Chapter 37: Venting Frustration (Part 2)

Ma Yumei was so angry that she gritted her teeth and glared at Zhao Xiulan, “Xiulan, are you indirectly calling me a freeloader too? Now I have to earn work points myself if I want to eat something?”

After Zhao Xiulan finished speaking, Ma Yumei turned to Zhao Weiguo and complained again, “Weiguo, listen, listen to what this girl is saying!

“I’ve worked so hard to bear you a son, and now I’m being rejected, being called a freeloader!

“Fine, I’ll work in the fields tomorrow and earn work points.

“But I can’t guarantee that my child in my belly won’t be exhausted and lost, leaving you without a son in vain.”

Zhao Xiulan looked at Ma Yumei speechlessly.

This woman really knows how to complain and even uses her unborn child as leverage.

Zhao Xiulan was not someone to be trifled with. Naturally, she wouldn’t let Ma Yumei say such things in front of Zhao Weiguo. In the end, Zhao Weiguo was forced to agree to let Li Lijuan stay at home and not work.

“Aunt Mei, when did I say you need to work? You’re pregnant with my dad’s child, and everything at home revolves around you. I’m talking about Li Lijuan.

“You’re right to care about your daughter, but Aunt Mei, I’m also your daughter, and so is Xiu Zhu. Even though we’re just stepdaughters, we still treat you as our own mother.

“We all need to work, why don’t you care about us?”

As Zhao Xiulan spoke, she deliberately wiped ‘tears’ with her sleeve and continued, “For our family to live well, we need to work together. If no one works, where will we get food to eat?

“Besides, labor is honourable. How many people in the production team don’t work? No matter how hard or tired it is, everyone has to endure it!

“Even Xiu Zhu, who is only this big, has blisters on her hands from working, but she hasn’t complained at all.

“Li Lijuan is so much older than Xiu Zhu, but is she not as capable of enduring hardship as a child?”

As Zhao Xiulan spoke, she pulled Zhao Xiu Zhu in front of Zhao Weiguo and Ma Yumei, and opened Xiu Zhu’s small hand, seeing many blisters and even cuts on her hands, which was heartbreaking to see.

Zhao Xiulan had noticed Xiu Zhu’s hands like this before and had been distressed for a long time.

But in such an era, besides those who don’t work, who doesn’t endure some hardship? Even Zhao Xiulan herself had many wounds and calluses on her hands from long-term work.

It was only now that Zhao Weiguo noticed the blisters and wounds on Xiu Zhu’s hands, and his heart sank. His little daughter was so young, yet she had to endure hardship.

He was really confused, letting other people’s children rest at home while letting his own child suffer outside.

As a stepmother, Ma Yumei cherished her daughter, but was his, Zhao Weiguo’s daughter, just a weed?

With a serious face, Zhao Weiguo turned to Ma Yumei and said, “Xiulan is right. Who in the production team doesn’t work? Is Lijuan the only precious one?

“Even Xiu Zhu, a child, can endure it, can’t she?

“Yumei, Lijuan is your daughter, and you feel sorry for her when she works, but Xiulan and Xiu Zhu are also my daughters. Seeing them suffer, I feel sorry too.

“If we all feel sorry for our children like this and don’t let them work, can my work points alone support a family?

“In the future, Lijuan will have to work like Xiulan and Xiu Zhu every day to earn work points, or else she won’t eat!”

Even though Ma Yumei felt extremely uncomfortable inside, she didn’t dare say anything more.

(End of Chapter 37)