At this moment, Butcher Zhao just happened to walk over, reaching out to pat him on the head, and said in a loud voice, "Be more serious when studying. Tomorrow, if you fail the test again, you won't be allowed to play for a week."
"Got it, Dad." Zhao Yue pulled back his gaze, feeling dejected, and continued to read.
Zhao Zhitong found this amusing. Seeing Butcher Zhao looking over, she even gave him a big smile.
Butcher Zhao, because of his burly appearance and frequent pig slaughtering, was often covered in blood, making him look somewhat fierce when he didn't smile. The village children were all scared of him, running faster than rabbits when they saw him.
Zhao Zhitong was the only child not afraid of him. Not only did she not fear him, she often smiled sweetly at him. Because of this, Butcher Zhao developed a fondness for this little girl: "Little girl, here to watch your brother study again?"
"Yes, hello uncle~." Zhao Zhitong replied cheerfully, politely greeting Butcher Zhao.
Butcher Zhao found her sweet voice so soothing, his expression softened significantly, as he laughed and tried to speak gently: "This little girl."
"Uncle, my name is Zhao Zhitong. Both my dad and mom call me Tongtong, so uncle can call me Tongtong too."
A four-and-a-half-year-old child, speaking in a baby's voice yet expressing herself so clearly, melted Butcher Zhao's heart. Looking at his own troublemaking son, he couldn't help wishing his wife would give him such an adorable daughter.
Listening to his father always speaking in a gentle voice to that 'little nuisance', Zhao Yue felt resentful, turning to glare fiercely at Zhao Zhitong.
Zhao Zhitong was not afraid of Butcher Zhao, so naturally she wouldn't fear him. She glared back without hesitation and even made a funny face at him.
Zhao Yue's little action naturally earned him another scolding from Butcher Zhao.
Meanwhile, over there, Zhao Dong had finished fetching water and was loudly calling Zhao Zhitong to come home.
Upon hearing Zhao Dong calling her, Zhao Zhitong hurriedly stood up and bid farewell politely to Butcher Zhao, hopping and skipping toward Zhao Dong.
As soon as the two of them left, some gossiping village women began talking about Zhao Zhitong's family.
"Tsk tsk, look how spoiled Zhao Dong's daughter is. They've barely separated from the family, and there's hardly any food left at home, yet they're still buying her candy."
"Just a money-draining girl. I also heard she was a jinx. Really, I don't know what Zhao Dong is thinking. He's so foolish. Probably got kicked out by Ms. Zhu because of that."
"Hey, don't talk nonsense. I heard his daughter was premature and weak, and to keep her healthy, they often buy her candy."
"Hehe, but there's no need to spoil her with candy every day, just a girl anyway. But now Zhao Dong's legs aren't working well, he can't do heavy labor, soon there won't be more candy for his precious darling."
"Candy? I fear the whole family will be starving soon."
"Alas! They don't know how to live. If you ask me, it's deserved! In the future, we better keep our distance to avoid them pestering us for money or food."
...
The Zhao family was unaware of the villagers' gossip. At that moment, Zhao Dong and his daughter were happily heading home.
Zhao Zhitong ran ahead of Zhao Dong, bouncing along, clearly not tired at all, and kept asking questions: "Daddy."
"Yes."
Zhao Zhitong: "Daddy, why, um, do we fetch water from the village?"
Zhao Dong: "Because our home doesn't have a well."
Zhao Zhitong: "Why not? Zhao Yue's family has a well."
Searching his memory, Zhao Dong realized she was talking about Butcher Zhao's child and replied with a smile: "Their family sells meat, uses a lot of water, and is well-off, so they dug a well at home."
"Oh~ I see." Zhao Zhitong looked enlightened: "So, we're poor. Well, once I earn money in the future, I'll dig a well for daddy, so daddy doesn't get tired."
Zhao Dong was amused by Zhao Zhitong's words; he even forgot the hardship of fetching water and laughed heartily.
When they returned home, Sun Mei was cooking in the kitchen, and Zhao Zhitong started hanging around Sun Mei, narrating her encounters outside, especially her 'battle' with Zhao Cai, with great enthusiasm.
Zhao Dong poured the two buckets of water into the water jar but didn't head out to fetch more water immediately. He was worried Mrs. Wang might come to stir trouble, and Sun Mei wouldn't handle it well.
His concerns were justified, as shortly after, his stepmother showed up with Zhao Cai.
"Sun, you wretch, dare to let your little brat insult my precious granddaughter? I'll tear her mouth apart!"
Her shouting was already echoing from outside the courtyard wall before anyone saw her.
"Oh dear, trouble's here."
The couple exchanged a glance and went out together to face the challenge.
Zhao Dong quickened his pace, leading the way, primarily worried Mrs. Wang might get furious and hit Sun Mei, which wasn't uncommon in his memory.
"Mom" Although reluctant to call her that, Zhao Dong suppressed his feelings and asked, "What are you trying to do?"
"What am I trying to do? Ask your little jinx what she did! How dare she bully my Zhao Cai! I advise you to keep your little jinx from coming out and harming the villagers!"
"I didn't bully her; Zhao Cai was the one who scolded me first..." Zhao Zhitong shouted, about to rush out, but was immediately stopped and pulled back by Sun Mei.
It was simply children's bickering; yet Mrs. Wang had to pick a nasty fight, and Zhao Dong was a bit angry: "Mom, your words are excessive. It's just a little argument between children. Zhao Cai insulted Tongtong first, and Tongtong retorted, both children were at fault.
As adults, we should guide them to live harmoniously, not labeling her a jinx, which can't teach children properly."
"I say, Zhao Dong, is this how you speak to your mother? It's so disrespectful. Besides, your mother raised such an excellent son, Zhao Chun, so how could she not know how to teach children?"
Mrs. Wang hadn't spoken yet when another woman suddenly chimed in: "Listen to your mother. She means well. It's indeed better for your little jinx not to go out; lest it angers everyone in the village and you all get driven out of Zhaozhai Village."
Zhao Dong looked at the woman speaking, realizing from his memory that she was Zheng, Zhao Tiezhu's wife. Zhao Tiezhu's father and Zhao Baishan were cousins, so they belonged to the Zhao family clan.
In their generation, Mrs. Wang's eldest son Zhao Chun was the most successful, one of the best in the entire village.
Furthermore, last year, Zhao Chun's eldest son Zhao Ji had passed the Primary Scholar exam. Therefore, many people in the village tried to curry favor with Mrs. Wang's family, including Zheng.
No wonder she already started to say something supportive.
Mrs. Wang cursed all the way from her home to their place, naturally attracting many villagers who love to watch the commotion.
At the moment, hearing Zheng and Mrs. Wang's bickering, a few people chimed in immediately.
"Zhao Dong, your mom isn't wrong, you better not let your daughter run around so much."
"Indeed, indeed."
...
Sun Mei was furious: "Y'all are talking nonsense!"
Words are powerful, once they keep calling her a jinx, everyone might start thinking that way. Her Tongtong was only four years old and being called a jinx since young, could lead to psychological problems.