Chapter 26

Chapter 26

"Xiuxiu, tell me the truth. Are you really sick?" Wang Qinghe frowned, his expression serious.

He seldom put on a stern face to Bai Xiuxiu, but he was genuinely worried this time.

Bai Xiuxiu chuckled at his words and touched his forehead. "You don’t have a fever! What could be wrong with me?"

As she spoke, she explained what had happened with Uncle Zhang.

After Wang Qinghe listened, he remained silent.

"Don’t you think about it. I’m such a scaredy-cat; if there was something wrong, how could I not get checked out?" Bai Xiuxiu asked him in exasperation.

What was Wang Qinghe thinking? Did he take her for someone who would bear her illness and leave the money for the man and children?

Dream on!

Her words also calmed Wang Qinghe down.

That’s right. Xiuxiu wasn’t the type of person willing to sacrifice herself for others.

"That’s good. You’re not allowed to lie to me. If you feel unwell, you must tell me. And always pay attention to your safety when you go out," Wang Qinghe couldn’t help but warn her anxiously.

He was truly tormented by that strange dream.

Bai Xiuxiu didn’t know what was going on with him, only that he was afraid of her dying.

Although she found it odd, she also felt warm inside.

This man indeed cared about her!

"Alright, stop overthinking late at night. Let’s rest." Bai Xiuxiu put away the money.

Wang Qinghe brought water back for them to wash up.

After they washed up, Bai Xiuxiu wrapped herself in the blanket and prepared to sleep.

Who knew that the man would soon come over and snuggle up to her.

Bai Xiuxiu sighed and pulled the curtain closed.

This unlucky man!

She wouldn’t be able to rest well tonight again!

Early in the morning, Zhao Guifen set off early with her two daughters-in-law. Bai Xiuxiu, along with injured Liu Xiaoe and Chen Fang, stayed at home.

When Zhao Guifen saw that three of her five daughters-in-law couldn’t work and still needed her to go up the mountain, she became furious.

The worst part was that she had to share the money she earned with them.

Where could she seek justice for this?

While Zhao Guifen was packing, Bai Xiuxiu approached Zhao Cuihua and whispered, "You’re a smart person. We’re in the same boat. There won’t be a good outcome if you waver."

She spoke quickly and left after finishing.

Zhao Cuihua shivered after hearing her words.

This was a threat!

Elder Sister-in-Law was threatening her!

The scariest thing was that she had no choice but to listen. If she didn’t, wouldn’t Elder Sister-in-Law cause trouble for her later?

Thinking about the events Elder Sister-in-Law had orchestrated over the past few days, Zhao Cuihua was terrified!

Everyone else in the family thought that the commotion was due to having too many people, so each household was causing trouble. However, she had realized that it wasn’t everyone causing trouble—it was Elder Sister-in-Law exploiting the weaknesses of the entire family!

In the past, the family relied on Eldest Brother to support them, but how long had it been now?

Forget relying on him; Elder Sister-in-Law didn’t even do any work and still took the money.

Although Zhao Cuihua had benefited from it as well, it wasn’t as much as Elder Sister-in-Law!

Besides, there was also her share of the ginseng!

Zhao Cuihua quickly made up her mind.

She felt that no one in this family could compete with Elder Sister-in-Law.

Once the family left, Bai Xiuxiu prepared to head to the county town.

It was inconvenient to make calls from the commune, so it was more convenient to go to the county town.

Bai Xiuxiu left with enough money.

Their village was an hour’s walk from the county town. Most villagers walked there since taking a vehicle required going to the commune and spending ten cents.

No one was willing to take a vehicle!

On the way, Bai Xiuxiu ran into Chen Jinhua, the captain’s wife, who had spoken up for her before.

Seeing Bai Xiuxiu, Chen Jinhua’s eyes lit up. "Xiuxiu, where are you going?"

Bai Xiuxiu was beautiful and usually dressed neatly. While she wasn’t the only one in the village, she was close.

Chen Jinhua always liked clean and pretty young girls. Moreover, Bai Xiuxiu was often sick, and her family wasn’t around, making her quite pitiful. Therefore, she couldn’t help but care more about her.

Hearing this, Bai Xiuxiu returned the smile generously. "Aunt Jinhua, hello. I'm planning to go to the county to see if I can get some medicine. My health took a turn for the worse when I went into the mountains the day before yesterday."

At these words, Chen Jinhua was immediately displeased. "What's wrong with your mother-in-law? How can she treat someone else's child's life so lightly? Your home is far away; if something happens, how will our village explain it to your family?

In the future, don't listen to her. If she bullies you again, tell Auntie.

I'll help you."

"Thank you, Aunt Jinhua. By the way, where are you headed?" Bai Xiuxiu smiled even brighter, her tone warmer.

"Forget it, the Wu family at the entrance of the village got into a fight between the daughter-in-law and the mother-in-law. I'm going to check it out. You should hurry there and back. Don't walk to the county, take a ride." As Chen Jinhua spoke, she quickly left.

Bai Xiuxiu certainly didn't plan on walking. She couldn't bear the hardship!

It took twenty minutes to walk from the village to the commune. Bai Xiuxiu arrived at the pick-up point after walking to the commune.

She waited for ten minutes, and the vehicle arrived.

When they reached the county, it was still early.

She didn't come to the county to buy any herbs; she came to call her mother and older sister and to buy food!

The Wang family's meals were getting worse. They were willing to mistreat themselves, but she wasn't willing!

After arriving, she first handled the important matter. Bai Xiuxiu went to the post office and mailed the letter she had written before making the call.

Her sister lived quite far away, by the sea, on an island.

Making a call wasn't easy.

After placing the call, they had to find someone on the other end.

Bai Xiuxiu waited, and half an hour later, the call came through.

"Xiuxiu!"

On the other end of the phone, a middle-aged woman's voice could be heard, filled with sobs.

Bai Xiuxiu's nose tingled upon hearing the voice. "Mom..."

"My poor girl, how have you been? Has your husband bullied you? Is there enough food and drink at home? That black-hearted mother-in-law of yours, is she trying to take your things again?" On the other end of the line, Wei Qiushuang's heart broke upon hearing her daughter's voice.

If she had known that her eldest daughter's husband would become so successful, she wouldn't have married her daughter off to the Wang family no matter what.

Although the son-in-law looked decent, that old hag from the Wang family never seemed trustworthy.

Upon hearing her mother's worry, Bai Xiuxiu, now a Wandering Spirit, felt overwhelmed by the grievances she had been holding. All she desired was to weep for a long time. Yet, the cost of phone calls was exorbitant!

Others were waiting to make their calls as well.

Bai Xiuxiu held back her委屈. "Mom, everything is fine. I just want to ask if my sister can get some yarn. I want yarn."

On the other end, Wei Qiushuang immediately agreed upon hearing her daughter's request. "That's a coincidence. Your sister has some defective batches here. I'll have her buy more."

Wei Qiushuang wasn't worried about her eldest daughter being upset; her two children had always had a good relationship.

Moreover, her younger daughter wasn't just asking for things; every year, she had her husband send over mountain delicacies.

The stingy people from the Wang family would never give them; these were all saved by her daughter and son-in-law!