Chapter 37
Tang Guizhi's incident prevented everyone from celebrating the New Year happily as before, and everyone felt very heavy.
It just so happened that those present were either young or of awkward status and were not suitable to intervene.
If Mrs. Wu called for help, they would have rushed up to help their family without hesitation, but Mrs. Wu's attitude put them in an awkward situation.
It’s not the right thing to do, and it’s not the right thing to do not to do it.
A group of people were crowded in the room, not knowing what to do.
"I'll go and take a look." Tang Jianshe, who had been silent all the time, asked Wang Simei to get him a crutch.
Tang Jianshe's legs have atrophied and become deformed due to polio. One leg can still be used with some strength, but the other is basically useless. He can only walk a few steps with the help of crutches, and his legs can no longer support him if he walks for too long.
Therefore, his world only consists of this small yard and it is difficult for him to get out.
Or you can use your hands to support yourself and move your body outside, so you can walk farther.
Wang Simei hesitated: "Why don't we wait for Uncle San to come back?"
Tang Xingsheng was very perceptive and ran out while saying, "I'm going to find my dad now."
Tang Jianshe did not give up and said, "Now that my little sister is back, I have to go and see her for both emotional and logical reasons."
Wang Simei didn't know what to say after hearing this, and her eyes were full of worry.
It's not that she stopped Tang Jianshe from supporting her sister, the problem is that she has to be taken seriously.
But her man knows it herself. Even though she usually acts as if it’s none of her business, there’s nothing she can do about it. She can’t control it even if she wants to because of her physical limitations.
In fact, he had warm feelings in his heart, otherwise he would not have contradicted Old Lady Wu so much for Yang Zhaodi's marriage, and he would not have found such a good husband for his eldest daughter.
Zhu Yushan took the initiative to step forward to help, and when they reached the door of the main house, Tang Jianshe asked Zhu Yushan to go back.
A group of people hid in the house, listening attentively to what was happening outside.
Tang Jianshe shouted towards the closed room: "Little sister, it's me, big brother."
Tang Guizhi, who was crying, stopped crying when she heard Tang Jianshe's voice outside.
Old Mrs. Wu said impatiently, "Boss, when your son-in-law comes back, you should take care of him first. Don't neglect him."
"Mom, open the door first."
"Why are you opening the door in the middle of winter? Are you trying to freeze someone to death? Go back quickly. I'm talking to your sister."
Tang Jianshe still didn't give up: "Little sister, come out for a moment, I have something to tell you."
Tang Guizhi looked out the window and then at Old Lady Wu.
Old Lady Wu winked at her and whispered:
"What's the point of letting your elder brother know? Can he still help you get back your position? With his physique, he can just take care of himself."
"Or do you want his son-in-law to help you? Do you think you don't talk too much, or do you think you are not a laughing stock?"
Tang Guizhi suddenly wilted when she thought of her elder brother's situation.
Old Mrs. Wu tapped her forehead unhappily and said, "I just said so much to you in vain. How can you treat your own man like an enemy? Do you still want to live your life?"
Tang Guizhi's heart was in a state of confusion. When she was beaten, she firmly felt that she could not go on like this.
But as I ran all the way home, I felt more and more empty inside.
I was originally still feeling angry, but now Tang Guizhi had dispersed a lot of it.
Just like what her mother said, if she gets divorced, what will she do in the future?
I don't even have my own room at my parents' house. Every time I come back, I either come and go in a hurry or I have to squeeze in with my mother all night.
In the village, I have never heard of a girl who got married and then divorced and came back home being drowned in spit.
Moreover, my sisters-in-law, especially my third sister-in-law, would definitely not agree. Even though my mother seems to be the head of the family now, in fact, this head of the family is also very weak.
Because her mother is getting older, she will have to rely on her third brother to take care of her in her old age.
She could bully her daughter-in-law, but she dared not do anything to Tang Jianjun.
The more Mrs. Wu spoke, the colder she felt inside, but if she was asked to go back, she could not help but start to tremble again.
I can't divorce, but my brother has to support me, otherwise I won't be able to live like this.
Tang Guizhi felt relieved when she heard her elder brother, who was always silent, was looking for her. But when she was reminded of this, she felt angry again.
"Brother, please go back. I have something to talk to Mom about."
At the glance of Old Lady Wu, Tang Guizhi spoke toward the window.
Her voice was still hoarse, and you could tell she had just cried.
Tang Jianshe held the cane tightly and said, "Guizhi, we are a family. We can talk openly if there is anything."
"Brother, I'm really fine. Go back now and don't freeze yourself."
Old Mrs. Wu also shouted, "Why are you worrying about this? Take care of yourself first."
Wang Simei, who was in the room, couldn't bear it anymore, so she hurried out to help her man back home.
After returning to the room, Tang Jianshe looked very unhappy and sat on the kang without saying a word.
No one knew what to say, and Zhu Maisui even sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere.
Her big grape-like eyes rolled around, and she picked up the candy on the table, peeled off the sugar coating and stuffed it into Tang Jianshe's mouth.
"Grandma, eat some candy, it's sweet, and make you laugh."
The childish voice broke the depressing atmosphere and Tang Jianshe was slightly startled.
The little girl opened her mouth and made an "ah" gesture towards him, just like an adult coaxing her.
"Be good, ah——"
Tang Jianshe's expression instantly softened, "Grandma, no..."
As soon as she opened her mouth, candy was stuffed in her mouth, and she couldn't stop herself from moving.
Upon seeing this, Zhu Maisui clapped her hands happily.
“Is it sweet?”
Tang Jianshe touched the little bun on her head and said, "Sweet."
"Grandma, are you happy?"
"I'm happy."
Red wheat spike was immediately delighted and ran around on the kang.
Old Mrs. Wu and Tang Guizhi had been paying attention to what was going on here. When they heard the laughter in the room, Old Mrs. Wu looked unhappy.
"Even though their sister is like this, they can still laugh! Look at what I said before, if you want to be laughed to death, go away."
Tang Guizhi was also unhappy. She was already in such a state, so how could her eldest brother's family do the same?
"Mom, did I deserve to be beaten for nothing? You don't know how hard Xu Taian beat me. Not only did that old woman not come up to stop the fight, but she encouraged him, making Xu Taian beat me even harder!"
"That damn old woman! She has droopy eyes and a black heart! I think Xu Taian is a good person. She is the one who instigated it behind the scenes."
When talking about her mother-in-law, Tang Guizhi felt even more aggrieved and spoke more fiercely about her.
Old Mrs. Wu had also been bullied by her mother-in-law before, so the two of them had a lot in common at this time, and they talked and cursed at each other.
When Tang Jianjun was called back, the mother and daughter were still cursing Tang Guizhi's mother-in-law.
He was dragged back by Tang Xingsheng, looking impatient.
But when he saw Tang Guizhi's face, he was immediately furious: "Xu Taian, this bastard! How could he be so cruel!"
“Third brother!”
When Tang Guizhi saw Tang Jianshe, she immediately burst into tears out of grievance.
"What's going on? Why did Xu Taian attack you? Damn it, does he think there is no one left in our Tang family? Just wait and see how I deal with him when I get back!"
After hearing this, Tang Guizhi felt more confident.
"Third brother, you still think of me."
The reason why Tang Guizhi was beaten was not a big deal.
However, in the morning, Tang Guizhi found that the gifts she prepared when she went back to her parents' home were fewer than before, so she complained to Xu Taian about her mother-in-law.
As soon as Xu Taian heard this, he started scolding her, saying that she was ungrateful.
At first, it was just a few arguments, but when the mother-in-law heard them arguing and learned the reason, she joined in and the conflict escalated.
Tang Guizhi's mother-in-law dug up old accounts and said that Tang Guizhi had been giving back to her parents' family all day and had emptied out the house.
They also said that she went back to her parents' home all day long. Those who knew her thought she was supporting her parents, but those who didn't think she had a lover there.
After hearing such slander, Tang Guizhi certainly could not give up, so she cursed back, saying that she herself had a dirty heart and thought others were also dirty.
As soon as she said this, Tang Guizhi was beaten by Xu Taian.
Tang Jianjun couldn't help but frown when he heard this, "You too, have never been careful with your words since you were little. Which man likes a woman who yells and screams? You should have been more gentle and cried to the man. Would you have been beaten like that?"
"But the dirty water has splashed on me. If I don't spit it back, how can I live in the future?"
Tang Jianjun still disagreed: "Men just hate women like this. Looking at you like this, no wonder he wants to deal with you."
Tang Guizhi didn't expect that not only her own mother didn't support her, but her own brother also said so. She couldn't help but start to suspect that it was her own problem.
"But, but you can't beat me to death."
Tang Jianjun nodded: "That's right. If we just let this matter go, it would be like trampling on the faces of our Tang family."
When Tang Guizhi heard this, she breathed a sigh of relief again.
"But little sister, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you have to control your temper and stop acting like a country bumpkin. Xu Taian is a respectable man. If you lose his face, he will be embarrassed and will get angry. If he gets angry, he will get angry."
Tang Guizhi lowered her head and said nothing. Her eyes were red, but at least she stopped crying.
"Okay, don't be so sad on New Year's Day. It's not a big deal. Wait for Xu Taian to come pick you up, and I'll say a few words to him to let him know that you have family too."
Tang Guizhi was worried: "Will he come to pick me up?"
Old Mrs. Wu said firmly, "If he doesn't come back to pick you up, who will take care of the two little ones at home? The children are still young and can't leave their mother. No matter how capable your mother-in-law is, she is still an old woman. How can she take care of two grandchildren who are like monkeys?"
When Tang Guizhi heard this, she felt that it made some sense.
Although her mother-in-law had always been competing with her for the grandson, she always wanted to separate them from the mother and son and liked to interfere in everything.
可孩子就是親媽，而且兩個孩子鬧騰得很，婆婆那身板根本撐不住。
孩子小的時候，那老太婆也想着抱過去自己養，這樣跟孫子更親近。
可兩個孩子從生下來就鬧得厲害，晚上不抱着睡根本睡不着。
老太婆又沒奶，不像唐桂芝孩子鬧騰了就塞奶，就能安撫孩子別哭。
那老太婆其實也想過用這一招，可兩個孩子都是有脾氣的，嗦半天嗦不出來，還把她給咬了。
老太婆無法，只能把孩子扔過來給她帶，否則能把自己給熬死。
唐桂芝越想心裏越發有底氣，身上雖然還疼得厲害，卻也不像之前一樣惶恐不安，不知道該怎麽辦才好。
另一頭，徐家。
此時的徐家氣氛也不大好，唐桂芝從家裏哭嚎着跑回娘家，單位不少人都看見了，現在外頭不知道傳成什麽樣子。
“我就說那個女人有心眼，不就打了兩下嗎，不知道的還以為怎麽着了，她這是要讓我們徐家在單位裏徹底沒面子！”
張翠香一想到以後下樓，會被指指點點，就對兒媳婦恨得不行。
徐廣進沒好氣地瞪了她一眼：“你也是的，怎麽也不攔一下。平時也就算了，大過年的鬧這麽一出，這不是平白讓人笑話嗎。”
“這是我要鬧嗎，分明就是那個女人沒事找事！”張翠香也很是生氣。
“你問問兒子，是不是她故意拿喬。哼，她這種鄉下人，能嫁給我們泰安不知道上輩子得做多少好事，她偏還是個不知足的！吃我們的喝我們的，還成天沒事找事！”
“不管怎麽說，她也是兩個孩子的媽，當着孩子的面大打出手，看兩孫子現在被吓的。”
提起孫子，張翠香更是心疼。
“有這樣的媽，他們真是倒了八輩子的黴了。那女人就是仗着自己生了兩個兒子，就覺得自己比天高比地闊了。嗤，要不是我們家泰安厲害，就她這種死樣子，女兒都生不出來！”
徐廣進眼看妻子越說越來勁，完全沒有把兒媳婦找回來的态度，也有些不耐煩了。
“那你現在想怎麽着？兒媳婦跑回娘家了，咱們家就光榮了？我看你才是成天沒事找事。”
張翠香頓時急了：“徐廣進，你這話啥意思！”
“啪——”徐廣進猛地拍桌，“怎麽，我這幾年沒打你，你也來勁了是吧？”
張翠香抖了抖，氣焰頓時被壓了下來。
“她想回娘家就回呗，到時候還不得灰溜溜回來，難道還要咱們泰安去請啊？”
一直不吭聲的徐泰安，立馬發表自己意見。
“我才不去接那個女人，什麽玩意兒！有本事回娘家，有本事別回來啊，什麽東西。”
張翠香也附和道：“沒錯，要是這次低了頭，那女人就會以為自己拿捏了咱們，以後動不動跑回娘家，誰遭得住啊。”
“她要是不回來呢？兩個孫子你能管得住？”
兩個孩子正是上房揭瓦的年紀，他和徐泰安都是要工作的，且都不會帶孩子，張翠香這把老骨頭可看不過來。
張翠香笑了起來，一臉輕蔑。
“她在家住不了幾天就得灰溜溜回來，嫁出去的女兒，家裏頭哪裏還有她待的地方？親家母是個老寡婦，成天最擔心的就是養老的事，瞧這厲害其實外強中幹。
她敢護着女兒？唯一能給她養老的那個兒子兒媳婦你也見過，你覺得他們能是省油的燈嗎？瞧着吧，沒兩天就要把她趕回來，否則還能讓她白賴在娘家吃過白飯啊。到時候必須得拿捏了，省得以後成天沒事找事。”
徐廣進也覺得這話有道理，他對于兒媳婦竟然這麽跑走了，深感不滿。
這不是故意讓大家夥知道，他們家不和嗎。
“那就這麽着吧，孩子你注意看着，別讓他們磕了碰了。”
徐家就這麽跟唐家杠上了，一個不讓一個。
趙大花一回家，就知道這麽個情況，直接從炕上跳了起來。
“啥玩意？要在家裏住？這得住多久啊！他們夫妻鬧矛盾，你裝什麽大方啊。我們今年多難你不知道啊，她還要回來白吃白喝。”
唐建軍臉色不好看：“你這話是啥意思，那可是我妹妹。”
“是你妹不是你閨女！哦，她嫁到鎮上，平常吃香的喝辣的沒想着你，現在被欺負了就知道跑回家吃我們的喝我們的，上哪去說都沒這個理。”
趙大花氣得不行，尤其想到唐桂芝這麽跑回來，肯定什麽東西都不帶，真是虧死了。
“那怎麽着？就讓我妹子白挨人家欺負，那我還要不要做人了！”
趙大花眼珠子一轉：“這件事就是徐家做得不對，你這個當哥的不得去給妹子撐腰，讓他們不給點好處，這事沒完！”
“這能行嗎？”唐建軍心底有些虛。
別看他在村子裏仗着自己有個哥哥當廠長，表現得特別厲害，可面對吃公家飯的城裏人還是沒啥底氣的。
“你傻了啊，徐泰安可是有單位的人，大不了你去單位鬧啊！”
唐建軍沒吭聲，趙大花知道他心動了，再接再厲：
“他可是動手打了我們妹子，不管怎麽着，都是我們有理啊。”
“我再想想。”
“哎呀，你還想啥啊，這事不是明擺着嗎。徐家人還敢真離婚？他可是單位裏的，離婚就是思想有問題，以後工作上甭想被重用了。咱們用這個說事，指不定能拿不少好處呢。”
趙大花越想越覺得可行，論起要面子，那在單位工作的人，可比他們這種鄉下人要看重得多。
唐建軍沒吭聲，不過明顯是聽進去了。
趙大花這邊火急火燎，唐建軍則穩重很多，畢竟這事是得他出頭。
趙大花還想催，唐建軍白了她一眼：“你這麽厲害，你去啊。”
趙大花頓時歇了火，她連進人家單位大門都覺得腿發虛。
話說得倒是輕巧，真要是去幹這事，就得需要莫大的勇氣。
平常他們在徐家人都覺得矮人一頭，需要去讨好，現在要去找茬，總覺得沒那底氣。
況且也在擔心，萬一弄個不好，人財兩空可怎麽辦？
“這事還得從長計議，先看徐家是什麽态度再說。”
唐建軍心裏期盼徐家人那邊先扛不住，這樣自己就可以順理成章地拿捏徐泰安，不用自己跑鎮裏去找徐家主持公道。
可等啊等，都已經初七了，愣是一點消息也沒有。
徐家那邊一直沒有來人，別說趙大花心裏跟貓被燒了尾巴似的，唐桂芝心裏也很不安。
現在家裏的氣氛很是詭異，都一塊生活了，唐桂芝被丈夫打的事也沒法瞞了。
唐建設一家夾在中間就尴尬了，唐建設直接在屋子裏不出來，平常吃飯都是帶回屋子裏吃的。
王四妹想關心又不敢多問，生怕被誤解了自己的意思。
自從唐桂芝回來之後，吳老太看這個兒媳婦更加不順眼了。
那天看着楊招娣一家和樂融融的，怎麽都覺得那個畫面刺眼。
唐桂芝也悶在屋子裏不敢出現，要不是她回來的時候別人看見，大家都不知道她回來了。
有那好事之人詢問發生了什麽事，都被搪塞了過去。
可家裏頭有個藏不住話的趙大花，忍不住跟自己玩得好的小姐妹抱怨。
“你說做媳婦得做得多失敗，才會被自己男人打。”
“我看你小姑子丈夫長得挺斯文啊，還是吃公家飯的，也跟鄉下男人一樣愛動手？”
“嗨，肯定是我那小姑子矯情了呗，把老實人給逼急了可不就動了手？在家裏是最小的，從小被慣壞了。所以我說，女孩兒不能慣着，以後肯定是要吃大虧的。偏偏大家覺得我這個人太兇，把我當我家大女兒的後媽。”
趙大花跟小姐妹抱怨完，又覺得不大好，叮囑她一定不要說出去。
“家醜不可外揚，我也是把你當做好姐妹，才跟你說這些事的。不管怎麽說那都是我小姑子，我也不能看着她日子不好過。”
小姐妹信誓旦旦，“你就放心吧，我你還不信啊？我的嘴是最嚴的了，之前老張媳婦的事我就誰都沒說。”
“啊？老張媳婦啥事啊？”
“哎喲喂，你還不知道啊，我跟你說你可別跟人說……”
沒多久，全大隊的人都知道唐桂芝被自己男人打，現在跑回娘家的事了。
吳老太出門被老姐妹問起時，氣得臉都紅了。
她原本想忽悠村裏人說是自己閨女想家了，親家念着她生了兩個兒子不容易，就讓她在娘家多待一段時間。
現在好了！
全村的人都知道，小女兒家裏也沒大家想的那麽好，日子也不好過。
而且過了這麽久，女婿也沒過來接人，不會是不想要這個媳婦了吧？
一連串的問題，讓吳老太的面子都給丢光了。
“到底是誰把消息傳出去！還嫌不夠丢人啊！”
趙大花很是坦蕩：“反正不是我，我沒有跟外人提。”
王四妹也連連否認，吳老太抓不住人，只能朝着空氣罵罵咧咧了半天。
Tang Guizhi lowered her head and buried herself in her work. She no longer had the same air as before. She had no confidence in what she said or did. She looked as wilted as a flower.
The family was in a mess and Tang Qingqing felt uncomfortable.
Especially looking at the current situation, Tang Guizhi is afraid that she will not be able to stay in her parents' home soon. Zhao Dahua is always finding fault with her, and Old Lady Wu is gradually losing her patience.
Tang Guizhi worked non-stop at home and ate very little. In just a few days, she looked much more haggard.
"It's New Year's Day, why are you sighing?"
Zhai Hongyi tapped Tang Qingqing on the forehead, but Tang Qingqing did not fight back as usual. Instead, she looked sluggish and lacked strength.
"Is he sick?"
Zhai Hongyi reached out to touch Tang Qingqing's forehead, but she dodged him.
"It's okay, I just can't figure it out."
"What's wrong?"
"Does a woman lose her home when she gets married?"
When Tang Guizhi was a girl, she was quite favored.
Every time I came back, I was warmly entertained and I have always been the pride of the family.
In addition to always talking about Tang Jianguo, Old Lady Wu also talks about her little daughter a lot.
But now that something has happened, the family has changed into another person, which makes people feel indescribably uncomfortable.
The longer Tang Guizhi stayed at home, the less welcome she felt. People thought she was an ignorant guest who had stayed in someone else's house for so long.
Tang Guizhi could only work very hard to make up for the "loss" caused by living at home.
Tang Qingqing saw this and felt very frustrated.
Although the Tang family was no longer her home, she still felt inexplicably uncomfortable seeing this situation.
“That depends on what kind of home it is.”
"But it seems to be the same in the village. Once a daughter gets married, she belongs to someone else's family."
“Not all families are like this.”
"That's true, but it's too much about fate."
Zhai Hongyi said: "So you still have to be strong yourself, make the other party afraid, and know that bullying you has a price, so that they will not unleash violence recklessly."
"But a woman can't beat a man."
"No matter how powerful a man is, should he sleep? If you can't beat him normally, can you beat him when he's asleep? If he uses his fists and you use your sword, who dares to charge? As long as he has the determination and momentum to resist, ordinary people won't dare to provoke him."
"Most people in this world are just ordinary people. They are not the kind of vicious, vengeful people who would think of revenge after being beaten. Most people would just be scared and not dare to do anything wrong in the future."
Tang Qingqing nodded heavily: "Just like a woman whose family is powerful, her husband dare not take action."
"That's right, so when others are unreliable, you have to stand up for yourself, with an attitude that it's okay to die together. I don't think there are many men who dare to lay hands on their wives.
But if you meet such a person, just beat him up and run away. It would be boring to live with such a person. "
"But where can we go if we run away?" Tang Qingqing looked confused.
"If you can support yourself, what are you afraid of? Rural women can't run away because of issues such as housing land. But if you have a job in the city, it's different. Whether you get married or not, whether you get divorced or not, it doesn't affect your salary and the allocated house is yours."
"That's true." Tang Qingqing suddenly understood: "No wonder everyone wants to be a city dweller. The difference is too big."
Thinking of future changes, Tang Qingqing is even more expectant.
By then, many women like Tang Guizhi will have more choices.
"Brother, whoever marries you in the future will be blessed."
He thinks so clearly and can understand women's difficulties, so his life will definitely be good.
Zhai Hongyi said unhappily, "You should just take care of yourself. I don't know what you are thinking about all day long."
Tang Qingqing chuckled, her eyes were ambiguous and flirtatious.
Ever since the two female educated youth came here, they would appear from time to time. Their attentive attitude made her and Wang Heizi see countless excitement.
Before Tang Guizhi could figure out what was going on, the Public Security Bureau sent someone to ask Tang Qingqing to come over.
Tang Qingqing went to work happily and brought Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi with her.
One was a bodyguard and the other just wanted to join in the fun.
Tang Qingqing originally didn't want to bring Wang Heizi along. After all, bringing one was already too much, and bringing another one would be too pretentious, and it would also give the impression that he was just eating and drinking for free.
Wang Heizi declared that he would never cause any trouble, and that he would also take New Year's goods to his aunt's house and take care of his own food, drink and sleep. Only then did Tang Qingqing agree.
This time when Tang Qingqing arrived at the commune, no one went to the bus station to pick her up, so she found a way to go to the Public Security Bureau on her own.
Tang Qingqing didn't care. After all, everyone was busy. She would rather Qin Sa had more time to rest and not have to make such a trip.
When I arrived at the Public Security Bureau, Qin Sa was not there. She was out of town on a case.
The person who received her was Song Weiguo, the police officer who had a limp when he was testing Tang Qingqing.
Song Weiguo also knew Tang Qingqing's abilities. It was amazing that she could tell that she was lame just by looking at her footprints.
He studied this for a long time, but he only scratched the surface and couldn't get into it at all, so he simply gave up.
He had always wanted to see Tang Qingqing's abilities with his own eyes, and this time he got the chance.
Song Weiguo treated her with great enthusiasm, but he also said cautiously:
"Comrade Tang, I'm afraid this matter today is a bit troublesome because it happened several days ago, which is not very conducive for you to track it down."
Tang Qingqing exchanged a few pleasantries and then got to the point, "What's the situation now?"
“This could be a missing person case.”
Zhai Hongyi heard the key point in the words, "Is it possible?"
Song Weiguo praised Zhai Hongyi's sharpness and continued: "The person who reported the case claimed that his sister was missing, and the reporter's brother-in-law said that his wife ran away with someone.
The person who reported the case insisted that his sister would never do such a thing, and that she must have been murdered or something had happened that prevented her from returning home. So he went to the police station to report her missing, fearing that something might have happened to her.
We haven't figured out what the situation is. We don't have any clues at the moment, so we asked you to come over and see if you can help us find out something."