Chapter 8: Xu Yuanlong Died

On the eighth day, the two of them went to get a marriage certificate.

Holding the red booklet, Wang Jing felt like none of this was real.

Shen Jiang had already recommended Wang Jing to the army to be a driver and applied for her to accompany the unit. The army instructed Shen Jiang to bring Wang Jing for an interview.

Wang Jing worried about Xu Qingmo and wanted to take her along. Xu Yuanlong, despite being injured, refused to let Wang Jing take her.

Xu Qingmo wasn’t in a hurry to leave; she hadn’t finished teaching this family a lesson.

“If Mo-mo doesn’t go, I won’t go either,” Wang Jing pouted.

Xu Qingmo rubbed her forehead and persuaded her, “Go to the interview first. Once you become the army driver, the family housing application will be approved quickly. Then you can come back to get me. I promise, by then, no one will dare stop me.”

“But…” Wang Jing hesitated.

“Listen to me. Go now. Dad is waiting for you,” Xu Qingmo urged.

Over the past week, Xu Qingmo had forced herself to call Shen Jiang “Dad” and Wang Jing “Mom.”

Though it felt strange and uncomfortable, to live in this world, she had to get used to it quickly.

Shen Jiang took out a fine piece of mutton-fat jade and placed it in Xu Qingmo’s hand. He patted her little head. Xu Qingmo frowned but didn’t refuse.

“If the Xu family bullies you again, take this jade to the village chief. Give it to him and he’ll contact me.” This jade was Shen Jiang’s most valuable possession. He had already asked the village chief to watch over Xu Qingmo.

Though the village chief was related to Xu Hai’s wife, this jade was valuable. In front of such an incentive, the chief would likely help.

Xu Qingmo nodded. “Okay, I remember. Go now, get to the army early, finish the interview, and come back for me.”

Wang Jing still felt reluctant as Shen Jiang took her away.

Wang Xiuzhi had been watching from nearby. She saw exactly when Shen Jiang gave the jade to Xu Qingmo.

As the car drove away, Wang Xiuzhi became restless, thinking Shen Jiang wouldn’t return.

Xu Qingmo deliberately put the jade in her pocket in front of Wang Xiuzhi.

Xu Yuanlong had just lost all his money outside. When he returned home and heard Wang Jing had been taken away, he was furious.

He cursed all the way back, kicked open the door, and saw Wang Xiuzhi waving at him.

“I’m telling you, that girl Xu Qingmo has a fine piece of jade. You can sell it for a lot,” Wang Xiuzhi whispered mysteriously.

Now that Shen Jiang was gone, and Xu Qingmo was only five, she was no match for the whole family.

Xu Yuanlong, worried about money, was thrilled by the opportunity.

“Wait, I’ll get the jade,” he said, striding toward Xu Qingmo. She was playing with mud on the ground, enjoying the childhood she never had.

Hearing him, Xu Qingmo threw the mud in her hand at him. It hit his face perfectly.

Dirty and gray like a wild monkey.

“This jade was left for me by my dad. You want to take it? Do you think I’m dead?” Her childish voice was full of displeasure.

“You little brat! If you don’t hand over the jade, I’ll make you suffer!” Xu Yuanlong was angry. He wiped his face, but the wet mud stuck uncomfortably.

Xu Qingmo stretched her leg and tripped him to the ground.

“Trying to take my things is fine, but can you learn to walk first?” she said disdainfully.

“You little brat, you’re asking for trouble…” Xu Yuanlong shouted.

Xu Qingmo picked at her ears. “Stop yelling. Use your energy to cook instead. You too, come help in the kitchen.”

Wang Xiuzhi was also called. She had always feared Xu Qingmo, sensing many mysteries in the girl. Though she was unhappy her son wanted to keep this “disaster,” she couldn’t drive the child away.

“I’m your real dad! And you treat me like this?” Xu Yuanlong yelled. People from the neighboring village had warned him that if he didn’t pay his gambling losses in two days, they would break his leg.

Even though Xu Yuanlong feared Xu Qingmo, he still forced himself to take the jade.

“You’re not my dad anymore. My dad is Shen Jiang. I stay here because I don’t want you living better than the villagers,” Xu Qingmo said, full of revenge. She would use everything she could.

Why not put it all in Wang Jing’s space? Because Wang Jing’s work wasn’t finalized yet, so it wasn’t convenient to take her out. Xu Qingmo would stay temporarily, waiting for Wang Jing to arrange everything.

“You little brat! If your elbows bend out, I’ll beat you half to death!” Xu Yuanlong grabbed a stick, aiming to hit her.

His hands spontaneously caught fire, burning him, causing him to roll in pain.

Xu Qingmo watched calmly and warned, “Next time you yell at me, I’ll report you to the town for gambling. They’ll educate you in prison.”

“Little brat, put out the fire on my hands… quickly!” Xu Yuanlong wailed.

Xu Qingmo ignored him. Wang Xiuzhi, seeing him in pain, poured water on the flames.

“Sizzle…” The fire hissed as it went out.

When Xu Yuanlong was helped up, he stared at Xu Qingmo fearfully. “A monster! She’s a monster!”

Xu Qingmo reminded him, “I said I’m hungry. You want a room to live in? Hurry and cook before I lose my temper. I want meat.”

Wang Xiuzhi used the family money to buy meat, but Xu Qingmo ate an enormous amount. This tiny girl could eat two pounds of pork in one meal.

That two pounds was the family’s weekly supply—now gone in one meal.

Wang Xiuzhi pointed at Xu Yuanlong angrily. “You insisted on keeping this disaster. All the money and food are almost gone. There will be no meat tomorrow. Figure it out.”

“I think there are wild boars in the back mountains. I’ll ask the village chief for a gun and try my luck,” Xu Yuanlong said. With the jade gone, he had to find another way to make money and pay debts.

Wang Xiuzhi, knowing his character, didn’t trust him to go. “Stay home. At least you’ll be safe.”

Xu Yuanlong was determined. “That little brat wants meat every day. Can you still afford it?”

“But you shouldn’t risk your life hunting…”

“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”

The next day, Xu Yuanlong went hunting in the mountains. He was gored by a wild boar and fell to his death. The news quickly spread through Xu Family Village.