Chapter 515 The Recent Situation of Xiaomeng's Family
Thick clouds blocked out the sunlight, and only the light in the corners of the clouds could be seen.
For impoverished families, they need to work tirelessly every day just to have a chance to survive.
The villagers have fields and land, and they can grow grain through their own labor.
But for the poor families in the town, they could only work as servants for landlords.
The land they cultivate doesn't belong to them, nor does the grain they grow belong to them; only the meager wages belong to them.
However, these landlords also liked to exploit the farm laborers, finding fault with everything they did, making their already meager wages even less.
If a family has only women and no men, the deductions will be even more severe.
Xiao Meng's mother walked home with her meager wages, calculating how she could make ends meet for the next two days.
There are two children in the family.
My daughter can go to the countryside to pick flowers and sell them at the market. At least she can earn a few coins to help support the family.
My son has finally been able to study at the academy, so we can't skimp on anything, from food to supplies.
The only problem is that the child's father is away, and it's unclear when he will return. With her meager wages, she doesn't know how long she can make ends meet.
Xiao Meng's mother took her wages and went to the grain store to buy half a jin of rice.
There is no food left at home. We must buy rice today, otherwise the children will go hungry.
Afterwards, she searched among the vegetable vendors on the street, picked the one with the worst-looking vegetables, argued with them, and finally bought a bunch of greens at the lowest price.
This is the family's dinner for today.
She crossed two main streets and then turned into a side alley.
After walking along the alley for a long time, I finally saw a small house, about ten square meters, including the size of the yard.
In the courtyard, a little girl was picking vegetables. Hearing the noise at the door, she immediately looked up and said, "Mommy, I went to pick flowers today and saw a lot of wild vegetables. We can have an extra meal tonight!"
The weariness on Xiaomeng's face vanished instantly upon seeing the person sitting in the courtyard. She smiled gently and said, "Alright, Xiaomeng, you may leave now."
As they were talking, Xiaomengniang entered the courtyard, closed the gate, and said, "If only you could have been that obedient before."
Xiaomeng seemed to sense the sorrow in her mother's eyes. Her eyes flickered, and she asked, "Mother, when will Father come back? Will he ever come back?"
Little Mengniang didn't know either, and she wanted to know too.
Then, she felt that this was too somber, and her expression changed as she said, "What are you saying? Your father will be fine!"
"But...but Manager Wan and the others are really kind. Wouldn't it be like we're repaying kindness with enmity?" Xiao Meng asked cautiously.
"Good? If it weren't for her setting up that girls' school, how could your brother have been ostracized by the people at the academy?" Xiao Mengniang's tone was slightly harsher, and her eyes were also slightly fiercer, no longer showing her previous dejected appearance.
She looked down at her daughter, seemingly realizing her tone was a bit harsh, and said earnestly, "Xiaomeng, it's not that I don't want you to study, you know our family's circumstances. If your younger brother succeeds in his studies, he can do whatever he wants in the future..."
"But will what we're doing now really allow my younger brother to stay peacefully at the academy?" Xiao Meng asked, puzzled.
She didn't understand why her younger brother's studies required her to give up her own aspirations.
After finally finding a school to teach girls, she had to risk reporting it because her younger brother was being threatened at the academy, which led to the school's closure and the arrest of its teacher.
Can one truly feel at ease with achievements built upon the suffering of others?
Xiaomeng's question left her mother speechless. She didn't know if her son could really study peacefully after reporting it.
She's even wondering now if her husband will ever come back.
If not, this would undoubtedly make matters worse.
Without her husband's stable income, she would struggle to support her son's education, let alone make ends meet.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Xiao Meng's mother concealed her disappointment and asked Xiao Meng to tidy up the wild vegetables on the ground.
As she walked to the courtyard gate, she kept thinking, "Who is it at this time?"
If it were a son, he would probably just push the door open and come in.
It couldn't possibly be her husband; it couldn't be that fast...
While she was still hesitating, she quietly opened the door.
At the entrance stood a handsome and tall young man with an extraordinary air about him, but also a hint of fierceness that made him somewhat intimidating.
Startled, Xiao Mengniang took a step back, her eyes filled with panic. Finally, she asked, "Who...who are you looking for?"
Chen Yongnian bowed to Xiaomengniang and said, "I'm not recruiting anyone, I just want to remind you. The law stipulates that anyone who makes a false report will be beaten to death as a warning."
"What...what did you say? I don't understand. Get out of here!" Xiao Meng's mother didn't dare to talk to the people outside. She immediately closed the courtyard gate and refused to say another word to them.
She leaned against the door, her face pale, the words of the person at the door still echoing in her ears.
He was beaten to death as a warning...
Beaten to death...
Seeing that her mother's expression was off, Xiaomeng immediately stepped forward and asked, "Mother, what's wrong? Who's outside?"
"There's hardly anyone here. Go inside and cook! We'll eat when your brother comes back, then get some rest and save on gas money." Xiao Meng's mother gave her daughter a push, urging her to go inside quickly.
Xiaomeng stumbled after being pushed and almost fell.
She was skeptical.
She clearly heard someone speaking, and it seemed that they even said the words "beat to death".
Her mother's expression was clearly off, but she didn't let her know; there was definitely something fishy going on.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
