The fifth child, Fan Hu, was only seven years old.
Logically speaking, the original owner had three sons, so she should have had a certain status in the family, at least not as lowly as she is now.
However, the original owner's sister-in-law had four sons and one daughter, with more sons and being born first;
The original owner had two daughters, and considered herself inferior and less than others. Even after giving birth to three sons, her status in the family remained as lowly as ever.
As a result, her two daughters were also ordered around by others.
During the busy farming season, the family not only worked in the fields but also took on all the household chores, yet they had the worst and most meager food, clothing, and daily necessities.
Er Ya reached out and touched the bloodstains on the back of Shui Qing's head, and said worriedly, "Even if you want to argue with Aunt, Mother, you should wait until Father comes back or when my eldest sister and I are here."
That way, when her aunt and grandmother fight, she and her older sister can stand in front of their mother!
At least Mom won't get hurt.
Shuiqing, who had already accepted the memory, felt a pang of sadness.
The reason the original owner bumped her forehead was because her mother-in-law and sister-in-law wanted to sell Daya to arrange a marriage for her elder brother and sister-in-law's son, Fan Dazhu, and to offer betrothal gifts.
The original owner naturally disagreed—she had three sons, and the dowry from her two daughters' marriages could be enough for her three sons to get married if she saved it. How could it be used to pay for her eldest brother and sister-in-law's son's wedding!
The timid original owner died after hitting the back of his head on the ground during a scuffle with his sister-in-law Sun Jinhua and mother-in-law.
Sun Jinhua had four older sons by her side, so she wasn't afraid at all. She didn't even glance at them before turning and walking away.
Mother Fan felt a little guilty, mainly because she was afraid that she would have trouble explaining things when her youngest son, who was earning money in the city, came back. She called Da Ya and Er Ya to carry Hu Shi back to the house to lie down, and then she left with a clear conscience.
The two daughters, seeing their unconscious mother, cried until their eyes were swollen. Now, they risked being beaten and scolded to steal dark-colored steamed buns to supplement her nutrition.
Shui Qing snorted coldly, "Why should a daughter be sold to pay for her son's wedding?"
Whether it's a cousin or a younger brother getting married, it can't be done by selling one's daughter!
Now that she's here, she's in charge from now on!
·
Shui Qing ate half a black flour bun with tears in her eyes, but even with her neck stiff, she couldn't swallow it.
In the blink of an eye, she saw her second daughter, who looked like a bean sprout, staring longingly at the dark steamed bun in her hand, her eyes full of envy.
In a family, the second child is always the least favored and least valued, especially since she is a girl.
She handed over the remaining dark-colored steamed buns.
Eating so much she was swallowing hard, Er Ya whispered, "Mom, you eat!"
This was taken from the grain by my eldest sister at the risk of being beaten and scolded by my grandmother and aunt; she couldn't eat it.
"I'm full, you eat," Shui Qing said, leaving no room for refusal. "You eat it for me so we won't get caught later."
She was in good health. Even though she was weak from hunger before, she regained a lot of strength after eating half a dark-colored steamed bun.
Without water, she simply couldn't eat the hard, dry steamed buns that scratched her throat.
Looking at her second daughter wolfing down her food, Shuiqing felt a pang of bitterness and sorrow in her heart, whether out of blood ties or simply because she couldn't bear to see suffering.
"You brat, where have you been hiding off to be lazy again! I caught you, you're not getting any lunch!"
"Just like her lazy, good-for-nothing mother, she's always up to no good and tries to cheat and get away with it. She just lies there and doesn't do any work after a minor bump or bruise. The whole family just freeloads!"
"Da Ya, lunch isn't ready yet? If it's not ready soon, you won't be eating!"
...
A series of shouts and curses came from outside, full of momentum.
Er Ya's thin and frail body shrank back slightly.
After the shouting, came the sound of a slap landing heavily on her back, which was clearly audible even in Shuiqing's room.
"Oh no!" Er Ya nimbly opened the door and rushed out.
In the courtyard, Daya was being beaten on the ground, surrounded by a circle of her cousins who watched indifferently.
Shui Qing stood up and tried to feel better. Even though she was weak from hunger before, she regained a lot of strength after eating half a dark-colored steamed bun.
Evil people need to be dealt with by other evil people.
Damn it, let me show you she's no good either.
She will protect her daughter; no one will dare to bully her!
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