Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Who is better at acting?
Xie Xiaoju cried even louder, her neck stiff. "Dad, if you want to hit me, just beat me to death. You don't want me anymore anyway, and this family can't accommodate me. You might as well beat me to death to make room for you. Wuuuuuu!"
Xie Dazhu could no longer swing his stick. Even if he wanted to hit Xie Xiaoju, it was just to vent his anger. He had no intention of beating Xie Xiaoju to death, and he did it in front of so many people. What kind of person had he become, Xie Dazhu?
He said sadly, "Xiao Ju, you used to be such a sensible child, how did you become like this now? Look how angry you made your mother. Apologize to her quickly and live a peaceful life from now on. This matter is over, and I won't pursue it."
Xie Xiaoju wiped away her tears. She was thin and petite, her eyes red from crying. She said in a particularly aggrieved tone, "Dad, you're always like this, indiscriminately siding with her. You believe everything she says, but she's always lying to you. I'm not wrong, and I won't apologize!"
Ye Guifen yelled, "What are you talking about? Nothing I said was wrong. You always give me the cold shoulder at home, and you come up with a bunch of excuses. Now even your dad can't control you? I told you you're wild, and I don't know who you got that from!"
Ye Guifen took the opportunity to flatter Xie Dazhui, but Xie Xiaoju did not fall for her trick. She remembered what Jiang Xi told her. Instead of arguing endlessly with Ye Guifen, it would be better to ask Xie Dazhui to give her some rules.
Xie Xiaoju stretched out her thin arms and started crying again: "Dad, you don't know what my life is like at home. I work from dawn to dusk every day and don't even have a full meal. I've almost forgotten what meat tastes like."
Xie Dazhu couldn't believe it. He could earn much more money working for others than digging in the dirt.
Although he was not often at home, he would give all the money he earned to Ye Guifen. In his opinion, his family's conditions were better than many families in the village, but he never expected that his daughter could not even afford to eat.
He didn't feel sorry for Xie Xiaoju not having enough food to eat, but it was embarrassing for him to talk about this matter. Xie Dazhu suddenly felt cheated.
He stared at Ye Guifen with his big eyes: "What's going on? I give you enough food allowance every month, why is Xiaoju still hungry?"
Ye Guifen wanted to find an excuse but couldn't find any for a moment. She could only say dryly: "I have prepared the food and put it there. If she doesn't want to eat it, I can't force her to eat it."
Xie Xiaoju sneered: "I'm not a fool. I won't eat even if I have food. Do you believe what I said?"
The onlookers all shook their heads. These days, no one has any food in their stomachs. Not to mention not eating, there is simply not enough food to eat. The excuse Ye Guifen gave was something no one could imagine.
Xie Xiaoju cried heartbrokenly in front of Xie Dazhu: "Dad, I know what you are thinking. It has not been easy for you these years. You have worked hard outside to support this family. I am also very happy after having a younger brother. So even if Ye Guifen bullied me before and made me work every day, I gritted my teeth and persisted because I didn’t want to cause trouble for Dad. But Ye Guifen is really too much. I can't even eat enough, and there is endless work to do. She scolds me at every turn and says she wants to kick me out. I can't live before my younger brother is born. Am I not your daughter? Mom left early, don’t you want me too?"
Xie Xiaoju's words moved everyone who was watching the excitement around. Several soft-hearted women wiped their tears. Children without mothers are miserable, and children with stepmothers are even more miserable. Which stepmother can treat her children sincerely?
Xie Dazhu was also a little moved. He didn't expect Xiaoju to value him so much and regard him as her father. Although he liked boys and treated girls differently, Xie Xiaoju was his first child and he had been happy because of Xie Xiaoju's existence.
Xie Xiaoju sobbed and stretched out her hand: "Dad, look at my hands, they are all frostbite. She doesn't work at all and makes me do all the housework. When I can't do it, she scolds me and doesn't give me food. It's like I don't have a dad, and it's like I don't have a mom. I miss my mom so much. I still remember that I didn't suffer so much when she was around. Before my mom left, didn't you promise her to take good care of me? Dad, please save me, I'm being bullied to death."
Xie Xiaoju's words reminded Xie Dazhu of the past.
Xie Xiaoju's biological mother was a very gentle woman, and Xie Dazhu really liked her, so even though she only gave birth to a daughter, Xie Dazhu did not despise her. On the contrary, when Xie Xiaoju's biological mother was ill later, Xie Dazhu spent a lot of money on her medical treatment, but unfortunately she died in the end.
Xie Dazhu still remembers that when the person passed away, he hugged Xie Xiaoju, and both father and daughter cried very sadly. It was at that time that he realized that he and Xie Xiaoju were closer than blood.
During those years, he truly loved Xie Xiaoju, but later he married Ye Guifen. Now that he has a son, Xie Dazhu cannot ignore Ye Guifen's feelings.
Xie Dazhu was a little embarrassed for a moment, on one side was his daughter who still had feelings for him, and on the other side was his wife who was pregnant with his son.
His daughter was crying, her tears sore, and his wife was clutching her stomach and howling in pain. Xie Dazhu, with a bruise on his face, habitually said, "I don't care about your women's affairs. You can handle them yourselves. Anyway, I work and get paid to go home. I don't let you go hungry or cold. As for other matters, it's none of my business."
Xie Xiaoju didn't expect that Xie Dazhu would still be like this. She had made such a big fuss, but his father still didn't give a definite answer. Xie Xiaoju didn't know what to do for a moment and could only look in Jiang Xi's direction helplessly.
Jiang Xi gave Xie Xiaoju a look that told her to stay calm. She knew Xie Dazhu's character, so she taught Xie Xiaoju this method. Now that things were at a standstill, they had to push forward.
Jiang Xi spoke up in the crowd: "Uncle Dazhu, you are capable of taking on responsibilities outside. Everyone in the village says you are a good man, but I think this statement is a bit exaggerated."
Jiang Xi first praised him and then criticized him. Xie Dazhu didn't understand what she meant for a moment and couldn't help but blurt out: "What are you talking about? What do you mean by that? How am I not a good man?"
Jiang Xi said calmly, "The family has become so chaotic that we need you, the head of the family, to give us an explanation. How can you just give up when things get tough? Xiaoju is only 16 years old and hasn't experienced much. She's been bullied like this. You should seek justice for her, or she'll continue to be bullied in the future."
Jiang Xi raised her voice: "Everyone heard it just now. Ye Guifen said that if there is Xiaoju in this family, there will be no her, and if she is there, there will be no Xie Xiaoju. She is an adult and holds the financial power of the family. If she wants to bully Xiaoju, it is very easy. Uncle Dazhu, Xiaoju is also your biological daughter. I used to hear her say that you are very, very important to her. How could you bear to let your only daughter suffer so much?"
Aunt Li also agreed. "That's right, Dazhu, if you let them solve it themselves now, won't that make Xiaoju vulnerable? She's just a little girl, she doesn't have as much strength as others, and she doesn't have much money. How can you let her solve it?"
The women who had just been wiping their tears also hurriedly said, "That's right, Dazhu, you have to solve this problem. You are the head of the family, how can you throw the problem to a child who knows nothing?"
Xie Dazhu listened to everyone's words and did not respond for a while. His face was stern and no one knew what he was thinking.
Ye Guifen was furious. She glared at the person who spoke to Xie Xiaoju, and finally stopped at Jiang Xi's face. Don't think she didn't know that Jiang Xi, the troublemaker, had a good relationship with Xie Xiaoju. Maybe everything Xie Xiaoju did these days was instigated by Jiang Xi.
Ye Guifen was filled with hatred when she thought of this: "What are you guys yelling about? This is my family's business and has nothing to do with you. Stop standing here and watching the fun. Hurry and leave!"
Aunt Li put her hands on her hips and said, "If you hadn't done this wicked thing, do you think we'd just sit here and watch the fun? You're an old man, yet you're still bullying little girls and not even giving them food. Aren't you ashamed? You're even talking about us!"
Several other women also cursed, "That's right, that's right, we are doing justice for the people, you are not afraid of doing shameful things, and you blame us!"
"No wonder Xiaoju is scared. I would be scared too. Look at your face. It's like you want to eat me. Anyone who dares to live under the same roof with you will probably lose a few years of their life!"
"Dazhu, please give us an explanation right now. We're all here, and Ye Guifen is still so arrogant. If she leaves, who knows how she'll torture Xiaoju."
Jiang Xi let the aunts do what they wanted. She observed Xie Dazhu's expression. Seeing that the time had come, Jiang Xi winked at Xie Xiaoju, who understood and immediately fell to her knees. "Dad, please save me. If you don't care about me today, I'll be tortured to death by her when you leave."
Xie Dazhu was held captive, unable to say no. He rubbed his head with both hands and said angrily, "Guifen, don't ask Xiaoju to do work all the time in the future. If you can do something, just do it. Xiaoju is still young. If there is anything she doesn't understand, you can teach her slowly. Don't let it get to this point again."
Ye Guifen refused to listen: "Why should I teach her? This little bitch is always looking for trouble. Xie Dazhu, let me tell you, this family can only be her or me."
Xie Dazhu's face darkened when he heard Ye Guifen's words. Jiang Xi's lips curled up slightly, waiting for this sentence: "Uncle Dazhu, I finally understand. It turns out that you have no say in this family."
Aunt Li was also a smart person, and she immediately said, "Forget it, Dazhu. I understand that I can't control you. After all, you're not the head of the family, so your words are useless."
Someone in the crowd laughed. A skinny man said to Xie Dazhu, "I thought you were such a powerful person, but you turned out to be just a henpecked wimp."
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