Chapter 302: Chapter 302

Liu Ya? ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝙣𝙚𝙩

The neighbor girl whom Xiao Chengzi had allegedly peeked at according to rumors?

Li Yuzhu was curious and stepped outside to take a look.

Xiao Chengzi didn’t dare to follow; he took a few steps back and hid in the house.

Mu Yuanxiu and Li Xing’an, upon hearing Liu Ya’s name being called, also curiously followed the sound with their gaze.

All three of them were stunned when they saw Liu Ya.

They saw a tall big girl of about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a dark face and plump figure, running past them with a dirty, tattered red cloth atop her head.

She was dressed in a garish manner, with red skirts and green skirts mismatched over her body.

Her face was smeared in patches of gray and white; whether it was ashes or dust was hard to tell, and her hair was disheveled, resembling a chicken coop.

As she ran, she gleefully shouted, "Oh oh, getting married, getting married, I’m the bride!"

"Liu Ya, stop right there!" shouted a middle-aged woman of similar stature, wielding a broom and chasing after Liu Ya.

Liu Ya was young and quick-footed, leaving the middle-aged woman panting as she chased.

The two looked very similar in stature and appearance, likely mother and daughter.

The plump woman ran for a while before catching her breath, cursing as she did.

Only when they ran into another alley did Li Yuzhu turn and enter the temple.

She saw Xiao Chengzi leaning against the wall, looking down at his feet.

Li Xing’an was the first to reach Xiao Chengzi, patting him on the shoulder with a smile, "Xiao Chengzi, so that’s Liu Ya, huh? With that appearance, how did people make up the story that you peeked at her bathing?"

Xiao Chengzi sighed, "I don’t know either."

Mu Yuanxiu asked him, "Who started the rumor first?"

Xiao Chengzi shook his head, "I don’t know."

Li Xing’an snorted, "How come you know nothing when asked?"

Li Yuzhu added, "The alley is crowded; everyone chattering and gossiping, passing tales around. How can anyone find out the truth? But Xiao Chengzi’s family, just why do they believe this so easily? Xiao Chengzi, the woman who cursed you just now, who is she to your family?"

She looked at Xiao Chengzi and asked.

"She’s my stepmother." Xiao Chengzi sighed, "My mother died of a hemorrhage giving birth to me, and my father married her."

Li Yuzhu, Li Xing’an, and Mu Yuanxiu exchanged glances, realizing the situation.

No wonder she cursed so harshly; she wasn’t his biological mother.

"Your eyes have been treated; you need more rest, but it’s so noisy at home. Do you have another place to go?" Li Yuzhu asked him.

An eye condition often results from poor hygiene or eye strain over time.

Xiao Chengzi’s eye issues stemmed from both these problems.

His work involved carving molds, requiring his eyes to focus intensely on wooden models without distraction due to the meticulous nature of the task.

Over time, his eyes became fatigued, and coupled with poor hygiene, styes formed easily.

To truly recover from an eye condition requires ample rest to prevent recurrence.

Xiao Chengzi’s stepmother would abuse him, making it impossible for him to rest at home.

Surveying the temple, he said, "I sleep here when it’s too noisy at home."

Li Yuzhu was surprised, "Sleeping here? Such a small place?"

The temple measured about five steps by five, approximately two and a half meters long and wide—how could one sleep here?

Li Xing’an shook his head, "It’s fine on dry days, but not on rainy ones. Without a door, wind and rain could soak half of the place."

Xiao Chengzi hung his head, "Without coming here, I’d have to sleep in the wild."

Li Xing’an asked, "Do you have any relatives? Uncles or cousins? Any siblings?"

"My parents fled to this place; I have no relatives here. Only one sister, who married outside the city the year before last." Xiao Chengzi sighed again.

Li Xing’an patted his shoulder, unsure what to say.

Mu Yuanxiu stated, "Xiao Chengzi, why don’t you come with us?"

Xiao Chengzi was startled, "Come with you?"

Li Yuzhu also said, "Yes, come with us. We’ll provide you a place to stay, and it would be convenient for us to treat your eyes thoroughly. Besides, we need your help with mold carving. It’s urgent for my task; staying with us could save time."

Xiao Chengzi was surprised, "How could this be okay?"

Wearing worn clothes, he faced three well-dressed strangers who were extending kindness.

"We’re asking you for a favor, so there’s no need to feel hesitant. Just three days, and then we’ll bring you back." Li Yuzhu said.

After contemplating, Xiao Chengzi agreed, "Okay, I’ll go with you. I should repay your kindness by helping you."

Li Xing’an patted his shoulder, "Let’s go now. There’s no need to return; going back only invites more scolding."

But Xiao Chengzi hesitated, "No, no, without telling her, she won’t want me back."

Li Xing’an raised an eyebrow and said, "Your sister is married; you’re by yourself at home. So what if you don’t return!"

Mu Yuanxiu asked, "Xiao Chengzi, are you afraid of something?"

Xiao Chengzi looked troubled, "I’m worried she’ll bother my sister, whose life is already tough."

Li Yuzhu agreed, "Alright, then inform your stepmother. Tell her you’re going to earn money; she’ll let you go."

Xiao Chengzi nodded, "Okay."

Everyone returned to Xiao Chengzi’s home.

His stepmother was in the yard hanging clothes. Seeing Xiao Chengzi come back, she started cursing again, "Didn’t you run off? Why are you back again? Where were you just now?"

"I sat at the county government for a while, and now we need to take Xiao Chengzi there. Madam Cheng, you don’t mind, do you?" Li Yuzhu said to her.

Xiao Chengzi’s stepmother raised an eyebrow, glaring at Xiao Chengzi as she scolded, "Oh, Xiao Chengzi, you’ve grown bold, haven’t you? Using the county government to pressure me? I’m Queen Mother here! Making excuses to go out and play? See if I won’t thrash you!"

Cursing, she grabbed a broom and lunged at Xiao Chengzi.

Mu Yuanxiu and Li Xing’an stepped forward; one grabbed her arm and the other snatched the broom away.

Li Xing’an waved the broom at her, speaking coldly, "Try hitting him once."

"We’re asking him to work; why shouldn’t he be allowed?" Mu Yuanxiu also spoke coldly.

Xiao Chengzi’s stepmother was shouted into changing her expression.

She forced a smile and said sheepishly, "What work can he do? A one-eyed guy who can’t even see properly. Better send my elder son, he’s clever."

Li Xing’an asked her, "We need Xiao Chengzi for mold carving; can your elder son carve?"

Xiao Chengzi’s stepmother nodded repeatedly, "Sure, sure, sure, he can. Carving molds is simple; if a one-eyed guy can do it, my elder son with both eyes intact definitely can."

Li Xing’an raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Then call him here right away."

"Let go of me; I’ll call him."

Mu Yuanxiu released his grip and let her go.

Xiao Chengzi’s stepmother rubbed her arm, giving Xiao Chengzi a harsh glare before running swiftly out the gate.

"Cheng Wang, Cheng Wang? Have you seen my Cheng Wang?" she asked everyone she passed.

"At Wu’s Restaurant." someone replied.

"Went to Wu’s house again? This early in the morning..." Xiao Chengzi’s stepmother cursed as she walked away, her voice fading.

Li Yuzhu approached Xiao Chengzi, "Xiao Chengzi, the elder son your stepmother mentioned—he’s your stepbrother? Can he carve molds?"

Xiao Chengzi said, "He is my stepbrother, but he can’t carve molds."

Li Xing’an chuckled coldly, "Is she boasting? Or wanting to sabotage our plan?"

Li Yuzhu suggested, "Whether it’s true or not, let’s see. We’ll wait for a while."

Li Xing’an looked down the road, "If it takes too long, let’s just forget it, alright? Anyone who visits a restaurant this early is surely lazy."

To prevent Xiao Chengzi’s stepmother from making trouble for him, they had no choice but to wait.

While nobody was causing a scene, Li Yuzhu called Xiao Chengzi over to suggest he fetch some clothes.

Reminded, Xiao Chengzi quickly ran inside.

He came out with a small bundle.

By this time, his stepmother returned with a twenty-something man.

"This is my elder son," she beckoned to everyone.

Seeing Xiao Chengzi’s stepbrother, they were all disappointed.

Li Xing’an chuckled coldly, "So drunk he can’t even walk steadily, and you think he can work? Better let him go back to sleep."

Xiao Chengzi’s stepmother said, "He can walk; see, he’s walking just fine."

Before her words were finished, her son collapsed onto the ground, sleeping recklessly, impossible to pull up, "Don’t... don’t bother... so noisy, women..."

Furious, Xiao Chengzi’s stepmother’s face went black as she kicked him, "Get up, get up!"

"Enough, enough, better let Xiao Chengzi do the work; time is tight, can’t afford delays." Li Xing’an beckoned to Xiao Chengzi.

Li Yuzhu added, "Xiao Chengzi, let’s go."