"Comrade, please accept this little gift. I hope it can bring you some joy!" She smiled, her eyes gentle, and turned to say goodbye.
The salesperson stared at the cabbage in his hand, marveling at its freshness and juiciness. It was different from the common green vegetables on the market. Just one glance at it made people's tongues water, as if they could already foresee the wonderful taste it would bring.
"That little girl is most likely Fengjie's relative. She is so thoughtful and capable. No wonder they have such a good relationship." The envy and resentment of others floated in the air. Their eyes followed the vegetable closely, and they secretly regretted why they didn't take the initiative just now. Perhaps this luck would belong to them.
The salesperson nodded in agreement, her tone full of praise: "Indeed, if I had a caring sister like this, I would praise her to everyone I met!"
She carefully stored the special vegetable, thinking that she would taste it when she got home in the evening.
After walking out of the supply and marketing cooperative, Xu Qinghe did not choose to return home immediately.
Since I'm already here, and Fengjie's residence is so close, it's both reasonable and common sense to visit her in person.
Relying on the vague memories in her mind, she shuttled through several bustling alleys and finally stopped in front of No. 105 Chengfeng Lane.
The door was locked from the inside, and the slightest movement revealed the life inside the house.
Xu Qinghe parked the bicycle safely and knocked gently on the wooden door.
At first, she received no response except silence.
Just as she was about to knock on the door again, a weak voice came from inside. Although the voice was as thin as a thread, Xu Qinghe immediately recognized it as Sister Feng's voice.
She raised her voice and answered with concern, "Sister Feng, it's me, Xiao Xu! I heard you were unwell, so I came to see you."
Sister Feng seemed surprised by this sudden visit. She was silent for a while before slowly agreeing, "Wait a moment, I'll open the door."
Soon, the door opened slightly and Fengjie's figure came into Xu Qinghe's sight.
Even in the height of summer, Fengjie wrapped herself up unusually tightly, and the heavy clothes seemed out of place in the heat.
When they first met, Xu Qinghe thought it was because of fever and chills, but when he stepped into the threshold and started chatting casually, before he could finish his reminder, he saw Fengjie suddenly lose her balance and stagger forward.
Xu Qinghe was quick-eyed and quick-handed. He grabbed Fengjie's waist and avoided a fall, but he accidentally pulled off the headscarf that was covering Fengjie's secret. What was revealed were the shocking bruises and scars on her face, which spread to her neck.
Shock and pity flashed in Xu Qinghe's eyes. This was not just a sick condition, it was clearly unimaginable abuse!
"Sister Feng, what are you doing..."
Although the two did not have a close relationship, the scene before them was enough to touch the justice and sympathy in Xu Qinghe's heart.
A woman who is usually strong and independent has suffered such a misfortune. How cruel is the perpetrator behind the scenes?
"It's okay, Xiao Xu, I'm fine..." Sister Feng gritted her teeth and managed to steady herself. Although her steps were still staggering, she pretended to be calm.
"Sister Feng, are you in trouble? Is there anything I can help you with?" Xu Qinghe has always been reluctant to interfere too much in other people's private affairs, but when faced with the suffering of other women, her empathy made her unable to turn a blind eye, and she felt an urge to lend a helping hand.
Feng Jie wanted to remain silent, but what was revealed in Xu Qinghe's eyes was not only curiosity, but also sincerity and deep concern that was hard to conceal, which quietly penetrated her strong defenses. Tears inadvertently moistened the corners of her eyes, silently telling of her inner grievances and helplessness.
In this seemingly accidental encounter, the concern of a young girl was so touching. In comparison, the indifference and alienation of those who called themselves "family" seemed particularly ironic and even chilling.
Fengjie found a haystack and slowly sat down.
She untied the headscarf wrapped around her neck, and as the headscarf slipped off, the shocking scars were exposed to the sunlight, which was a silent accusation of her unhappy marriage.
"My man," Sister Feng's voice was low and heavy, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of her throat, "had someone else outside. When I found out about his betrayal, he beat me mercilessly."
The anger in Xu Qinghe's heart was instantly ignited, and her intuition was confirmed. What Fengjie suffered was a microcosm of the domestic violence that many women in that era silently endured.
Without waiting for Xu Qinghe to ask or offer comfort, Sister Feng took a deep breath and continued, "Everyone in the family, even my own flesh and blood, knew all about this, but I was the only one who was blinded by the illusion of so-called 'happiness'... Until the moment I discovered the truth, my daughter, my own flesh and blood, actually persuaded me to let go of my resentment, telling me that her father simply wanted a son, and that I was incapable of bearing one, and that this was all my fault."
At this point, Fengjie's voice was choked with sobs, and tears fell like pearls from a broken string.
Xu Qinghe was shocked and even more in disbelief when he heard this.
The words and actions of her own daughter were sharper than those of a stranger and pierced deeply into her mother's heart.
Xu Qinghe couldn't fully understand Fengjie's pain, what a heart-wrenching feeling it was, but it was enough to make her heart ache.
"Now that the woman is pregnant, everything can no longer be hidden. They no longer bother to cover it up. The whole family goes to take care of that woman, leaving me alone outside this home without warmth, lonely and desperate." Fengjie's words were full of despair and helplessness, and her eyes had lost their former luster.
Xu Qinghe was silent, his heart in turmoil.
After a long time, she slowly spoke, her voice firm: "Sister Feng, what are your plans for the future?"
Thinking that Fengjie couldn't even rely on the people closest to her, Xu Qinghe knew that Fengjie's future days would be lonely and helpless, and unimaginably difficult.
"I don't know..." Fengjie's voice was almost inaudible. Her parents were unable to help her, so she could only rely on the meager income from the supply and marketing cooperative to barely make ends meet and supplement the family income.
"But if that woman gave birth to a boy, I know they would force me to leave and make way for that child."
The last glimmer of light in Fengjie's eyes gradually dimmed.
As a time traveler, Xu Qinghe is well aware that women's consciousness has not yet fully awakened in this era, but Fengjie's experience makes her feel mixed emotions and unable to calm down.
How can we tolerate such a tragedy happening before our eyes without lending a helping hand?
"Sister Feng, outsiders shouldn't say too much, but I feel really bad. You are capable of supporting yourself. If you leave here, your life might be more comfortable and free. Why put your fate in the hands of those who don't know how to cherish you?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
