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Lin Dashuan was taken to prison, but the news did not reach Lin family’s village until the next morning, when the villagers finally learned of it. Along with this, another incident occurred at Lin Dashuan’s house that was both unforeseen and yet within the realm of expectation.

Lin Yuan was teasing the little ewe with a handful of fresh grass, but unexpectedly, it didn’t snatch the grass to eat as it had the day before.

Although Lin Yuan was inexperienced, Liu Limin knew that the sheep was probably about to give birth. Thinking that there would soon be a new member in the family, Lin Yuan felt much comforted.

Just after she finished feeding the donkeys and rabbits, Lan Hua burst in hastily. She scanned the courtyard and, seeing neither Lady Liu nor Lady Fan, she lowered her voice and exclaimed in shock, "Xiao He, Xiao He’s mother, she ran away!"

Lady Chen ran away?

Lin Yuan was stunned at first, but then she understood.

No wonder yesterday she had revealed Lin Dashuan’s whereabouts to her and said something as cryptic as "You can’t give me what I want.

" It turned out Lady Chen had this in mind!

Just as Lin Dashuan was admitted to prison, she had slipped away quietly.

While walking with Lan Hua towards Lin Dashuan’s house, Lin Yuan asked, "Xiao He too? Did she leave as well?"

At the mention of Xiao He, Lan Hua’s face grew even more indignant as she complained bitterly, "Xiao He? You wish! Ever since Xiao He was born, her mother has been beaten and scolded by Lin Dashuan every day. Now that Lin Dashuan is in prison and won’t come out for three to five years, why wouldn’t Xiao He’s mother take the chance to escape while she’s still young, instead of staying here to live like a widow? "

That made sense; Xiao He’s mother was not even thirty years old. She had been too afraid to flee because of Lin Dashuan’s tyranny, but now that he posed no threat to her, why would she willingly stay and spend her life in such poverty?

As they walked, Lan Hua’s resentment hadn’t subsided.

"You know, Xiao He’s mother is truly ruthless.

How old is Xiao He? And she could bear to abandon her!

I heard that Xiao He’s mother took everything worthwhile from the house, leaving nothing useful behind for Xiao He!

Ah, do you think she planned her escape long ago?

Humph, if Lin Dashuan is worthless, his wife is even worse! "

Muttering all the way, Lin Yuan and Lan Hua arrived at Lin Dashuan’s house to find the courtyard already crowded with onlookers.

News of events at Lin Dashuan’s house spread quickly through the small village.

Everyone was either blaming Lin Dashuan for being inhumane in trafficking his own nephew or criticizing Lady Chen for being heartless enough to abandon her own daughter and run away.

However, a few women who had been close to Lady Chen sighed heavily, for knowing what her life had been like, they felt a hint of sympathy for her secret escape.

Through a gap in the crowd, Lin Yuan saw her aunt and Lin Ershuan with their couple, clearing a path through the onlookers to get inside. At that moment, her aunt was sitting on the kang bed holding Xiao He’s hand and silently shedding tears.

To Lin Yuan’s surprise, Xiao He, who had been abandoned, showed no signs of sadness. Her face was expressionless, just as it had always been when Lin Yuan saw her before.

"Auntie," Lin Yuan called out softly.

Hearing Lin Yuan’s voice, Xiao He, who had been staring intently at her own little feet, suddenly looked up. A glimpse of joy even appeared in her eyes.

Her aunt sighed deeply, and while tears continued to fall, she murmured softly, "My poor child, how did you end up with such parents!"

Lin Yuan turned to scan the room. The kang bed was large, but the sleeping space was not, with only half of it clean. The other half was all dusty, suggesting that Lady Chen had been too lazy to clean. Even the only quilt on the kang was filthy, worn shiny at the opening, and evidently unwashed.