Chapter 25: Chief Hu

"Nan'er—!"

"Brother—!"

Liu Widow and Liu Shengsheng rushed out of the house, throwing themselves over Liu Yunan, who had collapsed to the ground.

Liu Widow, crying in despair, pleaded with Liu Laoda, "Big brother, please show mercy and spare Nan'er! I'm begging you—"

Liu Shengsheng clung tightly to her brother, wailing, "Don't hit my brother! Please don't hit him anymore! I'll do what you want, I'll sell myself! Just don't hurt him!"

In the small Liu family courtyard, the light drizzle seemed to grow heavier, turning into steady raindrops.

—

After dinner, Lin Xiao felt a growing sense of unease. He couldn't shake the feeling that something might be wrong, especially considering Tuzi's sudden breakthrough earlier. Could something have happened?

It wouldn't hurt to go and check. If everything was fine, he could just treat it as a walk to digest his meal.

With that thought, Lin Xiao took the family's only oil-paper umbrella, a relic from when his mother was still alive. Stepping into the light rain, he made his way through the night towards Tuzi's house.

Before long, the light drizzle turned into a steady rain, drops pattering rhythmically against the oiled paper of the umbrella.

As Lin Xiao approached the Liu household, he noticed a group of villagers in raincoats standing outside the courtyard. Upon closer inspection, he realized they were some of the village's respected elders, including the village chief, Du Liushui, known to everyone as Old Master Du.

From inside the Liu courtyard, he could hear the choked sobs of a young girl and Liu Widow's desperate pleas.

"Big brother, in the name of Dashu, I beg you to spare my children and me! You can't sell Sheng'er into slavery!"

The elders outside the courtyard also voiced their concerns, and Village Chief Du spoke up, though his tone was stern and unyielding. "Liu Laoda, Yunan is your late brother's only son. You've beaten him to the brink of death. If anything happens to him, that's a human life on your hands! If the Liu family chief won't intervene, I'll be forced to report this to the township head!"

Though Liu Yunan hadn't lost consciousness entirely, he was hanging on by a thread. He feared that if he closed his eyes, there would be no one left to protect his mother and sister. Despite his severe injuries, he clung to his mother and sister's hands, unwilling to let go.

Inside the courtyard, Liu Laoda, who had been about to drag Liu Shengsheng away with his club, turned to glare at the group of elders who had arrived in response to the commotion. His gaze was filled with disdain.

Just a bunch of old fools clinging to their status, he thought. If it weren't for their positions in the village and the consequences from the Liu family, I'd have knocked them all down by now.

"As his uncle, I'm merely disciplining my disobedient nephew. What's wrong with giving him a beating? Are you saying that I, as his elder, don't have the right to teach him a lesson?"

Hu Deli, the clan chief of the village's prominent Hu family, snorted at Liu Laoda's words. "Liu Dashan, enough with your nonsense! If you don't leave Widow Liu and her children alone tonight, I'll gather the villagers and have you expelled from the village! We won't tolerate such cruelty in Shushui Village!"

Though Hu Deli was the oldest of the village elders, he stood tall and steady despite the heavy rain, his frail figure covered by a large raincoat. He walked into the courtyard and stood protectively in front of Liu Widow and her children.

Liu Laoda, now drenched by the rain, grew more agitated. He clenched the club in his hand and said coldly, "Chief Hu, are you interfering in Liu family matters?"

Hu Deli raised his head and met Liu Laoda's malicious gaze without flinching. "I'm an old man, and I can't stand to see such evil against widows and orphans. Even in my old age, I won't back down from doing what's right. You have two choices: leave Widow Liu and her children alone, or leave Shushui Village."

"Yeah, get out of Shushui Village!"

"We won't stand for someone who beats and sells their own kin!"

At some point, a group of young men had gathered outside the Liu family courtyard. Lin Xiao noticed that most of them were members of the Hu family, there to back up their clan chief.

Faced with the Hu clan's support, Liu Laoda refrained from dragging Liu Shengsheng away but remained standing in the rain.

Seeing Liu Widow and her children still exposed to the downpour, Lin Xiao didn't hesitate any longer. He quickly entered the Liu family courtyard, ignoring Liu Laoda's presence.

He bypassed Liu Laoda, greeted Chief Hu respectfully, and went to Liu Widow and her children. Handing them his umbrella, he said, "Aunt Liu, take Yunan inside to get out of the rain." He then helped Liu Yunan up, guiding him towards the house.

Catching Liu Yunan's gaze, Lin Xiao gave him a reassuring look. Only after seeing Lin Xiao arrive did Liu Yunan allow himself to relax, finally passing out.

Seeing this young man so brazenly ignore him, Liu Laoda was seething with rage.

After settling Liu Yunan inside, Lin Xiao returned to the courtyard. Liu Laoda was visibly fuming with anger.

With a calm smile, Lin Xiao addressed Chief Hu and the other village elders who had gathered. "The rain is getting heavier. Please, take shelter inside while I handle this."

The elders, puzzled by Lin Xiao's calm demeanor, exchanged glances. They weren't sure what the Lin family boy was up to, but the increasing rain and cold made it hard for their old bones to endure. Supporting each other, they entered the Liu family's courtyard, stopping under the eaves of the house to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Liu Widow immediately brought out some small stools for them, and the elders sat down gratefully.

The villagers, watching from inside and outside the courtyard, were surprised that Liu Laoda remained motionless the entire time. He stood there like a statue in the pouring rain, his eyes filled with disbelief and fear.

He couldn't move!

From the moment that young boy had entered the courtyard, Liu Laoda had been unable to move even a single finger.

His eyes locked onto Lin Xiao, filled with a mix of terror and confusion.

Who is this boy? What kind of monster is he? He couldn't even speak!