Xu Yinlai and his family went to find Xu Ningyan with murderous intent, but returned dejectedly.
Along the way, Shen Yue'e couldn't help but ask, "Dad, what's the story behind the rumors about the county town that Siya mentioned? We saw Siya in the county town, but we didn't see that 'black five categories' element. How can you say that we were the ones who injured her?"
“We sent someone back with a message saying that we saw Siya in the county town and asked them why they hadn’t kept a close eye on her. But they didn’t say that we saw anyone else. The person who sent the message told us that they saw Pearl in the commune, so they gave her the message and went back. Did Pearl spread the word?”
Xu Yinlai's eyes darted around, and he gave a perfunctory reply that didn't reflect his true feelings: "Maybe the messenger misspoke. Pearl is just a little kid, how could she spread rumors about Siya? What would she gain from that?"
Shen Yue'e refused to accept it. She had tolerated some minor things in the past, mainly because they did not infringe on her and her two sons' real interests. She wanted peace and quiet, and she also knew that although her husband was a filial son, he was not a truly filial one.
He still had his own plans: a little meat, a few pieces of cloth, and some money for his hometown and younger sister, which would please his mother Miao Cuihua and also improve his reputation.
What's more, they even left that jinx back in their hometown. Consider that little bit of money as money to support that jinx.
But if that brat Siya wasn't lying, then it was Pearl who was behind it all. She could ruin Siya's reputation if she wanted, but what she shouldn't have done was to ruin the job that was right in front of her!
How could I possibly tolerate this!
"Dad, are you still defending your sister at a time like this? Have you lost your mind? Before, you said Pearl was a lucky star who could bring good fortune to the whole family, including you. So it was fine that we spent money to raise her! But now, our family is in this state, isn't it all your sister and your mother's fault?"
Xu Yinlai, though outwardly fierce, was inwardly weak: "What nonsense are you spouting in front of the child! How could it be my mother and my sister who caused this?"
Shen Yue'e was furious: "How could it not be? If it weren't for your sister causing Siya to fall into the water and almost lose her life, would Siya have severed ties with her family? If she hadn't, would she have gone to the county town and caused you to lose your position as class monitor?"
"If your sister hadn't held a grudge against Siya and spread rumors to ruin Siya's reputation and force her to marry that 'black five categories' element, would this job have fallen through?"
"Stop pretending you don't know! Don't you know how Pearl has treated Siya all these years? I used to turn a blind eye, but now look at this! This is a job in a county town, and your sister has ruined it!"
"Look at them, look at the eldest, and look at the second! They're all your children, Xu Yinlai's children. They had such bright futures, and now they've lost everything! And you're still protecting your mother and your sister! You only care about your mother and your sister, right?"
Xu Yinlai was not without resentment, but he was too proud to admit it.
Being reprimanded by his daughter-in-law in front of his son made him lose face, so he slapped her and yelled, "Shut up!"
Shen Yue'e shut her mouth, her eyes red with hatred as she glared at Xu Yinlai.
Xu Yewen and Xu Yewu, who were already unhappy, felt that Xu Zhenzhu was to blame after hearing their mother's analysis.
Then, seeing that their own mother had been beaten for the sake of her two sons, one of them helped Shen Yue'e up, and the other stepped forward and said, "Dad, Mom is right! Even if she said that your job was thanks to Auntie, our family has given back to Auntie more than enough over the years!"
“If it weren’t for my sister-in-law’s interference, this job would be ours! With this job, I could marry a decent wife, and my second son would have a job too! Now it’s all ruined!”
"Besides, your uncle and grandmother know about this and why we came back, but they don't say a word and let us come to their door to be laughed at by Xu Siya! You treat them as family, but they don't treat you as family! Don't you understand?"
Xu Yewen's words hit home.
Xu Yinlai's face changed color.
Xu Yewu stared blankly at Xu Yinlai: "Dad! My older brother and I have been ruined by Aunt! My older brother has a job but can't find a wife, and I don't have a job, so I'm afraid I'll have even less of a chance! If neither of us can find a wife, who will carry on the family line? Who will mourn you when you die? Do you really expect Aunt, a girl who will eventually get married, to do that?"
Xu Yinlai was almost driven to despair by his two sons' filial piety, and his face involuntarily darkened.
Adding to the commotion, Shen Yue'e was also crying and sobbing beside her, lamenting the misfortunes of her two sons and herself, saying that the pillar of the family had been ruined by her sister-in-law.
Xu Yinlai's suppressed anger was ignited.
His cheeks twitched a few times, then he stopped talking, his face hardened, and rushed towards the Xu family's house.
The Xu family watched as the second branch of the family stormed out the door.
They exchanged glances, and Zhao Guilan from the eldest son's wife couldn't hold back any longer: "Do you think the second son's family can get their hands on it?"
Wan Chunni rolled her eyes: "I doubt it! That wretched girl Siya has quite a few ideas these days."
After saying that, he couldn't help but add, "Back then, we said Siya was a jinx, destined for misfortune! But since she severed ties with us, her life seems to be getting better every day—"
Before she could finish speaking, Miao Cuihua interrupted her: "What good fortune does she have? She's married to a 'black five categories' element, what good fortune could she possibly have! She looks glamorous now, but she'll suffer later! Our family's lucky one is Pearl, her good days are yet to come!"
Wan Chunni dared not say anything more.
The family waited anxiously at home, occasionally glancing out the door at the main road.
Everyone was on tenterhooks when they saw Xu Yinlai and his group return.
As they got closer, they saw that Xu Yinlai's family looked unwell, and Xu Yewu was soaking wet, so they knew they hadn't gotten away with it either.
The Xu family was unsure whether they were more disappointed or relieved.
Xu Baolai noticed that his second brother looked unwell and assumed he was upset, so he felt a bit sympathetic.
He was furious that day too.
He offered a few words of comfort: "Second Brother, forget it! Don't bother with that little brat! It's not worth getting sick over her! What's wrong with Yewu? Go back inside and change your clothes, don't catch a cold!"
On the other hand, he instructed his eldest son, Xu Yeshan, to find a clean set of clothes for Xu Yewu to change into.
But Xu Yinlai's face turned ashen, and he shoved Xu Baolai away. "Mom, I'm still your son, aren't I? So many people in the family, and you've kept such a big thing from me? Are you all deliberately trying to make a fool of our second branch of the family? Over the years, what have I, Xu Yinlai, ever done to wrong you or this family? Are you all conspiring to scheme against our second branch?"
These harsh words completely stunned the Xu family.
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