Chapter 3: I can't go on living

If it were the original host, she certainly wouldn't have said it, not even saying a word even if it rotted in her stomach.

But since she had come, she couldn't be this spineless good person. She had to let the whole village know about the Tian family's torment of the original host. Those gossiping women and long-tongued women, she didn't believe it wouldn't spread outside.

"What? Your mother-in-law kicked you into premature labor? And the child?"

"She died, my child, wuwuwuwu!"

"Oh my, truly pitiful."

"I'm going to bury her, then go back to work. Mother-in-law is waiting at home. But I haven't had a bite of food or a drop of water in three days, I can't work anymore. Mother-in-law will scold me, will beat me. You all, please have some mercy, can you give me something to eat, something to drink? I beg you!"

Qiao Mai entered the tragic drama. She looked at the crowd pitifully. As soon as she mentioned food, the villagers all hurriedly lowered their heads, busy with the work in their hands. The reason they had asked her just now was less about concern and mostly about wanting to watch the excitement.

Qiao Mai turned back in disappointment, her eyes ice-cold. They all said farmers were kind, yet they couldn't even spare a bite of food. Kind my ass.

People like this, if she saw them dying in the future, she wouldn't even lift an eyelid to look.

She held the child in a daze and walked toward the end of the village, no longer paying attention to those people.

The villagers whispered to each other behind her back: "Tsk tsk, that one in the Old Tian family is truly capable of tormenting her daughter-in-law."

"Isn't that so? Just because this daughter-in-law's family doesn't care, and she didn't even have a dowry when she married, this kind is the easiest to bully."

"That's equivalent to selling her to the Old Tian family. I heard it was very cheap, only a hundred jin of wheat."

"Giving so little? Then there's no dowry at all. The Tian family's bride price is so low; others give five or six taels of silver."

"Humph, anyway, the Old Tian family doesn't dare bully those two daughters-in-law. They have several brothers in their maiden families, and their families are quite capable."

Qiao Mai walked in front, listening to what they were saying, and let out a cold snort. The Qiao family also had two sons, but she hadn't seen them stand up for her.

Coming to a piece of wasteland, she lifted her legs and walked in. Seeing no one following her, she flashed and held the child into the space.

This child would be raised in the space for now. To the outside world, she would say she had died.

She found a blanket in the wardrobe, soft and fluffy, which wouldn't harm the child's skin. Currently, there were no small clothes, so she would temporarily use this as swaddling clothes for her.

She found a few of her own clothes, folded them well, and used them as a small pillow for her. She didn't have diapers stored, so she had to tear a piece of pure cotton cloth, make a dozen or so diapers, and fold them neatly at the head of the bed.

Only then did she open the tattered swaddling clothes, intending to move the child to the blanket. At this time, the child woke up and let out a low cry.

She hurriedly placed a diaper under her bottom, carefully moved her into the blanket, wrapped her up, let her head rest on the pillow, and turned to brew milk powder.

She brewed a large bowl of cow's milk. After feeding the little one until full, she drank the milk in one gulp.

No choice, she also needed nutrition!

Checking again, she found no abnormalities in the child. She ate until full and then slept, and slept quite well. Only then did she let out a long sigh of relief.

Born at seven and a half months, not having a drop of milk for three days, and having stayed in her mother's arms for three days, it had to be said that she was truly lucky.

She lay down on the bed next to the child and closed her eyes for a while. She couldn't rest yet, because she still had things to do.

Half an hour later, she got up from the bed and went out of the space alone.

As soon as she left the wasteland, she entered her state. As an elite agent, she not only had to be skilled and have strong judgment, but also had to adapt to various environments. Pretending to be whatever was needed was her specialty.

Qiao Mai came to the village in a daze. By this time, the whole village knew that Tian Li Shi had kicked her daughter-in-law into a miscarriage.

And that she hadn't cared for her daughter-in-law for three days, not letting her drink water or eat food. As soon as the daughter-in-law woke up, she wanted her to work. Her heart was truly too vicious.

There were also mothers-in-law in the village who tormented their daughters-in-law, but the Old Tian family was unique. Moreover, they had a scholar in the family, so what they did was truly too much.

Qiao Mai lowered her head, listening to the chatter of those long-tongued women at the gates of each courtyard, and let out a cold snort.

According to her memories, she came to the village head's gate, not even stepping on the steps.

"Village Head, Village Head, are you in?"

Her voice was low at first, then slowly rose, and finally became a loud shout.

Not only did she call the village head out from inside, but she also called all the villagers over. Seeing the village head, Qiao Mai knelt down at once.

"Village Head, I can't go on living anymore, I beg you to make the decision for me!"

This gave the village head a fright. Helping her up wasn't right, and not helping her up wasn't right either.

"Sanzhuang's wife, what's wrong with you?"

The village head was about forty, looked very ordinary, neither fat nor thin, medium height, and had always been a fence-sitter regarding village affairs.

"Village Head, I, Qiao Mai, just want to ask you, is tormenting a daughter-in-law permitted by law?"

The village head was stunned. He thought for a moment. "That's not."

"Then Village Head, Qiao Mai asks you, in this world, how many households have a mother-in-law who deliberately kicks her daughter-in-law into a miscarriage?"

The village head swallowed. He knew Qiao Mai was wronged, but he was helpless too. This was the Tian family's family affair. He had no kinship with the Tian family. Sometimes he said a word or two, but if they listened, they listened; if they didn't, he couldn't do anything about it.

"Sanzhuang's wife, this is your family affair, it's truly hard for me, the village head, to handle."

"Village Head, Mother-in-law kicked me into premature labor. Not hiring a midwife was one thing, but not letting me drink a drop of water or eat a grain of food for three days, the child is gone, I held on to bury the child, but she told me to bury her quickly and go home to work. Is this human speech? She is forcing me to death. I am not a servant girl bought by their family, I beg you to make the decision for me."

The village head was truly in a difficult position. "Sanzhuang's wife, I know you've suffered, but, after all, this is your family affair. Since ancient times, which daughter-in-law hasn't suffered under her mother-in-law?"

"Village Head, if there is a clause in the law that a mother-in-law can beat a daughter-in-law to death, I won't say anything. But there is no such clause in the law, so I want to fight for this life of mine. If you don't care, I will go to the town mayor. If the town mayor doesn't care, I will go to the county office and ask our parents' official to judge. In this world, where is there such a husband's family?"

Hearing that she was going to the town mayor to file a complaint, the village head shivered. This matter couldn't be poked up to the top. If he turned back, he would be scolded. He couldn't even handle such a small matter. When the town mayor got angry, he would replace him as village head. It was an official position, he couldn't lose it.

At this time, the Tian family heard the news and rushed to the scene.

Dozens of villagers surrounded the village head's gate, three layers inside and three layers outside. Old Tian Head led his family and finally squeezed to the front.

Qiao Mai didn't even look, just kept kowtowing to the village head.

"I beg the Village Head to have some mercy and give me a way to live. If this continues, I only have death. My bitter child, you didn't even open your eyes to see Mother before you left."

"Sanzhuang's wife, what are you doing? Letting you bury a child, and you haven't come home for so long, and you're actually thinking of complaining to the village head here. Hurry home and work. If you don't finish, don't think about eating."

Tian Li Shi had a sharp and mean face, roaring angrily, rushing up and wanting to pull her. Qiao Mai screamed in fright.

"Mother-in-law, don't kick my belly, don't kill my child, I beg you, Village Head, help, Mother-in-law is going to kill her daughter-in-law."

Since it had come to this, the village head naturally couldn't ignore it. He shouted loudly.

"Tian Li Shi, are you crazy? You must remember, your eldest grandson is still studying!"

Roared at by the village head, Tian Li Shi's anger was suppressed and suppressed.

"Bitch, are you going back or not?"

"No, I'm not going back. I get up early and work late every day, doing the work of the whole family. Every meal, I'm only given a mouthful of rice soup and noodle soup. You and the eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law scold me, pinch me, and poke me openly and secretly. I don't want to go back, I don't want to go back, if I go back, I'll lose my life, wuwuwuwuwu!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 4 =====