The villagers cast complicated glances at her, some with envy, some with jealousy, looking at the cloth faintly visible in her backpack, with mixed feelings in their hearts.
In this village where people have to work hard in the fields, being able to avoid farm work and go to the city frequently is undoubtedly a dream come true for most girls.
People privately said that all this was due to her marrying Yin Yunjie, a man who could allow a woman to live a rich life.
However, in a blink of an eye, their envy turned into resentment, and they secretly thought, if their daughter could have this blessing, live in a new house, away from the disputes between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and sisters-in-law, even though her husband is away all year round, the money he sends back regularly every month is enough to make the family worry-free about food and clothing, what a comfortable life that would be!
Xu Qinghe was completely unaware of this. She hummed a cheerful tune and walked along the familiar path back to her warm courtyard.
As soon as he stepped over the threshold, an unexpected figure came into view - it was Grandma Zhu Yunxiu's niece, Qin Huixin. According to seniority, Xu Qinghe should call her cousin.
In Xu Qinghe's memory, Qin Huixin's family did not interact often, and the few times they met occasionally did not establish a deep emotional bond. However, in this poor world of human relationships, Qin Huixin's family was one of the few relatives willing to lend a helping hand to the two of them.
Qin Huixin's home is located on the other side of the mountain, where the environment is far worse than here and living conditions are extremely difficult.
Qin Huixin's mother, Zhu Yunxiu, became a widow at a young age. In her early years, she could barely make ends meet with the help of her natal family. However, as time went by, her natal family could no longer support themselves, and their contact with Zhu Yunxiu became increasingly rare.
Deep in Xu Qinghe's memory, cousin Qin Huixin's visits were very few. Every time she came, she would bring fresh vegetables from her own vegetable garden, say a few simple greetings, and then leave in a hurry without taking a single cloud with her.
The original novel was vague about the purpose of Qin Huixin's visit. Xu Qinghe did not speculate too much, but just thought that it was her cousin who came to visit her grandmother as usual, so she greeted her as soon as she entered the room, went back to the house to pack her things, and then came out to greet her again.
Out of his affection for Qin Huixin and respect for her grandmother's status as her only relative, Xu Qinghe specially brewed a cup of malted milk, which was quite precious in the village, and found a few biscuits that he usually didn't want to eat, to express his welcome.
"Cousin, you must be tired from the journey. Come, drink some malted milk to moisten your throat."
When Qin Huixin first entered the village, she heard from the villagers about the various changes in Xu Qinghe. They said that she was now very capable and had not only improved her own lives, but also driven the development of the entire village. Her status was extraordinary.
Qin Huixin was skeptical. After all, in her impression, Xu Qinghe was a timid child. How could such a drastic change happen in such a short period of time?
However, when she saw Xu Qinghe's calm demeanor, heard the friendly address, and felt the cup of warm malted milk handed to her, Qin Huixin's eyes couldn't help but become moist.
Her heart was filled with pity for her younger sister-in-law Zhu Yunxiu. This woman with a tragic fate lost her husband at an early age and raised her eldest son alone. She finally waited for her son to get married and start a family, thinking that all the hard work had paid off. However, she unexpectedly suffered the pain of losing her son again, and had to face the bullying of her second daughter-in-law. Her health was deteriorating, but she still had to force herself to raise her granddaughter.
Anyone else would have collapsed under such a heavy burden, but Zhu Yunxiu persevered with amazing perseverance.
My cousin’s daughter used to be always bullied and weak in character, as if she would never grow up. But when I see her again now, she seems like a different person. Not only does she support the family together with my grandmother, but she also leads the entire village towards development. How can this not make people feel emotional?
"Okay, okay, look at your life now. I'm really happy for you from the bottom of my heart!"
Qin Huixin took the cup of precious malted milk, but was reluctant to drink it immediately. She put it aside gently, thinking that after she left, Xiaoyue could heat it up and taste this rare sweetness again.
Xu Qinghe was completely unaware of the turmoil in Qin Huixin's heart, and just kept encouraging her to try this rare coolness, as if the sweetness could dispel all the heat and fatigue.
The temperature was just right at the moment, and she knew that once the coolness dissipated, the delicious taste would be greatly reduced.
Qin Huixin found it difficult to refuse Xu Qinghe's enthusiasm. She carefully picked up the cup and took a sip. The sweetness instantly bloomed on the tip of her tongue, like the gentlest spring breeze, gently blowing across her heart. All the bitterness and sorrow in life were quietly dissolved by this sudden sweetness.
The tip of her tongue inadvertently slid across her lips, as if she was lingering on the fleeting sweetness, but then she closed her lips tightly, shook her head firmly, and rejected the temptation to indulge again.
Their hands were intertwined, revealing an imperceptible tension and restraint, as if hiding some unknown secret.
Zhu Yunxiu observed the subtle changes in her niece and couldn't help feeling a little confused. She vaguely felt that her niece might be facing some unspeakable dilemma.
This worry entangled in her heart like a vine, making her frown unconsciously.
She secretly glanced at Xu Qinghe, fearing that her intervention would cause unnecessary misunderstandings, but her concern for her niece made her anxious. For a moment, thousands of words were stuck in her throat and she couldn't speak.
Xu Qinghe was a perceptive person, and she saw through the two people's thoughts at a glance. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, wondering if she seemed so cold and heartless in their eyes. She knew that her strength and determination were limited to resisting the disturbances and disputes of people like Jiang Guihua and the Yin family.
As for Qin Huixin's relatives who treat her so sincerely, she always has tenderness and warmth in her heart and is always ready to lend a helping hand.
So, she slowly asked in a voice so gentle that it could melt ice and snow, "Cousin, are you facing any difficulties at home?"
When she said this, she paid special attention to Qin Huixin's emotions, and her tone was full of care and consideration.
However, Qin Huixin couldn't hold back her tears and they rolled down her cheeks.
"Xiaoyue, I really have no other choice, so I came to you..."
Qin Huixin wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes as she spoke, her voice trembling, and she almost knelt on the ground to plead.
Seeing this, Xu Qinghe quickly supported her and said anxiously, "Aunt, what are you doing? We are family, so we should speak frankly. I have always remembered the help you and grandma gave me and my grandma when we were young. Now that life is better and our family is in trouble, it is natural for us to support each other."
Hearing that Xu Qinghe was willing to lend a helping hand, Qin Huixin finally felt relieved. After sitting down, she wiped her tears and said, "A few days ago, your cousin went hunting in the mountains and accidentally fell, breaking his leg. He is still unconscious in the village clinic.
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