After the family split up, my stepmother and scumbag father begged me to come home.

"Grandpa Village Chief, we want to divide the family property."

Lin Qianqian's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into boiling water, instantly causing an uproar in the courtyard.

"Separate the family?" someone scoffed. "A little girl with a burdensome younger brother, are they just waiting to die by separating?"

The village chief frowned, squatted down, and said with a hint of helplessness, "Qianqian, do you know what dividing the family property means? How old are you? How will you manage with such a young brother? Listen to your grandfather's advice, don't be so willful."

Lin Qianqian did not argue, but simply pulled Lin Yulong down to kneel down.

"Grandpa Village Chief, please let us divide our property."

The two children knelt on the ground, but their backs were straight.

The village chief was moved and reached out to help him up: "Child, get up quickly. Whatever it is, Grandpa Village Chief will take care of it for you."

He raised his head and looked intently at Lin Qingjiang.

Lin Qingjiang quickly approached with a smile, "Village chief, the child is just being silly and doesn't know any better, please don't take it to heart..."

"Alright, everyone disperse." The village chief waved his hand, making as if to leave.

"Grandpa Village Chief—"

Lin Qianqian remained kneeling on the ground, her voice soft but clear: "We're not being foolish. We want to separate. We just want... to live."

She emphasized the last two words.

The village chief's foot, which had just stepped out, froze in mid-air.

He turned around, looked at the two children kneeling on the ground, and then looked at Lin Qingjiang.

Lin Qingjiang's expression changed, and he stepped forward to pull Lin Qianqian away: "You child, stop fooling around! The village chief is very busy..."

Lin Guozhu finally spoke, his voice tinged with impatience: "Qianqian, stop making a scene. Quickly apologize to your mother, and this matter will be over."

"Apologize?"

Lin Qianqian raised her head, looked at the man she called her father, and a sarcastic smile appeared on her lips.

"I did nothing wrong. She's the one who's wrong."

Before the words were finished, a crisp "snap" was heard.

Lin Guozhu's hand landed on her face, making her turn her head to the side.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

Lin Qianqian slowly turned her face, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, yet she wore a smile. That smile was more painful to behold than a cry.

"Being sensible? Aren't I sensible enough?" she asked, enunciating each word clearly. "What good is being sensible? Does it only bring me more beatings and scoldings?"

Ding Yuxiang wiped away her tears, looking utterly wronged: "Being a stepmother is tough... The child misunderstands me like this, but she can't just spout nonsense..."

"Grandpa Village Chief, Sister Qianqian isn't lying!" A clear child's voice squeezed out from the crowd.

Ding Xiaohu, from Aunt Ding's family, rushed forward, his face flushed red: "I saw it with my own eyes! She not only almost beat Ah Long to death, but she also threw stones at Sister Qianqian! The injury on Sister Qianqian's head was caused by her! The bleeding wouldn't stop, and if it weren't for the village's barefoot doctor, Sister Qianqian wouldn't be alive!"

"You child, how can you talk such nonsense!" Ding Yuxiang's face changed, and she said shrilly, "You and Ah Long are usually the best friends, isn't it him who told you to say that?"

"I'm not lying!" Ding Xiaohu retorted, "If you don't believe me, look at the injuries on Ah Long's body!"

Ding Yuxiang's face turned completely pale. She hurriedly turned to Aunt Ding: "Aunt Ding, aren't you going to discipline your son! How can a child learn to lie!"

"My Tiger never lies," Aunt Ding said coldly, looking at her. "But you—dare you say this injury has nothing to do with you?"

"Our family matters are none of your business!" Ding Yuxiang's voice became shrill.

"Nobody wants to get involved in your family's mess." Aunt Ding took a step forward. "But you can't say my Tiger is any good. Children don't lie; whether they did something or not is obvious. Whether Ah Long has injuries or not, you can't fool anyone."

"You think you can just look like that?" Ding Yuxiang stood in front of Lin Yulong. "He's almost a grown man. If you see him like that, how will he live?"

Lin Yulong remained silent.

He simply reached out silently and unbuttoned his shirt.