Chapter 112

Chen Lianzhen was originally at home waiting to count the money, but she waited and waited without seeing her son and husband return.

"Dongmei, you are about to give birth, go and rest. I will wait for them."

"Mother, then I will go to sleep first."

When Zhang Dongmei woke up and still didn't see Pei Huaigang return, she immediately became a bit anxious.

She was leaning on her belly and had just walked to the courtyard gate when she heard Xiang Jianming say to Chen Lianzhen: "Last night, Pei Fugui and Pei Huaigang were taken away by the Public Security Officers for suspected human trafficking."

"What?! What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Chen Lianzhen grabbed Xiang Jianming's clothes and shouted hysterically.

On this side, Zhang Dongmei heard Team Leader Xiang's words, and she fainted instantly, falling onto the threshold.

"Heavens! Look, Zhang Dongmei has fainted!"

"Blood! She's bleeding so much!"

"Hurry and get the bull cart, hurry and save her!"

The people surrounding the gate had originally followed Xiang Jianming to watch the spectacle, but at this moment, they only cared about saving her.

After a chaotic period, everyone finally lifted Zhang Dongmei onto the bull cart. Chen Lianzhen was so scared her face turned pale, and she kept covering her mouth and wailing while touching her daughter-in-law's belly.

Xiang Jianming drove the bull cart, and Kong Shan felt a sigh in her heart, keeping her head down without speaking.

When they arrived at the county Health Center, several people pushed her into the emergency room.

The doctor and nurse notified them that emergency surgery was needed and that a family member needed to sign; Chen Lianzhen was illiterate and was so scared she kept crying.

Xiang Jianming had no choice but to go to the police station again, and the Public Security Officers brought Pei Fugui and Pei Huaigang along.

"The pregnant woman is hemorrhaging, save the mother or the child?! Hurry up, we need a signature!"

Pei Fugui and Pei Huaigang didn't even think and said in unison: "Save the child!"

Xiang Jianming and the Public Security Officers looked at each other, both showing expressions of surprise in their eyes.

"So what happened later?"

Wang Juqin pushed Kong Shan and urged her. Liu Chunxing clicked her tongue twice. "What else could happen? Zhang Dongmei's body has already been brought back, what else could happen?"

"It's truly a sin, the child is so small and has already lost its mother!"

"Being born into the Pei family is truly a sin. Pei Huaimei was still too soft-hearted; she came back as soon as her family kowtowed."

"She's not afraid they'll sell her again in the future!"

Zhang Dongmei passed away, leaving behind a newborn baby boy. The Pei Fugui family cried tears of joy. Thinking that no one would take care of the little baby, Pei Fugui, Chen Lianzhen, and Pei Huaigang knelt in the hospital corridor and kowtowed to Pei Huaimei, thud, thud, thud.

"Huaimei, please forgive your second brother. Your second brother was confused. You will have freedom of marriage from now on, please withdraw the case, otherwise there will be no one to take care of your little nephew."

Pei Huaigang's head was even bleeding from the kowtowing.

Pei Fugui glanced at the Public Security Officers and hurriedly pulled Chen Lianzhen to kneel in front of Pei Huaimei. "Father, Mother, we originally did it for your own good, we didn't expect it to turn out like this. Huaimei, if your second brother goes in, your father and mother might as well die too!"

Pei Fugui said this and was about to slam his head against the wall!

The Public Security Officers intervened in time to stop him.

"Enough! Enough! I'll withdraw the case!"

Pei Huaimei shouted hysterically!

Zhang Dongmei's family was making a huge scene at Pei Fugui's house, looking like they wouldn't leave at all without money.

"You won't give us money, right? Smash everything!"

Zhang Dongmei's parents were not easy to fool either; they brought their two sons and a crowd of people and started throwing and smashing things!

The enamel mugs and enamel basins were all smashed to pieces!

The grain bags under the eaves were all poked with large holes, with grain spilling out!

"Here! Take the money and get out of here!"

Pei Fugui endured the heartache and paid the five hundred yuan to Zhang Dongmei's parents. "From now on, our two families will have no more dealings!"

This farce finally ended with Zhang Dongmei's burial.

"Then what are your plans for the future?"

Su Qingyue added tea to Pei Huaimei's enamel mug. "Don't let your parents do anything like selling their daughter again!"

"I won't, Sister-in-law!" Pei Huaimei's gaze was firm. "I want to learn knowledge, and I want to enter the processing factory. I want to live by relying on myself from now on!"

Su Qingyue smiled knowingly. "That's the spirit. I discussed with Team Leader Xiang about organizing the people in the factory to learn to read and write. You come and learn tomorrow, just bring a notebook and a pen."

"Thank you, Sister-in-law, Eldest Brother, thank you both."

Pei Huaimei thanked the two of them deeply. After returning to the Pei family, Chen Lianzhen raised her cane, but it was grabbed firmly by Pei Huaimei.

"Hit me! Try hitting me once! Who are you counting on to support you in your old age? Second brother, that good-for-nothing? Can he even support himself?"

Pei Huaigang hadn't sobered up from his drinking and was sleeping and snoring loudly.

Chen Lianzhen's eyes flickered. "You unfilial child, how are you talking to your mother?!"

"Are you fit to be parents?! Have you ever treated me like a daughter? The day before yesterday you wanted to sell me to an old widower, yesterday you made me withdraw the case to save your son and kowtowed to me in front of the Public Security Officers, and today you want to raise your cane to hit me? Your disgusting face is simply not fit to be a mother!"

Chen Lianzhen and Pei Fugui were so angry their chests hurt, and the way they looked at Pei Huaimei was as if they wanted to eat her.

"Don't look at me with those eyes! From now on, you are on your own. You can take care of your little grandson yourselves. If you want me to take care of him, that's fine, but give me five yuan every month!"

After Pei Huaimei finished speaking, she ignored the shocked expressions of the couple, packed two sets of clothes, and walked out the door without a shred of attachment.

After returning to the village yesterday, Su Qingyue had asked Pei Huaimei to live in their house, but Pei Huaimei had refused.

She didn't want to cause any more trouble for Su Qingyue. It just so happened that Song Popo found her and said that it was cold in the winter and she wanted to find someone to keep her company and stay warm, so Pei Huaimei agreed.

"Song Popo, thank you. I will do the cooking from now on, and when I earn money, I will make up the food expenses for you."

Pei Huaimei's eyes were shining with tears.

"Silly child, how much can you eat?"

Song Popo called out to the little yellow dog. "It's just the two of us and a little dog, we won't eat much grain. I'm happy that you've come, old woman as I am, so I don't have to be alone all the time."

"Song Popo, Huaimei."

Someone called from outside the door; it was Su Qingyue and Pei Huaiye carrying large and small bags.

Ten jin of polished rice and fine flour, a basket of radishes, cabbage, and sweet potatoes, three large blocks of tofu, and a large plate of bean sprouts.

"These are leftovers from the factory. Song Popo and Huaimei, please don't mind them; they are all clean. Sometimes when we make a mistake, we bring them back ourselves to cook and eat."

Song Popo held Su Qingyue's hand. "With such great kindness, how could I mind? This old woman is getting lucky and is going to enjoy some blessings."

The sentence made everyone laugh.

Pei Huaiye was a man of few words, but seeing that Pei Huaimei's mental state was quite good now, he felt much more at ease.

"If you need anything, just call out; your sister-in-law and I are both at home."

Pei Huaimei was moved to tears again. With the care of her eldest brother and sister-in-law, it felt as if she wasn't afraid of the life ahead at all.

Su Qingyue linked arms with Pei Huaiye as they walked back. "It's going to snow soon. When Zhuangzhuang and Qingxi come back, let's build a big snowman to play with."

Pei Huaiye flicked her nose. "We will! I'll build a big one for you!"