Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Though, given the Wang family's temperament, there was absolutely no way they would raise someone else’s child. Even if it were a case of entrusting an orphan to them, it was likely that they would have long since betrayed their word and abandoned the child.

However, their attitude towards Wang Qinghe did not seem like that of parents towards their son, but more like enemies.

Old Lady Feng's words made her suspicions arise once again.

This old lady disliked the Wang family. Perhaps by asking carefully, she might uncover something.

Bai Xiuxiu led one child in each hand as she headed towards the foot of the mountain where Old Lady Feng usually went.

Compared to Yueyue's confusion, Mingming seemed more excited, thinking this looked like the path up the mountain.

Was Mother taking him and his sister up the mountain to play?

Soon, they arrived at the foot of the mountain. Bai Xiuxiu found a tree stump to sit on. Old Lady Feng did not like interacting with others, so she chose a secluded spot at the foot of the mountain to dig for wild vegetables.

Bai Xiuxiu knew this because she had met the old lady twice in her previous life.

"Mingming, Yueyue, you two play here and don’t go into the mountains," Bai Xiuxiu pointed to the open area in front of her.

Upon hearing that they couldn't go up the mountain, both children looked a little disappointed.

However, they were used to obeying orders and quietly played nearby, drawing pictures.

Bai Xiuxiu didn't have to wait long before Old Lady Feng appeared, carrying a small basket. Upon seeing someone, she turned to leave.

Bai Xiuxiu quickly called out, "Aunt Feng, wait!"

"Are you the Wang family's eldest daughter-in-law?" Old Lady Feng sized up Bai Xiuxiu, surprised!

She did not get along with the Wang family. Why was the eldest daughter-in-law blocking her path?

"Yes, I came here specifically to wait for you. I remembered that you always come here, so I thought I might be lucky enough to meet you."

As Bai Xiuxiu spoke, she helped her over.

"Xiuxiu, what do you want to talk about?" Old Lady Feng followed Bai Xiuxiu to the foot of the mountain and nodded when she saw Bai Xiuxiu bring the two children along. "These are your Mingming and Yueyue, right? It’s good to bring them along when you go out... it’s good..."

Bai Xiuxiu helped Old Lady Feng sit down on the tree stump she had just occupied.

Her gaze fell on her own children as she sighed helplessly. "There’s no other choice. My mother-in-law doesn’t like my husband or me. She treats our two children like stray cats and dogs. If I left them at home, who knows what might happen to them by the time I return."

Bai Xiuxiu sounded pitiful, pondering how to extract information from the old lady.

Old Lady Feng was startled. "Could Zhao Guifen be that cruel?"

Hearing this, Bai Xiuxiu recalled all the injustices she had suffered in this life, her eyes reddening. "I’m not afraid to admit it. It’s not that I’m disrespectful or speaking ill of her outside, but she really is capable of such things!

When I first married into the family, I was perfectly healthy. Now, every time I work in the fields, I fall ill.

Even Uncle Zhang said that I can’t work anymore."

"Xiuxiu, is there anything I can do to help you?" Old Lady Feng felt sorry for her but also wondered why this girl, who had no connection to her, suddenly sought her out. Was there something she wanted to ask?

"Aunt Feng, whenever my mother-in-law favored someone and bullied my husband, you were always willing to speak up for us. Yesterday, you mentioned something from the past... I saw her get scared. What happened back then?" Bai Xiuxiu stared at the old lady, asking.

Old Lady Feng’s expression changed, her eyes looking flustered. "What past events? You must have misunderstood, child."

"How could I misunderstand? Aunt Feng, you look like a just person and have never hesitated to speak up for my husband and me. The way my mother-in-law has treated my husband all these years—she wouldn’t treat even an adopted child so poorly.

You don’t know... yesterday, my husband didn’t bring back any game and was forced by my in-laws to hunt large beasts in the mountains alone.

Isn’t that tantamount to sending him to his death?

And I’m not well. If something happens to him, I won’t be able to live either. Our two children...

Aunt Feng, I won’t beat around the bush. I’ve been wondering if my husband is truly my mother-in-law’s biological child. He’s a simple man who has been treated like a donkey by this family because they’re related.

Yesterday, your words made me think that this might be the case.

If he is truly her biological son, we’ll accept it. But if not, if you know anything, please tell me. That would save our lives."

Tears welled up in Bai Xiuxiu’s eyes as she thought of her long-unseen mother, putting on a convincing act.

"How could they be so heartless?" Old Lady Feng couldn’t help scolding them, looking at Bai Xiuxiu’s aggrieved appearance and then at the two children.

She sighed heavily. "It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but I don’t know the full story. All I know is that after your mother-in-law married your father-in-law, they didn’t have any children for several years. Back then, times were chaotic, and many people from our village fled. Your in-laws also left the village.

However, they returned after only five months.

When they came back, they were holding a child.

Everyone in the village was surprised. Your mother-in-law claimed that she became pregnant while fleeing. https:/

At the time, she was so hungry that her belly was flat, and it wasn’t noticeable.

Later, she gave birth prematurely."

Bai Xiuxiu frowned as she listened.

If that was the case, then the possibility was fifty-fifty?

"After your in-laws returned from fleeing, they suddenly had money and built this house. However, by the end of that year, they had another child. It was quite strange how these two children were born so close together; they were often laughed at in the village." Old Lady Feng looked at Bai Xiuxiu and continued, "However, I found them odd.

Others didn’t know, as they lived far away, but I lived next door to your family.

From when the children were young, your mother-in-law favored the second child.

There was a year when the Wang family's eldest son, your husband, he must have been around eight years old, caught a rabbit. Wang Laoer cried and begged for it, but your husband stubbornly refused to give it up.

Your mother-in-law came out of the house without even asking what was going on, beat your husband first, then gave the rabbit to Wang Laoer.

She even said, "You're just a wild bastard eating our food."

I happened to pass by and overheard that. Your mother-in-law’s face changed when she saw me."

Old Lady Feng couldn’t help but get angry as she recounted this.

Upon hearing this, Bai Xiuxiu felt that this must be what had happened.

"The hometown of your mother-in-law and me is in the provincial capital. However, after all these years, it would be hard to find our way back. Moreover, who knows if what your mother-in-law said was true or not. You shouldn’t take this too seriously.

In recent years, I've been bothered by how your mother-in-law always bullies you, so I hinted at her about it.

I thought that if she was really that scared, she might feel guilty if he wasn't her biological son.

As for anything else, I truly don’t know."

Old Lady Feng told everything she knew.

The provincial capital?

At the mention of the provincial capital, Bai Xiuxiu furrowed her brow, recalling something.