CHAPTER 198: CHAPTER 198: TREATING THE ROOT CAUSE

Yi Chichi, "?? Can’t manage?"

"How can you manage when you’re out at sea?"

Well, there’s really no way around it.

"What about usually?"

"When Lian Xiaofang’s husband is around, her behavior isn’t great but not too outrageous either. But once her husband isn’t home, she starts stealing her daughter’s malt milk extract and milk powder to eat, and doesn’t do any chores— leaving them all to her eldest daughter."

Zhu Lihong, increasingly angry, couldn’t continue, "I’ll go find her, will you come?"

Yu Lanfang wanted to join and coaxed Yi Chichi to join the commotion.

She refused.

There’s no point in witnessing such commotion.

Even a righteous official can’t resolve family disputes— outsiders can only do so much in Lian Xiaofang’s case of child neglect.

Because outsiders can’t keep constant watch over her or take care of her two daughters.

This issue can only be resolved by her husband.

But he’s not around, so once they confront Lian Xiaofang, she might act nicely upfront, but once they leave, she’ll revert back.

The kids are the ones suffering in the end.

So, going there would only upset oneself.

Zhu Lihong and Yu Lanfang left to stand up for Lian Xiaofang’s two girls.

Yi Chichi sighed as she watched them leave, then returned to her spot to continue embroidering her plum blossom.

At noon, she took her lunchbox to the cafeteria to eat.

In the afternoon, Zhu Lihong came by to report, saying Lian Xiaofang promised to change.

Yi Chichi wasn’t hopeful about it.

Sure enough, a few days later, Yi Chichi and Wen Shi encountered her eldest daughter Ren Laodi while heading out to catch seafood with a bucket.

The eight-year-old girl, all head and little body, resembled a bean sprout.

Her clothes didn’t fit, the sleeves were short, the pants hung low with patches upon patches.

Her little face was dirty black and thin, and her exposed arms and legs were thin like twigs, seemingly ready to snap with a light touch.

She was probably starving, squatting by the pile of rocks, collecting clams and smashing them to eat— piece after piece without chewing, swallowing them straight down.

She ate so quickly that she choked herself, coughing uncontrollably.

Seeing this scene, Yi Chichi nudged Wen Shi, gesturing with her eyes when he looked over.

Wen Shi wasn’t very familiar with the wives and children in the family area, unable to recognize her.

But the child looked genuinely pitiable.

"Know her?"

He rummaged through his pocket, pulling out two candies Yi Chichi stuffed in earlier, ready to give to Ren Laodi.

"Ren’s daughter."

Yi Chichi pulled him back, gently reminding him.

Wen Shi’s eyes suddenly widened, "Ren Yanpeng?"

"Yeah."

Yi Chichi nodded, Wen Shi’s mind instantly recalling Ren Yanpeng’s complaints about his wife, knowing the situation.

"What’s her name?"

"Laodi."

That name...

He sighed, stepped forward, pulling Yi Chichi to Ren Laodi, casting a shadow over the little girl who raised her head.

When their eyes met, Yi Chichi’s heart skipped a beat; if this child’s living environment doesn’t change, there’s no hope for her life.

Words like forlorn, numb, and despair shouldn’t apply to an eight-year-old girl.

Yet her dull, lifeless eyes embodied these words.

Wen Shi was startled by her gaze as well.

He knelt down, opened his hand, "Child, want some candy?"

Ren Laodi glanced at him, dropped her gaze, silently raised her hand to continue smashing her clams.

But clams were small, the meat was barely there, and in hunger, one needs carbohydrates and high protein; clam-type food only makes you hungrier.

Yi Chichi pulled out a small pack of biscuits from her pocket, handing it over, "Laodi, eat some biscuits."

The little girl paused, looked at her.

"You know me?"

Her voice was hoarse, dry, with a thick accent.

But it was understandable.

"I know you, I live opposite Aunt Zhu."

She pointed to Wen Shi, smiling, "This is your dad’s comrade Wen Shi, you should call him Uncle."

She softly greeted, speaking very politely.

"Hello Uncle, hello Aunty."

"Now do we count as acquaintances?"

She asked gently, Ren Laodi stared at her, seeing her gentle expression without disdain, slightly nodded in agreement.

"Uncle and Aunty are unfamiliar with the area, can you help us out?"

The little girl hesitated for a long time, her gaze wandering between the clams and Yi Chichi’s face. She didn’t rush, just smiled and watched her.

Finally, she seemed to make up her mind and agreed.

"What do you need help with?"

"Take us sea-swamping, this pack of biscuits is your reward."

She smiled and asked, "Is that okay?"

"I’ll take you, but don’t want the biscuits."

She’s an honest and kind little girl. Despite her stomach growling from hunger, she steadfastly refused Yi Chichi’s kind offer.

Even told her that the biscuits were expensive and would be wasted eating them.

Wen Shi clenched his fist empathetically.

Old Ren’s daughter is so sweet and sensible, yet his wife can’t behave humanely.

"Food is meant for eating; if it’s eaten, it’s not wasted."

He took the biscuit from Yi Chichi’s hand, opened it, took a piece and brought it to her mouth, "Eat, don’t eat, and when your dad returns, I’ll beat him."

His tone was firm, shocking the little girl into a panic, "I’ll eat, Uncle, please don’t beat my dad."

Her dad was small, but this uncle was so big; surely, dad couldn’t win if they fought.

She didn’t want her dad beaten.

Before she finished speaking, she took the biscuit and ate it like a rabbit.

Originally she worried that Wen Shi’s scare might make her cry, Yi Chichi, prepared to reach out and comfort the child, silently withdrew her hand.

No need for her to intervene.

A protective heart for dad allowed Wen Shi to administer the perfect medicine.

She was puzzled, since Ren Yanpeng cared so much for his daughter, where did Lian Xiaofang get the nerve to mistreat her two daughters?

After finishing one biscuit, the little girl licked her lips, and another biscuit came her way.

"Eat!"

This time, Wen Shi’s tone was much softer, the girl’s eyes sparked a bit, she thanked politely, "Thank you, Uncle."

Thus, under Wen Shi’s one-by-one feeding, the small pack of biscuits was all eaten.

The white rabbit candy also made its way into her mouth.

Then, without letting her speak, Wen Shi stood up, "Lead us out to sea swamp."

"This way."

The little girl quickly stood up, leaving behind the small stone and the clams.

Barefooted, she led the way, her voice not as soft, with a bit of vigor.

Her energy seemed restored.

No longer lethargic.

She started chatting more.

"There’s a mudflat over there with crabs in it, Uncle, do you want to catch crabs?"

Wen Shi glanced at Yi Chichi, seeing that she didn’t object, smiled, saying it was fine.

"There’s also a small pond-like spot over there, every time the tide retreats there will be lobsters and fish trapped in it, Uncle, you’re tall, you can go pick them."

Wen Shi... This kid, could it be she usually stays at the beach? Otherwise, how could she know these spots so clearly?

Yi Chichi asked her, "You’ve been there?"

"I’ve been."

She nodded, "Once I was too hungry and came to find something to eat. I ended up here, the pond was too big, the water too deep, I didn’t dare go down, I just picked some shells from the edge to eat."