PWE – Chapter 106 You Still Won’t Let Her Go

That man was completely flustered.

His eldest sister ran a shop. Many people had bought things from her, and many liked her forthright, straightforward personality.

If his sister came here, she would definitely give him a harsh dressing-down. When that happened, wouldn’t the matter of him abusing their mother be exposed to everyone?

His heartbeat quickened. He pointed at Xiao Wange and said, “You… you little girl. I’m not going to argue with you anymore. I still have things to do—I’m leaving!”

Without waiting for Xiao Wange to respond, he turned around and hurried off.

Seeing his behavior, how could the crowd not understand?

This man was truly laughable. He couldn’t even live up to the word “filial” himself, yet here he was demanding filial piety from others!

Wasn’t this being strict with others and lenient with himself?

The most shameless part was that he had just spoken so grandly about not being able to bear seeing elderly people live such miserable lives, claiming his conscience wouldn’t allow it—yet in reality, he had no conscience at all.

Everyone’s attention was momentarily diverted. They stared at the man’s retreating back, silently cursing him.

Xiao Yongyi was seething with anger.

He had thought that those people’s words would force Xiao Wange to give in, but who would have expected that she could fight back like this!

When had that wretched girl’s tongue become so sharp?

He shot Xiao Wange a fierce glare, then suddenly slapped his thigh and shouted, “You’re spouting nonsense! Utter nonsense! I raised you with so much hardship—since you were little, I never once had the heart to hit you. Yet now, in front of everyone, you accuse me of abusing you. You… how can you make up such lies? How can you slander your own father like this?!”

Xiao Yongyi wanted to squeeze out a few tears—if he cried, his act would seem more convincing.

But he simply couldn’t cry.

He secretly pinched his thigh until it hurt terribly, yet still couldn’t shed a tear.

His words once again drew everyone’s attention back. The crowd looked back and forth between Xiao Yongyi and Xiao Wange.

Xiao Wange let out a cold laugh. Her gaze was icy as she stared at him and said word by word, “Is that so? You never abused me? Don’t you feel even a shred of guilt saying that?!”

“Why would I feel guilty? If I didn’t abuse you, then I didn’t—”

“Xiao Yongyi!”

Before he could finish, an angry voice rang out.

Xiao Yongyi was startled. His breathing tightened involuntarily, and panic surfaced on his face.

The village head and the party secretary of Qinhuai Village arrived, bringing several villagers with them.

As soon as they reached Xiao Yongyi, they began berating him.

The village head scolded, “We heard you’ve been loitering around town these past few days, deliberately dressing in rags. I guessed you were up to no good. And sure enough—you’ve set your sights on scheming against your own daughter!”

Xiao Yongyi: “…”

He opened his mouth to reply, but the party secretary snapped, “Xiao Yongyi, are you even human? You abused Wange when she was little, and now that she’s grown, you still won’t let her go. Are you trying to drive her to death? Aren’t you afraid heaven will strike you down for being such a father?!”

“Xiao Yongyi, you really have no shame. Making trouble in your own village wasn’t enough—you even ran to town to stir up trouble. What are you trying to do? Ruin Wange’s reputation? Heh, what a ‘good’ father you are. If you’re not trying to strip a layer of skin off your daughter, then you’re trying to destroy her good name! Xiao Yongyi, if heaven truly has eyes, I sincerely hope it strikes down trash like you!”

A villager glared at Xiao Yongyi and spoke angrily.

Xiao Yongyi frowned. “Village head, Secretary, I was just—”

“Just what? Just trying to ruin your daughter’s reputation and then strip another layer of skin off her?” the village head cut in, enunciating every word with force. “Xiao Yongyi, I advise you to start acting like a human being. You’re already old—before long you’ll be dead. If you don’t start doing good deeds and accumulating virtue now, aren’t you afraid of going to hell after you die? And with how you’ve treated Wange, how do you plan to face her mother after death?”

By now, the onlookers finally understood everything.

So the old man really had abused that girl. So he had been lying all along!

How could there be such a father in this world? People always say a father’s love is like a mountain—yet this father seemed more like the girl’s mortal enemy.

The crowd began criticizing Xiao Yongyi, saying how wrong he was.

Xiao Yongyi clenched his fingers. Listening to the barrage of accusations, he was furious beyond measure.

That wretched girl Xiao Wange already had a sharp tongue, and now even the village head and party secretary had shown up.

Why were all these people helping her? What benefits had she given them?

After scolding Xiao Yongyi for a while, the onlookers turned to comfort Xiao Wange, and some even apologized to her.

After all, they hadn’t known the truth earlier and had morally pressured her.

Now that everything was clear, they felt they owed her an apology.

Xiao Wange smiled and said it was fine.

Seeing her reaction, everyone praised her for being magnanimous.

Xiao Wange raised an eyebrow inwardly. In truth, she wasn’t that magnanimous. Those who had urged her to support Xiao Yongyi and accused her of wrongdoing—she had quietly remembered every one of them.

In public, she had to appear generous. Otherwise, these people would surely have more to say.

That’s just how society works. If you want to survive in it, sometimes you have to accommodate it—unless you intend to defy heaven and earth and trample everyone underfoot.

“Wange, you’ve had it hard, child. If you run into something like this again, just come back to the village and find us. We’ll stand up for you!”

The village head suddenly looked at Xiao Wange and spoke kindly.

The party secretary added, “That’s right, child. We watched you grow up. You suffered enough when you were young—now that you’re grown, you shouldn’t have to endure that kind of suffering again. If you encounter trouble, you must come to us. We’ll definitely back you up.”

Xiao Wange looked at the two of them.

They must have come all the way from Qinhuai Village specifically for her.

Her brows shifted slightly, and she felt a surge of emotion.

These people were truly good people. All from the same village—so why was Xiao Yongyi so utterly shameless?

If Xiao Yongyi had even half the sense and decency of the village head, she wouldn’t have had to sever ties with him.

Of course, the one who had suffered the most was the original owner of this body.

If Xiao Yongyi had been a good person, the original owner wouldn’t have had to endure so much suffering in the past.

And if not for the protection of the village head and party secretary, she might have suffered even more.

A faint smile appeared on her lips. Xiao Wange quickly thanked them and invited them to eat at a nearby restaurant.

After all, they had come all this way to help her—she should treat them to a meal.

Beside them, Xiao Yongyi clenched his teeth. She would treat others to a meal but not him! That wretched girl was truly hateful!

However, the village head and party secretary declined her offer.

With so many people in their group, treating them would cost a lot of money. Even if she could earn money, she shouldn’t spend it like that.

Besides, they still had work to do back in the village and couldn’t delay in town. So they politely refused.

After declining Xiao Wange’s invitation, the village head took Xiao Yongyi along back to the village.

Xiao Yongyi didn’t want to leave, but the surrounding crowd stared at him.

From their looks, it seemed that if he didn’t go, they might beat him.

Grinding his teeth, he shot Xiao Wange an unwilling glare, then followed the village head and party secretary away.

Xiao Wange glanced at Xiao Yongyi’s retreating figure. After this incident, he should behave himself for a while.

If he truly stayed quiet and stopped causing trouble, then when he grew so old he could no longer move, she would still treat him kindly. After all, no matter what, he was the biological father of the original owner.

But if he dared to stir up trouble again, then she would absolutely not care whether he lived or died!

Slowly withdrawing her gaze, she held Zhaozhao’s hand, planning to take him to buy some snacks—when suddenly, one person in the crowd made her frown.

It was an elderly woman in her fifties. She was dressed decently—not like someone from a wealthy family, but clearly not poor either.

The old woman stared at her without blinking. Xiao Wange could clearly sense the malice coming from her.

She examined the old woman closely. When she noticed certain things about her, the corners of her lips curled, and a cold smile appeared on her face.

So it was that woman’s biological mother. No wonder she harbored such hostility toward her.

It seemed this woman had come to town specifically to look for her. After all, Xiao Wange wasn’t from this town or any nearby village.

Coming here to find her—she was probably trying to avenge her daughter.

A barely perceptible cold smile curved her lips.

Xiao Wange held Zhaozhao’s hand and quickly crossed to the opposite street.

Seeing this, the old woman’s brows twitched, and she hurried after them.

But she didn’t dare follow too closely, afraid of arousing Xiao Wange’s suspicion.

…

After buying some snacks for Zhaozhao, Xiao Wange took him to eat at a nearby restaurant.

Whenever she came to town, she usually took Zhaozhao out to eat once. Although she thought her own cooking was quite good, the food at restaurants felt more flavorful to her, so she preferred eating out.

Zhaozhao seemed to like restaurant food even more—every time they ate out, he could finish an extra bowl of rice.

After entering the restaurant, she skillfully ordered several dishes.

Three meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and a soup.

At that moment, the old woman also entered the restaurant.

She pretended to be there to eat, choosing a table in the corner and sitting down.

When the old woman saw Xiao Wange order three meat dishes, her brows knitted tightly, and her expression immediately darkened.

It seemed this little girl really was quite wealthy. Otherwise, how could she order so many dishes without batting an eye?

Originally, she had only intended to ruin the girl’s reputation—thinking that once her name was sullied, that would be enough. But now, it seemed she needed to change her plan.