Chapter 55: The Claws Are Ruined!

As soon as Zhao Chujiu returned to the Jiang family’s house, she called out to Jiang Chengyan, who was struggling to move debris, “I went to see her for you. She’s indeed at your parents’ place. She must have suffered a bit—looked just like a little beggar.”

Jiang Chengyan gave a low grunt, suppressing the emotions in his eyes as he continued working.

Both he and Zhao Chujiu were exceptionally strong, so moving the wreckage went swiftly.

As for the eastern end of the village, Zhao Chujiu hadn’t lied—indeed, only their house remained standing.

“Third Mother, I’ll go heat water for the doctor first. You take the child and tend to her wounds,” Jiang’s father said to Madam Zhao.

She agreed and led Bai Yan off to the west room.

…

Because this was the only house in all of Xitang Village that hadn’t collapsed, it became the temporary shelter for everyone.

The village head and his wife made the rounds, delivering quilts, while saying to Jiang Chengyan, who sat nearby gulping water, “Chengyan, it’s thanks to you tonight. If not for you, our village wouldn’t have been so fortunate. There are plenty of injured, but no fatalities. I just heard from Beitang that they suffered many casualties!”

That old bell, though its sound was no longer clear, was meant for emergencies. Who would have thought it would save so many lives tonight?

Jiang Chengyan only gave a faint smile. “It was the chickens, ducks, and geese at home that first sensed something.” He would never mention Bai Yan’s involvement. Earlier, sending Zhao Chujiu to fetch Madam Zhao to help boil water was also meant to keep Bai Yan from going out to carry stones.

In the eyes of others, it was enough for her to be just an ordinary person.

“Now that you mention it, our cat acted up first, too.”

“Our dog as well,” another chimed in.

One by one, the villagers shared their stories. Though their faces were smeared with dust, their eyes shone with the joy of survival, and their gratitude toward Jiang Chengyan was unmistakable.

While everyone’s attention was diverted by the animals’ behavior, Jiang Chengyan lowered his eyes, then stood and walked toward the west room.

Inside, the little girl, covered in dust, had already been changed by Madam Zhao into clean clothes. However, the sight of her bandaged, still-bleeding feet and hands was enough to make anyone wince.

Those small hands—he had applied pearl ointment to them every night, yet tonight they were ruined.

She must have been utterly exhausted, for she now lay on her back, sleeping deeply.

“Come here a moment; I need to speak with you.” Just as Jiang Chengyan was gazing down at Bai Yan asleep, Madam Zhao called him coldly into the small side room of the east wing.

It was a secluded place, well insulated from sound—no one outside could overhear.

“You knew all along that the girl was unusually strong?” Madam Zhao fixed her gaze on Jiang Chengyan.

He nodded, offering no further explanation.

“I’m warning you all—this matter stays locked inside your bellies. If anyone dares breathe a word of it, I’ll cut out their tongue myself!” Her eyes swept over the three men of the family.

Jiang’s father and Jiang Cheng’an nodded vigorously.

For the first time, Jiang Chengyan looked up and studied the other three members of his family carefully.

…

When Bai Yan awoke, she instinctively felt discomfort in her hands and feet. She looked and saw all four were wrapped up like pig’s trotters.

“Aaaah!” She couldn’t help but cry out.

Madam Zhao was in the courtyard brewing medicine, chatting with the neighbor women. At the sound, she instantly threw down her fan and rushed toward the house, calling, “What’s happened to my Yan Yan? Was it a nightmare?”

Aunt Wang muttered to herself, “Why does Zhao Third treat her daughter-in-law a hundred times better than her own son?”

Just as Madam Zhao was about to burst into the west room, the door slammed shut in her face.

She had caught a glimpse of the figure slipping in—clearly, it was Jiang Chengyan.

“Jiang Chengyan, don’t you dare bully your wife!” Madam Zhao shouted fiercely from outside, sounding as if she might devour him.

Inside, Jiang Chengyan curled his lips into a smirk and pressed down on Bai Yan’s pig-trotter paws. “Little one, you certainly ran wild last night, didn’t you?”