Chapter 94: Strange Yet Wonderful Family

When the money reached her mother’s hands, it would surely be saved for living expenses. If her father continued gambling and drinking, then her mother would just refuse to give him any money.

As for her three brothers, her mother would never let them starve. But if the money ended up with her father, there would be nothing left.

A wave of sadness choked her, making it hard to speak. Yet, the desire to speak eventually broke through the sadness.

“Keep the money safe, don’t waste it. Live well. If anyone bullies you, fight back fiercely…”

Listening to the child’s ramblings, Jiang Dai was puzzled.

【Although these words are a bit strange, in a way, they make sense.】

Watching the burning paper offerings, Jiang Dai inexplicably felt a surge of sadness welling up inside.

【If I were dead, my parents would probably burn some paper for me too! But if someone burns paper offerings for me in modern times, would they appear in this world?】

Before the sadness could spread, Jiang Dai’s whimsical thoughts dispelled it.

She looked down at the paper money in her hand, thinking of the former owner of this body.

【If my parents burn paper for me, I’ll burn this paper money for you. I should thank Juanjuan; otherwise, I might not have thought of this. Sorry!】

【I’ve taken over your body, though I didn’t want to come here and deal with your mess. My life was pretty good before. Dying from staying up late isn’t a glorious way to go, but since I’m here, I’ll live well for you.】

【From what people around and Bai Tian have said, you’re not from here. You even had some gold on you. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to find your family and help you return home.】

【If, when I crossed over, Bai Tian was still the same as before, I could have helped you teach him a lesson. But he’s just as unlucky as me, someone who didn’t want to cross over but did.】

Juanjuan listened to her mother’s inner thoughts but couldn’t help glancing at her father.

It wasn’t because of anything else.

It was because, while her mother was speaking internally, her father was speaking too.

However, her father’s tone was a bit intense.

Bai Tian: 【Good riddance! A useless man like the original owner deserved to die! Better than causing harm!】

【But I guess I can’t say that entirely. When he saved Juanjuan’s original mother, he didn’t really force her. It’s just this backward era where a girl feels her purity is lost after being saved from drowning and willingly marries.】

【But! That damn original owner shouldn’t have been weak, drinking, gambling, and abusing his wife and children! Good riddance! Otherwise, Juanjuan might have been sold by now, and the three sons would have grown up crooked.】

The more Bai Tian thought about it, the angrier he got. Finally, he let out a cold laugh and decided not to think about it anymore.

Juanjuan looked up at her three brothers.

The eldest brother just tilted his head, quietly wondering why they were burning paper for a cat.

The second brother watched the dancing paper ashes, thinking about their family in Jingcheng.

The third brother…

【Why can’t I unlock the pork knuckle yet? Tsk…】

Juanjuan looked at her strange family. There were many things she couldn’t understand, but she seemed lucky now.

Her little mind couldn’t grasp much, but she knew she felt both sad and a bit fortunate.

Like the fire burning the paper offerings before her, warm yet untouchable, filled with hope but also sadness.

Hoping the paper money could reach the deceased, yet mourning the departure of loved ones.

…

In the middle of the night, even the dogs in the village were asleep.

Yet three figures in black silently gathered near a dilapidated courtyard.

The three were robust, not like the skinny, agile Wang Maquan from a few days ago.

From head to toe, they exuded a restrained fierceness. Their movements were swift, and the knives they held had likely seen blood.

They were eyeing the low, broken walls of the Bai Family’s courtyard.

One of them couldn’t help but sneer.

“For such a rundown place, just crippling someone’s leg without taking their life—if it weren’t for the twenty taels we were paid, I’d feel insulted.”

His companion spoke up, “Don’t underestimate them. What if they’re formidable?”

“Formidable? How formidable could they be? Could they be a retired Great General hiding in the mountains?”

At this, the two exchanged a smile, their expressions full of mockery.

The oldest-looking of the three, who had been silent, said, “Enough talk. Let’s finish this quickly so we can enjoy a night at the ghost market.”

“Got it!”

The three of them agilely climbed over the wall, moving as if they were strolling through their own courtyard, showing no caution at all.

“What a dump…”

One of them couldn’t resist fiddling with a bamboo basket, knocking it over. The wild vegetables inside spilled onto the ground, getting trampled underfoot.

The leader lowered his voice, pointing to the side room where Bai Tian and the three boys were.

“I’ll take this room. You two go over there.”

The other two nodded and headed toward the Inner Room.

Inside the Inner Room.

When the intruders kicked over the basket, the light-sleeping Dongqu had already woken up and roused Chunlai.

Jiang Dai, not used to sleeping deeply, woke up when she sensed Chunlai stirring.

She didn’t bother asking if someone was coming.

Jiang Dai glanced at the still-sleeping Little Juanjuan, carefully placing cotton balls in the child’s ears.

She didn’t want to disturb the child or let her see her mother in a fierce state.

Picking up the long club she had prepared by the bed, Jiang Dai weighed it in her hand, her gaze fixed on the door.

She could hear the muffled voices of the men outside.

As for the expensive machete she had previously commissioned, it was entrusted to Chunlai, who was strong and skilled in martial arts.

Dongqu’s weapons were simpler—two small daggers.

The door was cautiously pushed open, and a foot stepped inside.

In the next second, a club swung directly at the man’s head.

The man reacted quickly, instinctively dodging aside, but while he avoided the club, he couldn’t escape the machete aimed at his lower body.

Chunlai used the back of the blade, but with force and momentum, a strike from the back of the blade was still extremely painful.

“Ugh.”

The man grunted, collapsing to his knees.

If it were a one-on-one fight, he might not have lost to Chunlai.

But who would have thought that in the dead of night, this family would be so vigilant, ambushing at the door?

Dongqu swiftly grabbed him, pressing a dagger to his throat.

“Don’t move!”

This warning was directed at both the captive and the man still standing at the door.

In just a breath, the man was captured by a few women.