Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s

Chapter 25: Chapter 25 How Thick-Skinned

Chapter 25 -25 How Thick-Skinned

Mingtian was set to head into town tomorrow afternoon.

She had told her cousin early on that she would wear her new dress, and now that it was torn and unwearable, she still needed to get the compensation quickly so that her cousin wouldn’t scold her too harshly.

So, they went to the Chiang family’s home early in the morning.

In fact, people in the countryside get up early, and for Chiang Xiao to be sleeping at this time was quite unusual.

It was only about half past seven in the morning, but the diligent ones had already fetched water and gone to water the fields and returned.

Chiang Xiao didn’t want to waste too much time with the Ding family, so she didn’t hide and came straight out from behind the curtain.

As soon as she stepped out of the main hall, she saw what was happening in the courtyard. Despite being mentally prepared, Chiang Xiao couldn’t help the anger rising in her heart.

Guiying seemed well-prepared for this visit.

It wasn’t just her. Ding Dani, Ding Daqiang, and the whole line of “little radishes” from Ding Dani’s family were there. Ding Daqiang and Guiying were both under forty but had already given birth to five children, with Ding Dani, thirteen, the same age as Chiang Xiao.

Below her were four sisters, with the youngest, Ding Xiaoni, being only four years old.

In that era, male offspring were highly valued, and a family without a male heir was seen as lacking in future prospects. In the countryside especially, not being able to produce a son could make one feel inferior, as though unable to lift one’s head in the village.

So Ding Daqiang and Guiying kept having children, and hadn’t given up on the idea of having a son yet.

In rural families, the status of girls was truly low. Take for instance Ding Dani’s four sisters who cried and made noise all day at home. Although they weren’t deprived of food or warmth, the seven-year-old Ding Sini was already responsible for taking care of Xiao Ni, feeding chickens and pigs, and constantly being ordered about and sometimes beaten or scolded by Ding Daqiang.

It was strange, logically speaking, as the eldest at home, Ding Dani should be the one to do the most work and endure the most beatings and scoldings, but Ding Daqiang and Guiying, who favored sons over daughters, somehow spoiled and indulged her the most, scrimping and saving to send her to school.

Now the whole family had surged into their courtyard, and right after entering, Ding Sini was already leading Xiao Ni around, peeping into the chicken coop.

Ding Daqiang was carrying a hoe in his hand.

What was he planning to do?

Chiang Xiao’s gaze darkened.

In her previous life, at this time, she had been groggy and had not witnessed the commotion with her own eyes.

Chiang Songhai and Ge Liutao were already standing in the courtyard, purposefully blocking the entrance to the main hall to prevent Guiying from rushing in and starting another argument with Chiang Xiao.

Seeing their frail silhouettes, Chiang Xiao felt a warmth in her heart.

“Oh, look who’s up, the precious daughter of the Chiang family!” As soon as Guiying saw Chiang Xiao, she curled her lip, looking at her askance and said in a mocking tone.

Ding Dani was next to her, and when she saw Chiang Xiao looking over, she instinctively shrank behind Guiying.

Feeling guilty, are we?

Chiang Xiao sneered.

“Da Qiang, family of Da Qiang, what are you planning this early in the morning?” Chiang Songhai asked coldly. Ever since he learned that Ding Dani had pushed his Little into the creek, he didn’t want to be pleasant to these people.

Guiying nudged her husband in the lower back with her hand.

Ding Daqiang then stomped his hoe on the ground and said with a stern face, “Uncle Songhai, we’re here for the compensation. Da Ni’s mother already talked about it yesterday; you should have prepared it, right? I need to collect the money and then get back to work in the fields, so don’t waste time.”

Upon hearing this, Chiang Xiao really wanted to laugh.

How thick could their faces possibly be?

Before her grandfather could speak, Chiang Xiao asked, “We didn’t really settle on anything yesterday, so I’m curious to know how much compensation your family is seeking?”