nycdaug Chapter 368 It's good enough that I'm alive
Chapter 368 It's good enough that I'm alive
After arranging things in Longxi City, Yunyi went to Black City to take care of the gang's affairs, so she stayed overnight.
The Fengyun Teahouse and Pharmacy have now reached a considerable scale, and the information network has been initially established.
"Miss, do you think that's someone from the Xiao family?" Not long after leaving the pharmacy, Yun Hong pointed to someone in front of her and reminded her.
Yunyi looked over, and although it was only her back, she recognized her – it was Guan Xiaoxia.
Previously, because Tian Yuzhi was there to support her, she lived a pretty good life at home; at least her mother-in-law wouldn't use her as a scapegoat. But ever since her sister-in-law and Pingting left, her life has become much harder.
It's April now, but it hasn't rained here. If this continues, there might be a drought. So, the government has ordered a daily water ration, twice a day, morning and evening. She's the one who carries the earthenware pot and queues up to collect the water.
There was only enough water for drinking and cooking, but my mother-in-law insisted on taking a bath at night, and even if she couldn't take a bath, she had to wash her feet.
Therefore, she had to bring one more bucket.
It's difficult for a man to carry a clay pot and a bucket of water, let alone a woman like her.
But since the divorce, my older brother has become incredibly depressed and doesn't work hard. My father-in-law is also not very good at his work, so all the work is done by the men in the family.
The mother-in-law never let go of her airs as a wealthy old lady, always ordering her around to serve her. Her son is still young, and she has to take care of him too. If this continues, she will be exhausted.
After finally getting the water, Guan Xiaoxia staggered back. She had only taken a few steps when she looked up and saw Yun Yi. She was stunned for a moment, and then she actually walked over: "Yun... Chief Yun."
Yunyi nodded, not intending to say anything, and turned to leave.
"Um..." Guan Xiaoxia hurriedly spoke up, "Sister-in-law...is sister-in-law alright?"
“That’s good.” Yunyi nodded. “However, she has already divorced Xiao Mufeng and is no longer a member of the fourth branch of the Xiao family, so it’s not appropriate for you to call her sister-in-law.”
Guan Xiaoxia's expression froze for a moment, but she quickly nodded: "Yes, sister-in-law... Sister Yuzhi has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel."
Yunyi had no desire to continue the conversation and was about to leave, but Guan Xiaoxia stopped her again.
"Can you just say what you want? Why are you stopping my young lady time and time again? What are you trying to do?" Yun Hong retorted angrily.
"Chief Yun, I know you're powerful, but could you please help us for Sister Yuzhi's sake? If this continues, I can't take it anymore," Guan Xiaoxia pleaded, her voice trembling with tears. "I'll be your slave from now on..."
“Everyone who comes to Black City is pitiful, and many of them even die on the way.” Yun Yi scoffed. “It’s already quite good that your family didn’t suffer on the way here.”
Guan Xiaoxia remembered what had happened on the way, and her face immediately turned sour. She felt ashamed and upset.
"This is Black City, not some other place. There are no young masters or old ladies here; everyone here is a prisoner." After saying this, Yunyi walked away.
When you get to a place like this, a family must unite to get through the difficulties. If they scheme against each other, they will not last long and may even be wiped out.
Guan Xiaoxia watched Yunyi's retreating figure, her feelings somewhat complicated, but she didn't dare to linger too long. She quickly picked up the earthenware pot and the bucket and returned to her lodgings.
"Why are you so slow?" As soon as Xiao Mo saw Guan Xiaoxia, she scolded her without any sense of propriety. "All you do is eat, you're useless. What good are you?"
Guan Xiaoxia's face darkened, but she held back: "There were so many people getting water, I had to queue twice to get this much."
"Hurry up and boil some water. I haven't showered in days, and I feel terrible."
"Mom, even drinking water is scarce these days," Guan Xiaoxia said. "How about..."
"You still dare to tell me what to do?" Xiao Mo was so angry that she grabbed a bowl from the side and threw it at him.
Guan Xiaoxia didn't dodge in time and got a big bump on her forehead.
The bowl also fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
"What's going on here?" Just then, Xiao Taishun, who had finished work, walked in with his two sons. When he saw the situation, his expression darkened even more. "Do you think you have too much stuff that you can't use up?"
Xiao Mo felt a little guilty, but quickly became righteous: "Isn't it all because of the second son's wife? She makes excuses when asked to boil some water, and she thinks she's some kind of young mistress?"
Guan Xiaoxia looked on in disbelief: "Mom, Mingming..."
"Alright," Xiao Taishun impatiently interrupted Guan Xiaoxia, "What time is it? Hurry up and cook."
Guan Xiaoxia took a deep breath and went straight into the kitchen.
Xiao Mufeng looked numb and showed no emotion at the argument at home. He went straight into his room and lay down.
Xiao Mufan frowned, tidied up the broken pieces on the ground, and then followed him into the kitchen: "Xiaoxia, what's wrong?"
Guan Xiaoxia glanced at her husband and couldn't hold back her tears: "What time is it now? It's a question of whether we can survive. Water is rationed now, but Mother still insists on boiling water to take a bath."
Xiao Mufan was speechless upon hearing this.
"Afan, I miss Ning'er." Guan Xiaoxia said, wiping away tears as she tended the fire.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Mufan's eyes immediately welled up with tears. Their son was only five years old. Although they had found a child who had died young to exchange for their son, they hadn't seen him for so long and didn't know how he was doing.
"Afan, I want to leave here."
"Leave? How do I leave?" Xiao Mufan hurriedly lowered his voice.
"If my sister-in-law can leave, why can't I?"
"you……"
“Go beg Chief Yun, go beg Uncle!” Guan Xiaoxia grabbed her husband’s collar. “Afan, I can’t hold on any longer.”
"It's not that easy," Xiao Mufeng said, pulling the other's hand down. "Xiaoxia, we are prisoners. As long as the imperial court doesn't exonerate us, we won't be able to leave Black City, understand?"
Guan Xiaoxia couldn't help but sob. At this moment, she felt that if she had been betrayed on the way to exile, and if the man in front of her was as shameless as his elder brother, would the main branch of the family have taken pity on her and taken her away?
Xiao Mufan reached out and patted his wife's hand: "Bear with it, it will pass." He paused, then added, "Don't listen to your mother anymore." At this point, just surviving is a blessing.
Guan Xiaoxia stopped crying and nodded slightly: "You can go out now, I'll cook."
"I'll help you." Xiao Mufan didn't go out; instead, he took the fire poker.