Jiang Yuwei led the two children into the house and overheard every word of the conversation between Chen Guixiang and her daughter. Seeing the two children sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), huddled together and shivering, Jiang Yuwei gently patted their heads and said softly:
"With Mother here, I'm not afraid."
As he spoke, he took out four more sesame seed cakes from his pocket, gave one to each of them, and said with a smile:
"Eat quickly, don't let them see. This is what your mother bought for you in town today. After you finish eating, go to sleep and don't worry about the adults."
Seeing that Jiang Yuwei was sincere towards the two children, Ning Huaizhi nodded in satisfaction. He realized that he was indeed a burden to her now, and from Chen Guixiang's veiled curses and insults over the past few days, he had lost the will to live.
Now he just wants to find an opportunity to end his life. The only thing he can't let go of before he dies is his two children. Now that Jiang Yuwei is taking care of the children, he can go in peace.
Seeing Ning Huaizhi's gloomy face, Jiang Yuwei handed him a sesame seed cake and said:
"Eat up. Don't listen to your mother. I'll just ask you one question: I want to separate from your parents. Do you agree?"
Ning Huaizhi waved his hand and said:
"I don't want to eat it, you can eat it. It would be a waste for me to eat it."
Seeing him say that, Jiang Yuwei forcefully shoved the sesame seed cake into Ning Huaizhi's hand, staring into his eyes and saying:
“You are a patient now. How can you get better if you don’t eat? If you eat, it will be a waste. Only if you live well will your two children have their father to support them. You have been back for a few days now, and you have seen how much your family dislikes you. Now that we are proposing to separate the family, it will definitely be beneficial to them.”
Ning Huaizhi frowned as he looked at the sesame seed cake in his hand. He knew Jiang Yuwei meant well, but her words of comfort seemed to sting even more, so he looked up at her and said:
“I know my mother can be unreasonable sometimes, but she is still my mother, and we, as her juniors, should be more obedient. You said you wanted to separate the family, but have you thought about how I can't work in the fields now? If we really separate, then we… our whole family of four will depend on you to support us all. How can a woman like you…”
Knowing his concerns, Jiang Yuwei waved her hand impatiently and said:
"Alright, alright, I understand everything you're saying. Don't worry, I have a way to earn money to support our family. If you don't believe me, ask Zhao'er."
Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei call her name, Ning Zhao quickly peeked out from under the covers, stared at Ning Huaizhi, and nodded firmly, saying:
“Mom can earn money, and I can help Mom earn money too. I will listen to Mom.”
At this moment, Ning Wan also peeked her little head out from under the covers and nodded solemnly to Ning Huaizhi.
Looking at the two little ones' serious expressions and then at Jiang Yuwei's determined eyes, Ning Huaizhi suddenly smiled:
"Alright, then we'll do as your mother says."
Seeing that she had persuaded Ning Huaizhi, Jiang Yuwei straightened her clothes and went outside. By then, the courtyard was already crowded with villagers, all whispering and discussing among themselves.
"That old woman Chen Guixiang is really too unkind."
"Yes, it's a miracle that the eldest son came back alive, and now he's saying this."
"That's right, look, her eldest daughter-in-law is coming out."
Seeing everyone craning their necks to look into the courtyard, where Ning Yunyun was still standing, covered in dirt, and with Sun Shi and Ning's second son also returning, Jiang Yuwei spoke softly and weakly, her voice trembling with tears:
“I know that now that our eldest son is back, you all look down on our eldest son’s family. He’s currently ill, but as long as Mother gives us money for treatment, he will definitely recover and be able to help with the work again. He’s only been back for a few days, and you can’t even tolerate us anymore?”
Seeing Jiang Yuwei crying and sobbing, Madam Sun's anger flared up instantly. She stepped forward, pointed at Jiang Yuwei's nose, and began to berate her:
"You jinxed bastard, you've never had a good day since you married into our family. You can't earn a single penny, all you know how to do is eat for free and spend the money our second wife earns. Now that eldest son is a burden, he still needs to take medicine to stay healthy. Do you really expect that cripple to get better?"
Ning Yunyun rolled her eyes at Jiang Yuwei, and said with a mocking smile:
"That's right. I heard that my older brother is crippled. He died on the battlefield, and we respected him as a hero. Now that his health is failing, he wants to go back to the village. Isn't that just a burden?"
Jiang Yuwei stopped crying and looked at Ning Yunyun with tears in her eyes, saying:
"He's your own brother! You, as his sister, not only don't speak up for him, but you join Sun in despising him. Have you no conscience at all?!"
Enraged that Jiang Yuwei dared to insult her daughter, Chen Guixiang grabbed a hoe and was about to strike Jiang Yuwei while cursing:
"You troublemaker! I don't know how your parents raised you, such a jinx. Your Jiang family just sent someone like you to our house. I'll beat you to death today, you bastard."
Upon seeing this, Jiang Yuwei hurriedly ran all over the yard to hide, crying and shouting incessantly:
"Fellow villagers, I've only been married into this family for a few days, and my mother wants to beat me to death. I haven't done anything wrong! Please, please save me! Uncle Ning, please go and call the village head. The Ning family can't tolerate me anymore. Please save me! I don't want to die!"
Uncle Ning, who had been standing in the crowd stamping his feet in worry, was a kind-hearted man. He felt that Jiang Yuwei was an honest and upright girl and that he should lend a helping hand.
When Jiang Yuwei was being chased and beaten by Chen Guixiang, crying and calling his name, Uncle Ning Wu finally realized what was happening and hurriedly ran back to the Lizheng family without looking back.
At this moment, Ning Huaizhi heard the commotion in the courtyard from inside the house. He could no longer lie still. Now, he only hated that his lame legs were a burden to his family. He was anxious and hurriedly called out to Ning Zhao:
"Zhao'er, quick, go out and see how she is!"
Ning Zhao couldn't sit still any longer. She jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed) and ran out barefoot without even putting on her shoes. When she saw her grandmother raising a hoe to hit Jiang Yuwei, she didn't care about anything else and ran over to try to stop Chen Guixiang.
Chen Guixiang was already in a bloodthirsty frenzy. When she caught a glimpse of someone trying to stop her, she didn't think twice and swung her hoe down hard, smashing it into Ning Zhao's back.
Ning Zhao cried out in pain the instant she heard it.
"Ah, Grandma, it hurts, please stop..."
When Jiang Yuwei heard Ning Zhao's voice, she turned around and felt a chill run through her body. The hoe was still deeply embedded in Ning Zhao's back, and the blood on his back had already soaked through his clothes.
Seeing this, the people outside the courtyard could no longer stand idly by and rushed in to pull Chen Guixiang away, saying:
"Chen Guixiang, you're trying to kill someone!"
"He's your own grandson, how could you be so cruel?"
"Ning Zhao is such a pitiful child."
"How can such a young child have to suffer like this? It's such a tragedy."
Jiang Yuwei couldn't care less about anything else at that moment. All she could see was Ning Zhao, covered in blood, lying on the ground convulsing. She rushed to his side like a madwoman, gently picked him up, and cried out:
"Quickly, go and call Ning Bolai! Quickly! Save my Zhao'er, save him!"
At this moment, Aunt Zhou still retained a shred of rationality in the crowd. Seeing this, she quickly turned around and called Uncle Ning to come and save people.
Jiang Yuwei cried as she looked at Ning Zhao, who was trembling in her arms, and cried out in heartache:
"Zhao'er, wake up! You can't be hurt. Didn't I tell you to stay inside and not come out?"
Jiang Yuwei had never felt the warmth of family since she was a child; no one cared whether she lived or died. Now, Ning Zhao was injured because of her. She could have handled it herself; she could have protected them...
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