Pushing Qiu Hua towards the wall, Song Ning pointed to the words and scratches on the wall: "Let's begin."

The things his people do, he will naturally handle.

"When will it be over once these marks on the wall are cleaned up?"

Qiu Hua was in charge of her home, and the other was in charge of the school.

After cleaning the walls, the executions were carried out.

Song Ning has been quite good to them; at least they don't have to suffer anymore.

Qiu Hua had never done such rough work before and didn't know where to start.

"Let's make it clear first, clean it properly. If you damage my wall, you'll have to compensate me with your family's assets. I've heard the Qiu family owns quite a few properties in Tanyang, so this is a good opportunity to contribute to the county."

Qiu Hua, dressed in prison garb, looked utterly disheveled and was a far cry from the young master he once was.

Qiu Hua didn't say a word, picked up his tools, and started working.

These two walls are quite large; it will take some time to carefully remove these words.

Fearing he might slack off and run away, the Song family took turns watching him all day long, except when he was eating or sleeping.

With such great fun, how could those uncles and aunties miss it?

Whenever they have free time, they come to watch Qiu Hua wash the walls outside the Song family compound. The Song family compound has almost become a popular spot for taking photos in Tianxiang County.

Some people even squatted there while eating, holding their bowls.

The news of Qiu Hua had already spread, and the entire Tianxiang County was curious about what the young master of the Qiu family looked like.

Some people watched the spectacle while whispering amongst themselves, causing Qiu Hua's face to turn from black to white.

But gossipers don't care about any of that, since he wanted to harm people.

It was Song Ning who suffered the most.

Those who were close to the Song family would spit on them every time they passed by.

Even outsiders, upon hearing about this, came to join in the fun.

There were also some people from the south who, having probably heard about the Qiu family, spread the story with added embellishments.

We're like the badger in the melon patch; the melons are eaten one crop after another.

This incident became a topic of conversation among people, even more lively than when Tianxiang County first opened its market.

In conclusion, Song Ning achieved his goal.

Those who have evil intentions and harm others should be punished.

......

It's already the end of March, and most households have finished planting their crops. Now they're just waiting to plant cotton in April.

After the crops were planted, Song Ning began secretly watering the fields again.

These lands will become the most important source of income for Tianxiang County in the future, so they must be taken good care of.

As April arrives, the Qingming Festival is just around the corner, and the county is getting busy again.

During the Qingming Festival, people sweep tombs, but most of the people here are from outside, especially those who fled famine. After the previous wars, they don't even know if their ancestral graves are still there.

But people always need something to remember them by. When the county temple was first built, people made memorial tablets with inscriptions on them as a way to worship their ancestors.

Families began folding paper money and making many paper figures and clothes, waiting to burn them at the temple on Qingming Festival for the ancestral tablets enshrined there.

Only the Song family remained unhurried.

Song Dahai's father had passed away long ago, and Li Guixiang was also gone, but neither of them treated Song Dahai well. Not to mention Song Ning, even Song Dahai himself didn't want to burn paper money for them.

However, since they are surnamed Song, even if they don't like it, they still have to show some respect. But Song Dahai also said that they burned paper money not for his parents, but for the ancestors of the Song family.

Not everyone in the Song family is as vicious as Li Guixiang.

Song Rui returned the day before Qingming Festival.

When he returned, he looked noticeably more weathered, and he came back alone, without finding anyone.

"I came back this time to see you all, and also to see my mother."

Song Dahai and Song Xiu'e were the happiest, holding Song Rui's hands with tears in their eyes: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

"Rui'er, come to my place for dinner today, Auntie will cook you something delicious."

Song Ning smiled and said, "It saves us the trouble of running back and forth. Aunt, you're all having dinner here today."

Song Rui and Song Ning were sitting and talking in the courtyard when Song Rui asked, "Er Ya, what is that person outside doing? Why is he wiping the wall?"

Song Ning smiled slightly: "Don't worry about my cousin. He's just someone who made a mistake. The magistrate made him do hard labor for me."

"Cousin, how are you doing out there? Have you got any leads?"

Song Rui shook his head, somewhat disappointed: "No, I left Tianxiang County and headed west all the way to many places, but I didn't find any clues. So this time, I plan to head south."

“I’ve inquired around. Many people who were sold in the north were eventually sold to the south. Maybe there will be clues there.”

Before they fled, Song Sanya did not have a good life in the Song family. She was always hungry and, like Song Ning before her, was malnourished, thin and dark-skinned.

Even if she were sold, those brothels and taverns would probably look down on her, which would be a good thing, at least she could protect herself.

Besides, Song Sanya isn't too stupid; she should be able to protect herself.

"Don't worry, cousin. Sanya is always smart. She'll be fine."

She didn't have a good impression of Song Sanya. The two had met not long after she arrived, and later, the old house wanted to sell her in order to raise money, so she even kidnapped her father.

However, he wasn't exactly a heinous villain. The circumstances in Nanshan Village at the time, coupled with parents like Song Erhai and Zhang Shi, and Li Guixiang's instigation, led to his initial personality.

Having gone through so much, Song Ning has let go of some things.

If they can find her in the future, Song Ning is willing to get along well with her.

The family had a meal together, and Song Rui went to Zhang's grave the next day, Qingming Festival. On the third day, he packed his things to leave.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!