The village chief's expression darkened after hearing all this. "Old Man Yun, how do you intend to settle this matter with your son?"
Old Man Yun still refused to agree. Yun Zhen's family clearly had money to spare, and this girl was pretty enough to fetch a good price.
A chill flashed through Yun Manman's eyes. If they would not sever these ties today, she would beat them until they did!
Looking at the people below, each harboring their own thoughts, Yun Manman fixed her gaze on Old Man Yun, her voice bone-chilling and threatening.
"Old Master Yun, something happened to me on the mountain behind the village a few days ago. Do you think I should report it to the authorities?"
Old Man Yun abruptly raised his head to look at Yun Manman. His cloudy, shrewd eyes scrutinized her, holding traces of embarrassment and malice.
Old Woman Yun's eyes filled with panic. This little bitch actually wanted to report it to the authorities. What were they going to do?
Her grandson was about to take the scholar examination. They absolutely could not involve the authorities now!
"Forget it. What advice could a decrepit old man like you give me? I might as well report it and let the county magistrate advise me."
Old Man Yun's voice was cold and sinister. "Yun Manman, just what do you want?"
Yun Manman knew that in ancient times, the family of anyone seeking scholarly honors could not commit offenses. She looked indifferently at the people opposite her.
"My father said he wants to sever family ties. From now on, we'll have nothing to do with each other. My father's Yun surname will form a separate line."
Old Man Yun concealed the malice in his eyes. Hearing Yun Manman say she would not report them, Old Woman Yun's heart settled back into place.
Severing ties was actually acceptable. Once the old man died, everything in the family would belong to her two sons.
At that thought, she raised her chin smugly. "Then we'll sever ties! Our old man has two sons to support him in his old age anyway. You must leave with nothing. You can't take anything belonging to this family."
Yun Wang also raised his chin smugly. Yun Fa said nothing at this point, keeping his head lowered, his thoughts unknown.
"I, Yun Zhen, agree to sever ties as my stepmother proposed. I am willing to leave with my family and take nothing. From now on, we will have no connection to the old Yun family. Village Chief, sorry for the trouble, but please prepare the document for me."
Old Man Yun quietly breathed a sigh of relief, feigning anger in his cloudy, shrewd eyes.
"Yun Zhen, think this through. If you insist on severing ties, you'll have nothing more to do with my Yun family afterward. Even if you starve to death, I won't look after you."
Old Father Yun looked at Old Man Yun with reddened eyes full of disappointment, his voice carrying mockery.
"When I nearly starved to death before, when did you ever look after us?"
"Fine, fine, fine! Yun Zhen, remember this. I'll consider you a son I never had. I won't need you to support me in my old age, either. Whatever happens to you in the future, don't come begging me!"
His grandson would soon become a scholar. Once his grandson became an official, he would have this little bitch killed first. Even if Yun Zhen came begging, he would never acknowledge this son again.
While they were arguing, the village chief had already finished writing the document severing their family ties.
He sighed softly and even made a show of blowing on the half-dried ink.
Watching his actions, Yun Manman raised her brows slightly. This village chief seemed decent.
Old Man Yun was unwilling, but under the threat in Yun Manman's eyes, he ultimately brought his entire family over to sign their names.
Yun Zecai was studying in the county town, so the village chief wrote his name on his behalf, and Yun Fa and Old Man Yun confirmed it with their thumbprints.
Old Father Yun watched the crowd disperse, clutching the document severing their family ties and staring blankly.
Yun Manman hurried forward to rescue the document from Old Father Yun's grasp.
She held Old Father Yun's arm, a faint trace of guilt in her violet eyes.
"Dad, don't be sad. I'll be filial to you both and work hard to earn money so our family can live well. Believe me, we definitely haven't lost out by severing ties this time!"
A flash of tender concern passed through Old Father Yun's eyes as he looked at Yun Manman. This child was so sensible it made his heart ache, taking every responsibility onto herself.
He could sense that Manman was purehearted, clever but ignorant of worldly ways. With such a disposition, she could easily suffer losses. He would have to take good care of this child from now on.
"I know. The children and I will work hard to earn money. Manman, don't put too heavy a burden on yourself. You're a precious girl. You don't need to work so hard."
Madam Zhou, Yun Zewu, and Yun Zeren also came over and laid their hands over Yun Manman's. They exchanged smiling glances, their eyes filled with hope and resolve for the future.
"Gurgle, gurgle..."
Everyone followed the sound to Yun Zewu's stomach.
Yun Zewu rubbed his stomach shyly, looking at Yun Manman with his big, round eyes, his voice carrying a little anticipation.
"Sister, I'm hungry. Let's hurry up and cook the meat!"
Everyone promptly turned to Yun Manman, who rubbed her head awkwardly.
"I... that wok and I have incompatible birth charts. Mom, I'm hungry too. I want meat."
Madam Zhou and Old Father Yun exchanged a glance, their eyes full of indulgent smiles.
"All right, wait here. Your father and I will cook now. I'll really show you my skills tonight."
"Wonderful! Brother, what do you think meat tastes like? I don't even remember anymore."
"Mm, meat must be fragrant and tender, the most delicious treasure in the world, making you want more after you eat it. Slurp..."
Watching the figures walk away in harmony, with cheerful voices and laughter before her,
Yun Manman's eyes also held glimmers of a smile.
She raised a hand to her chest. It felt warm there. Was this familial love? Was this the warmth of everyday life?
"Master, are you tired? Come in and rest. There's a surprise in the space!"
Only then did Yun Manman remember that she still had a cheat she had not explored.
She entered the room, and the thought Enter the space had barely flashed through her mind
before she vanished from the spot.
The scene before her had already changed.
Mist blanketed everything before her, leaving only the area within about five meters clearly visible. To the right stood a tree partly concealed in the mist.
She could not make out its full shape or height. Red fruit hung from the branches that were visible,
looking as tempting as the poisoned apple the wicked queen gave Snow White.
At that thought, Yun Manman hurriedly withdrew the hand she had stretched out to pick a fruit.
These bright red, enticing fruits-if she ate one,
would she be poisoned to death?
And then return to the past?
If she went back now, she could show her skills to the fullest anyway. Those who had opposed her were all dead. Just as Yun Manman's imagination ran wild,
"Master, Master, hurry and eat some Returning Lotus Fruit! This fruit is extraordinary, an exceptional-fruit that cures all illnesses and restores bodily functions."
"Hmm? It's that miraculous?"
Yun Manman's eyes lit up.
This was indeed more useful to her than gold or silver, especially since Madam Zhou's body was so severely depleted. If she ate this, could her body return to normal?
Yun Manman reached out, picked one, and took a bite. It tasted faintly sweet and astringent, but was very juicy.
"Why don't I feel anything after eating it? You aren't fooling me again, are you?"
"Trust me, Master. Remember to eat it before practicing your skills. You'll get twice the results with half the effort!"
"Then I'll call you Guagua from now on. Tonight, your master is going to take care of a little matter. Give me some of that, that..."
Guagua floated before Yun Manman, twisting back and forth. "That kind... just say it already!"