Chapter 71: The Xiao Family’s Past
“Old man Xiao respectfully married her into the family. The old men in the family didn’t dare to neglect her, and the servants were all very respectful. But after she gave birth to A Nian, the Xiao family’s attitude towards her soured, and old man Xiao often didn’t come home.
He would even get drunk and beat and scold Madam Qi. Because the madam had a gentle temperament, she didn’t call the police. And old man Xiao would always apologize afterwards, so the matter didn’t blow up. Later, old man Xiao indeed never did it again.
After the madam gave birth to another daughter, Xiaoya, this man never entered Madam Qi’s room again. And after the Qi family went bankrupt, this old man Xiao became even more unscrupulous. He would take his anger out on Madam Qi whenever he was free, beating and scolding her at every turn.
Later, when the madam fell ill, he didn’t even take her to see a doctor. A Nian was still young at the time, but she was very sensible. She went to beg the doctors of the Xiao family, but no one was willing to go. A Nian and Xiaoya watched their mother grow weaker day by day. They tried many ways to find medicine, but Madam Qi still fell, bedridden all day.
After that, she started to lose her mind, speaking nonsense. A Nian and Xiaoya were being bullied while also having to find medicine for their mother. When old man Xiao came back and saw Madam Qi in such a state, he had people carry her back home, saying that if she was going to die, she shouldn’t die in the Xiao family, as it was bad luck. A Nian and Xiaoya were too young at the time and couldn’t stop them. They even knelt down and begged old man Xiao, but to no avail. Later, old man Xiao even punished them by not letting them eat for three days.
Later, when the Qi family saw what had become of their daughter after only a few years in the Xiao family, a perfectly fine person had been tortured to such a state. After seeing the injuries on Madam Qi’s body, they were even more furious and planned to sue old man Xiao directly. Unfortunately, in the end, they only got some money, and nothing happened to old man Xiao at all.
When Madam Qi went to the hospital for a check-up, the doctor said that her illness had accumulated over many years, and it was a bit too late for treatment now. Besides, the madam’s mind was already unclear, good one moment and bad the next. She wouldn’t cooperate with the treatment at all.
Finally, in her last moments, she was lucid for a brief period. Her biggest worry was still A Nian and Xiaoya. She said that no matter what, they had to be rescued. That Xiao family was no place for a woman to stay. After saying her last words, she passed away.
Afterwards, the Qi family was filled with regret. How could they have believed the words of that scoundrel Xiao Ze? Later, they also tried to rescue A Nian and Xiaoya, but the moment they dared to take them away, the Xiao family would dare to call the police and bring them back. As a result, the Qi family almost ended up in prison. If not for the fact that they were their own granddaughters, they might have really gone in.
After this long speech, Jiang Jiajia gulped down a cup of tea, feeling much better.
“Then how did Xiao Nian and Xiaoya escape?” Liu Chuxia’s eyes were filled with anger, but she held it in and tried to speak calmly.
Li Hanyan could feel her anger, so she was now patting her back to help her calm down. The first time she had heard these things, she was not much better than Liu Chuxia. She was both sad and angry, wanting to beat up that old man from the Xiao family, and even had the urge to kill him. If not for Liu Chu stopping her, she might have really charged into the Xiao family.
Jiang Jiajia carried Xiao Nian and gently placed her on the sofa. After covering her with a blanket, she said, “My dad had the two of them play with me, telling Xiao Ze that he wanted me to have a companion. Old man Xiao didn’t care about these two daughters in the first place, and to be able to exchange two daughters for a partnership with the Jiang family, he was more than happy. He didn’t think much of it at all.
So, after that, I could freely enter and leave the Xiao family, and they could also run to the Jiang family to find me at any time. Because after Madam Qi left the Xiao family, these two little ones had no food to eat. The people below would withhold their meals. Even if old man Xiao found out, he would at most scold them.
It was me who had people bring them some food every day. Otherwise, they would have really starved to death in the Xiao family. And A Nian’s personality also became more and more silent amidst these things, because some things, when spoken, would not receive any feedback, and sometimes, they would be met with ridicule and scolding.
When they grew a little older, my dad discovered A Nian’s talent. Because he cherished talent, he took her in as a disciple. But of course, those old men from the Xiao family wouldn’t agree. My dad signed a business deal with them and barely managed to bring A Nian home. And Xiaoya was also working hard, helping my dad with some chores in exchange for money.
She didn’t want to walk the path of a Spirit Master, even though her talent was also very high. My dad even felt it was a pity, but everyone has their own ambitions, and you can’t force her, right? Xiaoya loves to make money, so my dad put her in the company to train. Not as a worker, but really to learn. Every time I studied with her, I felt like an idiot.
Xiaoya is really outstanding. After they came of age, my dad helped them establish their own households, separating them from the Xiao family in the household registration. We have to thank Xiao Shuyi for his help in this matter. If not for him stealing the household registration book, A Nian and Xiaoya wouldn’t have been able to do it so smoothly.
Later, when the Xiao family found out about this, they demanded an explanation from my dad. But because Patriarch Liu had stepped in, the Xiao family could only swallow their anger. After all, they couldn’t afford to offend the Liu family. Hmph! A bunch of cowards. Seeing that our Jiang family only has me as an heir, they thought they could control us. Do they really think we have no backing?”
After speaking, Jiang Jiajia angrily drank two cups of water.
Liu Chuxia let out a breath after hearing this. “It’s a good thing Xiao Nian and Xiaoya have established their own households. Otherwise, that old man Xiao would have probably forced them to marry for his own benefit. Hmph! Sooner or later, I’ll make that old man’s reputation be in tatters.”
“I think the same as you. So, the moment they came of age, I urged my dad to help them establish their own households,” Jiang Jiajia said, holding Xiao Nian’s hand.
“Very prescient of you! Oh, right, what happened to Xiao Shuyi afterwards?” Liu Chuxia suddenly thought of this person and asked.
“Him? Don’t worry. With those old men in their family protecting him, Xiao Ze doesn’t dare to touch him at all. And it’s also because of this matter that he has always disliked Xiao Shuyi,” Jiang Jiajia said, holding Xiao’s hand and looking at Liu Chuxia.
Liu Chuxia nodded. “It’s good that he’s fine. Who cares if this old man likes him or not. Tch!” After stretching, she stood up. “Thank you for the story, Jiajia. It’s let me know what kind of person this old man Xiao is.”
“Hahaha, you’re welcome. If I didn’t tell you, someone else would have. Go to sleep. We don’t know if there will be any orders tomorrow,” Jiang Jiajia said, picking up Xiao Nian and turning to look at her.
Liu Chuxia nodded and then led Li Hanyan out.
Xiao Xu also followed behind with Ke Yan.
“Yanbao, aren’t you angry after hearing that? How are you so calm?” Xiao Xu asked, linking her arm with hers and leaning against her as she looked up.
“I’ve seen too many people like that. I’m already immune. I… I’ve probably experienced too many things like this,” Ke Yan said, her head lowered, her mood a little down.
Looking at her, Xiao Xu felt a pang of heartache and gently kissed the corner of her lips. “Don’t think about those things from the past. Anyway, you’ve started over. With me, I guarantee you’ll live a good life.”
Ke Yan was amused by her words. “Mhm, live a good life with you. Hahahaha.”
“What are you laughing at? What’s so funny about that? It’s true,” Xiao Xu said, standing still in anger, stomping her feet and not wanting to talk to Ke Yan anymore.
“Alright, I won’t laugh.” Ke Yan walked over, lifted the person horizontally, kissed the person in her arms, and then walked towards the room.
“Xiao Xu and the others are flirting again. They don’t know how to restrain themselves day in and day out,” Liu Chuxia said with a helpless shake of her head.
