PWE – Chapter 27 Worrying about Home

Within five minutes, He Xiaokui had collapsed to the ground from the pain.

She curled up, her face as white as paper.

Then the intense pain vanished suddenly.

She lay there twitching, then propped herself against the wall and slowly climbed to her feet.

The big men standing opposite her glanced at her face and were all taken aback.

One of them said, “Look at her face — how did she suddenly… age several years all at once?”

Another shook his head. “Not just a few years — she looks like she’s aged ten years. To suddenly get ten years older like this… could it be… divine punishment?”

He looked up at the sky as he spoke.

The other thugs trembled. For it to happen in broad daylight, right before their eyes, it really did look like heaven’s punishment. They were frightened — after all, they’d done bad things before; what if the heavens came after them next?

They began to flee the alley, trembling, and as they ran they kept yelling up to the sky, “It was that woman who ordered us to do the kidnapping today — if the heavens want to punish someone, punish her, not us!”

He Xiaokui clenched her brow. Hearing the thugs pin every blame on her, she felt both furious and shocked.

They were so cowardly they’d shift all the responsibility onto her — worthless, spineless scum!

But had she really aged? Ten years at once? How was that possible?!

She happened to have a small round mirror in her bag.

She quickly pulled the little mirror out and looked at her face.

When she saw her reflection, it really did look like she’d aged ten years. Her eyes flew wide and disbelief spread across her face.

She couldn’t help but scream, “Ah! Ah!”

Why was this happening? Why had she aged? Why had she aged so much all at once?

She stared hard at the mirror, desperately hoping she was mistaken. But after checking several times, the face never changed.

She slumped against the wall in despair. She was old — truly old. In this state, would Mu Yuncheng still like her? Would he still keep his promise to marry her?

…

At the Mu residence, Xiao Wange lowered her hand and, smiling, said, “Alright — He Xiaokui’s lifespan has been transferred to Taotao.”

Taotao and Zhao Guixiang were overjoyed at the news.

Daoist Qu suddenly edged toward the door, trying to slip away quietly.

But as soon as he got near the doorway, Xiao Wange looked at him. “There’s still something I need you to do — where do you think you’re going?”

At her words, Daoist Qu immediately fell to his knees.

He kowtowed twice and begged, “Great Immortal, please spare me. I was already old; I don’t have many years left. Please don’t take my lifespan — I beg you, have mercy.”

Xiao Wange approached him and looked down at him from above. “If you’d known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? Given how you tortured Taotao, shouldn’t you at least give him some compensation?”

“I—”

“All right, I’ll take ten years of your lifespan — not more.” Mainly because he only had about ten-odd years left anyway; taking more wouldn’t be possible.

When she finished speaking she raised her hand and made the hand signs.

Daoist Qu tried to get up and run, to resist Xiao Wange’s command. But Xiao Wange sneered and cast a spell that pinned him to the ground.

She said coldly, “Taking ten years is generous. If you keep this up I’ll take all your remaining years!”

Daoist Qu’s pupils shrank; any thought of resisting left him. Besides, he was immobilized and couldn’t struggle.

A few minutes later the spell was complete.

Xiao Wange returned to Taotao and stroked his head. “Now Aunt Xiao has increased your lifespan to sixty years. You have at least sixty years to live.”

She paused, then continued, “If you live a good life and do many good deeds, perhaps heaven will show mercy and give you even more years. So Taotao, you must be kind and do good from now on, understand?”

Taotao hurriedly nodded. “I understand. I’ll do more good things and won’t do anything bad.”

Xiao Wange smiled. “Such a good child.”

Zhao Guixiang was so happy she wanted to kowtow to Xiao Wange, but Xiao Wange stopped her.

Xiao Wange looked at her. “Teach the child well. He’s intelligent — a rare prodigy. If you educate and guide him properly, he could become a pillar of the nation.”

Zhao Guixiang hugged Taotao tightly. “I know. My husband and I will raise him well and make sure he becomes a useful person in society.”

Old Lady Mu and Gong Nianzhen rushed forward.

Old Lady Mu looked at Taotao, hopeful. “Why don’t we, the Mu family, raise the child? We’ll educate him properly and give him the best life and schooling. We’ll give him everything best.”

Taotao was obedient and adorable — and a gifted child. Who wouldn’t want him? Old Lady Mu was excited and could hardly wait to keep him.

Gong Nianzhen eagerly turned to Zhao Guixiang. “Relative, why not let the child stay with our family? You’ve seen our financial situation; if we raise him…”

“No discussion — the child will be raised by me,” Zhao Guixiang said, frowning as she glanced at Old Lady Mu and Gong Nianzhen.

Gong Nianzhen and Old Lady Mu’s faces fell, disappointment and sorrow showing.

Xiao Wange glanced at Taotao, then smiled and said to Zhao Guixiang, “Let the child be with you for a few years. When it’s time for school, the Mu family can take over. The county’s schools are better than the town’s; for the child’s sake you should send him to the county.”

Besides, the Mu family are basically decent people, and Mu Yuncheng’s behavior was an exception. If the Mu family raises him, he won’t be spoiled.

Hearing Xiao Wange, the Mu family all gratefully looked at her.

This woman really was their benefactor!

Zhao Guixiang, hearing what Xiao Wange said, didn’t argue — and she was right: county education was better than the town’s. For the child’s future, she couldn’t keep him confined to the town.

She hesitated, then said to Gong Nianzhen and the others, “Alright, we’ll follow Comrade Xiao’s suggestion.”

Everyone from the Mu family was overjoyed, practically wanting to set off fireworks in celebration.

Xiao Wange then looked at Mu Yunhao, who sat in a wheelchair. She walked over, looked down at him and said, “The reason you can’t stand is because a hidden ‘soul-severing nail’ was driven into your leg. Once that nail is removed, you’ll be able to stand.”

She then used her magic to extract that nail.

Mu Yunhao looked at the young woman before him. She had a cool aura and a beautiful face; she looked serious and solemn while performing the spell, as if handling state affairs.

He had never seen a woman like this before. Her looks and bearing were exceptional — and she could do magic. He had thought such things existed only in myths. Today he saw one with his own eyes.

She opened a door to a new world for him; it made him realize that some things do exist, he had just never seen them.

“Try standing up,” Xiao Wange said after she finished.

Mu Yunhao snapped back to reality and quickly averted his gaze from her, clearing his throat to hide his inner turmoil.

He pushed on the wheelchair’s arms and stood up, expecting weakness in his legs — but to his surprise he rose easily.

He straightened up and looked at his legs in astonishment.

He really was healed — he could stand again. He would no longer be a cripple for life.

Old Lady Mu and Gong Nianzhen were ecstatic.

They rushed to Mu Yunhao and said joyfully, “It’s fixed — your leg is well. Our Mu family has someone to support us again.”

Earlier they had worried about who would run the factory after expelling Mu Yuncheng. Now Mu Yunhao’s leg was healed; someone could manage it again.

Mu Yunhao, excited, looked at Xiao Wange gratefully. “Comrade, thank you. If not for you, I might have been a cripple for life. Thank you for healing my leg and letting me stand again.”

Xiao Wange glanced at him. “No need for thanks. If I could treat your leg, of course I would help. It was an easy thing for me, so you don’t need to be so formal.”

For her it was easy, but for him it was like a lifesaving favor.

From now on, besides his family, this woman would be the most important person to him. Whatever she asked, he would obey.

…

At that moment, in a northwest military unit, a handsome man in uniform pushed open the commander’s office door.

He entered, saluted the commander, and then said, “Commander, I’ve completed the temporary assignments you gave me. About that leave I mentioned last night…”

“I approved your leave,” the commander interrupted hurriedly. “I know you worry about your child and fear the abuse will continue. Go home and check on them right away.”

He looked at the man with curiosity. “After you go home, what will you do? Will you divorce your wife? If you do, who will take care of your child?”

A few days earlier, Zhan Zeyan had received a call, apparently from a neighbor, saying his wife was abusing their child and had left the child in an unrecognizable state. Zhan Zeyan wanted to return, but there was an urgent mission that only he could carry out, so he completed the task first despite his worry.