Chapter 96: The Debate

Wang Zhenhe felt his daughter’s forehead and found no fever. “Wife, let the child sleep for a while. Maybe she was tired from being pulled by her grandmother. We’ll check on her again when we get home.”

After returning home, Wang Qian was still in a deep sleep. When the siblings returned from school at lunchtime, they found it strange to see Wang Qian sleeping on the kang. She never slept at this time of day. They examined her for a while and felt that something was not quite right.

“Mom, has something happened to my sister? Even if she’s sleeping, she wouldn’t miss lunch. Something seems off today. I think there’s something wrong with her hair,” Mingcheng said.

Even the children sensed that something was wrong, and the couple felt that the situation was not good. Zhang Lan carefully examined her daughter. When Zuo He saw a thread sticking out, he intended to remove it. However, as he followed the thread, he felt that something was amiss. “Auntie, why can’t we pull out this thread from my sister’s back?”

Wang Zhenhe also gathered around to inspect. As they pulled the thread, they discovered a sewing needle that had already penetrated into the child’s body. The couple shed tears when they saw this.

Wang Zhenhe, with tears in his eyes, removed the needle from his daughter’s body. He recognized the item. It was a needle that his mother often kept handy for sewing. The thread was the embroidery thread he had bought for her in the city, as it wasn’t available in the countryside. He had asked someone to buy it for her so she could use it for embroidery.

“Wretched!” Wang Zhenhe roared and stormed out with the needle in hand.

After the troublesome needle was removed from her body, Wang Qian quickly woke up from her deep sleep. She was confused to see everyone in tears and was unsure of what had happened. However, she felt some pain in her back. “Mom, my back hurts. Can you take a look at it?”

Seeing her daughter wake up, Zhang Lan held her and burst into tears. She couldn’t believe that her mother-in-law would harm such a young child. She was also terrified at the thought of what might have happened if the needle had pierced another part of her daughter’s body.

The siblings also cried, and Zuo He, with tears in his eyes, gently held her hand. “Qianqian, there was a needle in your back, but Uncle has removed it. It won’t hurt anymore. I’ll find some medicine for you.”

When Zuo He came to the village, his grandmother had given him some medicine, just in case he got injured in the countryside. He carefully applied the medicine to the slightly red wound on his sister’s back.

“Thank you, Brother Zuo He,” Wang Qian said, touched by her brother’s concern.

When she turned to her mother, she noticed that Zhang Lan’s complexion was off. Her lips were turning purple, her face was turning pale, and her breathing was becoming rapid. She quickly called for help. “Brother, come and help. Mom seems to be getting sick.”

The siblings hurriedly helped Zhang Lan lie down on the kang. When she caught her breath, she said, “My poor child, why did you have to suffer such a wicked grandmother?”

Wang Qian didn’t understand what was happening. After Mingyuan explained the situation to her, she realized why she had felt drowsy earlier. It was likely that the needle had affected a certain acupoint.

After Mingcheng and Mingyuan settled Zhang Lan, they jumped off the kang and rushed out. Zuo He, sensing that something was wrong, told Wang Xuan, “Sister, go find the head of the commune committee and go to Grandma’s house. I’ll go after them. Qianqian, take care of Auntie at home.” Then, they both jumped off the kang and ran outside.

Wang Qian quickly brought Zhang Lan into the space. The mother and daughter sat on the ground, and Wang Qian supported her mother, comforting her softly. “Mom, don’t get angry. Those people will be happy if you get sick. Look, I’m fine, and our crops are ready for harvest. We won’t have to worry about food anymore. Please hold on. It’s not worth getting upset over those people. You still have us.”

In the space, Zhang Lan felt somewhat relieved. She saw the wheat ears bending down and the mature corn cobs. This was their family’s hope. Embracing her clever and capable daughter, she felt that this was a gift from heaven. “Qianqian, I feel sorry for not being able to protect you. I’m heartbroken.”

Wang Qian was afraid that her mother would get too emotional, so she quickly smoothed her chest with her small hands. “Mom, don’t get worked up. What if your heart flares up? We haven’t grown up yet. You have to live well. We can see a bright future ahead. You must stay healthy. A child without a mother is like a weed with no one to care for it. Please don’t think too much. Let’s strive for a long and healthy life.”

Her words amused Zhang Lan. “Mom won’t think too much. When we have a better life in the future, we’ll stay far away from them. I don’t want to see them again.”

Wang Qian disagreed. “Mom, why should we hide from them? In the future, I’ll earn a lot of money, and they will have to flatter and respect you. That’s what comfort really means.”

Zhang Lan wasn’t particularly interested in dealing with those people. If they showed respect, that would be fine. “Daughter, I hope your father and the others will be safe. I’m worried about your brothers. Let’s go out and check on them.”

Wang Qian disagreed with Zhang Lan going out. She was afraid that her mother might be provoked by the despicable family. “Mom, please don’t go out. If anyone goes, it will be me. You should stay at home and rest. I’ll go out and check.”

After leaving the space, Wang Qian put the kitchen knife into the space. If a fight broke out, she was willing to risk her life to prevent her siblings from getting hurt. Those despicable people had dark hearts.

Wang Zhenhe ran all the way to his former home, which now felt incredibly unfamiliar.

He heard his mother scolding their children inside. His anger surged, and he kicked the door open. Holding the needle that had been removed from his daughter’s body, he gestured in front of his mother. “Mom, is this yours?”

His mother glanced at it indifferently and said, “How would I know whose it is?”

His father, seeing the anger on his son’s face and the blood on the needle, recognized it immediately. “You old hag, that’s yours. The embroidery thread is still on it. Where did you find it, Zhenhe?”

The elderly gentleman didn’t want to believe it, but the blood on the needle led to a terrible suspicion. “Dad, how could I have a mother like this? She’s worse than an animal. This needle was removed from Qianqian’s body. She has been in a deep sleep since she came home because of this. Zuo He discovered it.”

The elderly gentleman turned pale upon hearing this news. He couldn’t fathom that his lively and adorable granddaughter had suffered such a fate, especially at the hands of her own grandmother.

“Zhu Qiyu, how could you do this? She’s just a child. Have you lost all sense of humanity?” he exclaimed.

Zhu Qiyu, feeling defensive, responded, “How do you know it was me? Maybe the needle accidentally pricked her during the struggle. Why are you blaming me?”

Wang Mei and Wang Zhi also stood by their mother, unwilling to back down. “Wang Zhenhe, you heartless wretch. Mom raised you, and now you’re falsely accusing her. This is outrageous.”

As the commotion escalated, Mingcheng and the others arrived. They saw their  aunts holding onto their father and making a scene.

Wang Zhenhe tried to break free, but Wang Mei held on tightly. Mingyuan quickly fetched a ladle of cold water from the kitchen and poured it over Wang Mei’s head. Enraged, Wang Mei lunged at Mingyuan. “You little brat, how dare you bully me? There’s no law and order anymore. Today, I’ll teach you what it means to respect your elders.”

Wang Zhenhe couldn’t let the children suffer and pulled them behind him. He then slapped Wang Mei. “Wang Mei, try laying a finger on them today.”

Wang Deshan’s face was filled with gloom.

Wang Mei knew she couldn’t win, but she didn’t stop talking.

“Wang Mei, shut your mouth. I’m still alive, and it’s not your place to meddle in our family’s affairs.”

The elderly gentleman was trembling with anger at his ungrateful and unfilial family.

“Dad, don’t be angry. You’re still my father, but the others can be forgotten. I don’t have such relatives.”

The elderly lady was defiant. “Nonsense! What are you saying? I’m your mother. You have to take care of me in my old age. You want to abandon us now that you’re strong. There’s no such good fortune in this world.”

“Grandma, stop shouting. You’ll get what you deserve, but you owe us, and today you’ll have to make amends,” Wang Xuan said firmly.

Behind Wang Xuan were the head of the commune committee and Zuo He.

“Dad, show the head of the commune committee the needle in your hand. They wanted to harm and kill my sister today. We can’t let them off this time.”

No one expected the head of the commune committee to be summoned by the young girl. Li Detian glanced at the bloodstained needle in Wang Zhenhe’s hand. He had already heard the story from Wang Xuan on the way there. The behavior of the elderly lady from the Wang family was becoming increasingly unacceptable.

“Madam, did you do this?” Li Detian wanted to hear the elderly lady’s account of the situation.

The elderly lady wiped her tears and snot and said, “Head of the commune committee, am I capable of such cruelty? She’s my own granddaughter. How could I do such a thing? You can’t believe what others say. I even tried to stop them from fighting just now. It’s possible that the needle accidentally pricked her during the struggle. I swear on my conscience, I don’t have the heart to harm anyone.”

Li Detian, despite being a commune committee head for many years, had never encountered such a situation. However, he was well aware of the character of the elderly lady from the Wang family.

“Madam, although only heaven, earth, and you know the truth, we must act with conscience. Your family’s actions have seriously affected family unity. I’m here to warn you. If there’s another case of assault or mistreatment of a daughter-in-law in the future, I will take you directly to the police station. We’re in a new society now, and we don’t tolerate the old ways. It’s already commendable that your son and daughter-in-law have reached this point. You can ask around the village. No one else has abused their daughter-in-law like your family has. If I find out about it again, I will have the police come directly to arrest you. Zhenhe, take the children home. If you have any problems in the future, come to me. I will take care of your family’s affairs from now on.”