Chapter 15: Life is Short, Don’t Wrong Yourself

Li Xiaoping burst into tears, punching Qiao Jianhua, “Qiao Jianhua, you bastard! Woo woo woo, it’s my child.  Your parents have no right to decide for me! I’ll beat you to death, I’ll beat you to death!”

The onlookers started shouting, “Oh my, Old Qiao is furious! He doesn’t want his son, and he’s adopting his grandson to his eldest son?”

“Oh, it’s understandable that he’s angry. If it were you, wouldn’t you be angry? Xiaoping has been living in Lijiagou for almost two years after getting married.

They spent so much money to get a wife, expecting her to manage the household and take care of them.  But they raised their son with hard work, married him off, and the wife isn’t there, and now they’ve lost their son.”

“Yeah, Sanfa is a bit overbearing.  He’s practically stealing someone’s son! And Jianhua works for him, carrying food from home.  Isn’t he making a pure profit? But seriously, Sanfa has a son, why steal someone else’s son?  Is there something wrong with his son?”

“It’s hard to say. The Li family is well-off, but look how thin Xiaoping is…”

Qiao Jianhua finally came to his senses. His eyes were filled with panic, and he looked at Li Sanfa helplessly. Seeing Li Sanfa’s dark face, his heart sank. He stammered, “Dad, listen to me, I, I, I didn’t know. My parents didn’t mean that. Yes, it must be that girl, Qiao Jiangxin, spreading rumors.”

Qiao Jiangxin, as if realizing she had caused trouble, grabbed Qiao Youfu and ran, “It was Grandpa and Grandma who said it, it’s not my fault, it’s not my fault. Everyone in the village knows, just ask around and see if I’m lying…”

By the time she finished, they had already rushed out of the crowd and onto the road out of the village.

Li Sanfa’s dark face turned red, then purple, his eyes fixed angrily on Qiao Jianhua, “Don’t call me Dad! I can’t bear it!!!”

“Go ask around, how many people want to learn from me? If it weren’t for Xiaoping, would it be your turn?  Which apprentice doesn’t work for their master for a few years?  Hey, you’re so precious?

Tell everyone, when I took you out to work, did I ever not give you your share of the money? Why did it become me stealing their son, plotting against you, and holding you back in your parents’ mouths? Am I Zhou Baipi now? What do you think I am?”

Li Sanfa clenched his fists, pacing angrily before pointing at Qiao Jianhua fiercely, “You’re good! Your father is right, you’re an ungrateful wretch! This is the first time I’ve seen a son-in-law cause such trouble. Xiaoping hasn’t even given birth yet, and you… you… you’re already planning to give the child away to my brother-in-law?”

“No, no, Dad…” Qiao Jianhua was terrified, reaching out to grab Li Sanfa’s sleeve.

Li Sanfa threw his hand away, “This happened at my doorstep, right under my nose, and you dare to bully people like this? What if you did this in your Qiao family?  Would Xiaoping have a way to live???”

Li Sanfa turned to Gao Cuilan and waved his hand, “What are you standing there for? We can’t afford to serve such a precious son-in-law. Pack his things, and get him out!!!”

Qiao Jianhua’s eyes reddened, “Mom and Dad, this must be a misunderstanding. I know you’re good to me, and I appreciate it.

I, Qiao Jianhua, am not ungrateful. Don’t be angry, there must be a misunderstanding.”

“Xiaoping, quickly persuade your parents.”

Li Xiaoping, seeing her husband’s panic and helplessness, felt more pity for him than resentment, “Dad…”

But Li Sanfa, still furious, interrupted her with a wave of his hand, “Don’t say another word!”

“A married daughter is like water spilled. You’re leaving with him!”

“We, as parents, have done our best for you. We raised you, didn’t expect anything in return, and to help you two, we’ve been slandered. I’ve lost all face!!” Li Sanfa was clearly furious.  He slapped himself twice in the face.

Gao Cuilan was too scared to speak, only sobbing as she supported her daughter.

The onlookers, though excited and gossiping, dared not speak.

Qiao Jiangxin, the culprit, ran quickly with her uncle, only stopping to catch their breath after they left Gaoshi Village.

Qiao Youfu was worried, “Jiangxin, did we go too far? Your third aunt is pregnant.”

Qiao Jiangxin sighed, “I can’t worry about that now.  In life, you can’t please everyone. Life is short, and I know we shouldn’t wrong ourselves.”

“Besides, Li Xiaoping isn’t a good person either. My mother has suffered a lot from her. She and Qiao Jianhua are husband and wife, destined to be our enemies.”

Thinking of Li Xiaoping’s arrogant attitude towards her mother in her previous life, allowing her son to bully Jiangmu repeatedly, Qiao Jiangxin felt no guilt.

“Let’s go, Third Uncle. There’s another battle to fight at home. Don’t worry about those irrelevant people.”

Qiao Youfu followed his niece, “Will your grandparents really split up like this?”

Qiao Jiangxin shook her head, “I don’t know, but whether they split up or not, I know they won’t have an easy time. With this commotion, even if Li Sanfa doesn’t come to our door, Jianhua will be driven away. He’s the son Grandpa and Lei Honghua value most, the most successful son. Heh”

Qiao Youfu’s face twitched, “Jiangxin, Grandma will probably be furious, she’ll want to kill us.”

Qiao Jiangxin smiled, “Yes, if Third Uncle is driven back, it might kill Lei Honghua. So, before the news from Lijiagou spreads, let’s go home and get her first.  When they hear about Third Uncle, maybe Lei Honghua will go straight to my grandmother.”

A bad feeling welled up in Qiao Youfu’s heart, “Jiangxin, what are you planning now?”