PWE – Chapter 78 Appeasement

“I’m heading out. If anything happens, you can go to the village chief or the party secretary. I’ve already spoken to them. If you run into trouble you can’t handle, go find them.”

Zhan Zeyán put down his bowl and chopsticks, turned around, and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

Xiao Wange nodded. “Mm.”

She looked at him deeply. “Be careful out there.”

Thinking of how exhausted he’d looked earlier, she truly didn’t feel at ease letting him go.

But this was his duty—he had to return to his unit as soon as possible.

Since he had chosen to be a soldier, he had to shoulder a soldier’s responsibility.

“I’ll be careful,” he said with a nod. Then a reluctant expression flashed across his face. “Once the mission is done, I’ll come back as soon as I can. You and the child… take good care of yourselves.”

Before she could reply, he turned and stepped over the threshold.

He didn’t dare say anything more—if he kept talking, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to walk away.

He switched on the flashlight in his hand. In the early dawn, a little after five, that beam of light looked especially lonely.

Xiao Wange walked to the doorway. She watched him quickly leave the courtyard and disappear from sight. Her brows tightened, and a sudden ache rose in her chest.

She really didn’t want to let him go. Especially after last night—after being so close. Letting him leave now felt like… sending him off to the battlefield.

And the mission he was going on was practically like going to war.

Even though he had powers, and even though she had drawn a safety talisman for him, maybe because they’d been intimate, she couldn’t help worrying.

She stood there for a while, then finally pulled her gaze back, closed the door, and returned to Zhao Zhao’s room.

All she could do now was wait—wait for time to pass, wait for him… to come home again.

…

In the afternoon, Xiao Wange took Zhao Zhao to the vegetable patch to pick vegetables.

Wherever she went now, she brought him along. She was terrified to leave him even one step behind—scared that something might happen to him.

While they were picking vegetables, a woman approached.

The woman carried a basket; she must also be out picking vegetables.

When she got close, she said, “Zeyan’s wife, picking vegetables?”

Xiao Wange straightened up, smiled politely, and said, “Yes, Auntie Lu. You’re picking vegetables too?”

This Auntie Lu had a good relationship with Auntie Zhao Lijuan. Yesterday, she’d even helped scold Wu Yueying and the others.

Lu Shufang smiled. “Yes, we ran out of vegetables at home.”

She paused, then continued before Wange could answer, “Zeyan’s wife, I went back to my mother’s place this morning. You know my family’s from the same village as your parents. When I went back, I ran into your dad. He told me to tell you to come home tomorrow—says he has something to talk to you about. But, Wange… knowing your dad, it’s probably nothing good. Honestly… you don’t need to go.”

She hadn’t wanted to pass on the message at all, but since their families got along okay, she couldn’t justify keeping it from her.

“Is that so? My dad wants me to go back?” Xiao Wange’s lips curled slightly—her faint smile tinged with sarcasm.

She put the vegetables into her basket and said, “Thank you, Auntie Lu. I understand.”

“Oh, what’s there to thank? You’re such a polite child. But Wange, really, you don’t have to go. Your dad must want to scold you because of what happened yesterday. Your stepmother definitely badmouthed you to him.”

Lu Shufang spoke quickly, afraid Wange would go and be bullied again.

Wange felt genuinely grateful for Lu Shufang’s kindness.

She gave her another small smile. “I understand, Auntie. I won’t go back lightly.”

“That’s good then.” With that, Lu Shufang walked toward a patch of cabbages. “I’ll go pick vegetables over there.”

“Alright, Auntie. Go ahead.”

After she left, Zhao Zhao looked up at Wange. “Mom, Grandpa wants you to go home?”

Wange took the vegetables from his hands and smiled. “Yes. He probably wants our money again—wants me to bring some back.”

Zhao Zhao pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and said quietly, “But Mom… I don’t want to give Grandpa our money. Even though he’s an elder, and even though we should show respect… I just don’t want to give him any.”

He didn’t think Grandpa was a good person. His grandma had come with people to bully Mom, and Grandpa never stepped in to help. And when they’d seen him in town, Grandpa had either hit Mom or yelled at her. Once he even slapped her in public, calling her unfilial—Mom had cried so hard that day.

He didn’t like Grandpa at all. Not one bit. If he could, he wouldn’t even call that man “Grandpa.”

Hearing his soft voice, Wange’s expression softened.

With her cleaner hand, she gently ruffled his hair. “Then we won’t give him any. If he wants our money, he’d better have the right to ask. From now on, our money is for ourselves—no one else gets it.”

Zhao Zhao’s eyes brightened immediately.

“Really, Mom? We really won’t give them money anymore? But if we stop, will they come make trouble again?”

Like yesterday. Even though he knew Mom was strong and could beat them, he still hated anyone coming to cause trouble.

Wange lifted the basket and held his hand as they walked home. “Then we’ll go give them a warning—so they never dare come again.”

She still needed to return home tomorrow. Some things needed to be settled once and for all.

Zhao Zhao walked beside her, his little face breaking into a sweet, soft smile. “Okay! Whatever Mom says, I’ll listen.”

Wange glanced at him.

Such an obedient, soft little child. She absolutely could not let anything happen to him. If anything did, she would never forgive herself.

…

That night, after putting Zhao Zhao to sleep, she stood at the window. Outside, everything was pitch-black, the thick night like a great net covering the earth.

Tonight seemed unusually quiet. But instead of being ominous, the silence felt… peaceful.

Yes—peaceful. As if all danger had vanished, as if the world itself had become safe.

But Wange didn’t dare relax. Until that thing was dealt with, danger could appear at any moment.

What if this peace was just an illusion it created? If she let her guard down, the one who’d suffer would be her child.

So she had to stay cautious—stay alert.

After a while, she closed the window and returned to bed. She pulled Zhao Zhao into her arms, and the little guy instinctively snuggled closer.

She couldn’t help but smile.

Patting his back gently, she whispered, “Sleep.”

The more time she spent with him, the more she liked him.

And the more she felt… strangely… as if he were her own child.

She knew that wasn’t possible. It was just an illusion.

Still, she felt a pang of regret. Such a sweet child—if only he were truly hers. Then her life would feel complete.

She kissed his forehead softly.

No matter what—biological or not—she would raise him as her own. She would protect him and bring him up well.

…

The next morning, after breakfast, Wange took Zhao Zhao back to her parents’ home.

Their home village was called Qinhuai Village.

It took an hour on foot from Danshui Village, but since Zhao Zhao walked slowly and wouldn’t let her carry him the whole way, their trip stretched to an hour and a half.

They reached the entrance of Qinhuai Village at ten o’clock.

Zhao Zhao’s little face was covered in sweat. He wiped it and asked, “Mom, are we almost there?”

He felt like he’d been walking forever—so long he was about to collapse.

Wange picked him up. “Yes, almost. Are you tired? If you are, I’ll carry you for a while.”

“Mom, I’ll walk. You’re already tired—you’ll get more tired if you carry me.”

He didn’t want her to suffer; it made his heart ache.

Wange kissed his cheek. “Mom’s not tired at all. Look—no sweat on my face. No sweat means I’m not tired.”

“Really?” Zhao Zhao looked uncertain.

“Really.”

He buried his face against her neck. “Mom is amazing.”

Mom could walk so long without tiring—just like a deity. Yes, Mom was a deity—one who could repel spirits.

Wange smiled, hugged him tighter, and quickened her pace. “That’s right. Mom is a superhero.”

Zhao Zhao didn’t know what that meant but was about to ask when two villagers approached.

Recognizing her, one said, surprised, “Isn’t this Wange, Yongyi’s daughter? Wange, why are you back?”

“Oh, my dad asked me to come. He sent word that he wanted to see me.” She smiled politely.

The villagers exchanged a concerned look.

The other said, “Wange, your dad calling you back definitely isn’t for anything good. Your stepmother bragged everywhere yesterday that you hit her—badmouthed you to everyone. We don’t believe her; her face was perfectly fine. She’s clearly trying to slander you. But your dad probably believed her. If you go home, you’ll get scolded.”

They’d seen her suffer ever since Wu Yueying entered the family. People had tried persuading her father to treat her better, but he hadn’t changed.

“Wange, you should just go back to your husband’s home. Don’t go to your parents’ place. You’ll only suffer.”

Wange knew these villagers were kind—they had helped the original owner before. She felt grateful through the memories.

She smiled. “Thank you for your concern. But I must go today. I’m going to ask them for money. They took 300 yuan from me before. I’m going to get it back.”

“Three hundred?!” The two villagers were stunned. “When? Why so much?”

“Two months ago. My husband left me 500 yuan. They took 300. They came for more later, but I won’t bother with those. But the 300—I’m getting it back.”

The villagers were shocked. Wu Yueying had told everyone she’d only taken 50.

“Ladies, I’ll head back first. The sooner I get the money, the sooner I can bring my child home.” She gave them a polite smile and left with Zhao Zhao.

The villagers stood frozen for a moment. Then one suddenly said, “No. I can’t ignore this. I have to help. Wange has no mother—no one to support her. I have to go with her!”

“I’m going too. I watched that child grow up—I won’t let her be bullied. But we should tell the village chief and party secretary too. They have authority; with them there, Yongyi won’t dare lay a hand on her.”

“Right! Let’s call them.”

They ran off toward the village office.

…

Wange stepped into the Xiao family courtyard with Zhao Zhao in her arms.

Wu Yueying was sorting vegetables. Xiao Yongyi was repairing a winnowing basket.

Wange walked in.

She glanced coldly at her father, then looked at Wu Yueying. “Comrade Wu, have you prepared the money?”

Her voice was icy and sharp.

Wu Yueying froze, then looked up. When she saw Wange standing there, anger twisted her face.

She wanted to curse, but with Yongyi beside her, she held it in.

She threw down the vegetables and began crying loudly, “Old man, did you hear her? Did you hear what she called me? Comrade Wu! And now she’s demanding I pay her back!”

Her voice trembled with grievance, though she hadn’t shed a single tear.

Wange looked at her in disgust, lips curling in a mocking smile.

This woman sure knew how to act—and her father always fell for it.

Xiao Yongyi’s face darkened instantly.

He glared at Wange, grabbed a small stool beside him, and hurled it at her. “Unfilial girl! You come home just to anger your mother?!”

The stool flew straight toward Zhao Zhao. If it hit him, he’d be seriously hurt.

Wange’s expression turned icy. She dodged with Zhao Zhao in her arms.

The stool crashed against the gate and fell to the ground.

Zhao Zhao stared at it, his face going pale, his little hands clutching his mother’s clothes tightly.

Wange held him close and soothed him gently. “Zhao Zhao, don’t be scared. Don’t be scared.”

Seeing how she comforted the child, Yongyi frowned, his expression worsening.

He stood abruptly and snapped, “A stool scares him like that? Is his courage that small? How will he ever amount to anything? He’ll grow up a useless coward!”

Zhao Zhao’s mouth trembled—he was about to cry.

Wange hugged him tightly and soothed him, then took two steps back. She hooked the fallen stool with her foot and kicked it hard—sending it flying toward Yongyi.

“He won’t be a coward. But I know you are!”