"My goodness, that damn girl didn't even cook?" Hao Fang lifted the lid of the pot, staring at the empty cauldron, feeling her breath catch in her chest.
Having been lying down for a nap in the house just a moment ago, Bai Mei hurried out upon hearing the noise, "What? Bai Xiao that damn girl didn't cook? I asked her to cook just a while ago, never thought this girl would deceive me like this. I clearly saw her going into the kitchen."
Bai Jianguo kicked over the washbasin with a smack.
Everyone in the courtyard was too terrified to breathe aloud.
"Bai Mei, weren't you the one asked to cook? You might as well be dead from laziness," Li Chunhua scolded her granddaughter. Now everyone knew probably Bai Mei had seen Bai Xiao getting up and didn't feel like working. Not just Bai Mei had this thought; even the old lady concurred when she encountered Bai Xiao earlier.
Bai Mei muttered, "Who knew Bai Xiao would dare to be so brazen now, not even cooking the meals. Grandma, you can't just let this go; otherwise, she'll develop even worse habits. Eating from our family, living in our home, and she still dares to argue, acting like she's some kind of missy."
Her father slapped her across the face before she finished speaking, "Get lost, go and cook now!"
Bai Mei covered her face, stunned by the slap.
Her father usually never laid a finger on her; he must have gone mad today.
Nevertheless, when Bai Jianguo really lost his temper, which of the children in the house wouldn't be frightened?
Li Chunhua couldn't stand it. Bai Mei, Bai Shan, and Bai Zhuang were all raised by her hand. Although she had been a bit harsh on Bai Xiao, it didn't mean she wasn't fond of her grandchildren. Naturally, she treated these three differently from Bai Xiao.
She grabbed Bai Mei, whose face now bore the clear imprint of a hand, because Bai Jianguo's anger had made him strike too hard, causing half of her face to swell up.
Bai Mei's eyes welled up with tears of self-pity when her grandmother examined her.
"Grandma, look at my dad, hitting me without even asking. I didn't say anything wrong; it's all that jinx's fault. Just look at the trouble she's caused me the moment she got up."
Li Chunhua shook her head, "Just calm down for now. Your dad is upset today. Go quickly and help your mom with the cooking, and don't provoke him further. The whole family still needs to work the fields this afternoon." She pushed the reluctant Bai Mei towards the kitchen.
Seeing that even her grandma wasn't siding with her this time, Bai Mei felt both anxious and angry, and with a toss of her head, she turned and strode into the kitchen.
Li Chunhua scolded Bai Jianguo, "You really are brutal with your own daughter. Aren't you worried about ruining her face and how she will marry off in the future?"
Bai Jianguo was seething. Bai Xiao's sudden defiance unnerved him; although the damn girl constantly worked around the house, her grades were surprisingly good. If Bai Xiao actually got into a university and went to study somewhere else, not to even mention getting into a university, it was comparable to securing a job for life. In the future, she would definitely get work placement and even a city household registration.
Bai Xiao had left their family, and from now on, how could Bai Song, Bai Yue, and Bai Ju still send them money?
That was nineteen dollars a month.
Bai Jianguo had planned everything perfectly: Bai Zhuang was about to get married, and the wedding with the Wu Family was set to take place after the New Year. But the Wu Family wasn't easy to deal with, Wu Xiaoyue's mother was very calculating. Not only did she demand a bride price of two hundred dollars, but she also insisted on building a new house for the young couple.
Plus the traditional three circuits and one shot of the betrothal ceremony, there was no way to proceed without a thousand dollars in total.
In the past two years, Bai Xiao had hardly cost them anything, and Bai Jianguo had already saved up a thousand dollars. He counted on the next six months to cover the bride price, as Li Chunhua forced Bai Xiao to go out and work, partly to earn the betrothal money for their family.
So, no matter what, he could not allow Bai Xiao to go to school.
"Mom, I didn't even know. It's all because Bai Xiao got under my skin. She said these things in front of everyone in the village today. Think about what the villagers will say about our family. Although Bai Zhuang is already engaged, Bai Mei and Bai Shan aren't. If people find out we've been withholding our niece's living expenses, who would dare to take our children? It's all because she angered us." With Li Chunhua, Bai Jianguo didn't hold back. He knew his dear mother had his back; after all, she only had this one son to depend on in her old age.
Li Chunhua clenched her teeth, "Bai Xiao, that damned girl, must have eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard today to dare spread such nonsense outside. You shouldn't have let her go to the clinic in the first place. That cost me two dollars. When she comes back, I will have to take care of that girl for sure!" The old lady had made up her mind to beat Bai Xiao with a stick when she returned that evening, unable to believe that breaking Bai Xiao's legs wouldn't stop her from badmouthing them outside.
Bai Jianguo knew how the old lady thought and did not stop her. After all, disciplining his niece had never been his responsibility. Even if the villagers eventually found out, the blame would fall on the old lady. But if they didn't discipline Bai Xiao, the girl would grow increasingly bold, and that would indeed become difficult to handle later on.
"Mom, I think we can't let this damned girl go to school. In the next few days, pay more attention to the village postman. Make sure to meet with him, and have the letters delivered directly to our hands. We absolutely cannot let Bai Xiao get her hands on them. Also, send a telegram to Bai Song, telling him to send more money home. You know Bai Zhuang's wedding is coming up, and I'm really anxious about it," Bai Jianguo suggested.
Li Chunhua's face turned savage, "Don't worry, my second son. When it comes to handling this damned girl, she won't flip out of my palm. Once I get her admission letter, I'll tear it up and throw it on the back hill to cut off her hopes. Let her earn money for the family honestly. We raised her, and she should contribute to the family."
Bai Jianguo felt reassured inside. As long as the old lady took action, generally, nothing would go wrong.
Hao Fang came out with a dustpan, her face full of anger, her lips trembling with fury.
"Granny, look at this! Not only did that girl not cook for the family, but she also had the gall to make herself some noodle soup with white flour and eggs. Look, the eggshells are still thrown here. I'm not wronging her. If you don't take care of this, she'll really tear the roof down.
We seldom eat plain white flour at home, saving it for festivals and holidays. The everyday bread is always made by mixing flours. But she's been extravagant. If this goes on, our family can't support such an ancestor," she complained to Li Chunhua while hitting the dustpan.
Li Chunhua's nose was about to go crooked from the anger.
Bai Xiao was really getting bolder now.
Wait, you wretched girl!