章 16: Chapter 14 Tearing Off the Mask
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She went to the bank and got a bank card, depositing the twenty-seven thousand yuan she had into the bank.
With the remaining five hundred yuan in hand, plus the three hundred yuan from selling river clams two days ago, she had a total of eight hundred yuan for her petty expenses.
Figuring this money should be enough for her trip to S City, Huo Sining finally headed toward the Huo family's home.
She hadn't expected that just as she arrived at the doorstep, she would hear Xu Lian's laughter.
Huo Sining frowned and walked into the room, only to find that in addition to Huo Yong and Xu Lian, there were also Xu Xia and two people she didn't recognize.
One was a portly old man, around thirty years of age;
As well as a village woman around the same age as Xu Xia, dressed gaudily and flamboyantly.
Seeing these three people, Huo Sining felt a sense of dislike welling inside, and her brow furrowed involuntarily.
When Xu Lian saw Huo Sining return, she was actually delighted and hurried over to greet her.
Huo Sining thought she would be reprimanded for her whereabouts, but she didn't expect Xu Lian to look so pleasant and easy-going.
"You're back? Your uncle said you left early in the morning, have you had breakfast? There are two red bean buns left in the pot for you, shall I warm them up?"
Seeing Xu Lian putting on this act, even if Huo Sining was hungry, she wouldn't dare to accept her offer, quickly replying, "No need, I've already eaten outside."
Ate outside? Where did this wretched girl get the money?
Xu Lian's face stiffened, wanting to question whether Huo Sining had stolen the money from atop her cupboard, but considering the three people sitting behind her, she had to bite back her question in frustration.
The flamboyant woman in the room, however, couldn't sit still and said in a shrill voice:
"Oh my, Xu family's sister, you really are generous, being so kind to your niece. This must be your niece, right? She's quite delicate looking."
At these words, Xu Lian's grim face softened and she smiled broadly, "Look at what you're saying. Even though I, as an aunt, am one step removed, this child is all alone in the world; if I don't cherish her, who will?"
Xu Lian gave Huo Sining a warning look that told her not to speak carelessly, then turned back and continued:
"Not to hide anything from you, Zhou Sao, my niece indeed has had a hard life. Her mother passed away early, and as you can see from our household's condition, it was tough to raise her. I even sent her to high school. If it were any other family, they would have already sent the girl out to work and earn money. But in our family, this one stays at home like a young lady, pampered and spoiled. She doesn't even do the rough work at home; that's how much we've indulged her."
Pampered and indulged her? Xu Lian was not afraid of her tongue twisting with her lies!
Huo Sining's eyes swept toward her uncle Huo Yong, who sure enough turned his head away guiltily, not daring to meet her gaze.
A mockingly contemptuous look flickered in Huo Sining's eyes. She really wanted to show her calloused hands and ask Xu Lian what those were.
Hearing Xu Lian's words, Zhou Sao did not pick up the conversation but instead turned to her son beside her, "What do you think?"
The fat man had been staring at Huo Sining with a sleazy expression ever since she entered the room. Now, when Zhou Sao asked, he hurriedly nodded in agreement.
Zhou Sao had been somewhat hesitant before, but seeing that her son was interested, she relaxed slightly and nodded, "Well, she is a bit thin, but that's alright. The girl looks lively enough and probably doesn't have any health problems; she can just be nourished. The children are also willing, so I think we might as well settle it today, right?"
Settle it, what does she mean by that?!
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Huo Sining had kept her head down and remained silent until she heard Zhou Sao's words, at which point she fiercely raised her head.
Meanwhile, Xu Xia couldn't help but chime in:
"That's right, Zhou Sao, don't be fooled by how delicate and pretty the girl looks. She's very honest and obedient. A fortune teller even read her fortune years ago and said this child is destined for wealth and honor. If your family takes her as a daughter-in-law, your husband and sons are sure to prosper, and money will flow in like water."
A daughter-in-law? Was Xu Lian planning to sell her off?!
Rage surged in Huo Sining's eyes.
She had returned to discuss moving out with Huo Yong and had no intention of falling out with Xu Lian.
But Xu Lian was just too disgusting, having seized the assets left by her mother, exploited her for so many years, and now she even wanted to sell her off to another family as a daughter-in-law!
Enough was enough. Huo Sining furiously asked:
"Auntie, being illiterate and ignorant of the law doesn't mean you won't be punished. Our constitution clearly stipulates that forced marriage carries criminal responsibility. We now live in a society governed by law, where nobody has the right to interfere with another person's freedom to marry. You're discussing marriage matters without the consent of the person involved—me. This doesn't count at all!"
Xu Lian's smile froze on her face, and seeing Zhou Sao's countenance darken, she became frantic. Her previous pretense of kindness fell away as she cursed:
"What nonsense are you spouting, you wretched girl? This marriage proposal is perfect. The Zhou Family of Baiyun Town is wealthy and well-off. Instead of suffering with your uncle and me, it would be better to marry into the Zhou family. Once there, you would be the young mistress, a lady of leisure. This is a golden opportunity most people would beg for!"
Huo Sining let out a cold laugh, "If you think this match is so good, auntie, why don't you marry into their family yourself? Why did you marry my uncle? I think this gentleman is more age-appropriate for you, and even in stature, the two of you match quite well. Aren't you two the perfect pair?"
"You shameless hussy, little harlot, dare to speak such nonsense! Watch as I tear that mouth of yours apart!"
Xu Lian, with her bulky figure, simply couldn't stand anyone pointing out her size. Huo Sining's blatant mockery finally drove Xu Lian to fury.
Enraged, Xu Lian stood up and lunged towards Huo Sining.
Huo Sining had anticipated Xu Lian's move and deftly dodged her clawing hands, subtly tripping her.
Unable to stop her momentum, Xu Lian plunged toward the ground, face-first, in a sprawling fall.
This sudden turn of events left Xu Xia and the others dumbstruck.
Zhou Sao was also shocked; she hadn't expected the seemingly obedient and honest girl described by Xu Xia to be so fierce.
Seeing Xu Lian fall to the ground, unable to get up, Zhou Sao involuntarily took a sharp breath and frowned.
She certainly didn't want such a formidable daughter-in-law. If she took her home, wouldn't her son be bullied?
She was thinking too far ahead, though. Even if the Zhou family were bold enough to pursue, would Huo Sining agree to marry such a corpulent and elderly man?
"Huo Yong, you useless thing, didn't you see your own mother being bullied? Won't you come out and teach this wild brat a lesson for me?"
Xu Lian wailed continuously on the ground, yet her eyes fixed on Huo Sining with venom.
Huo Yong had always been timid and hesitated upon hearing Xu Lian's words. Just as he was about to stand up and play peacemaker, Huo Sining looked at him sharply, her face expressionless:
"Uncle, did you know about this matter from the start, and you agreed to let me marry into the Zhou family?"
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