In his own mother’s eyes, only the younger brother born to her and her stepfather mattered. What must he have felt in his heart?
Xiao Yuan stood half-hidden in the shadows.
On his gaunt, deeply lined face, not a trace of sorrow could be seen.
His eyes were as calm as still water.
His expression was even more composed and unruffled.
It seemed as if something was before him.
Yet also as if there was nothing at all.
Su Yun glanced at him, then withdrew her gaze.
She sighed and said to Xu Dongmei, “Stop crying, he’s not dead yet!”
Hearing her voice, Xu Dongmei raised her tear-filled eyes.
Her wrinkled face was streaked with tear stains, looking truly heartbroken and pitiful.
But what did that have to do with Su Yun?
Su Yun curved her lips into a faint smile. “In all the time your eldest son has been injured and bedridden, the tears you’ve shed combined probably don’t add up to as many as you just shed now, do they?”
“If I remember correctly, isn’t Brother Xiao also your own flesh and blood?”
Her voice was full of mockery.
Xu Dongmei’s face flushed red.
She stammered as she looked up, quickly glanced at Xiao Yuan, then immediately averted her gaze.
“I…”
“What kind of shrew dares to cause trouble and beat people in the village?”
A man’s furious roar cut in.
Su Yun’s eyelids twitched slightly.
Xiao Yuan’s eyelids also twitched almost imperceptibly.
Qin Aiguo, carrying a hoe, hurried in from outside.
Seeing him, Xu Dongmei seemed to have found her pillar of support and immediately stood up to go to him. “Aiguo, Xiao’er, he…”
“Enough, I know.”
Qin Aiguo impatiently cut off Xu Dongmei’s words. “Jiaojiao already told me everything.”
Xu Dongmei immediately fell silent.
Qin Aiguo glanced at Qin Xiao lying on the ground, his heart aching for him.
He promptly ordered Xu Dongmei to take Qin Xiao home and call the Barefoot Doctor to examine him.
Xu Dongmei seemed somewhat uneasy. “Husband…”
“Go now.”
“Yes.”
Xu Dongmei lowered her head, not daring to voice any objection, and with great effort helped Qin Xiao up, leading him outside.
“Dad…”
Qin Xiao clutched his crotch, his face contorted in pain, yet he couldn’t resist tattling.
“Dad, you have to avenge me…”
“Su Yun… that bitch Su Yun… she wanted your son… she wanted your son… to be cut off from having descendants… ah…”
Qin Aiguo’s face darkened severely.
“I know.”
“Go back with your mother.”
After seeing off the mother and son, Qin Aiguo turned his gaze back, his eyes icy as he stared at Su Yun.
Su Yun slowly stood up.
A figure stepped in front of her.
It was Xiao Yuan, leaning on his two crutches.
His gaunt body shielded hers.
His long-ailing frame could no longer fill out his loose, worn-out clothes, but he stood unwavering before her.
Qin Aiguo narrowed his eyes slightly, glaring at Xiao Yuan. “Xiao Yuan, what do you mean by this?”
Xiao Yuan met Qin Aiguo’s gaze, his presence not yielding in the slightest.
“What do you think?”
Qin Aiguo scoffed. “Are you saying you’ll side with this woman against your own parents and brother?”
“My mother passed away shortly after my father died.”
Xiao Yuan replied in a calm tone. “I wonder who the parents and brother you speak of are, Uncle Qin?”
“Xiao Yuan!”
Qin Aiguo’s pride was wounded. “You? Do you really think a cripple who can barely walk can actually do anything?”
He raised the hoe in his hand, pointing it at Su Yun.
“If I want to deal with her, no one can stop me.”
Xiao Yuan was about to speak when a slender hand rested on his arm.
He turned around and met Su Yun's smiling eyes.
Though her forehead was injured, her neck swollen, and her face sallow and gaunt, her smile was exceptionally sweet.
Full of strength.
"It's okay."
Su Yun's eyes curved into crescents, her voice clear and sweet.
"Leave the rest to me."
Her smile seemed almost bewitching, and Xiao Yuan found himself unconsciously heeding her words.
Su Yun stepped out from behind Xiao Yuan.
She exchanged a few glances with the furious Qin Aiguo.
Then she let out a light laugh.
"Team Leader Qin."
Qin Aiguo narrowed his eyes, staring at her intently.
Su Yun slowly, step by step, moved forward.
In front of everyone, she approached Qin Aiguo.
Leaning slightly forward, she brought her lips close to his ear and whispered softly, "Do I need to remind you, in front of so many people, how you falsified work points and stole grain from the state?"
Qin Aiguo, who had been relatively calm, quickly changed color upon hearing Su Yun's words.
He instinctively retorted, "What nonsense are you talking?"
Su Yun took two steps back, smiling as she looked at Qin Aiguo.
"Am I talking nonsense? Team Leader knows perfectly well."
"Or should I go ask the brigade leader?"
"You wouldn't dare!"
Qin Aiguo threatened sharply.
Only after speaking did he realize his reaction had been too intense.
He had clearly fallen into this wretched woman's trap.
His face darkened as he composed himself, glaring fiercely at Su Yun. "What do you want?"
Su Yun smiled. "It's simple. Since you've already packed me off to Comrade Xiao Yuan's house, don't bother us anymore from now on. Let's keep to our own waters and live our own lives!"
Qin Aiguo stared at Su Yun, as if assessing the truth and credibility of her words.
And also considering how to deal with her.
Having read the entire book, Su Yun had already anticipated Qin Aiguo's anticipation.
The smile in her eyes grew even sweeter.
She continued cheerfully 'reminding' Qin Aiguo.
"Team Leader, the evidence for what I just mentioned isn't limited to just one copy."
"If I don't fare well, or if something unexpected happens to me, then the comrades at the brigade office, the commune, and even the county committee will also receive a copy of your 'glorious deeds'!"
"So if you're thinking of getting rid of me, you'd better think it over carefully—and then think again."
Having read the entire story, Su Yun, now inside the book, was practically clairvoyant.
The book described Qin Aiguo as sinister, cunning, and capable of any cruelty to achieve his goals.
Su Yun's words left Qin Aiguo's face utterly grim.
If circumstances allowed, Su Yun had no doubt Qin Aiguo would strangle her on the spot.
And indeed, Qin Aiguo was thinking exactly that.
He stared at Su Yun for a long, long time before finally forcing a smile. "You're joking, Xiao Yun."
"Though I'm not Xiao Yuan's biological father, I am his stepfather."
"Since you're with him now, we're family. Naturally, no one will disturb you."
Qin Aiguo's words seemed squeezed out from between his teeth.
His reluctance was palpable.
Su Yun didn't care whether his words were sincere or not. All that mattered was whether she had achieved her goal.
"Uncle Qin, there's something I need to correct you on. It wasn't me being with Brother Xiao—it was your own son who knocked me out, choked me unconscious, and then carried me over here."
As she spoke, she pointed to her forehead and the injuries on her neck.
"These wounds are still here. Do you see them, Uncle Qin?"
Qin Aiguo nearly gritted his teeth to dust.
In his heart, he cursed Su Yun repeatedly as a wretched woman, but he couldn't let it show on his face.
"Is that really true? There must be some misunderstanding here. Let me go back and ask Xiao'er…"
"Before you go ask anyone, Uncle Qin, shouldn't you first pay me some medical expenses?"
"If I had died, things wouldn't have ended so easily!"