Chapter 27 Li suffered a heart attack

Besides, the Qin family treated her very politely yesterday and even gave her dried fish to eat.

While she spoke up for herself, she also garnered more sympathy for Zhao from the crowd.

Zhao Caiju dared not swear; under the gaze of everyone, she felt her face burning.

Zhao knelt down before Zhao Dezhu, her voice trembling with tears, and said, "Uncle, please, for the sake of my parents, let me go. I'm already married. Please don't make things difficult for me. We've already given you the house and land."

"I am my parents' only daughter, Uncle. Aren't you afraid that my parents will come looking for you in the middle of the night?"

Looking at Zhao Dezhu, Zhao Shi thought that her uncle wasn't bad, but he wasn't exactly good either.

Uncle Li knew how harsh Li was to her. Sometimes he would tell Li to treat her better, but more often he would tell her to be more sensible.

She was already quite sensible, but what was the result?

Zhao Dezhu quickly looked away, feeling utterly humiliated under the gaze of so many villagers.

People often tolerate and condone the existence of many things, but when these things are brought into the open, they still feel too embarrassed and ashamed.

Many people lowered their heads and whispered among themselves.

Zhao Dezhu felt his face burning. Looking at Li Qiufen still standing there, she didn't look like someone who was about to die. He didn't know what the mother and daughter were plotting because he was unaware of it. His anger flared up, and he walked over and slapped Li Qiufen across the face.

Li Qiufen fell to the ground after being hit. Zhao Dezhu roared angrily, "You shameless woman! How many times have I told you? My brother and sister-in-law have passed away. Lan'er is my daughter. Why are you treating her like this!"

He wants people to know that he himself is unaware, that he is innocent, and that he simply married a woman with a heart of stone.

He and his brother were brothers, and he treated his niece like his own daughter. It was all this woman's fault.

Li Qiufen was stunned by the beating. She was about to argue, but seeing Zhao Dezhu's angry, wide eyes, she shut her mouth.

Someone has to take the blame. This matter has blown up so much today, she has to take responsibility, otherwise it won't be able to calm things down.

Li Qiufen turned to Zhao Shi, pleading with tears in her eyes, "Lan'er, it was all my fault for being confused for a moment. There's no such thing as a mother and daughter holding a grudge overnight. Just talk it out and it will be fine. Please don't hold it against me. I just miss you so much..."

"Does Auntie want me to come back and work for the family? Is it because she can't bear to see Caiju doing those hard jobs, so she wants me to be divorced by my husband's family and come back to be your slave?"

Zhao coldly interrupted Li Qiufen's attempt to elicit sympathy.

She reached out and grabbed Zhao Caiju's hand. The comparison revealed that her hand had large knuckles, while Zhao Caiju's fingers were slender.

Zhao Caiju tried to pull her hand away, but Zhao Shi held on tightly, allowing everyone to see it clearly.

"Dear uncles, aunts, and elders, I, Zhao Lan, have a miserable life. Please bear witness for me that from now on I will have no relation to my uncles and aunts' family, and I will never set foot in their Zhao family again."

Zhao's voice choked with sobs; she had no home anymore.

After her parents died, this home no longer belonged to her, but she still longed to have family.

But she has given up now.

Regardless of what the future holds, she will no longer rely on the Zhao family.

Zhao Dezhu's expression changed drastically, and he immediately said, "Lan'er, you can't say that. We are uncle and nephew... even if the bones are broken, the tendons are still connected."

"Uncle, if you want to acknowledge me as your niece, then your whole family should move out of my parents' house. I don't even want the land. I just beg you to give my home back so that I have a place to stay when I come back every year to sweep my parents' graves. Then I will acknowledge you!"

Zhao looked directly into Zhao Dezhu's eyes and said that her request was not excessive, but she knew that her uncle could not do it.

Zhao Dezhu's eyes immediately lit up with guilt. He avoided Zhao Shi's gaze and said, "How can you be so distant? This house will always have your room. If no one lives here, the house will fall apart. You can come back to live here anytime you want. Uncle is just looking after the house for you..."

"hehe……"

Zhao sneered, her expression sarcastic.

Zhao Dezhu couldn't continue speaking. Even though his face felt burning hot, he couldn't bring himself to say that he would give up the house.

"Lan'er, these people aren't worth your sadness. Come on, let's go home!"

Qin Yulin put his arm around Zhao's shoulder and said solemnly.

Zhao nodded. It was almost dark, but with Qin Yulin taking her home, she was no longer afraid of anything.

Qin Yulin cupped his hands in apology to everyone: "I'm sorry, aunts and uncles. I didn't expect such a disheartening misunderstanding. You all have daughters, and I believe you all have your own judgment on right and wrong. My husband and I have a clear conscience!"

After Qin Yulin finished speaking, he pulled Zhao Shi away.

"Since everyone is alright, let's go back."

People looked at each other in bewilderment. Someone broke the silence first, picked up their basket, and left.

“Lan’er has done a good job. Zhao Caiju looks like she never lifts a finger, unlike Zhao Lan. The couple comes home and does all the housework, even cooking the meal. If something really happens, Zhao Lan is the one you can rely on…”

"No wonder people often say that stepmothers are like snakes and scorpions. It's true that they don't care about their own daughter. Poor Lan'er. It's good that they've severed ties. There's no need to associate with uncles and aunts like that."

People traveled back together, expressing their disdain for Li Qiufen and their sympathy for Zhao Lan.

The villagers soon left, taking their belongings back with them, leaving only Zhao Dezhu's family behind.

"You wretch, what trick are you up to now! Why did you pretend to be dead to lure Lan'er back?"

Zhao Dezhu was furious. He was still rushing to finish the work at his employer's house. He rushed back after receiving the news and even spent a lot of money to buy a coffin from another company. But it turned out to be a farce!

No wonder he was furious; the project's delay meant his wages would be docked.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Li Qiufen dared not answer.

Zhao Dezhu glared at Zhao Caiju again: "Tell me, what are you and your daughter up to now?"

Zhao Caiju dared not speak; if she did, she would be beaten to death. She lowered her head and remained silent.

Enraged, Zhao Dezhu grabbed a stick and started hitting him.

"You bitches, you won't talk, huh? I'll beat you to death! You've made me lose all face! How will the villagers laugh at me now? How will I ever hold my head up again?"

Zhao Dezhu was really angry, so he grabbed Li Qiufen and beat her up.

Zhao Caiju tried to stop her, but Li Qiufen looked at her and said in a mournful voice, "Go back inside!"

My daughter is pregnant; I can't tell anyone about it, and I can't let her get beaten up.

Knowing Li Qiufen's good intentions, Zhao Caiju ran back to her house with tears in her eyes, harboring deep resentment towards Zhao Lan in her heart.

"Dad, stop hitting it! The kitchen is going to catch fire!"

Zhao Wenzhi was initially watching coldly when he smelled a burnt odor. He ran to the kitchen and was immediately shocked to find that several large pots had boiled dry, were frighteningly hot, and were completely burnt.

Zhao Dezhu dropped the stick and ran to the kitchen, quickly pouring water into the pot.

Li Qiufen limped into the kitchen. Seeing the steam rising from the large pots, the smell of burnt rice made her dizzy, and she staggered backward.