Wang Hehua initially didn’t react to what was happening, but after listening to Dong Family’s words, she instantly understood, especially when she saw the people around who heard the noise were all looking over, their expressions grew unsightly, "Dong Family, this isn’t right of you, to kneel down to a junior without reason, are you trying to curse Xinxin?"
Dong Family’s expression immediately became stiff.
"Besides, your daughter has her father, her mother, and even grandparents, how could you shamelessly ask a niece who has already split from the family to take care of her?" Wang Hehua’s voice was not soft, "Such words would be embarrassing to say in front of others..."
"I..." Dong Family suddenly found herself at a loss for words, her face flushing red.
"I used to think Dong Family was a good, quiet person, honest to a fault, but it turns out she’s quite scheming..." someone from the crowd that hurried over began to gossip.
"She bullies the weak and fears the strong too. How harsh is Yang Fourth on her? He’s nearly made her a concubine, and she doesn’t dare to let out a peep, yet she still thinks of plotting against the main house..."
Yang Ruxin didn’t feel anything in particular, except for the few who truly cared for her, the rest were just fair-weather friends. The reason they sided with her was partly because the Yang Family’s old house had behaved poorly, tarnishing their reputation, and partly because, since splitting from the family, she hadn’t just survived; she was actually living a better life. Moreover, many knew she was also doing business with the tavern in town. Of course, what was more important, and she understood this too, was that although she had severed ties with the Yang Family’s old house, the Yang Family clan had not abandoned her. Great Uncle Third and Great Uncle Fourth held her in high regard; everyone was no fool.
Dong Family didn’t expect everyone to start blaming her, and her tears immediately began to fall.
"You folks really, all being relatives, what’s wrong with looking after one another?" Finally, a different voice came from the crowd, "Why quibble over such trivial matters?" It was Chen Yingzi.
The eyes of the people then turned strange.
"Sister-in-law, you seem to speak as if you have no stake in this, as if it wouldn’t ache your back," before Yang Ruxin could speak, someone chuckled and spoke up, "Why don’t you take her back to help raise the daughter?" It was Yang Huangshi, wife of Yang Guofu and mother to Goudan, hence the villagers generally called her Goudan’s mother.
The two women were both granddaughters-in-law to Great Uncle Third, but their husbands were full brothers, and they themselves were sisters-in-law.
"What concern is it of yours?" Chen Yingzi glared at her sister-in-law, but she wasn’t foolish enough to stand there and argue. Instead, she glanced at the sky, "It’s getting late, time to prepare lunch." With that, she left.
Goudan’s mother pursed her lips, having little respect for her sister-in-law, too petty for her taste.
Yang Ruxin gave Goudan’s mother a grateful smile.
Goudan’s mother also smiled, Xiaxia, but said nothing more.
"What kind of people are they?" Liu Cuiyun in the crowd couldn’t help but shake her head, her voice neither loud nor soft, but audible to all, "They see Xinxin’s life smooth and want to bask in her light, but don’t they consider how hard it’s been for her? She’s carrying the livelihood of an entire family on her shoulders. Xu’s sister-in-law might have awoken, but we’ve all asked, her body is frail, she can do nothing, and she still needs to be medicated for several months, all of which costs money... I don’t believe that when Xinxin needs silver, you all would come forward to contribute, would you?"