Yan Qingqing still went with Aunt Wang. As soon as they arrived at Wang Dong's house, they heard a group of people making a commotion.

Some say Wang Dong stole something, others say Li Erdan framed someone, and this is enough to get someone beaten to death.

Li Erdan cursed and shouted, "I'm going to beat you to death today, you little bastard! You even dare to steal from me!"

"I'll send you down there to reunite with your dead father and dead grandfather."

Li Erdan's insults became increasingly outrageous, and Wang Dong finally couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "I didn't steal anything from your family, so you're not allowed to insult my father and grandfather."

Just then, village chief Li Kaishan walked in, and the crowd spontaneously made way for him. Yan Qingqing then noticed that Wang Dong, wearing only thin winter clothes, was lying on the ground after being beaten by Li Erdan, his face covered in blood.

Perhaps due to long-term malnutrition, Wang Dong didn't look like an eleven or twelve-year-old child at all; he looked at most eight or nine years old, and was even thinner than when Yan Qingqing last saw him.

At that moment, Yan Qingqing thought that even if Wang Dong really stole something, it could be forgiven.

Upon seeing Li Kaishan arrive, Li Erdan dared not make a move again and instead said ingratiatingly, "Uncle Village Chief, look at Wang Dong stealing things. He has disgraced our Canghe Village. I have already taught him a lesson."

"Uncle Village Chief, please don't stoop to the level of a mere child."

This Li Erdan is quite clever. Knowing that he had hit someone, he not only falsely accused the other party but also completely denied any responsibility for the assault.

Fortunately, Li Kaishan knew what kind of person Li Erdan was, and glared at him fiercely, saying, "When did Canghe Village ever need you to protect its reputation? Just stop doing a couple of immoral things for me."

Li Erdan is, after all, surnamed Li. Although the village chief resented Li Erdan's character, he would still protect him when something really happened, such as the time when Li Erdan sold pig offal, causing many people to suffer from food poisoning.

Yan Qingqing squatted down and helped Wang Dong up. She then wiped the bloodstains from his face with a handkerchief and said, "Get up, child, the ground is cold."

When Wang Dong saw that it was Yan Qingqing, he seemed even more aggrieved. After calling her "Auntie," tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

Among the many onlookers, although they sympathized with Wang Dong, they also knew that Li Erdan was a ruthless and unscrupulous person, so no one was willing to offend Li Erdan for Wang Dong's sake.

Yan Qingqing also felt sorry for Wang Dong, wiped away his tears and said, "Tell your aunt if you have any grievances."

Aunt Wang chimed in, "Yes, child, don't be afraid. Grandma Wang is here. If you have any grievances, just speak up. I believe the village chief will handle it fairly and justly."

Although Wang Dong and Wang Fugui are not from the same clan, they are among the few families with the surname Wang in the village.

After looking at Yan Qingqing and the other woman, Wang Dong said as if he had made up his mind, "Auntie, I really didn't steal anything from their house."

Upon hearing this, Li Erdan angrily retorted, "You little bastard, you're talking nonsense! You clearly stole our chickens and hid them in your house. You're still lying!"

Wang Dong seemed to have gone all out, sticking out his neck and saying, "Those aren't yours. They're chickens and ducks that your eldest and second eldest sons stole from your aunt's chicken farm. I was planning to deliver them to your aunt's family."

Yan Qingqing was somewhat surprised. These Li Danao and Li Ernao were Li Erdan's two sons. Did they steal them from their own chicken farm?

Upon hearing this, Li Erdan flew into a rage and pointed at Wang Dong, saying, "You little bastard, if you dare to talk nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

He could bully Wang Dong because he was an orphan with no clansmen to back him up, but he wouldn't dare offend Yan Qingqing. Li Erdan understood very well how high Yan Qingqing's status was in Canghe Village and how protective Li Kaishan was of her.

Yan Qingqing was initially a little doubtful, but seeing Li Erdan's expression, she felt even more that Wang Dong was right.

Yan Qingqing's face darkened as she said, "Tell me the details, and if it's true, your aunt will stand up for you."

Wang Dong thought for a moment and said, "Seven days ago, I went to the back mountain, intending to see if I could find something to eat. But I saw Li Erdan's two sons acting suspiciously around my aunt's chicken farm."

My aunt had been kind to me, so I kept a close eye on her. It seemed like the hole they dug from the chicken farm had been repaired from the inside, but then they moved to another place and stole two ducks and three chickens from my aunt's house.

I originally planned to report them to my aunt's house, but I didn't have any evidence, so I thought I'd secretly steal the chickens and ducks and return them to my aunt's house.

When I went to their house, there was only one chicken and one duck left; they had eaten the rest.

Yan Qingqing remembered that when she went there last time, Wei Laosan did seem to be repairing the fence. She was a little puzzled at the time, thinking that the newly repaired netting shouldn't be like this. It turned out that it was deliberately damaged.

Moreover, they raise a large number of chickens and ducks, so it's impossible for Wei Laosan to count them every day.

When Li Erdan heard Wang Dong say that, he wanted to go up and hit him, but Yan Qingqing stopped him.

Yan Qingqing looked at him coldly and said, "What? Your son stole my chickens, and now Wang Dong is a witness. Are you going to kill him to silence him?"

Li Erdan's eyes narrowed as he replied, "You, don't listen to his nonsense. He clearly stole my chickens."

Yan Qingqing sneered and said, "You can find out whose ducks they are just by looking. You don't raise ducks, do you?"

After saying that, he looked at Wang Dong and asked, "Child, where are the remaining chicken and duck?"

Wang Dong wiped away his tears, then limped to the cellar and said, "I was afraid they would find out and take it back, so I hurriedly put it in the cellar."

I'll go down and catch them right now.

Wang Dong had just been severely beaten by Li Erdan and was now having difficulty walking, so how could he be asked to go down and catch chickens and ducks?

At this moment, Li Datou, who was watching the commotion from the side, said, "Since these are my aunt's chickens and ducks, I'll go down."

Wang Wugang then added, "I'll go down with you. It's too dark in the cellar; you won't be able to catch anything yourself."

After saying that, the two went down into the cellar. After a flurry of chickens and ducks, they climbed out of the cellar, one carrying a chicken and the other carrying a duck.

Upon seeing this, everyone started discussing it even more, with most of the criticism directed at Li Erdan.

Seeing that there was nothing else he didn't understand, the village chief stepped forward and kicked Li Erdan hard, cursing, "You shameful wretch! You've disgraced the Li family! We used to think you were a scoundrel, but at least you had some shame. Now you've actually resorted to such petty theft!"

You've spoiled both of your children; what decent family would want to marry their daughter into your family?

Knowing he was in the wrong, Li Erdan remained silent and allowed the village chief to beat and scold him.