Chapter Thirty-Three: Find Her a Job
Zhong Chengren was so dizzy from the beating that he jumped up and down, but he still stubbornly insisted, "I...I'm just a friend of Meng Wanshu...I didn't do anything to wrong Mingli!"
"Still dare to talk back! Still dare to protect that vixen!" Upon hearing this, Zhang Chunxue's anger flared up even more, and she unconsciously increased the force in her hands.
"Do you think I'm a three-year-old child who's so easy to fool? You've already bought her a gold necklace, and you're still trying to talk to me about being just ordinary friends! I think that vixen has bewitched you! You've even abandoned your home!"
The broom bristles rained down on Zhong Chengren's legs, buttocks, and back, making a dull, teeth-grinding "pitter-patter" sound.
Zhong Chengren was beaten so badly that he could no longer take it and could only run around in circles in the small courtyard, letting out shrill screams.
"Mom! I was wrong! I was really wrong! I'll never do it again! Please forgive me this time! Please!"
Zhang Chunxue chased after him, forcing him all the way to the courtyard gate.
She was exhausted from fighting, panting heavily with fine beads of sweat on her forehead, but her eyes remained sharp as knives.
She pointed the broom handle at Zhong Chengren's nose and cursed, "You good-for-nothing coward! You have a virtuous wife and filial daughter at home, but you don't appreciate it. You insist on going outside and eyeing those sluts! I think this family can't tolerate a big shot like you anymore!"
"Get out! Go live with that Meng Wanshu of yours! Let her do your laundry, cook for you, and give you a son!"
"From this day forward, if you dare to step into this house again, I'll break your legs!"
Zhong Chengren was thoroughly scolded and scrambled out of the courtyard gate, his disheveled figure resembling a stray dog.
The eldest son, Zhong Chengfa, had been huddled in the corner. Only after watching his mother actually chase his younger brother out did he muster up the courage to move over.
"Mom, please calm down. Chengren... he was just confused for a moment. Don't be angry with him. There's still a long road ahead."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chunxue's anger, which had just subsided, flared up again.
"You still have the nerve to say that? Huh? I'm asking you, I told you to divorce your troublesome wife, but you won't, and you're still protecting her like a treasure! What? Do you want to be like your good-for-nothing brother, keeping a mistress outside and coming home to lord it over others?"
Zhong Chengfa's face flushed red and then turned pale as she scolded him. He stammered, "Mom, Hongjuan... she didn't do anything outrageous..."
"Didn't do anything outrageous?" Zhang Chunxue sneered, slamming the broom handle on the ground. "Fine! Since you're so protective of her, and think your family is more important than me, her mother, then get out! Get out! Go live with your precious father-in-law! I, Zhang Chunxue, will pretend I never raised you as my son!"
Zhong Chengfa trembled with fright, his legs went weak. He had personally witnessed how his mother had beaten Zhong Chengren out of the house.
"Mom! Mom, I was wrong! I'll go back and tell Hongjuan right now! I'll listen to you! Please don't send me away!"
He almost knelt down, but Zhang Chunxue glared at him, and he sheepishly withdrew his legs.
Zhong Chengyi, the third brother, who was hiding under the eaves, was originally thinking of going up to say a few words of peace, but when he saw this situation, even his eldest brother was scolded and almost kicked out, so he swallowed back the words that were about to come out.
His eyes darted around, and he quietly slipped into the kitchen.
Zhong Xiaoxiao was helping to pick vegetables by the stove when she saw her third brother come in, but she didn't even look up.
Zhong Chengyi leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Xiaoxiao, my dear sister, you should go and talk to Mom. Look at how angry she is. If this continues, our family will fall apart! Right now, Mom loves you the most and values you the most as her daughter. One word from you is more effective than ten from us!"
Zhong Xiaoxiao paused in her vegetable-picking motion, looked up, glanced at him, and a half-smile curled at the corner of her lips.
"Third brother, what you're saying is really interesting. I'm not going. How did my eldest and second brothers bully me back then? Why didn't you say a word for me then? Now you remember your little sister? You go if you want, I'm not going to go and invite trouble."
Zhong Chengyi was speechless, opened his mouth, but ultimately shut it up in frustration.
Let him go? He doesn't have the guts!
Zhang Chunxue gave Zhong Chengfa a thorough dressing-down before she finally felt much better, as she had been holding back her anger.
She threw the broom handle into the corner and turned to go into Zhou Mingli's room.
Zhou Mingli was still holding Yuanyuan, sitting blankly on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), her eyes red and swollen like two walnuts, her face covered with tear stains.
“Mingli…” Zhang Chunxue softened her voice and sat down next to her.
Upon seeing her, Zhou Mingli couldn't hold back her tears again. Her voice was thick with emotion as she choked out, "Mom... am I... am I really useless? What Zhong Chengren said... is it true...? I can't even give birth to a son... do I... do I deserve to be disliked..."
Zhang Chunxue felt a lump in her throat upon hearing this, and pulled her into her arms, gently patting her back.
"Silly child, what nonsense are you talking about! How are you useless? You are the best wife ever! Diligent, virtuous, and filial, and Yuanyuan is so well-behaved and sensible thanks to your upbringing!"
"Whether a child is a boy or a girl is God's business. What does it have to do with Zhong Chengren? He's incompetent, yet he blames you!"
"That beast Zhong Chengren is blind! He can't recognize a gem! He's blinded by greed, abandoning the good life at home to go out and fool around! Don't listen to his nonsense, it's all bullshit! Don't take a single word of it to heart!"
Zhou Mingli leaned against her mother-in-law's chest, listening to her heartfelt words. The grievances and despair that had been suppressed in her heart seemed to find an outlet, and she cried even more violently, but gradually felt a little warmth.
Zhang Chunxue simply held her quietly, letting her cry and vent her emotions.
After a while, Zhou Mingli's crying gradually subsided.
Zhang Chunxue gently comforted her for a while, and seeing that her emotions had calmed down a bit, she let her lie down and rest, while she got up and went to the kitchen.
Back in the kitchen, watching the flames dancing in the stove, Zhang Chunxue's mind began to wander.
Now that Yuanyuan is getting older, she can help take care of her more.
Mingli is still so young, and she stays at home all day, facing four walls. Her husband is also a good-for-nothing. Isn't it natural for her to have all sorts of wild thoughts?
If we could find her a job, let her go out and meet people, and have some money of her own, she would feel more confident, and maybe that would help ease her mind.
Yes, that's what we'll do!
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