Chapter 8

When this matter came out, American Cloud's days were probably not easy either. We'd better not make things difficult for her if we can help it. There are also Dalin and Ermei, those two children to consider. We have to leave ourselves a way out and can't put the whole family at stake, right?"

Gao Dazhuang said, glancing around, then looking at Li Xiu: "Wife, we've lived this life, scheming time and again, just for the sake of the children, right?"

Li Xiu shivered looking into his eyes. Her endless prattle also stopped for a moment as she fell silent.

After decades together, they understood each other well enough.

"You're right. It's all for the children. Let's not beat around the bush about what you're thinking. Just say it directly," Li Xiu said. Somewhat dispirited, she sat down on the doorsill.

Gao Dazhuang didn't have the heart to say it plainly, but still he said: "The only thing to blame is that you and American Cloud look too much alike. That wretched girl also looks just like her birth mother. Anyone with eyes can see it, and we can't deny it. Things being what they are, we can only own up to it. Otherwise if they really get to the bottom of it, I'm afraid our whole family will..."

Gao Dazhuang didn't have the heart to finish that sentence, but his meaning was obvious.

The two of them, husband and wife, had to have one person take the blame. Gao Dazhuang was the pillar of the family so it could only be Li Xiu who would own up to it.

Li Xiu was silent for a long time before Gao Dazhuang calmly waited for her response. Until the sound of an iron bucket being struck could be heard in the distance, along with those muffled shouts, did Li Xiu find her voice again, stammering: "For the children, I'll take the blame. But you have to promise me that from now on you won't go looking for other women anymore. You can't wrong Dalin and Ermei, and our family's assets have to be left to Dalin."

Gao Dalin and Gao Ermei were their eldest son and second daughter, the children Li Xiu treasured most.

Although she was most proud of An American Cloud in her heart, after all she wasn't a child raised by her side. Compared to affection, she of course could not compare to these two children.

Otherwise, her first reaction would not have been to go to An American Cloud for help. If it were Gao Dalin and Gao Ermei, she probably would have only thought of a way for them to get off free.

Hearing Li Xiu's demands, Gao Dazhuang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You're really worrying over nothing. I'm already so old, a man already in his forties. What do I want another woman for? And Dalin, he's my Gao Dazhuang's only son. Who else could I leave our family assets to other than him?"

"I believe you," Li Xiu sighed, but in her heart she understood that men's words were the most unreliable thing in the world.

There was another saying: Once there's a new wife, there's a new father.

Gao Dazhuang made himself sound old, but he was still only in his early forties. For now she could keep him in line, but once she was gone, who knew if he would be seduced away by some young widow!

By then, with just a whisper in his ear, how could he still remember her, the old yellow-faced woman who had given him children and taken the blame for him?

But now, for the children, she had no choice but to own up to it.

When An ZhiAng led An ZhiXia and the group of people behind him to the Gao family, the Gao family's front gate was shut tight, surrounded by a circle of people. Some were even climbing the wall to get a better view.

Perhaps they also held a grudge against the Gao family. The opportunistic fellow peeking over the wall called out when he saw An ZhiXia and the others: "You all are the ones here to the Gao family for revenge, right? That bastard Gao Dazhuang is beating his wife in the courtyard!"

An ZhiAng and An ZhiXia exchanged a glance, suddenly unclear about the situation.

But in an instant, An ZhiXia understood the key point. "Brother, they must have already agreed to have one person take the blame so the rest can get off free."

An ZhiAng was no fool either, and suddenly regretted making such a big fuss just now. On the contrary, it had given them a chance to coordinate their response. "Nevermind, we'll sort it out after beating them up first."

An ZhiAng gave Zhou Jianye a few instructions, then kicked open the Gao family's front gate.

Zhou Jianye already understood and didn't give Gao Dazhuang a chance to argue. He shouted as he charged inside: "Brothers, beat this shameless bastard to death! Let's see if his rotten family dares to do shameful things again after this..."

Before Gao Dazhuang could react, the hoe in Zhou Jianye's hand had already struck his knee with a loud bang, making the onlookers on the wall shudder involuntarily.

"Murder! Help!"

Seeing the situation, Li Xiu screamed even more shrilly than when she had been beaten herself.

But she didn't run away either. She was struck by those behind her and scrambled around wildly until she fell to the ground with painful moans.

The others showed no mercy, rushing into the kitchen and main room. Sounds of smashing and banging followed as bowls were broken, cabinets smashed, clothes and quilts torn and strewn across the floor. Even the curtains hanging from the ceiling beams were ripped down.

After a chaotic rampage of smashing and banging, An ZhiAng watched the entire time without laying a hand himself. Yet he didn't give Gao Dazhuang and Li Xiu a moment's respite.

Seeing that the two had been beaten enough, An ZhiAng shouted for the others to stop. Carrying the food they had taken from the Gao home, they left, while those with a keen eye ran to the chicken coops to catch chickens. Even the half-grown fat pig in the pigpen wasn't spared.

An ZhiAng and An ZhiXia brought up the rear as they left, shouting: "You Gao family sure know how to scheme, switching your own daughter for my little sister in the An family to raise her in comfort for 18 years, while my sister suffered untold hardships in your home. Consider the things we're taking today as payment for the food you owe our family after so many years of raising your daughter. Although it's far from enough, I hope you can conduct yourselves properly from now on under the Great Leader's guidance and be good people. Don't be black-hearted monsters anymore."

These seemingly well-meaning words even provided a plausible justification for taking their things. It left the Gao couple unable to refute them at all.

Let alone Gao Dazhuang and Li Xiu whose bodies were covered in injuries from the beating and didn't have a single unharmed place. Blood bubbled from their mouths so they couldn't even speak a word. It wasn't until An ZhiAng and An ZhiXia left that Gao Dazhuang had a chance to defend himself at all. Naturally, there was no question of one person taking the blame.

The crowd ahead marched mightily, herding a half-grown fat pig, others carrying chickens and ducks, hauling grain. Clearly stolen goods, yet it made An ZhiXia laugh with delight.

She didn't think there was anything wrong about it. When she had been at the Gao family, the Gao couple didn't allow her to go out, yet there was no shortage of work around the house for her - washing, cooking, feeding chickens and pigs. It could be said the chickens, ducks and pigs were all tended by her alone. The slightest mistake would result in her being beaten and scolded.