Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space-Chapter 14. I don’t have

Looking at the crowd waiting for her explanation, Hua Xiaocao panicked as her mind raced quickly, but no matter how she thought, there was no good solution; she could only...

"Jin'er, I really didn't do it on purpose, I truly forgot! You all know that I have endless chores at home. My dad and mom...they can't stand me being idle, and maybe I did go up the mountain, but I quickly went home after digging up some wild vegetables. I really didn't notice if Jin'er was on the mountain, and when I got home, I was so busy my feet didn't touch the ground. I really didn't know anything happened to Jin'er, and Uncle Hua and the others didn't ask me. As for what I told Sister Mao'er that day, I was so tired that I was in a daze, I can't even remember how I answered. Jin'er, I like you so much, how could I possibly wish you harm? Please don't misunderstand me!"

Hua Xiaocao rarely spoke so many words in one go, and despite her voice being very small and her expression timid as always, her expression was on point. It really seemed as if she were anxious about Hua Jin misunderstanding her and not believing her, anxious to the point of almost fainting at any moment.

Tears flowed freely without restraint, and just by this point, Hua Jin had to write a large "admire" for the young girl's acting skills. Although still appearing a bit juvenile, she was much stronger than many stars from her own era!

Really wanted to let them come and take a look, to learn from her.

"Misunderstand what?"

"Exactly, let this old woman hear too."

The familiar voice brought a burst of joy to Hua Jin's heart as she turned around. Xiaosi even ran directly to their mother and grandmother's side and started openly complaining.

Old lady Hua and Madam Qi's expressions visibly became serious as they turned their gaze to Hua Xiaocao.

They knew their own children well; although a bit pampered, they would never speak about things without a reason.

Since Jin'er dared to speak out, it indicated that Hua Xiaocao indeed had a significant suspicion.

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Thinking about how Hua Xiaocao and Mao'er had pretended to come to visit on that day, Old lady Hua and Madam Qi felt even more uneasy, and their gaze towards Hua Xiaocao became more serious.

Meanwhile, when Hua Xiaocao saw that old lady Hua and Jin'er's mother had arrived, her heart started pounding and her face turned pale with fright. Luckily for her, she was dark-skinned by birth, otherwise, people would surely say she looked guilty.

"What on earth happened? Why did this old woman hear someone calling my Jin'er's name?" Old lady Hua stepped forward, surveying the crowd, finally focusing her cold gaze on Hua Xiaocao.

Old lady Hua, being the village chief's wife, naturally carried an aura of authority, and when she put on a stern face like this, nobody dared to speak out of turn.

Under Old lady Hua's gaze, Hua Xiaocao trembled like a leaf but still gritted her teeth and lifted her head, falling to her knees with a "thump" before Old lady Hua; this time, no one stopped her.

"Village chief grandma, it's all my fault. It's my unclear words that made Jin'er angry, but I truly didn't do it on purpose. On the day Jin'er had an accident, I really didn't notice she was on the mountain. If I had known, I would have told you, village chief grandma. I truly didn't mean any harm, I..."

With that, Hua Xiaocao began to sob, her voice exceedingly suppressed and pitiable, making those around feel a pang of sympathy.

This time, although Hua Xiaocao still cried, she did manage to lay out the main points.

"Then why doesn't my sister accuse others of having bad intentions?" Xiaosi retorted, yet hit the nail on the head.

Yes! Hua Jin is not ordinarily such a meticulous girl; the newly sprung sympathy quickly dissipated.

Over there, Hua Jin cast another appreciative glance at her brother.

This pesky brother still showed reliability when needed.

Old lady Hua gave Hua Xiaocao a deep look, then turned to her granddaughter, her frown easing significantly.

"Jin'er, tell us, what happened?"

"Grandma, I don't know why seeing Hua Xiaocao brought back memories of that day."

Old lady Hua and Madam Qi were instantly shocked, as the mother-daughter pair were already concerned about Hua Jin's fall from the mountain; knowing their child remembered, they instinctively asked, "Did you really remember?"

"Yes," Hua Jin nodded. "I have to thank Hua Xiaocao. If not for her, I might not have recalled."

Saying this, Hua Jin looked at Hua Xiaocao, although her gaze was far from the gratitude her words suggested, being quite unfriendly.

"What on earth happened? Quickly tell us!" Madam Qi could not care about much else; all she wanted to know was what happened that day and how her good daughter could roll down the slope.

She never believed the child accidentally rolled down.

They knew their own child well; though a bit pampered at times and prone to little tantrums, they were not careless. And both she and the child's father often reminded them to be cautious outside, to never let themselves be in danger or go to dangerous places. How could she have fallen down the slope?

This matter has always been like a thorn in her heart, but since her daughter had a head injury, her memory was jumbled and foggy, unable to recall. She was worried the child would think too much and get a headache, so she dared not let her think much. Now that the child brought it up herself, Madam Qi could no longer hold it in.

"Mom, don't worry, it was like this..." Then Hua Jin recounted what she remembered one by one.

"Before I fell, I vaguely felt the vines under my feet being pulled, which made me lose my balance and fall..."

"My poor Jin'er, I knew, I knew my child could not possibly fell from the mountain for no reason, rest assured, Mom will never let the person who harmed you go unpunished." Madam Qi gathered Hua Jin into her arms, her eyes filled with heartache, turning red.

God knows, when she saw her daughter brought back covered in blood, what kind of days she lived through.

Recalling the suffering her daughter endured, Madam Qi couldn't stay calm, her gaze turning unfriendly towards Hua Xiaocao.

Although lacking full evidence for now, Hua Xiaocao's suspicion was too strong. The mere fact that she knew Jin'er had gone up the mountain but pretended not to know was very suspicious.

Don't say you didn't know; only a fool would believe such an excuse.

That day, when Jin'er went missing, not only their family but the whole village joined the search, making a huge fuss. How could she not know?

Bad intentions, her daughter wasn't wrong; Hua Xiaocao indeed harbored bad intentions.

Madam Qi's gaze was too frightening, causing Hua Xiaocao to instinctively take a few steps back.

"Aunt Qi...Aunt Qi, it truly has nothing to do with me."

The only thing Hua Xiaocao could do right now was adamantly deny knowing anything.

"Then tell me, why didn't you inform us that Jin'er was up the mountain that day, causing a delay in saving her? Don't try to fool us with the excuse of not noticing or knowing. Do you think I would believe that?"

"Regardless of whether my daughter's injury is related to you, Hua Xiaocao, I have always considered myself quite kind to you. Believing that you have it tough with such parents and encountering that kind of grandparents, never once did I not give you something whenever you came by. All of this aside, you bear the surname Hua. Although the connection is remote, we're still of the same lineage. If you were an ignorant child, it would be excusable, but Xiaocao, you are over ten, no longer a little child. I believe even an outsider would be moved to action if they knew a family's child was missing. My daughter has been fortunate to survive this calamity, but with your actions, Hua Xiaocao, don't say Jin'er accused you of bad intentions. In my view, you indeed have bad intentions. My daughter has not wronged you in the least."

"Hua Xiaocao, how do you explain this?" Old lady Hua's face was dark as she gazed at Hua Xiaocao, her daughter-in-law expressing words she also wanted to say.