Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 16: Collective Crusade

"Looking at you two, just rushing over like this, aside from beating that person up, what else can you do?" Aunt earnestly advised.

"At least we should make him shed some skin." Cheng Qiang retorted indignantly.

Cheng Yong added, "Yes, or break his leg."

Really worried about these two’s intelligence; her father and uncle really should just stick to farming, Cheng Xiaoxiao silently sighed!

However, there are smart people in the family. Second brother Cheng Hao spoke up, "Even if you break that man’s leg, Aunt and cousin are still part of the Qiao Family. They’ll still be abused by them. Maybe your commotion will only make things worse and they’ll find more vicious ways to torture them. Can you help them forever?"

"I guess the person who needs rescuing is probably the host’s aunt." Judging from the situation, Cheng Xiaoxiao had a premonition.

"Host, there’s a high probability!"

"I wonder how much longer my poor aunt can hold on." She had to consider a rescue strategy.

"The system has issued a task with a 24-hour time limit. If you rescue them within this time, it’s possible." Cheng Xiaoxiao communicated in her mind with the system on how to rescue, while the courtyard was filled with heated debate.

"Let’s get Little Sister separated from him directly." Cheng Yong thought, not letting Little Sister stay in that wolf’s den any longer.

"That’s easier said than done. Do you think that man will agree?" Cheng Hao didn’t think it would be that easy to resolve.

"This won’t work, that won’t work, then what should we do?" Cheng Qiang was a bit agitated.

After some thought, Cheng Rong said, "They’re planning to sell Dalan. If we can’t resolve the issues with the sisters, we’ll be in for more trouble."

"Dalan and Xiaolan both have the last name Qiao. If they want to leave the Qiao Family, it’s..." Cheng Hao didn’t finish, but everyone knew the meaning. It was too difficult.

Seeing that nobody could come up with a solution, Liu Family said, "It’s getting dark. I’ll make some food for you all. Eat something and brainstorm slowly!"

Seeing that the situation wouldn’t be resolved anytime soon, as her family was still there, Cheng Xiaoxiao took out the buns she had bought and had Aunt warm them up to satiate the little ones.

Cheng Xiaoxiao stepped forward to help up a crying, tear-stained, frail girl, feeling compassion in her heart. What kind of father could abuse his own flesh and blood like this?

"There will always be a way to solve this. Stop crying, or what will you do if you cry your eyes blind?" Cheng Xiaoxiao comforted.

Qiao Xiaolan got up and examined this cousin. The encouragement in her eyes put her at ease.

As night fell, no one really had an appetite, and they sat at the table, sighing mournfully!

Seeing this, Cheng Xiaoxiao nonchalantly said, "What’s the big deal? We’ll figure out a way to have Aunt leave him, and the two sisters can move back. Just cut off ties with their old Qiao Family, isn’t that simple?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Xiaolan, sitting in the corner of the table, suddenly looked spirited, but quickly suppressed it.

A casual remark struck a chord in everyone’s heart.

The question was, what method could they use now? Even if they saved Aunt, the two sisters might not be able to come back.

"Have you forgotten why we went to town today?" Saying this, Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t forget to put a nut in her mouth.

At this moment, Mr. Cheng and Cheng Rong remembered their day’s accomplishments, having been completely overshadowed by this matter.

The expression on their faces improved greatly as they started telling everyone about the herbs they sold today, thrilling everyone.

If they now had a way to make money, they wouldn’t have to eat coarse grains or jars, lose sleep over tuition fees, or worry about bad harvests causing tax food shortages anymore.

In short, this was a shot of adrenaline to their hearts, giving them hope and anticipation for future days...

Everyone’s faces lit up with smiles, finally relieving some of the tension, as Cheng Xiaoxiao continued, "Now that everyone has confidence, let’s discuss the rescue plan!"

**

At dawn the next day, the Cheng Family mobilized according to the plan set the day before.

Uncle Cheng went to find the Clan Leader and Village Chief, explained the situation, gathered twenty to thirty clansmen, and with Uncle Cheng leading, they were ready to go. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Over here, Qiao Xiaolan donned mourning clothes, of course, these were sewn overnight by Aunt under Cheng Xiaoxiao’s supervision. Today, she was going to put on a grand performance.

Cheng Hao, at this point, hurriedly arrived with Doctor Huang, while Mr. Cheng had already rushed to Shangqiao Village ahead of time to make arrangements.

In the early morning sun’s first light, this large group headed grandly towards Shangqiao Village, startling countless birds into flight.

An hour later, while Shangqiao Village’s residents were still busy working in the fields...

The sound of grief-filled cries came closer and closer. They put down their hoes, stood watching, unsure of what was happening.

Getting closer, they discovered a group of people from Qingshan Village, led by Qiao Xiaolan in mourning clothes, weeping uncontrollably, with the Cheng Family members holding various farm tools, coming with ill intentions.

Everyone started talking, rushing forward to join the excitement.

"Looks like the people from Qingshan Village have come knocking on their door."

"Seems Qiao Hai beat his wife to death, and her family has come for answers."

"Seems Granny Cao is going to sell her granddaughter to the brothel."

The gossip gradually spread through every ear in Shangqiao Village.

At this moment, people from both Qingshan Village and Shangqiao Village gathered outside Qiao Hai’s courtyard.

Cheng Xiaoxiao was very pleased; this was exactly the effect she wanted—the pressure of public opinion. Once everyone had this perception, no matter how those two mother and son argued, they were losing ground.

Over here, Xiaolan was equally dedicated, crying while knocking on the door, sobbing intermittently, "Dad, open the door, please, let my mom go! My mom was beaten to death by you, sob sob sob.... please let me see her again!"

"Grandma, Grandma, please don’t sell my sister, you can hit Xiaolan if you’re unhappy! Xiaolan will be very obedient, Xiaolan can do any work, just please don’t sell my sister, sob sob sob..."

Such heart-wrenching cries, so humble and helpless, made everyone present feel sorrowful and want to cry alongside, condemning Qiao Hai for being inhuman.

In this clamour, an old woman came cursing towards the courtyard door.

"You little wretch, mourning early in the morning. The old lady isn’t dead yet, you bring bad luck." As she said this, she swung her hand down, only to have it caught by Cheng Qiang and then released.

Causing Granny Cao to almost fall, she was about to curse again when she saw the situation outside the courtyard, and was momentarily dumbfounded.

"Old Mrs. Cao, quickly hand over my sister." Cheng Qiang said angrily.

Seeing so many people outside, she felt guilty but defiantly yelled, "Do you think I’m afraid of your Cheng Family because you brought so many people here? Cheng Chudong married my son many years ago, she’s long been part of my Qiao Family, what’s your meaning? You think I fear you?"

At this point, the Village Chief of Shangqiao Village arrived slowly, feeling a headache, having learned about the situation on the way, finding it difficult to resolve.

As everyone’s attention turned to the Village Chief, Cheng Xiaoxiao gestured to Cheng Hao, who understood and quietly left the crowd with Doctor Huang.

Village Chief Qiao stepped forward, raising his hand to salute Uncle Cheng from Qingshan Village, "Uncle Cheng, what’s brought you here?"

Uncle Cheng let out a cold snort and slammed his cane on the ground, "Is this how your Shangqiao Village treats our daughters from Qingshan Village, grinding them to death as cattle and horses?"

Village Chief Qiao didn’t believe it. People in the village knew Qiao Hai beat his wife a bit, but such things weren’t rare in the village. Men beating women, or tough women beating their husbands, married couples fighting is common, isn’t it? It’s not as serious as they’re saying.