"Wang Xiaocui, you’ve remarried and still dare to come to your ex-husband’s home, do you want your current husband to beat you again?!" Yan Jinsu’s large almond eyes glaring fiercely, she looked at the despicable woman across from her with utter disdain.
"You—" Wang Xiaocui scurried backwards, her heart skipping a beat, always feeling that this Xie Laoer’s wife carried an extraordinary air, truly frightening her to the core.
Her petty thoughts quickly hidden, her face showing a sorrowful expression.
"Wang Xiaocui, if you dare to come here looking for trouble again, if you start it on the first, I’ll finish it on the fifteenth!" Yan Jinsu squinted her eyes, the daunting pressure in her gaze only intensifying Wang Xiaocui’s trembling fear.
"I, I won’t come again, okay... I just wanted to know if the kids are doing well! You, you have to treat Xiao Si and Xiaoqi well..." Wang Xiaocui clenched her lower lip, whimpering and crying, her tears falling fiercely despite her obvious fear, yet she still clearly expressed her maternal love, revealing the deep pain in her heart.
She truly was regretting now!
But there’s no antidote for regret, and as the saying goes, a shot arrow does not turn back; having cheapened herself, the bitter fruits she tastes now, no matter how tragic, she can only swallow by herself, alone.
She glanced at the imposing Xie Family Courtyard behind Yan Jinsu. Her cries were loud, yet neither her Xiao Si nor Xiaoqi came out!
Even so, she knew that her children were just beyond that wall!
However, she could withstand Yan Jinsu’s psychological intimidation, but not the fact that her children wouldn’t buy what she was selling!
None were moved enough by her cries to rush out!
"Tsk, you don’t need to worry about that! Xiao Si and Xiaoqi are part of the Xie Family; we might owe others, but we won’t let their siblings suffer. If you truly wish them well, don’t come here again.
Your presence is like a stain upon them; each visit requires another wash. Please have some pity on the children, they’re still young; don’t make things harder for them."
Yan Jinsu saw the remorse in Wang Xiaocui’s heart and the front she presented, and her words became even sharper.
No matter what Wang Xiaocui’s current sentiments were, the evil fruits of the past have built an insurmountable chasm, preventing her from continuing the affectionate bond with Xiao Si and Xiaoqi.
Behind the doors of the Xie Family Courtyard, the two small figures huddled together, embracing each other to give the other support.
Xiao Si covered his mouth, his tears falling heavily, while Xiaoqi held his brother even tighter, burying himself in his small chest, crying and sobbing quietly.
Although young and not fully understanding adult matters, the look of scorn and pity in the eyes of the elders in the village towards them following the loss of their brother from their mother’s womb—this they understood, even being so young.
Their mother had done wrong, a grievous wrong that was unforgivable. Second Aunt was blocking their mother from entering to protect them.
They knew that only Second Aunt could stand up to their mother, and now it was only Second Aunt who wholeheartedly wanted the best for them.
"I, I really just miss them too much..." Wang Xiaocui tried to say more, lingering, not daring to leave—
"Enough. Wang Xiaocui, if you really had even a hint of remorse, you wouldn’t have remarried so easily. Don’t you know that by doing this, you’re making it impossible for Xiao Si and Xiaoqi to stay in the countryside? You’re just selfishly wanting someone to join you in your fall from grace!"
But Yan Jinsu suddenly roared out loud, her gaze piercing and clear as she looked at her, as if witnessing a clown performing her antics.
Wang Xiaocui felt an icy chill, as if seen through, when she met Yan Jinsu’s glossy black eyes. She took a step back, instinctively retorting, "You’re talking nonsense..."
"Wang Xiaocui, I’m not a three-year-old child! Also, do you really think that your thoughts are unknown to anyone? Do you want to lure Xiaoqi away, or is it Xiao Si? Ha, don’t delude yourself. They are members of my Xie Family, and it is absolutely impossible for you to take them away!"
"You, you are just an ’Aunt,’ why meddle so much! Could you possibly stop Xiaoqi and the others from willingly coming with me?"
"Yes! I can!" Yan Jinsu declared unequivocally.
Wang Xiaocui took another step back and called out loudly towards the courtyard, "Xiaoqi, Xiao Si, mom is here, come out, let mom see you—"
"Brother..." Xiaoqi heard her biological mother’s words, but not a shred of warmth stirred in her heart, instead, she huddled even closer behind her brother in fear, worried that her biological mother would barge in and, just as Second Aunt said, kidnap them!
"Xiaoqi, don’t be afraid, brother is here, and Second Aunt will not let her succeed!" Xiao Si stroked his little sister’s hair, pressing her tightly into his embrace, and even covered her exposed ears with a small hand.
The malicious words outside the courtyard should not harm his only sister!
"Shut up! If you keep screaming nonsense, don’t blame me for not being polite with my fists!" With a flick of her foot, Yan Jinsu kicked a chicken egg-sized stone from the ground, ’whooshing’ it towards Wang Xiaocui’s shin.
"Sss, you—ouch!" Seeing this, Wang Xiaocui quickly jumped aside, but not having expected it, she wasn’t hit by the stone kicked by Yan Jinsu but tumbled to the ground in her panic. Facing Yan Jinsu’s scornful white face, she howled in pain.
"Wang Xiaocui, if you think I can’t deal with you, then you’re underestimating me. Although I no longer carry the Zhang surname, it would be extremely easy for me to wipe out your family in Qingyun Team, Baiyun Town, and the county town! If you don’t believe me, feel free to try!"
Just the display of strength Yan Jinsu just showed was enough to startle the onlookers. The stone did not hit Wang Xiaocui but struck a longan tree about three to five years old behind her!
Despite being only the size of a chicken egg, the stone was embedded in the trunk of the longan tree by Yan Jinsu’s force!
The children, not quite understanding fear, were less affected, but the elderly gentlemen and ladies beside them inhaled sharply, their murmurs continuous!
Curious, Wang Xiaocui glanced back and saw two kids actually trying to pry the stone out of the tree trunk!
"Damn it... she’s like a female demon!" murmured a startled old lady, who, upon realizing her loud voice might cause trouble, quickly covered her mouth, bowed her head, and retreated, then sprinting away, exclaiming, ’Oh my, this is terrifying!’
Wang Xiaocui saw the stone and her pupils contracted. After processing Yan Jinsu’s just uttered threats, she couldn’t even speak. She sat on the ground, retreating again and again.
"How about it, have you thought it through, decided what to do?" Yan Jinsu spoke with a glance behind Wang Xiaocui, the threat in her expression was unmistakable.
Before Wang Xiaocui could say anything, people behind her were already clamoring, "We didn’t see anything, we won’t talk nonsense," "Goodness, she’s like an iron lady!" Suddenly, the onlookers behind her all dispersed.
The children were small and didn’t understand fear, but some adults came to their senses and quickly carried away the naive children.
Yan Jinsu saw this, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly...