This was just the tip of the iceberg. Xiao Third suddenly shouted again, “Mom, we’re not afraid of plain broth! Don’t argue with Second Uncle or Fourth Uncle about it—they’ll not only hit you when you get home, they might throw you in the pigsty for a whole night!”
The thought of being thrown into a pigsty sent chills down everyone’s spine.
Even in a so-called new society, who’d write a story where the daughter-in-law gets beaten and tossed into a pigsty just because someone’s unhappy?
For a child to blurt that out… it said everything.
After beating Ye Xiaoxiao and the kids, tossing them into a pigsty probably wasn’t a one-off—it must have been routine.
Hearing Xiao Third shout, Xiao Anguo could no longer hold back and began to cry. Sadness seemed contagious—Xiao Second and Xiao Fourth started crying too. At first, they tried to stifle their sobs, but soon gave themselves over to it, crying louder and louder.
Ye Xiaoxiao’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. She held back, her quiet endurance making everyone’s hearts ache even more.
The old secretary, a battle-hardened man, was moved by the emotion.
Even the other hardened men present softened, almost wanting to cry with her. The Li family, by contrast, only grew angrier—they wanted to curse her, even beat her to death. Their rage flared.
Ye Xiaoxiao bent down to hug Xiao Anguo, then turned to face Li Second, Li Third, and Li Fourth, asking:
“Do you know why we had to go up the mountain? Because I was sick, couldn’t get out of bed, couldn’t work, and hadn’t eaten all day. Your mother said: ‘Those who don’t work don’t deserve to eat!’” Ye Xiaoxiao spoke with a catch in her voice but fluently, recounting the truth—not acting, but genuinely heartbroken.
“My children, before they could even walk, had to learn household chores. Xiao Second at three dragged two huge buckets of laundry to the river alone to wash.
Li Family’s two younger daughters-in-law, at twenty, couldn’t even wash clothes! And Li Family’s granddaughters, all older than my daughter, didn’t do chores—they not only ate, but ate well, and ate plenty!”
Ye Xiaoxiao glared at the Li family, wishing she could tear a piece out of them.
She wanted to reveal just how lazy the Li women were, letting the heads of the household hear the truth. Men would pay attention—they’d warn their foolish sons or daughters not to fall for Li family members, and educate the kids accordingly.
Women usually lectured children patiently, explaining everything. Men were different—fewer words, just conclusions, leaving the details for the children to uncover themselves. Once the heads of household spoke, the women spread the stories even more enthusiastically.
Ye Xiaoxiao intended to cement the image of the Li daughters and granddaughters as lazy and spoiled. Even if Li Mother spoke later, the men would reject the girls, and the stories would spread across the village and commune—killing someone in spirit.
“Look, a whole house full of people doing nothing still has good meals, eats well, eats their fill, while just a few of us mother-and-children work and can only drink plain broth. If we don’t go up the mountain to find food, we starve—but people will claim we died of illness!
Li Father, Li Second, Li Third, and Li Fourth were shocked again—they never imagined the eldest daughter-in-law, usually so meek, could speak so fluently and relentlessly, exposing one family shame after another.
Li Father’s hand holding the pipe trembled for real this time, not acting.
Li Second’s eyes were bloodshot, wishing he could slap Ye Xiaoxiao dead. “Sister-in-law, you’re such a liar, teaching the kids to lie!”
Ye Xiaoxiao ignored him. “You’re blind and foolish. I don’t blame you—after all, all the Li family is like this, used to it, not shocked. My words may be lies, but what about our injuries? You won’t claim those are fake too, will you? Or should someone present come verify? Or are you relying on the older men here being too scared to check?
As the saying goes: admit your mistakes, stand firm when you strike. The most detestable thing about a man is denying his mistakes and trying to fabricate rumors to harm others. That’s a person without principles—a beast.”
Li Father’s head throbbed with anger. He reached out to strike Ye Xiaoxiao.
The old secretary intervened, blocking him, disgusted that Li Father would try to resolve this with his fists.
Taking advantage of Li Father’s distraction, Ye Xiaoxiao began a mental nudge—knowing Li Father was extremely displeased with her. She wanted him to speak the truth, even if in the next lifetime it would be impossible. Li Father was the most scheming of the Li family, the deepest hidden black hand.
Unable to control his mouth, Li Father blurted out what he was thinking: “Tianyou was raised by me. His money is my money. Why should I give it to you? We haven’t split the family yet. The money should all go to us!” Internally he realized this was bad—but his words came out uncontrollably.
Ye Xiaoxiao smiled. “Since Tianyou gave you all the money, why do you say you raised us? Seventy bucks a month, not Tianyou raising the entire Li family? Why can’t we eat, only drink plain broth, eat old wild stems?”