Several families were incredulous upon hearing the result.
Third Grandma said: "Has the Mo Family gone mad? Letting He Dacai off so easily, won't he trouble them later?"
"Exactly." Mrs. Chen, while grinding cinnamon with a stone mortar, added: "It was just twenty lashes, given by He Family Members themselves, how hard could they have hit? Probably didn't even break the skin, just lie down for a few days and he'll be fine."
Having said that, she looked up at Gu Yumei, who was crushing bay leaves, and spoke: "You were complaining about being bored at home and wanted to go to the village to make friends with the girls there, to help out the family. Are you still going? This village isn't like our old home, it's very dangerous."
They had only arrived about ten days ago and weren't familiar with the people in the village. Making acquaintances was something that should be left to the adults; there was no need for a grown girl like Gu Yumei.
