"What?!" Secretary Wang and others' expressions changed slightly.
Liu Cui'e immediately jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at Zhang Chunxue and screaming, "What nonsense are you talking about! Who sold your daughter?! We were...we were arranging a marriage for her!"
Huang Xiaolan and Gao Xiuli also hurriedly agreed.
"That's right! That's right! We mean well!"
"Haruyuki, you can't wrongly accuse us!"
Zhang Chunxue didn't even look at them, but just stared at them coldly.
"Talking about marriage? How would you talk about marriage like that?"
"They blocked my door early in the morning, surrounding me in three layers! They wouldn't let my daughter go out!"
"Were you the three who just stopped me and forced me to accept the so-called betrothal money?"
"Aren't you forcing me to sell my daughter? What are you doing?!"
Then, she turned her head suddenly, and her eyes swept like a knife over the villagers who were just talking at once.
"And you too!"
"Who was there just now saying, 'Why does a little girl need to read so many books? Just learning a few words will be enough.'"
"Who's saying that a girl's education is a waste of money and a benefit to other families?"
"Who's telling me to marry Xiaoxiao off quickly in exchange for a betrothal gift? Is that the right thing to do?"
"Huh?! Where's the person who was speaking just now? Why is he silent now?!"
Zhang Chunxue straightened his spine and ruthlessly exposed those dirty thoughts and harsh words in front of all the leaders and villagers!
Liu Cui'e's old face turned pale and blue, like she had just opened a dyeing factory. "You... you're talking nonsense! It was obviously you! You were the one who was clamoring to marry Xiaoxiao off for money from the beginning!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of Secretary Wang, Mayor Li and others were all focused on Zhang Chunxue.
Zhang Chunxue's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't look panicked at all.
"Leader, I was deceived by them! At the beginning, my family was so poor that they couldn't even afford to eat. They kept telling me that getting married would get me a dowry and reduce the burden. I... I was confused for a moment and that thought crossed my mind."
"But then I thought about it carefully, that's not right! My daughter Xiaoxiao, how old is she? She's not even 18 yet!"
"At such a young age, what do you know? How can you marry so early and ruin your life?!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhong Xiaoxiao, who had been tightly clutching the certificate and schoolbag, suddenly raised her head as if she had mustered all the courage in her life, tears still welling up in her eyes, and her voice was filled with sobs.
"It's... it's grandma! And my aunt, my third aunt! And... and my brothers! They... they've always wanted my betrothal money!"
"It's my mom! It's my mom who disagrees! She said...she said she wants me to continue studying!"
"Just because of this, grandma... grandma came to our house and made a scene yesterday, and this morning she blocked the door and wouldn't let me and mom go out!"
Liu Cui'e was so angry that she was shaking all over. The finger she pointed at Zhong Xiaoxiao was trembling uncontrollably. Her lips were moving, but she couldn't refute a word.
She never imagined that this granddaughter, who usually kept silent and let them control her, would dare to reveal all the ugly things in her family in front of so many leaders!
Now, what else is there to say?
Secretary Wang's face darkened completely.
"Comrade Liu Cui'e! What era is this? Women hold up half the sky! Why are you still clinging to this outdated mentality of favoring boys over girls? Forcing your own granddaughter to drop out of school and get married just for a little bride price?!"
"Comrade Xiaoxiao is a top student from our town, no, our county! She's a pillar of our country! Is this how you treat talented people?!"
"This is simply foolish! It's ignorant! It's a blatant defiance of national policy!"
The secretary criticized her harshly, and every word was like a whip, making Liu Cui'e's old face burn with pain.
Huang Xiaolan and Gao Xiuli next to them were so frightened that they dared not utter a word, and their heads hung low as if they wished they could bury them in the ground.
Mayor Li directed his criticism at the village chief Zhong Fugui, and his tone was very dissatisfied.
"Village Chief Zhong! What's going on in your village? Forced marriages and preventing girls from going to school are happening right under your noses. What is your village committee doing?!"
Zhong Fugui was sweating profusely, his waist bent even lower, and he nodded and bowed repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, Secretary, Mayor, it's my fault, it's my fault! I...I will deal with it seriously when I get back!"
He had already cursed Liu Cui'e in his heart and was secretly angry.
You damn old woman, I’ll send you to pick up the smelliest manure at the east end of the village tomorrow!
After scolding the village chief, Secretary Wang turned his head again, and when his eyes fell on Zhang Chunxue, he had become much gentler.
"Comrade Zhang Chunxue, you did the right thing!" he said, his tone tinged with admiration. "Faced with such backward thinking and family pressure, you were able to stick to your principles and bravely fight for your daughter's opportunity to continue her studies. You are a good mother! A role model worth emulating!"
Mayor Li nodded and added, "Yes, it hasn't been easy for Comrade Chunxue. After her husband, Comrade Zhong Guosheng, died, she, as a woman, has worked tirelessly to raise four children over the past few years. She has also helped her sons find wives and have children, supporting the family. She's truly remarkable."
Zhang Chunxue's eyes warmed slightly as she listened to the leaders' affirmation.
She knew that now was the best time to completely draw a line with Liu Cui'e's family and win their sympathy and support!
She sniffed, her voice choked slightly but clear.
"Leader, actually... I also have a hard life."
"The man died, leaving us orphans and widows. As a woman, I worked day and night to barely raise these children."
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