Chapter 65: Chapter 56: Not Biologically Yours
The courtyard fell silent. Mo Xiaosu was the first to react, glaring at Xiao Man and cursing, "What bullshit are you spouting, you bastard? This is your house? You’ve got some nerve! This house and yard were given to my grandpa by the brigade. My grandpa is part of my family, so this is my house!"
"You’re insane!" Mo Xiao Zhi, despite being only seven, was no slouch when it came to insults. "You and your foul mouth! Just because you say it’s your house doesn’t make it so! Grandpa is my grandpa too, so this house and yard are my home!"
"Who... who are you calling foul-mouthed? We’ll see if I don’t toss you out, you little brat who’s doomed to die young!"
Defending her daughter, Second Aunt Mo lunged for Mo Xiao Zhi with her arms flailing, but Liu Fengying stuck out a foot and tripped her, sending her sprawling onto the sunning-ground. It had to be said, being strong, sturdy, and tall really gave one an advantage. Although Second Aunt Mo was also thick-waisted and broad-shouldered, she was a full head shorter than Liu Fengying and clearly no match for her.
Liu Fengying pinned Second Aunt Mo down, slapped her across the face, and cursed, "You damn hag! How dare you say my daughter is doomed to die young? You’re the one who’s going to die young! Your whole family is!"
Second Aunt Mo scrambled to fight back while wailing, "Liu Fengying! You damn tramp... This house and yard are mine... Don’t you even think about taking it!"
"You’re the tramp! You’re the tramp!" Liu Fengying slapped Second Aunt Mo twice more. "I’m a reasonable person. I told you: I’m not taking this house for myself. Both our families have a share! There are six or seven rooms, and there’s still empty land over there. We can just split it evenly. But you just had to fight me over it. You think you can win against me? Huh? Piss me off, and I’ll beat you to death!"
Seeing her mother being beaten, Mo Xiaosu didn’t dare to step forward, terrified of the tigress Liu Fengying. She could only stomp her feet and bawl. Second Aunt Mo’s eldest son tried to run and help his mom, but Mo Xiaoqiang shoved him to the ground, straddled him, and started punching him furiously.
Grandpa helped Grandma to a seat under the eaves. Still worried about Xiao Man, he yelled, "Xiao Man! Xiao Man! Don’t go over there... Get back here!"
Xiao Man had no choice but to run over and help Grandpa set down his carrying basket. Freeing his hands, Grandpa took the bamboo pole from Grandma’s grasp, strode onto the sunning-ground, and started swinging wildly at everyone, big and small. Mo Xiaosu’s wails grew louder. The boys scattered and ran. Liu Fengying let go of Second Aunt Mo, covering her head as she scrambled to one side and shouted, "Dad! Dad, what are you doing?"
Grandpa roared, "What are you all doing, causing a scene at my house? All of you, get out!"
Grandma sneered. "How rare. It’s been so many years. Even Guo Qiang and Mo Laoer don’t call him Dad anymore. When Liu Fengying first joined the Mo family, she only called us ’Mom’ and ’Dad’ when she was getting red envelopes. After that, she dropped the titles completely. But now, all of a sudden, she’s calling him ’Dad’ again!"
Xiao Man said, "Grandma, they were just arguing about it. They want to live in this house. Calling him ’Dad’ is just a trick. Don’t believe her!"
Grandma chuckled. "Oh, so now my little Xiao Man has to teach me! Don’t worry, Grandma won’t fall for their nonsense!"
On the sunning-ground, a crowd of women and children surrounded Grandpa. Second Aunt Mo and Mo Xiaosu, considering themselves the victims, stood closest, rambling and crying. Mo Xiaosu said she wanted to move in with Grandpa. Mo Xiaoqiang and Mo Xiao Zhi also clamored to come along. Second Aunt Mo argued that the house and yard should have belonged to the second branch of the family and had nothing to do with Boss Mo, so what right did Liu Fengying have to fight her for it?
But Liu Fengying was talking about something else entirely. Her voice was louder than anyone’s, and tinged with a sob. "Dad, Xiao Feng is in such a pitiful state! Three hundred yuan isn’t enough! The doctor said we need a thousand. If we don’t pay more soon, the child’s life is in danger... Dad, please, think of something! Find another seven hundred yuan for us!"
Grandma pursed her lips tightly. Xiao Man sneered. ’Talk about giving an inch and taking a mile. This is a real education!’
Xiao Man stood up and started walking forward. Grandma sensed it and reached out a hand. "Xiao Man, be good! Don’t go!"
Xiao Man gently placed Grandma’s hand back on her knee. "Don’t worry, Grandma. Grandpa is here, and there’s a crowd of people at the gate. Liu Fengying won’t dare to do anything to me!"
With that, Xiao Man strode onto the sunning-ground. Liu Fengying had already shot several glares at her, and seeing her walk over now, she looked like she wanted nothing more than to grab Xiao Man and tear her to pieces.
’It’s all because of this little monster,’ she seethed, ’that my hand slipped and I accidentally hurt Xiao Feng!’
Xiao Man met Liu Fengying’s gaze and asked, "Liu Fengying, do you really think Xiao Feng is pitiful? When you were swinging that pair of iron tongs at me, wasn’t this the exact result you were hoping for? You’re the one who hurt Xiao Feng, so what right do you have to ask my grandpa for money? That day, you and your husband kidnapped me and dragged me to your house. I was terrified and have been having nightmares ever since. My grandpa hasn’t even asked you for compensation for my fright, yet you have the gall to come back for more?"
Liu Fengying’s neck flushed with anger. "You unfilial brat, how dare you say my name? Just you wait, the Duke of Thunder will strike you dead! What nonsense are you spouting? Who kidnapped you? Who scared you? We didn’t even touch you! What kind of damn nightmares are you having?"
Grandpa turned to look at Xiao Man. "Are you really having nightmares?"
Xiao Man nodded. "As soon as I fall asleep, I dream of the iron tongs hitting my face. I wake up scared several times every night. I’m afraid to go to sleep!"
Just then, Grandma’s voice called out loudly, "Yes, yes! Old man, I’ve heard her these past few nights... It’s Xiao Man! She has nightmares and is afraid to sleep, so she just wanders around the house and yard by herself... The poor child!"
Xiao Man was speechless.
’Oh, my dear Grandma, really? You actually heard me moving around? Thank goodness, thank goodness your eyesight is poor and you didn’t get up to check. Otherwise, the cat would have been out of the bag!’
Liu Fengying rolled up her sleeves and rushed toward Xiao Man. "You wretched girl, you harmed my Xiao Feng, and I haven’t even done anything to you yet! How dare you turn the tables and play the victim! Watch me tear you apart!"
Xiao Man braced her feet, eager to test her newfound strength. But before she could, Grandpa reached out, pulled her to his side, and bellowed at Liu Fengying, "What do you think you’re doing? Xiao Man is my child now! You’d tear her apart right in front of me and this old woman? If we weren’t here, would you eat her alive?"
Liu Fengying cried out, "Dad, I’m her biological mother! Can’t I even discipline her?"
Grandpa waved his hand dismissively. "There’s no need! Xiao Man is ours now. She is our child, and we will be the ones to raise her. Whether she’s good or bad is none of your business!"
Xiao Man glanced at the crowd gathered by the courtyard gate and declared loudly, "Liu Fengying, stop trying to fool people! I heard everything you and Mo Guoqiang said when you thought no one was listening! I, Mo Xiaoman, have had a hard life. Eleven years ago, you brought the wrong baby home. The truth is, I’m not your biological daughter at all! I’m not related to you by blood! That’s why I had to leave your house and stop being your slave! Everyone can see for themselves—do I look anything like you, Liu Fengying, or Mo Guoqiang?"
Liu Fengying stared at Xiao Man as if she were a stranger. "You... you... When? When did Mo Guoqiang and I ever say you were the wrong baby?"
"You two said it, don’t you remember your own words? Do you need a child to remind you? Liu Fengying, if you want someone to boss around, go find someone else. Stop bothering me! I have nothing to do with you anymore. If you provoke me again, I’ll start cursing you out! Don’t think you’re the only ones who know how to curse and cause a scene. I can do it too!"
