Chapter 154 - A Loving Family
Chapter 154: A Loving Family
Translator: Lonelytree
Xiao Lingyu was a little disappointed in losing a friend like Jiang Tao. However, since they were not meant to be friends, then so be it.
She cheered herself up with the thought of Xiao Tong. She would have to watch her diet and body better. In her previous life, Xiao Tong was very obedient. He never made a fuss and was very lovable.
If not for a missing father and a mother who hated him, he would grow up happily and wouldn’t die when he was only five. When he died, he was thin and malnourished. It was pitiful. In this life, she had to make up to Xiao Tong and give him a happy childhood.
When Xiao Lingyu returned to the village, she saw a large crowd at her house. Xiao Lingyu frowned and got down from the car.
“Chen Qiuying, why is it that everyone in the village can come to your house to pick up manure, but not my family?” A sharp woman’s voice sounded in Xiao Lingyu’s house. From her tone, one would think Chen Qiuying owed her something.
Mother Xiao replied in a chilling tone. “Zhang Xiaoqiu, you know very well why you are not welcome here anymore. I didn’t say anything explicitly because I wanted to help you save face. Do you really want me to spell everything out?”
Zhang Xiaoqiu revealed a sense of guilt. Her eyes flickered a few times, but she quickly acted dumb and said, “Chen Qiuying, what are you talking about?”
Mother Xiao sneered and said, “Zhang Xiaoqiu, now you want to play dumb? Then why didn’t you act dumb that night? Since you want to play dumb, then fine. I will enlighten you. I’ve already put the word out that we refuse to let those who fanned the flames that night come to collect Little Light’s manure anymore.
“My family is not a family of fools or saints. We are not going to forgive people who clearly harbor ill intentions towards my family. We are not that dumb to thank those who have harmed my family. Now, do you understand?”
Zhang Xiaoqiu’s face became even more guilty, but she refused to give up. There were more than 180 families in the village. Apart from a few, almost every family had the chance to collect the Little Cattle King’s manure. Everyone who had used it knew how good it was. It was a natural fertilizer which was better than chemical fertilizer. It allowed the crops and vegetable fields to grow especially well.
Zhang Xiaolan opened her mouth and was about to argue. However, Mother Xiao cut her off first. “Don’t say you didn’t say anything that night. There were many people that night. I was not the only one who heard what you said.”
Then, Mother Xiao said loudly, “Everyone knows what kind of person my Yu ‘Er is.
“She has been smart and sensible since she was young. She studied hard and worked hard. After she went to university, apart from the first semester, she earned the rest of the tuition on her own.
“She worked under the scorching sun and in the cold wind. She studied and worked at the same time. As parents, we weren’t there for her. We felt so bad.”
Mother Xiao wiped away her tears and continued with a sob, “After she graduated, she found a good job and joined a large company. She worked hard and without complaint. She was strict on herself and didn’t do anything unconscionable.
“If it wasn’t for that kid from the Chen family, who drugged my Yu ‘Er, would she encounter such a thing? She has already suffered a lot. If you don’t feel any heartache for her, at least don’t challenge her parent’s need to protect her. Therefore, if I hear anyone speak ill of my Yu ‘Er again, I will never forgive them!”
Zhang Xiaoqiu, “…”
Everyone, “…”
Mother Xiao resumed, “Therefore, those people who kicked my family when we were down that day should be self-aware. They shall not try to take advantage of my family again. If they want to challenge me, it will not look good for everyone. The fortune has turned. My family is no longer the same as before.”
‘In the past, our family is the poorest, but now, we’re the richest. We don’t need to beg others, but others have to beg us.’ Of course, Chen Qiuying didn’t say that. It was to give everyone face.
Everyone present had strange expressions.
To be honest, ever since they learned that Xiao Lingyu’s innocence had been ruined by a strange man, some sympathized with her, others despised her. Behind Xiao Lingyu’s back, many people jeered at her.
‘No wonder she suddenly returned to the village. Something like this happened to her in the city. She didn’t have the face to stay in the big city anymore. So what if she was the top-scorer? She is now a ruined woman. No respectable family will want a daughter-in-law like her.’ That was many people’s thoughts.
However, Xiao Lingyu’s family was different from before. The villagers couldn’t afford to offend them, so they could only say these things among themselves.
Xiao Lingyu had been hiring people from the village to work for her. She paid good money so only idiots would openly offend Xiao Zhengyang’s family.
Then again, the village did have a few idiots.
They were Xiao Fugui and Zhang Chunjiao, who always fought against Xiao Zhengyang. Then, there were people close to Zhang Chunjiao like Zhang Xiaoqiu and Xiao Chengbao, Liu Changnu and Xiao Chengcai, and so on. Birds of a feather flock together.
When Chen Dahua and Lan Erying came to cause trouble, Zhang Chunjiao, Zhang Xiaoqiu, Liu Changnu, and a few others said loudly that many men had come to find Xiao Lingyu. They instigated the brawl by tarnishing Xiao Lingyu’s reputation.
Mother Xiao said, “I will protect my daughter unconditionally. If I find out anyone has been slandering my Yu ‘Er’s name, I will destroy their house. And that is a promise!”
People gasped. Many mothers loved their daughters, but no one loved them as much as Chen Qiuying loved Xiao Lingyu. This was the era where sons were favored over daughters. A daughter was to be married off. They would be the in-law’s responsibility.
Therefore, when a family had both son and daughter, the son would take priority. For example, if the family could only send one child to school, it was the son. They wouldn’t care if the girl was a genius. The son would be going to school. The son was responsible for carrying on the family lineage. They were illiterate, but their sons couldn’t be.
In contrast, most villagers at Taoyuan Village pulled their daughters out of school. It was because parents wouldn’t need to care for their daughters’ future. The in-laws would. At most, the girls would only continue to junior high school. After that, even when they scored better than boys, they would have come home to help the family or get married directly. That was the culture at the time.
However, Xiao Zhengyang and Chen Qiuying never favored one child over another. From the moment Xiao Lingyu was born, she had been doted on by the couple and the rest of the Xiao family. Xiao Lingyu was the first girl in the Xiao family, and she was very beautiful.
No matter how hard their lives were, Xiao Lingyu had new clothes to wear every year and candy to eat, which made the other girls in the village extremely envious.
When Xiao Lingyu went to school, the Xiao Family realized the girl took to studying like fish to water. They had a family discussion. Their lives would be difficult, but they couldn’t let their children suffer. They would sell everything they have to give their children a better future.
Xiao Lingyu didn’t disappoint them. She was the top student every year until she got into the famous university in Xing Yin County.
Xiao Lingyu was the Xiao Family’s pride. The Xiao Family’s love for her hadn’t changed.
If some other families encountered a situation like Xiao Lingyu’s, they would definitely be ashamed of her. They wouldn’t dare to show their faces anymore.
If a girl was mocked and ridiculed by her family, where was she going to find the courage to survive?
Therefore, many girls, both urban and rural, committed suicide after they were raped. Their families pushed them to it.
Xiao Lingyu was thankful that she was born into a family of love. No matter how big the mistake she made, her family always welcomed her with love and tolerance.
In her previous life, she was blinded, and she caused everyone in the Xiao Family to fall with her.
“Lingyu is back!” While she was thinking, someone noticed Xiao Lingyu.
Xiao Lingyu’s expression was calm. When she saw everyone standing there, she asked suspiciously, “What is happening?”
Someone replied immediately, “It’s nothing. Someone is thick-skinned enough to come to take the Little Cattle King’s manure, so they are being lectured by Mother Xiao.”
They talked bad about the Xiao Family but still wanted to take advantage of them. It made no sense.
Xiao Lingyu nodded. “Oh?” Xiao Lingyu walked over. Zhang Xiaoqiu’s face was red with embarrassment and anger. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, she saw Xiao Lingyu come in, and her eyes immediately looked away.
Xiao Lingyu said, “Auntie Zhang, two days ago, you asked me for strawberry seedlings, but I refused. Now, you came to pick up Little Light’s manure. Auntie Zhang, do you think my family is that foolish?”
Zhang Xiaoqiu’s expression was a little embarrassed, but she immediately put on a serious expression and shouted sternly, “Xiao Lingyu, I’m your elder. Is this how you talk to your elder? Where is your sense of decorum? Your mother has not taught you well!”
Mother Xiao immediately retorted sharply, “That is none of your business. If you want your juniors to respect you, then start acting as a respected elder. Don’t go around bullying your juniors!”
Zhang Xiaoqiu could not retort at all.
She had a good relationship with Zhang Chunjiao and had a big mouth. Ever since she found out that Xiao Lingyu’s innocence had been ruined, she looked down on Xiao Lingyu and gloated over her misery.
Zhang Xiaoqiu knew she wouldn’t get anything, so she left with the tail between her legs.
Zhang Xiaoqiu was just an example for the villagers to see. After Mother Xiao and Father Xiao came back from the hospital, they would hear people say horrible things about their daughter all the time. How could they not be angry? However, they couldn’t stop the whole village from talking.
Thankfully, Zhang Xiaoqiu came to volunteer her service.
Zhang Xiaoqiu was a horrible person. First, she listened to Zhang Chunjiao and refused to rent the land to Xiao Lingyu. When Chen Dahua came to cause trouble, she made things worse. Then she had the cheek to ask Xiao Lingyu for strawberry seedlings. After being rejected, she went around badmouthing Xiao Lingyu. Now, she had the face to come to demand the manure from Mother Xiao. The woman truly was ridiculous.
Once Mother Xiao made an example out of Zhang Xiaoqiu, the other villagers knew they had to think twice before saying anything bad about Xiao Lingyu. If they were caught, they would end up the same as Zhang Xiaoqiu.
In the countryside, farming was everything. The crops were their main source of income. The Little Cattle King’s manure was better than chemical fertilizers. The Xiao Family allowed them to pick it for free. It saved them a lot of money, and the manure helped their plants grow better. Who would go against that?
So if they wanted these benefits, they had to keep their mouths shut.
After dinner, Xiao Lingyu returned to her room. She couldn’t help but feel excited and touched.
‘Xiao Tong is coming. Xiao Tong is coming.’
Xiao Lingyu knew she was a horrible mother in her previous life. However, Xiao Tong still loved her.
Xiao Lingyu leaned against the headboard of the bed, her hand laying on her stomach.. Drops of tears fell from the corners of her eyes as she said, “Little Tong, in this life, Mommy will love you well! Mommy will take up both posts of mother and father, and I will give you a happy childhood this time.”