After the two got married, Uncle Xu did treat Aunt Xie's little girl as his own daughter. After finishing his work, he would carry his stepdaughter on his shoulders and show her off to the whole village.
Less than a year later, Aunt Xie became pregnant again, and Uncle Xu was overjoyed, shouting in the village every day that he had an heir.
Unexpectedly, when Aunt Xie was six months pregnant, Uncle Xu went to participate in the construction of a reservoir.
As a result, the reservoir collapsed, and Uncle Xu drowned in it.
Aunt Xie became a widow again, and she was carrying a child born after her death.
Now everyone is wondering if Aunt Xie is really a jinx to her husbands, otherwise why would two men have died?
Aunt Xie was heartbroken. If it weren't for the fact that she was pregnant and her daughter was still young, she would have gone with Uncle Xu.
She gritted her teeth and survived, giving birth to a son for Uncle Xu, thus ensuring he had an heir.
She was a widow with two children, and life was difficult for her. She also had to endure a lot of gossip and grievances.
Gradually, his personality became somewhat cold and unapproachable.
Fortunately, this posthumous child was quite promising. After growing up, and since Uncle Xu was a martyr, he later got an opportunity to join the army.
I heard he was doing quite well in the army, and he got married and had children there.
He just rarely comes back.
All that remained of Aunt Xie's life was her youngest daughter, and the two of them depended on each other for survival.
My youngest daughter married into another brigade, which is dozens of miles away, and she rarely comes back more than a few times a year.
The only family member who was able to come back for the Lunar New Year was Aunt Xie, so they came to our house to ask for help, hoping to support their daughter.
After all, everyone knows his family situation. Although the little girl has two brothers, her original brother, who shares the same father and mother, was raised by her grandparents and has never been close to her and her mother since childhood. He doesn't acknowledge them at all.
As for Uncle Xu's son, he hasn't returned for many years. No matter how well he does in the army, he can't reach back to his hometown.
Therefore, Aunt Xie's youngest daughter, in the eyes of her husband's family, had no help from her own family.
Aunt Xie made it clear that she just wanted the two of them to have a meal with her, and that was all she wanted.
It's also meant to intimidate the young woman's husband and in-laws.
Xu Ningyan herself was fine, but she was worried that Gu Zhiyuan would be unhappy.
After glancing at Gu Zhiyuan, Gu Zhiyuan stood up and said, "Then let's go there early so we can help with some work."
That means you've agreed.
Aunt Xie turned her back and wiped the corner of her eye.
She felt it was presumptuous of her to come today, and she was actually quite unsure of herself. After all, she had dealt with Xu Ningyan more often and knew them better than others; these two were not easy people to talk to.
They were very considerate in their interactions. Although I had helped them with some small favors, they gave me generous gifts in return, and they didn't owe me anything.
Seeing her daughter return looking haggard, and her son-in-law's attitude of not treating his daughter with any respect when he came to his mother-in-law's house, she, as the mother, simply couldn't bear it anymore.
She was an old, lonely woman with no other skills, so this was the only way she could think of – to borrow the tiger's power and make her daughter's life a little easier.
After wiping away her tears, Aunt Xie's eyes were red: "Siya, I'll remember this kindness from you all—"
Xu Ningyan quickly stopped Aunt Xie from saying anything more, "Since Aunt Mingxia rarely comes back, we should cook more delicious food today! Aunt, you go back first, we'll be right there after we've tidied up!"
She was willing to help Aunt Xie because it wouldn't harm either herself or Gu Zhiyuan.
Secondly, Aunt Xie had been taking care of her little courtyard all year, and she had done her best. Although she had given Aunt Xie a lot of things, this kindness was truly precious.
Besides, she'll need Aunt Xie's help to look after this courtyard in the future; it's just a favor she's doing.
Furthermore, she also disliked those men who bullied her because she was incompetent and looked down on her wife and her family.
Aunt Xie received an affirmative answer, and thinking of her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson at home, she hurriedly went back.
Gu Zhiyuan originally thought it wouldn't be right to go to Aunt Xie's house empty-handed, and wanted to bring some meat or something, but Xu Ningyan stopped him.
During the first month of the lunar calendar, it's considered unlucky to send your own meat, cabbage, or similar items to other people's homes.
Although this is just one way of saying it, everyone does it this way, so there's no need for them to insist on it.
Besides, Aunt Xie probably wouldn't want it anyway!
She changed into some decent clothes; after all, she was going to someone's home to be a hostess, so she couldn't dress too poorly.
When we arrived at Aunt Xie's house, before we even entered, we heard a man's voice: "What does your mother mean? Her daughter and son-in-law went back to their parents' home, and instead of cooking and entertaining us, she went out for a while. What's wrong with her? Giving me attitude? Let me tell you, if it weren't for the fact that it's the second day of the Lunar New Year and everyone has to go back to their parents' home, do you think I would have willingly come to her house?"
A woman's soft voice said, "Dajiang, keep your voice down! My mother is inviting someone to have dinner with you; she values you that much! How could she be giving you the cold shoulder? You've misunderstood!"
"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? Your mother's just an old widow, what respectable people could she possibly invite to dinner with me? Don't forget, you're all being supported by me now! Your mother's counting on me to take care of her in her old age and see her off in her final days! Show some respect to me! Why are you talking back? If it weren't for me, her son-in-law, she'd be just waiting to die, wouldn't she? What's the use of having two sons? One doesn't acknowledge him, and the other doesn't care about him! In the end, she still has to rely on me, her outsider son-in-law, to support her! Bah—"
Xiong Mingxia offered a few weak defenses: "My mother is still able to work, and although my younger brother doesn't come back, he sends money back every few months. My mother has helped us a lot, have you forgotten?"
"Ha—at your mother's age, who knows when she might not be able to get up anymore! Will your younger brother be able to make it back then? Will your older brother be able to take care of her? Won't it be me, her son-in-law, who has to step in? Isn't it only right that she supports us? If it weren't for these subsidies, who would be willing to be there for her at her deathbed and break the basin..."
Xu Ningyan and Gu Zhiyuan frowned in unison. No matter how big the conflict was within the family, they should watch their words during the New Year holidays. They shouldn't curse others to die, right?
They exchanged a glance, took a few steps back, and then made their footsteps heavier. As they walked, Xu Ningyan called out to the courtyard, "Auntie, open the door! I heard that Aunt Mingxia is back. You must be too busy to manage everything by yourself at home. Brother Gu and I came to see if there's anything we can help with."
The sounds inside abruptly stopped, then a somewhat flustered voice rang out: "Is that Siya? Come in quickly—"
As he spoke, he opened the courtyard gate.
A woman who looked to be in her thirties, with the same haircut as Liu Hulan, and who appeared haggard, stood at the door.
He was wearing a worn-out cotton-padded jacket with patches on the cuffs, collar, and elbows, but it was clean and crisp.
He forced a smile and greeted the two of them.
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