Hua Qingqing stood by the door, watching the farce in silence.
This was Yu Linxiu's family matter. She couldn't get involved.
Yu Linxiu had to sort it out on her own.
Yu Linxiu's gentle face was bruised and swollen. Anger made her injuries look even worse. "Are you really my biological parents? Qingqing cares about me, but what about you! All you care about is whether Xu Guangzong will run away!"
"See these wounds!" She stood up, pointing at her injuries, tears streaming down her face. Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, she roared, "He beat me. He pinned me to the ground and punched me again and again. If I hadn't protected my head, all you'd see now would be a corpse!"
"You just wait and see! Xu Guangzong has been arrested. As long as I want, he won't get out for decades!"
"Slap!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Linxiu was slapped across the face. Her head was whipped to one side.
Yu Linxiu was stunned.
Hua Qingqing was also taken aback.
Yu Jianshan, who had been silent all this time, stood up and pointed at her, scolding, "Have you grown bold? How dare you talk to your parents like this!"
"I don't care how he beat you. You go and apologize to him right now. You're already in a relationship with him. Even if he beats you to death, it's your due. Your father still works under his father. Can't you be more sensible!"
Yu Linxiu covered her face, in disbelief.
What did he mean that it was her due to be beaten to death?
She couldn't believe these words had come from her own father's mouth.
She couldn't stay in this family any longer!
Yu Linxiu wiped away her tears and was about to leave when Feng Xiang grabbed her. "Don't go. Wait! What did you mean by what you said about Hua Qingqing just now? Is she involved in this?"
Hua Qingqing raised an eyebrow, walked over, and pulled Feng Xiang's hand away.
"Auntie, I'm right here. I suggest you ask me directly. Why make things difficult for your daughter?"
Yu Linxiu took the opportunity to shake off her mother's hand.
Feng Xiang's face changed. She glared at Hua Qingqing viciously and scolded her daughter, "You stupid girl. You don't even know you've been fooled! This girl has been jealous of your good engagement for a long time, and you still trust her? Is it because of her that you angered Xu Guangzong? Why did I give birth to such a stupid daughter!"
Yu Linxiu never expected her parents to be so shameless.
She had come back injured, but they didn't show her a bit of concern. Instead, they kept blaming her and even asked her to forgive Xu Guangzong. Now they were blaming Qingqing.
Yu Linxiu shook her head. "You two are hopeless!"
Seeing her unrepentant look and Hua Qingqing standing there watching, Feng Xiang was filled with rage. She raised her hand and slapped at Hua Qingqing.
Yu Linxiu quickly stepped in and took the slap.
Having been slapped twice in a row, her face was numb.
Hua Qingqing didn't expect Yu Linxiu to react so quickly. In fact, she had already prepared to dodge and even kick Feng Xiang.
She quickly supported Yu Linxiu and protected her behind her.
Alas, she thought, she should have gone back to the room to get the axe first.
With an axe, things would be easier.
While regretting, Hua Qingqing picked up a feather duster in the room and smiled at Feng Xiang and Yu Jianshan.
"So you two are determined to sacrifice your daughter for personal gain? Cousin has been beaten like this, and you still want to send her into the tiger's den. Since you're so envious of this, why don't you do it yourself? Auntie, especially you. You're still charming. Maybe Xu Guangzong has a thing for you."
Feng Xiang was stunned. What kind of talk was this!
"As for Uncle, you're of average talent. Maybe you can be a lackey for Xu Guangzong's father. If you flatter him more, you'll surely be able to get on the Xu family's payroll one day."
The more Hua Qingqing talked, the more excited she got. She even clapped her hands.
"You brute!"
"You... I'll beat you to death!"
New and old grudges welled up. Unable to contain themselves any longer, the two of them rushed at her from front and back, trying to surround her.
Hua Qingqing sneered disdainfully. Holding the feather duster, she whipped them, making them jump around the room in agony.
"I've already told you not to mess with me. Do you think I'm easy to deal with? Think about how Yu Linsen was lying in bed before!"
Hua Qingqing's eyes were full of threats. "Drop your idea of sacrificing your daughter for personal gain. Xu Guangzong is finished. He's having extramarital affairs and beating women. He won't get out of prison for twenty or thirty years, unless the policy becomes more lenient in the future."
"If you're determined to send your daughter to get some benefits, that's fine. But let me tell you clearly, the Xu family is finished. Everyone knows about Xu Guangzong beating someone. In two days, it'll spread all over Nan County.
"Think about your son. If someone at school knows he has a brother - in - law who's been in jail, how will others look at him? Besides, if your son can't get into college, he'll have to get married in two years. Which city girl would take a fancy to him?"
Hua Qingqing's words really intimidated Yu Jianshan and Feng Xiang. They didn't stop them from leaving. As soon as they went out, the two of them couldn't wait to close the door. No one knew what they were talking about inside.
Hua Qingqing took Yu Linxiu directly to her room and took out two chocolates for her.
"They're sweet. Eat some. It'll make you feel better."
It was the first time Yu Linxiu had entered this small room. She saw the familiar quilt on the bed and the familiar table beside it and was stunned for a moment.
"What's this?"
Hua Qingqing was very calm. "I got this back from my cousin. He owed it to me."
Yu Linxiu looked at it for a while and nodded. Then she changed the topic. "It's great. I'm really envious of you. Just now, seeing my parents unable to say a word back to you, I felt really happy."
"I can't figure out why just rejecting Xu Guangzong is like committing a great sin... I also want to be like you."
Hua Qingqing peeled the chocolate wrapper and ate one. The rich taste of red wine filled her mouth. She nodded. "Actually, the method is very simple. You just need to be good to yourself and be harsh on them."
Yu Linxiu seemed to be deep in thought and then said that she understood.
In the evening, Grandma Fang heard about this. After seeing Yu Linxiu's wounds, she was a bit more human - like than Yu Jianshan and Feng Xiang. She hesitated for a while before persuading Yu Linxiu to forgive Xu Guangzong, telling her to take the opportunity to get some benefits and then marry into the Xu family.
But Yu Linxiu just remained silent. Yu Jianshan and Feng Xiang seemed to be convinced by Hua Qingqing's words or were still hesitating. In the end, they didn't force Yu Linxiu anymore.
...
The news soon spread among the neighbors.
"Huamei, my great - nephew's daughter heard something in the county. Isn't your granddaughter Linxiu dating a guy from the county? I heard that the guy has extramarital affairs and beats women. He's been arrested!"
"Alas, you can find a good son - in - law again. A man who beats women is not worth having!"
"Yes, yes..."
Grandma Fang was filled with anger and stormed home.
She started scolding Yu Linxiu.
"What's wrong with a woman being beaten a few times? Can't you just endure it!"
Yu Linxiu suddenly looked up and stared fixedly at Grandma Fang!