Seeing her crying so miserably, Miao Tianli hurried over to comfort her. “What’s wrong, girl? Did someone bully you?”
“It was her!”
Miao Miaomiao didn’t hold back at all. She immediately pointed her finger straight at Miao Qingqing’s chest. “My little sister is so vicious! She actually framed me and ruined my reputation, saying I like to steal men, and even accused me of stealing her man—waaah…”
Playing the victim—who didn’t know that trick?
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Miao Qingqing hurriedly turned to her parents to defend herself. “Dad, Mom, I didn’t! I really didn’t!”
“You still dare say you didn’t!”
Miao Miaomiao instantly leaned against her mother’s shoulder and cried harder. “Mom, look at her… she’s spreading rumors about me like this. My reputation is ruined—how will I ever get married in the future, waaah… Mom, if I can’t get married, how are you supposed to collect a bride price, waaah…”
That single line stabbed straight into Zhang Cuiying’s soft spot.
The thing Zhang Cuiying feared most in her life was her daughters not being able to fetch a good bride price. Big Girl was already a widow—her remarriage bride price would be heavily discounted as it was.
Now that someone was spreading such rumors, her reputation would be completely ruined. How could she possibly get married in the future?
Wouldn’t that mean Big Girl would have to stay home eating for free for the rest of her life, rotting in her hands?
How could Zhang Cuiying possibly accept such a cruel reality?
Furious, she let go of Miao Miaomiao and slapped Miao Qingqing across the face.
“Pa!”
Miao Qingqing, slapped out of nowhere by her own mother, was completely stunned.
“Mom… why did you hit me…”
Covering her face, she turned to look at her mother in shock.
Zhang Cuiying was livid, pointing at her nose as she cursed. “You idiot! I don’t even know how I gave birth to you! And you still don’t know you’re wrong? I’ll hit you again—!”
She raised her thick palm once more.
“Waaah—” Miao Qingqing was so frightened she burst into tears.
Miao Tianli quickly stepped in front of her, shielding her. “Alright, Yingzi, let’s talk it out. Don’t hit her.”
“Get out of the way!” Zhang Cuiying snapped, shoving Miao Tianli aside. She kept pointing and scolding, “You stupid girl, hurry up and get married already! You eat all day without doing any work, and now you even dare to smash my rice bowl! Why are you ruining your sister’s reputation like this? If she can’t get married, are you going to support her? Huh? Answer me!”
Miao Qingqing froze, then suddenly turned her head and glared viciously at Miao Miaomiao.
Only now did she understand why she’d been slapped for no reason.
So it was Miao Miaomiao using dirty tricks behind the scenes!
She met Miao Miaomiao’s gaze, only to see her looking calm and composed, her eyes icy cold.
Damn it—she did it on purpose!
Miao Qingqing lowered her head. Her eyes were red, hatred boiling inside them like flames ready to erupt.
Miao Miaomiao!
I swear I’ll kill you!
At that moment, utterly wronged, Miao Qingqing looked around, hoping to find a man nearby to help her—only to realize Li Sanchuan had disappeared at some point.
“Don’t bother looking. He already vanished beautifully,” Miao Miaomiao said with a smile, deliberately twisting the knife.
She could have not said it.
So why did she have to say it and stab her in the heart?
That sentence sent Miao Qingqing’s anger surging again. She lifted her head slightly.
She glared at Miao Miaomiao viciously, her gaze truly resembling a raging male lion.
“What are you standing there for?”
The very next second, Zhang Cuiying smacked her on the head again.
The lion instantly turned into a cowardly cub, her momentum snuffed out once more.
“Hurry up and go back and cook! I’m starving to death!”
Miao Qingqing could only be dragged away by Zhang Cuiying in disgrace.
Only after watching her walk far away did Miao Miaomiao clutch her stomach and burst out laughing.
Hahaha, that scene was just too entertaining.
…
Miao Qingqing was so angry she didn’t come out to eat lunch, nor even dinner.
Zhang Cuiying didn’t leave her any food either, claiming it was punishment to teach her a lesson.
But after dinner, Miao Miaomiao still saw her father quietly bringing two cornmeal buns to Miao Qingqing.
“Dad.”
After Miao Tianli sneaked out of the room, Miao Miaomiao called out to him.
“Ah—uh, hehe…” Miao Tianli gave an awkward smile and walked over. “What is it, Big Girl? Why aren’t you washing up and going to sleep?”
Miao Miaomiao smiled faintly and didn’t expose him.
She pulled out a ten-yuan bill and handed it to her father. “Dad, your daughter isn’t very capable and didn’t earn much money. I’ll return ten yuan to you first.”
Miao Tianli hurriedly looked around and pulled her aside, afraid Zhang Cuiying might pass by and see.
“Oh, Big Girl, you should keep this money for yourself. Dad doesn’t want it—I’ve got money.”
He kept pushing it away, refusing no matter what.
“That won’t do!” Miao Miaomiao insisted on stuffing it into his arms. “Just take it for now, so Second Uncle and the others won’t come bothering you again.”
Miao Tianli froze for a moment, then still refused. “No need, no need. You don’t earn money easily—keep it and spend it slowly yourself.”
He pushed her hand back again.
Miao Miaomiao stared at him in surprise. “Dad… do you already know about me secretly selling mushrooms?”
Miao Tianli lowered his head in silence.
Sometimes, not answering was the best answer.
“Big Girl, actually Dad knows you’re capable. Whatever you want to do, your mom and I won’t stop you.”
“Ah? Mom knows too?”
“Mm.” He nodded.
She opened her mouth slightly, shocked.
So the two of them had known all along. They didn’t support her, but they didn’t expose her either—pretending not to know and letting her do her own thing, letting her venture out.
Silent support—that was what real family was.
“In the future, whatever you want to do, just tell Dad. I may not have much ability, but I’ll do my best to support you.”
Seeing his daughter grow capable now filled Miao Tianli with relief.
After a moment of silence, Miao Miaomiao finally spoke what was deepest in her heart. “Dad, I want to go to the city to find a job.”
“Huh?”
Miao Tianli was shocked.
He widened his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. “Silly girl, do you know what things are like in the city? Most jobs are passed down from father to son, generation to generation—it’s hard enough to find one. We’re rural registered residents, not city folk like them. How could we possibly find a job?”
He thought she’d continue doing speculative business, which was why he’d shown that attitude.
He never expected her to aim straight for the city, for something so difficult.
“But…” Miao Miaomiao hesitated. “If I stay in the village, I can’t make use of my abilities…”
In this mountain village, every household ate sorghum or cornmeal every day—coarse grains. You could hardly ever see white flour.
The only time she’d seen it, Zhang Cuiying had locked it away like a treasure, never even taking it out to eat.
How could she possibly have a chance to put her skills to use like this?
“Sigh…”
Miao Tianli sighed again.
He knew very well that his daughter was the kind who wouldn’t turn back until she hit a wall.
Rather than tying her down, it was better to let her go out and try.
“Alright then. Dad will go get you a letter of introduction tomorrow.”