Mu Yuxin returned home and happened to hear Feng WanHui on the phone.
"Did you do something to displease Pingyang? Otherwise, how could Pingyang hit you for no reason?"
As soon as Mu Yuxin heard this, she knew the call was from her sister, Mu WanQiu.
Gao Pingyang was Mu WanQiu's husband. They met through an introduction, and before they got married, everyone said Gao Pingyang was an honest, kind, and good husband who doted on his wife. Mu WanQiu believed it too.
Who knew that after marriage, Gao Pingyang revealed his true colors. He was addicted to alcohol and gambling, always dreaming of getting rich but unwilling to work. He was also suspicious and petty. If Mu WanQiu spoke to anyone else for too long, he would get jealous, thinking Mu WanQiu disliked him and wanted to leave him, so he would resort to violence.
After Mu WanQiu was beaten for the first time, she wanted a divorce, but Feng WanHui disagreed. Feng WanHui's intention was clear: Gao Pingyang and Mu WanQiu were introduced by others, and if they divorced, Feng WanHui would lose face and be unable to hold her head up in front of others. Moreover, after Gao Pingyang beat her, he regretted it the next day, kneeling before Mu WanQiu and Feng WanHui to beg for forgiveness. He cried profusely and swore never to lay a finger on Mu WanQiu again. Mu WanQiu, being soft-hearted, and with her mother opposing the divorce, forgave Gao Pingyang.
When Gao Pingyang first resorted to violence, Mu Yuxin felt that this man was unreliable. She believed that if Mu WanQiu divorced, she would wholeheartedly support it, because a dog cannot change its nature, and domestic violence, if it happens once, will happen countless times.
After Feng WanHui found out, she severely scolded Mu Yuxin, accusing her of having ill intentions and wanting to ruin her sister's family. Mu Yuxin, unable to persuade them, could only warn Gao Pingyang to treat Mu WanQiu well. Gao Pingyang, seeing Mu Yuxin, readily agreed with a smile, "Don't worry, little sister-in-law. I will cherish WanQiu. If I hit her again, you can do whatever you want with me."
Facts proved that a man's mouth is a deceiving ghost. In less than half a year, Gao Pingyang hit Mu WanQiu again, simply because he lost money playing mahjong. Mu Yuxin was furious and wanted them to divorce immediately. Feng WanHui slapped Mu Yuxin fiercely, "Your sister is pregnant. If you make her divorce at this time, what will happen to her and the child?"
"Then let's not have this child! My sister's happiness is more important than anything."
These words infuriated Feng WanHui, who slapped her again. "Listen to what you're saying! Your sister has been married for two years and finally has a child. You're telling her to abort it? Let me tell you, this marriage cannot end. Do you not know how difficult it is for a child to grow up without a father? Do you want your niece to be fatherless from birth, just like you?"
Mu Yuxin, unwilling to deal with Feng WanHui, went directly to Mu WanQiu, only to receive the same answer. The child cannot be without a father. Enraged, Mu Yuxin didn't go home for the entire winter break.
When the summer vacation started, thinking that Mu WanQiu would give birth soon, she hesitated for a long time before returning home. To her surprise, she heard about Gao Pingyang hitting her again. And their mother, knowing full well what kind of person Gao Pingyang was, still asked if Mu WanQiu had done something to offend Gao Pingyang to provoke him into hitting her.
Hearing their conversation, Mu Yuxin did not comment. During dinner that night, she said to Feng WanHui, "Mom, Sister should be giving birth soon. I want to go to her place and stay for a few days to take care of her."
Feng WanHui looked at Mu Yuxin suspiciously. "Why aren't you persuading your sister to divorce this time?"
Mu Yuxin smiled innocently. "Didn't you say it? The child cannot be without a father, even if that person is a scoundrel!"
Feng WanHui was momentarily speechless. Coincidentally, Lin QiuTong's birthday was approaching, and she wanted to visit her daughter, so she agreed. But she did not forget to warn, "Behave yourself when you get to your sister's place. Don't get into conflict with your brother-in-law."
Mu Yuxin lowered her head and replied, her eyes devoid of any warmth.
It was a six-hour drive from Mu WanQiu's home to their parents' home. Mu Yuxin bought a large quantity of chicken, duck, and fish from the market and went to Mu WanQiu's house. The moment Mu WanQiu opened the door, Mu Yuxin almost wanted to grab a knife and kill that beast Gao Pingyang.
Although Mu WanQiu couldn't be called a great beauty, she was naturally elegant. Before she got married, many people proposed to her. Feng WanHui, after much deliberation, chose Gao Pingyang because he offered the highest bride price. Before her marriage, Mu WanQiu had a slight baby face, but now she was so thin that she seemed unable to support the weight of her belly, holding her waist to barely stand. Her right eye was bruised and bloodshot, her nose was bandaged as if it were broken, and half of her face was swollen like a bun.
Seeing Mu Yuxin, Mu WanQiu was stunned for a moment, then instinctively covered her face with her hand, not wanting her beloved sister to see her in such a state. But Mu Yuxin had already seen it.
Although Mu Yuxin was furious, she said nothing about her injuries, but smiled faintly. "Sister, are you planning to make me stand outside forever? I've been carrying these for over an hour, and my arms are about to break."
Mu WanQiu then reacted and immediately invited Mu Yuxin inside. "It's so hot, why have you come?"
The house was in a mess. It was already mealtime, and the kitchen was in disarray. Mu Yuxin gritted her teeth, cleared a space, placed the items on the table, and hugged Mu WanQiu. "I missed you."
Mu WanQiu's nose stung. "I missed you too." She pushed Mu Yuxin away and looked her up and down. "Oh, my XinXin is getting more and more beautiful. Are many people pursuing you?"
"Not really." After Guan Yang, that vinegar jar, dealt with a few suitors and publicly declared his ownership, no one dared to pursue her anymore.
"Then... do you have a boyfriend?"
Thinking of Guan Yang, Mu Yuxin felt a pang of annoyance. That guy seemed genuinely angry this time; he hadn't contacted her in three days. However, despite their argument, neither of them mentioned breaking up, let alone a boyfriend.
"Yes." Thinking that if she were in a relationship, Feng WanHui would ask endless questions, Mu Yuxin made a "shush" gesture to Mu WanQiu. "Sister, this is just between you and me. You absolutely cannot tell Mom."
Mu WanQiu smiled. "Don't worry. But the man our XinXin fancies must be a good person."
Was Guan Yang a good person? Ha... not really! They just happened to click.
"Sister, you rest for a while. I'll cook."
"Oh, you've come all this way, how can I let you cook!" Mu WanQiu tried to take the items from Mu Yuxin, but Mu Yuxin gently pushed her back to the sofa. "You're a pregnant mother, so just sit and wait to taste my chef's skills."
Mu WanQiu watched Mu Yuxin busily working in the kitchen with a contented smile. "Our Yuxin is so beautiful and capable. The man who marries you will be truly lucky."