Chapter 20 Blood Relatives Bound by Flesh

Lady Zhao was indeed pitiful, always fighting alone, yet repeatedly defeated.

However, today's scare was enough to make Lady Zhao restrain herself a lot.

After all, besides that good-for-nothing son, Jiang Youfu, what she cared about most was her grandson still in swaddling clothes.

Su Yu turned and left, her steps relaxed, her retreating figure exuding an indescribable haughtiness.

Jiang Ziling followed closely, filled with curiosity about the conversation Su Yu had with Lady Zhao just now, "What exactly did you say to her, why did she suddenly quiet down?"

Su Yu turned her head, a playful smile emerging on her face, contrasting sharply with her previous sharp image, "Guess."

Her mysteriously playful reply caused Jiang Ziling to laugh involuntarily, and he had no choice but to drop it.

Back inside the house, Su Yu saw Xixi standing next to the basket, her little hands clutching a plump mulberry, eating with relish, her little mouth stained pitch-black, yet she still didn't forget to flash a sweet smile at Su Yu.

This scene instantly melted the ice in Su Yu's heart, and she couldn't help walking over, gently pinching Xixi's tender cheeks, scolding with a smile, "You little clever ghost, finding your own snacks!"

Xixi giggled, her clear eyes twinkling with the light of innocence, bringing a rare warmth and tranquility to this afternoon filled with grudges and conflicts.

Xixi, smiling brightly, held a mulberry, which had been squished by her tiny fingers until the juice overflowed. The fruit, now unrecognizable, its dark juice dripping from her fingertips, as if telling its own brief yet vibrant tale.

She carefully extended this "masterpiece" towards Su Yu, her eyes shimmering with expectation.

Su Yu looked at the sorry mulberry, her brow slightly furrowed, her heart unable to muster any appetite.

Yet, faced with Xixi's bright, sparkling eyes and her resolute "you must eat" demeanor, Su Yu knew that to refuse would be the greatest betrayal of the child's pure enthusiasm.

So, she suppressed her laughter, feigned composure, and took the mulberry, gently biting into it.

Despite the juice staining the corner of her lips, Su Yu, under Xixi's hopeful gaze, revealed a tender smile, gently kissed her rosy cheek, and said with a laugh, "It's so sweet, Xixi really knows how to choose. Since you like it so much, go ahead and eat some more."

She turned to pick up the wooden basin filled with tempting mulberries, which gleamed like plump purple jewels set in it, emitting a faint fragrance that made one's mouth water.

She said to Jiang Ziling, "I want to take these mulberries to Second Aunt's place, they have many kids, and I'm sure they'll all like it."

Jiang Ziling nodded with a smile, his eyes showing approval and understanding, "Indeed, Second Aunt will gladly accept these delicious offerings."

Su Yu, carrying the wooden basin, walked briskly towards Xie Xinghua's house.

However, upon reaching the door, she found it tightly shut, all quiet.

She knocked gently, her voice soft and friendly, "Second Aunt, it's me, Su Yu."

Inside, Xie Xinghua's heart tightened upon hearing the sound.

She had closed the door to shut out the complex and trivial matters from outside, protecting the rare peace at home.

Now, the sudden knock and visit caught her by surprise.

The three little girls inside looked at each other, gazing at their mother. Seeing that she did not speak, they did not dare to open the door without permission.

Xie Xinghua hesitated for a moment before responding through the door, "Second Sister-in-law, is there something you need?"

Su Yu felt a bit puzzled, as the person on the other side only responded in the affirmative without opening the door, perhaps Jiang Wangshan was changing clothes indoors and it would be inconvenient to disturb.

She patiently explained, "Sister-in-law, yesterday I picked some fresh wild fruit on the mountain and specifically brought them over for you to try."

"There's no need, Sister Youfu..."

Before Xie Xinghua could finish her sentence, San Ya, who was squatting on the ground intently playing, suddenly heard the words "wild fruit". Her eyes lit up instantly and she jumped up excitedly. Without waiting for her mother to stop her, she pulled open the door.

The moment the door opened, both Xie Xinghua and Su Yu were taken aback.

San Ya peeked out her round little head and looked up and down at Su Yu with a pair of bright big eyes, and in a childish voice admired, "So you're Second Aunt, so pretty!"

Amused by San Ya's innocence and unspoiled nature, Su Yu replied with a smile and handed the wooden basin to San Ya, "These are wild fruits I personally picked from the mountain, fresh and delicious. You take them and share with everyone."

San Ya's eyes gleamed, and she took it over like a little greedy cat, unable to wait to taste them.

Seeing this, Xie Xinghua wanted to stop her but it was too late, and she could only call out helplessly, "San Ya, slowly..."

Su Yu noticed the other children in the house were also eagerly eyeing the basin of mulberries and asked Xie Xinghua with incomprehension, "Sister-in-law, they are just wild fruits, why decline so?"

Xie Xinghua's face showed difficulty, and for a moment, she found it hard to speak.

It was San Ya who, while eating, answered for her mother, "Mother is afraid that if Grandmother finds out she will scold us, so she dares not to accept Second Aunt's things."

Su Yu heard this and immediately understood the reason.

For Lady Zhao to possibly do such a thing, she did not feel surprised.

Seeing that Su Yu seemed to have guessed, Xie Xinghua embarrassingly explained, "Sister, don't blame me. My current situation is already very difficult. If I go against Mother-in-law's wishes, life would only get even harder."

"You and she have a tense relationship, and if she finds out we often interact, she might take the opportunity to make things very difficult for me."

Xie Xinghua's words revealed an anxious desire to draw clear boundaries, and although Su Yu felt a deep regret, she well understood that everyone has their own difficulties, and choosing respect was the best response.

"I understand, Sister-in-law, I won't make things difficult for you."

Su Yu pondered for a moment, then advised gently, "In life, one must strive for the kind of life they want. By endlessly enduring in silence, one only plunges their days into endless darkness.

Perhaps, we can think of some ways together, to let the children enjoy these treats while avoiding trouble."

If Lady Zhao were a person who could understand and feel gratitude, perhaps Xie Xinghua's days might be a little more comfortable.

But reality is not so; Xie Xinghua single-handedly manages every minor and major affair at home. From groceries to the necessities of life, from caring for her frail brother-in-law to raising young children, she is like a never-resting spinning top, twirling alone in the vortex of life.

As for the fieldwork, one could hardly expect the three young girls to share much of the burden.

Xie Xinghua, giving it her all, with the toil and sweat she expended, could not even ensure a full meal for herself and still had to put up with Lady Zhao's moodiness, leaving her weary in body and soul.

Today, Su Yu and Xie Xinghua opened their hearts and spoke their minds, driven by the deep affection for their shared blood.

She said with emphasis and warmth, "I speak my heart to you today because you, my brother, and Ziling are bonded by blood, and the sentiment of family cannot be severed. Reflect on this yourself. Only by resisting can you escape this dire situation and reclaim the dignity and peace you deserve."