The little girl stared longingly in their direction, looking listless. But as soon as Jian Dan appeared, she immediately perked up and started talking happily.

"Sister, Third Grandfather, Sister is back."

"Oh, really?"

Uncle Liu looked up, then reached back to tuck the quilt around her body.

"Don't move around, it's getting drafty. Hurry up and go inside, cat."

Although they weren't very serious when they left, they were noticeably more relaxed and cheerful when they came back, with a happy expression on their faces.

"All done shopping?"

His expression clearly indicated that everything was going smoothly. He didn't even ask what they had bought, but instead stretched his arms and legs and picked up the whip.

With a quick backhand motion, she shoved the basket onto the cart, causing it to sway slightly. She then jumped up, gripping the cart's edge with one hand, and draped her cotton-padded coat over her shoulders.

"All done shopping, let's go home!"

"Let's go home!" The little girl clapped her hands happily through the quilt.

The large package was placed in the middle of the oxcart. The wind was favorable today, and the return trip would be with the wind. The little girl sat in front of the package, which provided shelter from the wind.

On one side was Uncle Liu, who was driving the cart, and on the other side was Jian Dan, who was wrapped in a thick quilt and couldn't be exposed to any wind.

I took her out for a stroll, and the little girl was in a great mood. She poked her head out and chattered happily.

As soon as we entered the county town, I was worried that the sight of the place might trigger something unpleasant in the child's mind, so after finishing our business at the supply and marketing cooperative, we quickly went to a restaurant, ate, and then rushed the child back home without lingering.

The first time was fine; there was a normal festive atmosphere before the Lunar New Year, though not very strong.

But just now, as I was collecting sacks after leaving the supply and marketing cooperative through the back door, I inadvertently peeked out and saw a group of seven or eight teenagers entering a courtyard. Their faces were full of unrestrained and arrogant smiles, and the screams, pleas, and cries that immediately came from the courtyard, along with the crisp and unrestrained smashing and looting, formed a stark contrast.

Because of her profession in her past life, Jian Dan is not a soft-hearted person.

She had no intention of being a saint or a savior.

There are too many pitiful and miserable people in this world; she can't possibly save them all.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, merely the beginning.

In this chaos, there's no way to save them.

As long as she can ensure her own safety, she doesn't mind taking action, such as against Sheng Zhiyuan.

However, given the current situation, it is clearly not a wise move to step in.

Upon seeing this, the passersby's expressions changed, and they hurried away.

He simply ruffled his hair, lowered his head, gripped his basket tightly, and followed the crowd in a panicked escape. As he passed the gate of that courtyard, he hid behind the crowd and threw out a handful of stones from a distance.

Just as I had hoped, I heard a few screams, and then the group of people hurriedly left. I glanced at them briefly, and my good mood from buying the fatty meat soared even higher.

Looking at the little girl's carefree smile, Jian Dan felt a little fortunate. What would have happened if she hadn't agreed to Sheng Zhiyuan's request that day? Would she still have suffered under Sheng Zhiyuan's influence, just like before?

Thinking about it like that makes me feel really sad.

However, if that were the case, she would still live with her dearest father.

He was very simple and resolute. If he hadn't settled his child properly, Sheng Zhiyuan would rather live a life of mere survival than take any gamble. He would even hesitate more before rebelling.

When the child grows up, I wonder if she will resent her?

"Sister, sister!"

"Huh?" Jian Dan suddenly realized that she had been lost in thought, and the little girl was getting a little anxious.

"Sister, are you sad?"

"...You little kid, what do you know about being sad? I'm thinking about what to make for you when we get back."

The little girl slurped it up, her mouth watering again.

Halfway there, the oxcart was forced to stop.

Blocking the oxcart were two ragged men, or rather, boys, both very young, who were already unconscious.

This year is better; Liu Sanye has seen this kind of situation many times last year. He put down the whip, muttering to himself.

"What a terrible thing!"

He told Jian to watch the child, got out of the car, and put his hand under his nose to test it.

"Thankfully, he's still breathing."

Rural people are honest and straightforward; they certainly can't stand by and watch someone die, especially if the other person is clearly worse off than themselves. They'll all be eager to help.

There was no one else on the road. Liu Sanye called for a long time but couldn't wake them up. He felt that they seemed to have a fever, so he simply picked up the two children and put them on the oxcart. Jian Dan also quickly got off and moved her things to make room for them.

After thinking for a moment, he pulled a tattered quilt from under Jian Xin and draped it over them.

Once again, she was covered up and curled up like a ball. Jian Xin blinked her big eyes and curiously peeked out.

"Third Grandfather, who is this?"

Why are these two people so dirty, and dressed so scantily?

As she looked at it, Jian Xin shivered. Jian Dan quickly tucked her coat in again.

"Are you cold? Did a draft get in?"

"I'm not cold, I'm fine!"

Sister, they're wearing so little, their clothes are all torn, aren't they cold? The blankets have holes too.

"How about we give them this thick blanket?"

She didn't want to discourage her child's good intentions, but she also didn't want her child to learn to be blindly kind; protecting oneself is the bare minimum.

"How many blankets do you have? If you give them all away, what will you use to cover yourself with?"

Jian Xin blinked, looked at the quilt covering her, then at the two unconscious people shivering from the cold, and frowned.

"You can use your extra talent to help others. Otherwise, what if you catch a cold? Your sister will be very worried. You will feel uncomfortable and need to drink ginger water and take bitter medicine."

Oh, right, I caught a cold, so I can't eat anything fancy, only porridge.

The beginning was alright, she only half understood, but the last sentence was the little girl's bottom line: without good food, that wouldn't do, so she immediately gripped the corner of the blanket tightly.

"No, no! I can't catch a cold, I can't get sick!"

"Then think of something. You can't catch a cold, and they need blankets too?"

The old man smiled and said, "I knew it! This young educated youth isn't that cold-blooded. So he's here to teach the children."

Jian Xin looked around, even lifting her own blanket and turning over the blanket under her bottom. She frowned and thought for a long time, but Jian Dan ignored her. It was just a little wind, it wouldn't make any difference.

He pulled his cotton-padded coat tighter and started talking to the old man.

Jian Xin seemed to have figured something out; her eyes lit up, and she tilted her head up to greet her.

"Sister, come here."

"What are you doing?" Simple and cooperatively tilted her body and leaned her head closer.

"Come on, come up here, sit here,"

The little hands were all stretched out, patting the car side panel next to them.

A simple eyebrow raise—does that mean he has an idea?

They didn't refuse, and moved the cart a little further inwards, pressing against the sideboard.

"Speak, what is it?"