Chapter 474: Heading to Xia Ling Village

Brother, you're still bringing gifts? Besides, do those Zhu Family Four Brothers drink milk?" Xiao Hu, holding milk, said from behind.

They don't drink milk, but their mother does.

Old Lady Li?

Well, our target today is Old Lady Li, not the Zhu family brothers. I noticed last time at the hospital that these Zhu family brothers still listen to their mother; this could be a breakthrough.

Actually, many criminals are brutal toward outsiders but extremely obedient to their mothers—a strange psychological state.

Regardless, Ye Cheng felt this was a breakthrough; maybe he could get those four brothers back on the right path.

It's not that he wants to be a saint; he just doesn't want future trouble for his endeavors.

According to his thinking, as long as he persuades the old lady well and keeps the four brothers in check, there's still a chance.

Ye Cheng had never been to Xia Ling Village before; he'd only heard it was in the mountains, basically just that road, so he didn't think much of it.

But after driving a while, he started feeling something was off—damn, the scenery got more and more desolate.

After all, Baiyun Village may be poor, but at least it's by the sea, and other places like Liu Village are similar.

Originally, Ye Cheng thought the so-called mountainside meant just slightly near the hills, still with the sea.

Unexpectedly, this route went straight uphill, driving up the mountain.

"Xiao Hu, are you sure you didn't point the wrong way?" Ye Cheng grew doubtful while riding the motorcycle.

"Brother, I've never been there either; usually when we have free time we go to the town or city—who would come to this place?"

"No, it's called Xia Ling Village; we've been heading up the mountain all along, and it just feels off."

Just then, an old-fashioned minibus came from the opposite direction.

Ye Cheng quickly waved to signal it to stop.

The minibus stopped, and a middle-aged uncle poked his head out from the driver's cabin.

"Sir, may I ask if Xia Ling Village is this way?"

The middle-aged uncle expressionlessly pointed behind him and then said,

"Keep going; you'll arrive in another twenty minutes."

Having said that, he started the vehicle and continued down the road, and a chorus of crowing came from the roof.

Several large cages were placed on top of the minibus, each holding a dozen or so chickens.

Honestly, Ye Cheng had actually seen such a minibus before.

In his previous life, he had lived in the countryside; many villagers would go to town to sell chickens, and his family had no car, so they could only take public buses or coaches.

Whether chickens or ducks, they were always loaded onto the roof, then taken down in the city to sell.

But now, after the year 2000, such sights are rare.

Following the uncle's directions, Ye Cheng drove on with Xiao Hu for about twenty minutes before seeing a row of houses; at the village entrance stood a sign bearing the three characters for Xia Ling Village.

No wonder Xia Ling Village is said to be poor—this place is so hard to reach that becoming prosperous is difficult.

Baiyun Village already has quite a few two-story buildings, or at least concrete houses at worst, but here the main structures are earth and stone houses, likely because materials are sourced locally.

To be honest, pulling two people up on the motorcycle just now was a bit difficult, mainly because the slope is steep and the road is unpaved, making Xiao Hu's butt sore from the bumps.

After finally arriving, Xiao Hu quickly jumped off and rubbed his sore butt.

"Brother, next time you should buy a car—I hear cars don't jolt as much."

"Yo yo yo, our Young Master Hu has become picky—he can even feel his butt now."

Xiao Hu gave Ye Cheng a white eye, saying, "Then later, when we go down the mountain, you'll ride in back?"

"No way; with your skills, you'd probably send us flying down the mountain."

As the motorcycle entered the village, some children in patched clothes ran out, staring at them from afar with eyes full of curiosity.

"Little ones, come, have some candy." Ye Cheng pulled a handful of sweets from his pocket; fortunately he had thought to bring candy for the kids, otherwise he'd only have been able to offer smoke.

When the children saw the candy, their eyes lit up instantly; led by a slightly older child, they gradually approached and took it from Ye Cheng's hand.

Looking at this group of children, Ye Cheng genuinely felt a pang of sympathy.

He used to think Baiyun Village was poor enough, but at least the kids there wore clean clothes; these children, however, some wore broken shoes, and their clothes didn't fit—either too big or too small.

Unless you see it in person, you can't feel the shock of this scene.

Ye Cheng handed out most of the candy to everyone, then turned to the slightly older child and asked,

"Little one, do you know where Old Lady Li lives?"

"Which Old Lady Li? There are several Li elders in the village." the child replied innocently.

"Well, she's the one with four sons."

"Oh, it's over there, behind the village, up against the mountain." the child pointed backward.

In Xia Ling Village on the mountain, the innermost row of houses also leans against the slope.

Ye Cheng followed the child's directions, mounted the motorcycle, and rode over.

The road was narrow, barely wide enough for a vehicle; the houses along it were mainly earthen, each with a small courtyard, and as he drove past he saw only a few elders, rarely any young people.

Further back, near the mountainside, stood an earthen house that was still in decent shape—its walls hadn't collapsed, and its wooden door had a fresh coat of paint.

This must be the place the child meant.

Ye Cheng parked the motorcycle, then walked up and knocked twice,

"Is this Old Lady Li's home?"

"Coming, coming—who is it?" came a soft rustling from inside.

Immediately after, the door creaked open, and an elderly woman stepped out, looking at Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu with astonishment.

"Who are you looking for?"

Ye Cheng saw that this old lady was indeed the mother of the Zhu brothers, Old Lady Li.

"You're Old Lady Li, right? We met once before, at the hospital." Ye Cheng reminded her.

At the hospital?

Old Lady Li thought for a moment, then glanced at Ye Cheng's eye corner, and immediately understood.

Her face instantly became awkward, she rubbed her hands and stood at the doorway,

"Well, it's you, young man, last time you promised not to have us compensate for the medical expenses, right?"

Ye Cheng smiled faintly, then gestured for Xiao Hu to bring over the two boxes of milk,

"Old Lady, we're not here for money, we just came to see you."

"Ah?" Old Lady Li was stunned, she looked in disbelief at the milk in Xiao Hu's hands, her mind couldn't process it for a moment.

Look at her?

She doesn't know them either.

These two aren't her sons' friends; in fact, her four sons got arrested after fighting with them.

They came to see her, and Old Lady Li couldn't quite figure it out.

Seeing Old Lady Li not speaking, Ye Cheng pointed inside,

"Can we come in and sit for a while?"

"Oh, oh, sure, sure, come in and have a seat." Old Lady Li quickly stepped aside and ushered them in.