Chapter 83
Wang Yan Sheng didn't need to look back to know who was calling him.
Dong Li Li, a nurse at the Military Region Hospital. She was also the niece of Commander-in-Chief Liang's wife.
Before he was seriously injured on the mission, Dong Li Li was responsible for taking care of him after being sent to the military hospital. After that, he often 'ran into' her in many places.
He turned his head around and saw Dong Li Li jogging toward him in a white dress. A bright smile was pasted on her face.
"Colonel Wang, it's really you. I was worried that I've recognized the wrong person!" Dong Li Li ran over. Raising her palm-sized melon face, she mischievously stuck out her tongue.
Wang Yan Sheng indifferently responded, "Nurse Dong, may I ask what are you looking for me for?"
Dong Li Li seemed to be used to his expressionless face and raised the fruit in her hand: "My maternal aunt sent me a large bag of apples. My appetite is too small to finish it. So I would like Colonel Wang to help me. Can you help me demolish a few?"
Dong Li Li was beautiful. She had a youthful and lively personality. On top of that, she had a maternal uncle who was the commander-in-chief. If someone else met her, they would have taken the initiative to chase after her. But it was a pity that the person she met was Wang Yan Sheng.
Wang Yan Sheng's face didn't change at all. He coldly refused: "I don't like apples. If Nurse Dong can't eat them, you can share the apples with other comrades in the hospital. I have to go back and read the letter. I will go first."
Dong Li Li's heart was filled with disappointment. She had already hinted it so clearly. Why was he still indifferent?
Was she not beautiful enough? Or did she not meet his requirements?
Dong Li Li felt depressed. However, she didn't want to give up like that. So she smiled again: "Apologies, I didn't know that Colonel Wang was in a hurry to go back and read a letter. This letter... Was it sent by Colonel Wang's family?"
Her gaze fell on the envelope in his hand and tried to see who the sender of the letter. Unfortunately it was blocked by his hand. she could only see some crooked characters on it. At a glance, it seemed to be written by someone uneducated.
Wang Yan Sheng replied: "Yes. My fiancée wrote it to me."
Fiancée?
The smile on Dong Li Li's face froze. She was struck by lightning: "Co, Colonel Wang... when did you have a fiancée? Why didn't I hear about it?"
"It was set when I went home last time. See you." After speaking, he ignored the other party, turned around, and strode away.
Dong Li Li watched his tall back. Her eyes gradually reddened.
Wang Yan Sheng returned to the accommodation and couldn't wait to open the envelope. After reading the letter, his brows furrowed.
How arrogant and powerful the town's Revolutionary Committee was, he had occasionally heard his elder brother mention it before. But this matter was out of his control. And he had always been in the army, so he never thought of going against the Revolutionary Committee.
Now Qiao Family was being targeted by the other party. Although Qiao Family wasn't at fault, it seem they will not let Qiao Family go out of their own selfishness.
He circled the room twice before putting the letter away. He turned around and went out again.
His connections were limited, so he had to ask Lieutenant General Jiang for help.
...
The teacher from Community Primary School came to the production team in person and brought some good news to Qiao Family.
First, Qiao Dong He was admitted to the town's junior high with the top 50 rank in the county. Second, Da Qiao maintained her first place in the whole grade. Third, An Ping had made great progress in his test. The two results added up to a hundred!
"I had said I will definitely bring back 100!" An Ping jumped up and down the room with joy like a monkey.
Qiao Dong Ying mocked him: "Look at how excited you are. To the unknown, they would think you got a 100% in one test!"
An Ping scratched his ears and said, "Second Elder Sister, I have improved. Compared to your 60 percent, which has remained unchanged for thousands of years. I think Grandfather and Grandmother will definitely praise me this time!"
Qiao Dong He flushed with joy knowing that she had been admitted to the town's junior high school. What's more, with such good grades.
Seeing her younger sister like this, she was a little anxious: "Dong Ying, do you still mind that matter from the past?"
Qiao Dong Ying wasn't actually stupid at all. When she first started school, her grades were the best among the three siblings. However her personality was wild. She liked to make more trouble and fought more than boys. Truly a best example of a bad student.
In one mid-term exam, she scored more than 90 percent in both tests. Their teacher-in-charge at the time didn't believe that she did the exam by herself and announced that she was cheating in front of all the students. Qiao Dong Ying, who was only eight years old at the time, was furious to the point that she overturned the table!
Although the matter was thoroughly investigated later and the teacher had apologized to Qiao Dong Ying, but Qiao Dong Ying never took the exam seriously. She only filled out enough questions for 60 percent in each exam.
Qiao Dong Ying smiled at her elder sister: "Elder Sister, don't worry about me. You got admitted to junior high school! Our family will have bicycle soon. Guess who in our family will grasp how to ride the bicycle first?"
Knowing that her younger sister was a very decisive person, Qiao Dong He sighed in her heart. She went along with her younger sister's words: "I guess it should be Younger Sister Da Qiao."
Younger Sister Da Qiao was so smart. She can learn anything just from looking once. She envied her to death.
Qiao Dong Ying pointed: "Elder Sister, no matter how smart Younger Sister Da Qiao is, do you think she can ride a bicycle with her small height? I think our grandmother should be the first to grasp it!"
Qiao Dong He patted his head: "Why didn't I think of this. Younger Sister Da Qiao isn't tall enough..."
"Elder Cousin Sister, I have grown a lot taller!"
Da Qiao walked in from the outside with a pouting mouth, very dissatisfied with her two cousins' remark about her not being tall.
Since consuming jade bead water, her skin had turned fairer while her height grown a lot taller. But no matter how tall she was, she was only a seven-year-old child. It was definitely impossible to surpass her elder cousins.
When Qiao Dong He saw her sister's aggrieved appearance, her heart softened and quickly coaxed: "That's right. Compared to other children, you are already very tall. Just now, Elder Cousin Sister misspoke. Still, the bicycle seat is too high. Even Elder Cousin Sister can't ride it."
Da Qiao wasn't really angry either. After being coaxed by her cousin, she quickly became jolly again: "Elder Cousin Sister, you are really amazing! Didn't you say you wanted to eat fried pastry last time? I'll make it for you tomorrow!"
Qiao Dong He's heart softened. She stretched out her hand to squeeze her younger sister's fair and tender face, "Okay. Elder Cousin Sister thank you first!"
"Listeners have a share! Younger Sister Da Qiao, I want to eat it too!" An Ping brought his big head closer and sucked in his saliva.
Qiao Dong Ying laughed at him: "Look at your unpromising appearance. I finally discover, where there is food, there is you!"
An Ping didn't feel embarrassed at all: "Food is people's prime need. Second Elder Sister, don't you think that eating can make people very happy?"
The education level of community's primary school had always been inferior to that of the town. Despite being unable to compare with the county's primary school, the community's primary school gained face at the Education Bureau due to Qiao Dong He getting such good results in the exam this time.
The principal was over the moon and specially rewarded Qiao Dong He with two pens, two notebooks, and two yuan. When Qiao Dong He saw these rewards, her face turned into a red apple.
As soon as the teacher left, Wan Chun Ju walked in with little Dong Yun in her arms: "Where is the money the teacher gave you? Give it to me!"
Qiao Dong He's face flushed red again. But this time it was out of anger: "Mom, I want to save that money myself."
Wan Chun Ju stretched out her hand and hollered, "What are need is there for a child to hold so much money? Take it out!"
Qiao Dong Ying said: "Mom, my grandmother has spoken. She said the money is for my elder sister. If you keep at this, I will tell my grandmother!"
Wan Chun Ju was so furious that she wanted to stomp her feet: "You dead girl, you only know how to tattle every day! I am your mom. What worry do you have with leaving the money with me? Dong He, you are thirteen years old this year. I don't think there's any need for you to study any further. Stay at home for two years. I'll get Matchmaker Huang to find you a good family to marry into later!"
Embarrassed and angry, Qiao Dong He bit her lip. She was close to tears.
Seeing her elder sister being aggrieved, Qiao Dong Ying was so mad that she stood up. She was prepared to go out to complain to her grandmother when she heard Da Qiao softly utter...
"Eldest Aunt, if Eldest Cousin Sister doesn't go to town to study, Grandmother will definitely not buy a bicycle. Then Eldest Uncle can't use the bicycle to drive you around the production team. What a pity!"
Wan Chun Ju was stunned when she heard these words.
Get her man to cycle her around the production team?
If that's the case, the women in the entire production team will envy her to death!
The more she thought about it, the brighter her eyes became. She can't wait for her mother-in-law to buy a bicycle now. Even if she doesn't know how to ride it, she can push the bicycle around dozen of times in front of the women in the production team. That will definitely get their envy!
But if Eldest Daughter goes to school, no one in the family can help her with the housework.
Since Chen Qiao Qiao left, she had to take care of her youngest daughter as well as doing some housework.
She originally wanted her eldest daughter to stop studying. That way Eldest Daughter can stay at home to help take care of her youngest daughter and do housework. Along the way, she can earn some work points.
But now, she was in conflict.
In the end, vanity prevailed over other thoughts. She coughed: "After some thoughts, women should study some more. Dong He, you should go to school."
After she finished speaking, she handed little Dong Yun to her eldest daughter and turned around to find Qiao Zhen Guo. She wanted to tell him in advance to learn to ride a bicycle quickly. That way she could show off and go around in circles in the production team.
As soon as her mom departed, Qiao Dong Ying reached out and pinched Da Qiao's face, "You little clever monkey. You can convince my mom in one sentence! Bravo!"
Qiao Dong He regained her smile. She nodded like a pecking chick: "Younger Sister Da Qiao, your brain turn really fast!"
Although her grandmother can suppress her mom and attending school wasn't a problem, her mom will nag in her ear from time to time in dissatisfaction. Which was very demoralizing.
But now she had been persuaded by Younger Sister Da Qiao, she won't nag her in the future. Younger Sister Da Qiao was amazing!
Da Qiao's little face flushed. She puffed up her chest and said, "En en, my brain turns very fast. If you have any problem in the future, feel free to ask me. I'm smart!"
"Pfft..."
Hit by Younger Sister Da Qiao's cuteness, Qiao Dong He generously decided to take five dimes out to buy candies for everyone to eat.
Qiao Dong Ying couldn't help but rolled her eyes. Though Younger Sister Da Qiao was smart, she was also very vain.
Wan Chun Ju didn't find her man. Still her heart burned with the desire to show off. She turned around and ran out to boast to everyone.
"How is your child's final exam? It's only in the 70s. Not that great! My family's Dong He got in the top fifty in the county!"
"You didn't hear it just now. The teacher said my Dong He is the smartest student in the whole community and had rewarded my Dong He with three yuan. There are also a good few pens and notebooks. Did you get any? No? Then that's right. Who told your daughter to be not as smart as my Dong He!"
"By the way, my mother-in-law said that if Dong He can get admitted to the town's junior high school, she will buy a bicycle for our eldest branch and make it easy for child's dad to pick her up from the town in the future. How precious a bicycle is? I can't bear to spend such money, but my mother-in-law said that all the children I gave birth are smart and must reward our eldest branch!"
Everyone listened to Wan Chun Ju's boasting to the sky. Some were envious, some were jealous, and some said sour words.
"It's just a girl. It's enough to know how to write her own name. Only you Qiao Family has a lot of money! To actually let her go to the town to attend junior high!"
"Ain't that right! What's the point of a girl reading so many books? Sooner or later, she'll be another's family, no? I say, Eldest Qiao's wife, it better that you don't let your Dong He attend school. Instead, let her help with housework at home. She can go to the field to supplement the family?"
When the villagers said this, they weren't targeting Qiao Family. This was what everyone thought in their hearts.
Nowadays, many people can't get enough to eat. How can there be spare money for their children to go to school? Family with good conditions would send their sons to school. As for sending daughters like Qiao Family, one can count how many in total with one hand.
There were also some who weren't too patriarchal and let their daughters or granddaughters go to school. But only for one or two years. Just enough for them learn to write their own names and be able to count. As for further education in higher grades, there were less and less girls.
The production team had a total of ten taking the primary school graduation examination this time. Qiao Dong He was the only girl. The others were boys. Among those boys, their family didn't plan to let them continue their studies even if they passed the entrance examination,
In the hearts of the villagers, no matter how much they study, it was useless. Haven't they witnessed all the educated youths being sent to work in the countryside?
When Wan Chun Ju heard everyone's response, she immediately became displeased. She slapped her thigh, "You guys understand sh*t! Who said it's useless for daughters to study? You guys clearly favor boys over girls! Aren't you female? Looking down on women means looking down on yourself! Why are you so ignorant? That's because you study too little!"
Everyone: "..."
Damn, had Wan Chun Ju's brain been flooded?
What face did she have to say that everyone prefer son over daughter> Wasn't she the same?
Someone retorted back, "Speaking as if you don't favor boy over girl and that you had read a lot of books yourself. Pah, you don't even know one, two, three, four. How dare you talk about us?"
Wan Chun Ju jumped up and spat back, "I am illiterate! Wasn't that because I been poisoned by the old society? However, I have a heart to pursue progress. I don't know how to write, but I am willing to let my daughters go study. As long as they can study, I will keep supporting them. Can you do what I do? If you can't, stop b*tching!"
Everyone: "..."
Feck, when did Wan Chun Ju's thought-wave develop so much?
She spewed out a lot of persuasive content. Simply like seeing ghost!
Seeing everyone rendered speechless by herself, Wan Chun Ju was so proud that she turned around and went to seek the next boasting battlefield.
In the evening, Qiao's old house made another table of good dishes to celebrate the few children's progress.
When Qiao Zhen Guo find out his daughter was admitted to junior high school, he was thrilled: "Mom, when will we buy the bicycle you mentioned last time?"
Qiao Xiu Zhi responded: "How can you buy it because you want to. To buy a bicycle, a coupon is necessary!"
Qiao Zhen Min, who had been sitting on the side as he ate in low spirit, interrupted at this point, "Mom, you don't have to worry about this. I'll ask my friend to help and get a coupon back."
Qiao Xiu Zhi had already guessed what her son was doing in private. Since he went to the transportation company in the county, the salary he brought home doubled. And some of things he bought back were costly and couldn't be bought with money alone.
After discussing with Xue Chuan, she didn't plan to stop him. Privately, she reminded him to be more careful.
Hearing his words now, she nodded: "Okay. When are you going back to the county?"
Qiao Zhen Min answered, "I'll depart tomorrow. I'll leave little Wan'er to Dad and Mom's care!"
After he finished speaking, he turned his head to look at his daughter who was beside Da Qiao. Da Qiao was in midst of feeding her. Her eyes were curved into crescents. Which was very different from her unresponsive appearance in the past.
With his parents and Da Qiao present, he can rest assured even when he goes to the county.
That night, Wan Chun Ju was so excited from the bicycle matter that she couldn't sleep. She nudged her man with her elbow and spoke, "Zhen Guo, once you learn to cycle, take me around in the production team."
Qiao Zhen Guo yawned and refused: "Wife, your weight will crush the bicycle. Once the bicycle is bought, remember to stay away from it."
She almost spurted blood from fury: "..."
Her weight was fine. She touched the flesh on her stomach and thought about it: "Then I will eat one bowl of rice less at each meal in the future. Once you learnt, take me around later, okay?"
Qiao Zhen Guo didn't answer.
She turned around and saw that her man was snoring. He had already gone to dreamland.
This damn man was really pissing her off!
...
It was all good news for Qiao Family. While Chen Qiao Qiao, who was in the town, seem to be living in hell these days.
"Mom, Eldest Brother, Second Elder Brother, let me out!"
Chen Qiao Qiao patted the wooden door hard. Which only result in her hand becoming red and pained. No one came.
That day, her family went to pick her up from the production team and made her to nod her head to the divorce with Qiao Zhen Min. It was because they had obtained Tian Family's promise. As long as she was willing to divorce, Tian Family would recognize her as their daughter-in-law and recognize the baby in her womb.
She felt that she was world's number one woman with the hardest choices. She fell in love with two men at the same time. Qiao Zhen Min had abandoned her, while Tian Jian Min was willing to marry her. What else could she do?
So after slight hesitation, she packed her things and returned to her maternal home that day and divorced Qiao Zhen Min the next day.
Seeing Qiao Zhen Min leave without looking back and the divorce book in hand, her heart throbbed in pain. But at thought that she could be with Tian Jian Ming and give birth to their child, her heart filled with sweetness and hope again.
Who knew that as soon as she got home, her divorce certificate was hidden away by her family. Afterward, she was locked in the room.
At first she didn't understand what her family was doing. Only when her mom came in with a bowl of abortion medicine, she understood.
Her mother told her to obediently drink the abortion medicine. Saying that she would be able to marry again once she recover.
Shocked and angered, she asked her mom why she did this. Her mom told her that Tian Family had never planned to let her in, let alone the baby in her belly.
She didn't believe it and rushed out to find Tian Jian Ming to get to the bottom of it. However, she was pushed back into the room by her eldest brother and second elder brother. Once again, she was detained.
Her elder brother had even pointed to her nose: "Little Sister, please take a look at yourself in the mirror. With your looks, do you think people really like you? He's just playing with you. You are so stupid to treat it seriously!"
Second Elder Brother followed up: "That's right, Little Sister. I advise you to abort the baby. Then obediently stay at home for a year or two. Once the matter subsides, you can find another man to marry. If you don't obey, our whole family will be dragged to death by you!"
She screamed in fury and wanted to frantically rush out. Only to be slapped hard a few times, get her hands and feet tied, and her mouth covered with a cloth. They didn't release her until yesterday when they saw her giving up.
The door was opened with a squeak. Mother Chen walked in again with a bowl of abortion medicine in her hand.
She looked at her daughter and spoke, "Mom knows you're unwilling. But who can you blame? Wasn't it all because of your shamelessness? You don't want such a good life and persisted on doing such shameless things. If it spreads out, our Chen Family's face will be ruined by you!"
Hearing her mom's words, Chen Qiao Qiao felt like needles stabbing in her heart: "Mom, I beg you. Let me go out. I'm going to find Jian Ming. He said he loves me. He won't be willing to get rid of the baby in my belly!"
Mother Chen said: "It already reached this point and you still won't wake up? Drink the abortion medicine. Your dad and two elder brothers had said if you aren't obedient, they would marry you to a remote mountain village. You can't come back when you want to then!"
She didn't want to force her daughter. But what can she do?
Tian Family had said if they couldn't keep Qiao Qiao's mouth shut, they would make it impossible for Chen Family to stay in the town any longer. Not only would their two sons be kicked out of their jobs, they might even be ruined!
But if they do as they say, they will give Chen Family 100 yuan once the matter is over!
With 100 yuan, the jobs of her two sons, and the safety of her family on the line, she could only choose to sacrifice her daughter.
Seeing her mom coming over to force the abortion medicine in her mouth, Chen Qiao Qiao gritted her teeth hard and pushed her mom away.
BOOM!
The old porcelain bowl fell to the ground and shattered into several pieces.
She stood up and rushed outside.
She didn't believe Tian Jian Ming would treat her like this. She still remembered all the words he said. That's why, she wanted to find him and ask for an explanation!
It was just that as soon as she ran to the door, she was caught by her eldest brother and second elder brother!
The two of them dragged her back into the room again and quickly tied her up.
She wanted to beg them to let her go, but her mouth was gagged. She couldn't utter a word.
Half an hour later, a bowl of fresh abortion medicine was brought in again.
Her jaw was forced open. The abortion pill was poured into her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ten minutes later, there was pained whimperings coming from the room.
Chen Qiao Qiao rolled around on the bed. She almost fainted from the pain.
The next day, Qiao Zhen Min was about to return to the county city. At this moment, Chu Family and Shen Family came to Qiao's house one after another.
Wang Yan Sheng didn't need to look back to know who was calling him.
Dong Li Li, a nurse at the Military Region Hospital. She was also the niece of Commander-in-Chief Liang's wife.
Before he was seriously injured on the mission, Dong Li Li was responsible for taking care of him after being sent to the military hospital. After that, he often 'ran into' her in many places.
He turned his head around and saw Dong Li Li jogging toward him in a white dress. A bright smile was pasted on her face.
"Colonel Wang, it's really you. I was worried that I've recognized the wrong person!" Dong Li Li ran over. Raising her palm-sized melon face, she mischievously stuck out her tongue.
Wang Yan Sheng indifferently responded, "Nurse Dong, may I ask what are you looking for me for?"
Dong Li Li seemed to be used to his expressionless face and raised the fruit in her hand: "My maternal aunt sent me a large bag of apples. My appetite is too small to finish it. So I would like Colonel Wang to help me. Can you help me demolish a few?"
Dong Li Li was beautiful. She had a youthful and lively personality. On top of that, she had a maternal uncle who was the commander-in-chief. If someone else met her, they would have taken the initiative to chase after her. But it was a pity that the person she met was Wang Yan Sheng.
Wang Yan Sheng's face didn't change at all. He coldly refused: "I don't like apples. If Nurse Dong can't eat them, you can share the apples with other comrades in the hospital. I have to go back and read the letter. I will go first."
Dong Li Li's heart was filled with disappointment. She had already hinted it so clearly. Why was he still indifferent?
Was she not beautiful enough? Or did she not meet his requirements?
Dong Li Li felt depressed. However, she didn't want to give up like that. So she smiled again: "Apologies, I didn't know that Colonel Wang was in a hurry to go back and read a letter. This letter... Was it sent by Colonel Wang's family?"
Her gaze fell on the envelope in his hand and tried to see who the sender of the letter. Unfortunately it was blocked by his hand. she could only see some crooked characters on it. At a glance, it seemed to be written by someone uneducated.
Wang Yan Sheng replied: "Yes. My fiancée wrote it to me."
Fiancée?
The smile on Dong Li Li's face froze. She was struck by lightning: "Co, Colonel Wang... when did you have a fiancée? Why didn't I hear about it?"
"It was set when I went home last time. See you." After speaking, he ignored the other party, turned around, and strode away.
Dong Li Li watched his tall back. Her eyes gradually reddened.
Wang Yan Sheng returned to the accommodation and couldn't wait to open the envelope. After reading the letter, his brows furrowed.
How arrogant and powerful the town's Revolutionary Committee was, he had occasionally heard his elder brother mention it before. But this matter was out of his control. And he had always been in the army, so he never thought of going against the Revolutionary Committee.
Now Qiao Family was being targeted by the other party. Although Qiao Family wasn't at fault, it seem they will not let Qiao Family go out of their own selfishness.
He circled the room twice before putting the letter away. He turned around and went out again.
His connections were limited, so he had to ask Lieutenant General Jiang for help.
...
The teacher from Community Primary School came to the production team in person and brought some good news to Qiao Family.
First, Qiao Dong He was admitted to the town's junior high with the top 50 rank in the county. Second, Da Qiao maintained her first place in the whole grade. Third, An Ping had made great progress in his test. The two results added up to a hundred!
"I had said I will definitely bring back 100!" An Ping jumped up and down the room with joy like a monkey.
Qiao Dong Ying mocked him: "Look at how excited you are. To the unknown, they would think you got a 100% in one test!"
An Ping scratched his ears and said, "Second Elder Sister, I have improved. Compared to your 60 percent, which has remained unchanged for thousands of years. I think Grandfather and Grandmother will definitely praise me this time!"
Qiao Dong He flushed with joy knowing that she had been admitted to the town's junior high school. What's more, with such good grades.
Seeing her younger sister like this, she was a little anxious: "Dong Ying, do you still mind that matter from the past?"
Qiao Dong Ying wasn't actually stupid at all. When she first started school, her grades were the best among the three siblings. However her personality was wild. She liked to make more trouble and fought more than boys. Truly a best example of a bad student.
In one mid-term exam, she scored more than 90 percent in both tests. Their teacher-in-charge at the time didn't believe that she did the exam by herself and announced that she was cheating in front of all the students. Qiao Dong Ying, who was only eight years old at the time, was furious to the point that she overturned the table!
Although the matter was thoroughly investigated later and the teacher had apologized to Qiao Dong Ying, but Qiao Dong Ying never took the exam seriously. She only filled out enough questions for 60 percent in each exam.
Qiao Dong Ying smiled at her elder sister: "Elder Sister, don't worry about me. You got admitted to junior high school! Our family will have bicycle soon. Guess who in our family will grasp how to ride the bicycle first?"
Knowing that her younger sister was a very decisive person, Qiao Dong He sighed in her heart. She went along with her younger sister's words: "I guess it should be Younger Sister Da Qiao."
Younger Sister Da Qiao was so smart. She can learn anything just from looking once. She envied her to death.
Qiao Dong Ying pointed: "Elder Sister, no matter how smart Younger Sister Da Qiao is, do you think she can ride a bicycle with her small height? I think our grandmother should be the first to grasp it!"
Qiao Dong He patted his head: "Why didn't I think of this. Younger Sister Da Qiao isn't tall enough..."
"Elder Cousin Sister, I have grown a lot taller!"
Da Qiao walked in from the outside with a pouting mouth, very dissatisfied with her two cousins' remark about her not being tall.
Since consuming jade bead water, her skin had turned fairer while her height grown a lot taller. But no matter how tall she was, she was only a seven-year-old child. It was definitely impossible to surpass her elder cousins.
When Qiao Dong He saw her sister's aggrieved appearance, her heart softened and quickly coaxed: "That's right. Compared to other children, you are already very tall. Just now, Elder Cousin Sister misspoke. Still, the bicycle seat is too high. Even Elder Cousin Sister can't ride it."
Da Qiao wasn't really angry either. After being coaxed by her cousin, she quickly became jolly again: "Elder Cousin Sister, you are really amazing! Didn't you say you wanted to eat fried pastry last time? I'll make it for you tomorrow!"
Qiao Dong He's heart softened. She stretched out her hand to squeeze her younger sister's fair and tender face, "Okay. Elder Cousin Sister thank you first!"
"Listeners have a share! Younger Sister Da Qiao, I want to eat it too!" An Ping brought his big head closer and sucked in his saliva.
Qiao Dong Ying laughed at him: "Look at your unpromising appearance. I finally discover, where there is food, there is you!"
An Ping didn't feel embarrassed at all: "Food is people's prime need. Second Elder Sister, don't you think that eating can make people very happy?"
The education level of community's primary school had always been inferior to that of the town. Despite being unable to compare with the county's primary school, the community's primary school gained face at the Education Bureau due to Qiao Dong He getting such good results in the exam this time.
The principal was over the moon and specially rewarded Qiao Dong He with two pens, two notebooks, and two yuan. When Qiao Dong He saw these rewards, her face turned into a red apple.
As soon as the teacher left, Wan Chun Ju walked in with little Dong Yun in her arms: "Where is the money the teacher gave you? Give it to me!"
Qiao Dong He's face flushed red again. But this time it was out of anger: "Mom, I want to save that money myself."
Wan Chun Ju stretched out her hand and hollered, "What are need is there for a child to hold so much money? Take it out!"
Qiao Dong Ying said: "Mom, my grandmother has spoken. She said the money is for my elder sister. If you keep at this, I will tell my grandmother!"
Wan Chun Ju was so furious that she wanted to stomp her feet: "You dead girl, you only know how to tattle every day! I am your mom. What worry do you have with leaving the money with me? Dong He, you are thirteen years old this year. I don't think there's any need for you to study any further. Stay at home for two years. I'll get Matchmaker Huang to find you a good family to marry into later!"
Embarrassed and angry, Qiao Dong He bit her lip. She was close to tears.
Seeing her elder sister being aggrieved, Qiao Dong Ying was so mad that she stood up. She was prepared to go out to complain to her grandmother when she heard Da Qiao softly utter...
"Eldest Aunt, if Eldest Cousin Sister doesn't go to town to study, Grandmother will definitely not buy a bicycle. Then Eldest Uncle can't use the bicycle to drive you around the production team. What a pity!"
Wan Chun Ju was stunned when she heard these words.
Get her man to cycle her around the production team?
If that's the case, the women in the entire production team will envy her to death!
The more she thought about it, the brighter her eyes became. She can't wait for her mother-in-law to buy a bicycle now. Even if she doesn't know how to ride it, she can push the bicycle around dozen of times in front of the women in the production team. That will definitely get their envy!
But if Eldest Daughter goes to school, no one in the family can help her with the housework.
Since Chen Qiao Qiao left, she had to take care of her youngest daughter as well as doing some housework.
She originally wanted her eldest daughter to stop studying. That way Eldest Daughter can stay at home to help take care of her youngest daughter and do housework. Along the way, she can earn some work points.
But now, she was in conflict.
In the end, vanity prevailed over other thoughts. She coughed: "After some thoughts, women should study some more. Dong He, you should go to school."
After she finished speaking, she handed little Dong Yun to her eldest daughter and turned around to find Qiao Zhen Guo. She wanted to tell him in advance to learn to ride a bicycle quickly. That way she could show off and go around in circles in the production team.
As soon as her mom departed, Qiao Dong Ying reached out and pinched Da Qiao's face, "You little clever monkey. You can convince my mom in one sentence! Bravo!"
Qiao Dong He regained her smile. She nodded like a pecking chick: "Younger Sister Da Qiao, your brain turn really fast!"
Although her grandmother can suppress her mom and attending school wasn't a problem, her mom will nag in her ear from time to time in dissatisfaction. Which was very demoralizing.
But now she had been persuaded by Younger Sister Da Qiao, she won't nag her in the future. Younger Sister Da Qiao was amazing!
Da Qiao's little face flushed. She puffed up her chest and said, "En en, my brain turns very fast. If you have any problem in the future, feel free to ask me. I'm smart!"
"Pfft..."
Hit by Younger Sister Da Qiao's cuteness, Qiao Dong He generously decided to take five dimes out to buy candies for everyone to eat.
Qiao Dong Ying couldn't help but rolled her eyes. Though Younger Sister Da Qiao was smart, she was also very vain.
Wan Chun Ju didn't find her man. Still her heart burned with the desire to show off. She turned around and ran out to boast to everyone.
"How is your child's final exam? It's only in the 70s. Not that great! My family's Dong He got in the top fifty in the county!"
"You didn't hear it just now. The teacher said my Dong He is the smartest student in the whole community and had rewarded my Dong He with three yuan. There are also a good few pens and notebooks. Did you get any? No? Then that's right. Who told your daughter to be not as smart as my Dong He!"
"By the way, my mother-in-law said that if Dong He can get admitted to the town's junior high school, she will buy a bicycle for our eldest branch and make it easy for child's dad to pick her up from the town in the future. How precious a bicycle is? I can't bear to spend such money, but my mother-in-law said that all the children I gave birth are smart and must reward our eldest branch!"
Everyone listened to Wan Chun Ju's boasting to the sky. Some were envious, some were jealous, and some said sour words.
"It's just a girl. It's enough to know how to write her own name. Only you Qiao Family has a lot of money! To actually let her go to the town to attend junior high!"
"Ain't that right! What's the point of a girl reading so many books? Sooner or later, she'll be another's family, no? I say, Eldest Qiao's wife, it better that you don't let your Dong He attend school. Instead, let her help with housework at home. She can go to the field to supplement the family?"
When the villagers said this, they weren't targeting Qiao Family. This was what everyone thought in their hearts.
Nowadays, many people can't get enough to eat. How can there be spare money for their children to go to school? Family with good conditions would send their sons to school. As for sending daughters like Qiao Family, one can count how many in total with one hand.
There were also some who weren't too patriarchal and let their daughters or granddaughters go to school. But only for one or two years. Just enough for them learn to write their own names and be able to count. As for further education in higher grades, there were less and less girls.
The production team had a total of ten taking the primary school graduation examination this time. Qiao Dong He was the only girl. The others were boys. Among those boys, their family didn't plan to let them continue their studies even if they passed the entrance examination,
In the hearts of the villagers, no matter how much they study, it was useless. Haven't they witnessed all the educated youths being sent to work in the countryside?
When Wan Chun Ju heard everyone's response, she immediately became displeased. She slapped her thigh, "You guys understand sh*t! Who said it's useless for daughters to study? You guys clearly favor boys over girls! Aren't you female? Looking down on women means looking down on yourself! Why are you so ignorant? That's because you study too little!"
Everyone: "..."
Damn, had Wan Chun Ju's brain been flooded?
What face did she have to say that everyone prefer son over daughter> Wasn't she the same?
Someone retorted back, "Speaking as if you don't favor boy over girl and that you had read a lot of books yourself. Pah, you don't even know one, two, three, four. How dare you talk about us?"
Wan Chun Ju jumped up and spat back, "I am illiterate! Wasn't that because I been poisoned by the old society? However, I have a heart to pursue progress. I don't know how to write, but I am willing to let my daughters go study. As long as they can study, I will keep supporting them. Can you do what I do? If you can't, stop b*tching!"
Everyone: "..."
Feck, when did Wan Chun Ju's thought-wave develop so much?
She spewed out a lot of persuasive content. Simply like seeing ghost!
Seeing everyone rendered speechless by herself, Wan Chun Ju was so proud that she turned around and went to seek the next boasting battlefield.
In the evening, Qiao's old house made another table of good dishes to celebrate the few children's progress.
When Qiao Zhen Guo find out his daughter was admitted to junior high school, he was thrilled: "Mom, when will we buy the bicycle you mentioned last time?"
Qiao Xiu Zhi responded: "How can you buy it because you want to. To buy a bicycle, a coupon is necessary!"
Qiao Zhen Min, who had been sitting on the side as he ate in low spirit, interrupted at this point, "Mom, you don't have to worry about this. I'll ask my friend to help and get a coupon back."
Qiao Xiu Zhi had already guessed what her son was doing in private. Since he went to the transportation company in the county, the salary he brought home doubled. And some of things he bought back were costly and couldn't be bought with money alone.
After discussing with Xue Chuan, she didn't plan to stop him. Privately, she reminded him to be more careful.
Hearing his words now, she nodded: "Okay. When are you going back to the county?"
Qiao Zhen Min answered, "I'll depart tomorrow. I'll leave little Wan'er to Dad and Mom's care!"
After he finished speaking, he turned his head to look at his daughter who was beside Da Qiao. Da Qiao was in midst of feeding her. Her eyes were curved into crescents. Which was very different from her unresponsive appearance in the past.
With his parents and Da Qiao present, he can rest assured even when he goes to the county.
That night, Wan Chun Ju was so excited from the bicycle matter that she couldn't sleep. She nudged her man with her elbow and spoke, "Zhen Guo, once you learn to cycle, take me around in the production team."
Qiao Zhen Guo yawned and refused: "Wife, your weight will crush the bicycle. Once the bicycle is bought, remember to stay away from it."
She almost spurted blood from fury: "..."
Her weight was fine. She touched the flesh on her stomach and thought about it: "Then I will eat one bowl of rice less at each meal in the future. Once you learnt, take me around later, okay?"
Qiao Zhen Guo didn't answer.
She turned around and saw that her man was snoring. He had already gone to dreamland.
This damn man was really pissing her off!
...
It was all good news for Qiao Family. While Chen Qiao Qiao, who was in the town, seem to be living in hell these days.
"Mom, Eldest Brother, Second Elder Brother, let me out!"
Chen Qiao Qiao patted the wooden door hard. Which only result in her hand becoming red and pained. No one came.
That day, her family went to pick her up from the production team and made her to nod her head to the divorce with Qiao Zhen Min. It was because they had obtained Tian Family's promise. As long as she was willing to divorce, Tian Family would recognize her as their daughter-in-law and recognize the baby in her womb.
She felt that she was world's number one woman with the hardest choices. She fell in love with two men at the same time. Qiao Zhen Min had abandoned her, while Tian Jian Min was willing to marry her. What else could she do?
So after slight hesitation, she packed her things and returned to her maternal home that day and divorced Qiao Zhen Min the next day.
Seeing Qiao Zhen Min leave without looking back and the divorce book in hand, her heart throbbed in pain. But at thought that she could be with Tian Jian Ming and give birth to their child, her heart filled with sweetness and hope again.
Who knew that as soon as she got home, her divorce certificate was hidden away by her family. Afterward, she was locked in the room.
At first she didn't understand what her family was doing. Only when her mom came in with a bowl of abortion medicine, she understood.
Her mother told her to obediently drink the abortion medicine. Saying that she would be able to marry again once she recover.
Shocked and angered, she asked her mom why she did this. Her mom told her that Tian Family had never planned to let her in, let alone the baby in her belly.
She didn't believe it and rushed out to find Tian Jian Ming to get to the bottom of it. However, she was pushed back into the room by her eldest brother and second elder brother. Once again, she was detained.
Her elder brother had even pointed to her nose: "Little Sister, please take a look at yourself in the mirror. With your looks, do you think people really like you? He's just playing with you. You are so stupid to treat it seriously!"
Second Elder Brother followed up: "That's right, Little Sister. I advise you to abort the baby. Then obediently stay at home for a year or two. Once the matter subsides, you can find another man to marry. If you don't obey, our whole family will be dragged to death by you!"
She screamed in fury and wanted to frantically rush out. Only to be slapped hard a few times, get her hands and feet tied, and her mouth covered with a cloth. They didn't release her until yesterday when they saw her giving up.
The door was opened with a squeak. Mother Chen walked in again with a bowl of abortion medicine in her hand.
She looked at her daughter and spoke, "Mom knows you're unwilling. But who can you blame? Wasn't it all because of your shamelessness? You don't want such a good life and persisted on doing such shameless things. If it spreads out, our Chen Family's face will be ruined by you!"
Hearing her mom's words, Chen Qiao Qiao felt like needles stabbing in her heart: "Mom, I beg you. Let me go out. I'm going to find Jian Ming. He said he loves me. He won't be willing to get rid of the baby in my belly!"
Mother Chen said: "It already reached this point and you still won't wake up? Drink the abortion medicine. Your dad and two elder brothers had said if you aren't obedient, they would marry you to a remote mountain village. You can't come back when you want to then!"
She didn't want to force her daughter. But what can she do?
Tian Family had said if they couldn't keep Qiao Qiao's mouth shut, they would make it impossible for Chen Family to stay in the town any longer. Not only would their two sons be kicked out of their jobs, they might even be ruined!
But if they do as they say, they will give Chen Family 100 yuan once the matter is over!
With 100 yuan, the jobs of her two sons, and the safety of her family on the line, she could only choose to sacrifice her daughter.
Seeing her mom coming over to force the abortion medicine in her mouth, Chen Qiao Qiao gritted her teeth hard and pushed her mom away.
BOOM!
The old porcelain bowl fell to the ground and shattered into several pieces.
She stood up and rushed outside.
She didn't believe Tian Jian Ming would treat her like this. She still remembered all the words he said. That's why, she wanted to find him and ask for an explanation!
It was just that as soon as she ran to the door, she was caught by her eldest brother and second elder brother!
The two of them dragged her back into the room again and quickly tied her up.
She wanted to beg them to let her go, but her mouth was gagged. She couldn't utter a word.
Half an hour later, a bowl of fresh abortion medicine was brought in again.
Her jaw was forced open. The abortion pill was poured into her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ten minutes later, there was pained whimperings coming from the room.
Chen Qiao Qiao rolled around on the bed. She almost fainted from the pain.
The next day, Qiao Zhen Min was about to return to the county city. At this moment, Chu Family and Shen Family came to Qiao's house one after another.
She deserves her life being ruined
ReplyDeleteI hope someone will push the Tian family off their high horse... I wonder why the Chu and Shen family are visiting. Thank you for the chapter!
ReplyDelete