At this moment, Butcher Zhao walked over and patted his head. He said loudly, "Be more serious when you're studying. If you can't pass the exam tomorrow, you're not allowed to go out and have fun for a week."
"Got it, Father." Zhao Yue shrank back and retracted his gaze. He read again aggrievedly.
Zhao Zhitong was overjoyed. When she saw Butcher Zhao looking at her, she even gave him a big smile.
As Butcher Zhao was burly and often killed pigs, his body was stained with blood. When he did not smile, he looked more or less fierce. All the children in the village were afraid of him and ran faster than a rabbit when they saw him.
Zhao Zhitong was the only child who was not afraid of him. Not only was she not afraid of him, but she also often smiled sweetly at him. Butcher Zhao also liked this girl a little. "Girl, are you here to watch your brother study again?"
"Yes, hello, Uncle." Zhao Zhitong chuckled and greeted Butcher Zhao politely.
Butcher Zhao felt that this sweet voice was too healing. The expression on his face softened a lot. He smiled happily and tried his best to soften his voice. "Little girl."
"Uncle, my name is Zhao Zhitong. Father and Mother call me Tongtong. You can also call me Tongtong."
The four-and-a-half-year-old child's childish voice could actually express herself clearly. Butcher Zhao was delighted when he saw this. Then, he looked at his son, who always made him angry. He wondered when his wife would give birth to such a cute daughter for him.
Zhao Yue was indignant when he heard his father talking to the annoying person in such a gentle tone. He turned his head and glared at Zhao Zhitong.
Zhao Zhitong wasn't even afraid of Butcher Zhao. Why would she be afraid of him? She glared back at him and made a face at him.
Zhao Yue's small actions were naturally reprimanded by Butcher Zhao.
At this moment, Zhao Dong had already finished fetching water and was shouting for Zhao Zhitong to go home.
Hearing Zhao Dong calling her, Zhao Zhitong hurriedly stood up and politely bade Butcher Zhao farewell. She ran towards Zhao Dong with her short legs.
As soon as the two of them left, some gossipy farmers started talking about Zhao Zhitong's family.
"Tsk tsk, look at this Zhao Dong's daughter. He's really doting on her. She just separated from her family and there's almost no flour in the house. He's still buying candy for his child."
"She's just a little girl who lost money. I heard that she's a fiend with a tough life. I really don't know what Zhao Dong is thinking. He's really muddle-headed. He was probably chased out by Madam Zhu because of this."
"Hey, don't talk nonsense. I heard that his daughter was born prematurely and is weak. In order to support her, he often buys candy for the child."
"Hehe, there's no need to spoil her with candy every day. She's just a girl. However, Zhao Dong's legs are inconvenient for walking now. If he can't do heavy work, she won't have many days of eating candy left."
"Still eating candy? I'm afraid the entire family is going to starve."
"Sigh! He doesn't know how to live. In my opinion, this is what he deserves! In the future, we have to stay away from him. Don't let him pester us and borrow money from us."
…
Zhao Dong's family naturally did not know about the villagers' gossip. At that moment, the two of them were happily returning home.
Zhao Zhitong ran in front of Zhao Dong and bounced around. It was obvious that she was not tired at all. She even asked questions from time to time, "Daddy."
"Aye."
Zhao Zhitong asked, "Father, why did we go to the village to get water?"
Zhao Dong replied. "Because we don't have a well at home."
Zhao Zhitong asked, "Why? Zhao Yue's family has a well."
Zhao Dong searched through his memories and knew that his daughter was talking about Butcher Zhao's child. He smiled and said, "They sell meat and use a lot of water. Moreover, their family is rich, so they built a well in their own house."
"Oh, I see." Zhao Zhitong looked like she understood. "So it's because our family is poor. Hmm, then when I earn money in the future, I'll give Daddy one too. That way, Daddy won't be tired."
Zhao Dong was amused by Zhao Zhitong's words. He could not even feel the bitterness of fetching water. He laughed happily.
When the two of them returned home, Sun Mei was cooking in the kitchen. Zhao Zhitong stuck to Sun Mei and began to tell her what she had seen and heard outside, especially about her 'battle' with Zhao Cai. She was talking about it vividly.
Zhao Dong poured two buckets of water into the water vat, but he did not immediately go out to get water. He was worried that Sun Mei would not be able to deal with Madam Wang when she came looking for trouble later.
He was right. Sure enough, not long after, his stepmother led Zhao Cai over.
"Mrs. Sun, you ruthless woman. How dare you let your little b*tch scold my precious granddaughter? I'll tear her mouth apart."
Before she saw her, her scolding came from outside the courtyard wall.
"Okay, here comes the troublemaker."
The two of them looked at each other and went out to deal with the enemy.
Zhao Dong walked a few steps faster and walked at the front. He was mainly afraid that Madam Wang would hit Sun Mei out of anger. In his memory, this often happened.
Although Zhao Dong really didn't want to call her "Mother", he still endured it and called out, "What are you doing?"
"What am I doing? Ask your family's little fiend what she did! She actually bullied my precious granddaughter. I advise you not to let your family's little fiend come out. Don't let her harm the villagers!"
"I didn't bully her. Zhao Cai scolded me first…" Zhao Zhitong wailed and was about to run out when Sun Mei grabbed her by the waist and pulled her behind her.
This was originally child's play, but Madam Wang insisted on using nasty words. Zhao Dong was quite angry. "Mother, your words are a little too much. It was originally a small conflict between children. Zhao Cai scolded Tongtong first, and Tongtong retorted. It was both children's fault.
"As adults, we should naturally guide them. Sisters should be harmonious. How can you keep talking about her being a fiend? How can you raise a child like this?"
"Zhao Dong, how can you speak to your mother like that? You're simply too unfilial. Besides, your mother raised such a good son like Zhao Chun. Why can't she teach a child?"
Before Madam Wang could speak, a woman suddenly interrupted, "Listen to your mother. Your mother is doing this for your own good. It's indeed better for your little fiend not to go out. Won't she anger the entire village and make everyone chase the entire family out of Zhaozhai Village?"
Zhao Dong looked at the woman who spoke. From his memories, he knew that she was Zhao Tiezhu's wife, Madam Zheng. Zhao Tiezhu's father and Zhao Baishan were cousins, so they were both from the Zhao family.
In their generation, the eldest son of the Wang family, Zhao Chun, was the best. He was considered to be the most promising in the entire village.
Moreover, last year, Zhao Chun's eldest son, Zhao Ji, had even passed the entrance examination. Therefore, many people in the village rushed to curry favor with the Wang family. Madam Zheng was one of them.
She was already speaking up for her.
Madam Wang walked from her house to theirs and cursed along the way. It naturally attracted many villagers who were watching the commotion.
At that moment, when they heard the argument between Madam Zheng and Madam Wang, a few people immediately agreed.
"Zhao Dong, your mother is right. Don't let your daughter run around for no reason."
"Yeah, yeah."
…
Sun Mei was furious. "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Words were scary. When they talked about her being a jinx, slowly everyone would think this way. Tongtong was only four years old and had been called an unlucky star since she was young. Her child must have psychological problems.