This was from the mountains last year.

Su Xiaolu liked to eat them very much. Although some of them were rotten, the good ones were still delicious.

Su Chong and Su Hua would also give the good ones to Su Xiaolu.

Su Chong said, “Xiaolu, those two trees have also borne many fruits this year. When they’re ripe, we’ll go and get them for you.”

Su Hua smiled and nodded. “It can pick 20 catties.”

Su Xiaolu smiled. “Sure.”

Her family rarely ate this thing. Su Xiaolu knew that they always let her have it.

So every time she came back, she would bury a few handfuls in the ashes of the fire and share them with everyone.

She peeled some good ones and gave them to Su Xiaoling.

Su Xiaolu fed them one by one. Su Xiaoling smiled and opened her mouth to eat.

Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao did not eat.

When dinner was ready, the family sat down together.

Life was so uneventful.

Su Xiaolu went back and forth between home and Sun residence, so early the next morning, she went into town with her family again.

When she returned to Sun residence, Su Xiaolu saw a crowd on the street. She walked over and heard people discussing.

“Gosh, her face is scary. She’s got scars all over her face. It’s scary as hell.”

“Exactly. Whenever she looks at me, I’m afraid I’ll have nightmares at night.”

People said with disdain and malice.

Su Xiaolu could not help but frown. She squeezed in and saw a helpless woman sitting on the ground. She covered her face with her hands as if she did not know how to face the malice of the people.

There was a green gauze hat on the ground. There were so many people watching, but no one picked it up for her.

Some people were filled with malice, while others carried sympathy. However, no one did anything to help. It was as if they would become the next target of everyone’s guidance if they did.

“You judge. My son just accidentally bumped into her. She insisted that we stole her silver. We’re honest people. Who would do that? Look at her face. I don’t think she’s a clean person.”

A woman stood with her hands on her hips, with a look of intense distaste.

Beside her, a boy of about eight or nine years old looked at the onlookers obediently and innocently. He said, “Uncle, Auntie, Big Brother, Big Sister, believe me, I didn’t steal anything. My mother taught me not to steal since I was young, so I won’t steal anything from others.”

“You judge if that’s the case.”

The woman clapped her hands loudly, easily resonating.

A number of people nodded in agreement.

“This girl doesn’t look where she’s going and even maligns my son. Tell me, can I stand this? We’re not unreasonable people. As long as this girl is willing to admit her mistake and give me a few coins to buy a bowl of noodles for my son, this matter will be over.”

The woman said angrily. She looked coldly at the woman who was sitting on the ground and did not dare to face anyone. Her eyes were filled with smugness.

People looked at the angry woman and the innocent child and naturally felt that they couldn’t just let it go. The girl had to pay three to five copper coins to treat the mother and son to a bowl of noodles.

Someone said, “Girl, that’s where you’re wrong. You hit someone and still accuse them of stealing money. Do you have a conscience?”

Someone else said, “That’s right. Hurry up and pay them some copper coins. Thank them for being magnanimous and not pursuing the matter.”

As for the girl, she just lowered her head and kept silent.

People were unhappy.

No one saw the tears running down her fingers.

Su Xiaolu frowned and picked up the hat to put it on her.

The woman looked up at Su Xiaolu in shock.

Su Xiaolu said softly, “Sister, how much money did you lose? Do you want me to report it to the authorities for you? I’m sure the authorities can investigate this matter.”

Even if she wanted to apologize, it wasn’t up to this mother and daughter to decide for her.

Lin Yaoyao held back her tears. Before she could speak, she was interrupted.

“Oh my, it’s such a small matter. We don’t have to report it to the authorities. The officials are busy. It’s fine if you don’t apologize. We won’t argue with you.”

“Son, time to go.”

With that, the woman grabbed the boy beside her and left.

Mother and son left very quickly and soon disappeared.

When people saw that there was nothing more to see, they gradually dispersed.

Only a few were still secretly looking at Lin Yaoyao.

The way people sized her up and covered their mouths to laugh and chat was a huge blow to Lin Yaoyao.

Su Xiaolu ignored everything else and asked gently, “Big sister, let me help you up.”

Lin Yaoyao slowly stood up.

Su Xiaolu said, “Sister, how much money did you lose? I think you should report it to the officials.”

Lin Yaoyao’s heart was a mess. Hearing Su Xiaolu’s caring words, she finally felt strong. Her voice was hoarse. “Thank you.”

After saying thank you, she pushed Su Xiaolu away and staggered away.

Lin Yaoyao just wanted to go home as soon as possible.

Su Xiaolu looked at Lin Yaoyao’s back and sighed. She recognized Lin Yaoyao.

She had clearly suffered and lost her money, but in the end, she had broken down and left.

Sometimes, people’s words and actions were really strange. They did not fight or use knives, but they still injured people all over.

Su Xiaolu returned to Sun residence and continued to study medicine. She still wanted to study whitening techniques.

—-

Lin Yaoyao staggered home and closed the door in a panic. Only then did she lean against the door and slide to the ground. She took off her gauze hat and threw it aside, suppressing her tears.

She didn’t even dare to cry loudly. She could only suppress herself like this.

Despair had already enveloped her heart.

Her face would never heal. She would always be ashamed.

There was no room for her in this world. Because she was disfigured, people would not believe that she had really been robbed.

Her parents loved her, but they would eventually leave her. She would be alone for the rest of her life. What was the point of such a life?

She would never be able to go out openly.

As long as her face was like this, wherever she went, people would talk and laugh at her.

She’d had enough of this life.

Lin Yaoyao stood up slowly and took the scissors from the embroidery frame. She raised her slender wrist and cut it without hesitation.

Blood gushed, and stung her eyes.

Tears blurred her vision. Looking at the blood dripping onto the ground, Lin Yaoyao felt that it was like a scorching red plum blossom, but there were too few red plum blossoms, far from enough.

So she raised her hand and cut again, once, twice…

until she lost her strength and fell limp…

Lin Yaoyao was smiling. She felt very happy to be able to leave with the red plum blossom. Unfortunately, she hadn’t seen a real red plum blossom in the snow for a long time. She remembered that there were a few red plum trees on a hill in the eastern suburbs. They were beautiful when the winter snow bloomed. She had the honor of seeing them.

Later, when more people went, she stopped going.

When her consciousness gradually faded, Lin Yaoyao saw a figure pouncing toward her shouting in panic, “My daughter…”