Chapter 677: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 677: Evidence of Framing (2)
The ten older children, eager for the adventure, managed to convince the younger ones to return home with various tricks and coaxing. With the Five Beasts leading the way, Mo Yan kept her younger siblings and the group of children in the middle, with herself bringing up the rear to ensure no one got lost. Fortunately, the children were relatively well-behaved, as it was their first real adventure into the mountains.
It was late autumn, and the vegetation on the mountain was mostly withered. The snakes, insects, and pests were not as active as in summer, reducing the risk of bites or encounters with dangerous creatures.
The Five Beasts, accustomed to the mountain, guided Mo Yan and the children through the terrain, leading them to fruit trees not found in the space or orchard. Some of the wild berries and fruits growing on the shrubs were delicious and easy to pick, which thrilled the children who rarely had fresh fruit. They eagerly filled their baskets and their stomachs.
The mountain path was treacherous, and a fall could cause serious injury. With so many children, it was challenging for Mo Yan to keep track of everyone. After digging up a few young fruit saplings and collecting some herbs not available in her space, she decided it was time to head back.
As they reached the edge of the mountain, Mo Yan spotted a group of seven or eight villagers approaching. Initially, she thought they had come to check on their children, but upon closer inspection, she realized they had come specifically to find her.
"Yao'er, you need to hide the Five Beasts quickly. Several people have brought officials to your house, claiming that the Five Beasts injured them. They’re demanding 500 taels of silver in compensation from your family!" a quick-talking woman said urgently.
Whether the Five Beasts had actually harmed someone or if it was a deliberate attempt to extort money, it was a situation that needed to be handled carefully. Hiding the Five Beasts and denying the claims might make the problem go away, but it was not a satisfactory solution.
Since her own children had been saved by the Five Beasts, Mo Yan felt a strong obligation to support them and not let them be wronged. The villagers' effort to warn her was a way of showing gratitude, and she was determined to deal with the extortionists.
Mo Yan’s expression turned serious. She knew the Five Beasts had not harmed anyone, and the claim was clearly an attempt to deceive. If not handled properly, the villagers might start seeing the Five Beasts as dangerous, and she might be forced to deal with them.
"No matter what, we must not hide the Five Beasts," Mo Yan said firmly. "If we do, people will think we’re guilty and fall into their trap. I won’t let anyone harm the Five Beasts or pay any compensation to these extortionists. I will find out who is behind this and deal with them."
The villagers, understanding that Mo Yan was resolute, said, “We believe in the innocence of the Five Beasts. Rest assured, if those scoundrels try to harm them, we will use our tools to drive them out of the village.”
“Exactly. The Five Beasts are intelligent and good-hearted; we won’t let these villains taint their reputation.”
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