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Chapter 79: Covered in Cuts and Bruises

“This, Fourth Daughter-in-law, rest assured, that little girl is definitely a good one. I’ve seen her myself, and I can guarantee it to you,” Mrs. Liu’s heart, which was hanging on the matter that seemed simple as explained by Su Wenyue, finally settled. There was a resolution, and she had an explanation for her elder sister-in-law at her mother’s family. She hadn’t even had the time to feel happy when Su Wenyue’s following words made her smile falter, and she could only try her best to speak well of her niece.

“How about this, you ask your eldest sister-in-law at your mother’s family to find some time to bring the child over for a look. If she’s suitable, I will then take her to the Su Family, plead with my mother, and see if she could take her in.” Although Su Wenyue had decided to help, after all, the child was quite pitiable, it was still necessary to meet her in person before making any promises. If her character was bad, no matter how pitiable, Su Wenyue would feel no sympathy.

“Ah, alright, that works. I’ll tell my eldest sister-in-law at my mother’s family to bring the girl over for you to take a look,” Mrs. Liu said. Although she hadn’t achieved her anticipated goal, since Su Wenyue agreed to meet the person, the matter was halfway successful. Su Wenyue’s condition was also within reason, and Mrs. Liu nodded continuously in agreement.

“Alright then, it’s getting late, so I’ll get busy. I’ll send word back later and have my sister-in-law bring the child over. When the time comes, Fourth Daughter-in-law, please help take a look.”

In the afternoon, Han Yu just casually roamed the mountains. As the time he had was short and not every trip into the mountains yielded returns, even though Han Yu was skilled, by evening he had only brought back a wild pheasant which was quite small—barely enough for stewing into a pot of soup, most of which ended up in the stomachs of Yang Juxiang and her daughter.

Speaking of Yang Juxiang and her daughter, they were really unreserved when it came to eating, showing none of the self-awareness expected of guests. Without waiting for the host family to insist, they devoured their food upon sitting at the table, as if they hadn’t eaten in several meals. Although the dinner was reasonably lavish, it was no match for their voracious appetites.

Aside from Yang Juxiang and her daughter, no one in the Han Family felt full. However, considering their status as guests, it was inappropriate to voice any complaints, though in their hearts they worried that a few more days of such eating would leave their household impoverished. The Han Family was barely maintaining their current lifestyle, and had specifically made their meals more plentiful in honor of Yang Juxiang and her daughter.

Mrs. Yang felt a bit embarrassed by her sister and niece’s manner of eating, but did not show the same disdain as the others. Instead, she felt a touch of sympathy for her sister’s life at the Jiang Family.

The Jiang Family was indeed impoverished, with not even a patch of their own land. They survived by renting fields from a landlord, and every year, not only did they have to pay taxes, but also the rent, leaving scarcely enough to feed the family. They were forced to cut back on food and clothing. The best meals Yang Juxiang and her daughter had were probably those at the Han Family, but since their home was so distant, visits were not easy.

Mrs. Liu felt even more contempt in her heart. Considering the state of the

Jiang Family, why did Jiang Chunlan still pretend to be so delicate? Coming to the Han Family, she acted like a Miss, not even willing to pick up a broom she knocked over. Yet at the dinner table, her true nature was revealed. She wanted to scoff at her, but refrained upon seeing the warning look from her mother-in-law.

Su Wenyue saw all this, and she didn’t mind the loss of some food. However, it felt like a waste to feed such people as Yang Juxiang and her daughter; she might as well feed a dog. She let it be, considering it for the sake of her mother-in-law.

Because of Yang Juxiang and her daughter, the Han Family had a rather unsatisfying feast that they had originally looked forward to. However, it seemed this mother and daughter pair were either too carefree or deliberate in their actions, as they seemed completely unaffected and ate heartily.

After dinner, Mrs. Yang kept Mrs. Liu and Su Wenyue back, looking somewhat displeased. Su Wenyue wondered to herself if she had offended her mother-in-law, curious about the reason for her mother-in-law’s displeasure.

“Mother, have you called for us because there’s something you need?” Su Wenyue wasn’t guilty of anything and felt no fear. She didn’t understand why her mother-in-law was acting this way, but thought it best to ask directly.

Mrs. Yang, however, did not respond to Su Wenyue’s question but instead turned to Mrs. Liu: “Eldest Daughter-in-law, I hear you sought out Fourth Daughter-in-law over a matter concerning your eldest sister-in-law at your mother’s family. Is this true?”

Mrs. Yang’s tone carried a clear discontent, and Mrs. Liu, even if not adept at picking up on cues, knew that her mother-in-law was displeased and carefully explained, “Mother, it’s true, it’s about my eldest sister-in-law’s nephew. He couldn’t endure the abuse by his stepmother anymore and sought help from me, so I hoped to implore Fourth Daughter-in-law to see if he could work as a servant at the Su Family, to offer the child a way out.”

“Normally, I wouldn’t meddle in affairs among sister-in-laws, but Fourth Daughter-in-law has only recently been married into our family. She’s youthful and amiable, and I’m sure there are things she cannot say outright. As her mother-in-law, it seems I need to be the annoying one to interject. In the future, weigh your actions more carefully. Just because Fourth

Daughter-in-law is easy to talk to, it doesn’t mean you can come to her with anything. This is an exceedingly distant relative, not even directly related to your mother’s family, yet something concerning your eldest sister-in-law at your mother’s family. Aren’t you embarrassed to trouble Fourth

Daughter-in-law with this? If others knew, what would they think of the Han Family?”

Su Wenyue heard that Mrs. Yang’s concern was about this matter, and with the mother-in-law’s attitude clearly on her side, speaking up for her, Su Wenyue felt a measure of warmth in her heart.

“Yes, Mother, your daughter-in-law understands. I won’t do it again in the future, but for this matter, I still need to trouble my younger sister-in-law.” Mrs. Liu also knew she was somewhat in the wrong. If it weren’t for relying on her status as a daughter-in-law of the Han Family, Su Wenyue might not have been willing to help her, so she responded with a good attitude.

Mrs. Liu’s family must have been truly desperate, for she sent word in the morning, and her eldest sister-in-law at her mother’s family brought the child over that very afternoon.

Although Su Wenyue had heard the child was eleven years old, upon actually seeing her, how could this look like an eleven-year-old girl? She was skin and bones, even smaller than a seven or eight-year-old child, with clothes more tattered than those of a beggar on the street, and her body was covered in wounds. Although Su Wenyue felt her heart had hardened after two lifetimes, she couldn’t help but be moved upon seeing the child. What kind of cruel stepmother could treat a child like this? And thinking about that child she had abandoned, she wondered if he too was being abused by his stepmother.

“Is this the child you spoke of, looking like she’s been beaten to this state?” Su Wenyue felt pain just looking at the child’s wounds. Although Mrs. Yang had been upset with Mrs. Liu for meddling, upon seeing the child, she held back her words. This child was truly pitiable, and she even took out some sweets to give to the child.

“Isn’t it all because of a wicked stepmother? My big brother usually has to work odd jobs in the County Town to support the family and is not at home to protect the child. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought her here. The child was nearly killed by that stepmother. I couldn’t just stand by and watch her get hurt, so I sought out Miss Su. I hope Miss Su doesn’t find it inappropriate,” Mrs. Liu’s eldest sister-in-law at her mother’s family said helplessly, her words laced with deep resentment towards the cruel woman..