Starting From A Son In Law To Build An Long Lasting Family Chapter 2050: 543: Little Que’er (part 2)

Just beyond the village entrance lies a sparkling brook where a group of village ladies have their sleeves rolled up, beating and scrubbing laundry while gossiping about family matters.

Amid these women stands a girl of about six or seven, crouched by the water's edge, lightly striking the clothes with a wooden stick before rubbing them spotless using her pale, delicate small hands.

Finishing the wash, the girl squeezes out the garments completely and loads them into a bamboo basket, then gets to her feet and walks back toward the village.

"Little Que’er, finished with the washing already?"

"If only my daughter were half as sensible as you."

A few nearby village women noticed the girl and teased praises toward her loudly.

"If Little Que’er hadn’t suddenly stopped growing, I’d want her to be my daughter-in-law."

"Yes, not only is her skin fair and tender, but her face is as delicate as a porcelain doll. If she grows up, she’ll surely be as graceful as the daughters of wealthy families in the city."

As the girl departed, the village women voiced their regrets.

Her growth has abruptly ceased.

Based on when she first came to the village, this young girl should now be ten years old, but her body and features stay frozen exactly as they appeared three or four years prior.

At first, plenty thought of asking Grandma Li to betroth Little Que’er as a wife to their boys, yet upon witnessing this, they abandoned the idea.

"Hmph, right after Grandma Li found this little girl, her growth halted out of nowhere. Who can say she isn’t some demon? I recall a scar on her forehead that disappeared on its own soon after."

Others even deem Little Que’er’s condition unnatural, suspecting her of being a monster in disguise.

...

"Uncle Zhao, Aunt Zhao..."

Little Que’er ignored such talk, hefting the laundry basket as she returned to the village. Spotting familiar faces, she greeted them cheerfully, her voice full of charm.

Even though her growth stalled suddenly over recent years and she was born with immense strength—seen by some as monstrous—most villagers stayed warm toward her, free of bias.

Before long, she reached the rundown, fenced-in old house.

"Little Que’er."

The old lady preserving vegetables in the yard caught sight of the returning girl, her lined face softening into a grin as she called warmly.

"Grandma."

The girl flashed a sweet smile in reply, fetched a short stool to climb on, and began hanging the clothes from the basket.

"Little Que’er, take care not to tumble. Let me handle it."

The old woman moved to assist, but with age weakening her body, Little Que’er usually hurried to take over such tasks.

"It’s okay, Grandma."

"Little Que’er, go relax, I’ll prepare your meal."

After the girl completed her work, the elderly woman affectionately stroked her tiny head, her words tender—yet inwardly she sighed over the child’s unexpected growth arrest.

Were she not so likable, dutiful, and precious, securing a fine household for her would be simple.

That would ease her fears about leaving the girl alone after her own passing.

"By the calendar, an Immortal should soon arrive to select disciples—maybe Little Que’er will get picked."

The old woman recalled her own firstborn, taken by Immortals years ago, hoping the same fate might lift Little Que’er into cultivation.

As Grandma tended the cooking, Little Que’er perched alone in the tiny yard, silently running through the breathing technique in her thoughts.

This breathing method had come to her faintly in a dream a few years back.

She remained unclear on its origins or full powers.

All she understood was that following this method brought her benefits, so she practiced it in spare moments.

Little progress showed outwardly, yet her power had surged remarkably.

Noting Grandma’s frail condition, she once attempted sharing the breathing method.

But words failed her to convey it, and Grandma couldn’t comprehend from the telling, only lauding her as destined for greatness.

"Little Que’er, time to eat."

Grandma’s call rang out shortly after.

With eyes shut in cross-legged practice of the breathing method, Little Que’er snapped open her sparkling eyes and chirped, "Coming!"

She then stepped inside the humble dwelling to share the meal with Grandma.

The fare stayed basic—save for rare gifts of meat from generous neighbors—mostly relying on home-planted veggies and preserves.

"Roar!!!"

As the old and young savored their heartfelt repast, a thunderous feral bellow rent the serene mountain hamlet.

"Is this... a beast invading the village?"

Grandma Li’s chopstick-holding hand shook violently before she slammed down bowl and utensils, urging in panic, "Little Que’er, a beast’s in the village—hide now!"

Though just a common granny from these hills.

This tucked-away mountain settlement hugs peaks and rivers, where folks eke out lives through crops and hunts. Her late husband had been a hunter too, so she recognized that roar instantly.

Through countless years, she’d faced beast raids into the village more than once.

"A beast entering the village?"

Little Que’er lacked direct experience, but she’d watched uncles haul back slain boars and tigers from hunts, aware these creatures posed deadly peril.

The pair exited the yard; Grandma scanned briefly, then pointed Little Que’er toward a nearby ancient tree.

From the roar’s depth, it sounded like a massive hunter—climbing high would offer safety.

"Grandma, what about you?"

Despite her childlike frame, Little Que’er matched grown men in might, adept at scaling trees or plunging into water.

But Grandma’s age barred her from such feats.

"Grandma will manage, just ducking inside the yard."

The old lady reassured the girl, gesturing for haste.

"I’ll stay by Grandma’s side."

Naive as Little Que’er seemed in worldly ways, she grasped that a charging beast spelled doom for Grandma.

Her own presence could shield the old woman.