"The journey to Shuxia Village is long. My sister-in-law, please take the children on the bus first. We have some meat pies in the bus for you to eat to stave off hunger. We have also put water in the bus."
"I'll drive ahead. You can rest after you've eaten. We'll have a proper chat when we get to Shuxia Village."
Li Xuming had the group get into the carriage, then drove the old horse along the official road towards Shuxia Village.
After meeting, Li Xuming noticed that the two children were still wary of him. Since it wasn't a good place to say much, he only told Yan that they had arrived in Shaoguan County almost a month earlier than her and were both in Shuxia Village.
Yan Shi, Li Qingyao, and Wang Jiao entered the carriage and, sure enough, saw several meat pies inside.
Yan opened it, took out the contents, and divided them between the two.
“Yao’er, your Uncle Ming’s father and your grandfather were brothers. Back then, his father came from the capital to Nanze to look after the family’s ancestral property. You know all this.”
“Mother, I know. Uncle Ming used to send festival gifts to the capital every year. Although I have never seen him, I remember him.”
“Yes, I almost forgot. Now that’s good, some of our clansmen have also been exiled here. I just saw your Uncle Ming talking to that jailer, so it seems he has already settled down in this Shuxia Village. Mother can finally rest assured.”
As she held the cake, Madam Yan kept saying, "May God bless us. These days, life is tough for orphans and widows. I've seen plenty of that even in the capital, let alone in this poor, remote place."
"Yes, Mother, don't worry, everything will be fine once we get to Shuxia Village."
Wang Jiao was eating a pancake when he heard Li Qingyao's words. He couldn't help but glance at him, wondering if Li Qingyao had really gone mad.
Did seeing a relative really become a lifeline?
He was just a distant relative. Wang Tongji, who had turned to ashes, was his father's biological brother and his own uncle.
Li Qingyao knew perfectly well what Wang Jiao meant by that glance, but now he was at their mercy, and his fate in Shuxia Village was already sealed. If he were to be bullied by his clansmen, he would rather risk his life and perish with them!
If the world truly doesn't want him to live, then let's die together.
Li Qingyao lowered his eyes, his face calm, suppressing all his thoughts and revealing not a trace of them.
The three of them ate the meat pie with great relish before finally dozing off in the carriage.
After driving for an unknown amount of time, the surrounding area became desolate.
Finally arriving at Shuxia Village, Li Xuming pointed to a large expanse of scorched fields by the roadside and proudly boasted:
“Nephew, look! That huge plot of land was cleared by our Li family members. It will be ready to be planted next year.”
"Uncle Ming, why is this land scorched black?"
“Oh, clearing land is not easy. Look over there, it’s all land that can be cleared, but it’s overgrown with weeds and tangled with vines. If we were to pull them out ourselves, it would take too long. Burning them and then turning the soil will save time, and the ashes will also fertilize the land.”
"So that's how it is."
"Then, what if the fire starts burning and continues unabated?"
Li Xuming turned his head in surprise to look at Wang Jiao inside the carriage. The carriage curtain had been lifted long ago so that the group could enjoy the scenery.
“You’re quite perceptive, kid. As long as we dig a wide enough space around the perimeter, the fire won’t spread.”
"That's a clever idea, thank you for clearing up my doubts, Uncle."
"Hehe, no need. This idea was conceived by my mother at home."
Li Xuming was extremely proud.
Li Qingyao's expression shifted; the uncle before him seemed to be a filial son.
The closer they got to their lodgings, the more people there were on the road. Everyone had a blank expression, their eyes fixed on the carriage as it drove past them.
Li Qingyao gradually felt uneasy, and Yan Shi also felt at a loss. Wang Jiao was alright, as he had no expectations of these so-called Li family members to begin with, and immediately sneered.
"Brother Ming, what's this?"
Unable to bear it any longer, Yan asked the question with trembling lips.
Li Xuming had his back to them, his expression unreadable.
"They are all members of our Li family."
The Li family's house is now different from what it used to be, thanks to the renovations by craftsmen.
Although it looks dilapidated on the outside, the inside is well-organized.
Nowadays, tofu is made in his yard, so the yard keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Li Xuming led the three people in from outside and was about to walk inside.
The men and women who had been busily working in the courtyard all stopped what they were doing and stood up silently.
"Brother Ming! This is the young clan leader!"
Li Xujiang from the fifth branch had already stood up, his hair standing on end in anger, his eyes filled with resentment.
Li Xushen from the fourth branch of the family, Li Xuluan from the seventh branch, along with their wives and children, all kept a close eye on Li Qingyao.
"It's him."
Li Xuming stopped in his tracks, turned around, and replied.
"That's good. The main family's misconduct has brought the clan to this state. Today I will ask the young clan leader, has the main family done right by us, the collateral branches!"
Li Xujiang roared in anger.
If it weren't for his aunt protecting him, his wife and youngest daughter would probably have died on the way.
How could we possibly do this to our host family!
Li Xujiang's eyes were filled with tears.
"Young clan leader, has the master family truly treated us well?"
"Young clan leader, has the main family done right by the Li family?"
"Young clan leader, has the family truly lived up to the expectations of the Li family ancestors?"
Faced with this sudden question, Madam Yan was already swaying and pale, but she dared not back down and only protected Li Qingyao in her arms.
"It's not his fault, it's not his fault, you can't blame Yao'er!"
"Blame me if you must."
Madam Yan was heartbroken; why did her child have to suffer so much?
Looking at the mother and child tightly embracing each other, Wang Jiao felt a pang of despair; there was no escaping it after all.
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