Chapter 65

Xia Qingning took out the money she was supposed to give Guo Yumei from her pocket. It was a thick stack of ten-yuan bills, clearly more than five hundred yuan.

As soon as the money appeared, everyone around widened their eyes. They had never seen so much money at once and immediately started gossiping:

“Qingning girl married well. She can casually take out so much money. Maybe she’ll even bring Yumei to the city to live the good life.”

“That’s right, I heard they don’t even burn firewood in the city. They don’t have to carry water either; they just turn on the faucet. This girl is really lucky.”

Niu Xianhua, who had been laughing the loudest at the joke earlier, couldn’t laugh anymore after seeing the money. It was enough to build a tiled house. Then she thought about the little bit of money her daughters sent back every now and then, and she felt unbalanced.

She couldn’t believe that at her age, she was still being outdone by Guo Yumei. She felt resentful but helpless. She could only comfort herself by saying that her son was lame, and a lame person was always a step behind.

Wang the matchmaker was the happiest to see Xia Qingning take out the money. Although she didn’t show it on her face, her heart was blooming. It seemed she had made the right bet.

People said that Xia Qingning was stupid and clumsy. Even though she had married into the city, she was still the same. She was easily provoked and readily took out the money.

Seeing Xia Qingning take out so much money, the short, stout woman’s face visibly brightened, but she still maintained an air of superiority:

“Why didn’t you take out the money earlier? You had to wait until we scolded you before you were willing to pay, right?” Then she looked at the thick stack of money with greedy eyes and immediately raised the price:

“But five hundred yuan isn’t enough now. If you want to go through with this marriage, you need to give another three hundred, making it eight hundred yuan in total.”

The matchmaker hadn’t expected the woman to be so clever. She quickly stepped forward to help her say: “Eight is good, eight is lucky, eight is lucky.”

Guo Yumei refused to let her daughter pay so much money to help her son get engaged. Xia Qing Shu, who was standing beside her, was also anxious. He never wanted this marriage to happen. If he had to marry this vulgar, foul-mouthed woman, he would rather be a bachelor for life.

Mother and son were about to speak, but Xia Qingning stopped them. She smiled softly, looked at the two greedy women, and said as if agreeing:

“Yes, it’s lucky. Here’s eight hundred yuan, not a penny more or less.”

Seeing that she was willing to pay, the short, stout woman laughed, her fat cheeks trembling. She felt that she had completely controlled Xia Qingning. She walked up to her and reached out to take the money, but the other woman quickly withdrew her hand. Unable to get the money, the woman immediately became anxious and shouted:

“Hurry up and give it to me!”

“Why should I give it to you?” Xia Qingning looked at her, pretending to be confused, then raised her voice:

“We’re not getting married!”

Seeing eight hundred yuan about to slip through her fingers, the woman realized she had been tricked. She immediately became furious, pointed at Xia Qingning and started cursing:

“You little bitch, you’re playing with us, aren’t you? You old prostitute’s daughter…”

Before she could finish, Guo Yumei’s big broom swung over. She swung the broom hard while shouting:

“You dare curse my daughter, you dare curse my son, I’ll beat you to death, I’ll beat you to death…”

They say even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Guo Yumei, who had never argued with anyone in her life, now picked up a broom to fight for her children.

The woman hadn’t expected her to suddenly attack. She was forced to retreat by the broom. Guo Yumei chased her away and then turned the broom towards the matchmaker who had been stirring up trouble. She swung it while yelling:

“Get out! All of you get out!”

The three women were chased to the gate before they reacted. They immediately started looking for something to fight back with and began to yell:

“Old prostitute, you dare hit us, we’ll see how you get away with this!”

They picked up bamboo poles they found and were about to attack Guo Yumei. Xia Qingning was afraid that Guo Yumei would get hurt, so she also ran over and picked up a bamboo pole.

At that moment, Xia Qing Shu, who had just turned around to go back into the house, suddenly came out with a firewood axe. He was no longer his usual gentle self. He gripped the axe tightly, his eyes bloodshot, and shouted at the three women who were throwing a tantrum:

“Get out! Get out now, or I’ll chop you to pieces. I’m finished anyway, taking you with me is a bonus.”

Then he strode towards the three women, his eyes filled with ferocity, looking terrifying.

They say those who wear shoes fear those who go barefoot. Seeing the gleaming axe in his hand, the women immediately cowered. They turned around and ran out of the yard, cursing as they ran. Soon they were out of sight.

Everything happened so quickly that Xia Qingning didn’t realize it until everyone was gone from the yard, even the onlookers.

They went back into the house. Guo Yumei was both aggrieved and heartbroken. She couldn’t help but wipe away her tears.

Her son was so talented. The articles he wrote had been published in newspapers. If he hadn’t been trying to save money, he wouldn’t have been disabled for life.

Ultimately, it was her fault. Why hadn’t she noticed his limp earlier? If she had, maybe her son wouldn’t be like this now.

Now everyone was laughing at him behind his back, even coming to his door to humiliate him. How could a mother not feel sad and heartbroken?

“Mom, don’t be sad.” Xia Qingning was also heartbroken. She patted Guo Yumei’s back to comfort her, then put the stack of money in her hand:

“Take this money. You can build a house, you can get your brother a wife.”

“How can I do that? You spend more money in the city than we do. Besides, things are more expensive in the city. You keep this money and spend it on yourself. Buy some delicious food, don’t starve yourself.”

Guo Yumei quickly refused. She had never thought of using her daughter’s money to make up for the family’s shortcomings. Then she continued:

“I’ll figure out a way for your brother. Don’t worry about it. Oh, you’ve only been back for a short time, and you’ve already had to deal with this mess.”

Hearing her self-blame, Xia Qingning felt even worse. She quickly said:

“I still have money. Don’t worry and take it.” Afraid that she would feel burdened and think she was giving her the money because of those women, Xia Qingning explained:

“I was going to give you this money yesterday. I came to find you at night, but you weren’t in your room. Later I chatted with Qingcao for a while and forgot about it. Don’t worry, I’m working now, I get paid every month, I’m not short of money.”

Then she put the money directly into her pocket:

“Just take it. This is also from Jingzhe for you. If you don’t take it, you’re treating us like outsiders.”

Guo Yumei wanted to refuse, but when she heard her say that, she knew that if she didn’t take it, her daughter would get angry. So she took the money with tears in her eyes.

At that moment, Lu Jingzhe walked into the house. He had just gone to the village head’s house to talk to him about something. When he came back, he saw several women running out of Xia’s yard, cursing as they ran. From their words, it was not difficult to guess what had happened at home.

Seeing Guo Yumei take the money, Xia Qingning felt relieved. Then she turned to Xia Qing Shu, who was sitting there with his head down, his eyes dark and lifeless, as if his soul had been drained, leaving only an empty shell.

The things those women said were so hurtful, so vicious! His legs were crippled, but his heart was alive. He had his own pride, and he would be hurt!

Xia Qingning knew that ordinary comfort wouldn’t work on her brother. He had probably heard it all before. It was useless for him. She thought for a moment and had an idea. She sat down beside Xia Qing Shu and asked:

“Brother, didn’t you used to be with Xiaoyu? Where is she?”

She knew that asking this question now would make Xia Qing Shu embarrassed, even ashamed. But she had to ask. She had to make Xia Qing Shu stop avoiding his past and face it head-on.

As expected, Xia Qing Shu’s expression froze for a moment. Then he buried his head even lower and said in a low voice:

“We broke up a long time ago.”

Then he suddenly smiled bitterly, unconsciously placing his hand on his leg:

“I’m like this now… being with her would only hold her back. It’s understandable that she left me.”

As he said this, Xia Qing Shu was calm, as if he had accepted his fate. His expression was blank, his heart ashen, as if he could no longer ignite any hope.

“So you’re going to stay like this forever? Enduring the constant ridicule and humiliation from those people, becoming their dinner table gossip, living a dull and meaningless life?” Xia Qingning seemed to have no regard for Xia Qing Shu’s feelings. She spoke directly and cruelly:

“Or you’ll really marry that泼辣 girl today. In the future, your children will be ridiculed by the children of those who ridicule you. This will continue generation after generation, being looked down upon, being trapped in this small mountain village generation after generation?”

Hearing these words, Guo Yumei turned her back and silently wiped away her tears. Even Lu Jingzhe’s calm face showed a trace of astonishment.

Xia Qing Shu’s eyes, which had been like stagnant water, suddenly flickered after hearing Xia Qingning’s words.

He didn’t say a word. He clenched his fists. Grief, regret, anger, resentment, despair… a multitude of emotions filled his chest, suffocating him.

Since his leg was injured, he had been self-pitying and self-indulgent. Over the years, his family was afraid that he would be sad, so they carefully protected his dignity. No one had ever ripped open his wounds like this, telling him clearly what his life would be like for the next few decades.

Was his life destined to be so tragic?

Was he destined to live this dull and meaningless life?

He didn’t want to! He wasn’t willing to!

But he was a cripple. What could he do to fight fate?

Just as he was lost and helpless, on the verge of collapse, a pair of hands suddenly reached out and firmly grasped his hand. He looked up in astonishment, met his sister’s firm and sincere gaze, and heard her say in a strong voice:

“Brother, cheer up, go to university!”