When Qi Yuan arrived at the Xie residence, the whole place was in utter chaos. The officers, who used to treat the Xie family almost like their own kin, now stormed in like wolves and tigers.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of kindness left, not even the most basic decency one should show as a human being.
It was as if they had received some sort of order. They showed no mercy to the Xie family members, moving with thunderous force. Arresting Xie Ying wasn’t enough—they took almost all the men of the Xie family too.
Madam Xie cried until her voice was hoarse. She was genuinely terrified and in shock.
What mother wouldn’t worry for her children?
Especially when one of her children wasn’t quite “normal.”
Yes, besides her outstanding eldest son, Xie Ying, Madam Xie had another child who was different from other people.
When he was six months old, he didn’t respond to adults’ teasing. He didn’t react when spoken to.
At the time, everyone sensed something was wrong, but they deceived themselves and brushed it off.
It wasn’t until his eyes started drifting, and he occasionally twitched, until he was a year and a half and still couldn’t walk, and by age two couldn’t even call his parents, that the truth became undeniable.
Despite the fact that this child was clearly different, the Xie family still raised him with great care.
Even though he was slow to react and could only say simple words by the time he was over three, he was always warm and affectionate toward everyone.
He trusted his family unconditionally, no matter what they said or did.
Such pure-hearted kindness was rare in the world.
So the entire Xie household treated this child with great care and compassion.
Back when the Xie family was in its glory, they mostly encountered kind people. Even those who noticed this child’s differences would at least politely say, “What an innocent, pure-hearted boy.”
But times had changed, and things were no longer that simple.
Madam Xie dared not even imagine what kind of torment Xie Yuan would suffer.
Xie Yuan, still confused and unaware, was dragged away. He didn’t even understand what was happening.
He was used to always having his mother and brother by his side no matter what he did.
So when a group of officers pounced on him like wolves and mercilessly beat him, he panicked and ran around in a daze, terrified.
In the past, even when dealing with a child like Xie Yuan, these officers would at least laugh and say, “Such innocent simplicity, how adorable.”
But now, with the Xie family about to fall, no one found him cute or innocent anymore. They only saw him as a burden, a fool.
One officer kicked Xie Yuan hard from behind, sending him sprawling to the ground. Xie Yuan burst into terrified sobs.
The officers immediately roared with laughter.
Among them, Chen Haohui was the most senior. He laughed so hard his stomach hurt.
Back when the Xie family was powerful, even their “fool” son was treated with respect, publicly praised for his pure heart.
But in truth, Chen Haohui had always found it disgusting.
Just a fool! If he hadn’t been lucky enough to be born into the right family, he would have been drowned in a chamber pot as an infant.
A disabled waste like him, just because of his prestigious family, lived a far better life than hardworking commoners like them. How could anyone stand it?
Watching Xie Yuan being mocked and tormented, Chen Haohui finally let out a long, satisfied breath.
Yes, this was how it should be.
Why should people like them get to stand above everyone else?
They all deserved to die!
Xie Yuan had always been well-protected by his family and had never suffered like this before. Even now, despite everything, he still naïvely called the officers “brother” and “uncle,” crying and begging them to take him to his brother and mother.
Chen Haohui laughed even harder, then suddenly pushed through the crowd, yanked down his pants, and maliciously shook his belt in front of Xie Yuan. He grinned, “Do you know what this is?”
Xie Yuan, confused and frightened, stared at him blankly.
Chen Haohui pointed at his own lower abdomen. “Come, come lick it. If you do, I’ll take you to see your parents and your brother. How about it?”
The group of men burst into raucous laughter.
They surrounded Xie Yuan, egging him on. “Hurry up! Hurry up! Young Master Xie, you better think carefully. If you don’t behave, you won’t see your mother or brother again.”
Xie Yuan’s entire world collapsed.
He didn’t know what was happening. He didn’t understand how, overnight, his life had completely fallen apart.
His father was gone.
His mother had disappeared.
His beloved brother was nowhere to be found.
The world had suddenly turned its back on him.
Stricken by fear and confusion, he cried loudly, “I want to see my brother! I want to see my brother!”
Chen Haohui laughed even more wildly.
Really, who would’ve imagined, back when the Xie family was in its prime, that their young master would one day have to kneel to someone like him?
Tsk tsk tsk, power truly is the most intoxicating thing in this world.
He suddenly kicked Xie Yuan again, sending him tumbling over and curling up on the ground, unable to get up.
Xie Yuan wailed in terror.
The more he cried, the more entertaining Chen Haohui found it.
He walked over and pinched Xie Yuan’s face, clicking his tongue. “Young Master Xie, look at you. Someone as noble and precious as you has now fallen to the point where you must beg us lowly thugs. What are you going to do in the future?”
Of course, Xie Yuan couldn’t understand such complicated words.
Not that Chen Haohui ever expected him to.
Raising his eyebrows, Chen Haohui ordered coldly, “Enough, throw him into the charity house. We can’t waste food on an idiot like him.”
The so-called charity house was a private institution.
In name, it was a charitable shelter, but in reality, it was a place where laborers were exploited to the bone.
As long as they were given a bite of sour, moldy rice, they had to work ceaselessly.
Chen Haohui’s hatred for the Xie family ran deep. Especially after getting Zhou Xiaopeng’s approval, he had no reason to hold back his cruelty.
Without hesitation, he ordered Xie Yuan to be sent away.
The rest wasn’t his concern anymore. He pinched Xie Yuan’s face and sneered, “Young Master Xie, you were born lucky, but in the end, you’re just a short-lived wretch. Don’t come haunting me after you die. You brought this on yourselves by offending the wrong people.”
Xie Yuan was dragged away like a dead dog and thrown onto a wooden cart. Chen Haohui smiled, “Alright, brothers, let’s go eat. I’m freezing to death here!”
The group ignored Xie Yuan’s heart-wrenching sobs, mounted their horses, and rode away.
Xie Yuan was left behind, shivering in the cold.
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