Mrs. Lin didn't know how she made it back to her room.
Upon seeing her as if she had lost her soul, Xu Changsheng couldn't help but pull her to the side of the bed and ask, "What did mother say to you?"
Mrs. Lin looked at Xu Changsheng, unable to hold back, she pushed him away and threw herself onto the bed, bursting into loud sobs, "What Karma have I created to marry you? In this life, I only have Congcong; however, your mother won't even let him study. If he doesn't study, is he supposed to end up like you, spending his life as a farmer?"
"What did you say?" Xu Changsheng also lost his composure, "Mother won't let Congcong study?"
Mrs. Lin lifted her head, her eyes swimming with tears. "She said that if we continue to let Congcong go to the school in town, the family won't give a penny more, and she even talked about finding a tutor for Congcong. Listen to that, does it sound like she wants Congcong to study?"
"Xu Changsheng, I can't go on like this. Congcong is my only hope, and now that hope has been crushed. Why should I even stay at the Xu family? I'm going back to my parents' home tomorrow. If you can't convince your mother, then we should divorce!"
Xu Changsheng panicked, "Don't, my wife, I'll find a way, Congcong won't be without books to study. Maybe mother was truly upset today after seeing father, and she's just not in a good state of mind. In a couple of days, when Congcong comes back, she'll surely change her mind."
"You don't think mother is really possessed, do you? She became so strange after waking up." Mrs. Lin stopped crying. "You didn't see her on the mountain killing the wild boar—it was like she was a completely different person. Could it be that she's been possessed by a restless spirit?"
"Don't talk nonsense. I spoke about it with my elder brother today, and he told me she remembers everything about the past clearly. How would a restless spirit know all that?" Xu Changsheng didn't believe it. "Didn't she used to treat my brothers the same way?"
"But..."
"No 'buts'—that's my mother. If she really were possessed by a spirit, she would have killed you and Daniu when the wild boar came. She's still mother, she must have gotten a little out of her mind from the shock of seeing my father."
Seeing Mrs. Lin still pondering, Xu Changsheng then said, "As for Wencong's studies, no one can mess with that, you can rest assured. He's my only son—how could I possibly let him be ruined?"
Mrs. Lin wiped away her tears, "Whom am I doing all this for? If Wencong succeeds, won't they have a share of the benefits? If he brings honor to our ancestors, will life be hard for my elder brother and fourth brother?"
"Mother is not well-informed. We just have to stick to our guns. Don't we still have elder brother? I have a way to get elder brother to intervene."
"Last time, when my elder sister-in-law was pregnant with Daniu, didn't they also say it was a son? And what happened? I think my elder brother and his wife are just not destined to have sons. Wencong is their hope."
"That's right, that's right!"
...
While the Second Branch deliberated over Xu Wencong's education, the First Branch was not at peace either.
Liang spoke softly to Xu Qinglin: "I feel that mother has changed a lot. Do you think father has blessed us? Will she go back to her old self tomorrow?"
"Don't overthink it. Mother is still mother, and as long as she treats you well, that's enough. I'm her son after all—no matter what, she wouldn't just watch me die." Xu Qinglin consoled Liang. "The most important thing right now is to take care of your health."
Liang looked down at her belly, her expression somber, "What if this child is also a girl? Mother might lose her temper again then."
"A daughter is still my child. If she really doesn't want her, we'll just split off and live by ourselves." Xu Qinglin embraced Liang, but he had an intuition that from now on, his mother probably wouldn't act that way!
"I'm sorry, husband, for not being able to give you a son..."
"We'll have a son eventually; for now, let's take care of the present."
"The Li family came today, apparently to discuss marriage prospects for Daniu with Genzi. Did mother mention anything about this to you?" Liang recalled the day's events with worry.
Xu Qinglin grinned, "She did, but mother promised me that she won't arrange a match for Daniu before she grows up, so don't worry! Also, our family's days ahead will be better."
Seeing her husband so confident, Liang grew even more worried.
She feared he had been swayed once again by his mother's words, taking everything she said as truth when in the end, she would still only look out for the Second Branch. Their own First Branch was like something picked up from the roadside, never worthy of a second glance from their mother.
Nevertheless, Liang said nothing, for she knew her husband had it tough as well.
That night, except for Zhang Xiaoying and Daniu, the Xu family was destined to be sleepless.
The next day.
Zhang Xiaoying woke up early.
The fresh air and the green mountains and waters outside the window made her feel unprecedentedly relaxed.
Being far from the apocalypse was truly not a dream!
With very little food at home, Zhang Xiaoying still planned to go to the mountains today to see if there were any resources that could be exchanged for silver.
There was some leftover pork offal from yesterday, so Zhang Xiaoying made a pork offal porridge.
When she got up, no one else dared to stay in bed and all got up as well.
Today, Xu Changsheng didn't dare to be lazy and obediently went to the well to draw water, filling the kitchen water tank before chopping firewood.
Xu Qinglin went to the fields, the eldest daughter took the initiative to clean up the courtyard, and Mrs. Lin went to wash clothes.
The second daughter had nothing to do, so she helped Zhang Xiaoying by tending the fire in the kitchen.
She was still young and remembered being protected by her grandmother yesterday; she felt somewhat eager to get close to Zhang Xiaoying.
Seeing the thin, small, and well-behaved child, Zhang Xiaoying's heart softened.
She really liked such sensible young ones.
"Grandma, what are you cooking? It smells so good," said the second daughter with her childishly tender voice, her big, black eyes fixed on the pot.
"I'm cooking porridge. When it's ready, shall I let you have a taste?" Zhang Xiaoying said with a smile.
The second daughter widened her eyes, "Grandma, you smiled at me. You look so pretty when you smile."
Zhang Xiaoying couldn't help but stroke her head, "How about Grandma smiles at you more often from now on? But you have to be obedient and not upset Grandma, alright?"
The second daughter nodded vigorously, "I definitely won't. I'll do whatever Grandma tells me to do."
Zhang Xiaoying's eyes twinkled with greater amusement, "What if I told you to hit your dad?"
"You can't hit Dad. Dad is an elder; hitting him is unfilial," the second daughter said in a small voice, looking up stealthily at Zhang Xiaoying, "And Dad shouldn't raise his hand against Grandma. Grandma wouldn't hit Dad either, right?"
Zhang Xiaoying: "..."
The clever little girl.
She was clearly remembering the incident of her hitting Xu Qinglin yesterday. Xu Qinglin was lucky to have such a young child looking out for him already.
"Then tell your dad not to upset me, and I won't lay a hand on him."
"What about Second Uncle and Fourth Uncle?"
"The same goes for them."
"Mmm, I'll definitely tell them. Grandma, didn't Fourth Uncle come back last night? My mom says that those who misbehave will be carried off by wolves in the mountains."
"He bullies you, and you still speak for him?"
"But he's still my Fourth Uncle and your son. If he doesn't come home, you must be worried."
Zhang Xiaoying looked at the innocent second daughter and felt even more pity for the child.
Her world was black and white, yet she still cared about her relatives.
"Grandma, after breakfast, can we go look for Fourth Uncle?" the second daughter asked eagerly, "I don't want wolves to take him away and make you sad."