A Maiden's Land

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Tang Huai coldly laughed.

"Having sons and daughters is hereditary? Being uneducated is really terrifying."

"Tang Ying is truly detestable!"

Tang Huai raised her head, looking at Tang Ying indifferently, "Tang Ying, no matter what you say about me is fine, but could you please not speculate wildly about Brother Jing Xuan? I twisted my ankle, and he brought me back, which is perfectly normal. I believe if any other girl in the village got hurt, Brother Jing Xuan would also take her home. Why does everything seem to get twisted when it comes to you? Last year, Brother Jing Xuan even jumped into the sea to save a female college student, and half a year ago, he took a pregnant woman about to give birth to the hospital. Are all those women people Jing Xuan likes? Do you want me to ask Brother Jing Xuan in front of you whether he likes me just because he took me home after I twisted my ankle?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Ying, truly afraid that Tang Huai might complain to Jing Xuan, panicked and quickly said, "I was just joking, why are you taking it so seriously? Brother Jing Xuan definitely wouldn't like you. You're probably the one who likes him!"

"I'm not you, always watching the village chief's three sons!" Tang Huai got angry, glowering at Tang Ying: "If you keep spouting nonsense here, I will ask Brother Jing Xuan to come and clarify things!"

Of course, Tang Ying did not want Tang Huai to go to Jing Xuan. If Jing Xuan was willing to carry Tang Huai on his back, he must not dislike her as the other villagers did. What if Tang Huai said something and he believed her?

"Humph!" After a cold snort, Tang Ying turned and walked away.

Tang Huai sat there quietly watching the fireworks in front of her.

Tang Ying's character is similar to Yang Hongxing's; she has always disliked Tang Huai.

In her previous life, after working for three years post-graduation, Tang Ying suddenly sought out Tang Huai, treating her with seeming kindness and concern.

Tang Huai thought that, after receiving higher education, Tang Ying's values had been rectified and she had learned to appreciate familial bonds.

And Tang Huai, who had always lacked familial warmth, soon started hanging out with Tang Ying.

Since both of them worked in the same city, they kept in touch occasionally, eating out together, and shopping.

Every time they ate out, Tang Ying always wanted Tang Huai to eat well, emphasizing not to consume greasy food, and even went out of her way to get Tang Huai a gym membership, encouraging her to exercise whenever she had time.

Looking back now, Tang Huai finally understood that Tang Ying's 'kindness' towards her had always been with her kidneys in mind.

Tang Huai mindlessly curled her lips into a cold smirk.

At that time, while being nice to her, Tang Ying was also seeing Jing Peng. Tang Ying must have been extremely pleased with herself.

No wonder, every time Tang Huai saw Tang Ying, she always seemed so happy.

"I treat you well, yet your husband embraces me in his arms to sleep every night, and you, oblivious, foolishly accept my kindness."

How ironic!

"Sigh..." Tang Huai propped her chin up, letting out a sigh.

The light of the fire reflected in her eyes, casting a golden glow.

She had to thank the scheming of Jing Peng and Tang Ying for giving her the chance to live again...

As the fire was about to die out, Tang Huai added a few more logs to the stove.

There wasn't much firewood left in the kitchen. After cooking breakfast, Tang Huai served it to Liu Xiaoyu, prepared formula milk for Zihan, and then hobbled to the woodshed to fetch more firewood.

Liu Xiaoyu didn't have her own woodshed, and her house was too small to store firewood. So, she kept the firewood she chopped in the woodshed of Tang Huai's eldest uncle, Tang Youzhang.

Out of Tang Huai's four uncles, it was the eldest uncle who never mistreated her family. Perhaps it was because the eldest uncle had no wife to whisper in his ear.

The wife of Tang Youzhang had passed away seven years ago, leaving behind two sons who went out to work after finishing junior high school.

As she passed by Tang Youqian's kitchen, Tang Huai overheard mention of Liu Xiaoyu's name.

Upon hearing that name, Tang Huai's heart raced with vigilance, and she stealthily crept up to the window to eavesdrop, hoping to catch any badmouthing about Liu Xiaoyu from Tang Youqian and his wife.

The mud-brick house with its tile roof had poor sound insulation, and squatting by the window, Tang Huai could hear the clinking of chopsticks against bowls and the chewing sounds from inside.

"The three pigs at Liu Xiaoyu's home are growing up nice and plump," Tang Youqian's voice said.

Shocked upon hearing this, Tang Huai wondered why Tang Youqian would suddenly bring up her family's pigs.

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"If we sell it, we'll definitely make a good amount of money," said Su Linfang, the voice of the second aunt.

"The day after tomorrow is market day; give me some money and I'll go buy some DDT," said Tang Youqian.

"Didn't we just rid the rice seedlings of bugs a few days ago? What do you need DDT for?" asked Su Linfang.

"Before school starts, Liu Xiaoyu will definitely sell the pig to save up tuition fees for Tang Huai and Tang Li to attend school. While the pig hasn't been sold yet, I'm going to poison it to death."

Tang Huai felt like she had been struck by lightning. Her uncle was planning to poison her family's pig?!

Su Linfang: "Wasn't one pig poisoned to death last year enough, and you want to do it again this year?"

Tang Youqian said mysteriously, "This year, we don't have much money to buy meat. Since the fifth brother is gone, if the pig dies, Liu Xiaoyu will definitely ask the eldest brother to butcher it and sell the meat. And if there's pork left over that can't be sold, would the eldest brother not share it with us?"

Su Linfang: "That's true, the meat that couldn't be sold last year was turned into sausages that lasted us several months."

Hearing this, Tang Huai's eyes cooled, and she gritted her teeth in anger. Such heartless and ungrateful people!

She crouched and tiptoed back home.

Sitting in the bamboo chair in the living room, she had a stern face and took deep breaths.

She was furious!

Her second uncle and second aunt were targeting her pig!

Liu Xiaoyu, who was sitting at the bedside eating, thought Tang Huai had hurt her foot and scolded her: "Can't you walk more carefully? If your foot is swollen, lie down on the bed after breakfast and do the chores another day, okay?"

Tang Huai didn't listen a bit to Liu Xiaoyu's words; filled with rage, she thought about what her second uncle and second aunt had said.

Such evil people, to kill her pig with poison just to eat its meat!

Right now, the most valuable things in her home were those three pigs!

So, the pig last year had been poisoned to death!

Tang Huai remembered clearly, that day when she came home from school and entered the yard, she smelled a delicious meat fragrance.

There was meat at home to eat!

She happily entered the kitchen, where Liu Xiaoyu stood in front of the stove, head lowered, frying meat.

Seeing the large quantity of meat in the pot, Tang Huai's eyes sparkled: "Mom, what's the occasion today, buying so much pork?!"

Liu Xiaoyu lifted her head, tears in her eyes as she looked at Tang Huai and cried, "Our pig died."

Seeing her mother's grieving cry and hearing her words, Tang Huai felt like she had fallen into an icy pit.

Even to this day, Tang Huai still remembered, that day, the sight of Liu Xiaoyu sitting at the dining table, eating pork and crying...

Being schemed against once was enough. Tang Huai would never give them a second chance!

Tang Huai suddenly stood up, her expression icy.

Liu Xiaoyu was startled and said, "Tang Huai, are you... are you alright?"

Tang Huai looked at Liu Xiaoyu: "Mom, I have to make a trip to the county town!"

Liu Xiaoyu, puzzled, asked in surprise, "Why on earth would you go to the county town all of a sudden?"

"It's urgent. In any case, if the second uncle and others ask, don't tell them I went to the county town."

Tang Huai spoke with indignation, which frightened Liu Xiaoyu, "Tang Huai, has something big happened?"

Seeing Liu Xiaoyu's worried face, Tang Huai softened her indignant expression and said with a smile, "Mom, I'm going to negotiate a deal."