Chapter 54: Ten Years of Toil

y town, came home braving the wind and snow, with a body full of cold.He went straight into the east room, bowed respectfully to his grandmother, then stood far away, gazing at his younger sister with...The family was so happy and peaceful that the year passed quickly. He couldn't bear it anymore, so he lay down on the edge of the kang and fell asleep.

The rest of the family, however, dared not close their eyes.

A child's life is so fragile. How many lives have been discarded in the gullies outside the city

They couldn't even imagine what would happen to her family if something happened to Jia Yin.

Luckily, Jiayin found some fever-reducing medicine that worked quickly.

In less than a quarter of an hour, she began to sweat profusely, her hair plastered to her forehead.

"Alright, alright, sweating is the way to cool down." Old Lady Li was delighted and ecstatic.

Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru hugged each other, wiping tears, then quickly found their clothes, taking them off Jia Yin's body.

After tossing and turning for about half an hour, Jia Yin's fever finally subsided.

She opened her eyes sleepily, weakly smiled at her grandmother, and then burrowed into her mother's arms to nurse.

Old Mrs. Li hurried out to spread the good news, and everyone in the main hall was whispering with joy.

"Oh, finally done."

"That's great, Fu Niu'er is blessed with good fortune."

The village head felt relieved, gave them a few instructions and went back.

While everyone else went back to their rooms to sleep, Jia Yi stayed kneeling before the old woman.

"Mother, my mother...my mother is burning with fever too. She's started talking nonsense. Could the medicine sister ate be given to Mother as well..."

Jia Yi lowered his head, as if knowing this was wrong. By the end, his voice was choked with emotion.

Wu Cuifang is a terrible person, always his mother who gave birth to him and raised him.

He couldn't just stand by and watch his mother die...

The house was deathly silent, and everyone’s hearts were filled with complexity, especially Li Laoer and Jiaren who had just learned the news.

After a long silence, Old Li finally spoke.

"Second brother, go and see what's going on"

Li Lao'er hurriedly opened the door and went out, Jia Ren following behind.

In the eastern guest room, Wu Cuifang had already been untied. But her face was flushed red from anger and she was babbling nonsense. She couldn't even move, let alone run away.

Jia Ren and Jia Yi looked at each other, their expressions complex. One poured water, the other helped up their mother...

Li Lao Er felt deeply distressed. He turned and walked away. When he returned home and saw his mother, he sighed and said, "Mother, Wu Cuifang is truly a skilled cook."

Li Laotai spread open her palm, revealing the remaining half of the small pill.

To be honest, she couldn't bear to part with it. This was a miraculous medicine that her granddaughter had somehow found.

I don't know if I can find it again in the future, so it's always good to have some at home, just in case...

But Wu Cuifang is her son's wife and the mother of two grandsons. She can't just watch her burn to a fool!

"Alright, give her the medicine. When she's better, bring Jiaren and Jiayi over. I have something to tell them."

Li Lao Ta handed the pills to her son and then turned back into the house.

Li Lao'er hurried to the side room...

When the sky was bright, the Li family, who had been tossing and turning all night, each had dark circles under their eyes.

But Jia Yin didn't get better, she was still a little weak, but she had already recovered from the illness.

In the side room, Wu Cuifang had also recovered from her fever. She complained that she had no taste in her mouth and wanted to drink congee.

Unfortunately, everyone gathered in the hall and ignored her.

Li Laotai puffed on her cigarette holder, a divorce notice lying on the table.

I'm just an old woman who doesn't understand big principles. I just feel that no one always does bad things without being punished. Wu Cuifang stole Fu Niuer away this time, completely disregarding Fu Niuer's life or death.

She's not just foolish anymore, she's malicious. Her heart doesn't have our Li family in it at all. If we keep her at home, she'll probably destroy our family in the future.

But she had given birth to Jia Ren and Jia Yi. Jia Ren was studying to take the civil service exams, and he couldn't have a wife who was abandoned.

She sighed, looking at her son and daughter-in-law.

"Second Brother, later we'll go into the city to find a place. Something like manual labor that provides food and lodging. The pay doesn't matter, just sign a ten-year contract."

Today, I'll send her there. In the future, if she can earn a living, she'll live. If she can't, she'll die. Then, we won't have anything to do with her anymore.

Jiā Rén Jiā Yì knelt on the ground, his eyes red. He wanted to say something but choked with sobs.

My own mother, for doing such a wicked thing, being driven out of the house is only what she deserves.

But Grandma treated their mother's illness for them, and in the end, she only drove her to live in the city and didn't give her a divorce...

"Mom, we will definitely be filial to you in the future."

Li Lao Tai waved her hand, letting out a long sigh.

You are good children, it's a pity you didn't have a good mother. How you treat me in the future, I don't care. But if you remember today's events, be sure to take good care of Fu Nier.

Your mother is a fool, she probably doesn't think she's wrong. The debts she owes are to be repaid by you brothers. As sons, you have done your duty. From now on, consider her as if she never existed."

"Milk…" Jia Ren cried out, filled with guilt and the frustration of being caught in the middle...

That's settled then.

It's because Wu Cuifang was driven out that Li Laosi and Tao Hongying made up with each other. Both of them felt much better.

Wu Cuiflower lay on the kang, perhaps feeling that being ill gave her leverage. She shouted again and again, until Jia Yi came to bring her a bowl of porridge.

She still thought yesterday's events were over, sipping porridge and complaining to her son.

"Your grandmother is really making a fuss out of nothing. It's just your uncle taking Funi out to play for a while. Whose child is so pampered that they can't even be held by relatives"

You'd better go find your father and brother quickly and beg them to plead for you. Untie your uncle. What's the point of tying him up like this Didn't that little girl's injury already heal Not even a single hair on her head is missing.

Wu Erdog had his rags pulled out of his mouth, and now he was lying on the kang, rolling to the edge, still shouting.

"Nephew, hurry up and help me open this. When your uncle wins some money later, I'll buy you candy."

Unfortunately, Jiayi completely ignored him. He lowered his head, picked up his bowl, and walked away.

By the time lunchtime rolled around, Wu Cuifang and her brother had been waiting for quite a while.

Wu Erdog was extremely hungry and kept clamoring, so the door to the house was opened.

Li Laosi left after being called, Wu Cuifang was frightened. Before she could scream several times, Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru also came in.

Two people tied her hands and feet, and began dragging her out.

"What are you doing!"

Wu Cuifang was so scared that she ended up being thrown onto the donkey cart, huddling together with Wu Erdog.

Li Laosi drove the cart, Li Laoer sat on the axle, and they quickly left the village.

In less than half an hour, they reached the county town. The donkey cart went through seven or eight turns and finally stopped at the most rundown shantytown in the north of the city.

An old woman was waiting at the door of a small, low house. When Lao Er Li arrived, she saw him.

She gave Wu Cuifang a disdainful glance and said, "At first glance, she looks like a lazy good-for-nothing."

Li Lao'er replied, "Don't worry, Ma'am. Once she gets here, she's under your care. If she doesn't do her work well, whether it's beatings, scolding, or starvation, it's all up to you. Our family treats her as if she's dead and won't interfere at all."

The old woman finally nodded in agreement and took out a deed. Li La'er pulled Wu Cuifang's thumb and pressed her fingerprint on it.

Li Lao Si dragged Wu Cuifang and Wu Erdog hard and threw them into the courtyard.

Then, the two brothers left without looking back.

Wu Cuifang didn't know what was going on, so angry that she sat on the ground and patted her thigh crying.

"You heartless thing, I gave birth to two sons for you. Waaaah, is this how you just throw them away!"

The old woman wouldn't listen at all. With a loud clang, she threw a basin of dirty laundry in front of the two of them.

One must wash ten sets of clothes a day, not even one less or there will be no food.

Wu Cuiflower glared and asked, "Why should I wash your shirts"

The old woman waved the contract in her hand, "Your family sold you to me as a laborer for ten years! Don't try to play tricks on me, if you run away, I'll break your legs!"

Wu Cuifang gasped, ten years of hard work!

She fainted with her eyes rolling back, but Wu Erdog endured the pain in his body and got up, asking, "Does my sister get paid for her work How much per month"

The old woman gave him a withering look. "One hundred coins a month! The Li family has already taken away a year's worth of wages!"

Wu Erdog heard that there was no money, and he was also disappointed. He turned his head and walked out, not even glancing at his sister who was unconscious.

He wasn't sold into labor either, and he didn't want to do hard work. He might as well go to the casino and try his luck.

Wu Cuifang was splashed awake by the old woman's bucket of cold water, and she truly regretted it.

She thought this time she would get away with her mistake, at most a beating.

But unexpectedly, she was really driven out of the house.

After ten years of hard labor, is she still alive

She simply threw a tantrum, broke the pot and went to pieces, refusing to get up no matter what.

But the old woman wasn't a member of the Li family. Fearful of retaliation, they beat her up and locked her in a dilapidated hut, starving her for three days.

When the door opened again, Wu Cuifang was already crawling out, begging to work desperately...ning a large staff without good reason, and still paying them monthly stipends. It was really a waste of money. If we split some of them up, it would also lighten the burden on the Marquis's house.And...