Chapter Nineteen Zhong Xiaoxiao, I've finally caught you!
“Mom…” a weak voice came from the kitchen doorway.
Zhou Mingli had gotten up at some point and was standing there, leaning against the door frame, her face pale and her lips bloodless.
She had clearly heard Zhang Chunxue's words of defense; her eyes were red, filled with gratitude and emotion.
As soon as Zhang Chunxue saw her, the frost on her face immediately softened, and she quickly went over to help her up: "Mingli, why are you up? Quickly, go back to your room and lie down. This kitchen is full of smoke."
Zhou Mingli shook her head, her voice a little hoarse: "Mom, I... I'm just thirsty, I wanted to come out and get some water."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chunxue quickly helped her sit on a low stool next to her, then turned around, picked up a water ladle, scooped clean, cool water from the water tank, added some boiling water from the pot, tested the temperature, and then served it to Zhou Mingli.
"Hurry up and drink some to soothe your throat. There's crucian carp soup simmering in the pot, specially made for you. Drink plenty later, both the fish and the soup, to nourish your body." Zhang Chunxue's tone softened considerably.
Zhou Mingli held the bowl of warm water in both hands, sipping it slowly, feeling as if she were enveloped in a warm current, feeling incredibly comforted.
Her mother-in-law has really changed.
In the past, Zhang Chunxue would have taken care of her, but she would never have treated her like this, cherishing her so much, nor would she have reprimanded her sister-in-law Li Hongjuan so mercilessly for her sake.
Zhou Mingli's eyes welled up with tears, and her nose felt sore.
Watching this touching scene of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law affection, Li Hongjuan was so jealous that her eyes were practically spitting fire.
What makes her so special? Why should a sickly woman who can't have a son receive such special treatment from her mother-in-law?
Just then, Zhong Hongqing, who had been neglected to the side, pouted and burst into tears.
"I want to eat fish! I want to eat fish soup! Grandma, I want to eat fish too!" he cried as he reached out his chubby little hands to reach the stove.
Seeing her son cry, Li Hongjuan's anger flared even more. She pulled Zhong Hongqing over, but instead of comforting him, she spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"Stop crying! Do you think you can eat that fish soup? That's for your precious second aunt! You, like your mother, are of lowly birth. There's no place for you!"
Zhou Mingli's hand holding the bowl of water froze, and a hint of embarrassment and unease appeared on her face. She quickly said, "Mom, how about... you give Hongqing some too? He's still a little kid."
Zhang Chunxue raised her eyebrows, glared at Li Hongjuan, and then said to Zhou Mingli, "Don't mind her! She just needs to be taught a lesson!"
Then she looked at Zhong Hongqing, her voice becoming sterner: "Zhong Hongqing! Haven't you eaten enough good food since you were a child? Your second aunt is sick, can't you see that? All you do is eat! Is this how your parents raised you? You don't know any manners at all!"
Li Hongjuan's face turned pale and then red as Zhang Chunxue pointed her finger at her and berated her, feeling utterly humiliated.
She could no longer contain her anger, so she grabbed Zhong Hongqing and pulled him in front of her, pinning him to her lap and slapping his buttocks several times.
"Eat, eat, eat! All you ever think about is food! You're making me so envious! Don't you even know what kind of precious stuff that is? You think you can even dream of it?!"
As she hit him, she glared at Zhou Mingli with a venomous look.
Zhou Mingli felt extremely uncomfortable under her gaze; her cheeks burned, and she wished she could disappear into the ground.
She wasn't one to argue, and now she was so embarrassed that she couldn't speak.
When Zhang Chunxue saw Li Hongjuan throwing a tantrum and hitting the child in front of her, and secretly making fun of Zhou Mingli, her anger flared up instantly.
"Enough!" Zhang Chunxue shouted sternly, "Li Hongjuan! Who are you putting on this act for! Trying to show off your skills, huh? If you want to hit the child, go to your own room! Don't get in my way in this kitchen! Get out of here right now!"
Li Hongjuan trembled as she was scolded. Looking at Zhang Chunxue's fierce expression, she knew that she wouldn't get away with making a scene today.
She was trembling with anger. She picked up the still crying Zhong Hongqing, glared at Zhang Chunxue and Zhou Mingli, and cursed them under her breath as "heartless old hag" and "sickly jinxes." Then she swayed her hips and stormed off.
The kitchen was finally quiet.
Zhang Chunxue took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, before turning around to help Zhou Mingli up. She said softly, "Don't mind her, she's just clueless. Come on, Mom will help you back to your room to rest. I'll bring you the fish soup when it's ready."
Zhou Mingli nodded, letting Zhang Chunxue help her slowly walk towards the room.
After settling Zhou Mingli down to lie down, Zhang Chunxue carefully covered her with a light blanket. Returning to the kitchen, the aroma of the fish soup was even stronger.
Zhang Chunxue lifted the lid and glanced inside. The snow-white fish soup was bubbling and releasing an enticing aroma.
She estimated that it was about time and was preparing to serve it, but after waiting and waiting, Zhong Xiaoxiao did not return.
She was sent to buy tofu from Aunt Wang's house earlier, and should have been back long ago.
Could something have happened to this girl on the way?
Zhang Chunxue felt a little uneasy and worried.
She turned the fire in the stove down a bit, letting the fish soup simmer slowly, then wiped her hands and decided to go out and look for Zhong Xiaoxiao.
Zhong Xiaoxiao was carrying her several-month-old baby, Zhong Yuanyuan, and a piece of freshly bought tofu in her hand as she walked home.
To my surprise, as soon as I reached the old locust tree at the village entrance, a group of people suddenly surrounded me.
Leading the group was none other than Wang Laowu, who had come to propose marriage a few days earlier. Standing beside him were Liu, the shifty-eyed matchmaker, and Wang Laowu's brothers and sisters-in-law, all of whom had unfriendly expressions.
"Zhong Xiaoxiao, we've finally caught you!" Liu the matchmaker exclaimed in a shrill voice.
Wang Laowu's small eyes darted around Zhong Xiaoxiao's face, making her feel uneasy.
"What...what do you want to do?" Zhong Xiaoxiao, holding the child, subconsciously took a small step back.
Wang Laowu's mother, a short, plump woman, stepped forward, spitting as she spoke: "What are you doing? Xiaoxiao, your mother has already accepted a hundred yuan as a bride price from our family, so you're a member of the Wang family now! Come back with us and get married!"
“That’s right! We’ve already taken the money, are you trying to renege on it?” Wang Laowu’s sister-in-law chimed in.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoxiao turned pale with anxiety: "Impossible! My mom would never accept your money! My mom said she was going to send me to school!"
She knew her mother Zhang Chunxue's personality very well. Since she had said she wouldn't accept it, she probably would!
Wang Laowu grinned, revealing a mouth full of yellow teeth, and chuckled, "I don't care what your mother says! Anyway, we've given the bride price, and you, Zhong Xiaoxiao, are coming with me today!"
As he spoke, his rough, large hand reached out to touch Zhong Xiaoxiao's delicate face.
"Ah!" Zhong Xiaoxiao screamed in fright, hugging Zhong Yuanyuan and backing away. Yuanyuan in her arms was also frightened by the scene and pouted, about to cry.
She wanted to run, but with a child in her arms, she couldn't run fast.
The Wang family members were prepared and immediately blocked her path from both sides.
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