As Li Nanzheng and Han Mingjiang left the village chief's house, they glared fiercely at the village chief and said...
"Let me tell you, I reserve the right to sue you in court. If you continue to act arrogantly and domineeringly in this village, I will not hesitate to file a complaint against you in court!"
After saying that, they turned and left.
The entire village stood on both sides of the road, watching them walk away with envious eyes.
"Sigh, I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing."
"That old woman from out of town is pretty amazing! I wish I were that amazing."
"But once she leaves, Buffalo Mother is in for a rough time!"
"Who says otherwise? That water buffalo mother was really something, why did she have to provoke the village chief? How is she going to live now!"
"Buffalo's mother must have lost her mind, letting a stranger cause such a big mess here. When he leaves, all the trouble will be borne by their family."
"Sigh, there's no one in our village who can handle the village chief's family."
"How are we supposed to deal with them? This whole family, young and old, men and women, are all reckless and fearless!"
...
The whispers of the villagers still reached Li Lanzhen's ears.
Just as she thought, the buffalo family definitely had to leave; otherwise, if anything happened to them, she would never be able to live with herself for the rest of her life.
Thinking this, she said to Han Mingjiang.
"Second brother, I have an idea."
"Mother, we have to take the water buffalo family with us!"
The mother and son spoke their minds at the same time.
Han Mingjiang simply stated his thoughts directly.
Li Lanzhen smiled and said, "I was just about to tell you about this."
Why did you take the buffalo family away?
Han Mingjiang said, "If I leave their family behind, who knows what kind of suffering they will endure? If anything happens to any of them, I will never feel at peace or have any peace of mind for the rest of my life."
Li Lanzhen asked him, "Is this the only reason?"
Han Minghai chuckled, thinking that his mother was testing him. He smiled and said to his mother...
“Mother, this is what I’m thinking. If we find a waterway from Peach Blossom Spring to Youzhou City, but none of us can swim, while the Water Buffalo family can.”
Most importantly, this family is kind and hardworking.
"Mother, am I right?"
Li Lanzhen nodded, "That's right, you're absolutely right. Let's go back and discuss it with them."
When they returned to the Buffalo's house, the Buffalo was tidying up the yard with Angie and Baoya.
One wall of the courtyard had been collapsed by the villagers, and baskets and tools were scattered all over the ground.
Li Lanzhen looked at the cloth wrapped around Anji's head.
"Angie, does your head hurt a lot? Is it bleeding?"
Angie shook his head, then suddenly closed his eyes and spoke.
"Grandma, it doesn't hurt anymore, I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me."
The buffalo mother came out when she heard their voices and touched the cloth wrapped around Angie's head.
"The bleeding has stopped, and after drinking a bowl of brown sugar water, she insisted on coming out to tidy up the yard."
It's good that you're back. I was so worried.
That family were all fearless and ruthless people.
"Let's eat now that you're back; it's getting late."
Li Lanzhen looked at the sky and indeed, due to the delay, the sun was already hanging behind the western mountains.
The sage pine tree placed a full basin of chicken soup and chicken on the table.
Li Lanzhen said, "The chicken was cooked, so why wasn't it given to Baoya's mother?"
Shuishan smiled sheepishly and said, "Auntie, Baoya's mother drank it, ate a big chicken leg, and drank a bowl of soup. She said she would save it for everyone."
Li Lanzhen thought about it and decided not to blame her since she was leaving that night anyway.
For dinner, we ate wild vegetable mixed noodles and steamed buns.
These cornbreads were drier and harder than the wild vegetable pancakes that Li Lanzhen had brought out.
The water buffalo woman tore off another chicken leg and placed it in Li Lanzhen's bowl.
He tore off another chicken wing and put it in Han Mingjiang's bowl.
I tore off another chicken wing and put it in Bao Ya's bowl.
She wanted to take the chicken breast meat, but Li Lanzhen stopped her.
He gave the chicken leg in his bowl to Baoya, and the chicken wing in Baoya's bowl to Anji.
She broke the hard, dry cornbread into pieces and soaked it in chicken soup.
"Big sister, that's enough, everyone hurry up and eat."
"Big sister, I need to discuss something with you. Let's talk after we finish eating."
Although they ate meat, everyone was still in a heavy mood and no one spoke.
He ate his meal in silence and then cleared away the dishes.
Li Lanzhen took ten large goose eggs out of her basket and handed them to Han Mingjiang.
"Second brother, you take Baoya and Anji and boil these ten goose eggs."
Then she sat down and looked at the buffalo mother and her two sons.
"Big sister, Buffalo and Watercress, we've really offended the village chief today and caused you a lot of trouble."
I could tell that the village chief's family was also unreasonable and domineering.
You'll suffer after we leave.
The water buffalo woman waved her hand and said, "Sister, it's alright. Tomorrow morning, the water buffalo will take you to Youzhou City."
Don't be afraid, I'm here for you.
Li Lanzhen glanced at this strong woman and felt even more determined to take her family away from here.
"Big sister, please listen to me first."
I want to take your family away from here.
After she finished speaking, all three men stared at her, speechless and stunned.
After a while, the water buffalo jumped up happily.
"Auntie, are you really going to take us away from here?!"
"Great! Mother, brother, let's leave here! Let's go!"
The water buffalo woman slapped him, "What are you doing, being so reckless? Sit down and talk."
She looked at Li Lanzhen and said, "Sister, life was already difficult for you when you fled here. Wouldn't it be even more difficult if you brought us with you?"
Besides, if you take us back, won't your village chief complain about you?
If this has caused you any trouble or difficulty, our family would be heartbroken!
Even after all that, Li Lanzhen was still thinking of the water buffalo girl.
He became even more determined to take that family out to live a better life.
"Holding the water buffalo girl's hand," Li Lanzhen said.
"It's alright. Eldest sister, I can still make this decision. I'm asking you now whether you're willing to leave. If you are, I can take you away and let you live a good life. Trust me!"
The water buffalo woman's eyes were filled with tears, and her lips trembled.
"Okay, okay. I believe you, I definitely believe you. Let's leave, I want to leave this place with you!"
Li Lanzhen glanced at the metasequoia tree, and her deep eyes reddened slightly.
He said to Li Lanzhen, "Auntie, I am also willing to leave here with my wife and children."
Seeing that everyone was willing to leave, and that they were sincere, Li Lanzhen was also very happy.
Nodding, he said, "Okay, let's pack our things first, and then we'll leave quietly after dark."
The water buffalo woman said, "Can't we leave tonight? Why not tomorrow morning?"
Li Lanzhen patted her hand, "Big sister, things could get complicated if we wait too long. Let's leave tonight."
Li Lanzhen learned that the village chief's family were vicious and ruthless people who sought revenge.
It's better to leave overnight.
Everyone was happy to have decided to leave, and they worked quickly and efficiently.
"Girl, we need to make some dry food; we'll need to eat on the way."
Lanzhen stopped the water buffalo woman, "No need, elder sister, my son still has half a basket of wild vegetable cakes in his basket, enough for us to eat."
Once we reach Youzhou City, we won't have to worry about food anymore.
The water buffalo mother glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law's room.
"Walking in this pitch black, my eldest daughter-in-law just gave birth."
Shuishan quickly interjected, "Mother, don't worry, I'll go make a carrying pole right away, and then the water buffalo and I will carry my wife away."
"Shuishan, no need to do it. I have a handcart here. Just lay out all the mattresses in the house on it and cover your wife up properly."
The water buffalo woman looked at her and said, "Sister, why don't I see you pulling a cart?"
Li Lanzhen chuckled, and Han Mingjiang quickly came to her mother's rescue.
"Auntie, my mom and I will bring it back in a little while, so you don't need to worry."
Li Lanzhen looked at the water buffalo mother, glancing east and west, unsure where to begin.
He chuckled and said, "Big sister, all you need to bring is bedding, clothes, a pot and a stove."
"We can't take too much with us. Once we get to our village, we can just buy everything again."
Water Buffalo Mother thought about it and realized it made sense. They couldn't take so much with them, and there wasn't much left in the house either, as it had all been flooded.
When it was completely dark, Li Lanzhen made an excuse to go to the toilet and pushed over the handcart she had taken from the village chief's house.
The dawn redwood and water buffalo laid down the dried thatch from their house.
The water buffalo mother quickly spread out all the mattresses in the house.
Shuishan lifted his wife onto the stroller.
Li Lanzhen covered her with a blanket and placed the tightly wrapped baby next to her.
Bao Ya sat at the very back of the cart.
Several people were carrying baskets on their backs.
The water cypress was pulling the cart in front, while the water buffalo and Han Mingjiang were pushing it from behind.
Water Buffalo Mother hurriedly left Shanghe Village carrying Shui Anji on her back.
When they left Shanghe Village and entered a mountain gully.
Suddenly, the water buffalo cried out, "Mother, look at our house!!"
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