Phi-Fic Chapter 72 60 The Youngest Daughter of a Farming Family (5)
Chapter 72 60 The Youngest Daughter of a Farming Family (5)
As for Lin Fang, things were fine as long as the topic of marriage wasn't brought up! As soon as it was mentioned, Xia's mother's temper flared up again.
It turns out that when Xia Mingwei's eldest brother, Xia Aiguo, got married, Xia's mother spent a considerable sum of money. The betrothal gifts and wedding banquet were all included; nothing was omitted. Anyone who saw it would say that the ceremony was impeccably conducted.
Lin Fang's dowry consisted of nothing but a few tattered quilts. Anyone would be annoyed by such stingy in-laws. If it weren't for Xia's kind heart and consideration for both families' reputations, the engagement would have been called off on the spot.
Moreover, Xia's mother only realized after the marriage that Lin Fang herself was also a clueless person.
Lin Fang had many sisters but only one brother. Naturally, girls were treated like dirt, while boys were precious. When her brother grew up and needed to get married, Lin's parents, lacking funds, came up with a "brilliant" plan: marry off their daughters one by one, collecting hefty dowries—wouldn't that provide the money for his wedding?
It was called a marriage, but it was practically selling her. Lin Fang was lucky to be the eldest daughter to marry into the Xia family. Her younger sisters, one after another, married worse off. Whether they were old and widowed or had health problems, Lin's parents didn't care. As long as they could afford the price, they would marry. Whether their daughters were happy after marriage was not their concern!
Growing up in such an environment, Lin Fang naturally developed a preference for sons over daughters. Before Xia Tianbao was born, she always felt inferior and kept a low profile, afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. But after Xia Tianbao was born, her attitude changed completely. Since having this precious son, she felt she could finally stand tall and hold her head high.
Besides, she never treated Daya and Erya well, constantly scolding and beating them. Xia's mother reprimanded her many times, but she would turn around and vent her anger on them, beating and scolding them even more severely. When others tried to stop her, she would say, "These are my own children, it's none of anyone else's business." Eventually, no one bothered with this mess anymore.
It's such a pity for Daya and Erya, having to fend for themselves under Lin Fang's care, just like little cabbages under their stepmother's thumb. Anyone who sees this would have to say, what poor children! I've never seen a mother treat her children so badly; she's even worse than a stepmother!
But Lin Fang is a rather contradictory person. She herself suffered the same unfair treatment in the Lin family. Yet, after getting married, she actually felt that having a younger brother to support her was quite nice!
Lin's parents weren't good people to begin with. They had only married Lin Fang off to the eldest son of the Xia family because of the Xia family's generous dowry. Now that they saw their daughter could bring them good fortune after marriage, they were even more convinced that their daughter had made the right choice! So, to appease Lin Fang, Lin's parents softened their attitude! After a series of sweet words, Lin Fang became even more smitten, sending all sorts of things to the Lin family as if they were free.
Therefore, whenever Xia's mother gave Xia's eldest son something nice, he would appear at the Lin family's house within a few days. Xia's mother felt she was truly unworthy of such a disloyal daughter-in-law! After this happened repeatedly, Xia's mother became disheartened and, no matter how much the daughter-in-law threw tantrums, she wouldn't give her anything!
Xia Mingwei sighed inwardly. She could only say that Lin Fang was a pitiful person, but there was something hateful about her!
Now that Lin Fang has resorted to this tactic again, Xia's mother naturally refuses.
She glanced at Xia Aiguo and said coldly, "Boss, your wife is making such a fuss, aren't you going to do anything about it?"
Xia Aiguo felt embarrassed to be singled out. He also felt resentful towards Lin Fang, not only failing to get any benefits but also becoming a laughingstock.
He walked over and kicked Lin Fang, who was still lying on the ground. He growled in a low voice, "You wretched woman, aren't you getting up? Do I have to use a stick to get you later?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Fang knew that Brother Xia was truly angry, so she quickly got up from the ground, obediently took Xia Tianbao's hand, and stood beside Brother Xia.
Seeing this, Xia's mother smiled and patted Xia Mingwei's shoulder: "It's alright, daughter, let's continue eating!"
Xia Mingwei looked at the bowl of steamed eggs on the table and quickly made up her mind.
She scooped out a large spoonful of eggs and placed it in Xia's mother's bowl. Xia's mother stared at the spoonful of eggs, stunned. "Daughter, this is for you to nourish your body. Why are you giving it to your mother? I won't eat it..."
Xia Mingwei didn't reply, but scooped out another large spoonful and put it into her father's bowl.
Mr. Xia was also taken aback and waved his hand at Xia Mingwei, "Daughter, you eat it! Dad doesn't like this!"
After saying that, he planned to return the steamed egg custard that Xia Mingwei had just scooped for him.
Xia's father's words were undeniably against his conscience. In this era of scarcity, who wouldn't love to eat eggs?
Seeing her parents' reaction, Xia Mingwei pretended to be angry and said, "If neither of you will eat, then I won't eat either!"
Seeing Xia Mingwei's insistence, her parents had no choice but to give in to her wish and began to eat.
How could they not know that their daughter was showing them love and care!
After Xia Mingwei distributed the eggs to her parents, she turned around and saw Da Ya and Er Ya quietly eating their meals.
Both children were extremely thin, and it was impossible to tell that they were only four or five years old. They both kept their heads down, eating the cornbread in their bowls without saying a word.
When Xia Mingwei placed two spoonfuls of steamed egg custard into their bowls, they finally looked up. Their eyes were filled with disbelief, as if this incredible stroke of luck shouldn't have happened to them!
The timid look in their eyes softened Xia Mingwei's heart. She reached out and patted their heads, saying, "These are for you! Eat up!"
"Thank you, aunt!"
Before the two girls could finish thanking her, Lin Fang swiftly scooped eggs from Da Ya and Er Ya's bowls. The two girls, watching their mother's actions, dared not utter a sound.
They were afraid of Lin Fang and could tolerate this behavior, but Xia Mingwei couldn't stand it anymore.
Xia Mingwei pointed at Lin Fang and cried to her mother, "Mother, look at her! She stole the eggs I gave to Daya and Erya!"
Upon hearing this, Xia's mother slapped Lin Fang's hand hard. "Are you trying to get yourself killed? You're trying to take things from both children!"
At this moment, Lin Fang, mindful of what Brother Xia had just said, could only reply in a low voice, "Mother, I just think that it would be a waste for those two girls to eat anyway, so it's better to give them to Tianbao!"
Upon hearing this, Xia Mingwei objected. She shook her mother's hand, and her mother, looking at her daughter, had no choice but to continue, "I don't care about other times, but this time it was Weiwei who gave them these things, so give them back!"
Seeing that things were going badly, Lin Fang had no choice but to do as Xia's mother said, even though she was unwilling.