“Niancheng’s wife, you…”
When Auntie Liu was pulled out by Lin Qingyue, she no longer knew how to comfort this poor young wife.
It was too tragic, too pitiful!
It was bad enough that her own husband had an affair with another woman and fathered a child, but they even schemed to make her raise the child!
It was utterly unconscionable!
Yet what Auntie Liu hadn’t expected was that the Gu family was even more shameless and vicious than she had imagined.
“Auntie, from now on, please just call me by my name.”
Lin Qingyue was already thin and frail, but now she looked even more weakened—pale-faced, with vacant, lifeless eyes.
Auntie Liu opened her mouth but momentarily didn’t know where to begin with her comfort.
“Lin Qingyue, don’t worry. I’ll find someone to seek justice for you right away.”
Even if Lin Qingyue wasn’t from their village, they couldn’t bully a young girl like this.
Wasn’t it hard enough for a young woman to leave her hometown all alone? She had found a man in the village to marry, hoping to have a home and someone to look after her, and yet…
Auntie Liu had a daughter of her own. If her daughter were treated so cruelly, she would be heartbroken to death.
“Auntie, no need.” Lin Qingyue gave a weak smile. “I’m feeling a bit unwell. I’d like to go to town to see a doctor.”
“Alright, why don’t I go with you?”
Lin Qingyue shook her head and declined: “No need. Don’t you have to go to work soon?”
Auntie Liu’s heart ached even more. Look at this—what a sensible young woman, still thinking of others at a time like this. She quickly said, “Then be careful. Here, take this five yuan. You’ll need money at the hospital.”
It wasn’t that Auntie Liu was being generous, but rather she knew Lin Qingyue could earn money.
Although this girl was from the city, she was the most hardworking among the educated youth.
She was also someone who couldn’t sit still, working harder than any of the village women.
A full day’s work in the brigade was worth ten work points, which only strong male laborers pushing carts could earn.
Women could earn at most nine points, and Lin Qingyue used to earn nine points every single day.
She still did housework when she got home, and in her spare time she’d go up the mountain to dig for herbs, managing to earn a few yuan a month.
Auntie Liu wasn’t afraid she wouldn’t pay it back, and she could also curry a favor.
Besides, this young woman was truly pitiful—bullied terribly by her in-laws with no one to back her up.
“Thank you, Auntie. I’ll definitely pay you back when I return.” Lin Qingyue shed tears of gratitude.
Auntie Liu sighed: “I’ll go with you to find Old Sun.”
Niulan Village only had one ox cart. The village was too poor—bicycles and such were out of the question.
Auntie Liu helped Lin Qingyue sit down properly, and fearing the ride would be too bumpy, even padded a thick cotton-padded jacket under her bottom.
“Uncle Sun, go faster on the road, but keep it steady.”
Auntie Liu didn’t forget to instruct Old Sun. Lin Qingyue was so moved that tears fell in rapid drops.
She choked out her thanks, and as she lowered her head, her eyes were filled with icy coldness.
Gu Niancheng, I’ve taken the ox cart. I wonder how you’ll manage to take your young widow to town later?
Fifteen li of road—you just take your time walking.
And as for the young widow—in my last life, I endured nearly twenty hours of agony before giving birth, without even a midwife by my side.
In this life, I’m still being merciful. At the very least, I’ve left you a midwife. You just suffer through it well!
As for that ungrateful little brat in the young widow’s belly—do you know how much effort I poured into raising you? In the end, the moment you passed the college entrance exam, you stabbed me in the back first, claiming over and over that I was just your family’s free maid!
This life, you’d better be born well.
Let me see if, without me as their fool to exploit, your dear parents will still care for a premature baby as meticulously as I did in my past life.
They won’t be willing to draw blood three times a month to keep you alive!
The ox cart wasn’t fast, but it was still much quicker than walking on foot.
It wasn’t until the village was almost out of sight that Lin Qingyue heard someone shouting from behind:
“Stop, wait…”
Was that Gu Niancheng?
“Niancheng’s wife, is someone calling for us to stop?”
Old Sun heard it too and was about to halt the cart.
“No, Uncle Sun, I didn’t hear anything!”
“Ah, my stomach hurts so much, Uncle Sun. Could I be going into labor?”
Old Sun’s face tightened. “Ah, you’re about to give birth? Then I’ll hurry.”
“Must have misheard.”
Old Sun cracked his whip, and the ox cart sped up even faster than before.
By the time they reached town, more than half an hour had passed.
The ox cart ride cost fifty cents, and Lin Qingyue noted it on credit for Old Sun to collect from Gu Niancheng. She would be staying at the hospital tonight and wouldn’t be going back.
Standing at the entrance of the town hospital, Lin Qingyue finally felt at ease as she stroked her high, swollen belly.
Having left Niulan Village and the Gu family behind, no one should be able to harm her or cause premature labor today.
Wait, she felt like she had forgotten something?
Lin Qingyue frowned in thought but couldn’t recall what it was.
The town hospital was really just a health clinic with basic facilities. If she wanted to check whether the baby was healthy, she’d need to go to the city hospital for something more reliable.
Lin Qingyue originally had twenty-eight yuan on hand, plus the five yuan Auntie Liu had lent her, making thirty-three in total—more than enough for childbirth.
The hospital wasn’t far from the bus station, only about a five-minute walk.
“Dearie, I’m hungry!”
Just as she was nearing the station entrance, a figure stumbled into her path. Lin Qingyue narrowly dodged aside and instinctively reached out to steady the person who had bumped into her.
It was an old woman with graying hair. Her clothes were dirty but had no patches on them.
In these times, anyone who could wear clothes without patches must come from a decent family.
Could this person be… lost?
But Lin Qingyue didn’t have much money on her either!
Just as she was about to leave, the old woman grabbed Lin Qingyue’s sleeve, looking at her pitifully:
“I haven’t eaten in two or three days, and I can’t find my grandson…”
Seeing the old woman’s helpless and pitiful state, Lin Qingyue’s heart softened.
Out in the world, especially for an elderly person, anyone could find themselves in a difficult spot. If she could help, she should—she could afford to buy one meal, and it would count as good karma for the daughter in her belly.
Lin Qingyue helped the old woman to a bun shop by the station and ordered four pork-stuffed buns and two bowls of porridge.
The old woman was clearly starving, grabbing the buns and eating them in big mouthfuls.
Though she ate quickly, she didn’t look desperate or sloppy.
Lin Qingyue understood this in her heart and simply sipped her porridge slowly.
The old woman ate three buns before picking up her porridge and drinking half a bowl, her gaze fixed directly on the last big bun.
“Granny, I’m not hungry. You go ahead and eat it.”
Lin Qingyue picked up the plump white bun and handed it over.
The old woman hesitated for a moment, then took it and took a bite. This time, she ate much more slowly than before.
“Thank you, dearie.”
Having eaten her fill, the old woman seemed much more spirited.
“You’re welcome. Granny, where is your home? Why are you out here all alone?”
Lin Qingyue was genuinely curious.
“I… I’ve forgotten.”
The old lady frowned, trying to recall, but nothing came to mind. Frustrated, she raised her hand and began pounding her own head.
Lin Qingyue quickly stopped her. “Grandma, if you can’t remember, then don’t force it. By the way, where are you staying now? Do you still have money to buy food?”
The old lady’s eyes were vacant. “Child, I don’t know…”
“I need to find my grandson. My grandson is…” She raised her hand to hit her head again.
Lin Qingyue stopped her once more. This old lady’s mind was indeed not right.
Leaving her alone like this wouldn’t be safe. Fine, she would just bring her along.
It was only an extra thirty cents for the bus fare, right? And a few more days of meals—with over thirty yuan in her pocket, she could afford it.
However, what Lin Qingyue hadn’t expected was that after riding for three hours and getting off the bus, they hadn’t even walked five hundred meters before two people blocked their path!
The man at the front wore all black and stood at least 185 centimeters tall.
His aura was icy cold, his eyes sharp as blades. Just standing there, he inspired fear and made people want to retreat.
The two men behind him also wore stern expressions and stood at rigid attention, clearly having undergone special training.
Lin Qingyue tightened her grip on the old lady’s arm, about to step around them, when the old lady suddenly stared at the man and clapped her hands with laughter:
“Grandson, look, I’ve brought your wife back! Isn’t your grandma amazing?”