lcionline Chapter 33 The Villagers Help
Chapter 33 The Villagers Help
Seeing his daughter's face scratched like this by Granny Liu for protecting the second wife, Su Hanzhang felt a pang of heartache. He looked at Granny Liu in disbelief and said coldly:
“Mother, no matter what, Banxia is still your granddaughter. I’ve always turned a blind eye to your beatings and scoldings. But how could you scratch her face like that? How will she ever get married in the future?”
As she spoke, Su Hanzhang ignored her mother, who was still sitting on the ground wailing, and stepped over her, helping Su Banxia up and asking with concern:
"Banxia, how are you feeling right now?"
Su Banxia looked at Su Hanzhang with tears in her eyes, then shook her head with a wronged expression.
"Dad, don't blame Grandma. She was just furious, that's why she hit me. It's okay if I get hurt. As long as Grandma doesn't keep her anger inside, she can let it out."
Upon hearing her daughter's words, Wang Guihua burst into tears.
"Hanzhang, our daughter is a good daughter, but as her parents, we can't let her suffer with us forever. What are we going to do about her face now?"
Seeing this, Aunt Wu, who was standing nearby, also felt sorry for her and said:
"Yes, I've never seen such a sensible and obedient daughter as Banxia. How can you beat and scold such a child every day and take your anger out on her? I really don't know how you, you old hag, could do that!"
"That's right. We neighbors have all seen it. Everyone knows that Banxia is a sensible and obedient person."
"If my daughter were even half as sensible as Banxia, I'd be burning incense in gratitude!"
"Oh, poor Banxia! Now her own grandmother has disfigured her. If word gets out, people will think Banxia has committed some heinous crime!"
"Who says otherwise? All Banxia did was reach out to help Granny Liu, and she scratched her like this. She's no different from a mad dog!"
Hearing the crowd's discussion, Granny Liu forgot her crying and wailing. She quickly got up from the ground and anxiously explained to everyone.
"No, it's not what you're saying. I... just now, she... said..."
"Alright, Granny Liu, stop explaining. We're neighbors, everyone knows what kind of person you are!"
"Exactly! Banxia didn't provoke you, and you treat her like this. I think we should really stay away from you in the future, otherwise what if you go crazy and bite people again!"
At this moment, Su Hanzhang listened to the discussions and looked at her mother, who showed no remorse whatsoever. Everyone had seen it, yet she still wanted to make excuses.
Su Hanzhang didn't want to hold back any longer.
“Mother, since you have already divided the family property among us and given us the land at the foot of Dwarf Mountain, we have no other requests. We, the second branch of the family, will finish building the house as soon as possible and move out of the old house. Then you won’t have to target us like this!”
Aunt Wu nodded hurriedly upon hearing this.
“Brother Hanzhang, you’ve finally figured it out. I think your second branch of the family should have separated and lived separately a long time ago. You’re so hardworking. If you didn’t have so many burdens, you would have made a good living long ago.”
As she spoke, Aunt Wu patted Wang Guihua, who was secretly wiping away tears.
"Sister Guihua, don't cry anymore. Now that Brother Hanzhang has made his stance clear, your family's life will definitely get better and better after you leave the Su family."
Wang Guihua nodded gratefully to her fifth aunt.
"Her fifth aunt, thank you so much for always helping our family."
Fifth Aunt waved her hand and smiled:
“It’s nothing, we’re neighbors. I just happen to get along well with Banxia, so I’m happy to help her.”
Su Banxia smiled and nodded to Aunt Wu in thanks.
At this moment, Granny Liu became anxious. She absolutely could not let the second branch of the family go. Now the second branch was the Su family's free labor force. If they left, the first and third branches would definitely not be able to support the family.
"Hanzhang, don't be angry with your mother. I went too far just now. You don't need to move out. Our Su family has such a big place. Why should your second branch of the family have to move out? Listen to your mother, you don't need to move out."
Su Banxia stepped forward and said, looking aggrieved:
“Grandma, but that’s not what you said when we divided the family property that day. You said we were all parasites, eating more and doing less, and you insisted on kicking us out. If the thatched hut at the foot of Dwarf Mountain hadn’t been struck by lightning that night, we wouldn’t have had the nerve to go back to the Su family.”
As she spoke, Su Banxia wiped away her tears with her sleeve and said softly:
"Grandma, don't worry, as soon as our house is built, our whole family will move out and we won't stay a single day longer. Right now, you don't have to worry about us stealing your Su family's food."
Su Banxia paused for a moment and said in a pitiful tone:
“From now on, our second branch of the family will not eat with the Su family anymore, and you will no longer have to make us eat next to the woodpile every time. Don’t worry, we will not take a single penny of the grain that our second branch of the family grew for you before.”
Su Banxia sighed, secretly glanced at the expressions of the people around her, and then continued:
"We are already extremely grateful that you are willing to give us, the second branch of the family, that piece of land and homestead at the foot of Dwarf Mountain. We dare not ask for anything else."
Upon hearing this, Granny Liu immediately became anxious.
“When did I say I was going to give that piece of land at the foot of Dwarf Mountain to your second branch of the family? Yesterday I just allocated the land for your second branch to cultivate!”
Aunt Wu, who was standing nearby, snorted coldly upon hearing this.
"How can you deny responsibility so soon after the land was divided? I saw the second wife's family working on that land in Dwarf Mountain yesterday. Now that they've finished their work, they want to turn their backs on us?"
As she spoke, Aunt Wu turned to the onlookers and shouted;
"Everyone, please be the judge, where can you find such a good deal?"
"That old Liu is really cunning; she even tries to take advantage of this little bit of money."
"Yes, the second branch of the family doesn't want the Su family's grain. They finally got a piece of land, but they want to take it back. It's obvious they're not letting the second branch of the family survive!"
"You bet that's right, this was really not a fair thing to do."
Someone in the crowd shouted out.
"Hanzhang, don't be afraid. Everyone knows about the division of your Su family. This land on Dwarf Mountain belongs to your second branch. All the neighbors know that!"
"That's right, words spoken are words that cannot be taken back. Even if the village head comes, you'll still be in the right!"
"Yes, we can all testify for your second wife!"
Upon hearing this, Su Hanzhang quickly turned around and bowed to the surrounding crowd.
"Thank you so much for speaking up for us, otherwise we really wouldn't have been able to explain ourselves even if we were in the right!"
Having said that, Su Hanzhang turned and gave Granny Liu a cold look, then said in a deep voice:
"Mother, I will not compromise this time!"