Adored Koi in the ’70s

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Qiao Zhen Jun thought she was afraid of being scolded, so her face was suffocated like this.

He had the heart to lecture her a few words. After all, it was too dangerous for a child to go to the river alone to catch fish. But she looked at him with big deer-like eyes, misty and wet.

His heart softened. His temper suddenly disappeared: "Alright. Dad won't scold you this time. But you can't run to catch fish alone in the future, understand?"

Da Qiao felt wronged. She was a good girl. Nothing wrong done, but she couldn't explain.

Finally, under her father's piercing eyes, she poked her little fingers together and nodded: "I know."

As for the jade pendant hidden in her palm, she selfishly didn't want to tell anyone.

Since childhood, her clothes and shoes were Xiao Qiao's old ones. What's more, each were worn for a good few years. This was the first time she had such a beautiful thing. She didn't want to tell anyone as she was afraid of it getting snatched away.

Qiao Zhen Jun glanced at the fishes in the back basket and said, "We can't eat so many fish. You can bring some to your grandparents."

Da Qiao broke off the finger connection and said softly, "Give, grandmother and grandfather five days. Give Aunt Hui, three. The rest, for Dad to eat."

Qiao Zhen Jun originally wanted her to send a few to her grandmother's house. But seeing her obviously plumper face, his mouth opened several times. He still couldn't speak.

Da Qiao didn't know of her father's entanglement. She didn't intentionally not give it to her mother. She really forgot about her existence.

Back when her mother left, she was indeed worried. She was afraid that her mother would divorce her father, and even more afraid that she would be kicked out of the house. Gradually, she realized the benefits.

These days, no one scolded her. No one disliked her. She can eat and sleep enough every day. Simple wonderful!

Da Qiao didn't understand why her mother didn't care for her. Still, even weak and small animals knew how to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. After experiencing the sweetness, she chose to forget her mother.

She separated seven fishes and poured them into a wooden basin to raise them. Then she headed towards old Qiao's house with the basket on her back.

When Da Qiao made way to old Qiao's house, another person was also heading to old Qiao's house.

Qiao Hong Xia held a basket in one hand and a three or four-year-old boy with the other hand. Her feet were like wind.

The little boy was thin and small. His skin was a bit strangely white. In order to keep up with his mother's pace, he desperately swung his short legs. So tired that he panted. No crying at all. So well-behaved that made people feel distressed.

When they entered Qili Village, the villagers saw them and greeted them with a smile: "Hong Xia, coming back to your maternal home again?"

Qiao Hong Xia smiled and nodded: "Bring my child back to see my second brother."

"You siblings have a very good relationship. What did you bring back? Let me see!" A woman gathered around and reached out and lifted the cloth covering the basket without consent.

Qiao Hong Xia couldn't dodge. The cloth was lifted, revealing the eggs and a small packet of brown sugar inside.

The woman's eyes flashed and she shouted: "Oh, so many eggs. Your mother-in-law is willing to let you bring so many eggs back to your maternal home?"

Qiao Xiu Zhi had two daughters. Third oldest, Qiao Hong Xia and fourth oldest, Qiao Hong Mei. One of the sisters married to Zhao family from the neighboring production team. The other married into the town.

Qiao Hong Xia's husband, Zhao Jie Fang was an honest and down-to-earth man. However his mother, Xiao Cui Hua was a well-known iron fighting cock. She was usually stingy and mean to her daughter-in-laws. If things enter the door of Zhao's house, don't even think about taking them out.

Most importantly was that Xiao Cui Hua disliked this third daughter-in-law, Qiao Hong Xia. So when people saw her come back with so many eggs, their expressed intrigue.

Qiao Hong Xia calmly put the cloth back in place: "It's getting late. I have to go there quickly. I got housework at home to do later!"

After speaking, she pulled her child away.

Everyone stared at her basket of eggs. Feeling envious.

"Hong Xia still has a conscience. After old Second Qiao become paralyzed for a month, she has come back a few times. Unlike Hong Mei, who never came back once!"

"Hong Mei has no heart since she was a child. Inherent white-eyed wolf. Her man is a master chef of the town's state-run restaurant. She has such a good life. Did she help her maternal family?"

"Come to think of it, it's strange. Everyone in Qiao Family is tall and slender, only Hong Mei is short. Not good-looking. Really don't know who she looks like?"

Qiao Hong Xia didn't know that her arrival aroused everyone's heated discussion and implicated Fourth Sister.

She ran into Da Qiao was speed walking to old Qiao's house's entrance and curiously said: "Da Qiao, why are you here?"

Da Qiao looked up and saw the incoming person. Her eyes were immediately curved into two small crescents: "Third Aunt, Brother Yi Ming!"

Zhao Yi Ming's small eyes lit up. He let go of his mother's hand and ran to her with a 'dongdongdong': "Elder Sister Nian Nian!"

Da Qiao's proper name was Qiao Nian Nian, but everyone in the family and the village called her Da Qiao. Only this little cousin, Zhao Yi Ming would call her Elder Sister Nian Nian.

Zhao Yi Ming's small hand tightly grasped his young elder cousin's hand. The thin and short body was leaning against her. The look of dependence made people feel soft when they saw it.

Da Qiao liked this little cousin very much. He was obedient and cute. He would do whatever he was told.

Qiao Hong Xia looked at the two people holding hands like a close sibling, her eyes soured.

Yi Ming was originally a healthy and smart child. A year ago, she went to the town to take care of her youngest sister-in-law during her post-natal confinement. Yi Ming stayed at home under her mother-in-law's care.

Unexpectedly, less than two days after she left home, Yi Ming fell into the water and developed a high fever that night. Her mother-in-law didn't take the child to the doctor to save money. If she hadn't come home temporarily, the child would have died!

She was trembling with anger and immediately sent her child to the town hospital. In the end, the child's life was saved, but his brain was burned silly.

Yi Ming's reaction was slower than that of ordinary children. He can't remember things and people. No one in the family can be remembered except her. Even his dad was forgotten. Just a turn of a head, he forgot the other party. However, he happened to remember Da Qiao. He had only met his cousin a few times.

Da Qiao really doted Yi Ming. She never disdained his slow response, nor did she dislike his timid character. Compared with the demon, monster and ghost at homey, this was true family!

Qiao Hong Xia looked at Da Qiao and suddenly noticed that her face was much rosier compared to the last time she came here. Her little face had become fleshy. She couldn't help being curious.

Just when she was about to ask, Qiao Xiu Zhi walked out: "Why are you here together?"

Qiao Hong Xia greeted her mother: "I came to see Second Brother."

In her maternal family, she and her second brother had the best relationship. When she was a child, she was bullied outside. It was Second Brother who stood up for her. If there was anything delicious, Second Brother would hide it and give her a portion. Because of this, Fourth Sister was jealous of her.

"What about you, little one?" Qiao Xiu Zhi's gaze fell on Da Qiao.

Da Qiao revealed her teeth and smiled sweetly: "Send the fishes."

As she spoke, she put down the back basket and pushed aside the dead grass that was scattered on top. The plump fishes below were revealed. It successfully surprised both her grandmother and third aunt.

"Where did this many fishes come from?" Qiao Xiu Zhi and Qiao Hong Xia said in unison.

Da Qiao flushed like when her dad asked her. After being held back for a long time, only two words were uttered: "Caught it."

Qiao Xiu Zhi found it even more strange.

There was a stream and a river in Qili Village, but they weren't very deep. Now in the cold winter, how can so many fishes be caught?

She asked for a long time, but Da Qiao couldn't say anything. Her little face blushed so much like it was close to bleeding.

Like Qiao Zhen Jun, she had the heart to lecture but she was defeated by her wet eyes in the end. Only reminded her to bot catch fish by herself in the future.

Qiao Hong Xia was stunned from this scene. Except toward her dad, when did her mother speak in such a gentle like a drizzle manner?

Da Qiao couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her grandmother didn't scold her. She took the five fish out of the basket.

Qiao Xiu Zhi didn't act reserved and accepted the fish. She gave two of them to Qiao Hong Xia: "Take it back later and give your child a good nourishing."

This word happened to be heard by Wan Chun Ju, who had just walked out. It dug up her flesh. But in front of her mother-in-law, she didn't dare to say anything.

Her eyes flashed, and she landed on the basket in Qiao Hong Xia's hands and said, "Is the basket filled with eggs? Third Sister, give me the basket. I'll take it in."

Qiao Hong Xia frowned: "I'm going to bring the egg over to nourish my second brother."

Wan Chun Ju cried like a hen: "Give it all to old Second? How can he eat so many eggs alone? Third Sister, it's not Sister-in-law wanting to tell you off. You know that Dad isn't in good health and bringing so many eggs back, you're not leaving half of them to Dad. You are so unfilial!

Qiao Hong Xia's face suddenly sank: "I brought the eggs. I give it to whomever I want. Mom and Dad didn't say anything about me? Is there any need for you to be speak here?"

Qiao Hong Xia inherited her mother's temper. Blue from indigo plant was deeper than its origin. No matter who it is, as long as she is unhappy, she will make her unhappy!

Wan Chun Ju was scolded until she lost face. Her face was flushed. She was not reluctant to part from so many eggs: "It is really a dog biting Lu Dong Bin. Dont understand peoples goodness. I am doing it for your own good!"

Qiao Hong Xia didn't give any face: "Thanks. Please don't do it for my own good, I don't need it."

Wan Chun Ju gritted her teeth with anger. Her face turned red and white.

Qiao Xiu Zhi glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law. Her face full of disdain.

For Hong Xia's own good? Did she think that everyone was as stupid as her?

Da Qiao placed the withered grass back in place and put the back basket back on her back. She said softly: "Grandmother, Third Aunt, I'm going, to send fish, to Aunt Hui."

Wan Chun Ju's eyes popped out and she exploded like a cat with its tail stomped on: "Da Qiao, give me the fish. Why you give such good fish to an outsider. This kind of thing can only be done by an idiot like you!"

Two fish were given away. Didn't get a single egg. Now she want to give the fishes to an outsider?

No matter what was said, it was unreasonable!

As she spoke, she took action and aimed to grab Da Qiao's back basket, but was slapped by Qiao Xiu Zhi.

"Bang" crisply sounded!

Qiao Xiu Zhi's slap didn't have much force. The back of Wan Chun Ju's hand instantly became red and swollen. It throbbed with pain. Her tears came down.

"Mom!"

The scream of Wan Chun Ju echoed over the yard. The old hen next to her flew away in fright.

"How can you treat me like this, Mom?"

She glanced at her mother-in-law with pitiful, helpless and weak eyes. Then she covered her face and ran back to the house with small steps.

Qiao Xiu Zhi:...

Qiao Hong Xia:?

The mother and daughter were dumbfounded.

The expressions were hard to describe.

If Xiao Qiao was here, she would know what was wrong with Wan Chun Ju.

Wan Chun Ju was diagnosed with split personality only more than ten years later. There were two kinds of personality hidden in her body; a small minded shrew and a bitter, crybaby little wife. That was why people often found her behavior perplexing.

"What mind-wrecking things?"

Three daughter-in-laws, none of them were normal!

Qiao Xiu Zhi took the fish into the kitchen while complaining. Then she went to see Qiao Zhen Jun with her daughter.

Wan Chun Ju sobbed her way back to her room. Internally, she hoped that someone would come to comfort her. After waiting for a long time, she didn't see a single figure. She immediately switched to the shrewd personality and went out to tell her grievances.

In winter, few families cooked at noon. The women were so idle, they began to become moldy. They can't live, if their mouth doesn't gossip.

Walking to the end of a wall, Wan Chun Ju heard several women talking in low voices.

"Have you heard about Lin Hui fancying old Second Qiao?"

"I heard. I really couldn't tell that she is like that! She usually looks like a chaste woman, I didn't expect her to be flirty inside. Tsk, Tsk..."

Suddenly, Wan Chun Ju slapped her thigh. At once, she felt that she had discovered the truth.

She was saying, why Da Qiao would give such a plump fish to Lin Hui. It turned out to be Qiao Zhen Jun's order!

She immediately joined the gossip and told everyone that Qiao Zhen Jun got Da Qiao to give Lin Hui three fatty fish. Three!

Originally, some people didn't believe the rumor very much. But now they heard Wan Chun Ju's well presented speech, they couldn't help but believe it. After returning home, they told other people the news.

Soon, there were spring rumors about Lin Hui and old Second Qiao everywhere in the village. The news soon reached Fang Family.

Fang Family was shocked!

Fang Family was furious!

Fang Family was going to make trouble!

Their old Fang family was old Qiao Family's in-laws. They couldn't get a single fish. Instead, they gave all the fish to a vixen. It was totally unreasonable!

There was also the guy, Qiao Zhen Jun, who usually act like a stump. Unexpectedly, he was sly baddie. He actually got together with the widow, Lin Hui!

Fang Fu Gui slammed his hand on the table with a brusque expression: "Little sister. Elder Brother will accompany you back to seek for justice. Bullying Fang Fu Gui's sister is looking down on me, Fang Fu Gui!"