A Shocking Dream

Chapter 206

Seeing this, Kanan hurriedly handed breakfast to the girl. The rice porridge in the plate was still steaming, and several refreshing side dishes were neatly arranged, exuding an enticing aroma.

The girl reached out to take it. Perhaps she was truly starving, her usual reserve vanished, her image disregarded as she picked up the bowl and began to eat with big mouthfuls. As the rice porridge entered her mouth, warmth instantly spread throughout her body. She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel hoarding food. She ate so hastily that a few glistening rice grains clung to the corners of her mouth.

Watching from the side, Kankan couldn't help but burst out laughing. She quickly raised her hand and pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve. She leaned closer and gently wiped the corner of the girl's mouth: "Eat slowly, don't choke. No one is here to snatch it from you."

The girl paused somewhat embarrassedly, a blush on her cheeks, and stammered, "I...I'm really starving. This is the first time in days that food has tasted so good."

Kanan sat down beside the bed, patted the girl's back to help her breathe, and said softly, "You have to chew slowly. You're still weak. Take care of yourself first, then you'll have the energy to do what you want to do later."

The girl nodded heavily, slowing her movements. She looked up at Qianqian, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Thanks to you and Sister Lin, my life has been saved. When I recover, I will definitely repay you for your kindness."

Qianqian tilted her head and smiled playfully, "What's the point of talking about repaying or not repaying? We're all destined to be together in this medical hut. My sister never asks for anything in return when she saves people, and I'm the same. Just live here peacefully and treat this place like your own home."

As they spoke, the sound of birds chirping filled the air outside the window, as if celebrating this heartwarming moment. The aroma of food filled the house, and the warmth of friendship flowed through the air. The haze of pain in the girl's heart gradually dissipated like smoke amidst the caring and laughter.

After the girl finished eating, she wiped her mouth and leaned back contentedly against the headboard. Her pale complexion had finally regained some color from the meal. Seeing that she had regained some energy, Wan Wan moved closer to the bed, resting her hands on her cheeks. Blinking her watery eyes, she asked softly, "What's your name? How did you end up fainting in the bushes and being found by my sister?"

Upon hearing this, the girl lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes casting fan-shaped shadows on her eyelids. She was silent for a moment, as if lost in unpleasant memories. After a long pause, she slowly spoke, "My name is Anian, and I'm an ordinary peasant girl from Qingshui Village. Although my family was poor, I lived a stable life with my parents, my younger siblings, and my parents." At this point, her voice choked slightly, and she paused before continuing, "Who knew that the evil slave of the Yang family, in order to seize land for his master, insisted that my family's land deed was forged, and brought a group of thugs to cause trouble. My father, unable to argue with them for a few minutes, was beaten to death by them, and my mother and younger siblings were also seriously injured..."

Ah Nian clutched the quilt tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably as tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. "I was so unwilling to give up. I wanted to go to the authorities to file a complaint, but I was chased and intercepted by the Yang family's minions along the way. I fled day and night, eating wild fruits when I was hungry and drinking stream water when I was thirsty. I never thought I would end up collapsing in that patch of grass. I thought I was going to die here. Thank you, Sister Lin, and you for saving my life."

Kanan listened quietly to Ah Nian's story, her clear eyes fixed on her without blinking. Her heart was as clear as a mirror—there were many flaws in this girl's words, and she clearly hadn't told the whole truth. The slightly trembling tone of her voice, the deliberate pauses at key points, and the occasional flicker of guilt and evasion in her eyes—none of it escaped Kanan's attention.

But Qianqian simply pursed her lips silently, sitting obediently on the edge of the bed, her small hand still gently resting on the back of Ah Nian's, without the slightest intention of exposing her. She knew clearly that if Ah Nian didn't want to talk, she must be hiding something, or perhaps some unbearable, dangerous past. Rushing to expose it would only embarrass the girl who had just been pulled back from the brink of death, and even cause her further harm.

After Ah Nian finished speaking, the room fell into a moment of oppressive silence, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the breeze outside the window. Kanan took a deep breath, suppressing the suspicions and speculations swirling in her heart. Furious, she clenched her hands into fists and pounded them on the bed. "This Xie Yang family is absolutely mad! In this world, how can we allow them to act so recklessly? Ah Nian, don't be afraid. Now that we're in the medical hut, we have a way to treat them. Sister Lin is a skilled doctor with a kind heart. She will not let you suffer this in vain. And here's me, I'll protect you even if I die!"

Ah Nian raised his tear-stained face and looked at Wan Wan with gratitude. "I, Ah Nian, will remember your kindness. If I have the chance, I will repay you with all my heart. But the Yang family is so powerful, I really can't bear to bring you any trouble."

The door creaked open, and Lin Wunian stepped inside, her figure enveloping the biting chill from outside like a gust of cold wind. She was dressed in plain clothing, the hem of her dress shifting slightly, her expression dignified and resolute. Her gaze, like a torch, fixed directly on Ah Nian's slightly flustered face on the bed. Without even a word of greeting, she blurted out, "Are you talking about the Yang family, the wealthy merchant family of Yang Zishi in the east city?"

Anian subconsciously clutched the quilt tightly, shrank a little into the bed, his eyes dodging, and after hesitating for a moment, he nodded gently and stammered, "It's his house... Sister Lin, but what did I say wrong?" Lin Wunian frowned and slowly approached. Every step seemed to step on Anian's tense heartstrings. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became depressing and made people breathless.

"Yang Zishi..." Lin Wunian silently muttered the name, hatred surging between his teeth. "This man appears kind, but in reality he's ruthless and merciless, stirring up trouble in the shadows of the martial arts world. His hands are stained with as much blood as the Xie family. Ah Nian, don't be afraid. Tell me everything you know about the Yang family. Even the smallest detail could be the key to bringing them down."

Ah Nian bit her lower lip, tears glistening in her eyes as she struggled with her decision. After a long pause, she took a deep breath, as if ready to risk it all. Though her voice still trembled, she no longer concealed anything. "For years, Yang Zishi and others have been secretly running a massive illicit salt trade, colluding closely with local gangs. The cargo ships at the docks often smuggled salt in at night, unnoticed. My father... my father was his accountant. He stumbled upon this secret and tried to withdraw, but he threatened to put his family's safety at risk. My father refused to be complicit, and so... he was brutally murdered."

Listening from the side, Kankan's eyebrows shot up, her face flushed crimson. She shouted angrily, "This black-hearted thief! Ah Nian, we must not let him go. He must pay for his crimes with blood!" Lin Wunian raised his hand to silence Kankan, but his gaze remained fixed on Ah Nian. He pressed, "Where's the account book? Since your father was in charge of the accounts, did he leave any evidence?" Ah Nian shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "My father had anticipated this disaster and burned the account book on the day he returned home to prevent the Yang family from using it to harm others. Unfortunately... he couldn't save his own life."