"Tsk..." Fang Zhiyi sucked in a cold breath. "Is this family descended from vampires? What time is it now?"
Little Hei was about to answer when a man's furious roar came from outside: "Still sleeping?! Go to the neighboring village and haul back the fodder! It’s going to rain soon!"
Fang Zhiyi frowned, walked to the door, and pulled it open. A dark-faced middle-aged man stood not far from his doorway, while under the eaves on the other side, two boys were squabbling over a comic book.
"What are you standing around for?! Hurry up!" Fang's Father barked. The eldest son was getting more and more out of line, daring to slack off.
Fang Zhiyi roughly understood the situation but said nothing. He went to hitch the donkey and prepared to leave.
At the same spot, a girl fell into the water. Without hesitation, Fang Zhiyi jumped in and pulled her out. The girl, regaining her senses, thanked him profusely.
Fang Zhiyi waved it off. "Ah, it’s nothing." As they talked, he learned she had been on her way to a relative’s house when she slipped and fell into the river. So, Fang Zhiyi escorted her to her relative’s home before leaving.
By the time he returned, the Fang family had already started eating—no one waited for him.
"Took you long enough to haul fodder. Probably slacking off again!" Fang's Mother sneered, but then she noticed something amiss. "Where’s the fodder? Fang Zhiyi!"
Fang Zhiyi shrugged. "What fodder?"
"Mom! Big Brother didn’t bring back the donkey or the cart!" The nosy Third Son, bowl in hand, ran to the doorway to check.
"What?!" Hearing this, Fang's Father and Mother both stood up and rushed outside, demanding, "Where’s the donkey cart?"
Fang Zhiyi replied casually, "Well, I saved someone by the river, and after that, the donkey cart was gone." He certainly wasn’t going to admit he’d sold it outright.
"What?!" Fang's Father raised his hand to strike Fang Zhiyi, but the latter reacted faster, yanking the spectating Second Son into the path of the blow. The slap landed squarely on Second Son’s head. Clutching his bowl, the boy froze for a few seconds before bursting into tears.
Though not as spoiled as his younger brother, he had never been hit before.
The commotion stunned everyone. Fang Zhiyi feigned innocence. "Aiya, Dad, why hit Second Son?"
Fang's Father was livid.
"What kind of eldest son are you?! Not only did you lose the donkey cart, but you also used your brother as a shield!" Fang's Mother fumed.
Fang Zhiyi took a few steps back. "Is that the point? Shouldn’t we be looking for the donkey cart?"
The words gave Fang's Father pause—there was some logic to that. He jabbed a finger at Fang Zhiyi. "Take me to find it now! I’ll deal with you later!"
Fang Zhiyi frowned. "But I haven’t eaten yet."
"You think you deserve food after this mess?"
Fang Zhiyi sighed. "If I don’t eat, I won’t have the strength to remember which riverbank it was."
"You—!" Enraged, Fang's Father grabbed a nearby broom and swung at Fang Zhiyi. But to everyone’s surprise, the usually submissive eldest son dodged again, loudly complaining about parental favoritism and starving children.
Fang's Mother cheered her husband on, hurling vicious insults at her "ungrateful" son.
The ruckus drew the attention of neighbors who had just finished dinner. Most knew about the Fang family’s favoritism, but such a public outburst was unprecedented. A crowd gathered outside the gate. Noticing this, Fang's Mother quickly restrained her furious husband.
"Sorry for the scene, everyone. This child’s gotten completely out of hand—he lost the donkey cart!"
The neighbors nodded in understanding. A donkey cart was a valuable possession, after all.
But Fang Zhiyi protested, "I went to save someone! How was I supposed to know the cart would disappear? Tell me, isn’t a life more important than a donkey cart?"
"That’s true," one neighbor murmured.
"Old Fang, don’t be too hard on the boy. He did a good deed. Better focus on finding the cart."
Fang's Father jabbed a finger at Fang Zhiyi. "This little brat claims he doesn’t remember where he lost it!"
Fang Zhiyi said, "I—I was just too cold. I wanted to change into dry clothes and eat something..." Only then did the crowd notice he was still soaked. He lifted his shirt, revealing a lean frame that starkly contrasted with his well-fed younger brothers nearby.
"Tsk, never realized how thin Fang Zhiyi is."
"Isn’t this abuse?"
"Poor kid. His parents make him work under the scorching sun all day."
"Look at the younger ones—cleaner, plumper."
"Old Fang, this isn’t right. He’s your own flesh and blood. No dry clothes, no food—how’s a child supposed to endure that?" someone spoke up.
Fang's Mother flushed with embarrassment. She hadn’t expected her obedient eldest to pull such a stunt today.
Fang's Father panted heavily. "None of your business! How I raise my son is my affair!"
The neighbors muttered among themselves, but no one pressed further. After all, a father disciplining his son was seen as natural.
"Wait!" A booming voice cut through the chatter. The crowd turned to see a neatly dressed middle-aged man standing behind them, pushing a bicycle.
It was clear this man was someone important—bicycles were rare in this small town.
The man strode through the onlookers into the courtyard. Fang's Father gaped, glancing between his son and the stranger. Before he could speak, the man scanned the scene and zeroed in on the drenched Fang Zhiyi.
"You’re Fang Zhiyi?"
Fang Zhiyi nodded. "And you are?"
The man stepped forward and clasped Fang Zhiyi’s hand. "Thank you! If not for you, my daughter would’ve been in danger!"
After some conversation, the man introduced himself as Lin Jianguo, director of the electromechanical factory, and explained he’d come specifically to express his gratitude.
Fang's Mother’s demeanor instantly shifted. "Oh, no need for such formalities! Saving someone is just the right thing to do."
Fang Zhiyi shot her a look. "Just now, you said strangers were none of your business and the donkey cart mattered more."
"You—!" Fang's Mother choked on her words, baffled by her son’s sudden defiance. She turned and shut the gate—the neighbors were still watching.
Lin Jianguo frowned slightly and asked Fang Zhiyi, "What do you do for work?"
Fang Zhiyi answered honestly, "I don’t have a job. Just farm work, and sometimes I read books about electronics."
Lin Jianguo’s eyebrows shot up. "Oh? You’ve read about electronics?"
Before Fang Zhiyi could reply, Fang's Mother interjected, "He doesn’t understand those books! Just works all day. Sir, please, have a seat." She nudged Second Son, who scurried inside to fetch a stool.
Lin Jianguo did not take a seat. He had already formed some opinions about this family earlier. In fact, he had arrived a while ago—after inquiring about the Fang family’s location at the edge of the village—but upon seeing a crowd gathered, he paused to listen for a moment.