At dawn the next day, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the clouds, Yin Yunjie hurriedly set out on the path leading to the village chief's house.
The villagers came when they heard the noise and gathered in a circle, full of curiosity about this sudden "good show". Soon, the courtyard was surrounded by a crowd of people and it was impossible to get through.
Everyone gathered in a circle, their eyes focused on Sun Youfang's miserable appearance, and they all sighed.
Yin Yunjie calmly but firmly explained to the village chief, "Grandpa, late last night, she broke her leg when she jumped from the wall. She begged us to take her to see a doctor, but we ignored her and had to temporarily tie her up here for the night."
"This isn't her first offense. A few days ago, late at night, she pried open my grandmother's door with the intent to steal, and we caught her in the act. For the sake of our family's reputation, we chose to keep quiet. Unexpectedly, she persisted in harassing us time and time again. Although we've moved out of our original residence, she still pesters us. As a last resort, we've asked you, the village chief, to come and seek justice early this morning."
Xu Qinghe, I, with a face as gloomy as water, recounted the whole cause and effect in detail. Every word was like a hammer, hitting Sun Youfang's face hard, leaving her nowhere to hide.
After hearing this, the village chief was shocked and even more angry.
He could never have imagined that Sun Youfang could be so outrageous and stage such a farce every now and then, which made him so angry that his beard was shaking.
If he hadn't been concerned about the village's reputation and reputation, he really wanted to send Sun Youfang away from the village immediately - after all, Xu Jianguo had just been taken away for committing a crime not long ago. If Sun Youfang was expelled at this time, the village's only remaining reputation would probably be gone.
The village chief took a few deep breaths, as if that could absorb the irritation in his heart. Then, he tried to calm his emotions and turned to Xu Qinghe with a gentle yet somewhat inquiring look: "As a direct victim of this incident, what do you think?"
He asked this question because, on the one hand, he really wanted to know Xu Qinghe's true inner thoughts, and on the other hand, he wanted to observe the young girl's ability to deal with complex family conflicts without making a sound.
He always had an inexplicable liking for Xu Qinghe.
Xu Qinghe seemed to have already made up her mind. Her voice, though soft, was firm and powerful. "Logically speaking, Sun Youfang should indeed be sent away, but her departure would be a huge blow to the village's reputation. Let's keep her. She always relies on her status as my stepmother to suppress me in every way. Village Chief, if you think it's feasible, I hope to officially sever our legal mother-daughter relationship."
As soon as these words were spoken, some people in the crowd gasped. The word "severing ties" seemed both decisive and cruel in this small village that valued blood ties.
Although Sun Youfang's behavior is indeed difficult to talk about, in the eyes of the villagers, it is far from the point where blood ties need to be completely severed.
In comparison, this approach seems even more harsh and cruel than sending her to the public security bureau.
Sun Youfang naturally wouldn't accept this. After the stinking rag that symbolized humiliation was removed from her mouth, she immediately screamed, "I don't agree! I raised you with great difficulty, and you have to provide for me in my old age when you grow up! I'm short of money right now, so what's wrong with asking you for something to eat? You were born to owe me!"
After she finished speaking, she turned her head abruptly, her eyes flashing with a vicious light, staring straight at Zhu Yunxiu, almost gritting her teeth and saying, "You old fool, please say something! Have you forgotten what happened back then? Aren't you afraid that I will tell you in public?"
Zhu Yunxiu's hand holding the cane trembled slightly with anger and anxiety, but she knew that any rebuttal at this time might put her granddaughter in a passive position again, so she chose to remain silent.
Xu Qinghe was satisfied with all these reactions. She looked at Sun Youfang calmly, each word clear and powerful: "Don't think you can just fabricate a crime and pin it on me. You should think carefully about your son's future."
She raised her eyebrows slightly, the hint in her eyes was self-evident.
Although Sun Youfang cannot prove her innocent background, she knows some of Xu Jianguo's secrets. Once these things are exposed, Xu Jianguo may face severe punishment from the law and will be imprisoned for the rest of his life.
When mentioning her son, Sun Youfang's expression immediately became flustered. Her son was her only weakness.
This girl had previously claimed that she knew about Xu Jianguo's illegal activities outside. Xu Jianguo originally planned to find a suitable opportunity to teach her a lesson, but he didn't expect that he would get into trouble first.
Thinking of this, Sun Youfang's heart was filled with anger and regret.
Her son had clearly promised her that he would retire and go home after completing this last deal, but not only did things go wrong, he was also sent to jail, leaving her alone with heavy debts.
If the pressure of life had not kept her awake at night, she would not have risked climbing over the wall late at night to steal food, and eventually suffered the consequences.
The people around did not fully understand the deeper meaning behind Xu Qinghe's words, and thought she was persuading Sun Youfang to abandon evil and do good. Everyone nodded in agreement, and there were voices of blame for Sun Youfang.
However, several elders tried to persuade Xu Qinghe, believing that severing the relationship was too decisive and should not be a decision made lightly.
Xu Qinghe's mind was as clear as a mirror, and she knew that this was the moment for her to show herself.
As usual, she silently pinched her sleeve with her fingertips. In an instant, tears filled her eyes. Her lips tightened slightly as she spoke, "My dear uncles and aunts, I understand the truth. If I hadn't been forced into a desperate situation with no way out, how could I have easily mentioned breaking off relations?"
"I've called her mother for over a decade, but she hasn't offered me a single ounce of warmth. She deprived me of my right to study and forced me to do heavy labor since I was a child. For years, I've struggled to support this family with my frail shoulders, while she and Xu Jianguo have lived carefree lives. And yet, she claims to have raised me. Isn't this a distortion of right and wrong?"
"As for my poor grandmother, ever since Sun Youfang came into the family, not a single day has passed without her bullying and insults. Day after day, my grandmother lives in fear amid her curses and public threats. Even when I'm not at home, she can't escape her violent clutches."
"I used to be young and ignorant, and in the face of power, I could only choose to remain silent and endure. But now, I have a family and a career, and I am no longer alone. I am willing to take on the responsibility of caring for my grandmother. I have nothing else to ask for."
As the last words fell, tears silently slid down her cheeks, and the whole room was shrouded in a deep sadness and helplessness.
When the villagers heard about her past hardships, they could not find the right words to comfort this tough and pitiful woman.
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