Song Xiu'er stared unblinkingly at Li Shi, a mocking smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. This was the mother who gave birth to her. Since she was young, she hoped her mother would love her a little more. Even if she couldn't be loved like her brother, just a little of that affection given to her would have been satisfying.
But what happened?
In the end, it was all wishful thinking.
In her past life, it was also like this; her child was kicked away by her own mother. Doctor Li said she damaged her body and she wouldn't be able to get pregnant again. Her mother-in-law was furious, fought with her mother, and her mother couldn't gain the upper hand, so she forced her to go back with her.
Her mother said, if you can't give birth, even if the Zhao Family doesn't divorce you today, you won't have a good life in the future. It's better to go home with her; the family would never mistreat her. Besides, if she couldn't bear children, the only person she could rely on in the future would be her brother. She naively believed her, believed her mother's words that her brother would take care of her, and believed her mother when she said even if she had no children, her brother's children would support her as their aunt.
When leaving, her mother-in-law still wanted her to stay—
"I don't just have Dajiang as a son. Dahe and Little Tree, when they get married and have children, they can still carry on the Zhao family's lineage. If you and Dajiang are willing, you can adopt one."
What did her mother say about that?
Oh, she said—
"Do you believe that nonsense your mother-in-law is telling you? She's just pretending to be nice to trick you into staying in the Zhao Family, to continue working hard and serving her. If you believe it, you're a fool. Go back with mother; the family won't lack your pair of chopsticks."
One side was the mother-in-law, and the other was the birth mother.
How could the birth mother be wrong?
So, after her child was kicked out, she went back to the Song Family with her birth mother.
Just as before she got married, she did the heaviest work at home, and ate the least. She could tolerate these things. Then, when her brother reached the age to discuss marriage, her mother said she wanted to renovate the house, extend her brother's room. With the house being so small, naturally, her room was taken to expand it. So, she moved to the small damp room beside the pigsty that always smelled of pig manure.
Her brother's prospective bride disliked the family's poverty.
During that time, she suddenly had enough to eat, and her work load was noticeably reduced. She was surprised, thinking she had finally received her mother's care.
When she appeared less frail, her mother took her to tailor a new set of clothes. Upon returning home from the town, there was a rugged man in the house, with a lame leg, a long scar on his forehead, and a fierce look in his eyes. One glance and she couldn't help but shiver.
Her mother said, you can't always hang around at home. I'm doing this for your own good; you're young, you can't be alone forever, can you? I found a good family for you through someone, just follow them with peace of mind.
Then, she saw that man toss a bag of money to her mother.
Her mother beamed with joy, said the journey was long, pushed the man to take her quickly, telling her once gone, not to think of home, and at his place, to be obedient, to serve him well, and so on.
She didn't want to leave home for an unfamiliar place; she feared that man. She clutched her mother's arm and pleaded, only to receive a harsh slap from her mother in return.
Song Xiu'er clearly remembered her mother saying, I've received the betrothal gift, you're now someone else's, don't linger at our home refusing to leave. Our mother-daughter bond is over, let's part here.
Seeing her dilly-dally, the man grew impatient, raised his hand and slapped her twice, warning her to be more obedient, or he'd kill her.
In a daze, she was taken back to the mountains by the man. Indeed, the man was a mountain dweller. Mountain dwellers had no farmland, they relied on hunting for a living, their days were sometimes good, sometimes bad, and hunting was dangerous. A little carelessness could lead to crippling injury or cost them their life. Therefore, it was difficult for mountain men to marry. Many would save some silver to go outside the mountains to buy a wife.
The women sold like this were mostly those unwelcome at home, and entering the mountains usually severed family ties.
What Song Xiu'er hadn't expected was that she wasn't brought into the mountains to be one man's wife, but to be the wife of five brothers.
Thinking back to those days of despair and darkness without a glimmer of light, Song Xiu'er shook like a sieve.
Meng Yao hurriedly stepped forward and grasped Song Xiu'er's hand.
Feeling the warmth transferred to her hand, Song Xiu'er snapped back to reality; she had immersed herself in those dreadful memories of her past life.
"Don't be afraid, speak slowly," Meng Yao said softly.
Song Xiu'er nodded heavily, "Uncle Village Chief, my mother-in-law is angry because—"
Li Shi glared at Song Xiu'er viciously, a wicked gleam in her eyes.
"Because my mother forced me to save my daily rations and send them home. When I refused, she'd stab me with needles, hard. She said, the needle pricks were painful but wouldn't leave visible wounds, so they wouldn't be discovered."
Song Xiu'er let out a long breath, in her past life, she had never been able to say these words aloud, even to her death.
This time, exposing her mother's true nature before everyone, she felt a great relief. It was as if a hand that had been tightly gripping her throat had finally let go. From this moment, she truly felt that Heaven had given her a chance to live again.
Upon hearing Song Xiu'er's words, everyone suddenly understood. If it were them, having the daughter-in-law secretly support her natal family day in and day out, they wouldn't be willing either.
To speak in anger about wanting to divorce her was too normal, even beating her was reasonable. Although life wasn't as difficult today, food was still precious, especially for the Zhao Family, with a widow and an orphan, and having to support a scholar, their lives weren't as easy as others. The Li Family, as in-laws, instead of offering help, still pondered over the married daughter's rations, truly shameless to the extreme.
Needle pricking? In Meng Yao's mind instantly appeared the classic scene of Wanwan Princess being pricked by needles. Watching the play pained her, let alone actually being pricked!
She now somewhat regretted being too lenient on Li Shi earlier.
"So, Song's malnutrition has nothing to do with the Zhao Family; it's because you, the mother, are cruel and vicious." The village chief's face was extremely grim. He knew the Song Family favored sons over daughters, but hadn't expected it to be so severe, clearly feeding on their daughter's blood and flesh for their own gain.
"How am I vicious? I gave birth to her, raised her, she should naturally repay me. Besides, I didn't tell her to steal the Zhao Family's food, only to save her own rations to supplement her mother's family. Our family's Song Hu is growing, as his sister, should she just watch her brother starve?" Li Shi argued righteously.
Domestic affairs are hard to judge, and with someone as unreasonable as Li Shi, who argues back with nonsense, the village chief had no idea how to handle this case.
"Madam Meng, this matter is not your fault. The Zhao Family is the victim here; tell me, how do you wish for me to handle this matter?" the village chief asked Meng Yao.
Meng Yao looked stern, "A life for a life."