26: Chapter 25: The Number One Person in Ten Miles and Eight Villages 26: Chapter 25: The Number One Person in Ten Miles and Eight Villages Lin Nianhe’s bandaging was skillful and professional, and she even mischievously tied a bow-knot right in the middle of Wang Xixi’s forehead.
Claiming, “If it’s tied on the side, it’ll press against the head and disturb sleep.”
Seeing this hairstyle, Wang Hong couldn’t help but burst out laughing, no longer consud by worry.
Wang Xixi, looking at her mother, sniffed, unsure of what to say.
The oppressive atmosphere in the Wang Family ho eased up with one bow-knot, and seeing that her eldest daughter was all right, Wang Hong wiped away her tears and said, “I’ll go get you sothing to eat.”
Aunt Li also got up, “I’ll go talk to the folks outside so they won’t fret.”
Lin Nianhe stayed behind, continuing to apply ointnt to the bruises on Wang Xixi’s body.
With so energy back, Wang Xixi said to Lin Nianhe, “Thank you, Educated Youth Lin.”
“It’s nothing,” Lin Nianhe replied, “Just bear with it a bit these coming days.
You absolutely can’t get the wound on your head wet.
I’ll co change the dressing tomorrow.
Later, I’ll leave so painkillers for you.
If the pain gets too much, take one, but take no more than two a day.
Taking too many isn’t good for your health.”
Wang Xixi’s eyes twinkled slightly, guiltily clutching her fingers as she whispered softly, “No need, I, I can hold on.”
All that dicine, how much must it cost.
Wang Xixi began to regret this accident.
Both painful and costly.
Lin Nianhe knew what she was thinking and said softly, “The dicine is from my own ho, it’s free.
You need to rest up well for your injury.
Not sleeping well due to pain isn’t good for your recovery, and Aunt Wang would be worried, too.”
Wang Xixi licked her lips, wanting to decline, but then she thought of her mother’s reddened eyes and ultimately held her tongue.
She said, “Educated Youth Lin, I will repay you.”
“Sure thing.” Lin Nianhe responded casually, “You might have a concussion, so feeling dizzy, nauseous, and wanting to throw up are normal.
Don’t be scared, just lie down properly and heal, and try not to shake your head too much.”
“Okay, I understand.
I’m not scared.”
Wang Xixi looked down and forced a bitter smile.
She wasn’t even afraid of death, why would she fear a little dizziness?
Aunt Wang hurried back soon after, holding two bowls of brown sugar and egg, giving one to Lin Nianhe gratefully, “Miss Lin, you eat sothing first to fill your stomach.
I’ll talk to you after Daxi falls asleep.”
“Thank you, Aunt Wang.” Lin Nianhe didn’t refuse, took the bowl, and made so room, saying, “You chat with your daughter.
I’ll be waiting for you outside.”
“Okay.”
Lin Nianhe tactfully left, and upon closing the door, she found that all the clamorous people in the courtyard had been sent away by Aunt Li, leaving only Wang Shui and Wen Lan waiting for her.
“Hezi, how’s Daxi doing?” Wen Lan approached as soon as she saw her co out.
“She’s alright, the wound is superficial, just have to prevent infection.” Lin Nianhe hooked a small stool with the tip of her foot and sat down by the door, holding the bowl in one hand, and beckoned to the two timid little girls on the other side, “Co here.”
The two little girls had been scared silly today, it seed they still hadn’t gotten over the shock.
Wang Hong was so concerned about Wang Xixi she had overlooked the girls’ feelings.
When there are many children, it’s hard to constantly pay attention to each one after the energy gets dispersed.
Knowing that Lin Nianhe was the one who treated their big sister’s wounds, the elder held the younger’s hand, obediently approaching Lin Nianhe, softly calling out, “Sister Lin.”
“So good,” Lin Nianhe patted her head, handing her the bowl, “I’ve already had dinner, so you take this and share with your sister.”
Wang Huanhuan waved her hands repeatedly, her face still marked by a handprint, looking pitiable.
Wang Lele beside her also gazed with round, soft eyes, saying cutely, “Sister Lin, you eat.”
“Sister is too full, I can’t eat anymore.” Lin Nianhe stuffed the bowl into Wang Huanhuan’s hands without debate, “You help sister finish it, otherwise your mother will scold for not eating properly.”
The two little girls probably both rembered the scenes of their mother scolding others, and they shrank their necks in unison, hurrying to relieve Lin Nianhe of the “burden” in her bowl.
Lin Nianhe watched the two of them, her lips involuntarily curling into a smile.
Aunt Li had finished her work and ca back, noticing the two little girls eating, a touch of tenderness naturally appeared in her eyes.
She also dragged a small stool over and sighed deeply as she gazed into the night sky.
Lin Nianhe rested her chin in one hand and softly asked her, “Aunt Li, what exactly happened today?”
When she brought it up, both Wang Shui and Wen Lan turned their attention to Aunt Li in unison.
Aunt Li glanced at Wang Xixi’s room and sighed deeply.
Wang Hong was the first woman in the surrounding eight villages to get divorced, for a simple reason—having given birth to three daughters, the Old Zhang Family did not regard her as a human being.
If it was just the friction against her, Wang Hong would probably have endured.
Until Old Madam Zhang lost her senses and wanted to trade the swaddled Wang Lele with a village family with a surplus of boys for a grandson.
They called it a trade, but in reality, it ant adopting the family’s youngest son into the Zhang Family, as for Wang Lele…
they wanted her as a child bride.
Wang Hong was furious, and the consequences were severe.
Not caring that she was still in her postpartum period, she smashed up the Zhang Family’s ho, causing chaos for half a month.
Eventually, under the diation of the team leaders of both teams, she successfully divorced and returned to Ten Miles Team with her three daughters.
Speaking of the past, Aunt Li was filled with emotion.
“Alas…
Hongzi has a hard fate, both her parents were martyrs; she was only about ten when they passed away.
At such a young age, she fended for herself, having experienced all the hardships of the world.”
“Your Uncle Team Leader was worried that she, a woman both raising children and working, would not be able to cope, so he recomnded her to the commune to beco the director of won’s affairs.
The Wang Family is an honored household, and Hongzi can read and write.
The commune intended to look after her, which allowed her to live a few years of ease.”
“The bachelor butcher from Nine-miles Team who was desperate for a wife offered a dowry of one hundred yuan.
Now, those with filthy intentions have set their sights on Daxi…”
Aunt Li said and wiped the moisture from the corner of her eyes.
Wang Shui frowned and asked, “Aunt Li, what did they say over in Nine-miles Team?”
“What else could they say?
They tried to smooth things over!” Aunt Li sighed, “They fought and smashed up the Old Zhang Family, but in the end, Daxi never married there.
And that bastard… after all, is still Daxi’s biological father, looking for a husband for his daughter isn’t a cri, what else can be done?”
On the side, Wang Huanhuan was intently feeding her sister the egg, only taking a small sip of the brown sugar water in her bowl herself.
Lin Nianhe looked at them and suddenly asked, “How old is Aunt Wang’s second daughter this year?”
“Huanhuan is thirteen this year…” Aunt Li responded to the question, and then suddenly furrowed her brows, “Why are you asking this?”
Lin Nianhe’s gaze turned slightly chill, without replying.
She tilted her head back, looking at the ink-black night, as if a layer of frost had enveloped her.
Aunt Li looked at her and felt a chill down her spine.
The girls in the village began to consider marriage at sixteen or seventeen, and it wasn’t unheard of for slightly younger ones, many places would get married first and only register when they reached the legal age, so never even register.
Now Wang Xixi had avoided one disaster, but what about Wang Huanhuan?
What about Wang Lele?
What if next ti the Old Zhang Family directly sent soone to the marital bed?
The more Aunt Li thought, the colder her heart felt.
Lin Nianhe slowly withdrew her gaze and said eerily, “Actually, this matter doesn’t have to be just a private issue of forcing girls into marriage.”
At this mont, Wang Hong ca out the door, her eyes red and swollen, and asked Lin Nianhe, “Miss Lin, what do you an by that?”
Lin Nianhe turned to look at her, her eyes deep and profound, “Aunt Wang, what I an is not important, what matters is how you want to deal with it.”
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