Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Big Trouble
Xie Xiaoju rolled her eyes. "Aunt Zhao, don't be so careless. She's my mother, but what other mother is like this? She doesn't do anything at home, leaving all the work to me. She also scolds me every day, saying I'm a money-loser and a freeloader. Even if I'm a freeloader, it's not hers. I'm my father's. My father never said that to me, so why does she say that to me?"
The old lady didn't expect Xie Xiaoju to dare to challenge her. She couldn't help but yell, "Why are you like this, little girl? No wonder your mother beats you. With your behavior, I think three beatings a day is not enough."
Xie Xiaoju said unreservedly, "You want to hit me? Who do you think you are? You're just trying to sarcastic me? Why don't you try my life? She's eating her fill, while I'm starving. Look at her, she's done nothing since she got pregnant, eating her fill every day and gaining weight. And look at me, I'm so skinny, and you still want me to give in to her?"
Although Xie Xiaoju's attitude was tough, what she said was true.
Ye Guifen has been living a life of luxury these days, eating noodles and eggs every day, and occasionally getting some meat to eat, making herself plump and white.
Meanwhile, Xie Xiaoju was busy working and cutting grass for pigs. Ye Guifen even withheld her food rations. The little girl was pale and skinny, like a stick of firewood. The contrast between the two was too obvious.
Aunt Li, standing at the farthest edge, couldn't help but speak up, "Aunt Zhao, stay out of other people's family affairs. If a mother doesn't love her daughter and instead exploits her, what kind of mother is she? Aunt Zhao, you were also someone else's stepmother. Is this how you act?"
Aunt Zhao didn't expect the truth to be exposed. Her first wife died early, and her family later introduced her to a marriage. Her current man already had three children at that time.
As soon as Aunt Zhao came into the family, she became a stepmother. Over the years, Aunt Zhao gave birth to two more sons, and there were five children in the family. The relationship was complicated to begin with, and the mother would definitely favor her own children. Aunt Zhao made things difficult for the original wife's children, both openly and covertly.
The original wife's children were all gentle in nature. When they saw Aunt Zhao, they were like quails and allowed Aunt Zhao to control them. So when they saw Xie Xiaoju dared to contradict Ye Guifen like that, Aunt Zhao naturally couldn't stand it and couldn't help but say a few words for Ye Guifen. However, she didn't expect that her identity would be exposed in public like this. Aunt Zhao couldn't bear it and could only shut up and act like a quail.
A few people in the crowd snickered, "Who doesn't know who? This Aunt Zhao is a biased stepmother, and now she wants to stand up for another black-hearted stepmother. Black-hearted and black-hearted just go together."
Xie Xiaoju gave Aunt Li a grateful look. There were not many people as reasonable as Aunt Li nowadays.
When Xie Xiaoju looked at Aunt Li, she also saw Jiang Xi standing next to Aunt Li.
Xie Xiaoju couldn't help but smile, but when she thought about the quarrel they were having, she quickly returned to her sad and angry expression.
Xie Xiaoju felt much more at ease when Jiang Xi came. Jiang Xi came to support her, so she must perform well.
Xie Xiaoju recalled the method Jiang Xi taught her and crossed her arms, saying, "I won't argue with you here. Wait until my dad comes back and we'll have a good talk. He will definitely make the decision for me!"
Xie Dazhui went out to work and will be back today. Xie Xiaoju deliberately made a big fuss today just to wait for Xie Dazhui to come back and give a definite answer.
Every time there was a little friction at home, Xie Dazhu would turn a deaf ear, let the two of them quarrel, and evade responsibility. This time, Xie Xiaoju and Ye Guifen made such a fuss that Xie Dazhu couldn't hide even if he wanted to.
Ye Guifen said with a spitting sound: "I'll deal with you when your dad comes back! This family can't have you or me! It can only have you or me!"
When Ye Guifen said this, the people watching the excitement went wild.
"They're going to split up the family, kick Xie Xiaoju out, right? No wonder they say the stepmother is so cruel."
"We don't necessarily have to wait for Xie Dazhu to come back and see what he says."
"What else can I say? Ye Guifen is pregnant, and she keeps talking about a boy. How can a girl be compared with a boy? Of course, Ye Guifen should be chosen. As for Xie Xiaoju, what can a little girl do? Find her a husband and marry her off quickly. Out of sight, out of mind."
As soon as the man said this, he found that the people around him looked at him with some contempt. He covered his mouth unconsciously, as he had not said what was in his heart.
He was busy laughing again: "I am analyzing Xie Dazhu. I don't think so. I am not married yet. How can I get another wife if I don't have one?"
Aunt Li curled her lips and said to Jiang Xi, "This stinky guy is nothing. What kind of words are he saying? He didn't come out from under his mother's legs, and he looks down on women. If he were my son, I would slap him twice."
Jiang Xi caught Aunt Li's eye and became the object of her gossip.
Jiang Xi had little interaction with Aunt Liu before, but after meeting Aunt Li twice, he unexpectedly discovered that although Aunt Li loved to join in the fun and listen to gossip, her values were quite positive, she was straightforward, and she was particularly outspoken.
Jiang Xi had a very good impression of Aunt Li and was happy to have a good relationship with her. Her eyes curved into crescents: "Aunt Li, you're right, you are the most upright person in our village!"
Jiang Xi is good-looking, has a sweet smile, and speaks nicely. Aunt Liu is the type who responds to soft words and does not respond to harsh ones, so she was confused by these two moves.
She only has two sons and dreams of having a sweet and soft little girl. Jiang Xi is usually very fierce to others, but polite to her. Aunt Li can't help thinking that she is the special one. Oh, she is so popular.
Aunt Li has always been kind to people who like her, and her eyes became more and more friendly when she looked at Jiang Xi. She is a good comrade who can be united with her!
"Jiang Xi, you are a good person. If you have any problems in the future, please come to Aunt Li. Aunt Li will support you." Aunt Li couldn't help but speak boldly.
Jiang Xi took advantage of the situation. In the past, their family had few people, and Wu Yaqin was shy, so she didn't have a good relationship with the villagers. But to live here, it was necessary to have a few families to get along well with. Now that Aunt Li took the initiative to pass on the message, Jiang Xi couldn't let her words fall on deaf ears.
"Thank you, Aunt Li. I knew that Aunt Li was kind and nice."
Aunt Li was even more delighted when she heard this. It turned out that Jiang Xi was such a good girl with a discerning eye for talent. Why didn't she realize it before? Jiang Xi was the know-it-all in Liangshui Village.
The two of them were chatting animatedly when a voice came from outside the crowd: "Xie Dazhu is back."
Everyone was silent for a second and consciously gave way to Xie Dazhu. He was the protagonist of this lively event. Without him, how could they continue to watch the excitement?
Xie Dazhu worked outside for half a month. When he came back today, his clothes smelled rotten. He couldn't wait to go back. His wife had a miscarriage, and it was a boy. This was Xie Dazhu's long-cherished wish. How could he not be happy?
When he got home, Xie Dazhu found that the house was full of people. Xie Dazhu was shocked. What was going on? He walked into the house in a hurry and saw brooms and clothes everywhere in the yard.
His wife and daughter glared at each other. Was this another fight? Judging from the situation, it was going to be a serious fight.
Xie Dazhu couldn't help but groan in his heart, why is it happening again? Isn't it good to live a peaceful life?
Xie Dazhu had a good relationship with his first wife. After giving birth to Xie Xiaoju, they lived a happy life. However, Xie Xiaoju's mother was in poor health and died within a few years. After her death, Xie Dazhu married Ye Guifen through an introduction.
In the first two years after Ye Guifen came, the family could maintain superficial peace, but everything changed after Ye Guifen became pregnant. She quarreled with Xie Xiaoju every few days.
Ye Guifen often criticized Xie Xiaoju in front of Xie Dazhu. Xie Dazhu had no choice but to agree with her because she was pregnant with a son. He scolded Xie Xiaoju several times. This was all he could do.
Xie Dazhu is a typical male chauvinist. He doesn't want to worry about family matters at all. He thinks it is enough for a man to work outside and bring home money. How can he get involved in quarrels with women?
Therefore, Xie Dazhu knew that the mother and daughter were not getting along, but in his opinion these were all trivial matters, and he was not willing to get involved in these women's affairs. However, he did not expect such a big scene today that even the surrounding neighbors were alarmed.
Xie Dazhu had been busy outside for half a month and was exhausted. He had to clean up the mess when he came back. He looked very unhappy: "What's going on?"
Xie Xiaoju burst into tears before Ye Guifen could say anything: "Dad, you are finally back. I have been living such a hard life. Please save me. She wants to kick me out of the house. I have lost my mom and my dad too!" Ye Guifen... She didn't expect Xie Xiaoju to cry before her. These were her words. How could Xie Xiaoju get ahead of her to complain?
Ye Guifen wasn't to be outdone. She deliberately covered her stomach and cried, "Dazhu, this family can't accommodate me anymore. My son and I have no way to survive. We are squeezed out of this world and can't even have a hot meal. What's the point of living like this?"
Xie Dazhu's forehead veins throbbed when he heard this. He was still here, not dead yet. His wife and children were crying their hearts out. Xie Dazhu couldn't help but yell, "Stop crying, all of you. Tell me what's going on!"
Ye Guifen rushed in front of Xie Xiaoju and said, "I can't control this girl anymore. I just asked her to wash a few clothes, and she threw them down. She also cursed me and your son. The child hasn't even been born yet, and she's already being resented like this. How can my child and I survive in the future?"
Ye Guifen directly grasped Xie Dazhu's weak spot. What Xie Dazhu cared about most now was the child in her belly. That was the lifeblood of the Xie family and the treasure that could carry on the family line. Even if Xie Dazhuang had some feelings for Xie Xiaoju, that little bit of affection could not compare to the boy in Ye Guifen's belly.
When Xie Dazhu heard Ye Guifen say that Xie Xiaoju dared to curse his son, he became furious and picked up the stick on the ground to hit Xie Xiaoju without caring what the people around him thought.
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