Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Definitely Up to No Good
If she wasn’t mistaken, the man standing before her was her predecessor’s maternal uncle—her mother’s older brother, Li Aiguo.
Su Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly.
It had been nearly seven years. After taking her mother away, this man had never shown his face again. She never thought he’d suddenly show up now.
There’s always a reason for strange behavior, and she knew without a second thought that this man’s visit was not with good intentions.
Although Li Aiguo’s leg injury had mostly healed, it would still ache after walking for a long time. So, after arriving in Xiyuan County, he rested at a guesthouse for two full days before making his way to Lihua Village to find Su Qing.
But the moment he saw Su Qing, Li Aiguo felt all the blood rush to his head.
’Didn’t they say this girl was disfigured?’
’Didn’t they say she had a large, obvious scar on her left cheek?’
’So how is her face completely unblemished? Forget a scar, he couldn’t even see a single red mark.’
Even though he hadn’t seen her in six or seven years, Li Aiguo knew the moment he laid eyes on her that this was Su Qing, Li Wan’s daughter.
It was for no other reason than the fact that Su Qing and Li Wan looked so much alike. They were truly mother and daughter.
Watching Su Qing walk toward him, Li Aiguo struggled to suppress the flicker of panic in his heart. He forced what he thought was an amiable smile and said, "You must be Qingqing. Do you remember me? I’m your uncle. I used to hold you when you were little."
Su Qing stared at Li Aiguo, her face devoid of expression. Everyone in Lihua Village knew how her predecessor had felt about Li Wan and Li Aiguo. She was sure that if he’d asked around even a little, he’d understand her attitude. So, naturally, Su Qing maintained that persona, treating Li Aiguo with cold indifference.
Seeing Su Qing just stare at him coldly without a word, Li Aiguo cursed inwardly. He quickly tried again, "Qingqing, you don’t remember me? It’s me, your uncle! Think hard, can you recall?"
Su Qing stared at Li Aiguo coldly. "Get out."
’What!’
Li Aiguo had expected Su Qing to give him the cold shoulder, but he had never imagined she would tell him to get out so bluntly. He froze for a second before hastily saying, "Qingqing, it’s me! I’m your uncle! Don’t you remember?"
"I don’t have an uncle. Get out." Su Qing picked up a rock at her feet and threw it at him.
Li Aiguo quickly dodged it. Just as he was about to speak, Su Qing shoved him, making him stumble. Before he could regain his footing, he watched as she opened the gate, went into the yard, and slammed it shut, leaving him outside.
Li Aiguo: ...
Having shut Li Aiguo out, Su Qing wasn’t the least bit worried he would leave in a huff. She was certain he had come with a specific goal in mind. As for what that goal was, she hadn’t figured it out yet. But she believed that as long as his goal remained unfulfilled, he absolutely would not leave.
And Su Qing hadn’t forgotten that Li Aiguo had once instigated an outsider to drug her predecessor. When the opportunity arose, she would be sure to "repay" the favor.
"Su Qing, open the door! Open up!" After a moment of shock, Li Aiguo rushed to the gate and started knocking. "It’s your uncle, have you forgotten? How can you treat an elder this way?"
"Get out!" The only response he received was that one, cold word. Li Aiguo was so furious he could have fallen over backward. ’That damn girl! Her temper is even more stubborn than Li Wan’s.’
But when he thought of Su Qing’s unblemished face, a sudden wave of panic washed over him.
’No, what I’m here to do cannot go wrong. If a face like that were exposed to the Li family, it would be a complete disaster.’
Li Aiguo knocked on the gate again. Seeing that Su Qing absolutely refused to open it, he fumed inwardly.
By now, some villagers had noticed the commotion. Seeing an unfamiliar face, one of them asked, "Hey, who are you? Why do you keep knocking on Su Qing’s gate?"
"I’m her uncle. The child... perhaps because we haven’t seen each other in so many years, she doesn’t recognize me." Seeing the villager’s question, Li Aiguo quickly stated his identity, letting out a heavy sigh as if he were heartbroken by Su Qing’s refusal to acknowledge him.
"You’re Su Qing’s uncle?" one person asked. They looked Li Aiguo over and quickly recalled that he had indeed come to the village years ago and taken Li Wan away. It was from that moment that Su Qing’s life of misery began. The person immediately pressed for confirmation, "Are you really *that* uncle of Su Qing’s?"
"Of course. I’m her uncle. Would I lie about that?" Li Aiguo responded.
Hearing Li Aiguo’s confirmation, the person grew indignant. "My goodness, you have the nerve to come back? You took Su Qing’s mother and left her all alone in the village. You abandoned her for six or seven years! She was just a little kid, and you two just threw her away. Now that she’s grown up, you come running back. You must be up to something, aren’t you?"
Li Aiguo’s heart sank, but he quickly forced a laugh. "How could that be? I just came back to check on Qingqing. I’m her uncle, after all."
"Hmph, I doubt that," another older woman snorted. Then, as if a thought struck her, her face lit up with realization. "Oh! Su Qing is seventeen this year, isn’t she? Old enough to get married. Ah-ha! Are you planning something vile? Let me tell you, this girl has us neighbors to protect her. Don’t even think about trying any funny business."
"That’s right! We’re protecting her, so don’t you get any ideas," several others quickly chimed in.
Although Su Qing’s actions toward Tian Aixiang a few days prior had shocked the villagers, the people of Lihua Village were generally a tight-knit community. Su Qing was one of them. In their eyes, the moment Li Aiguo and Li Wan abandoned her, they ceased to be part of Lihua Village. To abandon a child for so many years without a word, only to suddenly show up when she was grown—they were definitely up to no good.
"Oh, no, I’m not, I..."
Before Li Aiguo could finish, Su Qing suddenly opened the gate. She had been listening from the yard, and hearing the villagers stand up for her warmed her heart. These people might have their little quirks, but the vast majority of them were good and kind.
Seeing Su Qing open the gate, the villagers all rushed to reassure her. "Su Qing, don’t you worry. We’re here. We absolutely won’t let this uncle of yours hurt you."
"Thank you, Aunties and Uncles." Su Qing first thanked the villagers, then turned to Li Aiguo, her expression like ice. "You took my mother away. Since you abandoned me, why have you come back looking for me today? I’m telling you, from the moment you cast me aside, I have had nothing to do with you. If you have any sense of shame, leave now. Don’t force me to get physical."
