Chapter 257: Xingxing Doesn’t Need Parents

Chapter 257: Xingxing Doesn’t Need Parents

This was indeed great news.

Bai Xiaofeng was also excited and nodded continuously, linking arms with Li Chunhua as they walked through the gate. “Come on, let’s head to the kitchen and get busy. Eldest sister-in-law, you can tell me exactly what happened, alright?”

The two sisters-in-law entered the courtyard, chatting and laughing.

Just then, Yamei'er came over to play with Xingxing. Seeing this, Wei Pozi let Xingxing go and play.

Wei Pozi, cradling her chubby grandson, entered the courtyard with Yu Laotou, both beaming.

Yamei'er quietly whispered into Xingxing’s ear, “My father is going to marry a new stepmother again!”

Xingxing widened her eyes. “Oh no, don’t tell me she’ll turn out to be another bad woman like last time?”

Last year, Yamei'er’s father had married a stepmother who brought a daughter with her. In front of Yamei'er’s father, the stepmother had been all affectionate toward Yamei'er, but behind his back, she and her daughter would bully Yamei'er.

Eventually, Yamei'er’s father saw through the stepmother’s true colors and sent her away.

Now they were talking about marrying again, so it was no wonder Xingxing was worried.

“It should be fine this time!” Yamei'er pointed to her nicely braided hair, with a delicate plum blossom clip on it. She said happily, “My new stepmother did this for me! This time, my father didn’t hide it from me and took me to see her. My new stepmother is really nice! She speaks softly and gently, and even secretly gave me candy!”

“Wow, that’s great!” Xingxing was genuinely happy for Yamei'er.

Yamei'er was about to have a father and soon a mother.

Xingxing was very happy for Yamei'er, but she wasn’t envious.

She had so many people who loved her—grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers, and even little Bang Ge'er, who couldn’t talk yet, treated her super well!

The last time, Bang Ge'er had a walnut in his hand and was trying to put it in her mouth while babbling.

Xingxing felt that not having parents wasn’t a big deal.

The two little girls ran and played in the village, and by chance, they ran into Zhang Shi, the aunt of Li Xuefeng, who was carrying a piece of tofu.

When Zhang Shi saw Xingxing, she pouted and loudly told her companion, “I heard that some people were caught for raping a decent woman! Thank goodness Xuefeng didn’t end up marrying into that family; otherwise, she would’ve had a miserable life!”

Xingxing’s face turned red with anger. How could she let anyone insult her big brother like this?

Xingxing balled her tiny fists and shouted defiantly, “You’re lying! My big brother has already been released! The county magistrate cleared my big brother’s name! He was innocent all along!”

Zhang Shi was startled.

He’s been released?

Zhang Shi was a little unhappy. “Did your family pay some money?”

The companion next to Zhang Shi flattered her, saying with a smile, “So he’s been released—so what? Besides, Xuefeng is now the concubine of the county magistrate’s brother-in-law. Your family’s future is full of blessings!”

This was indeed true.

Xingxing’s ears twitched, accurately capturing the key phrase “the county magistrate’s brother-in-law.”

She pursed her lips, a little unhappy. “He’s the one who set up my big brother! And now he’s been arrested!”

Zhang Shi was furious. “You little girl, what nonsense are you saying! That’s the county magistrate’s brother-in-law; how could it be possible...”

Xingxing pouted. "If you don't believe me, then forget it! Anyway, lots of people saw it!"

She grabbed Yamei'er and ran off.

That auntie was so fierce, she didn’t want to talk to her anymore!

It was late autumn, and there were many jujube trees growing in the wild woods at the edge of the village. Many of the jujube fruits had ripened on the trees.

However, most of the jujube trees were very tall, and without an adult to knock them down with a pole, there’s no way the two little girls could reach them.

"I know a jujube tree that’s short. We can climb up a little and reach the fruits!" Yamei'er whispered to Xingxing, "I don’t tell anyone else!"

Xingxing was touched. "Yaya, you’re so good to me!"

Yamei'er led Xingxing through a patch of wild shrubs covered in pincushion grass. They both got covered in prickly grass seeds, but their thick clothes kept them from getting scratched.

"Look!"

Yamei'er pointed proudly at a short jujube tree in a nearby hollow. "It’s right there!"

The two little girls happily ran up. Yamei'er, being a year older and a bit taller than Xingxing, nimbly climbed the tree and threw down the jujubes.

They worked for a while, using their clothes to hold as much as they could, before finally stopping.

However, when they emerged from the hidden hollow, they ran right into Yamei'er’s father and another woman who had been looking for them.

The woman was probably the "new stepmom" Yamei'er had mentioned.

She was clearly worried about Yamei'er, hugging her tightly and checking her all over, not even minding the pincushion grass stuck to her clothes. "We couldn’t find you anywhere in the village. Where have you been? Your father and I were so worried."

Yamei'er smiled shyly and proudly offered the jujubes she’d gathered to the new stepmom. "Aunt Ruan, have some."

The woman called Aunt Ruan’s expression changed when she saw the jujubes. "Why did you climb so high? That’s really dangerous!"

Yamei'er was slightly stunned by Aunt Ruan’s reaction. "..."

Xingxing quickly jumped in to explain. "Please don’t be angry. That jujube tree wasn’t very tall. No one would get hurt."

The woman named Aunt Ruan frowned slightly and looked at Xingxing. "Who are you? Did you get my Yaya to climb that tree?"

Xingxing was at a loss for words. "Ah..."

Yamei'er’s father felt a bit awkward and hurriedly tugged at the woman’s arm. "Say less. Yaya and Xingxing are close. It’s normal for them to play together..."

Yamei'er also quickly added, "Aunt Ruan, I wanted to climb. It’s not Xingxing’s fault."

"You call yourself a dad, but you don’t seem to care about your daughter at all," the woman named Ruan scolded playfully, casting a glance at Yamei'er’s father, who could no longer say anything reproachful, only smiling awkwardly.

Ignoring Xingxing, Aunt Ruan affectionately picked up Yamei'er and walked away.

Yamei'er, her little face flushed with happiness, waved at Xingxing over the woman’s shoulder.

Yamei'er’s father, with a smile, hurried after them.

Xingxing wasn’t upset and was genuinely happy for Yamei'er.

It seemed that Yaya’s new stepmother was quite nice to her!

Xingxing, happily carrying the jujubes, headed home just as Huai Geer and the others were returning.

Xingxing proudly presented the jujubes to her family as if showing off a treasure. Huai Geer, not caring about the sticky grass all over Xingxing, laughed and scooped her up with one arm, "Where did you manage to get so dirty? And where did these jujubes come from?"

Xingxing, grinning from ear to ear, said loudly, "YaYa picked them! The tree was very short!"

Xingxing grabbed a jujube, wiped it on her shirt, and popped it into Huai Geer’s mouth. The other brothers crowded around, begging Xingxing to feed them too.

After feeding each brother, Xingxing burst into giggles.

Feeling content, Xingxing thought to herself that she didn’t need any parents—this ragtag bunch was family enough!