As soon as they entered the village, they noticed that the other three brothers of the Yang Family were anxiously waiting at the entrance.
They had just heard the news and were too desperate not to wait at the village entrance.
"Let’s talk when we get back home," said Old Master Yang.
Seeing his daughter in such a state this time, he was initially panicked and did not know what to do. However, when he saw that the third daughter-in-law had gone, he inexplicably felt that she would surely be able to save his daughter. That’s why he kept silent the whole time, and indeed, the third daughter-in-law succeeded!
Once the family arrived home, Yang Qiu was arranged to stay in the fourth son’s room, lying on the kang (traditional bed-stove), her heart incredibly heavy. This was the first time she had come home.
Being sent away to become a child bride since she was a child, she had endured countless beatings. At first, she thought that the family despised her for being a girl, but later she learned that she was sold by her family to become a child bride. She was filled with hatred, wondering why her family had sold her.
Later, as she grew older, she inadvertently discovered that her family had tried to find her numerous times, only to be turned away at the door by her in-laws. Slowly, she understood the reasons for being sold and stopped hating her parents, only lamenting why she wasn’t born a boy.
She thought she was surely going to die this time and that she would finally be free, but to her surprise, her family descended from the heavens and gave her hope! She had finally returned home.
"Dad, I see that my little sister is covered in wounds. We need to find a doctor to take a look at her quickly!"
Yang Qiu was lost in thought when she heard her third sister-in-law utter these words.
"No!" she frantically said, trying to get up as tears uncontrollably flowed.
"You lie down quickly, don’t move."
Xiaoxiao immediately stepped in to stop Yang Qiu, who was already lacking strength; she shouldn’t be moving around.
"A doctor must take a look! You have so many injuries!"
Yang Qiu did not speak but kept crying non-stop, leaving Xiaoxiao truly at a loss as to why she was acting this way!
It was the eldest sister-in-law who pulled Xiaoxiao aside and whispered a reminder, "Third little sister-in-law, is it possible that little sister is afraid of a doctor seeing her body? After all, doctors are all men!"
Only then did Xiaoxiao realize the problem. In modern times, there are many male gynecologists; is someone in her condition still concerned about this? How on earth do the minds of the women here work, and what’s the best way to persuade her?
"Dad, why don’t you and the others go have some dinner? We women will stay behind to have a good talk with little sister."
Having said that, she signaled Yang Ming to lead everyone out for dinner. Yang Ming knew that it was indeed not appropriate for them to stay and talk at this time, so he left.
"Yang Qiu, how are you feeling right now?"
"These external injuries aren’t a big deal; I’ve gotten used to them, so there’s really no need to see a doctor."
Everyone felt extremely heartbroken upon hearing this, evident that the numerous new and old wounds showed she was often beaten. How had such a young girl managed to endure?
Xiaoxiao thought to herself, this young girl had been tormented so badly. Since she didn’t want to see a doctor, they wouldn’t insist, in order to preserve her last bit of dignity.
"Alright, we won’t see a doctor. We’ll do as you wish. How about we buy some medicine for external wounds, and the third sister-in-law can help you apply it, okay?"
"Mm!" Yang Qiu’s tensed body finally relaxed; she felt at ease, her breathing gradually steadied, and she slowly fell asleep.
After everyone had dinner, the mother-in-law stayed to take care of Yang Qiu, while the others went back to their rooms to rest.
As soon as Xiaoxiao returned to her room, she received words of gratitude from Yang Ming.
"I’m really thankful for what you did today!"
His thankfulness was genuine; without her, he had no idea what the outcome would have been!
"If it weren’t for you hiring ten strong men..."