CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: DON’T HURT US

"Xiao Bai, come with me. Miss Yi, you and Xiao Qi wait here."

After stopping the carriage, the team leader instructed softly.

Yi Chichi and Qi Yang nodded, got off the carriage, and stood in a sheltered spot to watch the team leader and Bai Chen leave. They then began to observe the group of five.

Five adults and one child, all of them were emaciated and lifeless. Their eyes showed nothing but numbness, devoid of any sparkle.

One couple could be identified by their stance.

The remaining three individuals consisted of two elderly men and a middle-aged man.

One of the elderly men held a child whose face was buried in the elder’s chest, making it difficult to see.

The clothes on the elder and child were worn and thin, causing Yi Chichi’s eyes to sting.

She recognized this elder and was supposed to call him Granduncle according to her memory.

The grandmother of the original owner and the elder’s wife were sisters with a good relationship, which extended to the families as well.

The original owner had seen a family photo of the elder’s family, as they had sent money and goods until the original owner was five years old.

The reason for stopping was simple: Yi Yong, that scoundrel, only received what the elder sent, never responding or sending anything back.

Social interactions rely on reciprocity. If you only take without giving back, naturally, people’s hearts will grow cold.

After that, the original owner never saw another package from Beijing.

Looking at the elder and child, the muddled memories left by the original owner became clearer.

Yi Chichi thought about the malted milk, biscuits, and other foods initially meant for the original owner but ended up with Yi Jing.

As well as the pretty little clothes and small leather shoes.

Her fists clenched involuntarily.

"Damn it!"

"Who’s damned?"

Qi Yang, who was observing the group, heard her muttering and looked over curiously.

Yi Chichi, "...Bad people!"

Qi Yang assumed she was talking about the five people and was about to reason with her.

He reconsidered, realizing it was the wrong time, and advised in a near-whisper, "You’re still young and don’t understand that the world isn’t just black and white. Don’t jump to conclusions without making your own judgment and forming your own thoughts."

His expression was stern, unable to hold back his thoughts, he added, "Bad elements aren’t necessarily bad."

The implication of his words was very strong.

Yi Chichi nodded to show she understood.

Seeing she was taking his words to heart, Qi Yang sighed softly with empathy, "Poor child."

Even worse off than he was as a child.

Yi Chichi didn’t respond, "Be careful of eavesdropping, mind what you say."

Qi Yang’s expression grew serious, and he nodded slightly in agreement.

Then, the two squatted together watching the team leader converse with the man in the military coat.

After a little over ten minutes, the team leader and Bai Chen led the people over.

"Get on the carriage, we’re heading back."

Yi Chichi and Qi Yang assumed the team leader was telling the five adults and one child to board, so they remained still.

Bai Chen’s brow twitched, and after pulling the two onto the carriage, he coldly said to the five, "Follow us."

"Alright."

The old woman responded softly.

The team leader sighed silently and, with a swing of the reins, drove the carriage away.

The five staggered on behind, as the team leader called out when passing the man in the military coat, "Old Chen, I’m leaving, huh."

"Stay safe on the road and make sure they write a self-criticism, work!"

He called out loudly, making Yi Chichi and the others look displeased. Getting them to work? They’d be lucky if these people didn’t fall ill.

Just hoping they could hold out until they left the commune.

The carriage moved very slowly, at a snail’s pace, as the team leader deliberately controlled the speed.

Qi Yang looked anxious and urged, "Leader, can’t you go faster?"

Go faster so they could get out of the commune and get on the carriage, walking back would be quicker for them.

This speed was intolerably slow.

The team leader replied in exasperation, "You think I don’t want to go faster? If I do, they can’t keep up."

On hearing this, the five immediately showed anxiousness and apologized.

Even the elder, with a previously straight back, slumped slightly. Holding the child a bit tighter, his frozen, swollen fingers turned pale.

"Grandpa, it hurts!" The child’s voice carried a tone of pain.

The elder’s eyes reddened, and he gently soothed, "Grandpa knows. Hold on a little longer, okay?"

"Okay!"

A sensible child.

The team leader sighed, swung the reins without a word, and picked up speed.

Bai Chen, good at playing roles, then loudly urged, "Walk faster."

The five quickened their pace in silence.

The middle-aged man spoke softly, "Uncle Qin, let me carry Jiujiu."

The elder seemed truly unable to carry any longer and hesitated at the sound, "Do you still have strength?"

"I’m young, slightly better than all you old arms and legs."

The tone was indeed not polite; unfamiliar acquaintances wouldn’t speak so casually.

Then Yi Chichi watched as the elder handed the child over.

The child, now in a new embrace, hugged the man’s neck, revealing a small face.

A dirty little face, but the features were delicate, especially the bright, slightly timid large eyes like grapes that almost melted Yi Chichi’s heart.

Like a little hamster on an adventure, the child turned his head to look around. Yi Chichi saw his expression relax, and his gaze became more lively.

Perhaps feeling her gaze, the child turned to look at her.

The moment their eyes met, Yi Chichi smiled warmly, but the child was startled, eyes widening suddenly, and quickly buried his face into the man’s chest.

Yi Chichi, !!! Oh no, seems like I scared the child.

Oh well, for the child’s mental health, I better close my eyes.

The carriage swayed onto a country path, away from the main road.

As the distance widened, the scenery became barren and desolate.

Except for them, no other living soul was in sight.

The team leader looked back, finding the nearest house was quite a distance away, and immediately pulled the reins to stop the horse, "Quick, Xiao Bai, get off the carriage."

On hearing this, Yi Chichi and the others got off the carriage as if energized.

"You guys, get on."

The team leader urged them onto the carriage like a tormentor.

The sudden change made the five adults and the child exchange glances, their eyes filled with caution and refusal.

"No need, we’ll walk ourselves."

The middle-aged man spoke, and as if to show his resolve, he led the people a few steps back.

Qi Yang rolled his eyes, "At a time like this, you’re still holding onto dignity? Dignity can’t feed you, brother."

He reached out to help, but since the incident, being surrounded by malice, the five plus one child were instantly on high alert, shouting defensively, "Don’t touch us."

"Don’t hit us."

The child was already crying out loud.

Qi Yang’s hand froze awkwardly, "I’m not, I..."

"Who is Qin Huai Shan?"

"Me!"

The elder stepped forward, and the team leader gave him an assessing look, speaking softly, "Don’t worry, you know Zhang Weiguo?"

"He’s my staunch brother."

Yi Chichi relaxed slightly; evidently, the commune secretary was the elder’s backer.