Although her mother loved her deeply, in the past, when she was scolded, her mother would only silently hold her in her arms. She never dared to speak up, let alone wield a knife like today—and actually draw blood.
“Mom?” Yaoyao tentatively called out.
Wen Yining put down her teacup and sat on the stool, looking at the timid little girl.
“What’s wrong?” Wen Yining beckoned her over. “Come here, let me see if you got hurt from the kicks.”
That scumbag Cheng Yifeng was gentle with Gu Yuxuan, but he wouldn’t be gentle toward her or Yaoyao.
He never considered that, as an adult man, his kicks could seriously injure a child—or even kill her.
After all, she wasn’t his biological daughter, so if she got hurt or worse, he wouldn’t care.
Yaoyao clutched her dress tightly and shuffled over to Wen Yining. “I’m okay… it doesn’t hurt…”
Before she could finish speaking, Wen Yining had already lifted her clothing, revealing Yaoyao’s frail little body.
On her side, there was indeed a footprint that had already begun to bruise.
Seeing it, Wen Yining’s heart ached. She knew this pain belonged to the original Wen Yining, the one who had endured in silence.
The original Wen might love her child deeply, but she didn’t know how to fight back. She would endure everything, hurting herself and her child in the process.
A cold light flashed in Wen Yining’s eyes. Her rough, dry fingers carefully traced Yaoyao’s tiny frame, checking that no internal organs or bones were damaged. Once reassured, she helped her put her clothes back on and instructed her:
“If someone bullies you, you fight back. If you can win, hit hard—make sure they know you’re not to be messed with, so they won’t dare bully you again. But if you face someone stronger than you, like today, run away. Don’t just stand there foolishly waiting to get hurt.”
Yaoyao bit her lip timidly. “But… if I fight back, I’ll cause trouble for you, Mom. Grandpa and Grandma will get angry, they’ll scold us.”
Wen Yining plucked a dried piece of grass from Yaoyao’s hair. “You only worry about yourself. Don’t worry about whether others get mad. And from now on, I’ve got your back. Nobody will bully you ever again.”
Though Yaoyao didn’t fully understand the first part, she was delighted by the promise that no one would ever hurt her again.
Her eyes shone with hope as she asked uncertainly, “Really?”
She could clearly feel that Mom was different today—but in a good way.
Before, her mother would protect her, but always gently, too soft to stand up to anyone. In the end, they would both get scolded by Grandpa and Grandma.
Compared to the timid mother she knew, Yaoyao clearly preferred the one today who had dared to use a knife on a father she barely ever saw.
Wen Yining nodded. “Of course it’s true.”
Reassured by her mother’s words, Yaoyao’s face lit up with a small, joyful smile. She quickly brought a basin of water to Wen Yining so she could wash her hands and face.
Watching the little girl carry the basin steadily despite her tiny frame, Wen Yining couldn’t help but marvel: a child who hadn’t been loved grows up fast.
Her daughter was small but considerate.
In the original story, she was just a throwaway character, never learning who Yaoyao’s biological father was.
Wen Yining tried to recall any description of Yaoyao’s father, but nothing came to mind.
Well, since it’s here, she would deal with it.
The situation would resolve itself eventually.
Just as the mother and daughter finished, a shrill scream echoed from the yard.
“My goodness!”
Cheng Yifeng’s mother almost scraped her scalp on the knife that was stuck in the door. Seeing the yard in complete disarray, looking as if it had been ransacked, she nearly fainted from shock.
“Wen Yining! Wen Yining!” She searched the yard, finding no trace of Cheng Yifeng. She shouted at the top of her lungs, “Yaoyao! You two little disasters, where have you gone? Come out this instant!”
Hearing the voice, Yaoyao shrank closer to Wen Yining.
Sensing the child’s fear, Wen Yining held Yaoyao close, gently patting her shoulders. “Don’t be afraid.”
Yaoyao nodded and whispered, “Aren’t we going out? Grandma seems angry.”
Wen Yining chuckled softly. “No rush. Let her stay angry a little longer.”
She pressed Yaoyao’s small head against her chest. “If you’re scared, cover your ears. We won’t listen.”
Yaoyao pressed her little face against her mother’s chest and raised her hands to cover Wen Yining’s ears. “Mom, don’t listen either.”
Wen Yining’s lips curved in a faint smile. Though small and thin, this little jacket of hers was so thoughtful.
In the yard, Zhang Xue continued yelling, apparently packing up, throwing and slamming things noisily. Her curses grew harsher by the minute.
“You useless little disaster, can’t even manage a house! Look at this mess! Do I have to come back after work to clean up? And the person herself, where did she go? Probably hiding somewhere with that loser. I’ll teach her a lesson when she comes back!”
“She’s been married into the family for years and can’t even produce a son! Wasting our family’s resources! If she’s barren, fine, but she can’t ruin the Cheng family line!”
Wen Yining, standing with Yaoyao at the door, spoke up, continuing Zhang Xue’s sentence: “Then let the wild hen your son keeps outside lay an egg for him!”
“Oh my god!” Zhang Xue jumped back in shock. Seeing Wen Yining and Yaoyao at the door, her tone turned sarcastic.
Anger rose in Zhang Xue. “You’re home? Deaf? I’ve been calling you forever, and you don’t respond?”
Wen Yining humored her with a small “huh.”
Zhang Xue choked on her words, glanced behind Wen Yining, and seeing no sign of Cheng Yifeng, frowned. “Where’s Yifeng?”
Wen Yining replied casually, “He’s gone.”
“Gone?!” Zhang Xue’s eyes widened, voice rising sharply. “Did he say when he’ll be back?”
Wen Yining replied coldly, “No.”
“No?” Zhang Xue laughed in disbelief, anger mingling with incredulity. “How can you be a wife like this? Your husband is risking his life for the country, and you can be so indifferent?”
Wen Yining played with Yaoyao’s tiny fingers, voice flat and emotionless: “He doesn’t consider me his wife. Gu Yuxuan’s care is enough for him. Since he doesn’t need me, why should I chase after him? Why stick my warmth to his coldness? I’m not that desperate.”
“What do you mean by that? Are you blaming Yifeng for being away, or are you blaming me and your father for not letting you take the child to the army?”