Falling into the mortal world

Lan Qingqing and Feng Caidie, along with Lan Xiaoya, boarded the oxcart back to Pear Blossom Village. The driver was Old Li from the east end of the village.

A village woman on the oxcart recognized Lan Xiaoya and said, "You must be Xiaoya! I heard you're now the Wang family's child bride."

Are you back now to see your parents?

Lan Xiaoya was a little timid and rested her head on Lan Qingqing's arm.

Lan Xiaoya has been abused in the Wang family for a long time, so she is now very timid.

The middle-aged woman on the bus coughed twice, somewhat embarrassed, when Lan Xiaoya ignored her.

Auntie, this girl was taken away by the Wang family. Her parents never agreed to the marriage.

"I was in town today and happened to see this girl, so I brought her back," Lan Qingqing explained on behalf of Lan Xiaoya.

An older woman on the bus said, "This girl is pitiful, but she's been in the Wang family for so long that her body is no longer pure. It's really not right for you to bring her back so rashly."

"This little girl is still a child, and besides, the second son of the Wang family is mentally challenged. These two haven't consummated their marriage, so what could be improper between them?" the aunt in front said indignantly.

The woman disagreed, saying, "So what if we didn't consummate the marriage? A woman's reputation is ruined. Who will come to propose marriage in the future? Don't you understand this?"

Even if I don't say anything, the people in the surrounding villages will find out sooner or later.

Lan Qingqing looked at the woman with icy eyes.

The woman felt somewhat intimidated by being stared at.

Lan Qingqing patted Lan Xiaoya's head, trying to comfort her.

Then he coldly said to the woman: "Watch your mouth, or I can let your daughter experience what it means to lose her reputation."

Feng Caidie looked at the woman and saw that she was plump and had a round face. Behind her sat a little girl of about eleven or twelve years old.

Upon hearing Lan Qingqing's words, the little girl was so frightened that she hid behind the plump and strong woman.

How can you talk like that, girl? I'm asking what this girl has to do with you.

Although the woman was frightened by Lan Qingqing's gaze a moment ago, she felt she would lose face if she didn't say something.

What my relationship is with that girl is none of your business. And if you don't take my words seriously, you can try.

Lan Qingqing's eyes were icy cold. If looks could kill, this woman would have died a thousand times over.

The woman was completely terrified by Lan Qingqing's gaze and dared not utter another word.

The others on the oxcart were also intimidated by Lan Qingqing's aura.

"How can a woman have such a powerful aura?" the man sitting beside the oxcart wondered to himself.

Upon arriving at the Lan family's residence, Feng Caidie stepped forward and knocked on the courtyard gate.

It was Lan's mother who opened the door. Seeing her daughter standing with Lan Qingqing, she paused for a moment, then reacted, her hands trembling as she stepped forward and took Lan Xiaoya's hand, saying, "Xiaoya, is this my Xiaoya?"

Lan Xiaoya nodded with tears in her eyes, "Mom, it's me, Xiaoya. I'm sorry to have worried you."

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." She said, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Auntie, are you home alone today?" Lan Qingqing asked curiously.

"I'm so sorry you had to see this," said Mother Lan, quickly wiping away her tears. She and her sons had gone to town to buy grain before dawn that day.

Miss Qingqing quickly went inside and sat down. Mother Lan invited the two of them inside.

Lan's mother brought Lan Qingqing a bowl of tea. Lan Qingqing took a sip and found it was chrysanthemum tea, the taste of which she remembered.

"Girl, this is what your aunt prepared for you. I hope you won't find it offensive," said Lan's mother, taking out a package wrapped in oil paper from the basket.

Lan Qingqing asked with some curiosity: Auntie, what is this?

"These are wild chrysanthemums. I saw you like chrysanthemums, so I packed some for you," said Mother Lan.

"Thank you, Auntie. I really like it," Lan Qingqing said gratefully.

"I wonder why my girl came back with the young lady," Lan's mother asked.

Lan Qingqing recounted the whole story to her mother. As her mother listened, she broke out in a cold sweat.

Young lady, you should leave quickly! We can't let your family's situation cause you harm.

"If anyone investigates, just say it was me, an old woman, who did it. You've done so much for our family, we can't let you be implicated again, young lady," said Mother Lan anxiously.

Auntie, don't worry, they won't be able to find me. My only fear now is that that family will come back to find Lan Xiaoya.

Now that their family members are injured or disabled, they will definitely want to go back to Lan Xiaoya to take care of that whole family.

Lan Qingqing originally intended to kill that family, but then she realized that although they were bad, their crimes did not warrant death.

Lan's mother said: If they dare to come and demand my people, I will fight them to the death.

The old house wasn't enough that it had harmed one of my daughters; now they wanted to harm my other daughter too. Mother Lan said through gritted teeth.

Lan Qingqing could only pretend not to understand.

Just then, voices came from inside the courtyard; it was the father and his two sons speaking.

As soon as the father and his two sons entered the house, they saw Lan Qingqing and their youngest daughter at home. The father hurriedly went up to ask what was going on.

On his way back from town, he met people from the neighboring Wangjia Village who said that Wangjia Erbao had gone mad and injured his family members.

Wang Dabao and Wang Shan were both injured in their meridians and will be bedridden for the rest of their lives.

Upon hearing the news, I rushed home, thinking I would go to Wangjia Village to pick up the person later.

"I didn't expect my daughter to be home," Mr. Lan said with relief.

Lan Xiaoyu stepped forward and hugged Lan Xiaoya's arm, saying pitifully, "Sister, where did you go? I missed you so much."

Lan Xiaoya gasped in pain. She patted Lan Xiaoyu's head and said, "I missed you too."

Lan Xiaoya looked at Lan Xiaotian and asked incredulously, "You are Xiaotian?"

"It's me, little sister. Thank you for all these years of hard work," Lan Xiaotian said gratefully.

Upon hearing the affirmative answer, Lan Xiaoya burst into tears as if they were free.

She thought her second brother would never come back. Back then, she knew that her second brother had sold himself for ten taels of silver.

She asked her second brother where he was going. He left without saying a word.

Lan Xiaoyu shook Lan Xiaoya's arm and said, "Sister, don't cry. I'll give you something delicious to eat."

As she spoke, she ran into the inner room with her short legs, and came out holding a piece of pastry in her hand, which Lan Qingqing had bought when she came the day before.

Xiaoyu held up the pastry in her hand and brought it to Lan Xiaoya's lips, saying, "Don't cry, sister, this is for you."

Lan Xiaoya took the pastries from Lan Xiaoyu's hands.

She wiped away her tears. Now that her brother was back, no one would dare to bully them anymore.

The family sat down, and Lan Xiaotian told Lan Xiaoya again how he met Lan Qingqing.

Lan Xiaoya sincerely thanked Lan Qingqing after everyone heard that the Wang family's affairs were related to Lan Qingqing. Lan's father also said that if the Wang family found out something was wrong and investigated, they should say that it was his old man who did it.

Girl, what you've done for us is something we could never repay in several lifetimes.

You must not let this matter implicate the girl.

Lan Qingqing said: Their family won't find out about this. Just be careful that the Wang family doesn't come looking for people. After all, the Wang family needs people to serve that family right now.

And what about Wang Dabao? Wasn't he working at the county government office? Now that he's paralyzed, he naturally can't speak up anymore.

This Wang Dabao has done countless despicable things. He deserves his current fate.