Then, what happened next was Chuxia running away from home in the rain...
From then on, Chuxia became much colder towards Luo Meiying, and she stopped mentioning changing her name.
Perhaps out of guilt, during these past six months, no matter how cold Chuxia was to Luo Meiying, she always protected her. And while Chuxia never brought up the name change again, Luo Meiying would still mention it from time to time.
"There's no need to change it, Chuxia sounds quite nice." Lin Chuxia felt that her name was given by her parents, and she couldn't occupy their daughter's body and then change the name they had given their daughter.
Besides, the key point was that her original name was Lin Chuxia; she couldn't afford to lose the only familiar thing she had.
After exchanging a few more words of small talk, Luo Xiaoqiong, not getting the enthusiastic response she yearned for from Chuxia, found it dull and thus stood up to leave. She made Chuxia promise to call her immediately if Eldest Uncle's Wife's family dared to bully her again, vowing she would come to Chuxia's aid.
As Chuxia watched Luo Xiaoqiong's figure disappear into the distance, she sighed softly. Over these past six months, had it not been for the other's occasional support under false pretenses, her family's life would have been even harder. Or perhaps, should she really consider changing her attitude toward her?
"Xia, Shuanshuan is so hungry he's crying. Do you have anything to eat here?"
As expected, no sooner had Xiaoqiong left than Eldest Uncle's Wife came looking for Chuxia.
"Eldest Uncle's Wife, what good food could I possibly have here?" Chuxia gave Zheng Sanqiao a wry smile and directly exposed her, "Is Eldest Uncle's Wife perhaps regretting giving me those sweet potatoes and wants them back?"
"No... haha..." Zheng Sanqiao laughed a few times, then smoothly changed the subject, "Chuxia, when a family lives under one roof, there should be some warmth and affection. It's important to distinguish between insiders and outsiders, don't you think?"
Chuxia smiled and agreed, "Eldest Uncle's Wife is right. However, there's one thing I don't quite understand. My uncle is the team leader, and my parents work under him. He always assigns them the dirtiest and most tiring tasks, and when it comes to tallying work points, he not only fails to record extra but even records less. How do you explain that?"
"Child, do you think being a team leader is easy? If he dared to favor your parents even slightly, people would immediately complain.
Chuxia, do you really think your uncle being demoted has nothing to do with you? Silly girl, it's directly related to whether you can find a good Husband's Family in the future!"
At this point, Zheng Sanqiao looked around cautiously and leaned closer to Chuxia, lowering her voice, "In fact, your uncle has been secretly helping your parents a lot, but they haven't told you because they worry you can't keep a secret, in case it gets back to Luo Meiying.
Ah, your father and mother are just too honest. Never mind, let Eldest Uncle's Wife play the villain. One day, you'll understand whether I am looking out for your best interests.
Let me put it this way, Luo Meiying is about your age, but she isn't as pretty as you are. When sisters don't have to live up to the term 'affectionate', they get along like honey mixed with oil, but when it comes down to matchmaking, who will give way?"
Seeing Zheng Sanqiao stare at her earnestly after stopping, Lin Chuxia felt it amusing. Apparently, in the other's eyes, she was considered simple-minded.
With these thoughts in mind, Lin Chuxia's expression remained calm, "Doesn't everyone in the village say Meiying is prettier than me? How come it's suddenly changed to me being prettier than Meiying when it comes to Eldest Uncle's Wife?"
"Ah, you silly child..." Zheng Sanqiao's voice softened even further, "If you were the child of a wealthy family, not relying on manual labor, they would surely covet someone of your delicate features. When people in the village say that, they are being sour, do you understand?"
Lin Chuxia just nodded: "I understand, has Eldest Uncle's Wife finished speaking? I need to go and cut the hemp cake."
Zheng Sanqiao felt suffocated with irritation. Had she just wasted her breath talking so fervently all this while?
"You child..." Zheng Sanqiao tried to hold back her anger and grabbed Lin Chuxia, "What Eldest Uncle's Wife means to say is that you should keep our family matters to yourself and not tell everything to Luo Meiying. If her father were to seize any leverage from you and get your uncle demoted, it would make it difficult for you to marry into a good family in the future."
Chuxia nodded: "Mhm."
Zheng Sanqiao, choked up with frustration and unable to say a word, watched as Lin Chuxia was about to leave and then hurriedly pulled her back, "Chuxia, are you still holding a grudge against Eldest Uncle's Wife?"
"Huh?" Lin Chuxia looked at her, puzzled.
"About the incident last time when you and Luo Meiying changed your names. Everything Eldest Uncle's Wife told you was true, but who knew you would take it so seriously..."
The corners of Lin Chuxia's lips faintly curled up with a trace of cold amusement. So, that quarrel between herself and Luo Meiying, and Zheng Sanqiao's meddling, was the reason for all this.
In other words, her arrival in this space, becoming this Lin Chuxia, was all thanks to Zheng Sanqiao! Damn it, this cursed Zheng Sanqiao had made her end up in this wretched era where even rabbits would refuse to defecate! Lin Chuxia now didn't want to spend another word on Zheng Sanqiao and immediately shoved her aside with a drooping face.
"What about the sweet potatoes?"
Zheng Sanqiao dropped the pretense when she realized the girl was like a wall of oil and salt—impenetrable; she had not achieved even a smidge of her goal, so might as well ask for something tangible.
Lin Chuxia glared at her, "Aren't you old enough to stand by your word? Is there any reason to take back what has been given away? Get lost!"
Damn it, don't blame her for not being polite. She had suffered through half a year, almost wearing her eyes out. To think that all of this was caused by this wretched woman. If it weren't for the fact that murder had consequences, she truly wanted to strangle her!
"You've turned the world upside down! Truly turned your own world upside down!" Zheng Sanqiao was so angry that her face turned red, and she raised her hand to slap Chuxia's face. But one must not suffer immediate losses, so, in a panic, Chuxia grabbed something from the edge of the bed to block it...
"Ah..."
Seeing the blood gushing from Zheng Sanqiao's hand, Chuxia was also dumbfounded. She hadn't meant to do it, truly not on purpose. How was she supposed to know that the object she grabbed was a pair of scissors, and that in the heat of the moment, with Zheng Sanqiao's callused hand... What would the consequences be if it hit her face?
Liu Meiqing, who was watching the child in the east room, and Liu Meiqing, who had been waiting for her mother-in-law to bring back sweet potatoes, heard the scream and immediately ran over.
Then, she shouted with a world-shaking howl: "Murder! Murder! Chuxia, you wretched girl..." She ran into the courtyard and called out, "Someone come quick, help! Murder! Someone help, murder..."
Liu Meiqing had just been beaten by Luo Meiying and was still holding the anger inside her belly. Now was the perfect opportunity to blame it all on Chuxia, hoping to ruin Chuxia's reputation.
With only three people in the house, who else could be blamed if not her and her mother-in-law simply moving their lips?----