Although Ai Xiaoxia was pressed for time, she couldn't bear to watch such a young life go to the end. Anyway, it wouldn't take too long to stabilize Fang Lan'e first. When she returned to her parents' home, she could just put down her things and leave. There was still enough time.
Fang Lan'e's hands were cold, but when Ai Xiaoxia held them like this, she felt the warmth, her heart ached, and she cried again: "Xiaoxia, I thought my parents' family was not good, but my husband's family is even worse. That man in my family...that man...he beat me."
Ai Xiaoxia understood as soon as she heard it. This was domestic violence. She then noticed that Fang Lan'e's arms and neck were covered with bruises, but not her face. She probably still had some shame and was afraid that others would notice.
She looked at Fang Lan'e's arm, her brows furrowed. "He beat me up? Don't your parents-in-law care?"
Fang Lan'e shook her head. "Whenever he hit me, my mother-in-law would close the door and put the radio on the windowsill to listen to Peking Opera, helping her son cover up."
Ai Xiaoxia's hair stood on end when she heard this. What kind of family is this? "When did it start? How long has it been?"
"It's my fault too. I haven't gotten pregnant yet. Half a year after I got married, I still hadn't conceived, so he started scolding me. This month, the wife next door gave birth to a boy, and he started hitting me. He almost strangled me to death the day before yesterday." When Fang Lan'e said this, she felt even more helpless, because she also felt a little guilty for not getting pregnant.
"Xiao E, not being able to conceive is not necessarily a woman's problem. Even if it is really your fault, we should treat the disease. Even if we divorce, he can't hit you. Hitting you is illegal." Ai Xiaoxia said directly with modern thinking.
Fang Lan'e shook her head. "What's wrong with beating your own man? This is my fate, Xiaoxia. I really don't want to live anymore. You know my family won't tolerate me. I came back today, and they didn't even let me eat. They sent me back. The world is so big, but there's no place for me to stay."
Ai Xiaoxia had never paid attention to the domestic violence legislation in her previous life, so she couldn't say much. She just said, "Xiao E, you also said that no matter how big the situation is, the worst that can happen is to leave here. There is always a way to survive if you keep your life."
"It's not as easy as you say. The farthest I've ever been is to the countryside. If you ask me to go further, I can't go out. Xiaoxia, I really don't want to live anymore. It's too tiring. Why is life so long?"
Ai Xiaoxia felt uncomfortable listening to a girl in her early twenties talking about how long life is. She felt that kind of despair.
She sighed and said, "Xiao E, life must have hope. You see, it was difficult for me before. I was almost beaten by my brother on the day I returned home. But now I have come to terms with it. I am not afraid of death anymore, so why should I be afraid of living? I confronted them, and now you see, am I not getting better?"
Fang Lan'e looked at Ai Xiaoxia, and her eyes lit up again: "Xiaoxia, you have really changed. This is great. By the way, how are your in-laws? I have become like this. I just hope that you can be well and happy."
Facing such sincere eyes and blessings from her friends, she was deeply moved. "I'm fine, Xiao'e, do you believe me? If you do, then be strong. Go back to your parents' home first. Even if they scold you, just bear with it. At least you won't get hurt. I will definitely think of a solution within a week. I will come to you and help you come up with a foolproof plan."
Fang Lan'e shook her head: "Xiaoxia, as long as you live a good life, don't let me make things difficult for you in your husband's family. At least one of us must live a normal life."
Before, Ai Xiaoxia only wanted to make friends with Fang Lan'e because she was the original owner's friend, but after hearing her heartfelt words, she wanted to make friends with Fang Lan'e. She was sincere. This person was not selfish. Although she had a hard life, she had a broad mind, which was rare.
But now Ai Xiaoxia was also anxious, because they had agreed to go back early, but they had been delayed for almost an hour. She regretted what she said to Lu Jingyuan before leaving, otherwise she wouldn't have to be so anxious.
She held Fang Lan'e's hand and looked into her eyes sincerely. "Xiao'e, you have to believe me. You know my husband, Lu Jingshen, is a college student and works in the city. He is a man with a strong sense of justice and will help me. You must protect yourself and wait for me. I can't be away for too long today because there are some urgent matters at home. But you must promise me, otherwise I won't be at ease when I go back."
When Fang Lan'e heard that Ai Xiaoxia had something urgent to do, she quickly said, "If you have something urgent to do, go now. I'm fine. Don't make demands on your husband because of me. If you do, you'll owe your in-laws, and your life will be difficult. Remember? If I make you sad, I might as well die."
"Xiao E, we are both doing this for each other's good, so let's promise each other to protect ourselves, okay?"
"Okay, I promise you, I won't commit suicide. Go and do your thing."
"It's a deal, I'm leaving now."
"Well, don't worry."
Ai Xiaoxia thought about it, not knowing what to say next. She hugged Fang Lan'e and said, "We are best friends, so we must all be well."
Fang Lan'e finally smiled: "Okay."
Ai Xiaoxia said goodbye to Fang Lan'e and hurried home pushing her bicycle.
She parked her bicycle outside the wall so that it would be convenient for her to leave later, and then carried two bags of snacks into the yard.
Meng Qiuju guessed that Ai Xiaoxia might come back today, so she kept looking out the window.
Seeing Ai Xiaoxia enter the yard, Meng Qiuju said to Ai Laifu, who was lying on the kang eating melon seeds, "Hurry up and close the gate! That damn girl is back, all alone. If she doesn't change her mindset today, she can't go back. I don't believe I can't control her anymore."
Ai Lai Fu quickly got up and ran outside to close the door.
Ai Xiaoxia watched Ai Lai Fu hurriedly go out to close the door, and was very glad that she had the foresight to not push the bicycle into the yard, so that she could just jump over the wall and get out later.
She ignored Ai Lai Fu. There was no need to respect a brother like him. She went straight into the east room.
In the room, father Ai Weimin was sitting on a small stool on the ground, twisting hemp rope, while mother Meng Qiuju was sitting on the kang with a half-finished shoe sole beside her.
Ever since Guan Mingyue came back from the market and told her about Ai Xiaoxia, Meng Qiuju had no heart to work and had been waiting for Ai Xiaoxia to come back. She knew that the Lu family was a family that valued reputation, so she knew that Ai Xiaoxia would most likely come back today.
Ai Xiaoxia went into the house and called her parents, then placed the snacks on the kang and said, "I should have told you when my sister-in-law came back. My family does some small business, so I brought these back for you two to try."
Ai Weimin didn't say anything and continued to work on the hemp rope with his head down. He was not in charge, and since Meng Qiuju was around, he didn't say anything. Of course, he also felt that his son was important.
At this time, Ai Lai Fu also came back, sat on the edge of the kang, opened the snacks that Ai Xiaoxia brought back and started eating.
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