"Moving?" The two children stared wide-eyed.
Zhao Ping'an subconsciously thought of Zhao Yi and asked, "What if Dad comes back?"
Jiang Bai thought of Zhao Yi, rolled his eyes, and asked, "Do you like your mother more or your father more?"
You know, your dad doesn't even send money back anymore. If you rely on him, you'll probably be eating garbage.
Zhao Xile seemed to have encountered a huge problem. Her brows furrowed, and she counted on her fingers for a long time before finally smiling at Jiang Bai: "I like Mother more."
She vaguely remembered Zhao Yi's appearance, but how could that compare to Jiang Bai, who fed her delicious food every day and could kiss and hug her anytime?
Zhao Ping'an is a big kid now, and he has a universal answer to this kind of formulaic question: "I like them all."
Zhao Xile's eyes widened. She never expected to answer like that. Her brother was too cunning!
Jiang Bai was unaware that Zhao Ping'an had already met Zhao Yi. Upon hearing this, he pinched Zhao Ping'an's cheek and said, "Looks like I've spoiled you for nothing."
Zhao Xile let out another breath. It seemed that her brother's answer had displeased her mother. Her answer was the best; she was her mother's favorite good girl.
Zhao Ping'an snatched his cheek from Jiang Bai's hand, rubbed it with a grimace, and changed the subject: "Mom, why did you suddenly want to move?"
"I think the environment here is terrible," Jiang Bai said seriously after thinking for a moment.
Because Zhao Ping'an once led Xiao Le to steal food from other people's homes, the village children don't like to play with them anymore, and some malicious ones even make up rhymes to curse them.
Zhao Xile is so young, which should be the most lively and active age, but she has no playmates of the same age and just plays with dolls at home every day.
Now, no matter what Jiang Bai and his group do, the villagers will look at it with prejudice. This kind of environment is very detrimental to the children's growth.
Furthermore, given the consumption levels of the surrounding villages, Jiangbai's medicinal cuisine business cannot develop.
Even a hero can be brought down by a penny, a sentiment Jiang Bai has recently come to deeply understand.
Most importantly, Zhao Ping'an is already seven or eight years old. Jiang Bai asked about it when he went to the county town, and he said that he was old enough to attend a private school. If they delay any longer, it will affect the child's future.
Because of her young age, Zhao Xile was able to see the unfriendly attitude of the people around her. Hearing this, she nodded and said, "I also think we should move."
With two votes in favor, exceeding the average, Jiang Bai didn't press Zhao Ping'an for his opinion.
Zhao Pingan asked, "So when are we moving?"
Jiang Bai stroked his chin: "This matter needs to be considered carefully."
Once the move was confirmed, countless problems immediately confronted her:
First, you need to find a place to live in the county town;
Secondly, we need to carefully consider how to inform the Zhao family, especially Zhao Yi, in order to gain their support.
In the end, I didn't have enough money...
Jiang Bai was so worried that he couldn't sleep. He originally thought that Ren Yunzhou had given him a lot, but with this plan, it was all gone in no time.
She stared wide-eyed at the ceiling, pondering ways to make money, when suddenly a noise came from the outer room.
—Someone has come in.
Jiang Bai sat up quietly, put on a coat, and walked barefoot to the door.
It was pitch black outside; every household had turned off their lights and gone to bed. There wasn't even a sound of dogs barking.
In the cool moonlight, Jiang Bai saw a dark figure sneaking towards the room where the medicinal herbs were stored. She quickly put on her shoes and quietly went outside.
In the short few minutes it took Jiang Bai to leave the house, the newcomer had already located the box of medicinal herbs, took out a tinderbox from his chest, and gently rubbed it to produce a wisp of fire.
Jiang Bai shouted loudly, and taking advantage of the moment when the man was startled and stopped moving, he rushed forward and kicked the tinderbox out of his hand.
Upon realizing he had been discovered, the newcomer was initially flustered, but then, seeing that only Jiang Bai had come, he immediately relaxed and reached out to attack Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai ducked to avoid the attack, circled behind him, and delivered a swift chop to the neck, knocking the man unconscious.
Jiang Bai first lit the kerosene lamp with a tinderbox. The light shone on the man's thick body, and she was already fairly certain of his identity.
Next, Jiang Bai reached out and pulled off the mask from the man's face, and sure enough, it was Diao Yi.
The commotion woke Zhao Ping'an up. Rubbing his eyes, he was startled to see an extra person in the house and asked Jiang Bai, "Mother, what should we do?"
Jiang Bai was taking out a bundle of hemp rope and binding him tightly when he heard his son's words. He nodded and said, "Go and call the village chief over first."
Zhao Ping'an swung his arms and ran towards the village chief's house.
She sat quietly next to Diao Yi, her heart pounding.
Fortunately, the rainy season is over now. If it were raining heavily outside, she definitely wouldn't have heard Diao Yi barge in.
The sound of dogs barking gradually came from afar, lights were lit, and people began to chatter.
Fearing that Jiang Bai's safety couldn't be guaranteed if only the village chief was summoned, Zhao Ping'an deliberately made a commotion, waking up half the village.
Aunt Wang was the first to arrive. She ran outside without even putting on her clothes properly, and when she got to Jiang Bai, her hands were still busy buttoning her coat.
After she finished, she noticed a large, unconscious man lying against the wall and exclaimed in surprise, "Diao Yi? What's he doing here in the middle of the night?"
Jiang Bai extinguished the tinder that Diao Yi had brought and stuffed it back into his chest.
“He probably wants to get revenge on me,” Jiang Bai sighed. “He deliberately brought a tinderbox over; I guess he plans to burn all these medicinal herbs.”
Aunt Wang covered her mouth: "What kind of deep-seated hatred is this? The Diao family has committed a grave sin."
Before Jiang Bai could reply, the village chief arrived in a hurry with his men.
Zhao Ping'an ran up to Jiang Bai, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat. Jiang Bai wiped them with his sleeve and whispered, "Go back to your room first."
"I'm not going back." Zhao Ping'an was unwilling; he wanted to stand with Jiang Bai through thick and thin.
“Listen to me,” Jiang Bai said gently, looking at him and whispering in his ear, “Xiao Le is still sleeping in the house. I’m afraid she’ll be scared if so many people come to the house suddenly. Go and keep her company.”
Actually, we were worried that with so many people coming in, some might take advantage of the situation and harm the children.
Zhao Ping'an thought of his worrying younger sister, bit his lip, and hesitated.
Jiang Bai patted his head: "Go on, remember to lock the door."
Zhao Ping'an nodded solemnly, then turned and left.
Jiang Bai took a deep breath, realizing that the tough battle before him was only just beginning.
Her acting skills have improved recently; she doesn't need to force herself, and tears just flow freely.
When the village chief walked up to her, she hunched her shoulders, looking like a frightened quail, her tears reflecting a pitiful glimmer in the lamplight.
She cried and said, "Village chief, you must do us justice!"
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