The few villagers who heard Yuan Ping and his daughter's voices ran to the village chief's house as fast as their plump bodies could carry them. When they arrived at the village chief's door, the three plump women shouted loudly for him.
" What are you all talking about? I was just about to go check out the vegetable patch."
" What else is there to say, village chief? I heard Yuan Ping and his daughter say that Su Zu might be dead, so I rushed over to you to see what the truth is. We haven't seen Miss Su Zu for three days. Village chief, please go and take a look."
" Really ? Then why didn't you guys tell me from the very beginning? I wonder how little Miss Su Su is doing now. Let's go, let's go to Zhou's house quickly."
The four of them half-walked and half-ran towards Yuan Ping's house. The villagers who passed by saw that they looked unusual and followed them to see what was really going on in the village. Not long after, the village head arrived at Zhou's house.
" Yuan Ping, open the door for me now !!! I'm going to check on Miss Su Su, hurry up !!!"
" Here we go, why are you in such a hurry, village headman?"
" If I don't hurry and something happens to Su Su, I will report to the authorities that you tortured the child to death. Get out of the way. I will go find her."
Yuan Ping had to retreat immediately to let the village head and the other villagers enter her house helplessly. Hearing the word official, she was afraid that things would escalate and cause trouble for her three sons who were studying.
After she regained her senses, Yuan Ping followed the villagers to the firewood storage room where Nang Su Su slept. Yuan Ping did not dare to speak out, so she could only hide behind the other villagers. She was afraid that if Nang Su Su really died, she would quickly run to her husband who was clearing weeds in the field to ask for help first.
The village head knew that Su Su had to sleep in the firewood storage room and could only feel sorry for her. However, he was not stable enough to take care of Su Su himself that year, so he could only ask Yuan Ping, who had just given birth to a daughter and had breast milk, to help breastfeed Su Su. The man who had left the money with the jade pocket to help raise Su Su did not say much, except that he would not leave her for long. However, it had been seven years and he had not seen anyone come looking for her even once. This time, if Su Su was okay, he would have the Zhou family return the money and the jade pocket to Su Su and take care of her himself, so that she would not starve and be used like a slave here anymore.
The village head opened the firewood storage room door all the way open. He saw Su Su's small body curled up pitifully. The firewood storage room was filled with a foul stench. Fortunately, Su Su wasn't lying there. The village head quickly went over to see how she was doing and called out to her in a gentle voice.
" Su Su, how are you? Don't make the village head worry like this. Su Su, open your eyes."
The village head called her, and tears almost flowed down his face with pity. He who held Su Su's small arm could only feel sorry for her, looking like a malnourished child. The village head held back his tears and called Su Su again, worried that something was really wrong with her. Until he saw her move slightly with excitement, he hurriedly called Su Su to open her eyes loudly without realizing it.
" Umm … Grandfather Village Head, what are you doing here?"
Su Zu rubbed her eyes before slowly getting up under the support of the village headman. She was shocked when she saw many villagers gathered in front of the door of the firewood storage room that was her bedroom.
" Are you okay? How will Grandpa come to save you from this hell? Is Su Su willing to go live with Grandpa ?"
" I am willing, but … what about your mother, Grandfather ?"
" She and the Zhou family are not your siblings. You were adopted by them for their money. Grandpa doesn't trust these people to take care of you anymore. Go. Can you stand up? Grandpa will take back what belongs to you."
" I can do it, Grandfather. But what is it ?"
" The money left over from taking care of you carelessly for seven years, and the jade that your relatives brought with you seven years ago, Grandpa gave them to keep for you and ordered you to take good care of you, but look at what they did to you. Grandpa doesn't have the burden like before now. Grandpa's children all have their own families and have separated themselves. From now on, Grandpa and Grandma will take care of you, good Su Su."
" Thank you, Grandfather. I am glad that Grandfather will finally take me out of this hell."
" Alright, alright, don't talk too much. Is your wound still hurting? Wait until Grandpa brings your things back, and then Grandpa will have the village doctor treat your wound. Grandpa is afraid that the wound will become infected if left for any longer."
" Yes, Grandfather." The village chief helped Su Su through the crowd of villagers to find Yuan Ping. He would take back everything that belonged to Su Su. Otherwise, don't call him the village chief if he can't save a child like this.
" Ms. Yuan Ping !!! Come out now, or I will take Su Su to the authorities to report her for assault and child abuse."
" What is it, village headman? I don't think Su Su is hurt at all. She's just too lazy to get up and do some work for my house."
" Phei !!! How dare you say that? Su Su has been working for your family since she can remember, but what do you give her to eat besides rice water? It's me and the villagers who secretly gave Su Su food that allowed her to survive until today. Otherwise, she would have starved to death long ago. From now on, I will take care of Su Su. Quickly take out her money and jade and return it to her now !!!"
" What about money and jade? I don't know or see anything about it !!!"
" Alright, since you want to test me, Hui Lang, go call the officials to the village. I will make the Zhou family go to jail after neglecting to the point where they were so bold as to brazenly take Su Su's things."
" Ahh !!! Stop it Hui Lang, I give in, village chief. Don't make a big deal out of a small matter, okay? That money is long gone. You know that my children have been studying in the city for all these years. How could the money be with me? As for the jade, you wait here. I'll go get it for you."
" Humph ! Don't play tricks again, Miss Yuan Ping. Otherwise, I'll drag you to the county office myself. Hurry up and bring it to me."
" Okay, okay, I'm going. Humph !!!"
Little Su Su could only look up at Grandpa and Yuan Bing. She was quite impressed by Grandpa's determination. Even though he had only handed her some small snacks in the past, his original body was still very grateful to everyone who had shown her kindness. Whenever she went up the mountain and got something good, she would always share it with her aunt, uncle, and Grandpa. She had never brought anything else back to the Zhou household except for what Yuan Bing had ordered her to find on the mountain. Everyone had also helped to hide it so that Su Su would not be beaten up.