Chapter 101: Chapter 92: Who Is Xuanxuan
"Mo Xiaoman, youâre spouting nonsense! Iâll have my mom and dad kill you!"
Mo Xiaofeng stopped in her tracks. The two of them were now standing at the entrance to the Mo Family Courtyard. Inside, Liu Fengying was clucking to her chickens as she fed them. Xiao Man didnât need to turn around to guess the look on Mo Xiaofengâs face.
She stepped aside, positioning Xiao Feng to face the entrance directly. "You donât believe me? Look, your mom is right there. You can go ask her: Who is Xuanxuan?"
"So you know who Xuanxuan is?" Mo Xiaofeng was clearly unsettled.
Xiao Man let out a dry chuckle. "Of course I know. If you want to know the details, go ask your mother. Ask her if every time she and your dad went to the city, they were going to see this Xuanxuan. You were injured by your mom and ended up in the hospital this time. Grandpa helped borrow three hundred yuan from the brigade, but that was nowhere near enough. Where did your parents get so much money to pay for your treatment and still buy you new clothes and shoes? They got it from your real sister! Mo Xiaofeng, your real sister is so lucky. The family she ended up with is loaded! Money really makes people like you, huh? Just look at your momâs attitude and youâll see how much she values your real sister! She must have promised to take care of your mom and dad in their old age, to let them live a comfortable life. But she wonât take you. Sheâs not your parent; why should she have to support you? So if your parents want to move to the city and enjoy that comfortable life, they have to get rid of you! Your parents donât want to raise you, and theyâre still young. Do you think Grandpa and Grandma, as old as they are, can afford to? Thinking of relying on me? Dream on! How did you and your mother treat me before? Besides, your real sister stole my destiny. Iâm mortal enemies with your family. I wish I could kill every last one of you, so why would I ever raise you or take care of you? Mo Xiaofeng, donât you ever fall into my hands again. If you do, Iâll throw you in a cesspit, or break your arms and legs and leave you on the street to be a beggar! After all, your parents donât want you anymore. No matter what happens to you, they wonât care!"
Mo Xiaofeng had been spoiled by Liu Fengying her whole life. Imagining the horrible fate Xiao Man described befalling her, she was so terrified her face went white and her body trembled uncontrollably. She let out a sudden, sharp scream, "AHH!" Abandoning her bamboo basket, she charged toward the courtyard where Liu Fengyingâs voice was coming from. But since she couldnât see, even the low stone threshold tripped her up, and she crashed to the ground. As Liu Fengying turned to look, Xiao Man deliberately stepped into the doorway, right into Liu Fengyingâs line of sight.
"Xiao Man?!"
The delight on Liu Fengyingâs face this time seemed genuine. She called out eagerly, "Xiao Man, hurry and come in! Come inside with Mom! Mom bought you lots of new clothes from the city, and candy, too! Come on, come on!"
She smiled at Xiao Man, dusting off her own clothes as if she hadnât even seen Mo Xiaofeng sprawled on the ground!
Xiao Man didnât spare Liu Fengying a single glance. She just looked down at Mo Xiaofeng on the ground and said, "Do you believe me now? You fell down, and your mother doesnât even care. She really doesnât want you!"
Mo Xiaofeng started wailing, reaching her hands out toward Liu Fengying. "Mom! Mom, donât abandon me! Mom, Iâm your real daughter, you canât throw me away!"
"Honestly, look at you! What do you think youâre doing?"
Liu Fengying tried to get to Xiao Man, but she had to pass Xiao Feng, who grabbed her by the pant leg and clung tightly to her leg. Unable to break free, Liu Fengying had no choice but to squat down and help Xiao Feng up. She dusted off her clothes and used a rag she was holding to wipe the tears and snot from Xiao Fengâs face, all while not forgetting to call out to Xiao Man, "Eldest Sister, hurry inside! All the nice things Mom bought for you are in the house!"
Xiao Man glanced into the courtyard again. Mo Laoerâs section was quiet. Over by Mo Guoqiangâs house, Mo Xiao Zhi and Mo Xiaohua were sitting side-by-side under the eaves, each holding a bowl and eating something. They were so absorbed in their food that not even Xiao Fengâs fall and desperate cries could make them put down their bowls.
Apparently, Mo Guoqiang and Mo Xiaoqiang werenât home. Listening to Liu Fengyingâs incessant chatter, constantly urging her inside, Xiao Man finally shot her a look. The gaze was so cold it made Liu Fengying shudder and fall silent.
Xiao Man spoke, enunciating every word. "Liu Fengying, stop the act. Youâre shameless, and you disgust me! You tried to harm me for your biological daughterâs sake, but the retribution fell on Xiao Feng instead! Xiao Fengâs life is ruined now. Are you satisfied? Liu Fengying, look up. Thereâs a sun in the sky and there are gods watching your every move. If you people donât repent and still try to harm me, the consequences will bring you more regret than you can possibly imagine! Xuanxuan, right? *Sheâs* your real daughter. You must have met Xuanxuanâs parentsâtheyâre the ones who gave birth to me. But Xuanxuan calls them âMomâ and âDadâ with all her heart. As for you and Mo Guoqiang, what does she call you? Even your own biological daughter wonât call you âMom.â What gives you the right to call yourself *my* mother?"
Xiao Man stared at Liu Fengying and let out two cold snorts. Then, swinging the bamboo switch in her hand, she turned and swaggered away.
Liu Fengyingâs face was ashen. She stood with her mouth agape, stunned for a long moment. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she tried to run for the doorway. But her legs wouldnât cooperate. She lunged forward too hard, lost her balance, and crashed violently to the ground with a THUD. Pain shot through her body. She hissed through clenched teeth, but she couldnât get her legs free to stand up. Twisting her head, she saw that Mo Xiaofeng was clinging to her for dear life, still wailing and shouting.
"Mom, you canât throw me away! Mom, you canât abandon me!"
Liu Fengying was furious and frantic. She raised her hand and gave Mo Xiaofeng a sharp slap across the face. "You wretched girl, let go! Youâre going to be the death of me!"
Mo Xiaofeng only clung on tighter, throwing her full weight onto Liu Fengyingâs legs. Her cries grew even more shrill.
"Oh, Mom! Donât abandon Xiao Feng! Xuanxuan is your real daughter, but Xiao Feng is your real daughter, too! You canât throw Xiao Feng away for that Xuanxuan..."
âMo Xiaofeng knows about Xuanxuan?!â
Liu Fengying was stunned once more. She stared blankly as Mo Xiaofeng howled. Snapping out of it, she quickly reached out to cover her daughterâs mouth. "Shut up! Shut your mouth right now! Isnât there enough trouble already? Are you trying to ruin your real sister?"
Mo Xiaofeng nearly suffocated under Liu Fengyingâs hand before she managed to struggle free. She became completely hysterical, grabbing a piece of firewood from the ground and brandishing it, smashing it violently against the dirt as she shrieked, "Xuanxuan! Xuanxuan! It was that Xuanxuan who did this to me! Sheâs trying to steal my mom, sheâs telling my mom to throw me away... Xuanxuan! Iâm going to kill Xuanxuan!"
Mo Xiao Zhi and Mo Xiaohua ran over and stared dumbfounded at Xiao Feng. Then Xiaohua burst into tears, and Xiao Zhi immediately followed suit. They both pounced on Liu Fengying, tugging at her clothes and crying, "Mom, donât throw me away... No Xuanxuan!"
Liu Fengying hugged her three daughters, panting for breath. The whites of her eyes showed as they rolled back in her head, but she didnât pass out. She only felt a sharp, throbbing pain in her temples.
The half hour Mo Xiaoman had promised Grandma had already passed. She was running quickly when she rounded a corner and nearly crashed into two people. They cried out in alarm. Xiao Man stopped just in time and got a clear look at themâit was none other than Mo Xiaosu and her cousin, Huang Baoshan!