Gianna mocked, "My husband isn't like your useless son. My husband is capable of feeding our whole family. If anyone is going to die, it's your whole family. Don't pretend otherwise—you just want to take advantage of my husband not being home to sell me off and keep the food for yourselves."
Because of the drought, there was no land to farm, so most people in the village were idle. Right now, a group of them was standing outside the low courtyard wall.
But none of them stepped forward to speak up for Gianna.
The saying "distant relatives aren't as helpful as close neighbors" didn't apply here.
People say when you give a small favor, you're thanked, but give too much and you're resented.
Floyd had stored up food. Over the past two years, villagers had taken turns coming to borrow from him. He was kindhearted and gave every household ten pounds of grain. But human greed has no limits. The villagers wanted more. After Floyd refused many times, they started resenting his family.
Now, they probably wished she'd be dragged away and sold so they could take advantage and grab something for themselves.
Their plan exposed, Old Man Liu decided to go all in. He shouted to his sons and daughters-in-law behind him, "What are you standing there for? Go drag her out! The cart is already waiting outside the village!"
The three children tried to squeeze to the front to protect Gianna.
But Gianna stopped them.
She gently patted their little heads and said softly, "Listen to me. I can handle this. Step back, or you might get hurt."
Aunt Liu, afraid her son and daughter-in-law would get hurt, rushed forward.
Seeing Aunt Liu already so close, Gianna didn't hesitate. She raised her knife and slashed forward.
The villagers watching cried out in shock.
Gianna never wasted time with words when she could act. That's how she survived in the apocalypse.
Aunt Liu saw the knife coming closer and was terrified when she realized Gianna was really going to strike. She quickly stepped back.
The blade sliced past the tip of Aunt Liu's nose. Blood started dripping.
Aunt Liu let out a high-pitched scream.
Gianna's eyes were cold. "If you don't want to die, then keep going. Don't think I don't know who's waiting at the village entrance. If I'm sold off, I'm dead anyway. If that's the case, I might as well take one of you down with me!"
Her words were firm and without hesitation.
What is human nature? Gianna had asked herself that question many times.
After three years of drought, poor families had already lost their sense of humanity. They had eaten bark, even fought over dirt. Eating their own children wasn't unusual.
As long as it meant survival, they would do anything.
The people who wanted to buy her weren't wealthy. They were from the neighboring village. A few families pooled together some grain to trade her, planning to kill her.
After seeing so much cruelty in the apocalypse, Gianna's heart had long turned cold.
Aunt Liu's scream was piercing.
Gianna pointed her knife at Qinna and Old Man Liu. "Come on. Keep going!"
Qinna and Old Man Liu were both terrified by how ruthless Gianna was.
Just now, if Aunt Liu hadn't stepped back in time, the outcome could have been disastrous.
The villagers didn't expect Gianna to be so fierce. She used to be so quiet and timid, yet now she dared to raise a knife at people.
Aunt Liu, frightened, took another step back, accidentally stepping on Qinna's foot.
Qinna cried in pain with a pitiful expression.
Old Man Liu shouted with a dark face, "You dare attack people with a knife? Aren't you afraid we'll report you to the authorities?"
The old Gianna would've been scared immediately. Old Man Liu's family had used that trick many times and got away with it.
They thought it would work again and force Gianna to back down.
Instead, Gianna smiled brightly. "Go ahead! Call the officials right now. Let them see if I was wrong to attack you. This is my home, and you barged in trying to drag me away and sell me. Even if I killed you, the authorities wouldn't put me in jail. But you…"
Gianna took a step forward.
Aunt Liu wasn't the only one scared. Qinna and Dahai were also frightened and backed away quickly.
Gianna was very satisfied with their reaction.
Old Man Liu knew what Gianna said was true. If the officials came, they'd be the ones taken away. Feeling guilty, he said, "What did we do? We're just thinking for your good!"
Gianna laughed without holding back.
She mocked, "Selling me to the next village is for my good? Don't you know what kind of people live there? I suggest you leave now. When my husband comes back, you won't be able to leave even if you want to."
Floyd was strong and fierce-looking. He was powerful enough to fight several people at once. The villagers were usually scared of him.
That's why even though they had food at home, no one dared to come and steal it.
Old Man Liu had picked a time when Floyd wasn't home to come by.
He even agreed on a price with people from the next village. Ten pounds of coarse grain. If they saved it, it would be enough for his family of six to eat for several days.
Their plan seemed perfect. The three children were Floyd's life. They couldn't be touched. All they needed to do was take Gianna away.
But as soon as they entered the yard, the three little ones started yelling at them with full hostility.
The most annoying part was Gianna suddenly turning fierce.
At that moment, the crowd outside parted. Gianna was happy. Floyd was back.
She saw him pushing through the crowd and entering the yard, tall and strong, with a fierce face.
Gianna quickly thought about how to call him. By name or something more intimate. She decided right away. It was just a name anyway, and if it could make him happy, it was worth it.
"Husband, they tried to drag me away and sell me."
Floyd was stunned for a second. Usually, Gianna just called him Floyd. Why was she calling him husband today?
But he didn't think much about it.
Instead, he got angry instantly. He had only been gone for a short while, and they were already trying to mess with his family.
He stepped forward toward Dahai.
He raised his hand and slapped him hard across the face.
Dahai was stunned and looked at Floyd in fear.
Aunt Liu stomped her foot in anger and grabbed Dahai's arm, asking if he was okay. Then she stood in front of him protectively.
She said without confidence, "If you want to hit someone, hit me. Don't bully my Dahai."
Qinna was so scared she didn't know what to do. Aunt Liu shouted at her, "Your man got hit and you're just standing there like a wooden stick? Hurry and help him!"
After slapping Dahai, Floyd lifted his head and looked at Old Man Liu. His tough and cold face showed a trace of disgust.
"Since you're my uncle, I'll let this go. But if you dare step into my yard again, don't blame me for what happens."
He then glanced coldly at the villagers standing by the wall watching.
Old Man Liu wanted to say something harsh, but when he saw Gianna holding a knife and looking fierce, and Floyd looking so cold, he decided to leave with his family in a panic.
The villagers saw there was no more drama, so they also left.
Soon, only Gianna and her family of five were left in the yard.
Now that everyone was gone, Gianna suddenly felt awkward.
To be honest, Floyd was really good-looking. Especially his sharp eyes and strong, manly face.
"What are you still standing there for? Go inside, it's cold out here."
Gianna quickly took the children inside and checked them carefully.
"Did they hurt you? Next time something like this happens, you must tell me right away, okay?"