Chapter 50 Being Beaten by a Man

She is her mother.

But there was nothing she could do to help her.

What is the world like in Guai Bao's eyes? Qin Shi didn't know and couldn't imagine.

She didn't know how other people's fates would change, nor did she know their destiny; she was powerless to help Guaibao.

"Yu Bao doesn't need our help. We just need to avoid causing her trouble. Being down-to-earth in our conduct and actions is the greatest help we can give her."

Qin Tianhai looked at the sleeping Qin Jin'an and sighed.

Looking at his dejected daughter, Qin Tianhai said, "Think about how happy Yu Bao has been lately. The meals you cook for her and the new clothes you sew for her make her feel happy and content. That's enough. Do what you can without exhausting yourself. That's how I taught her, and I'm saying the same thing to you."

"It's fate that you had this child. You can love her, but don't forget to love yourself."

Qin Tianhai looked at the Qin family with a gentle gaze.

His daughter loves her daughter, and he misses his daughter too.

Regardless of what the future holds, he hopes his daughter can be happy, and that happiness should not come solely from this child.

"Thank you, Dad. I understand."

Qin's throat tightened; she understood her father's meaning and his good intentions.

Qin Tianhai didn't say anything more and quietly drove the oxcart.

When they got home, Qin Tianhai helped them move their things.

Qin began preparing the ingredients for tomorrow.

Qin Jin'an woke up at dusk and got up to play with Bai Diandian for a while.

One of the white spots has a deformed foot and walks with a limp.

The big dog often comes to feed White Spot, and Qin Jin'an loves seeing the big dog come.

She tried to talk to it, but found that the big dog didn't understand her words.

Qin Jin'an held her face in her hands and looked at it. When she got a little sleepy, she went to write.

No matter how difficult writing is, she really wants to learn.

Thinking of those two people, she couldn't help but wonder if what had happened to them had come true.

——

The woman's surname was Zhou, and her husband's surname was Li.

As Zhou led her daughter Li Daya back from the market, she was restless the whole way. When they passed Ya Kou Di, she was so angry at Li Daya that she reached out and pinched her.

"It's all your fault!"

Zhou looked at him with disdain.

Li Daya didn't utter a sound. She didn't feel any pain; she was tough and resilient.

After pinching herself a few times, Zhou muttered to herself, "I'm not even three months pregnant yet, and I'm not showing any signs of pregnancy. The old master didn't even know I was pregnant, so how did that young girl find out?"

Zhou was suspicious. She glanced at her daughter beside her and asked, "Da Ya, do you think I'm carrying a girl or a boy? They say children have sharp eyes and can see things clearly. You and that little girl look about two years apart in age. Do you think I'm carrying a boy or a girl?"

Li Daya said calmly, "I can't see it, I don't know."

Because of the separation in her belly, she couldn't imagine that there was a life inside; she couldn't see it and didn't know it.

Zhou was clearly not satisfied with this answer, and pinched and hit Li Daya a few more times.

Li Daya was already used to it.

They followed Zhou home numbly.

She didn't care that Zhou hit her, since she didn't feel much pain anyway. She was just wondering if she could really become a general in the future.

Isn't it true that only men can go to the battlefield?

War is a man's business, so why would she go to war?

What is it like to become a female general? At that time, did others fear her or despise her?

They arrived home amidst all the bickering and fighting along the way.

Zhou was in a hurry to tell her husband, Li Tieshan, about what had happened that day, so she said to Li Daya, "You brat, go and cut two baskets of grass to feed the pigs."

Li Daya went out carrying a basket bigger than herself on her back.

Zhou rushed into the house and saw her husband inside. She smiled and walked over, saying, "Tieshan, I have something to tell you about today..."

Zhou was interrupted by Li Tieshan before he could finish speaking.

"Where's my wine? Bring it here. I haven't had a drop today and I feel weak all over. Bring it to me right now."

Li Tieshan didn't care what Zhou wanted to say; he just wanted to drink a few sips of wine to relieve his frustration. As for anything else, he could deal with it later.

Zhou's face paled, and she said fearfully, "I... I forgot... I met someone today..."

"Smack—"

Before she could finish speaking, Li Tieshan slapped Zhou Shi hard across the face, making her stagger and almost fall. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and grabbed the table to avoid falling to the ground.

"How dare you forget something so important? What did I tell you before I left? You bitch..."

Li Tieshan was furious. He was still not satisfied with slapping her, and he glared at her fiercely, wanting to hit Zhou Shi again.

Zhou screamed in terror, "Tieshan, I'm pregnant..."

He doesn't know his own strength when he hits; if he really gets allowed to hit, how can this child be saved?

Zhou was terrified. She didn't know how she could have forgotten to buy wine for Li Tieshan. She regretted letting Li Daya go cut grass.

If Li Daya were here now, even though she's cheap, she'd still be able to take a beating.

But now, seeing Li Tieshan's raised fist, Zhou Shi trembled and closed her eyes...

"I wish I could eat your flesh and drink your blood! You can't even handle this little thing properly. If it weren't for the fact that you're pregnant, I would have beaten you to death!"

Li Tieshan's fist stopped abruptly. His eyes were red, and he was panting heavily. He could only reach out and pull Zhang's cheeks to vent his anger.

Zhou was so frightened that she trembled and dared not speak, even though her mouth was torn and painful. She didn't even dare to whimper.

"Useless trash, despicable! Give me my money."

Li Tieshan spoke fiercely.

Zhou Shi trembled as she took out a money bag from her bosom and gave it to Li Tieshan. Li Tieshan took the money bag, turned around, and went out.

After Li Tieshan left, Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief and burst into tears.

But after crying, she suddenly realized that the little girl's words about being beaten by men when she returned had come true.

She said her eldest daughter, whom she adopted, would become a female general. Will that come true?

Her face is all swollen; it will be very embarrassing if she goes tomorrow.

But if I don't go... I'll have bad luck for a whole year.

Li Tieshan went into town to buy wine by himself.

Li Daya cut pig feed and came back to start working.

When it got dark and the rice was cooked, she went to call Zhou Shi to eat.

Zhou kept her head down as she came out. Li Daya didn't know what had happened, but she was used to her parents' moods changing faster than the weather.

She had long since learned to pretend she didn't see what she saw, not to ask what she shouldn't ask, and not to say what she shouldn't say.

While quietly eating her pickled vegetables, Li Daya caught a glimpse of her mother's swollen lips and the finger marks on her cheeks out of the corner of her eye, which shocked her greatly.

She's six years old and understands things. Her mother was really beaten. Does that mean she can really become a female general twenty years later?

"Look, look, what are you looking at? If it weren't for you, would I have been beaten by your father?" Zhou suddenly snapped.