After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Qiu's expression changed, and her attitude turned much colder. "Oh! Young lady, you're really kind-hearted, but you probably don't know that actors have to be slim. If they eat too much and get fat, they won't be able to go on stage!"

Xu retorted, "It's impossible for nine people to share three steamed buns. We prepared so much food, it's likely that the pigs ate it all, otherwise they wouldn't be going hungry!"

"Who are you cursing?" Qiu was so angry that she revealed her true colors.

Xu retorted loudly, "Did I swear? I swore at people who were worse than animals, don't take it personally!"

"Hey! What do you mean? If it weren't for the eldest son of the Ma family, we wouldn't have come to this remote and impoverished place to perform. We've given you some face, and you're already taking advantage of us! We're not performing tonight! We're packing up and going home right now!" Qiu said arrogantly, completely disregarding Xu.

The noise was so loud that everyone inside the house could hear it.

Chunxiang quickly ran to Qiu's side to comfort her, "Auntie, don't be angry. We can handle anything. We can't ruin the reputation of our Rong family opera troupe, can we?"

Qiu slapped Chunxiang across the face. "Do you even have the right to speak? We've already given you enough to eat, and you're still whining and making a fuss. You think you're so great? If you don't want to, then get back to the brothel. There's plenty of food for you there!"

Chunqin and the others were so frightened that they trembled.

Mrs. He stepped forward and questioned, "Why did you hit her? What did she do wrong? We brought so much food, and all they got were three steamed buns and some vegetables. What? Can't we even ask?"

Furthermore, those who claim to be from big cities lack even the most basic credibility. Now that the show is about to begin, you think you can just back out like that? Fine, make up for our losses and you won't have to perform. Otherwise, don't even think about leaving our village! Even if the King of Heaven himself came, we'd still be in the right!

Qiu was trembling with anger. She had just said those things because she thought the country folk were ignorant and didn't take them seriously at all. She never expected that a village chief's wife would dare to challenge her and have such a tough temper, leaving her speechless.

Qiu was furious and glared at Chunxiang and the others. "Hurry up and get ready! You unlucky thing!"

Seeing that Qiu had compromised, Xu smiled with delight and took the food into the house.

But after what Qiu said, they dared not eat. Only Xiao Twelve couldn't resist the temptation of the food. Relying on Xu's presence, he thought Qiu wouldn't do anything to him, so he wolfed down his food and ate until he was stuffed for the first time.

Seeing him like that, Xu felt heartbroken. "Didn't you eat enough before?"

Little Twelve nodded. "After those two bad guys ate, it was Chunqin and the others' turn to eat. The last thing left was for me and Little Eleven. We were starving every day."

Xu almost burst into tears upon hearing this, "You damned bastard, you're a piece of trash!"

To prevent Qiu from taking action, Xu did not leave the village compound until Chunxiang and the others took the stage.

Qiu seemed to have given in and stayed inside the house without coming out again.

Everyone looked solemn, except for Little Twelve, who was the happiest.

He didn't need to go on stage; he just needed to assist. He skipped over to Chunqin, handed her a steamed bun, and affectionately called out, "Sister Chunqin, go eat something. Weren't you starving and about to faint?"

"Eat, eat, eat! Can't you see that the old lady is about to send us to a brothel? What's the point of eating?" Chunqin angrily threw down the steamed bun, got up and walked out without even glancing at Xiao Shier.

Dong Ri said, "Why are you arguing with a child? It's not like he provoked you."

Chunqin said coldly, "He just accepted something from the villagers, which is a betrayal in the old lady's eyes. It's already merciful of her not to beat him to death. He won't continue to follow us in the future, so why should I pretend!"

"You! Little Twelve has lived with us for so long, and he's almost dead. Why are you turning against him?" Dongri glanced at the pale-faced Little Twelve, her eyes filled with pity. Little Twelve was terrified; he hadn't thought that far ahead. He just didn't want to go hungry. Why kill him?
Just then, Qiu came out of the house, her face so gloomy it was almost dripping with water. "After you step down, come back and pack your things. Leave first thing tomorrow morning."

After saying that, she squinted and looked deeply at Little Twelve, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Little Twelve was so frightened that his whole body froze.

After Qiu entered the room, Chunxiang stepped forward and sternly scolded, "Little Twelve, hurry up and pack your things, we're going on stage."

Little Twelve discovered that everyone was busy with their own things and no one was helping him at all.

His vision blurred instantly with tears, and he helplessly went to help.

As they approached the stage, they were stunned by the clamor of the crowd. At that moment, everyone forgot the gloom that the Qiu family had brought them.

Chunxiang took the opportunity to sneak up to Xiao Shier and whispered, "When the opera is halfway through, you run away. You can run anywhere, just don't get caught by Fourth Master and Auntie."

Little Twelve was only eight years old and never even considered running away. He was already starving while working in the opera troupe; wouldn't he starve to death if he ran away? What if he got kidnapped again?
"Sister Chunxiang, I...I dare not," Little Twelve said, her voice trembling with tears.

Chunxiang was also unsure of his abilities, seeing how thin and small he was. She rolled her eyes around and focused her gaze on the crowd. Pointing in that direction, she said to Xiao Shier, "Keep an eye on them. They look rich and should be able to protect you. That's all I can do for you. It's up to fate."

Little Twelve nodded frantically, looking at Chunxiang apologetically, "Sister Chunxiang, if I run away, will they cause you trouble?"

Chunxiang suddenly glared at him fiercely, "Just run away when I tell you to. My affairs are none of your business."

The gong sounds, and the show begins.

Seeing her son and daughter so excited, Su Tai, who was sitting in the front row of the audience, smiled too.

Honestly, she had absolutely no interest in watching plays, but the child found it novel, so she had no choice but to accompany him.

Everyone's attention was on the stage, but she looked around, observing everything.

This observation led her to discover an interesting child. Seeing the child staring at her, she gave him a friendly smile, and the child immediately hid like a startled rabbit.

On the other side, Rong Laosi and Qiu Shi also joined the crowd.

"Honey, do you see any outstanding children among these?"

Rong Laosi looked around and pondered, "There are a few three- or four-year-olds who are not bad, but don't take the older ones, they're old enough to remember things."

Qiu thought so too, and immediately wrote down the names of the children that Rong Lao Si had mentioned.

Rong Laosi said, "You go and get the child in a bit, I'll take over. We'll meet at the village entrance. I'll hide the child in the wasteland outside the village first. You can set off as soon as it's light, and then we'll leave together after we meet up."

They've always done it this way, their teamwork is flawless. (End of Chapter)