“Zhao Mo, where did you get these clothes?” Yuan Guixiang eyed Zhao Mo’s outfit, pulled her over, and felt the fabric. Although the material wasn’t the best, it was soft and comfortable to the touch. The style was something she had never seen before.

“My aunt gave them to me,” Zhao Mo frowned, not wanting Yuan Guixiang to dirty them.

“Why would she be so good to a girl like you? I bet she has ulterior motives. You’re just naive to think your aunt is kind now. Let me tell you, city folks are all scheming. In this world, besides your dad, I’m the only one who truly cares for you,” Yuan Guixiang blabbered nonsense, though she also coveted Zhao Mo’s new clothes. That wretched woman Zhang Yunxi was really generous, willing to make such nice clothes for her niece. She wondered if Zhang Yunxi had something wrong with her head.

Zhao Mo used a clever twist of her arm to break free from Yuan Guixiang’s grip and quickly ran back to her room.

When Yuan Dabao saw Zhao Mo, he was stunned. “Mom, why does Zhao Mo get to wear such nice clothes? She’s just a worthless girl. She even has a satchel! I don’t have one. When are you going to buy me one?”

Yuan Guixiang also wanted to buy her eldest son something, but now that she was Zhao Hongqiang’s woman, she had to prioritize the children she had with him. “We’ll talk about it later. Where have you been running off to all day? Why don’t you help out with some work?”

“I’m a boy! What’s wrong with me playing around? Zhao Mo is going to school and doesn’t have to work anymore, and you still want me to work? Are you even my mom anymore?” Yuan Dabao shouted, his eyes filled with resentment. “Do you only care about the kids you have with Zhao Hongqiang? Today I saw you giving them boiled eggs. Why didn’t I get any? Am I not your son too?”

If it weren’t for the fact that his stepfather was right there, Yuan Dabao would have definitely gone in to argue with his mom!

Hearing her son’s accusations, Yuan Guixiang’s heart broke. “Those eggs were prepared by your stepfather for your little brother. I often sneak you food too. He’s your brother. As the older one, how can you be so selfish?”

“I’m not that bastard’s brother!”

Slap!

Zhao Hongqiang had returned and slapped Yuan Dabao so hard that he crashed into the wall, losing two teeth. “If you’re not happy, get the hell out of here!”

Yuan Dabao’s head was ringing. Hearing his stepfather’s voice, his body curled up in fear. Meeting his gaze, he trembled all over. “I… I didn’t…”

“What are you doing?” Yuan Guixiang hugged her eldest son, tears streaming down her face. “Dabao, are you okay? Don’t scare me like this.”

Zhao Hongqiang sneered, “It’d be better if he died. He’s just an ungrateful brat, wasting food.”

He grabbed some alcohol and left the house again.

Yuan Guixiang carried Yuan Dabao to see the barefoot doctor.

Zhao Mo also huddled in a corner, hugging her knees and gasping for breath. Even though her father hadn’t hit her, just hearing his roar made her tremble with fear.

Her gaze fell on the smiling face on her satchel, and her emotions gradually calmed. However, that night she still had nightmares, dreaming that her father was hitting her head with a table leg.

She was completely defenseless, dazed for a long time, the burning pain filling her injured flesh, leaving her only able to cry.

Tears slid down her cheeks, cool and damp. Zhao Mo opened her eyes to see the sun peeking out, and the outside world was beginning to brighten. She let out a sigh.

She got up to wash up.

Zhao Hongqiang had to get up early for work. When he saw Zhao Mo, it took him a while to realize this was his daughter. “What the hell are you doing, looking like this?”

Last night, he had heard from the wife of his drinking buddy that Zhao Mo had gotten a new set of clothes, looking like a city girl.

Zhao Hongqiang sneered. How could a worthless girl like Zhao Mo ever become a city girl? He couldn’t let that wretched woman Zhang Yunxi spoil Zhao Mo’s heart. “You look hideous. Take that off and throw it back. Just because I can’t hit you now, you think I can’t deal with you?”

Zhao Mo trembled. “I understand.”

“If you understand, then go do it! What are you standing around for?!” Zhao Hongqiang roared.

Zhao Mo changed back into her old clothes. As she was about to leave, she saw her father standing there. Her feet seemed glued to the ground, unable to move.

“Come here. I’m going to cut your hair,” Zhao Hongqiang said darkly, holding a pair of scissors.

Zhao Mo shook her head in terror, tears falling uncontrollably. “I don’t want to…”

“Come here!” Zhao Hongqiang repeated.

Zhao Mo held onto the doorframe, her fingers digging into it. “Dad, I’ll be obedient.”

Zhao Hongqiang’s eyes turned fierce. “After spending a few days with your aunt, you think you don’t have to listen to me anymore, huh? This is the last time. Get over here, or I’d rather not have a daughter like you.”

Zhao Mo shuffled over with tiny steps.

Zhao Hongqiang raised the scissors and snip—Zhao Mo bit her lip, tears streaming down her face.

“Zhao Hongqiang, what are you doing?!” Zhang Yunxi exploded, rushing forward and pulling Zhao Mo away.

Zhao Mo clung to her aunt, sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhang Yunxi’s heart broke hearing her cries. Seeing Zhao Hongqiang’s smug smile, she quickly composed herself, gently patting Zhao Mo’s back. Her eyes, once soft like water, turned icy.

Zhao Hongqiang laughed. “Her aunt, I’m just cutting the kid’s hair. It’s for her own good. There’s no better father in the whole brigade than me.”

Zhang Yunxi lowered her gaze.

She led Zhao Mo back to the room, helped her change into her new clothes, and put the satchel on her back.

Zhang Yunxi then stood in front of Zhao Hongqiang and slapped him.

Yuan Guixiang, who had been trembling inside the house, rushed out in shock.

The neighbors watching from over the wall were so stunned their jaws could have dropped to the ground.

Zhao Hongqiang’s eyes bulged, blood vessels popping. His large hand raised to strike her.

Zhang Yunxi pulled out the scissors and pointed them at his hand.

Zhao Hongqiang’s movement froze. “You’re asking for death!”

“Stop targeting Zhao Mo. Zhao Mo is afraid of you, but I want you dead!” Zhang Yunxi coldly stared at Zhao Hongqiang. “Don’t think violence works on all women. In reality, you’re just a coward. The only person you dare to bully is Zhao Mo, a seven-year-old girl. If you were really so tough, why don’t I see you holding any status in the brigade? I heard when your family divided the property, you were the one they didn’t want. What does that tell you? It tells me you’re just trash, only tough at home!”

“Zhang Yunxi!”

Zhao Hongqiang’s veins bulged. “Get the hell out of here!”

“Why should I leave? I’m here for my niece. Why should I be afraid of you? In the mind of a chauvinistic coward like you, children and women are just tools to make your life comfortable. You think you’re so great, but what’s so great about you? Your loud voice? You dare to lay a hand on me? Ha! If you even try, I’ll report you to the educated youth office and have you thrown in jail.” Zhang Yunxi held Zhao Mo’s hand, her back straight, her eyes cold as she warned, “Be decent to Zhao Mo. She doesn’t just have you as a father. She has an aunt who will protect her.”

Zhang Yunxi led Zhao Mo away.

Yuan Guixiang and the two neighboring families were dumbfounded. Zhang Yunxi really had guts.