First published on: Tower > Read Novels

Xu Lanzhi inwardly cried out in alarm. If Wang Shi gave in, Qiu Mei really wouldn't be able to protect her in front of so many people.

Sure enough, Wang asked with some doubt, "You really didn't marry that vixen!"

"Of course not, would I lie to you! You can ask the villagers if you don't believe me!" Liu said casually.

Xu Lanzhi looked intently at everyone present and asked, "Fellow villagers, is what Liu said true? There are no secrets that stay hidden forever!"

The villager in the lead said with a glint in his eye, "Madam Xu, we know that Hongcai was wrong before, but he has now reformed. Sister Liu couldn't bear to see the two children without a father, so she asked us to come and invite Qiumei. No woman receives such treatment."

Xu Lanzhi questioned, "Uncle, you seem to have misunderstood me. I'm asking whether Zhao Hongcai really didn't bring that woman home!"

"This..." The man was speechless.

Zhao Ziqiang said breathlessly, "Grandma, don't listen to my grandma. We went to Zhao Family Village to ask. My dad brought that person home a long time ago. She couldn't bear the hardship and left on her own. Now there's no one to do the work at home. She was just thinking of coming to pick us up."

When Zhao Ziqiang exposed Liu's conspiracy, Wang's face turned ashen with rage: "Old hag Liu, you're vicious! My best friend was the one who gave your family the life of a maid?"

Liu smiled guiltily and said, "How can we take what my in-laws and their children say seriously? It's understandable for me to lie, but would all the people in the village lie with me?"

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Wang then went to look at the people from Zhaojiatun, who all pretended to casually lower their heads and drink tea.

Zhao Zili added, "Grandma, we found out that the village chief and the others came because my grandma said that as long as we take my mother back, based on how good my aunt is to her, she will definitely lead our village to prosperity. That's why everyone came."

While Liu was still trying to argue, the village chief of Zhaojiatun said with shame, "Madam Xu, I'm sorry. I saw that other villages were getting better and better, but our village was still the same. I also wanted everyone to have a better life, so I agreed to Liu's request."

"You're right, being self-reliant is the best way. The Liu family only came to fetch Qiu Mei because her new daughter-in-law ran away. We're so sorry!"

After saying that, he called to the villagers who had come with him and prepared to leave.

Liu said in a panic, "Village chief, why do you say that self-reliance is our family's children? We have to take them back no matter what."

The village chief shook his head and said, "If you had treated these two children better, I would have been more confident in asking for a child for you. But because of the despicable things you've done, I've lost all face today." With that, he left Liu behind.

Xu Lanzhi called out from behind, "Village Chief Zhao, please wait! Thank you for being so understanding today. Although my land will be planted in Zhao Family Village for the time being, peanuts will soon be planted in Dashuwan, Tangjiagou, and Liu Family Village. If people from your village don't mind, they can go to these places to do odd jobs. The wages will be the same as everyone else's."

Village Chief Zhao and the people behind him were overjoyed. Village Chief Zhao asked with some doubt, "Is Madam Xu really telling the truth?"

Xu Lanzhi smiled and said, "Of course it is true. It doesn't matter who does the work. Besides, Village Chief Zhao is so understanding and righteous. I, Xu Lanzhi, appreciate this favor."

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"Then thank you, Madam Xu!" Village Chief Zhao cupped his hands in farewell and took his leave.

Now only Liu and Zhao Hongcai, who had remained silent, were stunned in place.

"Mother, what do we do now? Qiu Mei and the others aren't coming back with us," Zhao Hongcai said dejectedly.

Liu said to Wang with a fawning smile, "Mother-in-law, although that woman came to our house for a few days, we didn't hold any ceremony. Now that she's gone, you should let Qiu Mei go back. I promise to treat her well."

Wang secretly rejoiced that she hadn't taken it upon herself to send Qiu Mei back. Xu Lanzhi was right; the Zhao family was a den of wolves and tigers.

She flung Liu's hand away and said, "I should never have believed that a dog could change its nature. Our Qiu-mei will never go back to your Zhao family. Get out of here!"

Seeing that Wang's expression had changed, Liu said without any politeness, "Do you think we care about your silly daughter? But self-reliance is what we Zhao family do. We're going to take them back today."

Zhao Ziqiang clenched his fist and said, "Because you are an elder, I will still call you Grandma, but please don't say that we are your Zhao family."

When the winter winds were biting cold, you all stayed at home warming yourselves by the fire, forcing my mother to take us out to shave ice and catch fish.

Every time, you all sit at the table to eat, while my brother and I have to eat your leftovers in the kitchen. Since you're here today, it saves me the trouble of making the trip. From today onwards, my brother and I will take our mother's surname, Tang.

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Upon hearing this, Liu was so angry that her liver ached. Just like before, she took off her shoe and was about to hit Zhao Ziqiang.

Before Wang and Xu Lanzhi could help, Zhao Ziqiang grabbed Liu's hand and said in an extremely cold tone, "You can rest and then you can't touch my mother and my brother again!"

Liu never expected that the brat who used to only cry secretly when he was beaten would have grown a head in just one year, and had a frightening aura between his brows.

Liu panicked and hid behind Zhao Hongcai, trembling, saying, "Hongcai, aren't you going to do anything about your son! He's going to hit me!"

Zhao Hongcai looked at Zhao Ziqiang and felt a little scared, but he was a father after all and didn't want to be outdone by his son. He raised his voice and said, "You unfilial son, how can you talk to your grandmother like that? Come on, take your brother and go back with me."

Zhao Ziqiang couldn't bring himself to call him "Dad." He asked coldly, "What, you want us to go back and be your punching bags? My brother and I have been in your house for ten years, suffering countless scornful looks and bullying. The older and younger kids have all gone to school. When have you, as our father, ever cared about us?"

When we arrived in Tangjiagou, my maternal grandmother and aunt-in-law considered everything for us. It was only that year that I learned what happiness was, and what home truly meant. Zhao Hongcai, if you ever dare to harm my mother or brother again, I will absolutely not let you get away with it!

As Zhao Ziqiang spoke, his fists were clenched so tightly that the veins bulged, and he had the fearless spirit of a newborn calf firmly in his grasp.

Zhao Hongcai was nothing but a paper tiger, a bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong, and immediately deflated.

Then Zhao Zili raised his fist and said seriously, "Brother, I'll protect Mother with you!"

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Wang said tearfully, "Ungrateful bastards! You're all ungrateful bastards! I raised you all to the age of ten, and this is how you repay me? What kind of bewitching potion have the people of Tangjiagou given you!"

Zhao Ziqiang glared back fiercely. Xu Lanzhi was afraid that he would really lay a hand on Liu Shi. It was a great disrespect for a grandson to hit his grandmother. She quickly stepped forward and said, "Ziqiang, take your brother back. Leave things here to your aunt!"