Chapter 23: Chapter 23: The Daughter''s Return

    On the night of Chinese New Year''s Eve, an inexplicable cry came from outside the house.

    Yue Jiannan held his chopsticks without daring to move, his arms covered with goosebumps.

    Mom, the more he thought about it, the more unsettling it felt.

    Lin Chunju glanced at Yue Qingqing, who was being held by Zhang Ying, making sure her granddaughter was fine before boldly speaking up.

    "I''ll go open the door and see what''s going on."

    Yue Jiandong stood up first, "Mom, I''ll go."@@@@

    The door opened, and the dry, cold wind from outside whooshed into the room, as a young woman with swollen eyes stood outside.

    "Brother!"

    Like finding her mainstay, the woman stumbled into the house.

    Yue Jiandong hurried to catch her, "Xiaofang, you... why have you come home on New Year''s Eve."

    Lin Chunju abruptly stood up.

    The visitor was none other than her daughter, who had already been married off.

    Yue Jianxi quickly went to close the door; Yue Jiannan rushed over and used his sleeve to wipe away Yue Xiaofang''s tears.

    "Sister, what happened? Did you come back alone?"

    As soon as this was said, Yue Xiaofang''s tears threatened to fall again.

    But she lifted her head, clumsily wiping her cheeks dry with the back of her hand.

    "Alright, food is the most important thing during the New Year, and it''s good that Xiaofang came back for it; let''s all enjoy a good family gathering."

    Lin Chunju ladled some dumplings into her daughter''s bowl.

    The Yue family tried to eat as merrily as if nothing had happened, with Yue Jiannan cracking jokes on the side and occasionally making everyone laugh.

    Yue Jianxi gloomily offered food to his sister.

    Yue Xiaofang remarked in surprise, "Home seems much more abundant this New Year than before."

    Yue Jiandong laughed, "We were lucky to get paid for a digging job a few months back, organized by the village."

    Yue Xiaofang gasped in alarm, "I heard that the digging collapsed halfway through, brother, you weren''t hurt, were you?"

    The family hastily reassured her, explaining everything that had happened.

    Only then did Yue Xiaofang relax, repeatedly expressing relief, "Thank goodness, it''s good that Qingqing is such a lucky star."

    Seeing her daughter begin to relax, Lin Chunju gave her eldest son a look.

    Yue Jiandong understood, "Sister, let me pour you a glass of water."

    He picked up the bowl of water from the table and, as though accidentally, splashed some out onto his sleeve.

    "Such a big person and still so clumsy."

    Lin Chunju feigned scolding, rolling up her daughter''s sleeve to wipe it.

    Yue Xiaofang wanted to stop her but was too late. As the sleeve was pushed higher, it revealed a mass of densely packed bruises, some old and faded, others clearly new.

    A single glance was enough to send shivers down one''s spine.