The people of the Old Mu Family were chatting in the backyard and also entertained a few visitors who came to see Mu Dade.

All afternoon, Mu Dade didn’t seize the opportunity.

Instead, Mu Danian and Mrs. Lin pulled Gou Dan aside.

Mrs. Lin taught Gou Dan step by step what needed to be done later.

"Gou Dan, later you go find your Brother Xiao Han and say your ball fell at your uncle’s place. Ask your Brother Xiao Han to help retrieve it.

Remember, don’t go into your uncle’s yard, just stand outside, okay?"

Mrs. Lin placed her hands on Gou Dan’s shoulders and repeated her instructions.

Beside them, Mu Danian patiently told Gou Dan, "If you do it well, Fifth Uncle will buy you candied haws; you can eat as many as you want!"

With the promise of treats, Gou Dan was naturally full of energy.

He licked his lips and without hesitation headed towards the third branch.

In the Old Mu Family’s yard, only Xiao Han was revising his lessons at this time.

Other people from the third branch were still working in the fields, while Yuanbao and Little Zhi were outside the yard making all sorts of clay figures.

Heading straight to Xiao Han, Gou Dan hugged Xiao Han’s leg pitifully and said, "Brother Xiao Han, my ball fell, can you come help me find it?"

Gou Dan’s ball was actually just a spinning top that had been thrown away on a trash heap.

Gou Dan had picked it up and played with it every day.

Even at school, he carried it with him.

Xiao Han didn’t suspect a thing and followed Gou Dan searching all the way.

Finally, they arrived at Mu Dade’s yard and Xiao Han stopped immediately.

"Gou Dan, why did you bring me to Uncle’s yard?"

"Brother Xiao Han, my ball must have got into Uncle’s yard, please help me to find it!" replied Gou Dan.

"You should go by yourself!"

Mu Dade didn’t get along well with the third branch, and Xiao Han knew this.

Usually, he wouldn’t set foot in Uncle’s house without his sister accompanying him.

Seeing Xiao Han unwilling, Gou Dan panicked.

"Brother Xiao Han, please help me out this time. If you do, I promise not to bother you and Little Zhi anymore!"

Gou Dan usually loved troubling Little Zhi and Xiao Han.

But this wasn’t a reason Xiao Han would enter Mu Dade’s yard.

"No need, Brother Yuanbao knows many people, we’re not afraid of your bullying!" Xiao Han shook his head.

And he directly headed towards the third branch of the Old Mu Family.

Gou Dan panicked; originally, he was to get many candied haws, but now there wouldn’t be any!

Gou Dan sat on the ground and began to roll.

"My ball, my ball... wuwuwu..."

"Brother Xiao Han, help me, please..."

Gou Dan cried miserably. Even Xiao Han, remembering Mu Shuangshuang’s usual instructions, was nonetheless just a child of a few years.

Besides, Gou Dan was his little brother, better than an outsider.

He sighed and came to Gou Dan.

"Okay, don’t cry, I’ll go in and help you fetch your ball!"

Xiao Han agreed to help Gou Dan, and Gou Dan immediately got up from the ground.

"Where’s your ball, I’ll go find it!" Xiao Han asked.

Gou Dan pointed inside the yard with confidence, "The ball is inside, go ahead!"

Xiao Han stepped towards Mu Dade’s yard, almost ready to enter it.

Just then, he stopped, thought for a moment, and turned back to Gou Dan: "Gou Dan, maybe you should wait. It’s not good for us to enter Uncle’s yard. If you really need the ball urgently, we can ask Second Aunt, or... go find my sister?"

After speaking, Xiao Han headed in the opposite direction of Mu Dade’s house, towards where Gou Dan was standing.

Hidden nearby, Mu Danian and Mrs. Lin had long grown impatient.

Mu Danian rushed out directly, pointed at Xiao Han, and started scolding: "You little brat, sneaking into your uncle’s yard for what? Did you do something shameful? Steal something?"

Mu Danian’s shout frightened Xiao Han.

He was a bit confused and before he could react, Mu Danian grabbed Xiao Han’s hand.

With the other hand, he slapped Xiao Han hard.

With a sound of "slap," a red five-fingered mark appeared on Xiao Han’s face.

While the slap cleared his mind, he glared and demanded, "Fifth Uncle, why did you hit me?"

"Why? Because you little rascal stole something, didn’t learn well, and are even stealing from home!"

As Mu Danian spoke, he gave Xiao Han a chaotic beating on his buttocks.

"I didn’t!" Xiao Han’s face burned with pain, and his buttocks hurt fiercely.

He felt very wronged but did not cry!

He hadn’t entered Uncle’s yard or stolen anything!

The commotion outside the yard attracted Mrs. Jin and Mu Dade from the Old Mu Family who were chit-chatting.

Seeing Mu Danian and Xiao Han being beaten by Mu Danian, they couldn’t help but ask: "What’s going on here? Fifth, why are you hitting the child?"

"Big Brother, Sis-in-law, I was just about to look for you when I saw this kid sneaking out of your yard.

Both Gou Dan and I saw it; so I asked him if he did anything bad, and he didn’t say a word, even spat at me!"

Mu Danian maliciously accused first, while Xiao Han shook his head desperately.

"Uncle, Aunt, no... I didn’t go into your yard, nor did I steal anything from you. It’s Fifth Uncle... Fifth Uncle is lying..."

Xiao Han explained the situation to Mu Dade and Mrs. Jin, hoping they would give him justice.

But Mu Dade and Mrs. Jin said, "Fifth, we’ll go inside with Yinyin to see what’s missing."

The two quickly went into the yard and proceeded to the backyard.

Once inside, Mrs. Jin said: "Da De, it seems Fifth is aiming to frame the kid from the third branch, so what shall we do?"

Mu Dade’s eyes darted around.

Originally, he hadn’t planned to trouble the third branch.

He did have plans for the third branch, starting from the restaurant.

But now, there’s a free opportunity, not using it seemed unjustifiable.

"Here’s what we’ll do: later, you’ll say you lost your bracelet, don’t say who stole it, let Fifth pin it on Xiao Han.

Then, the third branch for Xiao Han’s reputation might offer us some money.

Once we receive the money, we’ll insist the bracelet is important and decide to search everyone’s belongings.

Of course, the bracelet will definitely be found in Fifth’s room.

But you know, that girl is very sharp; once she learns Fifth falsely accused Xiao Han and even hit Xiao Han, she’ll surely give Fifth a hard time."

A smile immediately spread across Mrs. Jin’s face.

"Mr. Dan Dan, you’re clever, I’ll go say it now!"

Mrs. Jin adjusted her facial expression deliberately to appear flustered.

She rushed out...