From Chapter Nine onwards, we'll take care of things for you.
"What?!" Secretary Wang and the others' expressions changed slightly.
Liu Cuie immediately jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at Zhang Chunxue and screaming, "What nonsense are you talking about! Who sold your daughter! We were...we were arranging a marriage for her!"
Huang Xiaolan and Gao Xiuli hurriedly echoed her.
"That's right! That's right! We meant well!"
"Chunxue, you can't wrong us!"
Zhang Chunxue didn't even look at them; she just stared at them coldly.
"Arranging marriages? Is this how you arrange marriages?"
"They blocked my doorway early this morning, three or four layers deep! They wouldn't let my daughter out!"
"Were you three the ones who just now stubbornly stopped me and forced me to accept that so-called bride price?"
"What else could this be but forcing me to sell my daughter?!"
Then, she turned her head sharply, her gaze sweeping over the villagers who had been chattering away moments before.
"And you too!"
"Who was that saying just now, 'Why does a little girl need to read so many books? Knowing a few words is enough'?"
"Who said that sending girls to school is a waste of money and benefits other families?"
"Who's trying to persuade me that getting Xiaoxiao married off quickly to raise a dowry is the most important thing?"
"Huh?! Where did the people who were just speaking go? Why are they all mute now?!"
Zhang Chunxue straightened her back and, in front of all the leaders and villagers, mercilessly exposed those dirty thoughts and harsh words!
Liu Cuie's old face turned pale and then flushed, as if she had been dyed. "You...you're talking nonsense! It was clearly you! You were the one who started shouting about marrying Xiaoxiao off to make money!"
Upon hearing this, the eyes of Secretary Wang, Mayor Li, and others immediately focused on Zhang Chunxue.
Zhang Chunxue's heart skipped a beat, but she showed no sign of panic on her face.
“Boss, I was deceived by them! At first, my family was so poor that we couldn’t even afford to eat. They kept nagging me every day, saying that I could get a dowry if I got married and that it would ease our burden. I… I was confused for a moment and had that thought.”
"But then I thought about it carefully, and realized something was wrong! My daughter Xiaoxiao, how old is she? She's not even eighteen yet!"
"What does she know at such a young age? How can she ruin her life by getting married so early?!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhong Xiaoxiao, who had been tightly clutching her certificate and schoolbag, seemed to have mustered all her courage, suddenly raised her head, tears still welling up in her eyes, her voice trembling with sobs.
"It's...it's Grandma! And my eldest aunt, my third aunt! And...and my brothers! They...they've always wanted my dowry money!"
"It's my mom! My mom disagrees! She said... she said I should continue my studies!"
"Because of this, Grandma...Grandma came to our house yesterday and made a scene. This morning she blocked the door and wouldn't let me and Mom go out!"
Liu Cuie was so angry that she trembled all over. Her finger pointing at Zhong Xiaoxiao was shaking uncontrollably, and her lips were moving, but she couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
She never expected that her granddaughter, who was usually quiet and let them do whatever they wanted, would dare to expose all the family's dirty secrets in front of so many leaders!
What else is there to say now?
Secretary Wang's face darkened completely.
"Comrade Liu Cuie! What era are we living in? Women hold up half the sky! How can you still cling to such outdated ideas of valuing sons over daughters? You're forcing your own granddaughter to drop out of school and get married just for a little dowry?!"
"Comrade Xiaoxiao is a top student from our town, no, our county! She's a pillar of the nation! Is this how you treat talent?!"
"This is utterly absurd! It's ignorance! It's a blatant defiance of national policy!"
The Party Secretary launched into a scathing critique, each word like a whip, leaving Liu Cuie's old face burning with pain.
Huang Xiaolan and Gao Xiuli, who were standing nearby, were so frightened that they dared not utter a sound, their heads hanging down as if they wanted to bury themselves in the ground.
Mayor Li then turned his anger towards village chief Zhong Fugui, his tone full of dissatisfaction.
"Village Chief Zhong! What's wrong with your village? This kind of forced marriage and obstruction of girls' schooling is happening right under your noses! What is your village committee doing?!"
Zhong Fugui was covered in sweat, bent over even lower, and kept nodding and bowing.
"Yes, yes, Secretary, Mayor, it's my dereliction of duty, it's my dereliction of duty! I... I will definitely deal with this seriously!"
He had already cursed Liu Cuie to the bone in his heart and was secretly determined to punish her.
You old hag, I'll send you to carry the stinkiest manure at the east end of the village tomorrow!
After reprimanding the village chief, Secretary Wang turned around and his gaze softened considerably when it fell on Zhang Chunxue.
"Comrade Zhang Chunxue, you did the right thing!" he said with admiration. "Faced with such backward thinking and family pressure, you were able to stick to your principles, fight bravely, and fight for your daughter's opportunity to continue her studies. You are a good mother! You are a role model worth learning from!"
Mayor Li nodded in agreement and added, "Yes, Comrade Chunxue has had a tough time. After her husband, Comrade Zhong Guosheng, sacrificed his life, she, a single woman, has raised four children with great difficulty over the past few years, helped her sons get married and have children, and supported the family. She is truly remarkable."
Zhang Chunxue's eyes welled up slightly as she listened to the leaders' affirmation.
She knew that now was the best time to completely sever ties with Liu Cuie's family and gain their sympathy and support!
She sniffed, her voice slightly choked, yet clear and articulate.
"Boss, actually... I've had a tough life too."
“The man sacrificed himself, leaving us, a widow and orphans. I, a woman, worked day and night to barely raise my children.”
"The children have finally grown up a bit, but I, the mother-in-law..."
She pointed at the distraught Liu Cuie, her tone full of accusation.
“We’ve been separated from the family for over ten years! She hasn’t cared about us for a single day, and my daughter has never even had a bite to eat or a drop of water at her house!”
"Now look what's happened! She doesn't care about my son getting married, but she insists on interfering in my daughter's marriage!"
"I don't know what benefits she received, or if she just can't stand to see my daughter succeed and is determined to push her into a pit of fire!"
"It's none of her business what happens in our family! What right does she have to bring people to block my door first thing in the morning? What right does she have to force me to sell my daughter?!"
This tearful and accusatory statement made the leaders present look even more grim.
This is no longer just a matter of favoring sons over daughters; it's downright wicked mother-in-law oppressing the widow of a martyr!
The Party Secretary and the Town Mayor once again cast stern glances at Village Chief Zhong Fugui.
Zhong Fugui was inwardly groaning, wishing he could disappear into the ground, and could only reiterate his assurance.
"Don't worry, sir! I...I will definitely handle this well! I will definitely give Comrade Chunxue and Xiaoxiao an explanation!"
The leaders nodded and then turned to comfort Zhang Chunxue.
"Comrade Chunxue, don't worry, we'll stand up for you!"
"Go ahead and send Xiaoxiao to school! This is a fantastic thing! No one can stop us!"
"If your mother-in-law's family dares to cause you trouble again, or if anyone in the village dares to gossip or make things difficult for you, just come to town and find us! We'll back you up!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
