothes. "Second Uncle, I'm here. Come in quickly."

Tang Yue peered out the window and saw an old man in his fifties carrying a wooden box, followed by a chubby little boy of about seven or eight years old, walking into the yard.

Tang Yue was always curious about the people's clothing here. They wore shirts and pants, which seemed to save on fabric, but they didn't reveal anything. It was just that their clothes weren't as stylish as hers before.

“I went to another village yesterday. The roads were difficult to travel on because of the snow. I just got back. I heard that Tang Nan and Tang Dong went to look for me.”

Tang Nan and the others also came out of the side room. Tang Nan nodded with a grin, "Yes, Second Master."

After saying that, his face showed a hint of anger, "My sister was almost buried alive by my uncle. She's not in good health, and I'm afraid that if she goes out and causes any more trouble, something bad might happen. Also..."

Master Xu waved his hand, "I've heard about it, sigh!"

He shook his head, made no comment on Tang Shengjun's actions, and went straight into the house.

Lin Cuicui followed behind. When Master Xu entered the room, he immediately took Tang Shengkai's pulse. After looking at Tang Shengkai's complexion, Master Xu's face clearly showed surprise.

"What medicine have you given Shengkai these past two days?"

Lin Cuicui was completely confused by the question. She looked down at the children, then shook her head at Xu Erye, "Second Uncle, apart from some millet porridge, we didn't give the third son anything to eat."

I wanted to take him to a big hospital in the provincial capital, but…”

Master Xu nodded. He knew Tang Shengkai's situation and had previously thought that he was just getting through the days and that it would only last a few more.

But when I took his pulse today, he seemed to be breathing much more evenly.

Master Xu was completely puzzled.

Just then, a soft, sweet voice rang out beside Master Xu's feet, "Master Xu, can you help my father?"

Master Xu looked down and saw Tang Yue, a small girl, looking up at him. He sighed inwardly.

“Your father is going to die. My grandfather isn’t a god; he can’t save your father.”

A simple, boyish voice rang in Tang Yue's ears. She turned her head and saw a chubby little boy talking to her earnestly.

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