Chapter 255

The Li family's front door was locked shut by the villagers, and a seal prepared by the village head that morning was pasted over it.

Thus, all members of the Li family were driven out.

To prevent the Li family from returning, the village head also sent several village men to guard the entrance of the Li Family Ancestral House.

In the end, the Li family could only stumble hesitantly toward the edge of the village.

No one knew where they would go.

The villagers didn't care either.

Only after seeing them leave the village did everyone finally exhale in relief.

……

The weather gradually grew colder.

Winter was about to arrive.

Jiang Xiaoxiao counted the days on her fingers and realized Shen Que had been gone for over half a month.

By now, he should have reached the Capital.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was idly counting on her fingers when the carrier pigeon, its ankle bound by a thin rope, suddenly flapped its wings and cooed loudly.

She turned instinctively and saw the half-grown tiger quietly pressing its paw onto the pigeon's wing, baring its teeth and licking its tongue.

"A Huang, stop!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao shouted in time, saving the carrier pigeon from the tiger's claws.

"This pigeon belongs to Master Shen—how could you eat it?!" Jiang Xiaoxiao protected the pigeon, scolding with a stern face.

"Aowu~"

The tiger, now as tall as her, immediately crouched down, nuzzling against Jiang Xiaoxiao's ankles, whimpering softly.

"Hmph, don't think flattery will make me forgive you!" Jiang Xiaoxiao raised one hand and impatiently tapped the tiger's round head, "When has there ever been a shortage of food for you at home? Why are you so greedy you won't even spare a pigeon? From now on, I won't give you water to drink!"

Saying this, Jiang Xiaoxiao picked up the pigeon and went downstairs.

The tiger, visibly wounded, immediately followed after her.

As soon as she stepped down, she met Jiang Wei entering with a basket of wild vegetables; Jiang Xiaoxiao immediately complained: "Mom, A Huang wants to eat my pigeon."

Jiang Wei calmly set down the basket of wild vegetables, glanced at the tiger timidly lingering behind, then took the carrier pigeon from Jiang Xiaoxiao's arms, examined it briefly, and said: "Your pigeon's leg wound has healed—it probably wants to fly away. Your A Huang is just… teaching it a lesson."

"Huh?" Jiang Xiaoxiao froze, instinctively looking down at the pigeon.

The pigeon's feet were tightly held by Jiang Wei, yet it was still clearly struggling to escape.

"Aowu~"

The tiger then dared to approach, nuzzling Jiang Wei's ankles as if thanking her for clearing its name.

Who would even want to eat this miserable pigeon?

It only wanted to scare it a little—if it quietly broke free and flew away, the little master would be heartbroken…

"So that's how it is…" Jiang Xiaoxiao lowered her head and looked again at the pigeon struggling to escape, "It wants to fly away… to find Master Shen?"

Jiang Wei said nothing.

Jiang Xiaoxiao then said: "Mom, let it go."

It can't be kept anyway.

She didn't want anything or anyone she couldn't keep.

Jiang Wei smiled: "Alright."

No sooner had she spoken than she loosened her grip and released the pigeon.

The carrier pigeon spread its wings and flew out of the Jiang Family Courtyard, soaring into the sky without even looking back, showing no trace of attachment.

Jiang Xiaoxiao couldn't help but pout: "Ungrateful little thing—after all I've fed you… A Huang is better."

She reached out her small hand and rubbed the tiger's fluffy head: "A Huang, I'm sorry—I misunderstood you."

"Aowu~"

The tiger narrowed its amber eyes, whimpering softly as it rubbed its head along her hand.

Jiang Xiaoxiao's gaze fell on the basket of wild vegetables, and she asked: "Mom, did you go up the Mountain to gather wild vegetables?"

The wild vegetables inside were fresh, still glistening with morning dew—clearly picked that very morning.

Jiang Wei shook her head: "Someone gave them to me."

"Who?" Jiang Xiaoxiao blinked. "Did Qiulian Yi send them?"

No sooner had she asked than a villager's voice sounded outside the door.

"Xiaoxiao's mom, I've come to bring you something."

When the door opened, it was Zhang Po Zi, the woman with three sons.

Behind her stood a young man, his back laden with a bundle of firewood, his waist held straight but his head bowed as if he wished to bury himself in the earth.

Zhang Po Zi immediately pulled her son forward upon seeing Jiang Wei, beaming: "Winter's coming soon, and I noticed you two are always busy—no time to go up the Mountain—so my second son went up himself, chopped some firewood, and brought it over for you. Use it to heat your bed at night—you'll sleep warmer."

Then she sighed to herself: "Ah, but your family used to be grand, yet now there's no man in the house—it's bound to be inconvenient… But don't worry, these heavy chores can be left to my son. He may not talk much, but he's the most honest and capable, and he knows how to care for others…"

She chattered on endlessly, leaving no room for anyone to interrupt.

The Zhang family son beside her sank his head even lower, his face flushed crimson as if ready to bleed.

Jiang Xiaoxiao, watching this scene: "…"

Well, no need to guess—she knew exactly why Zhang Po Zi had come.

Her mother had obtained a Mutual Divorce and was now free—she'd become the village's most prized delicacy…

Probably the basket of wild vegetables earlier was also from some other village woman…

"Thank you, Auntie," Jiang Wei replied coolly, declining. "Our neighbor is the Soap Workshop—there are several sheds full of firewood there. We don't lack for it. Please take it back and use it yourselves."

"Th-this… I…," Zhang Shen choked, speechless, then stammered out an excuse: "W-well, it's already been brought to your doorstep—carrying it back would be too much trouble. You two just take it."

After speaking, she seemed embarrassed and quickly pulled her son away.

Jiang Xiaoxiao looked at the firewood Zhang Po Zi had left behind, torn between laughter and tears.

If she remembered correctly, Zhang Po Zi was among the better-off families in the Village, with three sons.

The youngest was sixteen, the eldest barely over thirty—all strong, able-bodied young men of the Village, each honest and hardworking, and their thirty mu of Family Fields were meticulously tended.

The eldest son, the oldest, was already married and had one son and one daughter; the second son was likely the one she had just seen, around twenty years old. Due to the severe famine and Drought of the past two years, the family had little Silver Tael, so his marriage had been postponed.

Yet she never expected that Zhang Po Zi now had her mother in her sights.

Jiang Xiaoxiao didn't know whether to laugh or cry.