Chapter 25: Shameless Liu Dabao

  After her previous life's accident, her uncle and his family came to the county specifically to visit her. Seeing Fang Qing's constant gloom, her cousin suggested taking her back to the countryside to relax. The villagers were simple and unassuming, and no one knew about Fang Qing's situation. Daya had a brilliant idea: just take her sister out for a few days of fun in the mountains, and all her troubles would be gone.

  The plan was a good one, but change never comes

  fast enough. The day after Fang Qing arrived at her hometown, she encountered something unpleasant. It was a morning like that. Daya said she wanted to take Fang Qing to see a magical spring in the mountains, but not long after they set out, they encountered the village scoundrel Liu Dabao.

  Liu Dabao was actually quite good-looking, but his lustful eyes gave one the first glimpse of a bad person. Fang Qing hadn't yet recovered from the blows. Seeing Liu Dabao first injure Daya and then assault her, Fang Qing was further incensed. She pushed the scoundrel away and ran screaming into the mountains.

  Had it not been for her eldest and second uncles' families mobilizing the entire village to search for her, Fang Qing would have frozen to death in the mountains.

  From then on, Liujiagou became a forbidden place in Fang Qing's heart, the reason she refused to return after her rebirth.

  Having experienced life and death several times, Fang Qing's mindset was much stronger than before. Setting foot on this land again, she felt more nostalgia than fear.

  "Qingqing, come here, I'll hold your hand. The mountain path is slippery, so walk slowly. I just found out this morning that you had a head injury a while ago. I'm sorry I dragged you around yesterday..." Fang Qing

  smiled and shook her head. She squeezed her cousin's hand tightly, tucking it into her pocket to warm it. She then fished out a handful of colorful candies from her small pouch and stuffed them into her cousin's pocket. "I heard they're fruit-flavored. I saved them for you last time at someone else's wedding."

  Daya's eyes lit up, revealing a row of white teeth.

  She loved candy, but her family didn't have the money to buy her candy every day. She only got one or two when there was a happy event. She had never expected her cousin to still think of her.

  "As expected, aunts and uncles are close. Qingqing, you haven't been back for so long, and you still miss me. I feel embarrassed."

  Looking at her cousin's delicate face, Fang Qing smiled happily. "Among all my relatives, I only have two sisters, you and my eldest aunt's sister Mimi. If I don't think about you, who should I think about? It's just some candy. Your sister is very powerful now. You will be surprised in the future..."

  Daya laughed heartily, tore off a piece of candy and put it in her mouth, carefully putting the candy wrapper into her pocket. The two sisters walked arm in arm, laughing and chatting all the way.

  After visiting the grave of the Liu family's ancestors, Fang's mother, Liu Chunxia, muttered for a long time in front of the grave, finally clasped her hands together and silently prayed for the ancestors to bless her. Then they went to the temple on the mountain to pray for blessings, hoping to eliminate Fang Qing's bad luck. Then they went down the mountain along the path.

  But as soon as they got home, her aunt took out the fruit offerings for visiting the graves from the bag, "Qingqing, come and have a bite of this fruit. The old people say that eating this fruit can protect children from being scared..."

  Fang Qing looked at her mother with a wry smile. In order to put her elders' worries to rest, she took a big bite of the dry snack and didn't stop until her cousin pulled her out.

  The countryside of this era still retains the shadows of the past.

  Low earthen houses, loess mud walls, winding goat paths, sparse shoes and socks drying on the fences, and the well in the center of the village and the old locust tree that looked like an umbrella.

  Daya took Fang Qing and introduced them to each family. Fang Qing remembered some of them, but she couldn't remember the identities of some of them at all. She could only nod to indicate that she knew them.

  Daya said that the sheep of her third grandmother's family had given birth today, and she wanted to take Fang Qing to see them. However, the two sisters were stopped by someone just after they left.

  "Hey! Daya, who's this? I haven't seen this girl before..."

  A frivolous male voice suddenly spoke, startling Fang Qing. She stopped and looked up, her brow furrowing.

  She had been brooding over the unpleasant memories that morning, and hadn't expected to run into this scoundrel so soon.

  Liu Dabao was wearing a fashionable leather jacket, but perhaps because it was cold, he'd also layered a black cotton padded jacket underneath, flared pants, and slightly oversized leather shoes.

  Daya noticed his gaze fixed on Fang Qing and immediately stepped in front of her. "Liu Dabao, what are you staring at? Who's your sister? Stop talking nonsense here. We don't have time for you. Go where it's cooler!"

  Liu Dabao didn't seem angry. Instead, he smoothed his hair and took a step closer to Fang Qing. "Where is this girl from? What's her name? I'm Brother Dabao from the village chief's family. If you have any problems, just tell me. I promise to help you..." Fang

  Qing was disgusted by the word "brother." This Liu Dabao was still the same old person. Without even looking at the other party, she grabbed her cousin who was still arguing with the other party, turned around and ran away quickly.

  When Liu Dabao saw that his beautiful sister was about to leave, he limped and tried to catch up, but his legs were not good, and after a few steps, the two girls ran away. He could only stomp his feet in anger.

  Fang Qing ran for a long time with Daya, then stopped and gasped, "Cousin, that man is not a good guy at first glance. You are also a girl. Stay away from him in the future."

  Daya heard her sister's advice and waved her hands nonchalantly, "Oh, it's okay, it's okay. With his small body, I can knock him down in two strokes. Don't worry, I'm not afraid of him at all!"

  Seeing Daya's assurance, Fang Qing had a headache, and didn't know how to explain. He couldn't say that the subsequent situation was because of this wretched Liu Dabao that the two uncles' families would be ostracized. He was entangled for a long time and didn't say it, but just kept telling his cousin to be careful of this person.

  Because of this incident, the two of them lost the mood to wander around and quickly returned home by a different route. However, the next day, they were once again blocked at the door by Liu Erbao.

  Seeing Liu Dabao dressed like a peacock today, Fang Qing and Daya were furious. Fang Qing pulled him away without saying a word, but with yesterday's experience, Liu Dabao took a step forward and

  tried to grab Fang Qing, but Daya pushed him away. "Liu Dabao, if you dare to move again, I'll beat you to death."

  Liu Dabao didn't even look at Daya, and kept flirting with Fang Qing, "Sister Fang Qing, what do you think of what I'm wearing today? I dressed up specially to go out and play with you. I heard that there's a movie showing in the next village today. How about I take you out to play?"

  Daya was disgusted by his look and couldn't help but spit, "Bah, shut up! Who is your sister? Don't mess around with relationships! Where Qingqing is going is none of your business. Get out of the way and don't block our way."

  Unexpectedly, Liu Dabao's face darkened, and he pushed Daya away and rushed straight towards Fang Qing.

  But Fang Qing was no longer the cowardly person she used to be. She grabbed his sleeve, tripped him hard, and Liu Dabao fell to his knees.

  Fang Qing took a step back and sneered, "According to seniority, you are still my aunt's uncle. I can't accept such a big gift."

  (End of this chapter)