Chapter 80 Hugging her beloved granddaughter
Qiao Xingyue didn't have time to explain to Huang Guilan.
I had originally wanted Xie Zhongming to explain to me that she was Fatty and how she got to where she is today, but Zeng Xiuzhu suddenly appeared.
Zeng Xiuzhu clearly had ill intentions.
Qiao Xingyue pulled her hand out of Huang Guilan's palm and gently patted the back of Huang Guilan's hand. "Aunt Lan, I am Pangya. I'll explain to you later. Zeng Xiuzhu came uninvited today. I want to see what she's up to."
As she spoke, Qiao Xingyue walked from Huang Guilan's side to Zeng Xiuzhu.
Zeng Xiuzhu felt a sense of relief as she unloaded her basket. She picked up a banana leaf fan from the square table and fanned herself.
She surveyed the entire main room of the Xie family home: a floor fan, a mahogany sofa, a square eight-immortal table, a long bench, a rattan chair, a wooden washbasin stand with carved patterns, a radio, a sewing machine, and the old bicycle in the yard. Why didn't she see a television?
Logically, this shouldn't be the case. Xie Zhongming is now a regimental commander, his father is a division commander, and Huang Guilan is a university professor.
When Zeng Xiuzhu first arrived, she asked the people cooling off under the tree that Commander Xie received a monthly salary and allowance of more than two hundred yuan, and Huang Guilan also received more than two hundred yuan.
What does two hundred yuan mean?
She worked herself to the bone in the countryside to earn work points, but even if she converted them into grain, she couldn't sell them for more than two hundred yuan a year.
But the Xie family only has one person, and each person can earn more than two hundred yuan a month.
It's impossible that you can't even afford a TV set.
Little did they know, Huang Guilan was used to being frugal, and she didn't let Xie Jiang buy those big-ticket items.
Zeng Xiuzhu thought to herself that if the Xie family didn't give her a bride price, she would take everything from the Xie family and bring it back to her hometown.
Zeng Xiuzhu estimated that her son Liu Dazhu and daughter-in-law Jinhua had already borrowed an oxcart and would be coming to meet her soon. Then, the three of them would use the borrowed oxcart to move all the Xie family's valuables out of the house.
"Fatty, what are you standing there for?" Zeng Xiuzhu glared at Qiao Xingyue. "I've been inside for ages, hurry up and pour me some water."
Instead of pouring water, Qiao Xingyue coldly snorted, "Zeng Xiuzhu, do you not use your brain when you go out?"
"..." Zeng Xiuzhu felt a chill run down her spine when she saw Qiao Xingyue's sharp gaze, and her arrogance instantly diminished by half.
Fearing that Qiao Xingyue would poke her with something again, Zeng Xiuzhu took a half step back as Qiao Xingyue approached, "What are you talking about? What did you say?"
Qiao Xingyue stood in front of Zeng Xiuzhu without making any further moves.
The aura of the person was overwhelming.
His features were sharp and his eyes were as bright as a blade that had been tempered. Even when he wasn't smiling, he had an inherent sharpness that seemed to cut into Zeng Xiuzhu's flesh when he looked at her.
In Chadian Village, Zeng Xiuzhu was stabbed a few times by Qiao Xingyue. At the time, she was numb and in pain and couldn't move. She was in pain for several days afterward. The pain was like ants biting into her flesh and bones.
Zeng Xiuzhu still vividly remembers the pain she felt at that moment. "...What? I've raised you for over twenty years, and you can't even pour me a glass of water?"
Huang Guilan and Xie Jiang, who were standing nearby completely bewildered, were almost speechless with astonishment.
Huang Guilan thought that no matter how poor Zeng Xiuzhu's ideological awareness was, she was still Fatty's mother, and their Xie family's in-law. When an in-law comes to visit, it's only proper to offer her a glass of water.
Hearing the conversation, Huang Guilan dropped her enamel mug on the table with a thud.
Water splashed all over her, and her eyes widened suddenly, her mouth agape for a long time.
She took two steps toward Xie Zhongming, her fingertips trembling, her voice filled with unbelievable excitement, "...Zhongming, is Xingyue really the long-lost Fatty?"
How is that possible?
Fatty weighs 200 pounds.
Although Huang Guilan and Xie Jiang had never seen Pang Ya after Zhongming married her, they could still imagine her as someone who weighed over 200 pounds, was lazy, and prone to petty theft.
How could Fatty have transformed into Xingyue, who is so capable, beautiful, eye-catching, and likable in every way?
Just now, the fourth brother told the old couple that he had found Fatty and the child. Huang Guilan was thinking that no matter how disliked Fatty was in the past, she was still their Xie family's daughter-in-law, and the fourth brother should take responsibility for her. As for Xingyue, she would treat Xingyue as her own daughter and An'an and Ningning as her own granddaughters. If Xingyue was willing, she even wanted Xingyue to date her unmarried third and fifth brothers, so that she could also become their Xie family's daughter-in-law.
Suddenly, Fatty's mother burst in, calling out to Xingyue and Fatty.
Huang Guilan's thoughts were somewhat chaotic, overwhelmed by excitement and surprise, but it wasn't difficult to make sense of them.
After Xingyue became pregnant, she was kicked out by Zeng Xiuzhu. She must have suffered a lot outside, and it's normal for her to lose weight, as she had to raise two children all by herself.
In addition to An'an and Ningning, both of them have hereditary diseases in the Xie family.
An'an is allergic to peanuts.
Ningning has the exact same as her husband, Lao Xie, and even the test results from their trip to Kunming were identical.
She had previously wondered why An An and Ning Ning were so connected to the Xie family, and even suspected that Xing Yue might be the long-lost Fatty.
At the time, she thought Xingyue was capable, beautiful, and likable, and her name wasn't Liu Pangya, so she thought it was impossible and didn't ask Xingyue any more questions.
If she had asked a few more questions, she would have known long ago that Xingyue was Zhongming's legitimate wife.
I only found out now because I kept putting it off.
Huang Guilan's tears of excitement streamed down her face. She rushed up to Qiao Xingyue, grabbed her hand, and burst into tears of joy. "Xingyue, you really are Fatty, you really are Zhongming's wife, and An'an and Ningning are really our Xie family's granddaughters?"
At this moment, the old lady Chen Suying came out from the inner room. Her cloudy eyes suddenly became incredibly bright, like a kerosene lamp that had burned out suddenly being filled with kerosene, and the light suddenly shot up. "What? Xingyue, are you really Zhongming's long-lost wife? Are An'an and Ningning really my great-granddaughter?"
Zeng Xiuzhu couldn't understand what was going on.
Didn't the Xie family know that Qiao Xingyue was Fatty before?
"Grandma, Aunt Lan, I'll explain it to you slowly later."
As she spoke, Qiao Xingyue looked at Zeng Xiuzhu, her eyes now sharp and piercing, the smile from before gone. "Zeng Xiuzhu, five years ago, you kicked me out of your Liu family. I'm not called Liu Pangya anymore, I'm called Qiao Xingyue. My name was given to me by the couple who saved me. You're not my mother. Have you forgotten what you said when you kicked me out of the house—that you never gave birth to someone like me?"
These words were spoken by Zeng Xiuzhu.
The exact words were: "You lazy, good-for-nothing dead man, why don't you just die? Get out of my house! If you dare to step into my Liu family's house again, I'll break your legs. I, Zeng Xiuzhu, have never given birth to a fat, pig-like dead woman like you."
A mother curses her own daughter to die.
Most likely, they've disliked this child since he was little.
Qiao Xingyue understood that in those days, people born in the countryside relied on earning work points and distributing grain to make a living. Daughters were not able to work and could not earn many work points, so there was a general preference for sons over daughters.
But surely it doesn't warrant the death of your daughter?
Even if she were the real Fatty herself, let alone someone who transmigrated from another time, she would never acknowledge Zeng Xiuzhu as her wicked mother.
"Your Liu Pangya isn't here, your daughter isn't here. Are you going to get out on your own, or should I ask you to get out?"
As she spoke, Qiao Xingyue had already produced several silver needles in her hand.
Only then did Zeng Xiuzhu realize that this was the same thing she had used to stab her in Chadian Village last time.
Zeng Xiuzhu took several steps back, her thin, dark body bumping into the square table behind her before she stopped. She looked at Qiao Xingyue in fear and said, "What, what do you want to do? I, I'll call for help!"
If she dares to come near her again, she will throw a tantrum on the ground, crying and screaming.
The neighbors will definitely come over to see what's going on.
If she makes a big fuss about this, she'll find it hard to believe the Xie family won't give her the bride price.
"In these past five years, how much money have you swindled from my man in my name? What, you won't stop until I sue you in court and send you to jail?"
Qiao Xingyue was not afraid of Zeng Xiuzhu.
Last time, they simply had the police officers from Chadian Village take Zeng Xiuzhu away.
However, no formal charges were filed against Zeng Xiuzhu, assuming that once the money was returned, Zeng Xiuzhu would not cause trouble at the Jincheng Military Region.
Unexpectedly, Zeng Xiuzhu didn't shed a tear until she saw the coffin.
Zeng Xiuzhu was only detained for a few days before being released, and she thought that the money had already been taken by them and that she had not committed a crime.
Zeng Xiuzhu, who was illiterate to begin with, was convinced that she wouldn't be arrested. "You've already taken all the money, why are you arresting me? When did I kick you out? What proof do you have? I'm your mother. You married into such a good family like the Xie family thanks to my advice and solutions. If it weren't for me, would you have been able to marry such a good man? It's perfectly reasonable for me to ask your man for a dowry of five thousand."
A dowry of five thousand?
In this day and age, even if you buy a set of three watches and a radio, the total dowry would only cost a maximum of 500 yuan.
Zeng Xiuzhu asked for a dowry of five thousand yuan right off the bat; she certainly has a big appetite.
Just then, An'an and Ningning, who were taking a nap in Huang Guilan's room, were woken up and walked barefoot into the main room.
Zeng Xiuzhu looked at the two children and felt like she had seen them somewhere before... Then she remembered. The last time she came to the Jincheng Military Region compound, weren't these the two children who were with Qiao Xingyue and gave her steamed buns?
At the time, she thought the two kids looked like her daughter, Pangya, when she was little. It turns out they really are Pangya's daughters.
“I don’t care what name you’ve changed to now, you are still my Liu Pangya. Even if you’re skin and bones, you are still my daughter, born with blood and sweat.”
Zeng Xiuzhu sat down on the long bench as if her buttocks were rooted to the spot, glanced at the Xie family members, and said, "I don't care, if you don't give me five thousand in betrothal gifts today, I will take everything of value from your house."
Huang Guilan and Xie Jiang are both educated people, and they have never seen such an unreasonable person.
For a moment, they didn't know how to deal with it.
Logically speaking, Xingyue is Pangya, Zeng Xiuzhu's daughter, and the Xie family should indeed pay this bride price, but five thousand yuan is really too much.
All the family's savings combined amount to this much money.
But they might as well keep all this money for Xingyue and give it to her so she can live a good life. Why give it to Zeng Xiuzhu?
Huang Guilan said, “In-laws, although Xingyue is your own daughter, according to custom, we should only give you a dowry of five hundred yuan at most. Also, we haven’t settled accounts with you for the many times you bullied Xingyue before. The money you swindled from my son should also be returned. That money was for Xingyue, not for you. Let’s deduct the dowry from the previous money.”
"Aunt Lan, don't pay any attention to her. She's full of twisted logic." Qiao Xingyue took Huang Guilan's arm.
The two were as close as a mother and daughter.
Then, Qiao Xingyue patted Huang Guilan's hand, "Leave it to me."
After saying that, she released Huang Guilan. Before anyone could see clearly, as she approached Zeng Xiuzhu, the silver needle in her hand had already pierced Zeng Xiuzhu's body.
Zeng Xiuzhu wanted to dodge, but she couldn't react in time.
That familiar, numb, painful, and immobile feeling returned, so intense that she couldn't even speak.
Qiao Xingyue didn't want to listen to Zeng Xiuzhu's endless rambling anymore. She nudged Zeng Xiuzhu and asked, "Are you leaving on your own, or should I 'invite' you to leave?"
The word "please" specifically emphasizes the evidence.
She then took out a handkerchief from her canvas bag, inside which were wrapped silver needles that she always carried with her.
That means if Zeng Xiuzhu doesn't leave, she will continue to inject her with needles.
"Hurry up and leave!" She shoved Zeng Xiuzhu, who was in pain and pulled out the silver needle that had just been stuck into her flesh.
The moment she touched the needle, it hurt even more. "Ouch... I'm leaving, I'm leaving..."
What a waste of breath!
Qiao Xingyue shouldn't have let her nag.
She lowered her voice in front of Xie Zhongming, "Go borrow a car and take it directly to the police station in a bit. Bring the note she signed and put her fingerprint on, the guarantee, the telegrams she sent about how she colluded with the former village chief of Chadian Village to swindle money from you over the years, and your remittance receipts from the post office."
This time, they left Zeng Xiuzhu no way out and filed a lawsuit directly.
In this day and age, the amount of money involved in fraud and deception can reach more than 6,000 yuan. Even if they get back 3,400 yuan, they still have more than 3,000 yuan left, which is enough to warrant a criminal sentence.
Qiao Xingyue held Zeng Xiuzhu's arm and glanced at Huang Guilan, Xie Jiang, and Chen Suying. "Aunt Lan, Uncle Xie, Grandma, Zhongming and I are going out for a bit. We'll be right back after we've dealt with Zeng Xiuzhu's matter."
As he spoke, he shoved Zeng Xiuzhu again, "Get out of here!"
After the person left, Xie Jiang, Huang Guilan, and Chen Suying were stunned for a long time.
So... Xingyue really is the long-lost Fatty?
"Grandma, who is that old woman that Uncle Zhongming and Mom took away? What are they going to do there?"
Huang Guilan held An'an's hand in one hand and Ningning's hand in the other. She squatted down, hugged the two children in her arms, and said with a bright smile, "An'an, Ningning, my good granddaughters, you can't call Zhongming Uncle anymore. You have to call him Dad."
As she smiled, tears welled up in Huang Guilan's eyes.
Over the years, how many hardships has Xingyue endured raising two children alone?
Huang Guilan recalled when An'an and Ningning first came to the Xie family, Xingyue was feeding the old lady in the inner room. The two children refused to sit at the table to eat, so they squatted in the corner of the kitchen with only white rice and vegetables in their bowls.
An'an said to Ningning:
“Ningning, be good. Mommy said we can’t eat the owner’s meat. With just the two of us, we already have two more mouths to feed. It’s already very kind of the owner not to mind that there are more of us.”
"Now we have white rice and pork cracklings, which is so much better than when we used to eat sweet potatoes and drink corn porridge every day."
"Remember what Mom said: be sweet-talking, eat less, and do more. That way we can stay, Mom can get money to buy medicine for Ningning, and Ningning can get better..."
Eat less food...
An'an's words felt like countless needles, piercing Huang Guilan's heart.
At the time, she didn't know that An'an and Ningning were her biological granddaughters, but she had a strong desire to treat the two children as her own granddaughters.
Just think, how much suffering and hardship has Xingyue endured all these years while carrying An'an Ningning?
She held An'an and Ningning tightly in her arms, her throat tightening, and she sobbed uncontrollably, "An'an and Ningning, Grandma will never let you suffer again..."
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