"Ah!" Liu Cuicui quickly stopped, stomped her foot, and screamed.
Unable to hit her or out-argue her, Liu Cuicui glared fiercely at Xia Bao several times, sending countless sharp glances flying.
She didn't forget the important matter at hand, and helped Song Wanying up from the ground, saying, "Cousin, your aunt and uncle are divorced, but she's still your mother, and she's pregnant with your brother. You can't just abandon her!"
Liu Cuicui's words were full of condemnation, as if she was afraid others wouldn't hear her; her voice was deafening.
"Cousin, do you know that on New Year's Eve, Auntie fainted from hunger on the street? If she hadn't run into me, she and her unborn child would have died."
"Auntie, even if you made a mistake, you can't be so heartless!"
Su Wantang glanced at the onlookers gathered at the door, rubbed her ears, and spoke calmly.
"Why should I care about a used woman?"
"A used woman?" Liu Cuicui was clearly unaware of this, and looked somewhat stunned. She then loudly accused, "Cousin, how could you say such a thing about your own mother?"
"I know that your aunt is biased towards me, and you feel uncomfortable about it. But my mother died early, and my aunt felt sorry for me because I was all alone and lonely. But after all, you are my biological mother and daughter. How could my aunt not love you?"
"How could you ruin your aunt's reputation over this? And encourage your parents to divorce?"
"How unfilial! If this were my daughter, I would sell her to some remote mountain village!"
"This is so petty. One is a niece, the other is her own daughter. Who does she love more? Doesn't she know the answer in her heart? I think the mother is right to sit like this. She gave birth to such an ungrateful child. If it were me, I would love and be filial to my niece too."
Hearing the comments outside, Liu Cuicui stood even straighter.
Song Wanying seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire: "Wantang, you've misunderstood your mother. I don't blame you. If you want to arrange a marriage for someone else and marry into a good family, I'll arrange it for you so your cousin can swallow her grievances. But... the child in my belly is your own brother. You can't just ignore him!"
"What? A marriage exchange? This biological daughter is no good, her niece is much more filial."
"Isn't that right? I've never seen such a heartless woman. If she were my son's good-for-nothing, and she didn't care about him, I'd beat her half to death and use her dowry to save up for my son's betrothal money."
...
The chatter was unbearable to hear. Xia Bao grabbed a broom, intending to call for the people inside to beat someone up, but Su Wantang grabbed her arm.
Su Wantang gave a half-smile: "Oh? What are your plans?"
Liu Cuicui and Song Wanying were terrified. They exchanged a glance and said, "Cousin, it's good that you know you're wrong. Your aunt doesn't blame you."
"It's just that my aunt is heavily pregnant and can't earn money. Don't you own a pharmacy? Just give her five hundred yuan a month so she can stay home and take good care of herself during her pregnancy."
A collective gasp could be heard from outside.
The oil sizzled and bubbled as it fried in the pan.
"This little pharmacy makes so much money? The medicine inside is quite cheap!"
"Even if it's cheap, there's still a profit to be made. Don't you see people coming to buy every day?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Cuicui and Song Wanying felt a little embarrassed, but they couldn't change their minds. However, they secretly planned to cause a scene again in a few days.
"Cousin, you're really making a big deal out of it. My pharmacy is just for ordinary people like us. The money I make is only enough to cover the rent. Otherwise, how could someone like me, who comes from a capitalist background, run a business?"
Su Wantang looked towards the door: "Everyone knows my identity because I often buy groceries here. It's been spread around by word of mouth. There have been a few disturbances before, and even the police have come to my door a few times. Today, since everyone is here, I'll just lay it all out."
"I am indeed from a capitalist background, but I have received profound education from the organization and am willing to provide assistance to the people. Everyone has personally experienced the quality and price of my pharmacy, so I won't say anything more."
"In short, our pharmacy is registered with the authorities. We don't make a profit; we're just here to provide convenience for everyone."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone in the crowd immediately responded.
"Indeed, I know about this. That police officer even gave us an afternoon of ideological education."
"That's right. I wanted to sleep after listening for a couple of sentences, but the leader was terrifying. As soon as I closed my eyes, he glared at me, which made me grit my teeth and listen for the whole afternoon."
Liu Cuicui was surprised that after saying so much, the public opinion she had painstakingly guided was neutralized by Su Wantang in just a few words, and she was filled with resentment.
"Cousin, this pharmacy isn't profitable, but your man is a battalion commander in the army, he can't possibly not get some allowance, it should be at least 100 yuan, if not 500, right?"
Liu Cuicui was determined to get money; she couldn't let Song Wanying freeload off her.
"Cousin, you're spending hundreds of yuan like that all the time. I'm starting to wonder if you're really not a capitalist's daughter?"
"If the shop owner is good, then she must be bad. Stay away from her to avoid getting involved."
Upon hearing this, Liu Cuicui nearly coughed up blood.
"Cousin, others may not know, but don't you? My husband is a battalion commander in the army. How could there be a problem with my identity?"
Su Wantang curled her lips; these were exactly the words Liu Cuicui wanted to hear.
Before Liu Cuicui could speak again, Su Wantang spoke very quickly: "Cousin, it's not that I don't want to support Song Wanying. She was caught by my father with a strange man, which led to their divorce. I don't even know whose bastard child she's carrying. How can I be a sucker?"
"You're talking nonsense," Liu Cuicui said, not believing her.
"Song Wanying, are you sure you don't want to tell your cousin? I even have photos here."
Song Wanying, feigning innocence, suddenly narrowed her eyes and downplayed the issue: "The child in my belly is your father's."
“Then let’s wait until the child is born and do a blood test to determine kinship.” As Su Wantang said this, her eyes were fixed on Song Wanying, trying to discern something.
“Then let’s do a blood test to prove kinship.” Having brainwashed herself, Song Wanying spoke without a hint of malice.
Is the child really his father's?
Su Wantang had her doubts, but she didn't intend to pay any attention to Song Wanying.
"Cousin, you lived in my house for over ten years back then, and your husband is now a battalion commander, how come you can't even support someone? Why are you bringing your worn-out shoes to me to beg for money?"
"No way, everything you told me before was a lie? Your man—"
How could Liu Cuicui possibly admit that she was worse off than Su Wantang? She shrieked, "Absolutely not!"
“I just didn’t ask clearly. I believe there was a misunderstanding. It’s okay if you don’t want your aunt anymore. I will take care of her because I will remember how good she was to me.”
Song Wanying was moved by these words, but she didn't see the anger welling up in Liu Cuicui's eyes.
"Then, cousin, take care. I won't see you off," Su Wantang said, urging her to leave.
Having gained nothing, Liu Cuicui was somewhat resentful. Before leaving, she walked up to Su Wantang, raised her chin, and sneered, "Su Wantang, don't be so smug. You'll only have your good days for a few days. Once the military brother gets promoted... you won't be able to compare to me—"
"What can't we compare to?" Li Sisi rushed in and said loudly, "Sister Wantang, Battalion Commander Lu has been promoted to deputy regimental commander."
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