Liu Jingze didn't even look at her. According to her, she was one of his workers, but he never paid much attention to women, so he didn't recognize her.
"Mingjing, is this the person in charge you keep mentioning?" Liu Xiuling's mother-in-law's voice was different from before, and it sounded particularly harsh.
"Mom, this is the person in charge."
"Quickly, please come inside. Mingjing, go and make some tea."
Liu Xiuling turned around, a cold smile flashing across her face, but she quickly concealed it. "Mom and Dad, eldest brother, please come inside."
Liu Aimin and his wife didn't say anything and followed their daughter into the house.
Upon entering, Hu Aifen swung her arm and slapped her eldest daughter twice across the back.
"You idiot, is this the kind of life you want? We've paid for your schooling, given you food and flowers, and this is how you treat us?"
Liu Xiuling no longer has the pride she had when she was a daughter.
"Kill me, just kill me! I've had enough of this kind of life!" she said, then burst into tears.
"I've had enough. You make it sound so easy. I'd rather die than get my hands dirty. You were so headstrong back then, you didn't care about us at all, you didn't even tell us about the wedding."
"Mom, that's what my mistress said. If I told you, you wouldn't agree, and she would even take me back to our hometown. How could I dare to tell you?"
"All these years, all your education has been for nothing?"
Liu Xiuling hugged Hu Aifen and burst into tears.
"Mom, I'm suffering so much, I'm so tired."
“Bitter? Tired? Even if you have to crawl, you’ll crawl to the end. This is your own choice. But there’s one condition: you can endure hardship with your man, but if anyone mistreats you, I, Hu Aifen, will chop her up.”
Liu Xiuling just cried and didn't say anything.
How could Hu Aifen not feel heartbroken? This was her second child, a daughter, who was quite well-behaved and obedient when she was little.
"Don't cry." Liu Aimin's simple words stopped both mother and daughter from crying. He was a typical patriarch from northern China.
"Liu Xiuling, how has your husband treated you since you got married?"
"Dad, he's still pretty good to me."
"It's alright as long as he's okay. If he dares to treat you badly, just leave. Can't you support yourself?"
Liu Xiuling kept her head down and didn't speak. In fact, there were many things she didn't dare to say.
The four of them sat down. Kang Mingjing, who was outside the door, coughed and came in carrying a tea tray.
"Uncle and Aunt, we don't have any good tea at home, so please make do with this."
No one in the family paid her any attention. Kang Mingjing wanted to leave a good impression on Liu Jingze, so despite her resentment, she left anyway.
"Xiuling, where is your child?"
"Mom, the baby is gone." Liu Xiuling cried even louder.
"How could it be gone?" Hu Aifen was so angry she wanted to beat her to death. All she does is cry and cry, what good does that do?
"I fell when I was five months old."
"Were you raised on shit? You're pregnant and you don't even care?"
"No, I was still half asleep when I woke up this morning. There was ice in the yard, so I didn't notice."
Upon hearing her words, the family of three fell silent.
After a long while, only Liu Xiuling's sobbing could be heard in the room.
"Jingze, go and unload the things from the car."
Liu Aimin went out with her son. Only the mother and son remained in the house.
Seeing her eldest daughter crying so miserably, Hu Aifen felt a pang of heartache.
Do you still want to be with him?
"Mom, what good will it do if I don't stay with him? I might not even be able to have children in the future."
"Since you can't have children, you should get a divorce. Don't wait until he despises you. Do you think his family can bear to see him die without an heir?"
"What am I going to do then? If they dare to abandon me, I'll let everyone know that the water in front of my door was spilled by his sister."
"What good will it do you to tell others? You have a degree, you can find an easy job and support yourself."
"I'm not reconciled."
"Are you really willing to ruin your whole life because you're not willing to do this? Think it through. Here's five hundred yuan. If you're smart, hide it well. If you're stupid, there's nothing I can do." Hu Aifen stuffed the money into her eldest daughter's hand and stood up to leave.
"Mom, Dad, are you here to see Jingxiang's wife?"
"Um."
"Mom, when are you leaving?"
"It's not decided yet, why?"
"Mom, take this money back. I can't keep it even if you give it to me. They've already borrowed all my old jewelry."
"You're such a wimp."
"Mom, I'll ask Kang Mingfei tonight. If he dislikes me, I'll divorce him. If he doesn't, we'll separate from the family."
"Yes, I'm at home. Just call me if you need anything." Hu Aifen took the money from her eldest daughter; she wasn't completely naive.
In the courtyard, Kang Mingjing was chattering away around Liu Jingze. Anyone could see that she was interested in him.
But Liu Jingze didn't say a word or even look at her. The father and son carried the things into the kitchen; even if his younger sister couldn't eat them, this was all they could do.
Hu Aifen came out. She glanced at Kang Mingjing indifferently, making Kang Mingjing shudder. Had that fool just spoken ill of her?
"Let's go home."
Upon hearing her mother's words, Liu Xiuling rushed out of the house crying.
"Go back now."
Liu Xiuling's mother-in-law came out when she heard the commotion.
"In-laws, please stay for dinner."
"No need, I have things to do at home."
"Manager Liu, please stay for dinner."
Liu Jingze didn't even glance at her and got into the car on his own.
As she started the car, Hu Aifen turned around and looked at her daughter, who had been staring at her. She covered her mouth and sobbed.
"You won, why are you crying?"
"Husband, Jingze, Xiuling won't be able to get pregnant anymore. How will we manage?"
"Can't get pregnant?"
“That idiot didn’t tell me anything. She just said that her aunt had sprinkled water at her door and she hadn’t been paying attention in the morning, so she tripped and fell.”
"Mom, you can find a doctor to treat it properly."
"Hopefully it will be alright."
The family of three returned home in silence. Liu Jingze didn't even get out of the car. "Mom and Dad, I'm going to work. Call me if you need anything."
"Eat your meal before you leave."
"No, I have an important meeting this afternoon."
Liu Aimin waved his hand and watched his son drive away.
When I got home, it was already this late, and the housekeeper still hadn't cooked.
Hu Aifen didn't care about this. She immediately washed her hands and went into the kitchen. Everyone else was fine, but her daughter-in-law had to hurry up and prepare something to eat.
Hu Aifen started the fire and put out the ribs and steamed eggs, so that she could have some to eat later.
At this moment, Liu Jingxiang heard the noise and stopped.
"Mom, Ma Li just finished eating. Her mother came over and brought her some food."
"Okay, you pick some vegetables for me. We'll have your mother-in-law stay for dinner later."
Seeing that it was getting late, Hu Aifen immediately took the steamer down.
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