“Does the Xia family live here?”

“My Second Uncle is named Xia Dajun.”

After inquiring along the way, Xia Hongxia finally received directions.

“That house ahead is the one. Your uncle’s a long-distance truck driver, right? That’s a lucrative job!”

What a great job, the person giving directions thought – but being away from home more than half the month with a young, beautiful wife would inevitably lead to betrayal. For such a money-making position, he wouldn’t take it even if threatened with death. What use was earning money if you had to wear a green hat?

Xia Hongxia found the person’s tone strange but didn’t dwell on it.

She quickly located Second Uncle Xia’s house.

In April, Shangdu’s weather was neither cold nor hot. The woman snacking on sunflower seeds by the door was Fan Yu, Xia Hongxia’s new Second Aunt.

Second Aunt Fan Yu wore a form-fitting sweater that accentuated her figure. The man conversing with her kept staring at her chest. They were discussing something in hushed tones, with the man’s mouth nearly touching Fan Yu’s ear, causing her to giggle coyly.

Upon seeing Xia Hongxia, Fan Yu’s expression immediately soured.

After hastily dismissing the man, she showed no courtesy to Xia Hongxia: “Why are you here? Your Second Uncle isn’t home – he’s out making deliveries. We’re struggling financially now, so if you’re here for money, we have none to give.”

No money?

Then what about the gold necklace barely visible around her neck and the gold ring on her finger?

Xia Hongxia wasn’t one to be pushed around. “Who said I came for money, Second Aunt? Did I mention anything about money? We’re relatives – can’t I visit? When will Second Uncle return? I need to discuss something with him.”

Fan Yu didn’t even invite Xia Hongxia inside.

How laughable – she knew exactly what kind of people Xia Hongxia’s family was. They must be here to beg for money, hoping to see Xia Dajun because he was soft-hearted and easy to persuade.

Keep dreaming.

Xia Dajun couldn’t make decisions anymore!

“Whatever you have to say, tell me. If I don’t agree, your Second Uncle definitely won’t agree.”

Xia Hongxia rolled her eyes, “I’m here for Jun Bao. Second Aunt, you’ve always said raising Jun Bao is a burden. I’ll take him away – then no one will be freeloading at your house. It’s good for both you and Second Uncle.”

Unexpectedly, Fan Yu tossed her sunflower seed shells and dusted off her hands:

“That’s not happening.”

Xia Hongxia grew agitated. Wasn’t this deliberate obstruction? Why prevent her from taking a child they didn’t want?

She didn’t know that since Grandmother Xia became paralyzed, Jun Bao had stopped attending school and was kept at home as Fan Yu’s servant. Fan Yu, formerly a domestic helper, knew better than anyone what servants should do. Moreover, what she made Jun Bao do went beyond what most servants would agree to – he was treated like an indentured laborer from the old society!

When Second Uncle Xia tried to speak up for his nephew, Fan Yu was direct: if Jun Bao wasn’t home to help care for the paralyzed Grandmother Xia, she wouldn’t care for her either.

She left Xia Dajun with choices: send Grandmother Xia back to the village to fend for herself, give her to Xia Hongxia’s family, or care for herself… The last option was impossible – without Xia Dajun earning money, the family would fall apart instantly. His pampered wife and son would leave. Xia Dajun couldn’t accept such an outcome. Having a son at his age meant everything – he wouldn’t let people mock him for ending his family line.

His son was his life. For his son’s sake, Xia Dajun would always compromise.

Fan Yu seized this advantage, sometimes not even bothering to hide her true nature, completely dominating Xia Dajun. She controlled everything in the household!

Now Xia Hongxia suddenly appeared, inexplicably wanting to take away Fan Yu’s “servant” – Fan Yu would never agree.

“You want to take him? Fine, take your grandmother too. Your whole family is unfilial – how long has she been paralyzed, and you never once visited!”

Fan Yu shouted from the doorway.

Xia Hongxia was dumbfounded.

What? Grandmother was paralyzed?

She had suffered a stroke but wasn’t she rescued? From Da He Village to Peng City, Grandmother just had a crooked mouth and occasional eye twitches, but could manage daily life.

Because Fan Yu feared Xia Hongxia’s family would become attached, after returning to Shangdu, she cut off contact with Peng City. Xia Hongxia’s family truly didn’t know about Grandmother Xia’s second stroke.

Now being accused by Fan Yu, Xia Hongxia wouldn’t back down.

She might have been timid before Xia Xiaolan, but that was unavoidable.

Previously, she hadn’t dared argue with Fan Yu because they needed Second Uncle Xia’s help to establish themselves in Peng City.

Now? She wasn’t afraid of anything!

Xia Hongxia could hold her own in arguments back in the village. She immediately engaged in a shouting match with Fan Yu, hands on hips, showing no respect for Fan Yu as an elder.

She started cursing when Fan Yu began living with Second Uncle Xia without proper marriage, continuing without pause: “How dare you, a daughter-in-law, complain about my grandmother? That gold necklace around your neck, that gold ring on your finger – isn’t that all earned by Second Uncle? Think you’re special because you bore a son? Second Uncle earns good money every month. If you don’t want to be a Xia family daughter-in-law, then leave! The second Uncle could find someone else to bear him a son! Truck driving is a great job – neighbors, am I right?”

A crowd had gathered to watch.

In these times, shrews were needed to deal with villains.

Fan Yu might be crafty, but Xia Hongxia didn’t need schemes – with her build, her voice carried naturally.

“That’s right!”

“How cruel to treat a child this way – no wonder, since he’s not her own.”

“He should do some chores, but isn’t the husband working hard enough outside?”

Once people started agreeing, the criticisms of Fan Yu came from all directions.

Jun Bao was indeed pitiful – even in spring, the chilblains on his hands and face hadn’t healed, looking bloody and frightening.

Fan Yu was already the neighborhood women’s public enemy.

Idle all day dressed provocatively, and when Xia Dajun was away, she’d flirt around.

These women despised her, considering her improper.

Not knowing Xia Hongxia’s background, they thought she made sense.

Xia Hongxia, triumphant, berated Fan Yu thoroughly before pushing past her into the courtyard.

Jun Bao had heard the commotion but dared not emerge.

If he showed any desire to leave with Xia Hongxia, and she ultimately couldn’t take him, Fan Yu would never forgive him.

Jun Bao shared no deep bond with Xia Hongxia, but meeting again in such circumstances, the adolescent boy’s eyes welled with tears.

Dressed in dirty, tattered clothes, hair unkempt, unhealed chilblains on his hands, still washing clothes.

Xia Hongxia was stunned.

Hadn’t Second Uncle promised to take good care of Jun Bao?

Was this his idea of care?!

Jun Bao’s life was worse than when he lived in the village! Though Xia Hongxia didn’t feel deeply for this cousin when Jun Bao tearfully called out “Sister Hongxia,” she pitied him.

“Jun Bao, come with me to Peng City. I can’t promise lavish meals, but I won’t let you freeze or starve!”

Even if Xia Ziyu hadn’t offered money to bring Jun Bao back, Xia Hongxia asked herself – knowing this situation, would she still be willing to take in this cousin? Perhaps she would. Supporting Jun Bao’s education might irritate her, but having him help at the shop and eventually helping him find a wife in a few years shouldn’t be a problem – wasn’t this the bottom line Xia Xiaolan mentioned?!