Chapter 9 Help!

Bai Xiao looked at Li Chunhua and Bai Jianguo with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Grandma, I can't agree with you there. Just today, in front of the whole village, you said yourself that you receive the 19 yuan each month from my elder brother and sisters. Even if I were to eat flour and eggs with every meal, I'm afraid that 19 yuan would be enough. I'm not living here for nothing."

"Uncle, do you think I'm living for free too? If you do, then I really need to have a word with you. Although I don't work in the fields as much as Bai Shan and Bai Zhuang, out of the 365 days in a year, I must work at least a hundred of them. Not to mention the pigs and chickens at home, they are all raised and fed by me. How can you say that I can't even have an egg?"

"Uncle, grandma, let's make things clear today. If you think I shouldn't eat flour and eggs, then grandma, just give me my living expenses, and I'll go back to our old family house to live. I believe I won't starve to death." Bai Xiao really didn't want to continue putting up a pretense with them.

Bai Jianguo's face darkened. His niece, who was usually so subservient that not even three slaps could coax an opinion out of her, was now demanding an explanation with her finger pointed at his nose. The disparity in his feelings was too great.

Li Chunhua lost her temper, "You little wretch, you've really turned the world upside down now, daring to talk back to me about money and food. Let me tell you, I am your grandmother, and the money your brother and sisters give is my retirement money, not a penny of it is for you. I'll see I don't beat you to death today, you little wretch." The old lady's eyes roamed, searching for something handy to hit Bai Xiao with.

Her gaze fell on the carrying pole standing in the corner of the room, which was usually used for carrying water and was propped up against the wall after use.

The old lady dashed over in a swift motion, picked up the carrying pole, and swung it at Bai Xiao without a second thought. Because it was so sudden, and the most important reason being that Bai Xiao wanted to take the hit so that outsiders would see the truth and sympathize with her, she could not handle the Bai family by herself after all. If Bai Shan and Bai Zhuang were to tie her up and throw her into the woodshed, and she starved to death, at most people would say she died from a fever.

And with no evidence to prove otherwise, such incidents where a minor illness in the countryside turned into a major one and resulted in death were far too common. These cases would neither go through the hospital nor the police station, and as long as the situation was concealed and explained to the villagers, nobody would delve too deeply into it, as it was something that could happen to any family.

If she were to truly die, it would likely be in vain.

Even when her elder brothers and sisters who could stand up for her returned, her bones might already have turned to ash.

So she took the blow solidly, and Bai Xiao even deliberately bumped into the iron hook of the carrying pole. The angle and force of the impact were such that when she collided with it, her arm was cruelly caught by the hook. Her sleeve tore immediately, and a wound appeared on her arm, the flesh turning inside out and the blood flowing unstoppably.

Clutching her shoulder, Bai Xiao ran outside; this hit was enough, she definitely wasn't planning to let the old lady beat her to no end.

"Help, Auntie, Uncle, Village Chief Uncle, help! My grandmother is trying to beat me to death!" Bai Xiao screamed and cried, her voice summoning all the villagers. Many of them were so shocked by the sight of a young girl covered in bloody wounds that they almost suffered heart attacks.

Upon a closer look, they realized it was Bai Xiao. It hadn't been long since everyone dispersed over the Bai family's issues, and now this girl was covered in blood and screaming for help, leading many bystanders to come over. Some kind-hearted villagers were already supporting her, "Oh dear, what happened to you? How did you end up like this? Where are your grandmother and uncle?"

Crying and pleading, Bai Xiao said, "Auntie, Uncle, please, I beg you to call the village chief over quickly, my grandmother wants to beat me to death."

Everyone was startled, what was going on here?

Hadn't everything been just fine a moment ago?

"Alright, Dashan, go call the village chief and the security Director, let's see how serious this girl's injuries are. If things go wrong, it could really cost her life," said the elder Wang Da Niang from the village, seventy-six this year. Highly respected, she had five sons in the house, and generally nobody would bother the old lady. However, Wang Da Niang was also a reasonable person, never misbehaving in the village.

The villagers all respected Wang Da Niang deeply. If there were any disputes or quarrels within a family, whether it be between in-laws or mother and daughter-in-law, Wang Da Niang was always the one to mediate.

Without hesitation, her grandson agreed and quickly ran to fetch the village chief.

Village Chief Liu Baoguo and security Director Li Guoqing had already hurried over upon hearing the news.

Li Chunhua and Bai Jianguo hurried out of the courtyard, surrounded by so many people. Li Chunhua's face turned white then black, and still looked unattractive. She had thought that after closing the door and beating the death out of this wretched girl, everything would be done. She hadn't expected this girl to actually grow legs and dare to run outside, now they've really lost face.

Bai Jianguo had long since darkened his face.

He had never thought that the child would be such a worry.

Seeing all the condemning eyes around him, he realized that he had been too impulsive just now. No matter what, he couldn't mistreat his niece, Bai Xiao, in front of outsiders. His face was telling, and nobody could miss it.

"Jianguo, what happened to your family's Bai Xiao? Look at the child, she's covered in blood. Although you are her uncle and grandmother, separated by a layer of kinship, she is still the child of your elder brother's family. You can't be too harsh! Look at how you've beaten this child," Wang Da Niang could no longer hold back and spoke up.

Weeping quietly in Wang Da Niang's arms, Bai Xiao said, "Grandma, please don't say anymore, it's all my fault for eating wheat flour and eggs, and for saying that the money my elder brother and sister sent was enough for my meals. That made grandma angry. But I really didn't know that the money they sent was for grandma's retirement. My brother and sister only told me they had already given my life expenses to my little uncle and grandma, and told me not to worry about food. I truly didn't know that the responsibility for supporting grandma in her old age was not on my little uncle but on my elder brother and sister."

The fearful look on her face made everyone feel sad. Wang Da Niang, infuriated, turned to Bai Jianguo, "You've got some nerve, Jianguo! Everyone knows it's natural for a son to support his mother, but I've never heard of expecting a grandson or granddaughter to do so. Are you dead or missing arms and legs to be relying on your own nephew and niece to provide for your mother? Our Shipan Village has really produced a great personality."

Those words hit Bai Jianguo like a slap in the face; he almost stumbled. He couldn't accept such an accusation. Not to mention the whole village, even in the nearby villages or the county, there was no precedent for a son requiring his grandchildren to support their grandmother. He couldn't bear such a reputation.

He walked past Li Chunhua to pull Bai Xiao and frantically checked her injuries. Turning his head in a panic, Bai Jianguo said, "Wang Da Niang, this child is not making herself clear, where is there such a thing? It was just her grandmother scolding her for being gluttonous and eating white flour and eggs. Ah! After all, I am her uncle, it's not my place to say this. Xiao, let your uncle first take you to see a doctor, we can't let these injuries linger..."