Cuihua finally understood the meaning behind her words.
So she really isn't his biological daughter? And she's deaf at that?
Wait, what did she just hear them say?
"Are you going back to Dongliuzhuang?"
Ignoring the woman's angry curses, Cuihua looked at the youngest boy beside her.
"Yes, my mother was asking you, are you coming or not? It's so cold..."
"Go, why don't you go?"
Cuihua suppressed her inner resentment and anger, coupled with the hope that arose in her heart when she heard about Dongliuzhuang.
As she spoke, she gently patted her daughter's shoulder, who had been keeping her head down. When her daughter looked up at her, Cuihua was momentarily dazed.
Cuihua, Cuiju, Cuilian, and the newly found Cuimei all look like Cao Amei, so they are easy to recognize. However, she was a little unsure about the girl in front of her, mainly because she didn't look like her sisters. If she thought she looked like Tang Youtian, she seemed to have almost forgotten what her father looked like.
It's not that I don't know, it's that I deliberately forget about this scumbag father deep in my memory.
To avoid arousing suspicion, she tried to communicate with her and even gestured with her hand. This time, she finally understood her request.
With a quick lift of the PG, a seat was made for her. Cuihua hurriedly got on the cart, and the oxcart driver, who had been waiting impatiently, cracked his whip and headed towards Dongliuzhuang as soon as she was on.
All I could hear on the way was the woman's sarcastic and mocking voice, along with her occasional insults directed at her deaf daughter.
The others remained expressionless, seemingly accustomed to such scenes. Only Cuihua, having witnessed the malnourished and younger-than-life Daya before her, felt a glimmer of hope for this girl before her, who, though appearing to be no more than thirteen or fourteen, still held a sliver of hope.
He glanced at her from time to time; her gaze was so intense that anyone with a sensitive mind would look in her direction.
But no, from beginning to end, no matter how she looked at her, she didn't throw a single glance at her. Her expression was indifferent, as if she didn't care much about the people and things around her. As long as she wasn't provoked, she could tolerate it.
After Cuihua got into the car, the three men in the distance left, muttering curses under their breath.
However, the road to Dongliuzhuang was not smooth.
There used to be a stone arch bridge here, but it was destroyed during the war. Later, it was barely held up by connecting it with sheet metal and wood on the original foundation. During the day, it was okay, as there were people maintaining the most basic order. But at night, it was dark and cold, and it was situated on the river. The drivers, being experienced, could not keep up.
"Everyone, let's get off and walk across. This bridge is unstable, and it's the Lunar New Year, plus crossing a river with such a loud current; it'll be a shock to the cattle."
Without saying a word, Cuihua pulled her deaf daughter off the bus. The middle-aged couple, along with their two sons, were reluctant, but they understood that what the old man said was true.
Despite all these preparations, no one expected that the ox would be startled by a large rat that suddenly darted onto the river. The ox ran wildly, and the old man, unable to hold it back, shouted to the people behind him.
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and help! The railings on both sides aren't high, and you might even crash into them. Do you still want your things?"
Cuihua then realized that her basket was still on the cart, so she quickly ran over to help. But the ox was much stronger than they had imagined, especially since it seemed to be provoked, stamping its hooves restlessly and shaking its body angrily, which caused the cart on its back to sway from side to side.
Cuihua sensed something was wrong and quickly grabbed her basket, thinking, just in case...
"You filthy hussy, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and come help! This is grain! If it all falls into the water, how are you going to eat this year!"
The middle-aged woman suddenly appeared out of nowhere and kicked the girl in the back of the knee. The girl let out a muffled groan and actually endured it.
The middle-aged man, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, was already trying to untie the ox's reins, and he was urging the old man, who was trying to control the ox, on.
"Hurry up, how do I untie this? Hurry up and untie it! If your ox falls down, it's fine, but if my grain falls down, people will die."
The old man was furious: "What are you saying? This cow is my life too! I've been running around with you all day just to earn this five cents from you. My cow is working hard! Now you're saying this, don't you feel guilty? Instead of untying the rope, why don't you hurry up and help me pull it across the bridge?"
Two boys, one looking older than the daughter and the other younger, should have been the men who would have stepped up at this time. But instead, they were afraid of startling the cow and being thrown off by its hooves. They instinctively hid behind their mother and even had the nerve to push and shove their deaf daughter.
Cuihua, unable to bear it any longer, kicked him.
"What are you doing? Why aren't you controlling the oxcart properly? Why are you hitting her? What did she do to you that you dislike her so much? Isn't that your sister?"
"Get lost, what's it to you? Do you know how much she eats in one meal? She's a glutton who does nothing but eat. Now is the time for her to show us what a starving ghost she usually is."
Cuihua rolled her eyes. What time is it? This family is still so divided?
The deaf woman was driven to the front to control the cattle because the two brothers thought she usually ate the most and therefore deserved it.
Unexpectedly, the bull not only failed to be controlled, but suddenly turned around. Its movement was so violent that it knocked the innocent Cuihua, who was guarding the back of the cart, into the river. With a loud splash, everyone was stunned, but the bull was still twisting and turning violently.
At that moment, the deaf woman moved and jumped down.
"Hey, you slut, what are you doing jumping down here at a time like this? Get back up here right now, Malt, Malt!"
As soon as Cuihua fell into the water, she was swept away by the river. Even if she knew a little bit of swimming skills, it would be useless in this situation.
Especially since the river was full of stones, and she could easily hit her head if she wasn't careful, she struggled desperately. Even in this situation, she held on tightly to the basket in her hand. In her eyes, this was the New Year's Eve feast for her and her sisters, and she couldn't lose it, she absolutely couldn't lose it.
The icy river water froze her limbs, made her scalp tingle, and made it hard for her to breathe. After choking on the water, she felt her body sinking uncontrollably, and no matter how much she struggled, she couldn't float back up.
In this situation, the contents of the basket became a heavy burden for her, but Cuihua had only one thought.
Even after I'm gone, I will save the meat for my sisters.
Glug glug...
Within minutes, she was completely swept away by the rapids and into the turbulent river.
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