Wielding a butcher's knife, a seven-year-old wicked girl supports her family and abuses her wic

"This is a long story, but you only need to know that... the Qi family was also the family your father received a deposit from before his death."

"The other families are fine, Xiaoman, you can go. But as for the Qi family, I originally planned to borrow some money from your grandparents, even if it meant paying them three times the deposit, so you wouldn't have to go."

As Li Xiuyun spoke, her face was full of complex emotions; she hadn't expected her daughter to be able to accomplish such a thing.

"Mother, why is this?" Yang Xiaoman was a little surprised. When she heard the name Qi family, she was thinking that it would be a good opportunity to see her younger sister.

He also told her in advance that he could work as a butcher to earn money and then redeem her from the Qi family, so that she would at least have something to look forward to.

"It's nothing, let's eat first, so the food doesn't get cold."

Li Xiuyun pursed her lips, but refused to reveal anything.

Helpless, Yang Xiaoman could only continue to eat in silence.

Anyway, it's not long before it gets dark, and she'll find out sooner or later when her grandparents come to visit, so there's no rush.

After finishing her meal, Yang Xiaoman walked around the paddy field ridges near the courtyard a few times.

Then he went back to the yard, brought over a basin of clean water, and began to carefully wash the bloodstains off the pig-slaughtering knife.

Even without her mother's reminder, she knew that the butcher's knife needed regular maintenance; otherwise, if it rusted, she would have to pay for a new one herself.

rustle!

After washing the blade clean, Yang Xiaoman began sharpening it again.

Just then, light footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

She turned around and saw a thin old man wearing a straw hat push open the door and walk in.

Behind him followed a hunched old woman in a blue shirt.

Yang Xiaoman immediately recognized the two as her grandparents who lived at her uncle's house.

In her memory, the blue shirt that Grandma wore was the one her father bought for her before he died; it was the first silver he earned as a butcher.

So even though it had several patches and holes, she never thought of throwing it away.

"Grandpa and Grandma, you've arrived?"

After a brief moment of distraction, Yang Xiaoman quickly put down the butcher knife.

Yang Laishun took off his straw hat and nodded slightly.

"Xiaoman, your grandmother and I have already heard about what happened this morning."

"Don't blame your uncle. He was also misled by your aunt. I'll give him a good talking to after he's finished kneeling in the ancestral hall."

"As for your mention of severing ties..."

Before he could finish speaking, the kitchen door creaked open.

Li Xiuyun came out and looked at the two elders, saying repeatedly:

"Father, Mother, thank you for making this trip."

Upon hearing this, Yang Laishun waved his hand and sighed, saying:

"Even if you hadn't called us, I would have come to see what Chengren and his wife had done, given how outrageous it was."

"By the way, I heard Xiaoman wants to become a butcher like her father?"

Grandma Yang looked surprised.

She had heard about it when she arrived: her previously unremarkable granddaughter had secretly learned her third son's cooking skills at a young age.

"Father, we are currently considering this."

Upon hearing Li Xiuyun's words, Yang Laishun shook his head, his gaunt face appearing somewhat serious.

"How can a girl make a living like this? If word gets out, how will she ever get married? But since the third son is in trouble, you two have no other choice but to take it one step at a time."

"Your mother and I brought the money. Don't let Xiaoman go to the Qi family tomorrow. Just have someone else deliver the compensation to them."

As he spoke, he gave Old Lady Yang a wink.

The latter hesitated for a moment, but still reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled money bag.

"I haven't counted how many documents are here, but it should be enough for compensation."

"Consider the extra money as living expenses for you and your child."

Yang Laishun sighed with emotion. Of the three brothers, he had never worried about the youngest.

But unexpectedly, life is unpredictable.

"Father, there's no need to borrow the money. Xiaoman helped the Ma family slaughter a pig today, and the master was so kind that he gave her an extra twenty coins. That's enough compensation."

Li Xiuyun shook her head, then turned around and took out a fist-sized piece of pork belly from the kitchen.

"This was also a gift from the master. Mother, you can take it back and cook it for Father. Sanlang used to say that Father loves fatty meat the most."

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Yang was about to reach out to take it, but Yang Laishun glared at her and interrupted her, then looked at Li Xiuyun.

"Third son's wife, I know you are filial, but there's no need for meat."

"Even if I'm old and useless, I wouldn't take your things. Besides, even if I did take them back, it's hard to say whether they'd end up in my and your mother's wombs."

"Don't complain about the amount of money. It was earned by your mother herself while weaving bamboo baskets. It wasn't given to her by anyone. I can give it to whomever I want. The eldest and second eldest sons have no right to interfere."

After saying that, Yang Laishun stood up shakily and slammed the money bag on the stone table, making a crisp sound.

His gaze then returned to Yang Xiaoman.

He touched his chapped lips, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

After a long while, he finally let out a long sigh.

"Xiaoman, in principle... Grandpa should advise you to prioritize the bigger picture, but that would be unfair to you and your mother, and even more so to our deceased third brother."

"So you should discuss the matter of severing ties with your uncle and his wife yourself. At worst, you can separate the family property first."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaoman was somewhat surprised.

Before her grandparents arrived, she had imagined countless possibilities.

I also understand how outdated the thinking of the elderly people of this era can be.

She proposed severing ties without permission, and she might get a severe scolding.

Unexpectedly, my grandparents would have this kind of attitude.

"Father, isn't it said that there's no precedent in Yangjia Village for a son to separate from the family while both parents are still alive?"

Li Xiuyun was even more surprised. She never expected that this stubborn and short-tempered old man would stand by her and her daughter at such a critical moment.

"So what if we don't have it?"

Yang Laishun slapped his thigh hard in exasperation.

"Yangjia Village has never had a spendthrift who eats up his brothers' bloodline before!"

Clearly, he was furious with what his eldest son and his wife had done.

This scene left Li Xiuyun speechless.

Just as I was about to say something comforting, I suddenly heard Yang Xiaoman's exclamation beside me:

"Grandpa, you've perfectly expressed my feelings!"

Yang Laishun was quite helpless upon hearing this.

"However, I must personally visit the Qi family tomorrow."

Yang Xiaoman then continued.

Hearing this, Old Lady Yang frowned. "Why are you going to join in that fun? Just have your mother send the money over through someone."

She clearly didn't want her granddaughter to go to the Qi family.

"I'm not going to deliver money." Yang Xiaoman shook her head slightly. "I plan to take my father's job and slaughter pigs for the Qi family!"

She'll go tomorrow; not only will she be exempt from paying three times the deposit, but she'll also earn a reward and get to see her sister whom she hasn't seen for a few days.

It's a win-win-win situation, so why not do it?

"No!" Li Xiuyun's face turned pale, and she instinctively cried out.

Seeing her daughter looking at her with a puzzled expression, she lowered her voice several octaves and explained:

"Master Qi and your father were old acquaintances. He probably already knew about your father's unexpected death and hired another butcher."

"If you go now, won't you run into someone? You'll just be making a wasted trip."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaoman frowned slightly, as this was a thought she had not considered before.

but……

"Mother, has Master Qi sent word that he has hired another butcher?"

Li Xiuyun shook her head, and said hesitantly:

"This... has never happened before."

"Then I definitely have to go," Yang Xiaoman said without hesitation. "Since they're old acquaintances of my father, what if we don't go and mess up their important event?"

"But..." Li Xiuyun was a little anxious and was about to blurt it out subconsciously.

At the crucial moment, however, Grandma Yang reached out and grabbed him, forcing him to shut his mouth.

"Alright, let Xiaoman go. She's smart and might want to see Xiaoning on the way."

Yang Laishun frowned and said softly.

Before Yang Xiaoman could even speak excitedly, he looked at the basin of water not far away.

"It's getting late, hurry up and pour the dirty water into the field ditches."

Knowing that her grandfather was trying to get rid of her, Yang Xiaoman nodded without hesitation and left with the basin of water.

Anyway, she has already achieved her goal. As long as she goes to the Qi family tomorrow, many questions will be answered!

The moment the courtyard gate closed, Li Xiuyun finally couldn't hold back and said urgently:

"Father, why did you agree to let Xiaoman go to the Qi family?"

"That patriarch of the Qi family, although he used to be Cheng Lin's good friend, you also know..."

"He was there the day Cheng Lin had the accident, but he couldn't explain how Cheng Lin died."

Upon hearing this, Yang Laishun frowned.

"You suspect that Cheng Lin's death is related to Master Qi?"