Lin Guozhi glanced at him, and did not make things difficult for him, slowly took over the cigarette. But he had no intention of smoking it.
Old Yang saw the situation, hurriedly handed cigarettes to Han Yi and Lin Yinghui one by one, responded with a few smiles, and quickly pulled Yang to rebuke and said, "Still not apologizing to the family relatives quickly. Itâs upsetting during the New Year, actually letting the children suffer."
"Family, today itâs my fault, I was momentarily too angry and lost hold, starting to act out. Daniu, itâs your mamaâs fault, your mama is apologizing, donât hold it against me." Old Mrs. Yang saw her father was so lowly, she knew this family was not as easy to deal with as Zhang Daniuâs maternal family."
"Family mother, family father, have the two children separated households?" Lin Guozhi unknowingly lit the cigarette himself. With a slight smile, he said lightly.
"Separated, once married the two children were separated. The rules on our side cannot be broken," Old Yang chuckled with his head down.
"Since they have parted ways, what are you adults bothering with the coupleâs affairs for? Giving birth to sons or daughters is all the same. You always say girls are worthless, money-losers. Family mother, arenât you insulting yourself along with it?"
As soon as Lin Guozhiâs words fell, mocking laughter erupted from the surrounding people, causing Yangâs face to flush red.
"Family mother, I remember you also have two daughters, right? Why didnât you drown your two money-losing daughters in a urine jar back then," Liang Hongmei persistently embarrassed Old Mrs. Yang.
"Family relative, I was just speaking casually. Please donât take it to heart," Yang laughed insincerely.
"Casually speaking? You sure speak lightly, then are the injuries on my nieceâs body also casually done by you?"
"I..." Old Mrs. Yang was stifled by Liang Hongmeiâs words.
Old Yangâs eyes shifted, seeing Liang Hongmei somewhat intent on standing up for her daughter-in-law, his face immediately turned cold, raising a hand to slap her. The slap made Yangâs eyes dazzle with stars, and before she could recover, another slap followed.
"You troublesome woman causing trouble without reason, the New Year is approaching, instead of preparing for the celebrations at home, you only know how to bully inside the nest."
Old Yang hitting Yang from the side looked like a clown performance in the eyes of Lin family, very amusing.
But they should also let them suffer quietly, otherwise, they wouldnât know their trouble, and when finding Zhang Daniu later, they would have to consider carefully.
"Daniu, are you coming home with us or?" Liang Hongmei asked Zhang Daniu.
Before Zhang Daniu could speak, her husband and children beside her frowned, the two children directly holding their motherâs leg, started crying.
"Mama, donât leave, mama donât abandon us"
"Mama, Iâll miss you. If youâre leaving, take my sister and me with you."
"Daniu, if you leave, what about the kids and me? Please donât leave," Zhang Daniuâs husband said bitterly, fearing she would leave, "Uncle, aunty, please donât let Daniu go."
"If she doesnât leave, can you guarantee your wife wonât be beaten again?" Lin Guozhi asked the somewhat cowardly man, frowning.
"I...I can," Zhang Daniuâs husband replied without confidence.
Liang Hongmei sighed inwardly, seeing Zhang Daniu hesitating, knew she couldnât bear to leave the children.
"Daniu, what do you mean?"
"Aunty, I wonât go back first, I canât bear the kids. Itâs going to rain soon, you and uncle, Ah Hui, and Xiao Wan, head back quickly. Uncle and aunt will be waiting at home for sure. Donât let them worry. With you backing me, my parents-in-law wouldnât dare to hit me anymore."
"Yes, yes, I wouldnât dare anymore, never dare again," Old Mrs. Yang, hit to almost dazedness, covered her face flattering.
Liang Hongmei knew herself to just be an aunty, Zhang Daniu wasnât Xiao Wan, someone she could make decisions for. If she were Xiao Wan, a divorce with this useless person would have long been decided, alas, she couldnât bear her children.
"Old Yangâs family, let me tell you, if you dare bully my family Daniu again and we see it, we will directly put you into a labor reform team for a few years, letting you receive education. You need to improve your ideological awareness."
"Dare not, dare not, never dare again."
Looking at Old Yangâs family appearance, Liang Hongmei knew they lacked that courage.
"What about my family Daniuâs injuries?"
"The injuries, we will look after, we will look after," Old Yang said as he took out twenty yuan, handing it to Zhang Daniu.
"Daniu, today your mother-in-law was at fault, for the injuries on your body, later let Hai Zi take you to the health center for a look. If not enough, ask dad for more."
Old Yang taking out this twenty yuan made Yangâs heart bleed, that was their familyâs money for New Year purchases.
But she dared say no more, only had to watch as the daughter-in-law put the money into her pocket.
"Understood, dad."
...
"Daniu, where is your home?"
Zhang Daniu pointed to a courtyard diagonally opposite, "Over there, aunty, uncle, why donât you come over and sit for a while?"
"No, the weather isnât good, we traveled for a few days, better hurry back." Liang Hongmei pulled Zhang Daniu, checked her injuries again, seeing it was just some skin wounds, nothing serious, thus feeling at ease.
Only then did Zhang Daniu have the chance to meet the two strangers.
"This is Mu Qing, Ah Huiâs wife, your cousin-in-law. This is Han Yi, Xiao Wanâs loved one. Your cousin-in-law. After the New Year when visiting relatives, remember to come sit at home, understand?" Liang Hongmei said this to give Zhang Daniu a backing, letting Yangâs parents fear a bit and not dare lay hands on her anymore.
"Cousin-in-law, cousin-in-law, hello." Zhang Daniu and her husband felt a bit uneasy.
Seeing the day not early, from the car Liang Hongmei took out several tins of malt milk essence, two packs of brown sugar, rabbit candies, and the bread Zhang Shuhua prepared for them, needing heating.
Seeing these people handing out several tins of malt milk essence, bread and such, the surrounding people widened their eyes, these were rare items.
Especially Yang, her eyes almost popping out.
Lin Wan seeing her demeanor, fearing she had other thoughts, held Little Star and walked over to them reminding, "Glaring so big, be careful your eyes grow styes. Remember, that is what my mom gave to my cousin for nourishment, come the New Year if we hear a bad word about my cousin believe we will return immediately, then your whole family shouldnât expect good days."
Old Mrs. Yang shivered all over, nodding in embarrassment, "Understand, understand, we wouldnât dare, wouldnât dare."
Without looking at Old Yangâs two elders, Liang Hongmeiâs family came out of Zhang Daniuâs home, told something to her, and directly drove away.
Looking from the window at the four people from Zhang Daniuâs family behind, Liang Hongmei wistfully sighed, "Liang Weixiang bore so many children, only this one is good, yet lives unsatisfactorily. Bullied so harshly by her in-laws, her husband is a mute mule, and her maternal family doesnât care at all. I must talk with your uncle after returning, letting him say something to Liang Weixiang."
Women marry and their life at their in-laws, partly depends on whether the maternal family supports them. If the maternal family doesnât care for this daughter, the in-law family surely looks down on her.
"Mama, just like Liang Weixiang, she certainly wouldnât care, heard from Aunt that Liang Weixiang from little couldnât stand my cousin."
"Exactly, ask your dad, back when pregnant, she constantly showed off in front of me and your dad that she had a boy in her belly, didnât expect to give birth to Zhang Daniu, if not for giving birth at home, Liang Weixiang would definitely make a fuss saying a wrong baby was given."
Remembering those days Lin Guozhi frowned, "Iâm most annoyed by your cousin."
Looking at the children Lin Guozhi said jokingly, "That time your aunt considering she married into a âwealthyâ family, started boasting in front of your mom. After your mom married me, she then began boasting to me how great her Zhang Daguo is."
The children exchanged smiles.
"Mama, Liang Weixiang still owes me over two hundred yuan. Iâm still waiting for her to pay," Lin Wan laughed, though not really intending for her to repay, but if during the New Year Liang Weixiang dared come looking for trouble, sheâd directly use this as a threat. Knowing the police in S City were still looking for her, she had a record.
"But last time I heard, she was beaten and broke a leg at home by her Zhang Daguo," Lin Guozhi recalled talking to Liang Jian Country, chuckled.