Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Daughter-in-law, Let Me Explain Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Daughter-in-law, Let Me Explain For Bai Dan, whatever Xingxing did was always right, and even if it wasn’t, there was a reason for it. Regardless of what Xingxing had done, he was determined to protect her—he was just that defensive about his own children. After all, one’s own children are dearest, and he was not one to be unclear about that.
Ye Xiu had cried for a long time, until Bai Da returned. Bai Da had been very tired lately. Although carrying cement earned him money, the hardship was self-evident. Every time he got home, he was desperate to just lie down, but he couldn’t. There were pigs and chickens to feed.
As soon as he entered and saw his wife, who hadn’t come back for a long time, squatting on the ground in tears, his heart ached, and he hurriedly pulled Ye Xiu up.
“Wife, what’s happened to you?”
He and Ye Xiu were in a love marriage; he loved her, loved her to his very bones. So even if Ye Xiu said she wanted to go teach in town and only come back once a month, he was willing.
He was willing to stay home alone, care for the children and the house, and wait for her return. At this moment, seeing Ye Xiu with tears streaming down her face, his heart was in knots.
Ye Xiu appeared dazed as she shook her head and wiped the tears from her face. Glancing at her watch, only half an hour had passed, but it felt like an eternity to her.
“You’re back? I’ll go cook right away!”
Ye Xiu immediately turned and headed to the kitchen. In the kitchen, Bai Yu and Bai Ye, together with Xixi, had already prepared the vegetables and were sitting together, well-behaved.
“Mom, don’t cry. If Bai Zhi is disobedient, you still have us!”
Bai Ye clenched his fists, staring fiercely towards the direction of the door, not bothering to hide the disdain in his eyes.
Before, Ye Xiu had just thought they were being naive, just throwing small tantrums, but now she saw that it wasn’t at all what she had thought.
“Bai Ye, that’s your sister. Xingxing didn’t misbehave.”
What had Xingxing done wrong?
Was it because she didn’t cook, or because she didn’t feed the pigs and chickens?
She was crying because every word Xingxing had said was the truth. It was her neglect of Xingxing, the fact that they all overlooked that Xingxing was the youngest child!
So it turned out that she had neglected her child to such an extent, to the point of disappointment.
“Mom, are you still on her side? It was clearly her that upset you!”
Bai Ye didn’t understand why his mother was defending Bai Zhi today when it was obviously Bai Zhi’s fault.
“Mom, didn’t you see how exhausted Dad looks?”
When Ye Xiu heard Bai Ye’s words and looked back, indeed, even if Bai Da tried to hide it, the fatigue on his face couldn’t fool anyone.
“What does that have to do with Xingxing? Your dad is tired from work,”
Ye Xiu furrowed her brow, looking at Bai Ye with some anger. How could this child think it was Xingxing’s fault?
Bai Ye snorted, feeling wronged, and swung the stick in his hand vigorously.
“Mom, if it weren’t for Bai Zhi getting Grandpa to take the 200 yuan, Dad wouldn’t have to work so hard. That money is for Xixi’s school. Bai Zhi doesn’t listen, doesn’t like studying, but Xixi likes it…”
Bai Ye just couldn’t stand Bai Zhi, hadn’t been able to since childhood, and always thought she was an embarrassment, like a bump on a log, even when they went out together!
“What nonsense are you talking about! Giving money to your grandpa is our duty. Is this how I taught you? Don’t you know to respect your elders? Whether it’s Xixi or Xingxing, they both should go to school!”
Ye Xiu was genuinely angry now as she grabbed Bai Ye and went outside with a fierce look. Even Bai Yu’s heart skipped a beat.
It could be said that they feared Bai Da less than Ye Xiu because they could act spoiled with Bai Da, but when Ye Xiu was angry, even Xixi dared not speak.
Ye Xiu dragged Bai Ye to the corner, making him stand there,
“Bai Ye, I always thought you were just throwing a tantrum with Xingxing, but now I realize I was wrong. You are biased against Xingxing, aren’t you? And you, Bai Yu, come here too!”
Ye Xiu’s gaze shifted to Bai Yu, who had been silent all along. Although she did not mention it, it didn’t mean Ye Xiu was unaware; in fact, of the two brothers, Bai Yu was the smartest.
Bai Ye was just a foot soldier, while Bai Yu was the strategist behind the scenes, the type who kept everything to himself.
Bai Yu obediently walked over and stood in the corner, and Xixi also came over at this moment, standing next to their brothers.
“Mom, if my brothers are at fault, I think I am too. I kept them company!”
Ye Xiu rubbed her forehead, which was beginning to ache, and nodded faintly. Since they all wanted to be together, that was fine!
Bai Da was somewhat baffled by the scene and tugged at Ye Xiu’s hand.
“Wife, what’s going on? Isn’t your return a happy occasion? We could eat together, chat, but why are the kids being punished?”
Bai Da was a bit puzzled. In the past, the minute his wife returned, she wouldn’t want to waste a single minute. She would play with the children and help them review their lessons. What had happened today?
“And as for you, stand over there as well. There are some things I want to clear up!”
In this household, had everyone been neglecting Xingxing, completely failing to see her contributions?
But even so, did she have the right to blame them?
After all, she was the same. If it weren’t for Xingxing getting hurt this time, would Xingxing ever reveal her silent suffering?
“Alright!”
The typically indulgent husband, Bai Da, found no reason to disagree. He immediately stood against the wall, with Ye Xiu facing them.
“You don’t need to speak, I’ll ask you. Wait until I have finished asking to respond!”
Ye Xiu looked at them calmly and finished speaking in one go.
The others nodded vigorously, as they had never seen Ye Xiu looking so serious.
“Bai Da, did you tell Xingxing not to study anymore?”
Bai Da was stunned; he hadn’t expected Ye Xiu to find out so quickly. He had thought of telling her after the school year started.
Seeing his guilt-ridden eyes, what else was there for Ye Xiu not to understand?
“So it’s true what Xingxing said, that you actually forbade her from studying?”
No wonder Xingxing had been so upset, saying that they had never cared about her feelings!
“No, wife, listen to me. Bai Zhi, she doesn’t like to study, always ranking last. Xixi tried to teach her, but she was unwilling. I…”
The main reason was that they didn’t have enough money. Nearly 200 yuan in tuition fees per semester, and they had four children at home. It wasn’t enough!
“You don’t need to mention these reasons. A yes is a yes, a no is a no. How could you know she didn’t want to go to school if you never asked Xingxing? You say she doesn’t like to study, but how do you know it’s not because she has no time?”
Ye Xiu’s gaze swept across the entire yard. She hadn’t taken in the state of this small courtyard before, only now realizing how chaotic it was,
There was a pile of clothes by the water basin over there, including everyone’s—something she had never seen before.
And the air was filled with the smells of the pigsty and the chicken coop.
“How much work does Xingxing do every day?
Getting up in the morning, cooking, feeding the chickens and pigs, then doing the laundry for you all, cutting grass for the pigs, coming back to cook lunch, and in the afternoon, cleaning the house, continuing to cook… feeding the pigs, feeding the chickens. Tell me, how many things does she have to do in a day?”