Just as Xu Qinghu began to speak, Xu Qinghe coldly interrupted, "I’m not your big brother, I don’t have such a capable sister."
"I’m sorry for making a spectacle,"
Xu Qinghe awkwardly apologized to the on-looking aunts, effectively dispersing the farce that had unfolded.
Xu Qinghu’s reputation in Shuangzhu Village was completely ruined.
Lost and dejected, Xu Qinghu returned to the Xu Family, unable to comprehend how the money she had stealthily placed under her sister-in-law’s bed had ended up falling from her own person.
The two great-uncles of the Xu Family were thoroughly chastising Xu Zhong, painting him black and blue with their words. The Xu Family was a reputable name in Shuangzhu Village, always united, but this continuous string of incidents had utterly disgraced them.
These two great-uncles were the eldest living elders of the Xu Family, and Xu Zhong didn’t dare talk back. If he provoked them into an incident, his male cousins wouldn’t let him off the hook, would they?
It was at this moment that Xu Qinghu returned home.
Xu Zhong immediately dragged Xu Qinghu over; he, as her father, had endured enough scolding on her behalf.
"What should we do with this fifty dollars?" Xu Qinghe, holding the fifty dollars, turned to Xu Nianji.
"Keep it. I haven’t received my wages for a month, and I’m still owed twenty dollars. Consider it payment for medical expenses," said Xu Nianji, thinking of Yue Hongliang’s lingering affection for his little sister, which left a bitter taste in his mouth. Although the marriage arrangement had fallen through, the Yue Family would undoubtedly hold a grudge against the Xu Family.
Although the owner of the brick factory wasn’t the only one, he had invested the least, which is why he managed affairs there. They hoped to live their simple lives without trouble from the boss of the brick factory — he couldn’t possibly seek revenge on them, could he?
Considering this, Xu Nianji said, "Little sister, don’t go to the county anymore."
No sooner had he spoken than he corrected himself, "No matter when, you must have me or your second brother with you, you cannot go alone."
Xu Nianji was still unaware of what had nearly happened to Xu Nianhua in the past. Had he known that Xu Nianhua was almost violated by Gao Jianren, he would have been driven to murder.
"Big brother, second brother, don’t worry. In broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of heaven, they can’t do anything," Xu Nianhua assured them cheerfully. Besides, if she remembered correctly, the brick factory would close by the end of the year, and the boss would be in trouble.
Although it wasn’t the end of the year yet, she felt that the boss must be too preoccupied with his own troubles to concern himself with theirs.
And after all, it wasn’t their fault—they could only blame Xu Qinghu’s excessive greed.
"Nianhua, listen to your big brother. From now on, when you go to the county, make sure you have your big brother or second brother with you. It’s the only way we’ll have peace of mind," Ji Ying said with lingering fear, recalling the morning’s events. They had discussed the possibility of the Yue Family intervening just the night before, yet they hadn’t anticipated Yue Hongliang’s parents showing up.
"Nian’an, you think fast. Otherwise, we would have completely offended the Yue Family today," praised Ji Ying.
"You don’t know how nervous I was, my palms were sweaty," Xu Qinghe admitted, still shaken by the earlier incident. The words he had used were all taught to him by Xu Nian’an—to retreat from the marriage, yet leave the Yue Family with face. If the Yue Family had turned hostile on the spot...
With their current situation, it was best to offend as few people as possible.
"Yicheng, they didn’t sell mung bean jelly today either. Could something have happened?" Since yesterday when Pei Yicheng had asked about those two siblings, Ling Dong went early to their usual spot where they sold mung bean jelly.