Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In an ox cart in front sat three gray-haired old women. A dark, thin man in his thirties or forties drove the cart.
In the back sat two red-faced men, a thin old man, and an old man with a hunched back.
Li Yu saw the few old women pointing at the busy people in the field and discussing loudly with glowing eyes.
The ox cart walked under the banyan tree. Only when they saw Li Yu and her son did they stop. The man and the old man looked at Li Yu and her son with probing gazes.
âAh! Theyâre identical children. Theyâre so handsome!â The old women looked at Li Yu and the twins and praised them loudly.
Li Yu was very disgusted by this fearless gaze and discussion. She held Yueyue and Xingxingâs hands and turned around to walk back. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
One of the old women jumped off the ox cart and chased after Li Yu with a
smile. âMadam, are Ah Lian and the others still on the farm?â
Li Yu glanced at her. âThey are busy in the field! Are you here to help work?â
The old woman made a sad expression and wiped the nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes. âMadam, I thought my daughterâs family had left with the plague. Who knew that I heard news that they were harmed and left some women behind? Let me see if my daughter is still around?â
Li Yu looked at her and smiled mockingly. âItâs been hard on you. You havenât forgotten after so many years.â
The old woman did not feel embarrassed by Li Yuâs mockery at all. She sighed and said, âI was pregnant with her for ten months and gave birth to her. I originally thought that I had found a good family for her. Who knew that something would happen in less than two years after I married her off? I cried a few times because of this. My tears were almost dry. I finally stopped thinking about it in the past two years. Who knew that there would be news again?â
Yueyue and Xingxing looked at her curiously and spoke loudly.
Li Yu glanced at her. âWhich one is your daughter?â
The old woman opened her mouth to reveal a mouthful of yellow teeth. âMy daughterâs name is Ying Tao. Madam, my Ying Tao was very beautiful when she was a girl.â
Ying Tao! The strong woman with a disfigured face and broken legs was actually this old womanâs daughter. This surprised Li Yu.
âYing Tao is a good woman. You should go and see her.â
The old woman thought that Li Yu was saying that Ying Tao was good -looking and said exaggeratedly, âAiyo! At that time, everyone in the village praised my Ying Tao for being beautifulâ¦â
At this moment, the person in front shouted at the old woman. The old woman agreed loudly and smiled at Li Yu. âMadam, Iâll leave first.â
Li Yu nodded and watched as she ran forward to meet up with those people and walk towards Ah Lian and the others.
Xingxing said to Li Yu, âMother, that grannyâs voice is so loud!â
Yueyue looked up at Li Yu. âWhat does ten months of pregnancy mean?â
Li Yu thought for a moment. âThe baby has lived in Motherâs stomach for ten months. Itâs called ten months of pregnancy.â
Yueyue and Xingxing let go of Li Yuâs hand together. They walked up to Li Yu and looked at her stomach before looking at her. They opened their mouths in surprise. âMotherâs stomach is so powerful.â
Li Yu looked at the two of them and was caught between laughter and tears. âMother is very powerful! Alright, letâs go back and wash our faces and take a nap.â
âMother, I canât sleep. I donât want to sleep.â Yueyue looked at Li Yu.
Thinking that the two of them had slept before dinner, Li Yu nodded. âAlright, you donât have to sleep today. Letâs go back and help Nanny He put on the bamboo shoots.â
âOh! Letâs go through the bamboo shoots!â The two children skipped forward.
After the old woman caught up to those people, the two old women in the cart also got out of the ox cart. The dark-skinned old woman looked at her and asked, âMadam Yang, what did you say to that Madam? I think sheâs the very powerful Madam Xiang Xiu mentioned.â
Madam Yang nodded. âYes! Sheâs quite amiable. Itâs just that the way she looks at me makes me feel cold. Itâs as if she can see through people and disregards them.â
âSheâs the Madam of an official family. How can she not be good at judging people?â The black-faced old woman turned around and looked at Li Yu and her sons. âDo you think sheâll support those heartless girls?â
A mean-looking old woman interrupted, âWhy are you afraid of her? As long as our daughters are willing to leave with us, no one will dare to say anything.â
Madam Yang glanced at her disdainfully. âMaster Yang, Yang Liu is not your daughter. How long has her parents been dead? You sold her to the Liu family as a child bride. Yang Liu would be stupid to be willing to leave with you!â
Master Yang retorted, âThe old crow laughs at the black pig. Ying Tao is your biological daughter. Why didnât she sell the fields and go back to look for you?â
Madam Yang looked at her and mocked, âI can do whatever I want with my own daughter. Unlike some people, who occupied a brotherâs assets and even sold his daughter, arenât you afraid that the brother and wife will stand by your bed in the middle of the night?â
The old woman shouted sternly, âMadam Yang, do you think Iâm afraid of you?â
A slightly hunched old man turned around and shouted, âYouâre as noisy as a nest of sparrows. If you want to argue, go home!â
Madam Yang looked at him unhappily. âBig Yang, why are you shouting at me? If you have the ability, control your wife.â
A thick-skinned man pulled Madam Yangâs sleeve. âMother, stop talking!â Madam Yang glared at Master Yang before stopping.
When the group arrived outside the straw hut where Ah Lian and the others lived, Madam Yang stood outside the fence and shouted, âYing Tao, Ying Taoâ¦â
Ying Tao and Hong Mei were each sitting on the bed with their heads facing each other, making clothes in their hands. They both looked up when they heard shouting outside.
Ying Taoâs eyes reddened at the familiar voice. She gritted her teeth but still lowered her head to sew.
Hong Mei looked at Ying Tao. âSister Ying Tao, someoneâs calling for you.â âLet her call. Ignore her,â Ying Tao replied without looking up.
Hong Mei looked at the tears falling from Ying Taoâs eyes and felt sad. âSister Ying Tao, donât you want to see her?â
Ying Tao looked up at Hongmei. âYou think sheâs really here to see me!
Xiangxiu went back yesterday. Her mother must have gone back to show off. Sheâs here to see my silver.â
Ah Lian and Yang Liu stood in the field and shielded their eyes from the sun as they looked at the group in front of the house.
San Qiao frowned and said, âThis is troublesome. Xiangxiu and those pigs attracted so many people as soon as they went back.â
Yang Liu said indifferently, âWhatâs the trouble? We didnât stop those who wanted to leave. While Madam Li is still on the farm, Iâm not afraid that no one will buy those fields.â
San Qiao nodded. âYes, whatâs there to be afraid of? As long as we make up our minds not to leave, itâs useless even if the heavens come.â
Ah Lian looked at them. âLetâs go back and take a look. If anyone attacks, the sisters will attack together.
Yang Liu replied loudly, âAlright, there are so many of us. Whoever dares to bite will be bitten to death.â
The women in the field replied in unison, âYes, bite them to death.â
Ah Lian nodded. Everyone washed their hands in the field and walked up the ridge.
Madam Yang called out a few times, but when no one answered, she pushed open the fence door and walked in. She entered the central room and stood at the door of the room to see Ying Tao sitting on the bed..
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