“My grandma wanted to hit my mom—it’s all my fault. How could I let my mom get beaten? So I rushed to shield her, and my head got split open.”
“I fainted and slept too long. I woke up late this morning and didn’t make breakfast, which made Grandma angry… so she hit me again.”
She deliberately brushed her hair aside, revealing a face smeared with blood.
Then she turned and knelt before the old woman. “Grandma, I really didn’t mean to skip making breakfast. I fainted and couldn’t wake up. I’ll be like before—I’ll cook all the meals at home.”
“Please don’t hit me anymore. Once I recover, I’ll do all the housework just like before, alright? Grandma, please don’t beat me.”
Lin Yuxi knew people valued filial piety and respect for elders. If she openly defied her grandmother in front of everyone, the crowd might sympathize with the old woman instead.
With no other choice, she could only play the “white lotus” for once.
As she spoke, she casually rolled up her sleeves, exposing the bruises covering her body.
The production team leader looked at Lin Yuxi’s miserable state, then at the stick in the old woman’s hand, his expression darkening.
“She’s your granddaughter—how can you be so ruthless? And with such a big family, and three daughters-in-law, how can you make a child cook every day?”
Lin Yuxi hurriedly said, “Team leader, I’m willing to cook. I really am. I want to go to school, so I’m willing to work. I’ll do any job.”
The team leader’s face turned even darker. He understood now—the old woman was using schooling as leverage to control the girl.
Lin Yuxi added, “Grandma, you said girls are a waste of money and don’t need schooling.”
“But my older cousin from Uncle’s family and my younger cousin from Third Uncle’s family both go to school. I want to go too. After school, I’ll come straight home—I promise I won’t delay making meals again. Is that okay, Grandma?”
The onlookers began murmuring. So this whole family was singling this girl out for unfair treatment.
Other granddaughters could attend school, but this one had to cook for the entire family and do all the housework just to earn the chance.
Someone couldn’t help asking, “Old Lin family—this granddaughter isn’t your biological one, is she?”
The old woman showed a flicker of guilt, then immediately snapped, “Shut your filthy mouth! Yuxi is our real granddaughter. What’s wrong with making her do some work? Which village girl doesn’t work?”
“But you can’t make a child cook every single day! What are your daughters-in-law doing?”
Lin Yuxi didn’t even need to say anything anymore—others were speaking up for her. She just stood there quietly wiping her tears.
At that moment, her adoptive mother, Jiang Taohua, pushed through the crowd and grabbed Lin Yuxi, giving her a slap.
“You child! I’ve just been unwell these past few days, so you helped cook for me. Why are you making such a fuss?”
“Come on, go home with me.” She tried to drag her away.
Of course, Lin Yuxi couldn’t leave like this. She secretly pinched her arm hard—she was going all in today.
“Mom, be gentle, it hurts…” She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a large patch of red and purple bruises.
“Mom, the pinch from yesterday hasn’t even healed yet. I never blamed you—I believed you when you said it was all Grandma’s idea.” As she spoke, she didn’t miss the vicious glare her grandmother shot at her mother.
“You’re saying now I was just helping you these few days—but I’ve been working since I was seven or eight. Since starting middle school in town last year, I’ve been cooking and doing chores every day.”
“So are you saying I’ve been doing your share all these years? In this house, only you work? Auntie and Third Aunt don’t do anything?”
By now, everyone understood—her mother and grandmother were working together to bully this child.
A middle-aged woman stepped out from the crowd—Lin Yuxi recognized her as the village women’s director.
She immediately raised her bloodied face and looked at her pitifully.
The director, being a mother herself, couldn’t stand the sight.
She strode forward and angrily scolded the pair. “Look at how you’ve beaten this child! This is child abuse—it’s a crime, do you understand?”
“Yuxi, don’t be afraid. If they hit you again, come find me. I’ll report it to the authorities and have them thrown in jail.”
The old woman tried to argue, but the team leader waved his hand.
“That’s enough. From now on, you’re not allowed to beat or scold her, and you’re not allowed to make her do so much work.”
“You must treat her the same as the other granddaughters. If I find out you’re just pretending to comply, don’t blame me for being harsh.”
Seeing the team leader speak, the old woman could only nod reluctantly.
Lin Yuxi felt a surge of joy—this was her first step toward changing her fate.
She pretended to be frightened as she followed her grandmother and mother home, while the others watched her with pity.
She knew the real battles were just beginning.
First, she had to break free from these exploitative adoptive parents. Then, she needed to find Lu Yi.
She began planning—first, she had to find a way to make money. With financial independence, she could better face the future.
Lost in thought, she arrived home before she knew it.
The moment she stepped inside, the old woman and Jiang Taohua turned on her.
“You wretched girl! When did I ever pinch you? How dare you slander me in front of everyone!” Jiang Taohua reached out, actually trying to pinch her.
Lin Yuxi dodged swiftly.
This adoptive mother of hers was even worse than the old woman.
In the past, she had complained—why was she the only one doing all the work?
And what had her mother said? “Just think of it as helping Mom. Your grandma doesn’t like me—help me more so she won’t pick on me.”
Whenever she tried to stop working, her mother would cry and beg, saying if she didn’t, the grandmother would take it out on her.
Or she’d say, “Fine, Yuxi doesn’t have to do it. At worst, your grandma will beat me. It’s okay, I can take it.”
Back then, believing she was her real mother, Lin Yuxi never questioned her words. She only felt sorry for her and thought, it’s just some work—it won’t kill me.
Lost in those memories, she was suddenly struck by the old woman’s stick. A dull pain shot through her arm.
Still furious from losing face earlier, the old woman had no intention of letting her off.
Soon, a piercing scream rang out from the Lin household. The villagers who had just dispersed hurried back.
Inside, both the old woman and Jiang Taohua were startled by Lin Yuxi’s scream. While they were momentarily stunned, Lin Yuxi snatched the stick and viciously struck her own leg and arm.
Two fresh, bloody welts instantly appeared.
Then she shoved the stick back into the old woman’s hands and collapsed onto the ground.
Just then, the villagers burst through the door.
What they saw: the old woman holding a stick.
Lin Yuxi lying on the ground, with shocking fresh blood marks on her arm and leg, weakly crying for help.
That was enough—some people had already rushed off to find the team leader and the women’s director again.
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