Chapter 176

Fan Xiaoyu looked at the silent Lu Qiao.

This girl was younger than her, but she was so much more powerful.

This was the first time she had seen her second sister-in-law scolded into silence.

Fan Xiaoyu's heart was thumping uneasily.

She was just a person with a timid personality.

Since she was little, no one in the family had ever taken her seriously.

She was clearly the youngest, yet she did the most work in the house.

She didn't dare to sit at the table during meals, didn't dare to fight back when beaten, and her two older brothers never treated her like a sister.

She washed clothes, cooked, and served the family, and later even had to serve the sister-in-law who married into the family and watch their children.

She thought every family was like this, but later she found out it wasn't; only her family was like this.

She even doubted whether she was their biological daughter.

But she looked so much like her mother.

No one would believe she wasn't part of the family, yet no one treated her like a family member.

Her mother's job was given to the second sister-in-law. She thought the second sister-in-law's temporary job could be given to her, but unexpectedly, the second sister-in-law gave it to her own sister. She went to complain to her mother, and her mother said, "You're a money-losing asset, you'll marry into someone else's house sooner or later, what do you need a job for? Just stay home, cook, and watch the kids."

But the second sister-in-law's sister was also a woman, why could she have a job?

Later, she went to the countryside. If the brigade secretary hadn't forced her to marry his foolish son, she wouldn't have wanted to come back here.

The world was so big, yet there was no place for her. Just now, she really didn't want to live.

But the different Lu Qiao made her feel like something was wrong.

Money-losing asset—according to her mother, weren't all these women money-losing assets?

But why was she the only money-losing asset who lived such a bitter life?

Lu Qiao looked at Fan Xiaoyu, who was terrified and uneasy but also filled with anger.

This was the first time she had seen a sister-in-law bullied so miserably.

Relying on her to stand up for herself still needed a bit of a push, and Lu Qiao didn't mind adding fuel to the fire.

"Fan Xiaoyu, did you hear that? Your second sister-in-law violated the regulations by throwing things from the building, and I intend to fine her five yuan. But she clearly threw your things, yet she wants you to pay the fine. Do you agree?"

Lu Qiao said every word clearly, her eyes fixed on Fan Xiaoyu.

Many neighbors who were watching the commotion had gathered at the door, and they were all whispering.

"Xiaoyu, that's your sister-in-law, your second brother's wife, who gave birth to the eldest grandson for your Fan family. What's wrong with helping her pay the fine?"

Fan second daughter-in-law raised her head triumphantly and snorted softly through her nose.

"What kind of bullshit are you saying? Why should she pay the fine for her? Xiaoyu, you're too honest, you can't let your second sister-in-law bully you like this!"

"Don't add fuel to the fire. Harmony in the family is the most important thing, don't be so petty."

"Xiaoyu, don't listen to them. Make up your own mind. Look, now you have a cadre from the neighborhood office standing up for you, what are you afraid of?"

"That's right, you can't just do whatever your family tells you to. This is a military factory residential compound, you can't have no backbone at all. What if your family sells you to the deep mountains to be a wife for some old bachelor, would you be willing to do that too?"

The person said the last few sentences through gritted teeth, as if there was some other meaning behind them.

Fan Xiaoyu's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Lu Qiao again.

Lu Qiao looked at her silently.

But her eyes were warm and encouraging.

Even though she was several years younger than her.

Suddenly, Fan Xiaoyu shouted with a trembling voice: "No, I don't agree! This woman hasn't been good to me at all, she even spread rumors and framed me for stealing, and made my parents and second brother beat me. Never mind that I don't have money, even if I did, why should I pay the fine for her?"

Many people looked at the Fan family with condemning eyes.

How could they treat Fan Xiaoyu like this? They wouldn't have known if she hadn't said it.

There wasn't a single good thing in this family.

Lu Qiao smiled: "You're right. If you pay the fine for her, wouldn't our so-called punishment become a joke?

If everyone who made a mistake let someone else take the punishment for them, then what would this world need laws and regulations for?"

Aunt Wang was stunned for a moment, then stretched out her hands and clapped loudly, saying excitedly: "Cadre Lu said it so well, so correctly, and so reasonably! I just thought her behavior was a bit wrong. She made a mistake and needs to pay a fine, why should her sister-in-law pay for her?

Now that you've said it, I understand. If Fan Xiaoyu pays the fine for her, won't she be even more eager to throw things next time? Because someone will pay the fine for her anyway, right?"

Fan second daughter-in-law wasn't afraid of Aunt Wang and stomped her feet hard: "You old Mrs. Wang, who do you think you are? Are you Mu Guiying, always looking for a fight? This is our family matter, what does it have to do with you?"

Lu Qiao stopped Fan second daughter-in-law, who was about to open her mouth: "It doesn't matter if you don't say which unit you're from, just wait for your wages to be deducted."

Lu Qiao couldn't be bothered with the others. She asked Fan Xiaoyu: "Are your things all packed?"

Fan Xiaoyu nodded: "They're all packed, I don't have much anyway."

"Then come with me first."

Fan second daughter-in-law stood at the door, jumping with rage: "I'm telling you, Fan Xiaoyu, you money-losing asset! Once you walk out this door, don't ever think about coming back! If you dare to come back, I'll break your legs."

From beginning to end, Old Man Fan, his wife, and Fan second brother didn't say a single word.

This ability to remain silent throughout was quite hard to practice.

"Don't think that just because a neighborhood cadre is backing you, she can manage you for a moment, but she can't manage you for a lifetime. Let's see what you do later!"

Lu Qiao looked at Fan Xiaoyu with a smile: "Do you need someone else to manage you for a lifetime?"

Fan Xiaoyu was stunned.

By this time, they had already gone downstairs and were standing in the open space outside.

The weather was a bit gloomy, but for some reason, Fan Xiaoyu's mood suddenly cleared up.

Aunt Wang patted her on the shoulder from behind: "Cadre Lu is asking you a question."

Fan Xiaoyu gritted her teeth and said: "I won't need anyone to manage me for a lifetime, I can support myself."

Lu Qiao smiled with satisfaction and thanked Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang lowered her voice and said to her: "Cadre Lu, I heard that the residents' committee is going to add a group in the autumn, and I want to run for group leader."

Lu Qiao immediately reached out, shook Aunt Wang's hand solemnly, and said earnestly and sincerely: "Aunt Wang, you must work hard!"

Aunt Wang nodded excitedly: "Yes, I will definitely work hard!"

Fan Xiaoyu was somewhat shocked.

Was this young girl so influential when she spoke?

Was it because she was a cadre from the neighborhood office, or because she was just very powerful herself?

Lu Qiao couldn't go home at noon, so she took Fan Xiaoyu directly to the hospital.

Although there was no prior contact or communication, the incident was sudden, and she had made the decision on the spot. She figured both directors would support her.

Lu Qiao took her work ID and very smoothly brought Fan Xiaoyu into Chen Gou's ward.

Chen Gou had a fracture, so his arm and one leg were in casts, and he was still sleeping.

When Aunt Lin heard that Fan Xiaoyu was here to work the night shift, she was very happy: "I was just about to tell Deputy Director Huang that I couldn't do it at night; I get a headache every time I stay up late these past few days..."