Within two days, rumors about Chiang Baohe spread through the village and everyone knew.
Chiang Baohe had already had a bad reputation, always leering at women with such a gloomy demeanor that it frightened people. When they heard he also had a violent streak, having beaten his second uncle so badly he couldn’t get out of bed, a sense of unease naturally swept through the village.
Secretary Yao also heard these rumors and immediately discussed with the militia captain who was at his home, instructing the village militia to keep an eye on Chiang Baohe to prevent him from causing any trouble.
But that’s a story for another time.
Returning to Chiang Xiao’s situation. After Huang Yizhen left, the Chiang Family fell into a heavy silence.
Ge Liutao fiddled with her apron, looking anxious. She glanced at Chiang Songhai and then at Chiang Xiao, unsure of what to say.
She had been most of her life, obedient to her parents at home, then to her husband after marriage. The only thing she had ever insisted on doing against her family’s will was marrying Chiang Songhai, which led to her severing ties with her parental family.
Meanwhile, Chiang Songhai was still shocked by what Huang Yizhen had said.
If that chair had hit Chiang Xiao, she would have either been gravely injured or killed. He knew all too well the pain and force of the blow when the chair had struck his back.
At the same time, he thought of Chiang Xiao’s cold demeanor and could feel her resentment.
Chiang Songhai opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say to Chiang Xiao.
In the end, it was Chiang Xiao who broke the silence.
"Grandpa, we’ll go to the town hospital first thing tomorrow morning."
Huang Yizhen was right; she wouldn’t be at ease without an x-ray. What if he had internal injuries?
Chiang Songhai sadly said, "Little, don’t worry, grandpa knows how serious his injuries are..."
"What do you know?" Chiang Xiao interrupted him, "Grandpa, this isn’t the time to think you can just endure it. Have you considered what grandma and I would do if something really happened to you?"
He didn’t want to go to the hospital because he was afraid of spending money, right?
But if something truly happened to him, grandma certainly wouldn’t make it through.
Then she’d be left alone, facing this bleak life!
What was the point of her rebirth then?
Chiang Xiao didn’t want to speak to her grandparents , but she was so upset about today’s events that her heart ached. If her grandpa’s injury wasn’t enough to make them realize the situation, she felt like she would burst with frustration.
So she bluntly said, "Grandma’s health is already poor. If you are seriously injured, the entire burden of the house will fall on her. Do you think she can take it?"
It was the first time she spoke so coldly and realistically.
"Grandma can’t handle it, and her health may well rapidly decline. Then what? If something happens to both of you, I’d have to drop out of school to earn money. Even if I do make money, I might not be able to restore your health," Chiang Xiao looked steadily at Chiang Songhai, "Grandpa, do you still think getting hit like that is no big deal? Or do you think I shouldn’t feel resentment and anger towards the Old Chiang Family, towards Second Uncle? He almost killed me before, did great-aunt say anything to him? In their eyes, I’m not a junior of the family, but rather something they can abuse or kill without consequences. Knowing this, do you still expect me to respect and honor them?"
"Grandpa, do I have to be killed by them before you think they’ve done something wrong?"
Her words deeply moved Chiang Songhai, followed by an overwhelming sense of sorrow.
"Little, grandpa will listen to you; tomorrow we’ll go to the town hospital," he said with a strained voice.