Chapter 154: Anxious Near Home
Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Anxious Near Home
"They’re not taking the child? Shouldn’t they care for every aspect of their daughter?" Fu Xiaoxiao was startled. She hadn’t expected the daughter’s family, who doted so much on her, to refuse their own granddaughter?
"Yes, it’s strange. But my son just told me to bring the child back with me and not to worry about other matters. So I had no choice but to bring the child on the train back to the village." Aunt Wu was puzzled, but since her son spoke so, she didn’t want to meddle in the family’s affairs and simply took the child home.
"I’ve only met my daughter-in-law twice. She seemed difficult to get along with, always arguing with my son when things don’t go her way, and looked disgusted with me viewing us as poor countryside folks. My husband got so angry that he just went back home without attending the wedding." Aunt Wu complained bitterly to Fu Xiaoxiao.
"That... really is too much." In Fu Xiaoxiao’s mind, an image of a spoiled lady automatically formed.
"Exactly, they look down on us rural people, secretly saying we’re going there to freeload. Yet my son is like he’s been caught in some scandal, no matter what they say, he doesn’t get angry, just patiently soothing his wife. Seeing him without a spine like that makes me furious!" Aunt Wu said through gritted teeth.
Fu Xiaoxiao blinked her eyes.
"Let me tell you, my son has been ambitious since he was a child, with a backbone. His father wanted him to inherit the family’s carpentry skills. He wasn’t willing at all, insisted on getting an education, and indeed he did, got into university and even landed a job." Aunt Wu was proud of her son, the first from the village to make something of himself. He’s always been her pride.
"So seeing him act spineless like that, I think he must have some dirt they have on him." Aunt Wu hurriedly explained to Fu Xiaoxiao, fearing she’d misunderstand her son.
Her son is not a man who clings to someone powerful; he’s ambitious and capable.
"Did you ask him?" Fu Xiaoxiao asked.
"I did! But the stubborn child wouldn’t say anything, just asked me to take the child away." Aunt Wu was confused but ultimately listened to her son and didn’t press further.
"If I hadn’t met you, I don’t know how long I’d be soothing this ancestor. He started crying as soon as I picked him up, cried all the way onto the train until encountering you." Aunt Wu was truly impressed. "I changed his diaper and made formula, held him, soothed him, but nothing worked."
Fu Xiaoxiao handed the sleeping child back to Aunt Wu, who carefully cradled him, fearing he’d wake halfway through.
Luckily, everything went smoothly, successful handover, Aunt Wu breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, who are you visiting with these four kids in the village? I’ll see if I know them." Aunt Wu finally remembered, curious about Fu Xiaoxiao’s errand as she hailed from the same place.
"I’m looking for Sister Chen Xiu." Fu Xiaoxiao glanced at Aunt Wu and answered.
"Isn’t Chen Xiu married to a soldier? How come she’s back?" Aunt Wu naturally knew and even watched her grow up. "When she got married, she was carefully picked by their family, a soldier, with prospects."
"Ah..." Fu Xiaoxiao sighed heavily, unsure how to tell Aunt Wu.
"Alright, with your sigh I know she’s not doing well, right?" Aunt Wu was experienced, hearing the sigh she knew it must be those matters again.
"Yes, marrying well is good, but once the man gained status, he despises Sister Chen Xiu." Fu Xiaoxiao pursed her lips and shared about Chen Xiu being despised and constantly scolded by Li Si with Aunt Wu.
"What? That Li Si really is no good. I always said the Li Family aren’t good people, turns out to be true, they’re all of a kind." Hearing this, Aunt Wu, a fellow woman, got infuriated too.
"You have no idea, that Li Family is next to our village. Because of this son, they look down on folks in the village! Who in the village doesn’t know their son sends them money every month, and it’s quite a substantial amount. Old Mrs. Li brags constantly about her son having achievements, marrying a wife without forgetting his mother, honoring both his elders." Aunt Wu had lived here for decades, familiar with nearby villages.
Once Fu Xiaoxiao mentioned a name, she’d immediately know whose family it was.
"Indeed, he’s quite proud." Fu Xiaoxiao agreed. Li Si’s attitude towards Chen Xiu was certainly that way.
"In marriage, it’s crucial to keep your eyes sharp, not only on the man but also his family." Aunt Wu sighed and shook her head. "High status conceitedly despises people, isn’t my daughter-in-law the same way?"
Fu Xiaoxiao nodded; it was indeed like that.
Since it wasn’t far, they soon arrived at the station. Fu Xiaoxiao helped Aunt Wu carry the child, Aunt Wu preferred carrying luggage rather than the child, while the four kids obediently held hands and disembarked.
Fu Xiaoxiao was unfamiliar with the area, but fortunately, there was Aunt Wu guiding her on how to take and transfer the train, and negotiate with the ox cart driver. In less than half a day, they stood at the entrance of Taoyuan Village.
"Look, ahead there’s the Chen Family house with the blue bricks. Just follow this road straight." Aunt Wu kindly pointed the way for Fu Xiaoxiao.
"What about you? Shall we take you home first?" Fu Xiaoxiao, feeling grateful, looked at Aunt Wu.
"No need, no need, my home is close. See, my husband has come to pick me up." Aunt Wu was about to say her home was close when she noticed her husband walking towards them.
"This is my husband Wu Lei, this is Fu Xiaoxiao, who helped me a lot along the way. If it weren’t for her, I’d be driven mad by this ancestor." Seeing Wu Lei, Aunt Wu quickly explained with a laugh.
"Thank you for taking care of my wife." Wu Lei nodded at Fu Xiaoxiao, a man of few words, this was his limit.
Then he took all the luggage from Aunt Wu’s hands.
"Xiao Xiao, I’m heading home first, come visit us sometime." Aunt Wu, holding the child, waved at Fu Xiaoxiao and the others.
"Goodbye Grandma Wu." Lu Chen mimicked Aunt Wu and waved his hand.
"Come on! Let’s go find Sister Chen Xiu." Fu Xiaoxiao looked at the stiff-legged Li Lei and Li Sen, patting their shoulders.
Finally, they arrived at Sister Chen Xiu’s home, the closer they got, the more scared the two kids became, wanting to flee.
"Why don’t we... forget it, let’s go back!" Li Lei, looking at the near blue brick house, felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.
"Silly child, we’ve come this far." Fu Xiaoxiao walked behind him, gently pushed.
"What if mom doesn’t want to see us..." Li Sen timidly looked at Fu Xiaoxiao. They were once not good kids, naughty enough to make Chen Xiu wish she never had them.
Fu Xiaoxiao pulled them aside, just about to speak when they heard sobbing from the other side of the wall.
"Woo..."