Hearing her daughter shouting that her grandma was going to beat her to death, Qian Ying and Xu Jiang turned pale.
"Dad, Mom." Seeing Xu Jiang and Qian Ying, Xu Xue burst into tears embracing them. It had been many years since she last saw them, and now her parents were still young and well.
"Little Xue, stop crying." Qian Ying immediately shielded Xu Xue, taking the brunt of Madam Chen's broom.
"Mom, stop hitting her. What did Little Xue do wrong?" Xu Jiang intervened to stop Madam Chen.
Finally catching up with Madam Chen left him out of breath; his new body was too frail to run.
Nothing else to say; the old lady's stamina was truly impressive, she ran really fast, but no matter how fast, she couldn't catch Xu Xue.
"And you dare ask, I've never seen such a lazy girl. I asked her to tidy up the family's private plot, but instead, she hid away to be lazy." Madam Chen wielded the broom; her triangular eyes glared viciously at the second son's family, filled with disdain.
"It was Minglei who threw a stone at me, knocked me out, and when I woke up, I went to the clinic for bandages." Xu Xue exclaimed loudly from within Qian Ying's embrace.
"You're lying, Minglei isn't even home, and yet you defame your brother." Li Caixia was having none of it. She suspected it was her little son's doing, but how could she admit it?
Besides, so what if this girl got hit once? A little blood and she runs to the clinic, and since those visits cost money, it's certainly the Old Xu Family who'll end up paying for it.
"Get out of the way, second son, this dead girl threatened me before, and now she's accusing the family; she deserves a beating." Madam Chen glared at her son, infuriated with Xu Xue.
"It was really Minglei who hit me, Dad, Mom, please believe me." Xu Xue looked at her parents, hoping they'd stand up for her.
"Sister, does it hurt?" Xu Wan gently touched Xu Xue's forehead, noticing the bandage already soaked with blood.
"Dad, Mom, it hurts so much, I thought I'd been killed by the blow." Xu Xue looked sadly at Xu Jiang and Qian Ying, hoping to push them into action.
Unfortunately, she was disappointed. Qian Ying looked at Xu Xue's forehead, seeing only a little blood and nothing major.
Moreover, no one dared to challenge Madam Chen's authority in the family, least of all Qian Ying, who was the timidest among the daughters-in-law. Having only two daughters gave her no leverage against Madam Chen.
"Little Xue, let it go. It's not a big deal, stop causing trouble." Qian Ying spoke softly, stealing a fearful glance at Madam Chen.
Madam Chen looked at this family of four with disdain, finding them all an eyesore.
"Mom, I'll take care of the family's private plot, don't be angry." Xu Jiang murmured to Madam Chen. He was never favored by his mother; he wasn't the eldest, the youngest, nor the accomplished third child, so he barely existed in the Old Xu Family.
Seeing her parents' demeanor, Xu Xue felt deeply disappointed, bitterly smiling to herself. Her parents had always been like this, their family was like the servants of the entire household, doing all the work except cooking.
"Old lady, let it be, we're all hungry, let's go back." Old Xu stepped in to mediate, suggesting they discipline inside rather than making a scene outside.
Old Xu also took a dislike to Xu Xue, as nothing significant had happened yet she was causing such a ruckus, trying to overturn everything?
Since Old Xu had spoken, Madam Chen let it go but glared at Xu Xue with a promise to deal with her later.
Xu Mumu silently observed the scene, feeling some pity for Xu Xue but said nothing more.
Even though everything started because of her, her brother only hit Xu Xue to avenge her.
The second son's family couldn't stand up for themselves, who else was there to blame?
"Little sister, why are you out here, feeling better?" Xu Minghui walked up to Xu Mumu, feeling her forehead. It was cool, no longer hot.
Xu Mumu disdainfully said, "Brother, you didn't even wash your hands, they're filthy."
Still, having an older brother seemed nice, and a smile appeared on Xu Mumu's face.
"You complain now, but today I found a wild duck egg for you, was thinking of cooking it. Never mind, I'll give it to Minglei; he won't mind me." Xu Minghui waved a wild duck egg he found by the river in front of Xu Mumu.
Many people saw Xu Minghui find the wild duck egg, envious of him. Despite seeming lazy and aimless, Xu Minghui was indeed capable.
He was an expert at catching fish, sometimes allowing the family to have fish soup. He was also good at climbing trees, sometimes finding bird eggs, and even roasting birds occasionally.
"Brother, I don't mind you, really." Xu Mumu looked at Xu Minghui, eyes bright, having just teased him casually.
"Really?" Xu Minghui raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, really." Xu Mumu said firmly.
Xu Xue and her family of four walked at the end; Xu Xue wasn't even looking at Xu Mumu's group, her mind occupied with thoughts of wanting to separate from her family, earn money, and change her parents.
Holding Xu Wan's hand, who was envious, the second son's house had no boys, and none of them were liked by their grandma or anyone else.
Reaching home, Xu Mumu's dad Xu Hai closed the front gate.
"Eldest and fourth households, go make lunch." Madam Chen calmly directed the household chores.
Li Caixia wanted to watch the drama but was sent off to work by her mother-in-law.
"Mom, I'll help you wash the vegetables." Xu Mumu immediately followed.
"No need, no need, your hands mustn't work, how will you fare if they become coarse? You'll marry into the city for a comfortable life." Li Caixia waved her off, unwilling to let Xu Mumu work.
Li Caixia saw her daughter not only as blessed but beautiful, and once Xu Mumu married into the city, Li Caixia could live comfortably.
Thinking of this made Li Caixia very happy.
Xu Mumu twitched her mouth; because of her good looks, everyone in her family thought she could marry into the city for a better life. This was all due to her mother Li Caixia's brainwashing.
Fine, if she won't let me wash, I won't. I don't feel like moving anyway.
"Sis, sis, I'm back. I brought two bird eggs for you." Xu Minglei ran inside, dirty and barefoot, but his excitement was undisguised.
"Not bad." Xu Mumu patted Xu Minglei's shoulder. Even though the two eggs were about the size of thumbs, in rural areas, they were a rare delicacy.
Xu Tao and Xu Jiaojiao longingly gazed at the bird eggs in Xu Mumu's hand but didn't dare ask.
Growing up, they knew that the oldest branch's children were different from them.
"Little sister, are you planning to have the bird eggs roasted or the wild duck egg for lunch?" Xu Minghui teased, seeing Xu Mumu's excitement.
"Roast them all." Xu Mumu declared boldly; with so many people at home, though not enough to go around, she could share some with her grandparents, parents, and her brothers.
"Silly girl, good things should be savored slowly." Li Caixia slapped Xu Mumu on the head gently, suggesting they should savor them and make the second and fourth houses envious.
Li Caixia believed that someday they would separate; her husband was the oldest, destined to care for the elders, meaning they'd get most of the inheritance. Seeing the others as rivals for family property, Li Caixia felt annoyance towards them.