Chapter 176

For a full 4 days, it was still swollen and painful even though it was already the day before the new year.

The old lady told her that she could squeeze the breast milk out now. At this point, even if her milk hadn't come back in, the milk would not continue as much as before.

Indeed, as the old lady had said, with the burden on her body gone, ZhiXia finally felt like she was alive again.

Pei Jing was trimming red paper to write spring couplets at the door with Pei JianGuo, and many neighboring families who knew them also brought pre-trimmed red paper for him to help write on. ZhiXia took a look outside, the uncle and nephew weren't idle, An Zhiren was also helping.

Pei Jing's brushstrokes were very steady and slightly sharp. It's said that one's calligraphy reflects their character. An Zhiren's was softer in comparison. Pei JianGuo's was more childish.

However, truly discerning people were few. Most could only tell who's calligraphy was more pleasing to the eye.

Old Pei came from a humble background and later studied when he joined the army. But he could only write with pencils and pens, he couldn't pick up the writing brush.

That skillful calligraphy of Pei Jing was taught by Grandpa Ann back in the days. Naturally it was superb.

Liu Ling held little Wanqing in her arms as she came out to enjoy the lively atmosphere. Not having seen ZhiXia for several days, the little one immediately spotted her mother among the crowd and let out a loud wail, reaching out wanting to be carried.

These past days ZhiXia only dare go take a look when she's asleep. Seeing her cry now, she felt extremely distressed and hurriedly went over to pick her up.

"Baby be good, don't cry... Mommy hugs..." ZhiXia coaxed.

But she stretched out both little claws to randomly grope at her chest, also rubbing her little head against it, like a greedy little piglet.

Liu Ling laughed uncontrollably. She said to ZhiXia, "She saw you and her milk cravings acted up again. But you have to endure, otherwise these days of effort would be wasted."

ZhiXia was about to say something when the little one suddenly grabbed a handful of her hair.

Possibly because she couldn't eat, she was somewhat vicious. Liu Ling hurriedly helped pry open her little hand. "This little one, she grabbed your hair but it's nothing. What if she injured her little hand!"

A child's skin is delicate. Not knowing her own strength when grabbing something, a single hair could cut her.

Seeing that she couldn't obtain milk, the little one bawled incessantly, also making ZhiXia extremely distressed.

Recalling others' experiences of weaning a child in her past life, ZhiXia suddenly had an idea. "Sister-in-law, let me bring her back for a bit first. I'll come find you guys after."

"Alright, you have to endure. I'll bring WenQing back first too. Just come straight to granny's place later, not having seen you for so many days, ChenYe must miss his mommy too."

So many days had passed. As long as she endured, she could stop lactating. And she couldn't not see her children for so long either.

After ZhiXia went back, she picked a sour fruit from her space and smeared some on for Pei Wanqing to eat. She smacked her lips with a twisted expression, indescribable. ZhiXia deliberately teased her to eat more but she refused no matter what.

Indeed this method was very effective.

Carrying her child she went next door. When Pei ChenYe saw ZhiXia, he reacted much the same as Pei Wanqing. But not longing for breast milk anymore, he didn't suffer his sister's near tooth-lossing experience.

Wang Caixiang ran in anxiously from outside. Ignoring the joyful atmosphere indoors, she knelt at the old lady's feet as soon as she entered. "Granny, granny I beg you, please help me. I know I'm at fault, my family is also at fault. You can ask of me anything to compensate. Just please talk to Zhiren, ask him to spare my family..."

The old man concealed his smiling expression, carrying Pei ChenYe up. "I'll go see where WenQing ran off to."

With such a disturbance, the smile also vanished from the old lady's face. "Speak, what happened with Er'zi at your place?"

"My... my second brother, both his legs are broken..." If it was just broken legs, she wouldn't suspect An Zhiren.

But to be stripped naked and thrown onto the streets, combining with what happened in their yard previously, she couldn't not associate it with An Zhiren.

"Did Zhiren do it? Did anyone see?" The old lady's breath quickened, even her voice was clearly much louder.

"No... no one." But aside from him, no one else would do that.

Her mom called her back home and directly slapped her twice, forcing her to ask the An family for an explanation, to ask for money plainly speaking.

Otherwise, she would expose her and An Zhiren's premarital intimacy.

That would ruin not just her but also An Zhiren's reputation. The school would not allow someone of tainted reputation to be a teacher.

Although she was coerced to plot against him initially, she also truly admired him. She really didn't want to see him ruined.

But she also understood that An Zhiren extremely detested her. She wasn't brainless like her family either. She clearly knew, for him to dare do this, he must've already made preparations and wouldn't be easily coerced anymore. Yet no one believed her words. Her parents and eldest brother only knew to demand money ceaselessly. She couldn't find anyone to help her, only the old lady who was still reasonably amiable to her.

The old lady finally breathed in relief now. "Since no one saw it, what basis is there to say Zhiren did it?"

Wang Caixiang couldn't explain clearly. She even less dared to let the An family know the humiliation An Zhiren once suffered at her place, otherwise even the only one still treating her passably, the old lady, would likely be unable to tolerate her then.

Seeing the anxious look on Wang Caixiang's face, the old lady said, "Caixiang, how do you want me to help you?"

"I..." Her mom said, at least 200 yuan must be paid. But how could she say those words?

"Caixiang, there are some things that I, this old lady, also don't wish to say too bluntly. But I think you should be clear in your heart about how this marriage came to be." The old lady's face was stern, it had been a long time since she revealed such rigid looks. "One's offspring have their own fortune. You all aren't small children anymore either. Zhiren agreed to take you into the family, the grandfather and I respect his decision, but you mustn't take others for fools, understand?"

Wang Caixiang's complexion instantly darkened.

Granny knew? She actually knew?

Did that mean, this house's only one still treating her passably would also dislike her, look down on her?

Wang Caixiang's "not bad" merely meant she didn't bother her. Because whether in the Wang house or after coming to the An house, aside from little WenQing who didn't understand matters due to his young age, not a single one had spoken a proper sentence to her. That just made the old lady seem comparatively kind.

Yet she didn't know that to a woman who plotted against her own grandson, and the mismatch between them was so obvious too, how could the old lady like her? It was only because she was experienced and used to not revealing emotions on her face. She was also used to concealing her disgust deep down.

"Granny, I truly apologize. I also had no choice..." Wang Caixiang wept bitterly.

Everyone understood the rationale. It was merely picking on the weak.

The old lady had indeed mellowed out a lot these years from not meddling in matters. Her temper had softened considerably too.

Feeling irritated, ZhiXia hurriedly went to pour her a glass of water to moisten her throat, then helped the old lady back to her room to rest.

Liu Ling carried little Wanqing in her arms. When ZhiXia returned to the living room, Wang Caixiang was still kneeling there weeping.

ZhiXia sighed. She felt it was self-inflicted misery. "Don't continue crying here. Grandpa and granny are old in age and have long stopped minding household trivialities. You also heard granny, she said to resolve your and Er'zi's matters yourselves. Don't come bother the elderly."

Stumbling, Wang Caixiang got up from the floor and dejectedly turned to leave.

The old lady didn't actually go rest. She only felt vexed from her crying and left when she did. Seeing Wang Caixiang gone, she came back out again.

The old man also returned, the child in his arms given to Old Pei. The two men entered the study, the old lady following along too.