24: Chapter 24 The Compensation Goods_1 24: Chapter 24 The Compensation Goods_1 Seeing her mother about to leave the house, Er Ya asked, “Mom, are you going out?”
Hu’s Clan beckoned, and Er Ya joyfully tumbled into her mother’s embrace.
“Yes, Mom is going to town to buy some things and will be back soon.
Can you be a good girl at home, Er Ya?” Hu’s Clan stroked Er Ya’s hair, her face full of tenderness.
Er Ya was only five years old, the perfect age for playing and eating.
Hearing that her mom was going to town, she immediately thought of the tasty treats she had seen at Xiao Fu’s place.
She looked expectantly at her mother: “Mom, can you buy me some candy?”
Her soft, sticky voice would melt anyone’s heart.
Hu’s Clan, feeling sorry for her child, how could she refuse?
Hu’s Clan was about to nod, but without warning, yelling erupted from inside the room.
Tan Zhengyuan pointed at Er Ya and cursed harshly, “Candy?
Such a hex!
I truly cursed my own luck for eight generations by having you!
Worthless thing, you can’t do anything right and still want candy?
Dream on!
Watch out or I might just beat you to death!”
Frightened by Tan Zhengyuan’s outburst, Er Ya started to cry with pouted lips.
Hu’s Clan said quietly, “Head of the family, why don’t we just buy a couple of candy pieces to satisfy the child’s craving?”
But her plea only resulted in even fiercer scolding from Tan Zhengyuan.
“Satisfy what craving?
Do you have too much silver?
Just looking at those two money-losers infuriates me.
It’s enough that I keep them; they always want more.
Why don’t they just go die?”
Hu’s Clan’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
Her children were being cursed like this, and it was almost breaking her heart, yet she was powerless to do anything.
Qiao Duo’er indignantly said, “Is this how you act as a father?”
Isn’t it normal for a child to want candy?
Even if he didn’t want to buy it, he shouldn’t curse the child like that!
“What does it have to do with you, meddler!
And you, you worthless woman, what are you mumbling for?
Why don’t you drop dead from laziness?
It’s just a girl, can she really cry herself to death?”
Tan Zhengyuan glared at Hu’s Clan, his tone even more despicable.
Shivering, Hu’s Clan quickly said, “Child, go help your older sister clean up the house.”
The three of them had already moved from the Main Room to the east wing room.
She had thought that if the children busied themselves all morning, their father might treat them a bit better, but nothing had changed.
Having said that, Hu’s Clan picked up her basket and hurriedly walked outside.
Er Ya was still crying behind her, yet she didn’t have the courage to even look back.
Qiao Duo’er felt stifled; she had stood up for Hu’s Clan, yet Hu’s Clan had just turned and walked away!
Was she being a meddler then?
Qiao Duo’er asked disapprovingly, “Why are you so afraid of him?
Can he really devour you and Er Ya?”
Hu’s Clan quickly wiped her tears away and said helplessly, “It’s because I didn’t have the ability to bear a son.”
If she could bear a son, her and her daughters’ lives wouldn’t be so difficult; they could stand tall like Little Wang Clan.
“What’s wrong with having a daughter?
Isn’t she also born from you?”
Qiao Duo’er said irritably, hating parents who didn’t regard their daughters as human beings.
Hu’s Clan, with reddened eyes, said, “Ah, they are all flesh from my body, how could I not hurt for them?
But…
what can I do?
If the head of the house gets angry and sends Er Ya away, what then?”
“Being sent away might mean living a better life,” Qiao Duo’er muttered.
Hu’s Clan was taken aback and could only give a bitter smile.
And Qiao Duo’er stopped talking.
What else could be said to a person who had given up?
The most pitiful were the two children.
What had they done to deserve such parents?