A little madman moved into the courtyard house next door.

Wherever there are people, there is a world of intrigue and conflict.

Originally, villagers would gossip and chatter when they had nothing to do.

Some women and older women would gather together whenever they had nothing to do. Even some men would get involved. They would gossip about this family and that family, spreading the news far and wide.

Because of these messy and ridiculous behaviors, disputes easily arise among villagers.

Arguments and shouting became commonplace. Every day, from the village entrance to the field, a fight or two would break out.

The news that Xiao Sanfeng's treatment at the county hospital had yielded no results quickly spread throughout Xiaojia Village, becoming the village's front-page news.

…………

Today, Bai Wushuang carried Xiao Sanfeng to work in the fields again.

I hadn't gone far when I saw several women carrying hoes walking and talking ahead of me. Their laughter carried far.

"Let me tell you, I don't know what Aunt Bai was thinking, treating a paralyzed mute like a treasure."

"Zhang Chunhua is right. If it were me, I would have thrown this cripple into the river and let the water wash him away long ago."

"Aunt Bai should learn from you, Wu Erni. A mute person carrying things on her back every day is really bad luck."

"Let me tell you, I heard that Xiao Sanfeng offended the Xiao family's ancestor and was punished into becoming a mute and paralyzed cripple."

"Zhang Chunhua, that's an old almanac of yours, why are you still displaying it?"

"Wu Erni, can you please let me finish what I have to say? When Xiao Sanfeng went for a checkup, his buttocks and groin were rotten, which scared away two doctors." Zhang Chunhua spoke vividly, as if she had witnessed it herself.

Hearing the group of women gossiping again, Bai Wushuang quickly walked up to them, carrying Xiao Sanfeng on her back.

"Zhang Chunhua, Wu Erni, and the rest of you, stand there."

"What did my grandson Sanwa do to offend you? Why are you spreading rumors here?"

Several women turned around and saw that it was the person in question. They all spoke up, saying, "Aunt Bai, this has nothing to do with me. It was Zhang Chunhua and Wu Erni who were talking."

"That's right, I didn't say anything. If you want to find someone, find Zhang Chunhua and the other one."

"I'm just passing by, it's none of my business!"

Zhang Chunhua said nonchalantly, "I told you so! You don't care about your two perfectly good grandsons. You treat this good-for-nothing like a treasure every day. In a few years, when you can't carry him anymore, he'll still starve to death."

"Zhang Chunhua, you're talking nonsense. My third child will be fine soon."

"Aunt Bai, I think you got up too early this morning and haven't woken up yet! If that good-for-nothing Xiao Sanwa can get better, I'll fry a fish for you on my palm."

"Zhang Chunhua, you bastard who gave birth to a son without an anus, how dare you curse my third child."

"Bai Wushuang, you old hag, how dare you curse me? It's better for me to have a son without an anus than for you to not have one at all."

"..."

"..."

Zhang Chunhua unleashed her full offensive power, and Bai Wushuang was not to be outdone. The insults they exchanged became increasingly offensive.

Xiao Sanfeng never expected his grandmother to have such abilities; this scene was a rare spectacle in later generations.

After a while, Bai Wushuang and Zhang Chunhua were no longer satisfied with just verbal attacks.

Zhang Chunhua shouted, "Bai Wushuang, I'll spit in your face!" She then spat a mouthful of water at him, but since the two were a bit far apart, the spit only landed on the ground.

"Ugh..." Bai Wushuang also spat out a mouthful.

"Fine, if you dare spit on me, I'll keep spitting." Zhang Chunhua took two steps forward.

Bai Wushuang also took two steps forward, and the two were now face to face. Zhang Chunhua spat out another mouthful of saliva.

People usually argue, curse, and spit. These are all long-range attacks. It's rare to see someone spitting face-to-face like this.

Zhang Chunhua's words completely enraged Bai Wushuang. "Zhang Chunhua, if you dare spit in my face, I'll beat you to death!"

With a "smack," Bai Wushuang slapped Zhang Chunhua across the face.

"Damn it, Bai Wushuang, you dare hit me!" Zhang Chunhua retaliated by slapping him back.

Bai Wushuang was trained; she easily blocked Zhang Chunhua's slap attack, and then slapped her twice more.

Zhang Chunhua was slapped twice more, and she got angry. She wildly waved her hands and retaliated.

"Slap slap slap..." Several slaps rang out in succession, and Zhang Chunhua was slapped a few more times.

Zhang Chunhua was knocked to the ground and roared angrily, "Bai Wushuang, I'm going to beat you to death!"

"Come on! Come here!" Bai Wushuang said nonchalantly.

"Ah..." Zhang Chunhua pounded the ground with both hands, screaming helplessly.

Seeing that she had already made her move, Bai Wushuang rushed forward and slapped Wu Erni, who was still watching the commotion, twice. Then she scolded the group of women, "Do you all really think I'm too old to lift a knife?"

"Listen to me, all of you. If I ever hear anyone talking badly about my grandson Sanwa behind his back again, I'll beat them up every time I see them."

Having witnessed Aunt Bai's ferocity, the women all begged for mercy, saying, "No, we won't say anything bad about Sanwa again."

"I promise I will never say such things again."

"Exactly, exactly, I'm not saying anything more."

"..."

"..."

Bai Wushuang knew that these people's promises were like farts; they wouldn't believe it and would start talking again.

But I can't just kill them, can I? Oh well, out of sight, out of mind.

Bai Wushuang carried Xiao Sanfeng on her back and continued towards the field.

………………

Xiao Sanfeng continued to live with his maternal grandmother, who became his legs; his maternal grandmother was his legs.

Those heartless biological parents, Xiao Chusheng and Bai Jinfeng, lived off the living expenses and child support given to them by Xiao Sanfeng's adoptive father. They became the richest people in Xiaojia Village, and never once came to visit their own son.

Days continued to pass, and Xiao Sanfeng grew up surrounded by his grandmother, witnessing her daily squabbles and fights. He learned many things he had never learned before.

As always, whenever Xiao Sanfeng's maternal grandmother had money, she would take him to see a doctor immediately. County hospital, regional hospital, traditional Chinese medicine doctor...

Even upon hearing whispered rumors of shamans or sorcerers, Grandma Bai Wushuang would take Xiao Sanfeng to seek cures. She even risked being investigated by secretly bringing back a statue of a Bodhisattva, which she would worship every night.

Xiao Sanfeng silently remembered everything his grandmother had done for him. He knew he could never repay such kindness in his lifetime.