Even at this moment, Qin Jiao still showed no respect when referring to the small courtyard.
Although Xu Dongmei felt it was somewhat improper, her worry for her husband made her ignore her daughter’s tone.
“But… but…”
He had severed ties with her just two days ago. If she went to beg him, would he really help?
Xu Dongmei hesitated, unable to make up her mind.
On the side, Qin Jiao grew both anxious and angry.
“Mom, if you refuse to go, are you just going to watch Dad be falsely accused and die?”
“What will happen to our family then?”
“You’re not young anymore. Don’t tell me you’re thinking of remarrying?”
Qin Jiao’s words showed no respect at all for her mother.
Xu Dongmei’s face stiffened, turning ugly.
After thinking about her daughter’s words and glancing toward the distance where Xiao Yuan stood leaning against the wall with crutches, she bit her lip and made up her mind.
“Mom, listen to me, do this…”
Seeing that Xu Dongmei was persuaded, Qin Jiao immediately leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“You gave birth to him, raised him. If you need him and he refuses, just kneel down…”
This idea was truly vicious.
Qin Jiao believed this move would firmly control Xiao Yuan.
Xu Dongmei nodded absentmindedly, taking her daughter’s words to heart.
Yes, yes—her daughter was right.
Xiao Yuan was flesh that fell from her body. Although there had been small conflicts before, those were nothing.
Right now, saving her husband was the most important thing.
With that thought settled, Xu Dongmei quickly walked toward Xiao Yuan.
Wu Jiangtao had been standing beside him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Xu Dongmei approaching and lowered his voice.
“Should we go back first?”
Xiao Yuan had also noticed her.
He shook his head.
“I still need to move around the brigade in the future. There’s no need to avoid her.”
Avoidance wasn’t a solution.
Wu Jiangtao said, “She might make things difficult for you.”
“I know.”
Xiao Yuan’s thin lips parted slightly, his gaze landing on Zhang Chenggong in the distance.
“She wants me to plead for Qin Aiguo.”
His tone was very cold.
A faint, mocking smile appeared on his lips.
How ridiculous—this so-called mother of his actually cared so much for that scum Qin Aiguo.
Wu Jiangtao looked at him, momentarily stunned.
“Ah Yuan, you…”
“What?”
Wu Jiangtao shook his head subconsciously.
“It’s just… you feel different. Like you’ve come alive.”
The current Xiao Yuan was nothing like before.
Previously, he was lifeless, decayed, without hope.
Like a walking corpse.
He could speak and breathe, but lacked vitality.
But now, he felt… powerful.
As if someone wandering aimlessly in darkness had suddenly found the direction of light.
“I don’t know if I’m describing it right,” Wu Jiangtao scratched his head.
Xiao Yuan repeated softly, “The direction of light?”
Yes.
He had indeed found his light.
That light was warm… and beautiful.
“In any case, now you give people the feeling that everything still has hope,” Wu Jiangtao said, patting his shoulder firmly. “If you have hope, then we all have hope.”
A faint smile appeared on Xiao Yuan’s thin face.
“Mm.”
Not long after, Xu Dongmei arrived.
Everyone in the brigade knew about their relationship.
Seeing her approach, people stepped aside to watch.
“A-Yuan…”
As soon as she spoke, tears fell immediately.
She looked utterly wronged, as if she were the one being bullied.
Xiao Yuan looked at her calmly, frowning slightly.
“I remember we already cut ties.”
Those words, neither heavy nor light, struck Xu Dongmei like a hammer to the heart.
“A-Yuan…”
She cried even harder.
“I’m your mother! You don’t want your mother anymore?”
“Do you remember when you had a fever as a child? I carried you through the night to find a doctor…”
“That night was so cold, just the two of us…”
She was very skilled at manipulating emotions.
With just a few words, she placed herself on the moral high ground.
And at the same time, she stirred up painful memories.
But Xiao Yuan did not react as she expected.
He simply looked at her calmly.
“I remember.”
Xu Dongmei’s eyes lit up.
“A-Yuan…”
He interrupted her.
“I also remember that my fever started because your children wanted to eat river snails. You and Qin Aiguo refused to go catch them yourselves, so you threw me into the river.”
“And told me that since I was already wet, I should catch snails for my younger siblings—that’s what an older brother should do.”
“If you want to talk about childhood memories, I won’t avoid them.”
“After I returned home, I developed a fever.”
“I told you I felt unwell. What did you say?”
“Boys aren’t that delicate. Sleep it off and you’ll be fine.”
“So I slept beside the cattle shed on straw, shivering in the cold wind all night.”
He paused slightly.
His gaze swept over the surrounding listeners.
“I was five when you remarried. I started working in the fields, herding cattle, feeding pigs, washing your children’s diapers in winter…”
“I remember everything clearly.”
“What did you say then? That I was the older brother, so taking care of younger siblings was my duty.”
“When there was work, you treated me as your son’s older brother—but when it came to food, I ate the least, wore the worst clothes, and slept beside the cattle shed.”
“And what did you say? That life was hard, and things would get better later.”
His voice remained calm and steady.
But every word struck like a needle into the hearts of those listening.
Especially the older women nearby—they felt anger rising in them.
How could a mother treat her own biological son like this?
Xu Dongmei could only shake her head and cry.
“No… no… that’s not how it is…”
A familiar voice suddenly cut in.
“What do you mean it’s not? Are you saying my man made this up and wronged you?”
Su Yun stepped forward with a faint smile.
Hearing her voice, a smile appeared on Xiao Yuan’s face.
Then it stiffened slightly.
He did not want her to know these shameful parts of his past.
Su Yun walked through the crowd and stood beside him.
Her eyes carried a cold smile as she looked at the crying Xu Dongmei.
“Auntie, Brother Yuan has been working like a slave for your family since he was five. After all these years, your debt of raising him should already be paid off, shouldn’t it?”