“My parents don’t treat the three of us sisters like human beings at all. If we don’t move out soon, they’ll beat us to death one day. Grandma, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, we’re scared…”
“We’re scared…” Zhao Di and Lai Di said, crying.
“Pandi, you are still young. How will you survive without your parents?” Xu Yongshun comforted you, “Don’t be afraid. The Party Secretary will talk to your parents and make sure they never beat you again.”
These three children are all girls, and there has never been a precedent in their area for a girl to separate from the family and live separately before getting married.
Pandi insisted, "Grandpa Party Secretary, they won't change. After you leave, they'll only beat us harder. We don't dare live at home anymore."
Her blood was still flowing, sliding down her forehead, past her eyebrows and eyes, and onto her face; it looked terrifying.
Everyone believed her, saying that perhaps one day, the three sisters would really be beaten to death.
Xu Yongshun was about to try to persuade her again, but Su Fengying stopped him and whispered, "Stop trying to smooth things over. Do you really want someone to die?"
Xu Yongshun certainly didn't want anyone to die, but...
“Pandi, some of you are injured or sick. If you move out of the house, how will you pay for medical expenses?” Li Xiyue said, feigning concern. “Why don’t you not move? Let’s get your injuries and illnesses treated first.”
“Yes, you’re so badly injured, where would you get the money? Your parents should take you to the hospital to get your injuries treated.” Sun Xia was the first to understand Li Xiyue’s intention and said as well.
Gao Qingqing also realized, "Yes, if the child is beaten like this, even if we have to move out, we have to make sure the injuries and illnesses are treated. It would be such a loss to just move out like this."
“Why bother treating them? We don’t have any money.” Hu Xiaoying pulled Xu Xinguo aside and whispered in his ear, “Xinguo, these good-for-nothings will cost a lot to treat their injuries and illnesses. Why don’t we just kick them out?”
At first, she was quite angry when she heard the three brats say they wanted to move out, but when she thought about how much money they would need to spend on medical treatment, she figured it would be better to kick them out so she wouldn't have to spend any money.
“A few girls, not married yet, why are they moving things? It'll make us a laughingstock.” Xu Xinguo had other thoughts on his mind.
The eldest daughter is already twelve years old. She can get married in a few years, and then we can earn a dowry. Besides, the three daughters don't eat or wear as much as the sons. They also help with the housework and can earn work points in the fields. It would be a waste to kick them out.
Hu Xiaoying asked, "Do you think saving face or money is more important?"
She wasn't from Yonghe County; she came here with her family as they fled famine. During the famine, her family sold her to Xu Xinguo in exchange for half a sack of sweet potatoes.
Because she was a girl, she was never well taken care of at home. Her parents would say every day that she was a burden and didn't deserve to eat or dress well, and that the son was the pillar of the family. She always thought so too.
After marrying Xu Xinguo, she gave birth to three daughters in a row. Her mother-in-law often scolded her for being useless. It wasn't until she gave birth to her son Jinbao that her treatment improved. She then felt that her son was a treasure and her daughters were worthless.
In her view, she had been good to her three daughters, much better than she had been treated when she was a girl. She felt that her three daughters were heartless and that it was all their fault.
“These injuries and illnesses will cost at least fifty yuan to heal. Let’s pool our money together.” Seeing that Hu Xiaoying was wavering, Li Xiyue quickly added some firewood.
Upon hearing that it would cost fifty yuan, Xu Xinguo did not hesitate and immediately agreed to let his three daughters move out.
"No money. Since these brats want to move out, they're not allowed to take anything from the house. Get out of here!" Hu Xiaoying said viciously.
Su Fengying said, "That won't do. You've beaten the children like this, so you have to pay for their medical expenses. Also, the children have to have a house. Otherwise, where will they live in this snowy weather?"
"Yes!" Grandma Wang agreed.
Hu Xiaoying didn't care. "Dream on! That brat wanted to move it herself. She's not allowed to take even a needle or thread from the house."
"You have to pay the medical bills, give me the house, and return all the belongings." Li Xiyue looked at Hu Xiaoying. "Otherwise, I'll call the police and have them arrest you and put you in jail!"
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