Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The chicken was divided evenly, and each person was given a bowl of potatoes.

The family then began to eat.

Due to the time constraints, they couldn’t prepare two dishes from the chicken.

However, Zhao Guifen had set aside the chicken carcass to make soup with tomorrow.

With such a rare and palatable meat dish, no one spoke as they ate. Once everyone finished, Zhao Guifen’s tone turned sour: "In our home, we don’t tolerate traitors. If anyone messes up our income, I won’t let it slide.

No one should think they can threaten me!"

Bai Xiuxiu, who had been about to leave after eating, raised an eyebrow at this and smiled. "What a coincidence. My things belong to me. No one should touch them. If someone has ill intentions, then we’re not a family anymore.

If it comes down to it, we’ll all suffer. Don’t try to intimidate me."

After saying this, she got up and left.

Zhao Guifen had just wanted to assert her authority but was immediately thwarted. Just as she was about to scold someone, Wang Qinghe followed his wife out the door with their children in tow.

Zhao Guifen threw down her chopsticks in anger. "Wretched child! What a wretched child!"

"Enough, you should talk less. Is her stuff really worth making a scene over? When Second Son and Little Wu become successful, her things will be nothing," Wang Shoucheng disapproved of his wife’s tendency to cause a fuss over every little thing.

Zhao Guifen had wanted to say more, but after being reprimanded, she fell silent.

"I’m just… doing what’s best for the family."

"If you truly care about the family, then calm down now! Everyone, go do your work tomorrow."

Zhou Jiaojiao, who had expected Bai Xiuxiu and her mother-in-law to fight, felt disappointed by this turn of events.

But she made up her mind: she would return to her parents’ house!

Some problems were better left to her family to solve. After all, they had benefited from her for so many years.

Early morning.

The family woke up early.

Breakfast consisted of corn porridge and wild vegetable bran cakes, which were hard to swallow.

After eating, the family split into three groups: those staying home, those going to the mountains, and those heading to the county town.

Today, Wang Qinghe would enter the mountains, which were dangerous, so the children couldn’t come along. Bai Xiuxiu decided to take them to the county town instead!

During the journey, Bai Xiuxiu, Zhou Jiaojiao, and Zhao Guifen were unusually quiet.

However, once they arrived at the commune, they had a disagreement.

Zhao Guifen glared at Bai Xiuxiu. "You spendthrift! How much money do we have for you to squander? You have all your limbs, yet you insist on taking a vehicle to the city? Why? Do you think you’re more valuable than anyone else?"

Zhou Jiaojiao was delighted to see Bai Xiuxiu being scolded.

She slightly suppressed a smile and gently advised, "Elder Sister, Mother is right. Why do we need to take a vehicle when we’re perfectly fine walking? Think about it, if we walk, we could save money and buy a steamed bun from the state-owned restaurant for Mother.

Mother is already so old, Elder Sister. Why don’t we walk?

I can carry your children. With the money you save, you can buy buns for Mother and Father."

Her voice wasn’t low, and she seemed understanding.

Everyone around them started to look over.

Bai Xiuxiu responded with a cold laugh. "Your intentions are as clear as day! You want my money while you play the good daughter-in-law, buying buns for Mother and Father? If you can save money by walking, why don’t you use that money to buy the buns yourself?

Doctor Zhang from our village said that my illness can’t withstand fatigue. If I get too tired, it could be fatal.

It seems like you want to kill me. How could you be so heartless?"

Her voice wasn’t low either, ensuring everyone heard clearly.

Zhou Jiaojiao’s face turned red with anger and hatred for Bai Xiuxiu. "You! I’m doing this for your own good, Elder Sister. Must you argue with Mother?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, making her appear pitiful.

Zhao Guifen was deeply moved. "Little Wu’s wife, you’re so considerate."

Then, she turned to Bai Xiuxiu. "Can’t you be more thoughtful? Why must you insist on taking the vehicle? Will you die if you show some filial piety to your mother-in-law?"

Bai Xiuxiu glanced at Zhao Guifen and then at the approaching vehicle, smiling innocently. "Walking too much might kill me, but I don’t know about you. I’m taking the vehicle; you can meet me at the rehabilitation pharmacy in the city."

Without giving them another glance, she got into the vehicle.

There was no way she would walk!

There would be plenty of opportunities to test Zhou Jiaojiao’s luck in the county town!

She wouldn’t suffer just because of them.

Once Bai Xiuxiu was in the vehicle, it quickly disappeared from sight.

Zhou Jiaojiao was left choking on exhaust fumes.

Zhao Guifen’s face darkened in anger. "What kind of person is she! What is she?!"

"Mom, let's hurry up and go." Zhou Jiaojiao's face was dark; she also wanted to ride in a vehicle!

In the end, Bai Xiuxiu left by vehicle. Although she got scolded, it seemed like she suffered no losses.

Why did Bai Xiuxiu have such freedom?

Why indeed!

The two grumbled behind her back.

After arriving in the county town, Bai Xiuxiu first went to the state-owned restaurant. She queued up and bought eight buns, giving two to each child and eating two herself. She saved two for when she returned home to Qinghe!

She knew all too well! That black-hearted Guifen occasionally divided eggs among their other sons, letting them take some home for a rare treat.

She and her husband received nothing.

On the surface, everyone ate bran and vegetables together!

"Mom, Grandma was so angry just now. Will she hit us?" Yueyue frowned, looking worried.

Mom looked so pretty and not intimidating at all. Could she beat the scary grandma?

Compared to Yueyue, Mingming remained silent and uncommunicative beside her. However, his eyes were fixed on Bai Xiuxiu. The question Yueyue asked was also his concern.

Bai Xiuxiu looked at the children and smiled. "She wouldn't dare. Don't be afraid."

After Bai Xiuxiu and the children finished their buns, they even wandered around and bought quite a few small snacks.

Only then did the other two arrive late.

Bai Xiuxiu sat with the children outside the Rehabilitation Pharmacy. Seeing the disheveled Zhao Guifen and her torn blouse, they were taken aback.

Could misfortune strike on the way?

Despite her disheveled appearance, Zhao Guifen couldn't hide her excitement.

Although she had tripped and fallen into a ditch along the way... the Old Fifth's wife was truly fortunate!

While helping her up, someone accidentally kicked over a wooden board covering many scattered items.

Underneath the board lay more than seventy yuan!

This was more than seventy yuan!

That fall was worth it!

Zhou Jiaojiao didn't look pleased, as the money was taken by her mother-in-law.

Bai Xiuxiu hadn't encountered any misfortune on the way...

Looking at the radiant Bai Xiuxiu, she felt even worse.

However, thinking that the money might have been ill-gotten, Zhou Jiaojiao greeted Bai Xiuxiu with a smile. "Elder Sister, you didn't leave with us earlier. We suffered a loss. I saw a large package by the roadside containing what looked like scraps of cloth.

But since Mom and I had a lot of things, we hid it somewhere. We need to hurry back and get the scraps. It would be a huge loss if someone stole them!"

Looking at the poorly acting Zhou Jiaojiao, Bai Xiuxiu fell into deep thought for the first time: Did she appear to be an idiot?