Chapter 27: Out of the Mouths of Babes, a Fatal Blow!

"Wang Guifang continued.

'Are we commoners without power or influence just supposed to be bullied to death by you?'

They were attempting to stir up class conflict in this way, trying to muddy the waters even further.

Officer Liu felt his head buzzing from their incessant noise. He had finally figured it out: these two old women were like the stirring sticks in a latrine—foul, stubborn, and completely impervious to reason. Trying to reason with them was like playing the lute to a cow.

He had no choice but to harden his expression and issue a final warning with his remaining authority: 'I am warning you one last time! Cease your unreasonable disturbances immediately! Otherwise, we will take you both away on charges of obstructing official business!'

'Take us away! Go ahead and take us away right now!' Wang Cuifen stuck out her neck, adopting a 'I’m a rogue, what can you do?' attitude. 'It’ll be perfect for everyone to see exactly how you officials protect your own and bully us common folk!'

At this point, even Officer Liu was at his wit's end. He couldn't hit them, he couldn't curse at them, and he feared that arresting them would only escalate the situation. If some meddlesome onlookers were to report him, it would be a humiliating affair.

These two old hags were truly invincible.

Just as this awkward standoff reached its peak, a soft, timid, and childish voice suddenly rang out.

'Mama…'

Everyone turned toward the sound.

They saw Zhou Susu, who had emerged from the house holding little An'an's hand. An'an’s face was still pale, clearly still shaken from her recent ordeal.

After entering the house earlier, Zhou Susu had immediately fed her some water spiked with spiritual spring essence. The little one’s emotions had stabilized, though fear still lingered in her eyes. Zhou Susu had brought her out now to let her see the true faces of the Zhang family, hoping to help her overcome the trauma of her fear.

An'an held her mother’s hand tightly, hiding her small frame behind her mother’s skirt, peeking out with only half her head to look at the two 'bad grandmas' still throwing a tantrum in the courtyard.

'An'an, don't be afraid,' Zhou Susu whispered, crouching down to gently smooth the child's messy hair. 'Mama is here.'

An'an looked at her mother, then back at the two figures that filled her with dread, her small brows furrowing. She didn't understand. Why were they yelling at Mama? Mama was the best person in the world. She made delicious food, bought her pretty clothes, chased away the bad people who bullied her, and held her when she was scared, whispering, 'Don't be afraid.'

And those two 'bad grandmas'…

Bad memories surfaced in An'an’s mind. She watched the two old women huddled together, crying more sorrowfully than anyone else, her little head filled with immense confusion.

She finally mustered the courage to ask a question, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s but clear enough for everyone present to hear, filled with timid bewilderment:

'Mama, why are the bad grandmas who bullied me hugging each other and crying?'

Zhou Susu stroked her head. 'Because they feel they’ve been wronged.'

'But…'

An'an’s little mouth pouted, and her large eyes welled up with tears. She pointed toward Old Lady Zhang and Wang Cuifen, saying in a tearful, childish voice:

'But Grandma clearly said she wanted to sell me to build a house with the money. Why would she feel wronged?'

An'an’s voice was soft and sweet, still hoarse from her previous crying. Every word was spoken timidly, as if she were recounting something she herself couldn't quite fathom.

Yet, these few light words, falling into the courtyard, caused an immediate explosion!

Sold? For money? To build a house!

The combination of these words carried such immense weight that the onlookers couldn't quite process it at first! The noisy chatter in the courtyard vanished instantly. Every pair of eyes snapped toward the two old women still locked in their tearful performance. Their gazes were filled with shock, suspicion, and undisguised horror!

Wang Cuifen and Old Lady Zhang, who had been performing with all their might, were stunned by the sudden remark. Their wailing ceased abruptly, like a duck being strangled!

Old Lady Zhang, in particular, turned as pale as a sheet!

*How did she know?!*

The phrase 'sell her for money to build a house' was something she often muttered at home when cursing An'an for being a 'money-losing commodity.' She had assumed the little mute was too young to understand or remember anything. She never expected that the child had remembered it all! And now, she had said it in front of so many people!

It was over! Everything was over!

Although Wang Cuifen didn't know the specific details, she wasn't a fool. The moment she heard the word 'sell,' her heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously released her grip on Old Lady Zhang and moved aside, attempting to distance herself from this 'useless teammate.'

As for Zhou Susu, she seized the opportunity for a perfect 'assist.'

She crouched down with a look of pure 'shock,' cupping An'an’s face, and said in a voice filled with both heartache and disbelief:

'An'an, my sweet treasure, don't say such things.'

Her brows were tightly knit, as if she were trying desperately to protect something.

'One is your grandmother, and the other is your maternal grandmother. How could they ever say such terrible things?'

She acted so sincerely, so kindly, as if she truly could not believe that such malicious elders existed in the world. The neighbors, watching her, couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy.

*Look at that! Look at Zhou Susu!* Even now, she was still speaking up for these two old hags! What a kind-hearted girl! It was such a pity she had to deal with such heartless, ungrateful relatives!

'I’m not making it up!'

An'an, thinking her mother didn't believe her, became anxious. The little one’s eyes turned red, and large tears swirled in her lids. She pointed at Old Lady Zhang, using all her strength to retort loudly and clearly:

'I heard it! I really heard it!'

'Grandma… Grandma often said it!'

'She said I’m a money-losing commodity, and if I can’t be raised, she’ll sell me to the lame uncle at the east end of the village to get money for Brother Xiaobao to build a new house and get a wife…'

Because of her agitation, the little one’s words were intermittent and choked with sobs, but every single word was crystal clear!

*Holy crap!*

The information was even more shocking! Not only were they planning to sell her, but they had already decided who to sell her to and what the money would be used for—it was all perfectly planned! And they were selling her to a 'lame uncle'!

*Is this even something a human would do?!*

The quiet courtyard erupted once more.

'My heavens! Is this true? That is just too malicious!'

'No wonder the child was so scared earlier! These aren't grandmothers; they’re human traffickers!'

'They are utterly despicable! To lay hands on such a small child—it’s absolutely heartless!'"