"yes."

Cheng Wan'er nodded.

Then she cried even more plaintively: "The child is Brother Lin's, can your aunt just watch it lose its father before it's even born?"

Upon hearing this, Bai was clearly troubled: "But how can I help you?"

"Aunt, you just need to ask my cousin to go and plead with the magistrate."

When Cheng Shanshan came out, she saw Cheng Wan'er crying pitifully as she spoke. Without saying a word, she picked up a wooden stick from the room and pretended to start a fight!

"Ah! Aunt!"

Cheng Wan'er immediately hid behind Bai Shi.

Seeing this, Madam Bai quickly stepped in to stop her, saying, "Shanshan, put down that stick. Let's talk this out. Don't frighten Wan'er."

Cheng Shanshan frowned and slammed the stick into the ground before continuing, "Cheng Wan'er, I'm giving you one last chance. Get out of here now!"

Cheng Wan'er hurriedly tugged at Bai Shi's sleeve: "Aunt, save me."

Bai shielded Cheng Wan'er with her body and said seriously, "Shanshan, we are family, let's talk this out. Besides..." She paused before continuing, "Wan'er is pregnant and can't take any fright."

These words stunned Cheng Shanshan.

She wanted to ask what it meant to be a family, and who her family member was.

And she's pregnant, what does that have to do with her?

However, she didn't want to confront Bai Shi directly, so she could only suppress her anger: "Mother, because of this Cheng Wan'er, I almost married Old Man Chu, who is older than my father. Lin Sheng also swindled money from me by pretending to be the county magistrate. Instead of sympathizing with them, why don't you sympathize with your daughter?"

Bai was startled.

They were clearly caught in a dilemma.

Before she could continue speaking, Cheng Shanshan pulled Cheng Wan'er up from the ground, her eyes filled with icy coldness: "Cheng Wan'er, you'd better know your place and get as far away as possible, or I can't guarantee what I might do to you."

"Cousin, I..."

Cheng Wan'er was really frightened.

She didn't know why, but for the first time, she felt the approach of death in Cheng Shanshan's eyes.

So he didn't dare linger any longer and slunk away.

After Cheng Wan'er left, Madam Bai watched her departing figure and couldn't help but sigh.

Cheng Shanshan was extremely helpless about this. She knew that Bai Shi was kind-hearted and easily taken advantage of, but today was the day she had agreed with Huo Mingchen to build the cave, and she had to go up the mountain to take a look.

Now that he couldn't stay with her, he could only give her a few more instructions before leaving the house after she agreed.

When they arrived at the mountain, Huo Mingchen was tidying up the things at the entrance of the cave. His first words to Cheng Shanshan were, "Congratulations."

Cheng Shanshan thought he was referring to the completion of the cave, so she quickly took out the silver she had reserved for Huo Mingchen: "I have to thank Brother Huo for his help. This contains the agreed-upon three hundred taels." As she said this, she coughed lightly, a little embarrassed: "I originally wanted to give you a little more, but now it's almost all gone."

Huo Mingchen didn't even glance at the silver, but stared at Cheng Shanshan: "I said congratulations on gaining your freedom."

Cheng Shanshan smiled faintly: "Brother Huo has been in the mountains all this time, yet he's so well-informed?" As she spoke, she quickly stuffed the silver into Huo Mingchen's hand, then looked into the cave: "I want to go inside and see what's going on."

Huo Mingchen followed closely behind.

Once inside, the cave had changed dramatically.

First of all, there's the lighting. The interplay of light and shadow makes the room exceptionally bright. The three bedrooms, each with a bed and a wardrobe, have a simple wooden door.

Then there's the kitchen and storage area, and even a latrine in the corner that you can use. Huo Mingchen even provided spring water inside so you can flush things out.

After wandering around for a while, Cheng Shanshan was extremely satisfied with the place that Huo Mingchen had built: "Brother Huo, you are amazing."

Huo Mingchen said calmly, "As long as you're satisfied."

"How could I not be satisfied?"

This was much better than she had expected.

With this cave and the supplies she had stored in her space, she could live comfortably for at least the time being.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but look at Huo Mingchen: "Brother Huo, what are your plans next?"

"No."

Huo Mingchen answered very decisively.

He has never been someone who follows a set plan step by step.

After all, plans always fall short of reality, and Cheng Shanshan was the biggest surprise for him.

After considering it carefully, Cheng Shanshan finally said, "If you need anything in the future, you can come here."

"Um?"

Huo Mingchen was puzzled.

However, he didn't press further, nodding and saying, "Okay, thank you in advance." With that, he turned and left.

Cheng Shanshan watched Huo Mingchen's departing figure, feeling a little guilty.

After all, she knew what was going to happen next, but she couldn't say anything because she was really scared.

The human heart is always the most difficult thing to fathom.

She's become timid. Even though she now finds Huo Mingchen trustworthy, she doesn't dare to completely trust him. This realization only came after she was deeply hurt.

...

That night.

As black as ink.

The sky remained filled with stars, showing no sign of an impending storm.

It was precisely because of this situation that everyone in the previous life was caught off guard and killed so many people right from the start.

As Cheng Shanshan packed up her things in the dilapidated house, she said to Bai Shi, "Mother, everything is ready on my side. We'll move there tomorrow night. Pack some important things here, but try not to bring anything else. After all, making a big fuss will attract too much attention and cause unnecessary trouble."

Bai remained silent.

Cheng Shanshan gave a few more instructions.

Bai finally nodded and said a single word: "Okay."

She was clearly distracted, and her unusual behavior made Cheng Shanshan frown unconsciously: "Mother, are you waiting for someone to come over?"

No...no.

Bai waved her hand hurriedly, but her expression was very flustered.

Just as Cheng Shanshan was about to press for more information, Grandma Cheng's voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Shanshan, Grandma has come to see you."

Next was Cheng Xiulan, whose voice was full of disgust: "Oh dear, how can we live in such a dilapidated place? It's drafty everywhere, it looks so cold!"

The arrival of the two men immediately darkened Cheng Shanshan's expression: "What are you doing here?"

"What else could I do but come to pick you up?" Grandma Cheng stepped forward and grabbed Cheng Shanshan's hand, her face full of heartache. "Oh dear, my Shanshan has gotten so thin in just a few days. It's all my fault for making you suffer!"

Cheng Shanshan quickly tried to pull her hand back, but Old Lady Cheng held on tightly.

At the same time, Cheng Xiulan stepped forward and held her down: "Shanshan, Grandmother and Aunt were wrong. Can you forgive us?"