On the day Wang Jiaxiaolang returned home, he also brought back another person—Cui Jiaerlang from the same village.
Cui Erlang and Wang Chengwen are from the same school. They passed the county-level examination two years ago and are now continuing their studies at the academy. They are just waiting for a few more years of practice before they can take the provincial-level examination.
The last time Wang Chengwen returned home, it was Cui Erlang who brought him back.
At that time, Wang Xiuxiu had a brief conversation with him and thought he was a gentle and refined scholar with a scholarly air about him.
When Cui Erlang came again, Wang Xiuxiu greeted him politely as always.
However, Cui Erlang acted as if he had seen some kind of monstrous flood. He lowered his head, not daring to look Wang Xiuxiu in the eye, hurriedly gave a reply, and then ran away as if fleeing.
Wang Xiuxiu stood there, her mind full of questions, wondering to herself: What's wrong with this person? He was fine last time, but this time he's acting like he's seen a ghost?
While Wang Xiuxiu was still wondering, Hong Xiaodong couldn't hold back any longer and started making veiled accusations.
She stood in the courtyard, her voice shrill and barbed: "Oh, some people are really shameless, lowly sluts, daring to seduce people right in front of everyone at their own doorstep! They've completely disgraced the Wang family!"
Hong Xiaodong's curses were so vulgar that even Wang Xiuxiu, who usually viewed her speech as a donkey's braying, couldn't help but turn pale.
She clenched her fists, a fire burning inside her, but she couldn't let it out.
Wang Chengwen stood aside, gave Wang Xiuxiu a cold look, said nothing, and stepped into the door.
A short while later, Chen Chunhua came out of the kitchen carrying a ladle of water.
She walked straight to Hong Xiaodong's room, pushed the door open, and without saying a word, splashed a bucket of cold water over his head.
Hong Xiaodong was drenched to the bone, screamed, and jumped out of bed.
"If I hear you spewing nonsense again and corrupting my son, you'll see how I deal with you!" Chen Chunhua said coldly, her tone exuding an undeniable authority.
Hong Xiaodong usually acted arrogantly at home because she was the daughter of a scholar. Although Chen Chunhua found her annoying, she was too lazy to argue with her most of the time.
But when it comes to Wang Chengwen, Chen Chunhua is like a mother wolf protecting her cubs, refusing to back down in the slightest.
Hong Xiaodong was splashed with water but dared not make a sound. He could only bite his lip and watch Chen Chunhua leave with resentment.
As soon as Chen Chunhua left, Hong Xiaodong started arguing with Wang Chengwu.
She grabbed a pillow and threw it hard at Wang Chengwu, her voice trembling with tears: "Are you dead?! You just stand by and watch me get bullied like this! Say something!"
Wang Chengwu dodged the pillow and said impatiently, "Then what do you expect me to do? I can't lay a hand on her."
"You...you're such a coward!" Hong Xiaodong trembled with anger, grabbing whatever was at hand and throwing it at Wang Chengwu. "Look at Cui Erlang, and look at you! You have absolutely no backbone!"
Annoyed by the scolding, Wang Chengwu cursed "crazy woman" and slammed the door shut as he left.
Hong Xiaodong collapsed onto the bed, crying her heart out.
She was both angry and resentful, feeling that she had married the wrong person.
That jerk! He won't even stand up for me when I'm being bullied. What a useless man!
Hong Xiaodong felt increasingly aggrieved as she thought about it, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Back then, if it weren't for... if it weren't for...
She hated it! She really hated it!
---
On the other side, Chen Chunhua finally had a chance to be alone with Wang Chengwen, and her face was full of smiles.
She took Wang Chengwen's hand and asked with concern, "Young man, you're finally back! Were you tired at the academy? Take a good rest, your mother has made you something delicious."
Wang Chengwen nodded, a rare smile appearing on his face: "Thank you, Mother. I'm doing well at the academy."
Hearing this, Chen Chunhua was even more delighted and quickly pulled him into the house, bringing out the food she had prepared.
The table was filled with Wang Chengwen's favorite dishes, and the aroma was irresistible.
As Chen Chunhua served him food, she chattered on and on about life at the academy, her eyes full of affection.
Wang Xiuxiu stood aside, watching the mother and son being affectionate, and suddenly felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
She silently returned to her room, closed the door, and lay down on the bed.
She missed her mother, the seamstress who always watched her eat with a smile.
Although the seamstress mother was busy, she would always bring her some snacks when she came home and patiently listen to her talk about what happened at school.
Wang Xiuxiu closed her eyes and silently murmured in her heart, "Seamstress Mom, I miss you so much..."
She turned over, and tears streamed down her face without her realizing it.
In this unfamiliar era, although she has a new identity, she always feels like an outsider.
Chen Chunhua's favoritism, Hong Xiaodong's刁难 (difficulties/challenges), and the indifference of others made her feel incredibly lonely.
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