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

Chapter 305 Can't Laugh
Mo Chunxiang never expected that her parents, brothers, and clansmen would all abandon her. In despair and terror, she fainted, but was soon woken up by Xiong Kai.

For the next few days, Xiong Kai kept Mo Chunxiang locked up at home, giving her only a cold, hard, coarse steamed bun a day, and beating her when he was in a bad mood.

The nearby villagers all heard Mo Chunxiang's screams.

Guan Shi naturally heard the news and was frantic with worry. "Old man, you have to think of something! If this continues, my Chunxiang will definitely not survive!"

Old Mo was also extremely anxious, pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pan. "I've already thought about it, so don't rush me anymore! The best way now is to ask Chunxiang's mother-in-law for help and also bring her grandson over. After all, Chunxiang is his mother, and the child can't just stand by and watch his mother be beaten to death, right?"

“Yes! Xiong Kai said he sent his mother and child away. Where could they have been sent? To his uncle’s house? To Liujiazhuang?” Guan Shi became more and more certain as she thought about it, and urged Mo Laotian to set off for Liujiazhuang as soon as possible.

Mo Laotian immediately put on a thick coat and braved the wind and snow to leave the village. It was quite a distance from their place to Liujiazhuang, and Mo Laotian had a very difficult journey. When he finally found Niu Youfu's house, the people there immediately picked up a broom and chased him out when they heard that he had come to ask about Niu Shi and Xiong Feng.

Mo Laotian was rebuffed and unwilling to leave, so he asked around among the people near Niu Youfu's house. Only after confirming that Niu and Xiong Feng were not there did he return home dejectedly.

Since the person was not in Liujiazhuang, they could not think of any other possibility. They could only watch Xiong Kai's house anxiously every day, fearing that Mo Chunxiang would be beaten to death one day.

In the dead of winter, villagers, with nothing to do, like to gossip about this and that. If there's a market day or something, everyone knows what's going on in one household.

News of Xiong Kai's beating of his wife spread like wildfire.

When Su Chunlin and Han received the news, their first reaction was not to gloat, but to wonder if Shen Yi would be back soon. After all, Xiong Kai was a cripple who had committed a crime and was exiled to the battlefield. If he could come back alive, there was no reason why Shen Yi and the others couldn't.

Su Changxi's family, who shared the same suspicions as the couple, also came to inquire about the situation, along with Ye An's wife and children.

Su Chunlin pondered for a moment and said, "I think they will definitely come back. The final list of those who died in battle was sent some time ago. No news is good news. If you really can't wait, we can go to the county to ask, or wait there. We will eventually be able to wait for them."

Su Changxi nodded in agreement, "This method is feasible. Anyway, we're just idling around in the dead of winter. I'll go and wait!"

“I’ll go too!” Su Chunlin immediately chimed in.

Su Chunsen said he would also go together so they could look after each other.

After the oxcart set off, Madam Han couldn't sit still and asked Su Ming to take her to Shenjiazhuang.

Su Tai was huddled with her four children in the side room with the charcoal stove, writing, reading, and playing with gadgets. Hearing the sound of the wooden stake, she quickly went out to open the door.

"Mother, Ming? Come inside quickly!"

Su Tai helped Su Ming settle the oxcart and then led them to the side room.

As soon as the door opened, a blast of warm air rushed in, and Han felt her frozen body soften considerably, though her teeth were still chattering and her speech was a little slurred.

Su Tai then brought over a steaming bowl of hot brown sugar ginger tea, and the two of them drank a large bowl before they recovered.

Han said impatiently, "Xiaotai, Xiong Kai is back, and Shen Yi should be home soon too. Your father and your uncle have gone to the county town to wait for him. You should hurry up and get ready. Clean and tidy up the house, and take out all of Shen Yi's things, including the twins, whom Shen Yi hasn't seen yet!" Su Tai nodded hurriedly, "Mother, don't worry, I've prepared everything at home. I'm just waiting for him to come back. If the children weren't so young, I would have gone to the county town to wait for them myself."

"Don't cause trouble. I came here to wait for news and for Shen Yi to return before leaving," Han said, revealing her plan.

Su Tai was somewhat surprised, "Mother, you never used to come and stay with me for a few days when Shen Yi wasn't home."

Su Ming explained, "Because Mother heard about Xiong Kai beating Mo Chunxiang, and she was afraid you would be in danger."

"Xiong Kai beat up Mo Chunxiang?" Su Tai really didn't know about this.

Su Ming suddenly became interested and told him all the rumors he had heard: "Xiong Kai caught Mo Chunxiang, who was hiding at her parents' house, and beat her half to death. I heard that the Mo family and the villagers of Ximen Village rushed over, but Mo Chunxiang went too far and no one was willing to stand up for her. Her parents begged everywhere, but it was no use. Now they can only watch helplessly as their precious daughter is beaten every day."

Su Tai found it increasingly unbelievable. "Ah Ming, you actually believe that! You know how much the Mo family cherishes Mo Chunxiang! When Mo Chunxiang makes a scene, her father is willing to break off the engagement for her sake. How could he just stand by and watch her get beaten up? Besides, Mo Chunxiang has a son. Xiong Kai would never do that!"

"Sister! How can you be so honest! The Xiong Kai of today is not the Xiong Kai of today!" Su Ming stepped forward and said urgently, "I heard that he became disabled and disfigured, and his personality has become gloomy and strange. Also, he sent his mother and son away ahead of time. Nobody knows where they were sent. Mo Chunxiang is now crying out to heaven and earth in vain. What can Old Tian and his wife do if they feel sorry for him? They dare not go against the current Xiong Kai."

Madam Han said, "Mother is uneasy because she heard these things. Anyway, Shen Yi will be home soon, so I'll wait for him to come back before I leave."

Su Tai felt a warmth in her heart and hurriedly went to the kitchen to prepare food.

Seeing that the adults were silent, the four children immediately surrounded Han Shi and Su Ming, calling them "Grandma" and "Uncle" repeatedly, completely charming the two of them.

At the same time, Shen Yi and his group also arrived in Lizhou Prefecture.

They've changed horses five times along the way, using every means possible to get back at this time.

Everyone was eager to return home and had no intention of lingering in the prefectural city. They only stopped to buy some local specialties before leaving.

Upon seeing the weathered city walls of Zhaohua County in the distance, Shen Dagou excitedly shouted, "We're finally back!"

"Hurry up! Let's have a race and see who gets into the city first!" Su Sheng raised his whip, beaming with pride.

The others were not to be outdone, and they all swung the reins and shouted to sprint.

Su Chunlin and his companions squatted at the city gate, watching several carriages speeding through the snow in the distance. They scoffed, "What a bunch of worthless bastards! Running around like this in this heavy snow, aren't they afraid of getting into trouble!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a carriage sped into the ditch, causing the carriages behind it to lose their rhythm.

Su Chunlin gloated, "What did I tell you! A bunch of worthless bastards!"

Su Changxi rubbed his eyes hard, stared for a while, and exclaimed, "No, that looks like my Su Sheng! Look, am I seeing things?"