Chapter 14

“I’ve already said it — I won’t take care of the child. You can leave now.”

Old Madam Cheng’s tone was firm. No matter what Cheng Youliang said, she refused to budge. At her age, she understood all too well: if she agreed to look after one child, soon all ten-plus great-grandchildren would be shoved her way. Her old bones couldn’t take that kind of burden.

“Mom, you…”

Before he could finish, Cheng Xiaoying pushed open the door. When she saw her second brother there, she only glanced at him without greeting him or saying a word. That dismissive attitude made Cheng Youliang bristle — and since he couldn’t vent his anger on his mother, he turned his fire on his little sister.

“Little sister, since you’re back living with Mom, staying home all the time isn’t good for your reputation. Your sister-in-law’s family knows someone suitable. He doesn’t mind that you’re divorced or that you can’t have children. Why don’t you pack your things? I’ll take you over. Since it’s a second marriage, no need to fuss about dowry or wedding banquet. If we settle this quickly, Mom will have less to worry about. You can’t be too selfish, thinking only of yourself, you—”

Before he could finish, Old Madam Cheng snatched up a broom and started swinging it at him. Though elderly, years of farm work had left her with some strength. Cheng Youliang was holding the child and couldn’t fight back — he had to dodge while begging for mercy.

“Mom… stop! You’ll hurt the child!”

“Beast! Xiaoying is your own sister — what’s wrong with her coming home? Is she living in your house? Eating your food? And you still dare run your mouth here! ‘Suitable match,’ my foot. Don’t think I don’t know the kind of trash your wife would introduce — either wife-beaters or dirt-poor families. Has your conscience been eaten by dogs? What’s so unbearable about Xiaoying staying with me? We don’t expect your help, just let us live in peace! Get out!”

How could Old Madam Cheng not be angry? Her daughter got divorced, and neither of her sons lifted a finger to help. Instead of treating Xiaoying as family, they just looked down on her and took pleasure in her misfortune. Now that Old Madam Cheng had moved back to the old house to stay with her daughter, her sons resented it — because when the old lady rotated between their homes before, she cooked, washed, and cared for the children single-handedly, giving them and their wives an easy life.

“Mom, stop hitting me…”

“Grandma, be careful of your health…”

Shu Yue hurried out of her room and helped Cheng Xiaoying support Old Madam Cheng, begging her not to get too worked up. Cheng Youliang not only failed to leave the child, he left with a few broom-strikes and Dogzi — the little boy in his arms — had red scratch marks on his face too. Seeing how furious the old lady was, he had no choice but to slink off.

“Mom, it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me…”

Of course Cheng Xiaoying knew her second brother caused this whole scene because of her. If she hadn’t been kicked back to her natal home, their mother wouldn’t have had to move into the old house to accompany her, and her brothers wouldn’t resent it. She didn’t want to be a burden. If everyone disliked her so much, she could just leave. After all, she was already an unwanted divorcée. Wherever she went — whether she lived or died — what did it matter?

“Don’t you dare think like that. You’re my daughter. So what if you’re divorced? From now on, we’ll live together, just the two of us. Don’t even think about doing anything foolish. If you try anything extreme again, I’ll go with you. Do you hear me?”

Old Madam Cheng gripped her daughter’s hand and spoke gravely. When Xiaoying first came back, she had tried to end her life — luckily they caught it in time. Otherwise, her daughter wouldn’t even be here. Divorce was shameful and humiliating, yes. But no matter what, Xiaoying was still her flesh and blood. How could she bear to see her daughter broken? As for her two sons — she knew exactly what sort they were. Even without Xiaoying, she couldn’t count on them for anything. For now, she could only take life one step at a time.

“Grandma, Auntie, please don’t be so sad. We’ll make life better.”

Seeing the mother and daughter crying in each other’s arms, Shu Yue stepped forward to comfort them. She knew how deeply divorce wounded her aunt — especially since people believed she couldn’t have children. In a rural village, that meant few men would want to marry her again.

In truth, Cheng Xiaoying was only twenty-four, though hard farm work and mistreatment by her husband’s family had aged her terribly. Cleaned up, she was still quite pretty. And Shu Yue remembered clearly: Xiaoying was able to have children. In her previous life, after remarrying, she got pregnant — but her second husband was a drunk who beat her, and he caused her to lose the baby. After that miscarriage, doctors said it would be very difficult for her to conceive.

In other words, right now Cheng Xiaoying could still bear children. Her first marriage was childless not because of her — but because of her husband.

There was no proof yet, but Shu Yue was already thinking: maybe she should do something to let people know Xiaoying wasn’t infertile. If Old Madam Cheng knew her daughter could still remarry and have children, she’d have more hope and confidence in her future.

Hearing Shu Yue’s gentle words, Cheng Xiaoying only gave a bitter smile. She had no confidence in her own future. If Old Madam Cheng hadn’t sworn she’d die alongside her rather than let her do anything foolish, Xiaoying might already have ended her life. Being constantly gossiped about, treated as unlucky — she’d had enough.

In the eyes of the villagers, a divorced woman was “spoiled goods.” Even unmarried girls crossed the road to avoid her, afraid of bad luck rubbing off. Living like this was worse than death. She didn’t know how her life had sunk so low, and she no longer dared to hope for anything better.

Shu Yue looked at her aunt. She didn’t need words — that bitter smile told her everything. A divorced woman automatically felt inferior to others. No matter how much anyone comforted her, that sense of worthlessness was hard to shake. Only Xiaoying herself could slowly work through it.