“Grandpa!” I yelled, startling everyone.

　　They all stopped and looked at Grandpa, their faces frozen in shock. I desperately wriggled free from Chen the carpenter and ran to Grandpa, calling out to him, but he wouldn’t wake up.

　　Seeing the situation, Li Xiufen became visibly panicked. She crouched down to check Grandpa’s breath and then let out a sigh of relief, looking at Chen the carpenter.

　　“He’s still alive. That scared me.”

　　Chen the carpenter was also startled and grabbed me, intending to leave. With Grandpa no longer blocking his way, he picked me up and tried to jump off the bed and head for the door. But he stopped just short of it.

　　“What do you think you’re doing?” Wang Chunsheng glared at them, visibly furious.

　　“Put Gouwa down!”

　　Chen the carpenter, head lowered and unwilling, still held on to me.

　　“I said put him down!” Wang Chunsheng shouted.

　　Reluctantly, Chen the carpenter set me down. I immediately threw myself at Grandpa, calling out to him loudly.

　　“What are you standing around for? Hurry up and get Lao Wang back onto the bed!” Wang Chunsheng barked at the others. They finally moved to lift Grandpa back onto the bed.

　　I stayed by Grandpa’s side, crying continuously.

　　“What are you all trying to do? You’re young and strong, picking on an old man and a child. Aren’t you afraid of bad karma?”

　　Wang Chunsheng was completely enraged, pointing at them. “Ever since Gouwa came to Yao Village, whenever something goes wrong, you blame him, calling him a disaster bringer. He’s just a child! Why do you keep pinning everything on him?”

　　“Chief, this little brat—”

　　“Enough!” The village chief cut Chen the carpenter off sharply. “Chen the carpenter, your youngest son was playing near a water ditch when he shouldn’t have. You know full well it was the time for collective irrigation in the village. It’s your fault for not keeping an eye on him, so why are you blaming Gouwa?”

　　“And you, Li Xiufen. Don’t think I don’t know. Your husband was already sick before this. He’d been taking medicine from Wu Changgui for a while!”

　　“But—”

　　“But what!”

　　Wang Chunsheng stepped in front of me and Grandpa, facing them with a firm stance. “You all explain to me. I’m dying to know what such a little kid could possibly do to you!”

　　They fell silent, heads bowed, unsure of how to respond.

　　The village chief sighed heavily at their reaction.

　　“Get out of here!”

　　But they remained unmoved.

　　“I’m talking to you! Get out now!”

　　With no other options, Chen the carpenter finally stood up and headed for the door. The others followed suit, leaving in silence.

　　The village chief turned his attention back to me and Grandpa.

　　“Gouwa, are you alright?”

　　I shook my head, tears still streaking my face.

　　The village chief sat down beside the bed, his expression softening with concern. “Don’t be afraid, Gouwa. As long as I’m here, they won’t be able to cause any more trouble.”

　　He then looked at Grandpa and sighed deeply.

　　“Lao Wang, Gouwa!”

　　Wu Changgui arrived, his boots covered in mud from the fields.

　　“Chunsheng, you’re here.”

　　Wu Changgui seemed relieved to see Wang Chunsheng. He had always known that Wang Chunsheng had been a big help to Lao Wang and had always been good to us.

　　“Old Wu, you came just in time. Take a look at Lao Wang. He lost consciousness after that commotion.”

　　“Really? They actually laid hands on him?”

　　Without further ado, Wu Changgui moved to the bedside, checked Grandpa’s pulse, and used his stethoscope for a while. After a few tense moments, he slowly stood up.

　　“How is he, Old Wu?” the village chief asked anxiously.

　　Wu Changgui pulled the village chief aside, his face grave. “Lao Wang’s heart has always been weak. With this illness and the commotion, it’s likely he doesn’t have much time left.”

　　The village chief’s brow furrowed deeply. He glanced at me and then spoke to Wu Changgui. “Alright. Over the next few days, we’ll do everything we can to help.”

　　“Understood.”

　　They stayed at my house for a long while, helping with the cleanup and preparing dinner. It wasn’t clear if they were worried Chen the carpenter and his group might return or if they were concerned about Grandpa’s condition. Either way, they made sure we had dinner and only left when it was dark.I slumped by the bed, staring at the stir-fried green beans and the pot of rice porridge. They smelled so good, but I couldn’t bring myself to eat. I just sat quietly by Grandpa’s side and soon fell asleep.

　　I was deep in sleep when suddenly, a bright white light filled my dream. Grandpa appeared in front of me, smiling, and slowly waved his hand.

　　“Gouwa, Grandpa doesn’t want to leave you... doesn’t want to leave...”

　　As he spoke, he began to retreat. I ran after him desperately, but no matter how fast I moved, I couldn’t catch up. I could only watch him slowly disappear.

　　I jolted awake to find it was still dark outside. I glanced at the clock—it wasn’t even two in the morning.

　　“Grandpa! Grandpa!”

　　I shook Grandpa, but he didn’t respond. When I reached out to check, I realized he had already passed away.

　　My Grandpa... he was gone.

　　I sat there, stunned, my mind a chaotic whirl, grappling with the shock.

　　Morning arrived. Early that day, the village chief, Wang Chunsheng, came over.

　　“Gouwa, I brought some treats for you and Grandpa!”

　　He entered the room, holding a roasted chicken.

　　“Gouwa, look—”

　　I was kneeling by the bed, motionless, staring blankly at Grandpa.

　　“Gouwa?”

　　“Gouwa?”

　　Seeing me in a daze, the village chief rushed over and crouched beside me, confused about why I was kneeling there.

　　“Gouwa, what’s wrong? Gouwa?”

　　I turned to him with a cold expression and said, “I’m the one who caused Grandpa’s death. I’m the one who killed him. I’m just a disaster.”

　　Wang Chunsheng was stunned for a moment and hurriedly said, “Gouwa, what’s the matter? Are you okay?”

　　Seeing that I didn’t respond, he quickly checked on Grandpa and understood what had happened.

　　“Gouwa…” At that moment, Wu Changgui also came in, saw the situation, and immediately grasped what was going on. He approached Wang Chunsheng and me, looking at me staring blankly at Grandpa, and wasn’t sure what to say.

　　The atmosphere grew heavy and cold.

　　I fainted.

　　When I woke up, it was two days later in the afternoon. I looked up at the ceiling, knowing this wasn’t my home, and could clearly hear voices arguing outside.

　　I got up, peeked through the curtain, and saw that it was Wu Changgui and his wife.

　　“You should just send Gouwa away. We can’t keep him here.”

　　“Why would you believe such nonsense? I think Gouwa is just fine!”

　　“Lao Wu, even if you don’t think about yourself, you should think about your grandson. He’s only six. Get that kid out of here!”

　　“Keep your voice down. Gouwa is still sleeping inside!”

　　“Grandpa Wu, I’ll leave.”

　　I stepped out, looking at the two of them with a blank expression.

　　“Gouwa, you’re awake!” Wu Changgui said with a smile. “There’s no need to leave. You can stay here from now on!”

　　“Ah!” Wu Changgui’s wife pinched him from behind, making him wince.

　　“Well, Gouwa, it’s not that we don’t want to keep you, it’s just…”

　　“It’s okay, I understand.”

　　I bowed to the elderly couple and then walked out.

　　“You see, dear,” Wu Changgui said, growing anxious, “He’s just a child! Lao Wang is dead, and where can a nine-year-old go?”

　　Yes, where can I go? I can only go home, back to find Grandpa.