But this is not the reason why Bai Jiaojiao should pity him. All Bai Jiaojiao knows is that the woman kicked Shen Heng, who was not even as old as the child in front of her, out of the house, leaving him to live alone in a drafty thatched hut, where he nearly starved to death several times. He had no choice but to associate with the thugs in town and was even forced to stab people to prove his loyalty.

During those years of famine, many people in Shili Village starved to death. But Shen Heng's father was about the same age as Shen Heng, a big and burly man. It was really unexpected that he starved to death, which confirmed the village's saying that Shen Heng was cursed to bring misfortune to his relatives.

However, Bai Jiaojiao didn't believe any of this. There must be something fishy about this. At that time, besides Shen's father, the only adult in the Shen family was Widow Zhou. Bai Jiaojiao didn't dare to delve into the details, and she never mentioned this matter to Shen Heng.

The past has shaped Shen Heng into who he is today. She will live a new life with Shen Heng in the future. As for such old matters, it's better not to mention them. Bai Jiaojiao doesn't want to bother with such distant relatives.

Bai Shihai recognized the man; they were from the same village, and he could even call him by name: "Hui Zi, it's getting dark, hurry home."

"Sister-in-law, I want to eat popcorn."

Shen Hui held his palm up and spread his hand out in front of Bai Jiaojiao.

Children from poor families mature early. This child, who is already this age in the village, is quite sensible. He would never do something like asking others for things. I wonder what kind of upbringing Widow Zhou had.

"Big brother, let's go."

Bai Jiaojiao was too lazy to pay attention to Chen Hui. With Bai Shihai around, she wasn't afraid of this kid's unreasonable behavior.

Bai Shihai knew what was going on, and Bai Jiaojiao's attitude towards Shen Hui was completely understandable, even perfectly normal.

To put it bluntly, any child in the village could come and ask for food, but Shen Hui was too ashamed to ask.

"Go home right now and find your mother!" Bai Shihai frowned and scolded, then grabbed Bai Jiaojiao's arm and led her home.

Shen Hui followed them all the way and even wanted to come inside with them.

Bai Jiaojiao has finished all the popcorn in her hand, but her mother told her that there must be a lot left at Bai Jiaojiao's house.

"Big brother, stop him, what's wrong with this child..." Bai Jiaojiao was extremely annoyed. Not all children are likable.

Bai Shihai grabbed Shen Hui by the back of his collar, preventing Shen Hui from moving forward: "Let go of me! Uncle Hai, let go of me!"

The village's generational hierarchy is very messed up. Shen Hui calls Bai Shihai "uncle" and Bai Shiqing "aunt," but they are not related by blood at all.

"Brother, I won't keep you any longer. You should go home and get some sleep."

"Okay, then. Close the door properly."

Bai Shihai felt unbearable pain in his wrist from Shen Hui's grip, and when he saw Bai Jiaojiao close the door, he quickly let go.

"Sister-in-law!" "Bang bang bang!" "Sister-in-law, my mom told me to come and ask you for some!" "Bang bang bang!" "My brother is so good to your family, what's wrong with giving me some popcorn?!" "Bang bang bang!"

Bai Jiaojiao took a deep breath and went into the bedroom, ignoring what was happening outside the courtyard.

Bai Shihai flexed his wrists: "Knock here if you want. Shen Heng will be back in a bit. Ask him what you want to eat."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Upon hearing Shen Heng's name, Shen Hui trembled, his hand hovering in mid-air, not daring to bring it down.

"Sister-in-law, my brother doesn't like me. Please don't tell him I came to see you!"

Bai Jiaojiao rolled her eyes when she heard Shen Hui shout.

He also knew that Shen Heng disliked him.

"Sister-in-law, my mom said you're different from my brother. My brother is an ingrate and doesn't care about me, but you're from the city and have good manners. Sister-in-law, please give me a bite!"

Shen Hui, like a glutton, relentlessly pursued Shen Heng outside, but his words were harsh, calling Shen Heng an ingrate.

Bai Jiaojiao saw a basin of water used for washing vegetables placed at the kitchen doorway, with a dead insect floating on it.

She picked it up, turned the doorknob, and splashed it out with a "whoosh".

"ah--"

Shen Hui was soaked to the bone and shouted out, but before he could react, Bai Jiaojiao closed the door again.

With a "thud," the bolt was plugged in, and only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.

Shen Hui was so angry that he kicked the door from the outside, but perhaps afraid that Shen Heng would come back, he kicked it twice and then went back inside.

When Shen Heng returned home, he naturally saw the ground in front of his house that was still damp.

Strange: "What happened at our doorstep?"

"The water I spilled."

After thinking for a moment, Bai Jiaojiao told Shen Heng everything about Shen Hui coming to see her.

"I guess Widow Zhou saw that you spent a lot of money to buy my father a wheelchair, and assumed that you made a lot of money through speculation. She got itchy and that's why she urged Shen Hui to come and ask me for food. If I give it to him today, he'll definitely take advantage of me from now on."

Bai Jiaojiao's analysis was thorough. Shen Heng raised an eyebrow, not expecting that Bai Jiaojiao would be so aligned with him: "It is only right to be filial to one's father-in-law. What kind of person is she?"

Shen Heng sat on the kang and said, "My grandfather used to be a gambler. He said he gambled away the family fortune, which is why our family was classified as middle peasants and not labeled as landlords. But he was just pretending. I overheard my father telling Widow Zhou that we had some good stuff buried in our house. If there were even a few gold beans, it would be enough for the mother and son to live on for a lifetime. It belongs to my father, but I don't want to take it. When I was a child, I felt that my father died because of me, and I didn't have the face to ask for it. But now that I'm older, I don't care anymore."

This was the first time Bai Jiaojiao had learned the truth about what happened back then from Shen Heng. She never expected that there were so many secrets within the Shen family.

Shen Heng's grandfather knew more than just Shen's father as a son, and he was certainly not the only one who knew about the family heirloom. The division of the family property must have been explained in the past.

The reason why Widow Zhou did not remarry might be to preserve her status as a member of the Shen family, so that she could openly and legitimately enjoy everything left by Shen's father with Shen Hui. Otherwise, the Shen family uncles would never have allowed Widow Zhou to take a single penny of Shen's father's property.

This makes sense and resolves Bai Jiaojiao's doubts.

If Widow Zhou were truly of noble character or deeply in love with Shen's father, how could she have starved him to death, driven Shen Heng out of the house, and raised Shen Hui to this state?

“We don’t care about those things,” Bai Jiaojiao knew that these old stories wouldn’t lead to anything even if she investigated them. “We’ll live our own lives.”

Bai Jiaojiao hugged Shen Heng, not wanting him to feel sad and lonely because of looking back on the past.

Shen Heng held Bai Jiaojiao's arm and buried his head in her arms.

Bai Jiaojiao knelt on the bed with heartache, hugging Shen Heng's upper body tightly, and buried her head in her chest: "Heng-ge, I'm here for you from now on. I won't let anyone bully you anymore."

Shen Heng took a deep breath of Bai Jiaojiao's fragrance. The scented soap Bai Jiaojiao bought was osmanthus-scented, and she used it to wash herself and smelled wonderful. Shen Heng even dreamed about this scent.