The loudmouthed man’s face burned with embarrassment. He sheepishly withdrew into the crowd, lowering his head and falling silent.
Wang Meixia’s hand, which was holding the child, clenched into a fist. The villagers made no attempt to hide their mockery and disdain. Their words pricked her like needles, leaving her deeply uncomfortable.
That damned girl hadn’t left her even a shred of dignity.
Zheng Chao had said that reporting her stepfather and preventing her mother from living a peaceful life was unfilial. They could definitely use that against the girl and keep her under their thumb!
Besides, Zheng Chao had already asked a friend to help her find a temporary job. They weren’t planning to take advantage of her. She had lived in her mother’s belly for ten months, so what was wrong with staying in her house for a few days?
Wang Lei and Zheng Chao’s daughter had both chosen this place when they were sent to the countryside, precisely so they could look after each other. But now that things had turned out like this, how was she supposed to hold her head up in the village?
These ignorant peasants had far too much free time. Even if she had switched babies, what did it have to do with them? Why were they all criticizing her? It was clearly Xiao Mandong who was being unfilial, so why had everyone taken Xiao Mandong’s side and shown her favoritism?
“Girl, open the door first. That room will warm up in just a few minutes. If the child really freezes, I swear I’ll make you pay!” Old Mrs. Zheng was heartbroken when she heard the baby crying.
“You old hag, who are you going to make pay? Is this your house? A grown man takes a wife and has children, yet he can’t even provide them with a place to live. Tch, what a pathetic excuse for a man!” Huang Chunxing fixed her eyes on Old Mrs. Zheng and tore into her. That old crone had scratched her husband’s face, and today she was determined to curse the jaundice out of her.
Meanwhile, Old Lady Wang was trembling all over. Her right arm felt numb, and her right eyelid kept twitching. She wanted to speak, but no sound came out. Growing anxious, she finally raised her left hand and gave Wang Fugui, who was beside her, a hard pinch.
Only then did Wang Fugui turn to look at his mother. His heart sank to the bottom.
His mother’s right eye had narrowed into a slit, the right corner of her mouth was twisting upward, and drool was running down her chin. He immediately realized that something was wrong.
“Meixia, what’s wrong with Mom?”
Wang Meixia, who had been soothing the baby, glanced at Old Lady Wang impatiently. The moment she saw her, the color drained from her face.
“Mom… Mom’s had a stroke!”
Wang Meixia hurried over and began pressing the philtrum beneath Old Lady Wang’s nose.
She didn’t know how to treat anyone, but she had watched Xiao Jingping treat patients countless times and had picked up a little knowledge from him.
“Xiao Mandong, come over quickly! Your grandmother has had a stroke. Take a look at her!” After forcing herself to calm down, Wang Meixia suddenly remembered Xiao Mandong. In the past, Xiao Jingping had been able to save people with just a few acupuncture needles. Surely this girl knew how to do it too.
Xiao Mandong merely leaned lazily against the doorframe, not moving an inch. She wasn’t about to go looking for trouble.
“Xiao Mandong, are you deaf? Get over here and examine your grandmother!”
Wang Meixia’s voice cracked with panic. If Old Lady Wang really had suffered a stroke, what were they going to do? Who would take care of her? She had to look after this frail child and simply didn’t have the energy to care for her mother as well.
Wang Fugui had long since given up on Xiao Mandong. He turned to Li Fengmei and roared, “What are you waiting for? Go get the doctor, you idiot!”
Only then did Li Fengmei snap out of her daze. She hurriedly ran toward the entrance of the village.
Wang Fugui held his mother in his arms, sweating with anxiety. Li Fengmei had run off to find a doctor, Wang Meixia was crying and fussing as she held the baby, and the onlookers were whispering and pointing. The courtyard had descended into utter chaos.
Zheng Chao stood to one side, staring at the tangled mess of a scene. It felt as though a boulder were lodged in his chest.
He glared at Xiao Mandong, who was leaning against the doorframe and watching coldly from the sidelines. His anger surged straight to his head.
It was all because of that little bitch.
She had reported him, gotten him fired, left his whole family without a place to live, and forced his children to be sent to the countryside. And now she was standing there watching the spectacle as if none of it had anything to do with her.
Why did she get to live so freely? Why was his entire family the one suffering because of her?
The more he thought about it, the more he hated her. The fury in his chest burned until his eyes turned bloodshot.
Suddenly, he charged forward, pointed at Xiao Mandong, and began cursing her viciously.
“Xiao Mandong, you heartless little bitch! Your grandmother is in this state, and you’re still standing there watching the show? No grudge is worth mentioning in the face of a human life. You’re unkind, unfilial, and devoid of compassion. You don’t deserve to call yourself a doctor!”
“You reported me and ruined my family’s livelihood. Your little brother is freezing and crying his eyes out, yet you won’t even open the door. And now you’re standing by while someone dies! You’re a heartless animal!”
The people nearby tried to stop him, but he flung one of them aside and charged another step forward.
“Aren’t you angry because your mother remarried? So what if she remarried? When Heaven sends rain, a woman may marry again. A girl like you thinks she has the right to interfere in that too? No wonder you got divorced! Don’t get too smug, either. You look down on this bastard and despise that illegitimate child, but you still don’t know who you really are. For all you know, I might be your real father!”
Smack!
A solid slap landed across Zheng Chao’s face.
He was stunned. Before he could recover, Xiao Mandong had already snatched up the wooden club beside the door and begun beating him with it. She had wanted to hit him for a long time. Since he had delivered himself right to her door, she would have been a fool not to take advantage of the opportunity. The resentment from two lifetimes erupted all at once.
“You? You think you’re worthy? Take a good look at yourself first! You’ve got a garlic-bulb head, beady triangular eyes, and a sharp mouth. You look like a rat that’s turned into a demon! I honestly don’t know how Wang Meixia could have been blind enough to fall for you.”
“If you don’t have a mirror at home, surely you have a puddle to look into. Look at that lecherous face of yours! There isn’t a single decent thing about you. And you call yourself my real father? Are you even worthy?”
“You live off a woman and still have the nerve to act like the head of the household. Aren’t you afraid you’ll choke on your own shamelessness?”
Xiao Mandong had no real technique. She simply cursed as she swung the club, but she had strength on her side, and every blow landed solidly on Zheng Chao.
Zheng Chao covered his head and ran wildly around the courtyard, still shouting abuse. He had thrown all caution to the wind. He was determined to ruin the girl’s reputation.
“Little bitch, stop hitting me! Your mother belonged to me before she married your father! I’m telling you, I’m your real father! Ask your mother if you don’t believe me! You’re beating your own father—aren’t you afraid Heaven will strike you with lightning?”
He knew perfectly well that Xiao Mandong was not his daughter. He was deliberately saying it just to disgust and humiliate her.
Xiao Mandong swung the club even harder and smashed it into his leg. Zheng Chao cried out in agony.
“Say that one more time. Let’s see if I can break your leg!”
“Xiao Mandong, stop! He’s your elder. How can you beat your elders?” Wang Meixia held the baby and didn’t dare approach. Crying and cursing, she wailed, “What a wicked daughter! You little beast, stop at once! Heaven, send down a thunderbolt and strike her dead!”
The people surrounding them erupted in an uproar.
“Damn, is that something a real mother would say? What kind of relationship do they have? Could it actually be true?”
“This is seriously messed up. Judging by the way her mother reacted… it kind of looks like it might be true.”
“Could he really be Educated Youth Xiao’s father?”
