Chapter 106: Three Sisters-in-law

  Niu Xiaohua's sister-in-law had already entered the house, preparing to go find Niu Xiaohua. She seemed very familiar with the place, and He Ashu was at a loss for how to deal with her. Even if she wanted to stop them, she couldn't. All she could do was watch as the three of them entered the house one by one... feeling powerless. Unlike Tudou, who was bold and forthright, He Ashu was anxious but useless.

  Niu Xiaohua was sewing clothes in the house when she heard voices talking in the courtyard, and her mind wandered. She almost pricked her own finger, and just as she was startled, Niu Xiaohua's three sisters-in-law came in one after another, each with a hypocritical smile on their faces. As soon as Niu Xiaohua saw them, she felt a chill in her heart. She used to be afraid of her mother, but also feared these three sisters-in-law.

  Her mouth was sharper than anyone else's, but when the three of them scolded her, she didn't even have the courage to interrupt. She would be scolded for no reason and cry, sometimes becoming weak and timid. The three sisters-in-law could vent their anger on her by pinching her, and she wouldn't dare fight back, only crying in grievance. When she saw them, her mouth would pucker tightly, her head hung low, and she even forgot to greet them, her heart racing with anxiety.

  Niu Xiaohua's sister-in-law, Niu Wangshi, smiled and greeted her: "Xiaohua, are you adapting well here? Look, your sister-in-law is still worried about you, so she brought some calico fabric to visit you..."

  But the three of them simultaneously saw the new clothes on her and the clothes by her hand, their pupils contracted slightly, their hands tightened, and the things they had carefully picked out in their hands couldn't be taken out.

  She used to be reluctant to take out these floral fabrics, but now she has to please her younger sister-in-law. Unexpectedly, when she took them out, she encountered such a situation, and for a moment, her face was a bit stiff.

  The few braids that Erniang Li was holding in her hand were originally used to make a living by selling them for money to buy necessities, but now she had taken them out to give as gifts. She was reluctant to part with them, but when she saw what the others were wearing and carrying, her face twisted in distaste. Especially Cow Xiaohua's complexion looked much better than before, it was really a world of difference from when they were at home... Was this still their family's youngest daughter?! Li Erniang almost didn't dare to recognize her, and at the same time felt some envy and jealousy.

  San Shu's face was also a bit stiff, and when she saw the clothes on her body and the silver ornaments on her head, her eyes revealed a frenzy. Even the shoes she brought with her were tightly clenched in her hand. It took her a long time to squeeze out a smile and walk forward, saying: "Wow, Little Flower really wore new clothes? I didn't know, but heard people in the village say so. Now that I see you, I feel much better... Did you make new clothes?"

  Niu Xiaohua puckered her mouth but didn't say a word.

  He Qiu walked in, looking at the three people surrounding Niu Xiaohua, and felt a bit anxious. She wanted to interrupt, but before she could speak, she was squeezed out by Niu Li. Smiling, Niu Li said: "Auntie, you attend to your business, we three are just chatting with our family's little sister. We're all family members, Auntie, why do you come in like this? Are you afraid we'll eat our own little sister?"

  She smiled a bit sarcastically, but He Axiu was after all a straightforward and reasonable person. What the other person said was also reasonable, so she really couldn't say anything. Originally, she could have used the fact that Xiao Hua was bought to shut her up, but He Axiu had never been that kind of person, and couldn't bring herself to say such things. Suddenly, she felt a bit at a loss, worriedly glanced at Niu Xiao Hua, and said: "......Then, you all talk first, I'll come in later..."

  He Ahxiu took three steps back and forth before leaving the house, thinking to herself that Xiaohua might not be able to handle such a situation, it would be better if Tuni was at home, but then she thought... she couldn't rely on Tuni for everything, after all, she's only eight years old.

  He Qiu sighed, thinking that in other families, parents would shield their children from the world, but theirs was the opposite.

  Niu Ji walked up with a smile and said: "This is the shoes that your sister made for you, do you like them? Try them on..."

  On the surface, a flattering intention, Niu Xiaohua was somewhat embarrassed and said: "...Sister-in-law, don't mention it, how can I accept your things..."

  "How can't you accept it? A family member would say such a thing?! " Niu Jishi said, handing the shoes to Niu Xiaohua. Niu Xiaohua had no choice but to take them and, seeing Niu Jishi's expectant gaze, she tried to put them on her feet. She paused for a moment and said, "Sister-in-law, it's too big..."

  Niu Jishi suddenly looked a bit embarrassed, actually this was not what she really wanted to do, but rather something she did for herself. She thought that there was no other way, so she brought it out. After all, she was an adult, and her feet were naturally much bigger than Niu Xiaohua's. It wouldn't fit, but now that it was mentioned, her face looked a bit awkward. She dryly laughed twice and said: "....Is that so?! It's just that I made a mistake, but you can wait until you're a bit older to wear it..."

  Niu Xiaohua let out a sigh, took off her shoes, and she wasn't stupid, how could she not understand? The three sisters-in-law were usually the most stingy and miserly, how would they be willing to send her these things? It seemed that they still had ulterior motives. They always had the same mind as their mother, and it was probably still for the sake of Fangzi from the Zhong family.

  Niú Xiǎo Huā's eyes dimmed slightly, and her view of these family members was no more than that. In the household, apart from her dear father, who else could truly care for her?

  Niu Li walked over, laughing and saying: "This is a knot tied by your sister-in-law, don't you think it looks good?!"

  "Hmm." Niu Xiaohua responded as usual, monotonously, and didn't say anything else. At home, she had seen her sister-in-law knit socks, not even willing to give her one, and was guarded against her like a thief, afraid she would steal her yarn. Now... She smiled bitterly, but surprisingly didn't feel any heartache, only disappointment and amusement.

  Niu Wang saw that she was still the same as before, smiling and stuffing the flowered cloth into her hands, saying: "Little girl has clothes to wear, but doesn't have shoes to match. These flowered cloths, little girl can take them to make a pair of shoes to wear, it's not bad..."

  Niu Xiaohua nodded, but still didn't make a sound, like a dumb melon. The three sisters felt bored and somewhat displeased that she was ignoring them, but they also knew that this was just her personality. They rolled their eyes, exchanged a glance, and then looked back to see that He Ashu wasn't in the courtyard, so they prepared to persuade Niu Xiaohua.

  Niu Wang sat down beside her, smiling warmly as he took her hand and said: "Little sister, Mother says that the braised meat sold by the Zhong family is very good. Xiaohua, you must listen to Mother's words and get the recipe for the Zhong family's braised meat..."

  "Ah......" Niu Jishi and Niu Lishi squeezed forward, warmly saying: "Don't forget, you're a Niu too, we Niuxi are one family. If you got the braised meat recipe, our household will prosper, and in the future, it'll be your support too..."

  Niu Xiaohua didn't make a sound, her head bowed and it was unclear what she was thinking, but the needle in her hand really did prick her skin, yet the pain in her hand wasn't even one ten-thousandth of the pain in her heart.

  Three people looked at each other, seeing that she wasn't speaking, they started talking one by one. Niu Xiaohua remained silent the whole time, no matter what they said, she didn't lift her head. Gradually, the three of them began to feel bored and annoyed, and for no reason, their anger was rising, but they forcibly suppressed it. Just as they were thinking of coaxing her again, He Axiu came in at this moment, smiling: "Xiaohua, come to the kitchen to boil water, we need to prepare lunch... Tuni and the others will be back soon..."

  She just wanted to come and relieve her difficulties. Niuxiao Hua hadn't waited for the three people to react, she had already stood up and ran out quickly. The three of them wanted to stop her but didn't have time, suddenly gritting their teeth in anger, staring blankly as the meat that was within their grasp flew away. Their hearts couldn't be happy at all. Looking towards He Ashu's eyes were not kind, "Auntie, we three came to see little sister, what work does your family have that must be given to Xiaohua at this time?!"

  He Yaxiu just pretended not to understand their expressions, and smiled foolishly: "Actually, Xiaohua coming to our house doesn't have much heavy work to do, it's just kitchen chores and needlework that are our business, but kitchen chores can't be delayed, so you guys should go back home first, we're all from the same village, think about it whenever you want..."

  Three people pouted, although dissatisfied, but they couldn't rush into the kitchen of their home. With a reluctant glance at He Axiu, they reluctantly came out, only to look at the things they brought with them with a lingering attachment. They secretly sighed that this trip was really a waste, like throwing a meat bun at a dog, and got nothing in return.

  As soon as the three of them went out, they started discussing and gossiping. Niu Wangshi said: "This time it's really good for that dead girl, I don't know if she's stubborn or what, but she's just like a cow..."

  "She was originally surnamed Niu, just like her father-in-law..." Niu Jishi said with a curl of his lip.

  "What to do now?!" Niu Li said worriedly: "He Ahxiu looks like a honest person, but I don't think he is. What's the point of rushing in at this time? Isn't it just to guard against us?"

  "Got it, of course got it......" Niuji said gritting his teeth: "If not today then tomorrow, I just don't believe she can't be fooled into listening obediently..."

  Niu Wang's brow furrowed, saying: "Don't you think that Dead Girl is being disobedient now?!"

  Niu Li thought so too and said: "She now has the Zhong family to back her up, her wings have hardened..."

  "I'm afraid she'll use being bought by the Zhong family as an excuse to shut us up..." Niu Jishi frowned and said: "This matter must be settled as soon as possible, otherwise I'm afraid that in the future the Zhong family will guard against us and won't let us enter their house. Didn't your mother get beaten out of their house by one of their little maids yesterday?!"

  "My daughter is really useless, how could she be scared like that by just a little servant girl..." Cow King's wife said with a frown.

  "It's not that I'm afraid of this little girl, it's Grandpa that I'm worried about..." Niu Wangshi furrowed her brow and said, "Let's go back and discuss with Mother again what to do. Otherwise, we'll have to rely on Mother to take the lead, and we'll follow behind. When the time comes, we can persuade her and talk about Father's affairs. She won't dare disobey us then... such a large sum of unexpected wealth shouldn't be wasted..."