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墨書 Inktalez
If it weren't for the sight of the bridal sedan chair, everyone would have forgotten that today was the wedding day of Feng Liulang and Zhou Cailian.
Compared to Yang Ermiao's grand procession, the Zhou family's send-off seemed overly modest. Although it was also a bridal sedan chair, it was carried by only two people because it was a single-pole design. The swaying made it difficult to sit still; just watching it was enough to make one dizzy.
The send-off party consisted only of a few family members, including Tang Sanwan and her two sons, along with some heads of households from the Wang family. After all, the Wang family had fallen on hard times while the Feng family appeared to be on the rise. Most villagers sided with Xia Muxin's family, leaving the Wang family no choice but to swallow their pride and align themselves with the Feng family. It was said that the banquet expenses were covered by the Meng family.
The Meng family was known for being opportunistic; managing to extract money from them was as rare as seeing the sun rise in the west. This illustrated just how dire the Wang family's situation had become.
Zhou Cailian, already pregnant, found herself swaying in the sedan chair, disoriented. Suddenly, the chair came to a halt, and as she braced herself against its frame, a wave of nausea hit her. She retched violently.
As she vomited, Zhou Qinglian rushed forward to help her out of the chair, patting her back while glaring at Ermiao's sedan chair with hostility. She sarcastically remarked, "What? Is there someone inside who is also pregnant and feeling unwell? Otherwise, how could they lack even a shred of compassion? Look at how miserable my sister Cailian is and yet they won't even make way."
In Daimiao Village, there were many superstitions regarding weddings. The bridal sedan chair could only move forward; it could not go backward or take a detour. If it did retreat, it signified that life after marriage would be difficult and that the bride might be sent back to her family. A detour indicated that the bride was not favored by her in-laws and would have to hide away at home.
There were plenty of such sayings; Aunt Xia had lectured Muxin about them extensively last night.
Xia Muxin frowned deeply, feeling overwhelmed. She didn't believe in these superstitions. If they refused to make way, they would be seen as lacking grace. After all, Zhou Cailian was pregnant; she couldn't let this become an issue while also adhering to village customs. It was indeed troublesome since the Zhou family would not yield easily. Moreover, judging by their relaxed demeanor, they seemed prepared to linger there all day.
However, Zhou Qinglian's words were harsh. Just because Zhou Cailian's brother-in-law was easy to bully didn't mean she was as well. Stepping forward, she coldly glared at Zhou Cailian, who had turned pale after vomiting, showing no mercy as she said, "My sister-in-law is so virtuous and reserved; how could she be like some people who get pregnant before marriage? It's truly shameful for a woman! And this is your future brother-in-law we're talking about."
As Xia Muxin finished speaking, Zhou Guilian froze in place, tightly clutching her handkerchief. Her lips were bitten until they bled slightly, revealing her frustration and anger. Zhou Cailian fared little better; her face drained of color—this was the greatest humiliation of her life. Yet she felt no regret because from now on, she could live without worry.
Xia Muxin realized that this was the first time in her life she had been so bluntly sarcastic towards someone. Perhaps her words were too harsh; however, the Zhou family had no sense of shame. If you tolerated them once, you would have to tolerate them twice or even more times. Thus, one had to either be ruthless or endure; she chose the former.
Not far away, Ming Yi brought three brothers with him. Xia Muxin's eyes brightened as she had a rough idea of their purpose for coming.
Shen Muhan had likely already seen the situation here and was simply letting them come to support him.
As they approached, Zhaoxia Muxin nodded respectfully, and Xia Muxin smiled back at them. She then instructed someone to set down the bridal sedan chair. Upon seeing Ming Yi and his companions, the people from the Zhou family turned pale; after all, the incident of being thrown out last time was still fresh in their minds. However, this was a tradition established by their ancestors, and the bearers had received money from the Feng Family. Moreover, Feng Liulang was quite accomplished. At that moment, the two bearers exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.
Meanwhile, Xia Muxin's group thought Ming Yi and his companions were about to take action again, and their expressions turned grim. After all, a wedding was a joyous occasion; it would be truly unkind for Muxin to let anyone harm the Zhou family at such a critical moment. That would be no different from the Wang family.
Hearing Xia Muxin ask the bearers to put down the sedan chair, they dared not resist and timidly set it down before stepping aside.
Ming Yi's four companions exchanged glances and took their positions around the sedan chair. With a slight push off their toes, they lifted the chair and flew away.
This scene left everyone dumbfounded and terrified. Who were these people that Muxin knew? Their skills were beyond description, yet at the same time, they felt admiration for her character. After all, these individuals could crush anyone from the Zhou family with just a finger, yet she had never made any move against them.
In contrast, it was often the Zhou family that stirred up trouble, only to have it backfire on themselves.
Seeing the sedan chair flying far away, Xia Muxin cheerfully addressed everyone:
"Everyone, let's hurry up! There are still many things I need your help with."
As she spoke, she picked up her basket and walked ahead. Passing by the two bearers, she didn't forget to slip each of them a handful of candy.
This gesture nearly made the Zhou family members spit blood in anger; her family hadn't prepared any candy...
That evening, everyone finished dinner and returned home early. Aunt Xia was about to give birth soon, so Summer Forest stayed in the room with her. Summer Old Man had been quite tired these past few days and went to rest early. Xia Xiaosong was taken by Zhou Juhua to rest in another room. At this moment, only Xia Muxin remained awake.
Perhaps because Ming Yi and his companions were present, the villagers left early as well; there would be no ruckus during the wedding night, which relieved Xia Tieshu and his wife greatly.
Xia Tieshu's new home was located on the third floor. At this moment, Xia Muxin crouched down, tiptoeing toward the door of their new house, a faint smile playing on her lips as she pressed her ear against the door frame, carefully listening to the sounds inside.
Shen Muhan generally disliked such lively scenes, so he let Xia Muxin have her fun. However, when he finished washing up and entered Xia Muxin's room, he found it completely empty. He had seen her go upstairs just moments ago. Suddenly, a shadow crossed his eyes as he headed up to the third floor.
Those who practiced martial arts usually had good hearing, and from a distance, he could hear Xia Muxin stifling her laughter and the creaking of the bed. A wave of dark emotions surged within Shen Muhan as he took several large strides closer. The nearer he got, the clearer the sounds became—heavy breathing from a man and faint, broken moans from a woman. Xia Tieshu, who usually seemed so honest and quiet, surprisingly knew how to enjoy himself in this regard. It had only been a short while since they went upstairs...
Xia Muxin was laughing when she instinctively sensed a subtle breath nearby, along with that familiar minty fragrance. Her eyes flickered and met Shen Muhan's star-like gaze.
Swallowing hard, she stammered softly, "D... D... uh..."
As soon as her voice emerged, she distinctly felt the sudden silence from within. Shen Muhan reached out with one large hand and effortlessly pulled Xia Muxin into his embrace, immediately covering her enticing little mouth.
When he carried Xia Muxin back to her room, he laid her flat on the bed, his dark eyes locked onto hers as he supported himself on either side of her. He gazed at Xia Muxin's flushed face and sparkling eyes and said, "If you like that kind of life, I can provide it for you anytime."
As soon as those words left his lips, Xia Muxin's pretty face turned as red as a cooked duck. She glared fiercely at Shen Muhan. Could he not think of something normal?
Three days later, the sky cleared up with no clouds in sight. The distant mountains and nearby villages basked in the warm winter sun, radiating vitality.
However, at this moment, Xia Jihua was anxiously pacing back and forth, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms because today was the day Liu Dazhuang was supposed to come to take her back.
Due to the Xia family's move and Xia Tieshu's marriage, when he went to Dabai Village to invite them over, he had hoped that the entire Liu family would come. Yet only half-alive Xia Jihua showed up, indicating that the Liu family did not take this relationship seriously at all.
Liu Dazhuang was nearly forty years old and given his family's situation; if Xia Jihua returned and did not come back again, then he would spend his life alone. When Liu Jihua arrived two days ago, he mentioned that they would set off today.
He simply couldn't bear to part with the gifts. Fortunately, the Xia Family had taken care of everything before coming to pick him up. After all, which family doesn't have a few tables set up for a feast? Not only could they enjoy a good meal, but they might even take some leftovers home.
Over the past few years, Xia Jihua had come to understand the Liu Family's temperament quite well. This time returning home, she wondered if she would ever see them again in her lifetime. The thought made her cry even harder, and her tears were contagious; Aunt Xia couldn't help but join in, and neither could the Summer Old Man and Summer Forest.
Xia Muxin was also affected by the sorrowful atmosphere early in the morning, feeling troubled and heavy-hearted.
Shen Muhan had always focused solely on Xia Muxin. Seeing her in a bad mood naturally brought his spirits down as well. However, Xia Muxin had stated that this was her family matter. Even though he was her future fiancé, he couldn't interfere; it was something she had to handle herself, being the younger generation.
If he could, he would have liked to eliminate those troublesome people directly to spare Muxin from the headaches they caused.
If this were in the capital, he might have actually done it.
The Summer Old Man certainly didn't want Xia Jihua to return to suffering. She had gained some weight over these days, her skin had become fairer, and she seemed much better mentally—at least she would actively engage him in conversation. But this child was just too diligent, busy all day without rest.
The Summer couple also wished for her not to go back. After all, their family conditions had improved. If the Liu Family treated her well, they wouldn't have any objections; they could help out since the Liu Family was poor. However, Aunt Xia mentioned that when Xia Jihua took a bath that day, she brought in a few changes of clothes and saw her bare body covered in scars—some new, some old, some whip marks, some burn marks. At that moment, Xia Jihua had cried in her arms out of sheer grievance.
She shared this with Summer Forest and the Summer Old Man, both of whom were teary-eyed as well. But after all, she was a married daughter; no matter how much they wanted to keep her close, it depended on the other family’s willingness.
Moreover, Jihua was still young. If she stayed at home now, she would risk becoming an old maid who couldn’t find a husband; the villagers would tease and bully her.
This truly put them in a difficult position.
Xia Muxin paced back and forth with her hands clasped behind her back, quickly brainstorming various strategies in her mind.
“Auntie,” she suddenly asked Xia Jihua through her tears, “is it because you didn’t give them a son or daughter that the Liu Family treats you this way?”
At that moment, Xia Jihua's shoulders shook with sobs as she nodded in response to Muxin's question.
"But, will Liu Dazhuang really never be able to marry anyone even without you?"
Listening to this, Xia Muxin asked again, receiving another nod from Xia Jihua.
"The Liu family has many sons, and the other younger ones all bought their wives with money. Moreover, three of them are disabled and cannot work in the fields, yet they all have children, and quite a few at that?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Jihua mechanically nodded again, her eyes wide with fear and confusion as she looked at Xia Muxin.
Shen Muhan rested his chin on one hand, sitting nearby with great interest as he watched Xia Muxin interrogate her aunt like a criminal.
After hearing so much, he had roughly guessed the meaning behind it all; he just didn't know if this young girl thought the same way he did.
Xia Muxin's eyes brightened at this revelation. Oh, so this was the reason for the Liu family's poverty.
Continuously having children—at least three or four or five in a family—while having only a few brothers, and with three of their wives being disabled and unable to work in the fields. They couldn't split up the family either. It truly was a case of having both elderly and young dependents. The brothers must have resented their eldest brother for marrying a healthy wife who couldn't bear children, pushing all the work onto their aunt instead.
The two elders of the Liu family must have turned a blind eye to it all.
It was no wonder Liu Dazhuang had a bad temper and would resort to violence after drinking. This time, it wouldn't be so easy for him to demand anything from Xia Muxin.
In an instant, a glint of cleverness flashed in her eyes as she beckoned the family closer with her finger. Once everyone gathered around, she whispered something under her breath.
- End of Chapter -
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