Chapter 106106 Chu Song Sees Injustice
Xu Yun's hands were shaking slightly as she held the carrying pole. She looked down at her rough knuckles, which were caused by years of farm work. Further up, there were still traces of injuries from chasing away wolves.
"But," she said, her voice trembling, "everyone is saying..."
"What are you talking about? It's natural for men to hit women?" Chu Song sneered. "Or are you saying a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent? In my opinion, a man's virtue lies in his lack of talent."
Xu Yun couldn't say anything to refute.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps could be heard outside the house, and He Zhiqiang's cursing voice approached from afar. "What's going on? Where's everyone? That damned girl is slacking off in the house again. Is dinner ready?!"
He Shujun subconsciously took a step back, but Xu Yun suddenly stood up, and the carrying pole in her hand hit the ground with a "bang". She shrank back in fear, but did not step back.
"What are you two doing?" He Zhiqiang pushed the door open and came in. He was stunned when he saw Chu Song, then frowned. "It's so late, what are outsiders doing in our house?"
Seeing that it was Chu Song, he restrained himself a little.
Chu Song was about to speak when Xu Yun suddenly stepped forward and said, "I asked Chu Song to teach Shujun."
He Zhiqiang's eyes widened. "What did you say?"
"I said, I asked Chu Song to teach Shujun. She wants to go to college, so she needs to study hard."
"What the hell! Are you counting on her to go to college? If she goes, who will do the housework?"
Xu Yun: "I can do it, and so can you. It doesn't matter who does it. Only by getting into college can you have a bright future and not end up like me..."
He Zhiqiang stared at the man, as if he couldn't believe that his usually docile wife would talk back. "What did you say? Say it again?"
"I say—" Xu Yun's voice was trembling, not knowing whether it was fear or excitement, but her hand holding the carrying pole was as steady as a rock, "Shujun wants to go to college, and no one can stop her."
He Zhiqiang was immediately furious and raised his hand to hit him: "You are rebelling!"
In a flash, Xu Yun raised the carrying pole to block in front of her. With a crisp "pa" sound, He Zhiqiang's slap landed heavily on the carrying pole, making him grimace in pain.
"You dare to fight back?!" He Zhiqiang roared in disbelief.
Chu Song quietly pushed the shovel by the door towards He Shujun.
Do good deeds without leaving a name.
"I wasn't fighting back." Xu Yun's voice was surprisingly calm. "I was just protecting my daughter."
He Zhiqiang was so angry that his face turned blue. He picked up the broom in the corner and was about to hit someone. Xu Yun did not retreat but advanced, thrusting the carrying pole forward and poking He Zhiqiang in the stomach.
The broom still fell on Xu Yun's waist, and she shuddered in pain, but this time, seeing He Zhiqiang also frowning in pain, she felt only a sense of pleasure after revenge.
"Ouch!" He Zhiqiang took two steps back, clutching his stomach. "Hiss, you, you're crazy!"
"I'm not crazy. I'm very sober now." Xu Yun approached step by step. Ever since she took the first step, she felt relaxed all over. She was not afraid of anything and there was nothing to be afraid of.
"I gave in to you before because I thought we were family after all. Now you want to ruin my daughter's future? No way!"
He Zhiqiang was completely enraged by Xu Yun's resistance. The flesh on his face twitched and his eyes were full of ferocity.
"You're a rebel! How dare you fight me?!" He roared, pounced on her, grabbed Xu Yun by the collar, raised his other hand high, and slapped Xu Yun hard in the face.
“Pah———”
The slap was so hard and heavy that Xu Yun's head tilted sideways, and blood oozed from the corner of her mouth.
He Shujun called out, "Mom!"
Xu Yun staggered back two steps, her vision went dark, but she gripped the carrying pole even tighter.
"Mom!" He Shujun rushed forward to stop them, but was pushed away by He Zhiqiang. Chu Song held her back and looked at Xu Yun and He Zhiqiang expressionlessly.
You can help for a while, but not for a lifetime.
"You stupid girl, get out of here!" He Zhiqiang turned around and cursed viciously, then turned around to hit Xu Yun again.
This time, Xu Yun did not stand there and take the beating.
She did not dodge He Zhiqiang's slap, but swung the carrying pole and hit He Zhiqiang's arm hard.
“Crack—”
The wooden board hit the bones, making a dull sound.
He Zhiqiang howled in pain, covered his arm and took two steps back. He stared at her in disbelief: "You...you dare to fight back?!"
Xu Yun's breathing was rapid and her chest was heaving violently, but her eyes were clearer than ever.
"Yes, I dare." Her voice was hoarse, but extremely firm. "If you dare to touch me and Shujun again, I will fight you to the death! I'm not afraid of death, what about you? Are you afraid?"
He Zhiqiang was completely enraged. He picked up a bench and threw it at Xu Yun like crazy. Xu Yun quickly dodged, but was still hit on the back of the shoulder, and she groaned in pain.
She gritted her teeth and refused to fall down. The two of them started to fight each other like two wild beasts. Xu Yun remembered what Chu Song said: bite with teeth, hit with sticks, chop with knives...anything can become her weapon.
"He Zhiqiang, you beast, beast, beast!" Xu Yun beat him like crazy. He Zhiqiang could handle it at first, but later he was frightened by her crazy look, and the fight gradually became a draw, and finally he was at a disadvantage.
Xu Yun is used to doing farm work, and in terms of strength, she is no less capable than He Zhiqiang.
"Mom!" He Shujun grabbed the shovel that Chu Song pushed over and rushed forward to stand in front of her mother. "Try to hit me again!" She held the shovel with both hands, her voice trembling, but her eyes were as fierce as a little wolf cub.
He Zhiqiang was stunned.
He had never seen his daughter like this, and he never thought that his wife, who had always been submissive, would dare to resist. He was breathing heavily, his eyes moving back and forth between the mother and daughter and Chu Song who was standing by and watching coldly.
He was vaguely aware that something had changed.
"Okay...you're all fine!" He gritted his teeth and took two steps back, pointing at Xu Yun and He Shujun, then said viciously, "Just wait!"
After saying that, he slammed the door and walked out. His footsteps gradually faded away and no one knew where he went.
The room was silent except for Xu Yun's heavy breathing. She slowly sat down, holding onto the wall, and the carrying pole slipped from her hands with a "dong" sound.
He Shujun carefully took a towel and wiped the blood from her wound. Her nose felt sore and she called out, "Mom."
Only then did Xu Yun feel the burning pain on her cheek. She raised her hand and touched it, and her fingertips were stained with bright red blood. But strangely, she didn't feel much pain, but instead had a strange sense of relief.
Chu Song walked forward and patted Xu Yun's shoulder gently: "Well done."
Xu Yun slowly exhaled, raised her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, but her eyes were more determined than ever.
"It's okay." She looked at He Shujun and whispered, "From now on, everything will be fine. Shujun, I can do anything for you."
Chu Song chuckled.
Xu Yun looked up at her, seemingly not knowing what she was laughing at.
"I want to tell you one last thing," Chu Song said. "You are Shujun's biological mother, and even more so Xu Yun's. You are yourself first, and only then can you be someone's daughter or mother."
Xu Yun was stunned. She lowered her head and rubbed her fingertips. Several wooden thorns from the carrying pole had pierced her palms, causing pain when she moved. It was this pain that made her sober and strangely, made her feel at ease.
Because this pain was her own choice, not imposed on her by others.
Her hands can plant rice, chop wood, and sew, but it seems that she has never done anything for herself.
Xu Yun suddenly remembered that when she was fifteen years old and still at her mother's house, she had secretly copied poetry with these hands. At that time, she would recite "Hanging the mat to pick up the sea moon, riding the wind down the long river" to the moon, and then imagine what the future would be like.
But until now, the farthest place she has been to is the county town.
"You are yourself first" - such simple six words, but no one has ever said them to her in all these years.
Chu Song was the first, and perhaps the last.
"Mom." He Shujun gently touched her hand.
Xu Yun came to her senses and realized that her fingers were unconsciously gesturing. She looked down and saw the words "Xu Yun". She pulled her hand back as if it had been burned, but she couldn't help but trace it again.
This name is as familiar to her as it is unfamiliar to her. From "Zhiqiang's wife" to "Shujun's mother", and then to "He's sister-in-law"... there are so many names, but the only one missing is "Xu Yun".
"Mom, I'll go boil some hot water for you to wash." He Shujun turned around and went to the kitchen, but was stopped by Xu Yun.
Xu Yun: "Wait a minute, Shujun, mother has something to show you."
She stood up and walked to the corner, opened the large wooden box that had not been used for years, and pushed aside the messy items. At the bottom of the box was a blue cloth bag that had faded to gray.
Xu Yun carefully unwrapped the cloth bag, revealing several pages of yellowed paper with moth-eaten corners.
"This is..." He Shujun took the paper and her eyes suddenly widened. "Poem?"
The pages were covered in ugly handwriting, containing excerpts from Three Hundred Tang Poems. Xu Yun's fingers gently stroked the words, smiling like a child, "When I was your age, I secretly borrowed them from the village scholar and copied them."
He Shujun was like discovering a new world, "Mom, you can recite poems."
"I couldn't even recognize all the characters, and I could only recite a few sentences." Xu Yun's voice was so soft it sounded like a sigh. "At that time, I kept thinking..."
She suddenly stopped talking and shook her head. "But forget it, it's all old history. If I give you these, you will definitely be more successful than your mother."
"What are you thinking about?" He Shujun asked, her eyes sparkling.
Xu Yun looked toward the darkening sky outside the window, as if she saw the young man with pigtails sitting by the well, reciting his lessons in the moonlight.
"I thought... maybe one day I could go and see what the poem says about 'a thousand miles of warblers singing, green reflecting red', and see what it looks like."
The room was quiet for a moment, and then the kerosene lamp crackled and burst into flames.
Chu Song stood by the door without knowing when, holding a new shoulder pole in her hand, "It didn't ruin the atmosphere, did it? I took this from your house, my one..."
Her eyes fell on the badly damaged shoulder pole in the corner, "Is it not too much for you to compensate me with one?"
Xu Yun shook her head. She limped to Chu Song, wiped it on her clean cuffs, and then reached out to grab Chu Song's hand. "Thank you, Chu Song."
"Thank me for what?"
"Thank you..." Xu Yun chose her words carefully, "Thank you for reminding me that besides being someone else's daughter, daughter-in-law, and mother, I am also... still myself."
Chu Song nodded proudly, then said, "What's the point of just thanking me if you don't do something practical?"
Xu Yun was stunned, and then really began to think about what she could show off.
Chu Song: "I heard that your scallion pancakes are delicious. How about this, I'll give you a chance to repay me."
"Scallion pancakes? Okay, if you like them, I'll make them right now."
"No rush. Don't accuse me of bullying when you get out. Let's wait until your injuries are healed." Chu Song snorted, revealing a look of disgust. "Your face is bruised and swollen, it's so ugly. If I were you, I wouldn't let myself be so embarrassed."
After hearing this, Xu Yun nodded seriously: "Okay, I will work hard slowly."
Chu Song: “…”
The domestic violence scene was too "bloody", so Chu Song let Yingniu play outside the yard for a while, so as not to let her see any violent scenes that she shouldn't see, and then she left the yard.
"Let's go, Yingniu, go home!"
Yingniu looked at her with sparkling eyes, calling her "Xianxian Xia" with great admiration, and then asked, "Sister Shujun, can you go back to class?"
"Of course, don't you see who made the move?"
"Yeah! I knew it was the Immortal Hero!"
Chu Song patted her head and said, "Okay, it's getting late, you should go back too, so that your parents won't worry."
"Uh-huh!"
Chu Song sent the person home. When he pushed open the door of his yard, it was completely dark. Only the light in the kitchen was still on. Ye Xiuzhi was sitting in front of the stove adding firewood. She didn't even raise her head when she heard the sound.
"You still remembered to come back. I thought you were taken away by the wolves in the mountains."
"That won't do. If I get carried away by a wolf, you'll be heartbroken."
"I'm not sad at all. If you hadn't pissed me off, I could have lived a few more years."
Chu Song pursed his lips, with an expression that showed he had seen through everything, "Just being stubborn~"
Ye Xiuzhi: “…”
Ye Xiuzhi was too lazy to argue with her. "The rice is hot in the pot. Wash the dishes yourself after eating. I don't have time to waste with you."
She didn't even need to say anything, Chu Song had already picked up the bowl and started eating.
"Mom, why don't you ask me what I did tonight?"
"I don't want to know."
"Then I also have to tell you that I helped someone regain their confidence in hunting wolves today."
Ye Xiuzhi looked at her suspiciously, "What wolf? What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Xu Yun, do you know?"
"I know, what's wrong?"
Chu Song said with a smile: "I helped her fight He Zhiqiang fiercely."
Ye Xiuzhi: “…”
Ye Xiuzhi: “…………”
Ye Xiuzhi: “………………”
Chu Song was very dissatisfied, "It's fine if you don't praise me, but what's with that expression?"
"I'm still praising you. Why are you meddling in other people's affairs?"
"You don't understand at all. I was just helping someone who was in trouble. If I had a reason, I would have beaten He Zhiqiang up."
Ye Xiuzhi glanced at her. Although Chu Song was a jerk, but... well, there was no but. However, Ye Xiuzhi, relying on her strong mother filter, insisted that Chu Song was a reasonable person.
"What did He Zhiqiang do?" Ye Xiuzhi actually didn't have much impression of him.
Chu Song told the whole story in detail.
Ye Xiuzhi was surprised. "He is actually such a person! He usually looks quite honest."
"Don't judge a book by its cover. What do you call this? It's like the barking dog that bites."
Ye Xiuzhi nodded in agreement. "I never thought that He Zhiqiang, who usually looks like a decent and honest person, is actually such a beast who beats his wife and children! Xu Yun is such a good person, hardworking and never complaining, and there's also Shujun, who is so sensible! How could he have the heart to do that to her!"
Chu Song looked at her with a face full of contempt and sympathy, knowing that Ye Xiuzhi was a straightforward person and hated such behavior of bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
"So, Mom, just tell me, should I hit you?"
"He was forced into a desperate situation. Even a cornered rabbit will bite! In my opinion, Xu Yun didn't hit him lightly. She should have hit him on the head! Let He Zhiqiang know that women are not made of clay."
All mothers in the world have a kind heart. Ye Xiuzhi thought of herself and then of Chu Song. "It's a great thing that Shujun wants to study. But as a father, he doesn't think about supporting his child's education, but instead holds her back and prevents her from attending classes. Ugh!"
Chu Song looked at her mother's indignation. She came over, took Ye Xiuzhi's arm, and said with a smile, "See, you just said I was meddling in other people's affairs."
Ye Xiuzhi glared at her unhappily, then poked her forehead: "How can that be the same? You are standing up for justice and helping someone out of dire straits. You did the right thing!"
"I think so."
Ye Xiuzhi: "Next time you encounter something like this, you must still intervene, but don't rush forward foolishly, understand?"
"I know."
Xu Yun’s story made Ye Xiuzhi sigh, so no one knows what is really in people’s hearts.
For example, her future son-in-law cannot be too ugly, as it will affect her appetite; he cannot be too handsome, as he will have a weak character and will not be able to protect her daughter; and he cannot have a strong character either.
No, I can’t do that without money in my pocket.
It’s even worse if you don’t have money in your pocket.
In short... Ye Xiuzhi thought about it for a long time but couldn't find anything suitable.
Ye Xiuzhi sighed, "Alas."
It's too difficult.
---
The study group managed by Chu Song developed very smoothly. The large yard outside the warehouse was extremely lively every night, and the learning atmosphere was particularly strong.
Pei Qianshan seriously suspected that everyone was stimulated by Chu Song. No one could get high scores easily, unless that person was Chu Song.
Pei Qianshan took out his textbook and was about to attend class when He Shujun, who had not been seen for many days, reappeared with a small basket in her arms.
Pei Qianshan was the first to notice her. She had heard about her family's affairs, and she felt sympathy for the girl. "Shujun? Come and sit down. You almost got late today. Remember to arrive early tomorrow."
More than a dozen pairs of eyes turned at once.
He Shujun nodded and pursed her lips, "I... I also brought some food."
Her voice was soft, but it silenced the entire granary.
Chu Song blinked and was the first to rush forward enthusiastically: "Scallion pancake?"
He Shujun nodded. She untied the blue cloth covering the bamboo basket, and the aroma of scallion oil immediately filled the air. The golden pancakes were neatly arranged on a coarse porcelain plate, with slightly crispy edges and sprinkled with chopped scallions.
"My mother said to bring it here so everyone can try it."
Chu Song took the scallion pancake and took a bite. The crispy crust made a light "crunch" sound between his teeth, and the aroma of scallion oil instantly filled his mouth.
"Your mother's cooking is really good. It tastes better than what's sold in state-owned restaurants."
He Shujun's lips curled up unconsciously, "My mother branded it, and I helped. She said she wanted to thank you very much. I'm glad you like it."
He Shujun distributed the pancakes. The friendship between classmates eliminated the barriers between the villagers and the educated youth. One by one, they took the pancakes and thanked her with a smile.
Chu Song cocked his tail and added, "You all owe this to me."
He Shujun returned to the classroom, and Chu Song learned from her that Xu Yun had fought with He Zhiqiang several times at home. In the past, the mother and daughter had always swallowed their anger, not fighting back or retaliating, thinking that they could just endure it.
It turned out that Chu Song was right, patience only resulted in worsening of the situation.
Xu Yun is not one to tolerate anyone now. If He Zhiqiang dares to attack her, she will be even more ruthless. She is not afraid of pain or death at all, and will risk her life to make He Zhiqiang bleed more!
He Zhiqiang will never get any good results in her hands.
At the same time, Xu Yun was determined to divorce He Zhiqiang. Without He Zhiqiang, she could still support herself and even live a more relaxed life.
Chu Song expressed his support for this. Fighting each other every day, although it is tit-for-tat and violence against violence, is not a long-term solution.
Chu Song's study group gradually stabilized. After more than ten days of running-in, a group of people who were not strong-willed and who worked for three days and slacked off for two days were eliminated. The dozen or so people who stayed were all serious about studying and really wanted to take the college entrance examination, rather than just joining in for fun.
"That's all for today's class. I have a little surprise for everyone after class. Submit it to me before class tomorrow night. If you can't, you will bear the consequences yourself."
Pei Qianshan handed out the papers with a smile, and then looked at the students' devastated expressions with satisfaction.
Someone raised their hand and asked, "Why don't we write Chu Song?"
Pei Qianshan smiled and looked at the person who spoke. "When your grades are half as good as hers, I can also let you do fewer questions. What, are there any of you who are still not convinced?"
Everyone wailed, it was too perverted.
Liang Jiayao also looked dispirited. The person he feared most now was Ye Xiuzhi, and the second person he feared most was Pei Qianshan.
There is no way around it, poor students have a deep-seated fear of teachers.
He Shujun was very positive. She had a weak foundation and was lagging behind, so she needed to work harder. She held the pen with a determined look and said, "I hope that by this time next year, I will already be in a university classroom."
Pei Qianshan chuckled when he heard this: "Keep going, with your current learning progress and understanding, you have a good chance of passing the college entrance examination."
"I will work hard!" He Shujun clenched her fists. "My mother said that even if I break my fingers writing, I must get into college and make a name for myself."
Chu Song patted her shoulder and was about to speak when he was interrupted by a shout and a drunk figure staggered over.
It was He Zhiqiang.
His face was flushed and he was holding a bottle of wine in his hand.
"You damn girl, you're here!" He pointed at He Shujun and cursed, "I provide you with food and clothing, but you run out every day and don't even do the housework..."
He Shujun's face turned pale, she felt embarrassed and awkward, and she subconsciously dodged back.
Chu Song stepped forward to block her and said coldly, "He Zhiqiang, you must have drunk too much."
"You, it's all your fault, get out of here!" He Zhiqiang swung the bottle and was about to hit him, but as soon as he raised his hand, he suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground.
Only then did everyone realize that there was a thin figure standing behind him. Xu Yun was holding a carrying pole in her hand and looking at her husband lying on the ground with an expressionless face.
She smiled slightly: "Sorry, did I disturb your studies?"
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