Recently, because her mother is earning money, Zhang Xiaoya is eating much better than before. With improved nutrition, Xiaoya has become chubby, with big eyes, a small upturned nose, and two little buns. She is especially cute, except that her skin is a bit wheat-colored, just like her mother's.
It's already December, and the villagers nearby have been hibernating for more than two months. They basically only eat two meals a day, getting up around 10 a.m. and going to bed after finishing their second meal around 3 or 4 p.m.
It's a little past two in the afternoon, and wisps of smoke are rising from the chimneys of many houses. Occasionally, children chase and play on the street, their silvery laughter ringing out from time to time.
I don't know whose hen just laid an egg, but it was clucking proudly nonstop. The dog heard it and started barking wildly. It only quieted down after being scolded by its owner.
Xiao Ya and a few friends were playing with a croquet ball, using the colorful roe deer croquet ball that Scarface had made for her.
This is Xiaoya's most prized possession. All the other children in the village take their gall bladders from the hind leg bones of sheep or cows, but Xiaoya's is the only one with fine, hard, and sturdy bone structure, the most perfectly shaped, and the most beautiful.
A little while later, Auntie from next door finished cooking. She lifted the curtain and called out to the children on the kang (heated brick bed) with a smile, "Stop playing! It's time to put the table down and eat!"
As soon as Xiaoya heard that people were going to eat, she immediately packed up her clothes, put on her shoes, and went outside.
Her second aunt urged her to stay, saying, "Little girl, eat at home! What are you going back for?"
Xiao Ya shook her head. "My mom won't let me eat at other people's houses. She says I have to go home when it's time to eat!"
Her second aunt patted her little bun and said affectionately, "Okay, then hurry back and eat, don't wander around, it'll be dark soon!"
"Uh-huh!"
The little girl skipped and hopped out of her second aunt's house.
Once she was out the door, she wanted to go to the deer farm to find her mother, but after tilting her head and thinking for a moment, she realized that there was another pair of sheep pelts at home. Her second aunt's younger sister didn't have one, and she had promised to give her a pair, so she might as well go home and get it now.
She bumped into Zhang Guihe, who had just returned home.
The little girl timidly hid by the door, calling out hesitantly, "Dad, Auntie, Grandma~"
The three of them looked at the little girl with disgust, which made her even more timid.
Zhang Guihe's eyes darted around, then his expression suddenly changed. "Little girl, come to your father!"
The little girl was sucking on her fingers, her eyes glazed over, and she didn't move.
Zhang Guilan said impatiently, "Brother, we're going home first. You can go inside by yourself!"
As he spoke, he told the driver to continue walking home.
Only Zhang Gui and his daughter remained at the door.
"Little girl, come inside with Daddy, Daddy will give you candy!"
————
Li Xiangdong and his group walked back, chatting and laughing along the way.
By the time they arrived at the deer farm, Gao Jialin already knew about Scarface and Wheat's marriage.
The old man hadn't been idle all day, preparing a delicious meal to celebrate Scarface and Wheat's wedding.
When they came back, the food was almost ready. We ate hot pot, which was lively, warm, and convenient!
When everyone started eating, Mai Zi noticed that Xiao Ya was not there.
"Fourth Uncle, where is Xiaoya?"
"Huh? You didn't go with you guys?"
"No! It's already dark, where did the child go!"
Wheat was getting a little anxious.
Scarface comforted her, "He must have gone to someone else's house to play. Don't worry, I'll go look for him."
The group waited and waited, but neither Little Girl nor Scarface returned.
Gao Dacheng was eager to drink, but the groom hadn't arrived, so the banquet couldn't begin!
"Let me go see what's tripping up that scarred guy!"
"I'm going too!"
Deng Xianglin accompanied Gao Dacheng, carrying a flashlight and wearing a fur coat, before heading out.
Li Xiangdong and Gao Jialin, bored while waiting, simply set up a chessboard and started playing Chinese chess.
Zhou Hongsong watched the game with great interest, occasionally offering a few pointers, which prompted Gao Jialin to glare at him and say, "A true gentleman observes the game without speaking; a petty person talks while watching the game!"
Wheat rubbed her belly and paced around the doorway, ready to open it at the slightest sound to see if Scarface and Little Girl had returned.
Time passed by, and just as Li Xiangdong and Gao Jialin drew for the second time, the door was violently pushed open!
"No, this is terrible—"
Gao Dacheng rushed in from outside the door and said loudly.
"Xiao Ya was... was... uh, Zhang Gui and that bastard tied her up. He... he said if you don't divorce Scarface and then... remarry him, he... he'll kill Xiao Ya and then commit suicide..."
Mai Zi immediately clutched her stomach, indicating that something was wrong.
Li Xiangdong gripped Gao Dacheng's shoulder. "How's the situation now?"
Gao Dacheng took a deep breath, "Scarface and Xianglin are in the yard trying to persuade Zhang Guihe..."
"Take a break, and help Sister Mai over slowly. Fifth Brother and I will go check on her first!"
As they spoke, Li Xiangdong and Zhou Hongsong took the guns hanging on the wall and walked outside.
Mai Zi calmed herself down. The little girl couldn't be hurt, and neither could the baby in her belly.
"Brother Dacheng, let's go over there too!"
Zhang Guihe's family.
Scarface and Deng Xianglin were standing in the courtyard, trying to persuade Zhang Guihe not to act impulsively.
Inside the house, Zhang Guihe tied Xiaoya to a small chair, with a pile of firewood in front of him, and a lot of kerosene and liquor sprinkled on the firewood.
Zhang Guihe was holding a box of matches, while the little girl next to him was crying so hard her face was purple and her voice was hoarse.
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