"No, I slept through the night at the county office, so I'm not tired at all... Have you already prepared dinner?"

Liu Yingying looked at the simple meal that had just been laid out on the table.

Thinking to myself that Zhao Di was used to hardship, even though she brought back a lot of supplies this time, she couldn't bear to eat them.

"Two vegetables aren't enough! You've all been starving these past few days, you need to eat more!"

He then turned and went into the kitchen, scooped out two bowls of flour, cracked in four eggs, added sugar, and diluted it with water until it was just right.

Zhao Di came in to help tend the fire. Once the pan was hot, Liu Yingying poured in the newly bought oil, then added the eggs and flour, spread them out, and heated both sides evenly... Soon, a large plate of egg and sweet bean pancakes was ready, steaming with a fragrant aroma.

The Jiawang and Jiafu brothers were practically drooling with envy.

Liu Yingying took another bowl and divided it in half, saying, "I have to go check on Grandma Zhang and her grandson. You guys eat first."

Having been kidnapped to the mountain with Zhao Di for so many days, I have no idea what the situation is like for Grandma Zhang and her granddaughter!

She arrived at the Zhang family's door, only to find that there were people inside.

In these times of hardship, everyone is too busy taking care of themselves, and the villagers have long since stopped caring about Grandma Zhang and her grandson.

Who could be inside?

As Liu Yingying walked into the courtyard, she saw Bao'er sitting on the steps, munching on a sesame seed cake.

Fortunately, at least the grandmother and grandson haven't starved to death these past few days.

"Auntie, what brings you here?" Bao'er immediately stood up and ran to her when she saw her. "Auntie, where have you and Sister Zhaodi been these past few days?"

"Auntie and sister went to a market far away, and here they are, bringing you some delicious food."

As she spoke, Liu Yingying took a sweet cake from the bowl and handed it to Abao, then pinched his cheek and asked, "Did you have guests?"

Before Abao could figure out where he had been traveling for so many days, he blurted out, "It was an uncle from the city who came to see Grandma."

Liu Yingying thought that since they had guests, it wouldn't be good for her to go in and disturb them.

At this moment, a middle-aged man came out of the house, looked her over, and immediately asked with a smile.

"Are you Aunt Liu? I'm Grandma Zhang's nephew!"

"Ahem!" Liu Yingying felt awkward being called "Auntie" by a man in his forties, but she still replied, "Yes, I just got back today. I wanted to see if Grandma Zhang's leg was better!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Grandma Zhang's voice came from inside: "Is that Xiao Liu? Come in quickly, let me see her!"

Liu Yingying responded and went inside with the bowl. Once inside, she found rice, flour, and pickled vegetables on the table in Grandma Zhang's room.

Without a doubt, it must have been brought by this middle-aged man.

"Xiao Liu, I heard them say that you and Zhao Di were kidnapped by bandits. How did you get back? Were you hurt?" Grandma Zhang held her hand, sobbing uncontrollably like a family member.

"The government rescued us. Zhao Di and I are both fine, so you don't need to worry. But how is your leg now?"

"Let me see!"

"Everything's ready, don't worry..."

Liu Yingying rolled up Grandma Zhang's trouser leg to check on the recovery. She was relieved to see that the wound had already scabbed over.

Grandma Zhang wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and introduced, "This is my younger brother's son, Li Gensheng. He found out where we lived and has been coming over to help us out these past few days..."

Li Gensheng was also very grateful for Liu Yingying's previous care for his aunt. "Aunt Liu, I've heard my aunt say that if it weren't for you, she and Bao'er would probably have starved to death long ago. I, Li, will remember your kindness. If you ever have any difficulties in the future, you can come to the Li residence in Furong County to find me."

"Aunt, I'll head back now and come visit you again in a couple of days," Li Gensheng said as he took his leave.

"Okay, be careful on your way home!" Grandma Zhang said.

As Liu Yingying watched Li Gensheng leave, she was still pondering in her heart.

The Li family... Could it be that Grandma Zhang's nephew has made a fortune outside and is doing quite well?

But how come I didn't know that Grandma Zhang had relatives on her mother's side?

“I wasn’t originally from Ma’ao Township. I came here with my parents when I was a child. Life was even harder back then than it is now. My parents couldn’t support so many children, so they sold me to a family surnamed Ma as a child bride. But later, that family all died from a strange disease, and I was sold to Old Chen’s family.”

"Our parents have long since passed away, and my younger brother and I have been separated for sixty years. Fortunately, my brother was lucky enough to be sold into a wealthy family and become their steward. After he retired in his old age, my nephew took over his position. My poor brother, even after all these decades, still thinks of me, his older sister, and had his son inquire everywhere. That's how we were finally found a few days ago..."

Grandma Zhang seemed lost in her memories, talking to herself.

Hearing this, Liu Yingying was also quite moved and comforted her, saying, "Fortunately, you now have other relatives besides Bao'er, and things will get better from now on!"

After comforting Grandma Zhang, Liu Yingying got up and went home.

After she came out, she suddenly remembered something.

It seems that her system of punishing evil and promoting good only rewards points when she punishes evil people.

But doing good deeds is useless.

Why is that?

Liu Yingying returned home with these questions in mind, ate a quick meal, and then led the whole family in a thorough cleaning.

The house has been a complete mess these past few days.

Jiawang and Jiafu were young and carefree, so they didn't press her about what she had experienced on the mountain these past few days.

Zhao Di, however, looked worried.

"What's wrong, Zhaodi?" Liu Yingying asked gently.

"Sigh!" Zhao Di sighed, looking listless. "Liu Niang, aren't you worried?"

"What are you worried about?" Liu Yingying asked, puzzled.

"Although we came back alive, we were kidnapped and taken to the mountain. Now the whole village is talking about it, and they're saying things about you... saying things about you..." Zhao Di couldn't finish her sentence.

In this era, people value chastity more than life itself.

She worried that her grandparents would use this as leverage against Liu Niang...

Liu Yingying smiled slightly; she knew what Zhao Di was worried about.

“Zhaodi, people must have the courage to bear the consequences of the path they choose. As you said, although we came back alive, we still have to face those rumors and gossip.”

"Then let me ask you, if you were given the chance to choose again, would you rather die at the hands of bandits, or come back alive to face these baseless rumors?"

“I…” Zhao Di was slightly taken aback.

She had seen Aunt Mi, who was unfaithful to her husband, being dragged to the pond and drowned by her parents-in-law.

I also know of a girl named Xiaohong from the neighboring village who was tricked into losing her virginity by a hoodlum before her marriage. To uphold family honor, her father hanged her with a rope in the middle of the night...

Having lived for more than a decade, the world around her has been teaching her a lesson through its actions.

A woman who has lost her chastity and ruined her reputation is no longer worthy of living!