Zhou Fugui didn't use much force in his kick. Although Ding Ermei felt some pain, it wasn't unbearable.

Ding Ermei dared not get up.

When he was young, Zhou Fugui would beat his wife.

At first, Ding Ermei would run back to her parents' home after being beaten, hoping that her brother and father would stand up for her.

As a result, the Ding family not only did not stand up for Ding Ermei, but also scolded her for not knowing how lucky she was.

Ding Ermei was a rural resident, and her family wasn't well-off. Marrying Zhou Fugui, who had a guaranteed job with government-subsidized grain rations, was considered a "higher-than-average" marriage.

The Ding family even wanted Ding Ermei to use Zhou Fugui's money to support her family in the future! How could they possibly offend Zhou Fugui?

Since her family didn't stand up for her, Ding Ermei was beaten several times and then dared not go against Zhou Fugui anymore.

Fortunately, the children are gradually growing up.

Zhou Fugui is getting old and his physical strength isn't as good as it used to be, which is why he plays less.

This was the first time in recent years that Zhou Fugui had laid a hand on Ding Ermei.

Ding Ermei remembered how fiercely Zhou Fugui had beaten people when he was young, and she didn't even dare to cry out now.

If you anger Zhou Fugui, he will beat you even more severely.

Zhou Fugui cursed for a while, but seeing that Ding Ermei didn't argue back, he lost the desire to continue hitting her.

"Go make something to eat, I'm starving." Zhou Fugui said this before going back to his room to lie down and rest.

It was almost noon, and Zhou Fugui was indeed a bit hungry after walking all the way back from town.

Ding Ermei quickly got up from the ground, dusted herself off, and prepared to go to the kitchen to make Zhou Fugui a bowl of noodles before cooking the rest of the meal.

Ding Ermei had to prepare Zhou Fugui's food within half an hour, or she would get another beating.

At this moment, Zhou Jiaxiang peeked in.

Just now, Zhou Jiaxiang saw Zhou Fugui hitting Ding Ermei outside the door, so he quickly hid to the side.

Only after Zhou Fugui went back inside did Zhou Jiaxiang dare to enter.

"Grandma, I'm hungry too. I want to eat steamed eggs." Zhou Jiaxiang saw that Ding Ermei was holding two eggs and quickly came to her side and said.

Zhou Jiaxiang was only eight years old and had no idea of ​​the resentment Ding Ermei felt at that moment.

Ding Ermei usually dotes on Zhou Jiaxiang the most. She not only indulges him in everything, but if Zhou Jiaxiang wants something to eat, he can get it five times out of ten.

The aroma of the steamed egg custard that Zhao Zhenzhu and her daughter ate today lingered in Zhou Jiaxiang's mind. It made him think of nothing but steamed egg custard.

With a "let's give it a try" attitude, Zhou Jiaxiang boldly made a request to Ding Ermei.

"Are you a reincarnated starving ghost? You're always complaining about being hungry. You even want to eat steamed egg custard. I think you look like steamed egg custard." Ding Ermei grabbed Zhou Jiaxiang's ear and spun him around hard.

Ding Ermei couldn't stand the words "egg custard" at this moment.

This reminded her of Zhao Zhenzhu's unruly manner when they argued, Zhao Tianyu's domineering attitude when he wanted to hit her, and Zhou Fugui's slap and kick just now.

Ding Ermei's face and body are still in pain!

Just when she had nowhere to vent her anger, Zhou Jiaxiang, the instigator, happened to come along and became Ding Ermei's punching bag.

"Grandma, I won't do it again, I'll never eat steamed egg custard again," Zhou Jiaxiang begged, tears streaming down his face.

Ding Ermei hit hard; Zhou Jiaxiang felt like his ear was about to be twisted off.

"Don't go around telling on me again, or I'll lose face and get beaten up today." After scolding Zhou Jiaxiang, Ding Ermei pinched his ear hard before rushing off to the kitchen to make noodles.

Unbeknownst to Ding Ermei, Zhou Jiaxiang was staring fiercely at her retreating figure.

Zhou Jiaxiang felt that he had been wronged by Ding Ermei.

Ding Ermei herself was no match for her third aunt, and she was beaten like a dead dog by her grandfather, so she could only show off her power in front of this child.

When he grows up, he must...

Zhou Jiaxiang touched his bleeding ear, inwardly cursing Ding Ermei to pieces.

Leaving aside the Zhou family, let's talk about the Zhao family.

Zhao Zhenzhu and Zhou Yunyun rode Zhao Tianyu's bicycle back to Zhao's parents' home, where they were warmly welcomed by Zhao Qingshan and his wife.

Zhou Jiakai wasn't home; he went out to play with his friends.

The Zhao family owns a tiled house with a courtyard in town, consisting of a front yard, a back yard, six rooms, and a total area of ​​about 300 square meters.

Wu Meiyun is a person with a great appreciation for life.

The backyard is a vegetable garden.

There was a grape vine in the front yard, and a round stone table under the vine, with several stone drum stools next to the table, which looked very rustic.

Along the wall, many flowers were planted, and now that they were in full bloom, they were a riot of colors. The whole courtyard looked vibrant and full of life.

Zhao Qingshan and his wife were trimming the flowers and plants in the front yard. Zhao Zhenzhu saw them as soon as she entered the house.

"Mom and Dad, I'm back!" Zhao Zhenzhu shouted.

Wu Meiyun looked up and saw Zhao Zhenzhu holding Zhou Yunyun's hand, standing in front of her with a smile.

"Qingshan, am I dreaming?" Wu Meiyun dropped the scissors she was holding.

“You’re not mistaken, it’s that heartless little Pearl who’s back.” Zhao Qingshan patted Wu Meiyun’s hand before bending down to pick up the scissors from the ground and put them in the basket next to him.

Zhao Qingshan may look rugged, but he is actually a very meticulous person.

With children at home, Zhao Qingshan dared not carelessly discard sharp tools like scissors.

"Mom~!" Zhao Zhenzhu let go of Zhou Yunyun's hand and walked towards Wu Meiyun.

After not seeing each other for a while, Zhao Qingshan and Wu Meiyun had a lot more gray hair and looked much older than before.

Zhao Zhenzhu felt a pang of sadness and wanted to slap herself.

Why couldn't she understand this before? Because she was blind to marry into the Zhou family, and felt ashamed to face her loving parents, so she chose to run away.

"Pearl! You've finally decided to come back. Mom missed you so much." Wu Meiyun hugged Zhao Zhenzhu and couldn't help but shed tears.

Wu Meiyun was excited.

More than seven years have passed, and this is the first time Wu Meiyun has seen Zhao Zhenzhu so vividly.

Wu Meiyun is a meticulous mother.

Every time Zhao Zhenzhu went back to her parents' home, she would leave after only a short time.

Although Zhao Zhenzhu kept emphasizing that she was doing very well in the Zhou family and that her mother-in-law, Ding Ermei, treated her like her own daughter, Wu Meiyun didn't quite believe it.

If Zhao Zhenzhu is really doing well, why does her smile show only weariness instead of happiness?

However, Zhao Zhenzhu was already married and had two children. Wu Meiyun couldn't very well ask Zhao Zhenzhu to get a divorce.

Now, Zhao Zhenzhu's eyes are bright and her face is radiant.

How could Wu Meiyun not be excited?

“Mom, I miss you all too. This time, the children and I will be staying at home for a while. Mom, you won’t send me away, will you?” Zhao Zhenzhu took the opportunity to give Wu Meiyun a heads-up.

According to the custom in Peach Blossom Town, married daughters cannot stay too long when they return to their parents' home. Otherwise, people around them will gossip.