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

Pan Wanli chuckled and shook his head, feeling somewhat helpless.

Shen Yi and the others had already packed their luggage and were just waiting to leave. It took them less than half an hour from going back to get their things to leaving the military camp.

Zhu Yixuan composed herself and planned to go over and say goodbye properly, only to find out that Shen Yi and the others had already left, which made her feel depressed.

The journey from the border to Lizhou was long, and with their luggage and the emperor's gifts to carry, they couldn't travel very fast.

Fortunately, the silver that Su Tai sent to Shen Yi was still there, and the usually frugal man splurged for the first time by buying five carriages.

With one person per carriage, the load on each carriage is reduced, allowing the horses to run faster.

Because they were carrying gifts bestowed by the emperor, they dared not linger in the desolate wilderness and usually only stopped to rest and recuperate at official post stations.

Halfway there, a heavy snow began to fall, forcing them to travel day and night.

Meanwhile, Xiong Kai, who had gone ahead of them, had already returned to Ximen Village.

Now he's neither human nor ghost. As soon as he enters the village, the children cry loudly in fright, and the villagers who don't recognize him throw stones at him and try to drive him out of the village.

An old woman took pity on him because of his disability and asked him a few more questions, which is how she learned about his bear.

The entire Ximen Village was in an uproar.

Mrs. Niu was at home with her grandson, enjoying the winter break, when she heard the commotion outside. She went out to see what was happening, and at that moment, she burst into tears. "A-Kai? My son! How could you have become like this?"

Niu cried bitterly, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

When Xiong Feng saw his grandmother faint, he cried out in distress. He tried with all his might to lift her up, but found that he couldn't move her at all. "Grandma, Grandma, don't scare me! I'll go find someone to help!"

Xiong Kai rushed forward, pinched Niu Shi's philtrum with his only remaining hand, and forcefully lifted her up and carried her into the house. "Feng'er, where is your mother?"

Xiong Feng was unfamiliar with Xiong Kai, but out of fatherly instinct, he felt that Xiong Kai was not a bad person, so he cried and replied, "My mother doesn't want me and my grandmother. It's just my grandmother and me in the family who depend on each other for survival."

Xiong Kai's expression changed drastically. "That bitch Mo Chunxiang actually abandoned you?"

Niu Shi, who was lying in bed, slowly woke up. Upon hearing Xiong Kai's words, she burst into tears, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances she had suffered over the years. "My son! I have suffered so much! The woman you were so devoted to, the woman you were willing to marry even if it meant risking the infamy of being jilted, is not even human!"
Not only did she abandon her daughter and me, her old woman, but later she even abandoned her son. Although the Mo family is from the same village as us, she has always avoided us and ignored us. Over the years, Feng'er and I have depended on each other for survival, living a lonely and helpless life.
Originally, your aunt and uncle could take care of us, but your cousin died in the war, and your aunt changed completely, refusing to let us visit anymore. Your aunt is gone too, and we, the grandmother and grandson, are completely without support. If Feng'er weren't still young and you hadn't come back yet, I really wouldn't have been able to hold on!"

"Grandma, Feng'er has grown up and can take care of you. Don't be sad, Grandma." Xiong Feng looked at Niu Shi pitifully.

The grandmother and grandson hugged each other and wept uncontrollably.

Xiong Kai was furious, but he was no longer the impulsive Xiong Kai who used to act rashly at the slightest provocation.

He first went to the kitchen to boil water, then took out the meat and grain he had brought back and cooked a good meal for Niu Shi and Xiong Feng.

After the food was served, Mrs. Niu's emotions calmed down. Xiong Kai pressed her for details about his daughter.

Niu couldn't help but shed tears again, choking as she said, "After you were arrested, Mo Chunxiang gave birth to a daughter. She disliked the child, thinking she was a money-loser. Plus, with you gone, she had trouble supporting herself, so how could she be willing to raise a little girl?"
So she came up with a plan and abandoned the child in Shenjiazhuang.

The veins on Xiong Kai's forehead were visibly prominent as he squeezed out each word through clenched teeth, "And then?"

Madam Niu sighed, her expression sorrowful. "I know her purpose. She wants Su Tai to raise her daughter so that she can acknowledge the child back when she grows up, leaving Su Tai with nothing."

But she didn't consider that Su Tai already had sons and daughters, so why would she raise an abandoned baby for no reason? The child was eventually adopted by Shen the Cripple, who lived next door to Su Tai.

Shen the Cripple was poor and never married. He only had an old mother who lived a very hard life. When I learned about his situation, I wanted to take the child back, but my mother was incapable. She was already struggling to support herself and Feng'er, and she couldn't possibly take care of such a small baby. So, I had to harden my heart and ignore her.

It wasn't until your aunt passed away that your mother took Feng'er to attend the funeral and stopped by Shen Family Village to inquire about the situation. That's when she learned that since adopting the child, Shen the Cripple had become quite adept at making a living. In the past few years, he had not only worked diligently but also saved some money and built a house.

The child was well-fed and clean, with no patches on his clothes. Seeing that the child was living a good life, I didn't go over to bother him anymore.

"My son! Listen to your mother, that girl is happier at Shen the Cripple's house than at ours, let's not go and acknowledge her!"

Xiong Kai neither said it was good nor bad, but silently served meat to Niu Shi and her son.

After the family of three finished their meal, Xiong Kai opened the other luggage he had brought back, and inside was a bag of silver.

“Mother, here is a thousand taels of silver. Before I came back, I went to Ping’an County and bought a house, a shop and fifty acres of fertile land there. Now that it’s snowing, not many people are out and about in the village. I’ll send you to Ping’an County tonight to live, away from this place of trouble. What do you think?”

Madam Niu was pale and somewhat frightened, showing no joy at the sight of money. "Son, tell me honestly, where did all this money come from? How did you manage to buy so many things?"

Xiong Kai smiled reassuringly at her, “Don’t worry, I earned all this money through my own hard work. I didn’t steal or rob, so no one will pursue it. It’s just that I’ve offended some people, and I’m afraid it will implicate you. Plus, given my current appearance, there’s bound to be a lot of gossip in the village. Rather than listening to those people talking behind my back every day, it’s better to stay far away and have some peace and quiet.”

Mrs. Niu breathed a sigh of relief, but shook her head reluctantly, "I've been looking forward to your return for so long, and our family has just had a reunion dinner before we have to part again."

Unable to dissuade Niu Shi, Xiong Kai turned to Xiong Feng and said, "Son, you're all grown up now. Dad believes you can take good care of Grandma, right?"

Xiong Feng nodded emphatically.

Xiong Kai patted his head with relief, his eyes full of love. "Then take Grandma to live in Ping'an County. If Dad can handle things here, I'll come find you. Our family will never be separated again."

Xiong Feng's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously.

That night, a cold wind blew, and while Mo Chunxiang was filled with fear and anxiety, Xiong Kai led Niu Shi and Xiong Feng away from the village overnight.

Behind them were a series of footprints, some deep and some shallow, which were quickly covered by the wind and snow. (End of Chapter)