Maybe she was still a little impulsive, but she knew better that she couldn't keep this kind of thing a secret.
Over the years, she would wake up from nightmares many times in the middle of the night. It was not that she was bullied by that man, but that the matter was mentioned again in the dream, and she was talked about by everyone.
Today's nightmare came true. She had been crying since she met Liu Xicai. She couldn't stop her tears. She was especially afraid that Tang Mingshan would know the truth. She always felt like there was a knife hanging over her head and it might fall at any time. She was really tortured.
If it doesn’t work, it’s better to just yell out.
After yelling, she felt relieved, but Jiang Huixin didn't dare to raise her head.
"Bang" sound.
It turned out that it was Tang Mingshan who kicked out the small stool that was used to light the fire. He stared at the crying Jiang Huixin, then looked back at the girl with her arms folded at the door: "What else did he say to you?"
Chu Yunli thought for a while: "I didn't say anything. I just told me not to worry and that you would take the initiative to cancel the engagement."
"He's dreaming!" Tang Mingshan gritted his teeth with hatred: "I don't care if you are siblings, anyway, I accepted the betrothal gift, and you are a member of the Liu family."
"No." Jiang Huixin cried: "That bastard has done that kind of thing, he definitely doesn't care who his son marries... Let's return the money and think of other ways? I beg you.
Sorry, this is the only time I have begged you for so many years... You can do whatever you want to me in the future..."
Tang Mingshan snorted coldly: "You are Xiaoya's mother, and he is Xiaoya's father. Fathers don't think about their own children, so you don't have to worry about it. If Xiaoya wants to blame, just blame his own miserable life.
Be a good father."
He said this while looking at Chu Yunli, his eyes full of malice, and even a hint of a smile: "Xiaoya, I'll support you, but don't throw me aside when you find your biological father."
The Liu family is willing to spend ten taels to have a grandson... In fact, more than ten taels is enough. The only explanation for such a large sum of money is that the Liu family is particularly wealthy.
Anyway, send Xiaoya to the Liu family. If that bastard who bullied Jiang Huixin has a conscience, he will treat it as if he has recognized his daughter. If he has no conscience and insists on letting his siblings mess around, it is none of his business.
Chu Yunli raised his eyebrows, took out a dagger and played with it: "Why, you still want me to honor you?"
Tang Mingshan: "..."
"I'm just kidding. I also want to back out of this marriage, but Zhang Laozi is forcing me so hard. Don't let the news about him bullying you get out, otherwise your reputation will be damaged. I'm thinking about you too."
To put it nicely, in the final analysis, I just don’t want to take out the money.
However, there was no need for Chu Yunli to worry about this, as Liu Xicai was not someone to be trifled with.
*
Tang Mingshan made up his mind not to refund the money, but he knew in his heart that the Liu family would probably come to visit him. He planned to discuss it carefully... If the money was not refunded, this person would treat it as a reward for raising Xiaoya for many years.
For twenty taels of silver, he can buy a daughter. If he promises not to accuse Liu Xicai of the insult, it should be possible.
Jiang Huixin has been absent-minded in doing things these two days. She is not only afraid that the Liu family will come, but also afraid that they will not come.
On the next day, Liu Xicai came to the door.
Tang Qianqian opened the door. Several people were making a loud noise in the kitchen that day. She listened for a while, but she didn't hear anything. She only knew that they were arguing over whether to withdraw from the engagement or not.
When she heard that the person calling himself Liu, she instantly guessed that this was her eldest sister's future father-in-law, and immediately led him inside: "You sit down for a while, I'll call my parents."
Chu Yunli was taking a nap. When she heard the noise outside, she immediately got up and went out.
Liu Xicai saw her and said happily: "Girl, come and sit."
At the same time, Jiang Huixin came out with tea, and Tang Mingshan urged: "You go to the kitchen to work, and I will talk to him."
Then, he said directly to Liu Xicai: "I haven't forgotten what happened back then. We are all men, and we are all men. No one can swallow this breath if he is involved in such a thing. If I knew it was you, I would have
Come to her door with a knife to seek justice for her."
Liu Xicai smiled half-heartedly: "So, do you know why I'm here?"
"It is impossible to withdraw from an engagement, but you can still take her away. As for taking her as a daughter-in-law or a daughter, it's up to you." Tang Mingshan emphasized: "I have already spent the money and I can't afford to pay it back. If you
If there is still trouble, then I will have to go to the Yamen to file a complaint and ask you to seek justice for my wife!"
"I have not been idle these past two days. I have asked people about a lot of things in private." Liu Xicai said sarcastically: "You are very harsh on Xiaoya. She can survive until now because of her own destiny. How can you have the nerve to accept it?"
Do I have so much money?”
"Just tell me what you want to do!" Tang Mingshan said in a bachelor's manner: "To put it bluntly, if you want money or not, you can pick up the person."
"Trying to be a rogue with me?" Liu Xicai sneered: "When I was on the street, you didn't know where you were playing in the mud. If you want to continue your family's business, honestly bring your daughter to my door. As for the marriage...
"
His eyes fell on Tang Qianqian.
Tang Mingshan was alarmed: "Our two families have such deep hatred, I will never marry my daughter to your family."
"It's too young. My son can't wait." Liu Xicai turned his eyes and saw Chu Yunli again. He suddenly smiled and said, "It's okay to decide. Anyway, my daughter is already so old, so I'm not afraid of losing my descendants."
He waved his hand: "Girl, I will find you a son-in-law later. No one will dare to bully you."
Chu Yunli didn't come close.
Tang Qianqian's face turned pale with fright. Seeing that her parents were silent, she jumped anxiously: "I don't want to marry that fool."
"We are both sisters. Your sister can marry, but you can't?" Liu Xicai mocked: "Why, are you more noble than Xiaoya?"
Tang Qianqian was speechless.
She knew that her parents were partial, and she thought she had never looked down on her sister. At this moment, she suddenly realized that she and her parents had the same idea.
"The betrothal gift has been given, and the marriage is decided. As for Xiaoya, she has done so much work, which is enough to offset the expenses you have spent raising her over the years, and she will be sent to the Liu family later." Liu Xicai made the final decision.
Tang Mingshan's face was grave. He never dreamed that Liu Xicai would actually target his youngest daughter: "Aren't you afraid that I will go to the Yamen to file a complaint?"
"Sue!" Liu Xicai looked like a scoundrel: "It's been so many years, you said I insulted people, and I also said that you were reluctant to marry your daughter after taking the money and wanted to pay for it!"
Tang Mingshan's heart was filled with rage.
Liu Xicai was right, it had been too long, and the couple had done a good job of hiding what happened back then... After all, Jiang Huixin didn't want people to know that she was humiliated, and he didn't want to be laughed at for being a bastard.
Even if everyone had doubts about him being harsh on Xiaoya, that was just their guess.
It's too late to care now.
Tang Mingshan closed his eyes: "Xiaoya can go with you, but I won't pay back the money. It's just a daydream if you want to marry my daughter."
Liu Xicai stood up slowly: "It seems we can't reach an agreement, let's wait and see."
As soon as he left, Tang Mingshan slapped Jiang Huixin hard and scolded: "Go and get Qinghe back." He also told Tang Qianqian: "Don't go out these days."
Tang Qianqian was frightened and hurriedly agreed.
Tang Mingshan was alert and sent someone to look for his son as soon as Liu Xicai left, but it was still too late.
In the evening, Tang Qinghe was carried back, covered in blood and still unconscious.
When Jiang Huixin saw her son like this, she couldn't help crying.
Tang Mingshan was furious and slapped her again: "You still have the nerve to cry? Go and call the doctor quickly."
Jiang Huixin rolled and crawled away.
Regarding the fact that Tang Qinghe was seriously injured and was carried back, word quickly spread throughout the street. People said that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. In the past, everyone would help each other. Within a quarter of an hour, many people rushed over.
"First check to see if there are any vital injuries. Be careful not to touch his bones."
"Do you want to report it to the official?"
Tang Mingshan felt guilty. He had found someone to bully Xiaoya. If he went to court, Xiaoya would never help hide it. If Xiaoya was his daughter, it would be easy to talk about anything. But now Xiaoya has a biological father.
, in the eyes of adults, it means that he abused a girl for more than ten years, and when she grew up, he handed her over to a gangster for bullying for ten taels of silver.
"It's better to say goodbye and wait until he wakes up."
The doctor came very quickly. The injuries on Tang Qinghe's body looked quite serious, but in fact they were all skin injuries. The bone in his little finger was broken, and he might become less flexible afterwards.
However, the little finger is not used normally, so it is not a big deal.
After hearing what the doctor said, the couple finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After asking her neighbors to help get Tang Qinghe back into the house, Jiang Huixin was busy brewing medicine and giving it to her son.
Before the medicine was ready, another person came outside.
Tang Mingshan's eyes turned red when he saw Liu Xicai coming in: "Are you looking for someone to hurt my son?"
Liu Xicai smiled brightly: "Don't talk nonsense. I left my things in your yard. I just came back to get them."
Jiang Huixin looked puzzled: "I cleaned that place and found nothing."
"Ten taels of silver were left behind." Liu Xicai asked, "You don't admit it, are you trying to steal the money?"
Tang Mingshan: "..."
"I do not see it!"
Liu Xicai shook his head: "You are businessmen and you run an inn. If you don't return the money after you pick it up, it is obviously a black shop. Who will dare to come and stay here in the future?"
His voice got louder and louder, and there were already guests upstairs curiously opening the windows and looking down.
Jiang Hui was filled with anxiety: "I didn't see the money! Don't talk nonsense!"
"I'm not a fool if I lose my money." Liu Xicai sat on a chair: "You must pay back this money, otherwise, we will all leave!"
A customer had already come downstairs, and Jiang Huixin was so angry that she wanted to chew this person up: "Don't disturb my business."
Liu Xicai snorted coldly: "If you continue to be ignorant, I will lose money a few more times. And that young man... next time it won't be as simple as breaking a finger, maybe it will be a leg!"
Tang Mingshan: "..."
He finally figured it out. This man was a scoundrel, and he was even smarter than Zhang Xizi, and he was also ruthless. Jiang Huixin got pregnant after being bullied. It happened that he was preparing to start a wild goods business at that time, and he went to other places.
After working hard for half a month, both husband and wife realized that the child was not theirs. At that time, he was filled with hatred and thought about what he would do if a bad guy was around... Now it seems that even if he knew who it was at that time, he could only eat it.
Dumb loss.
If he was not injured, he would never compromise easily.
It's a pity that he couldn't move, he was helpless, and he had to take care of his two children. If the business couldn't be done, the whole family would be hungry, and if his son was injured, everything would be over. He closed his eyes and said, "What are you going to do to let us go?"
Home."
"Give me back your daughter and your money, and then give me your little daughter to be my daughter-in-law."
Tang Mingshan can't do anything.
The silver had already been given to Zhang Qizi, and he originally wanted to keep some, but Zhang Qizi pressed harder and harder. Even if he was given another eighteen taels, he was still not satisfied and insisted on giving him another eighty taels.
Zhang Laozi's calculation was clear. The Tang family had to pay for the ten taels of silver needed to treat his injuries and his expenses during this period. Tang Mingshan would have to pay sixteen taels of silver for this.
Really, if Tang Mingshan had known that he would get into such big trouble just by setting a marriage for Xiaoya, he would never have done such a stupid thing.
Not only did he get into trouble with Zhang Hezi, but he also encountered a bastard who bullied his wife. Zhang Hezi did not dare to take the matter to court because of him.
It was about Tang Qianqian. She no longer stayed in her room to embroider as usual. She always paid attention to what was going on in the yard. When she saw Liu Xicai coming, she stood by the window and stared at her from beginning to end. Seeing Liu Xicai mentioning marriage again, she was so excited.
Crazy: "I don't want to get married!"
She ran out of the room, the hem of her light green skirt was kicked into a flower, and she asked loudly: "Dad, did you hear what I said?"
Tang Mingshan heard this and swallowed hard: "This marriage is not possible. Qian'er is willful and doesn't know how to take care of others..."
"That's what I need to worry about." Liu Xicai looked Tang Qianqian up and down: "You have raised your daughter very well, and the child she will give birth to will definitely be beautiful and smart. Don't worry, I will take good care of her."
The tone was weird and extremely frivolous, not what a father-in-law should say to his future daughter-in-law.
Tang Qianqian suddenly remembered that when her sister got engaged, she went to her grandmother's house with her mother. She didn't get involved when adults were talking about business, so she hid next door with her cousin to embroider. Because the tea was gone, she went to the kitchen to get it. When she passed by the main room, she heard
What my mother asked.
"That young man is a fool and may not understand that. Will the Liu family do anything random in order to pass on the incense? Just... let sensible people bully Xiaoya."
Tang Qianqian was shocked at that time, especially after her grandmother fell silent. However, this was her sister's marriage, and she was still a child, so she did not have the ability or courage to help her sister refuse the marriage.
Now that this matter has fallen on her, Tang Qianqian can no longer ignore it: "I don't want to get married, even if I die!"
She cried and screamed: "Dad, reject him quickly."
There was no way to discuss matters in such a noisy situation. Tang Mingshan had never thought of promising his youngest daughter to such a family, so he ordered: "Mother, take Qian'er away."
Tang Qianqian refused to leave. She was afraid that she would be betrayed by her biological father as soon as she turned around. After going through so much, she already knew the truth of the matter. At first, she did not believe that her mother would give birth to someone else's child, but the facts were in front of her.
, no wonder she didn’t believe it.
The Liu family only spent dozens of taels, which was much richer than the Tang family. Tang Qianqian envied her sister and even hoped that the child with an ominous father was herself.
Jiang Huixin used a lot of strength to drag the person back to the room. Tang Qianqian struggled all the time, and the look on Chu Yunli's face was full of hatred: "This is your marriage, why should I help you?"
Are you taking the blame? That's your father, and I'm the sister you watched grow up. Can't you just say a word for me?
"I'm still the sister you watched grow up. When I was bullied in the past, did you ever speak to me?" Chu Yunli said funnyly: "Why do you ask me to do something you can't even do?"
Tang Qianqian couldn't listen to a word and screamed: "I won't get married anyway. If you dare to set a marriage date, I will make it known to everyone that you are selling your daughter!"
Jiang Huixin pushed the person back into the room with difficulty: "Don't make trouble, your father will not agree to this ridiculous marriage, and neither will I."
"I don't believe it." Tang Qianqian roared: "It's just a few dozen taels of silver. My sister is also your daughter. If you sell her, you will sell me too!"
Jiang Huixin: "..."
"You are different!"
Chu Yunli was standing in the middle of the people on both sides. When he heard this, he asked: "What's the difference?"
Jiang Huixin looked at her and thought that all the recent things happened because of the girl in front of her. She gritted her teeth and said: "Your father is a bastard who knows how to bully others. Qian'er's father is my husband. I'm not afraid to tell you. If I had known you would
It will cause chaos in the whole family and bring disaster to the family. I would have given birth to you no matter what I said!"
Chu Yunli asked curiously: "Then why do you want to give birth?"
Xiaoya had wanted to ask this question for a long time, and Chu Yunli was also really curious.
Jiang Huixin didn't answer for a while. At that time... she was too young. She was lucky after the accident and didn't buy Bizi soup. It was also because there were many things at home and she couldn't walk far. And she didn't dare to go to the nearby medical clinics.
Once the news leaked out, outsiders would discuss it. At that time, her parents-in-law were still there, and both of them were not in good health. She didn’t know about pregnancy, so she thought she was sick and went to a nearby medical clinic. When she learned that she was pregnant, she just
She felt that the sky was falling, and her first thought was to have an abortion. As soon as the medicine was mixed and before it was boiled, her parents-in-law heard about it. They were very happy. She did not dare to tell the truth at that time. Tang Mingshan was angry after learning about it.
, and didn’t want his parents to be hit by this, so he just made the mistake.
The baby was growing up day by day in her belly. This was her first child. She originally planned to have an unexpected abortion, but she was a little reluctant to give it up. In addition, she heard that some women could no longer get pregnant after taking abortion pills.
She had not yet given birth to a child for the Tang family, so she could not take this risk. Tang Mingshan happened to not mention it from beginning to end, so she pretended to be ignorant.
By some strange combination of circumstances, the child was born. My father-in-law was already very ill at that time, so he forced himself to look at his granddaughter before leaving with a smile. On the contrary, my mother-in-law got better and raised her grandson until he was one year old, and the little girl was two years old.
go.
Jiang Huixin knew in her heart that babies in infancy were too easy to die. If her mother-in-law hadn't endured it for another two years and Tang Mingshan's irritability towards the child, Xiaoya might not have grown up.
"No matter what, I gave birth to you and I am kind to you. No matter how I treat you, you have to bear it! Ten fingers have different lengths, so what if I am partial to Qian'er?"
Her voice was very loud, as if she was trying to convince herself.
There were a few people arguing over there, but Tang Mingshan didn't listen carefully. He just said: "Xiaoya can return you the money, but the marriage can't happen. Don't mention raising favors. I just hope you won't be in trouble anymore."
My son. If you continue to harm my daughter, I will risk my life to seek justice for my family!"
When he said this, he felt extremely aggrieved.
In theory, Liu Xicai should be the one who owed him compensation. But now it was the other way around, it was him who begged Liu Xicai to let him go.
Liu Xicai smiled: "If you are so cheerful, the child will not have to suffer like this." He stood up: "Then, I will be waiting for my daughter at home tomorrow, so hurry up."
Tang Mingshan was still injured and couldn't go out: "You can take him away now. I can't come." As for Jiang Huixin, not to mention whether she had the courage to visit the Liu family, Tang Mingshan would never let her go with her again.
Liu Xicai is involved, so it would be best if we never see him again for the rest of our lives.
Liu Xicai waved his hand: "Xiaoya has suffered a lot these years, you must give her away."
Tang Mingshan couldn't resist, thinking that the worst he could do was ask his neighbors to lift him into the carriage, and he would go there himself... It would inevitably cause injuries, so he had to be careful.
"I haven't finished speaking yet. I've already spent all the money, so I can't pay it back yet."
Hearing this, Liu Xicai turned around and said, "Want to play rogue again?" He waved his hand and said, "I don't care about you, but I want to see the money tomorrow, otherwise, I will bear the consequences!"
After they left, the faces of several people in the yard were not relaxed. Tang Qianqian just felt like she was going to have a catastrophic life, lying on the bed and crying loudly.
Tang Mingshan was already in a bad mood, and he became even more irritated when he heard the cry: "You're not even married anymore, so what's the point of crying? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in such trouble."
Tang Qianqian refused to admit this: "If you hadn't caused the trouble, the family wouldn't have had these troubles."
"Shut up!" Tang Mingshan was furious, picked up the teapot and threw it towards her house.
The next moment, the teapot hit the window frame and fell to the ground with a bang, splintering pieces and tea.
Tang Qianqian was frightened and did not dare to cry anymore.
Chu Yunli looked this way, then that way, and said, "I will leave tomorrow. If he gets angry later, I don't know who will take my place as a punching bag."
Hearing this, Tang Qianqian shuddered.
Jiang Huixin's complexion also changed slightly. The habit of attacking people casually that a man has developed over the years cannot be changed for a while. Apart from Xiaoya, she was the one who received the most beatings and scoldings.
She suddenly realized that Xiaoya leaving the Tang family might not be a good thing for her.
Over there, Tang Mingshan had already given another order: "Go and invite Brother Li from the street."
Jiang Huixin was engaged in business and had more knowledge than other women. When she knew who Brother Li was, her face suddenly changed: "We borrowed the interest and we can't afford it."