The shouts demanding that Ding Youyi get out grew louder and louder.

Ding Youyi played the coward, hiding in the house and not daring to utter a sound.

Ding Youdao picked up a stone and smashed it against the window. The glass shattered, and cold wind rushed in through the hole.

“Ding Youyi, if you don’t get out here, I’ll burn your house down.”

Knowing he couldn't hide it any longer, Ding Youyi dawdled as he came out.

Ding Youdao swung his fist and punched, and Ding Youyi instinctively blocked it with his arm.

Fourth Uncle couldn't bear to see his son being beaten: "Don't hit him, don't hit him, nephew, let's talk this out, let's talk this out."

Those who were on good terms with Fourth Uncle stepped forward to mediate the fight, while those who came with Ding Youdao naturally sided with Ding Youdao.

The two groups were pulling and tugging at each other, creating complete chaos.

Someone shouted, "Nansheng, are you just going to stand by and watch your dad get bullied? Why aren't you coming over to help?"

Pei Nansheng was the one who caused the scandal, so why would he go up and help? He'd rather they beat them even harder.

"Uncle, it's not appropriate for me, as a junior, to interfere in the affairs of our elders."

Pei Nansheng stood as far away as possible, clearly indicating that he didn't want to get involved.

"You idiot, he's your father."

The man shook his head repeatedly. This kid's brain is rusty. How can he not understand the principle that brothers fight side by side and fathers and sons go to war together?

Pei Nansheng smiled weakly, but refused to move closer.

Ding Youyi, who was in his forties and several decades old and held a high position of power in the Ding family, was enraged by the beating and shouted:

"Stop, stop! If you don't stop, I'll fight back!"

The daughter he had cherished and raised was actually his cousin's, and this was public knowledge. Ding Youdao had lost all face.

Seeing that Ding Youyi still didn't know his mistake, Ding Youdao was furious. He took out a dagger from his body and was about to slash Ding Youyi.

A fight to vent anger is not a big deal, but causing someone to die is not what everyone wants, so they all stepped in to dissuade them.

Zuo Ling hadn't had enough of the excitement yet, how could she stop fighting? One thought kept swirling in her mind: stab, stab, stab…

Ding Youdao, who was separated from the crowd, was somehow pushed in front of Ding Youyi by a great force, and with a thud, the dagger went straight into Ding Youyi's abdomen.

Everyone present seemed to be frozen in place, their eyes wide and mouths agape, unable to stop them in time.

Blood dripped down the dagger, freezing as it fell. Ding Youyi stared in disbelief at the dagger embedded in his abdomen.

Ding Youdao let go, utterly horrified. He had only intended to frighten Ding Youyi to vent his anger, not to kill him. How could this be... how could this be...?

"Murder! Murder! Murder!"

Fourth Uncle's face turned deathly pale, and he pointed at Ding Youdao, saying, "You...you dare...you dare..."

Those with clear heads said, "Go find Xiaoya quickly, go quickly!"

Seeing that things were not going well, one of them left the crowd and ran to find the head of the family, Ding Fengguo.

Pei Nansheng was puzzled. He had been staring intently at Ding Youdao, but how did Ding Youdao manage to break free from so many people and run to Ding Youyi? How did his strength suddenly increase?

Zuo Ling felt dizzy, her lips turned white, and her body felt as if all the energy had been drained. Her heart pounded, and she pressed her hand to her chest, trying her best to appear normal.

My intuition is that Ding Youdao stabbed Ding Youyi because of her, but I can't figure out how she did it. Was it the power of her mind?

Ding Fengguo rushed over upon hearing the news. He had only gone out to run some errands, so how did his granddaughter suddenly become someone else's, and become the talk of the town?

Ding Youyi was moved back into the house, and Ding Xiaoya rushed over with her medicine box, doing everything she could to save him.

The wound was very tight, right on his navel. By the time Ding Xiaoya arrived, Ding Youyi was already barely breathing.

Fourth Uncle stuffed two ginseng slices into his son's mouth to keep him alive, and kept stomping his cane: "How is it? How is it? Little girl, you must save your uncle!"

Zuo Ling felt weak and powerless, lost interest in watching any longer, withdrew from the crowd, and slowly walked back to her dormitory.

Pei Nansheng followed, "What's wrong? Isn't it exciting?"

After his older brother and sister left, Xiao Hao followed them.

Zuo Ling couldn't explain what was wrong with her, and forced a smile:

“I think Ding Youyi’s injuries are pretty bad. When the patriarch comes later, there will be a lot of trouble. If you don’t leave now, do you want to be conscripted?”

Pei Nansheng is the leading figure of the family head's lineage. After such a big incident, Ding Fengguo and Ding Youdao are still counting on Pei Nansheng to keep things in order.

Pei Nansheng thought about it and realized that made sense; it was freezing cold, and he didn't want to be someone who just stood by and cheered.

Back in his dorm, Pei Nansheng found a makeshift stove, cooked some plain noodles, and poured a can of braised pork into the noodles.

The braised pork can was stolen from my cheap dad, and the noodles are easy to explain; who doesn't have some stock?

Even with minimal seasoning and only average-tasting noodles, it's still much tastier than the food in the cafeteria.

At first, Xiao Hao was a little reserved, but after finishing a bowl of noodles, he saw that Zuo Ling was easy to talk to. After being treated coldly for so long, he unconsciously wanted to get closer to her when she showed him a little gentleness.

Zuo Ling really likes children. She patted Xiao Hao's head and gave him a few White Rabbit milk candies.

Xiao Hao felt that his older sister was better than his older brother. Although his brother took good care of him, he was often strict. Unlike Zuo Ling, who always smiled at him with her eyes crinkled.

He was at the age where he was attached to his mother, but he had left her at a young age and was raised in the Ding family where family ties were weak. He had seen too much of the coldness and warmth of human relationships. When someone suddenly treated him with kindness, his eyes reddened with grievance. He tried hard not to cry, lowered his head, and said in a slightly choked voice, "Thank you, sister."

Zuo Ling sighed inwardly, wondering what sins she had committed in her past life to end up with such a worthless father.

Since she came back, her adoptive father hasn't spoken a single word to her, nor has he come to see her or tell her what happened back then, why she grew up in someone else's family, or where her biological mother is—whether she's dead or alive.

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