CHAPTER 234: CHAPTER 234: BE MORE CONSIDERATE

As Yu Xiaolian and the group approached, she asked Sun Manbo, "Third Brother, why aren’t Dongxue and Qiuxue riding in the carriage? They’re so young."

When leaving Weicheng, Yu Xiaolian had mentioned that children under ten could ride in the carriage and didn’t need to walk.

Upon departure, she had specifically checked and found there were fourteen children under ten, including those who were exactly ten.

The older ones all tried to squeeze into the carriage by all means, yet these two little ones were walking?

Sun Manbo felt embarrassed when questioned by Yu Xiaolian. Among so many brothers, his family didn’t have a son, only two money-losing girls. He couldn’t bear to let those money-losing girls ride such a fine carriage; they weren’t destined for such luxury.

"Xiaolian, I saw the carriage already packed with people, so I didn’t let them on.

They’re not tired. It’s only been a few hours, and besides, we just rested after lunch.

You’d better go back to the carriage; they’re waiting for you ahead!"

A few hours?

Yu Xiaolian was shocked. From what Sun Manbo said, Sun Dongxue and Sun Qiuxue weren’t just walking since the afternoon; they started in the morning.

Yu Xiaolian was both angry and heartbroken. How could there be such parents?

Before departure, Sun Sillin’s wife even asked Yu Xiaolian if there was space in the carriage for her daughter, Manxi, to ride too. Sun Manxi was already fourteen. Their parents cared for their daughter, but why didn’t Sun Manbo and his wife?

This is really heartless!

Yu Xiaolian reached out to call the two little ones, "Dongxue, Qiuxue, come to Auntie, Auntie will take you to the carriage."

"They don’t need to ride the carriage; they’re not tired," Sun Manbo’s wife said quietly, pulling back the delighted little daughter running towards Yu Xiaolian.

As she spoke, her eyes nervously glanced over at Sun Dalin’s wife nearby.

"Mom, Qiuxue is tired, Qiuxue wants to ride in the carriage."

Sun Qiuxue shook Sun Manbo’s wife’s arm and looked up, saying, "Mom, if it weren’t for Uncle Mancang carrying me for a stretch this morning... waah..."

Before Sun Qiuxue could finish, Sun Manbo’s wife covered her mouth.

Yu Xiaolian frowned, "Third Sister-in-law, why are you covering her mouth? Let go of her!"

Sun Qiuxue stepped forward and shouted loudly, "Aunt Xiaolian, the truth is grandmother doesn’t let us ride in the carriage. She says we’re money-losing girls, not worthy of the ride.

Dad also said that since grandma, the elder, is walking, we definitely can’t ride the carriage.

Grandma doesn’t like Mom because she only gave birth to girls and extends that dislike to us."

As soon as Sun Qiuxue finished, Sun Manbo slapped her hard across the face, knocking her to the ground.

"What nonsense are you talking about, you brat? You dare say such nonsense.

Your grandma doesn’t dislike girls! Doesn’t your uncle’s family have two girls too, and didn’t your grandma let them ride in the carriage?"

Covering her face, Sun Qiuxue glared fiercely at Sun Manbo, "That’s because Aunt is grandma’s niece, otherwise do you think Aunt wouldn’t be harassed for having two girls?"

"Hey, you still dare to talk back..." Sun Manbo raised his hand to hit Sun Qiuxue again but was blocked by twelve-year-old Sun Mancang.

"Manbo Brother, stop hitting her. Qiuxue is already covered in bruises, the ones from last time haven’t healed yet!"

"Get out of the way!" Sun Manbo shoved Sun Mancang. "I’m disciplining my daughter, what’s it to you?"

"You can’t just hit the kids!" Sun Mancang stood his ground.

Yu Xiaolian seized the opportunity to help Sun Qiuxue up and pulled her behind her.

To be honest, Sun Dalin’s wife always seemed simple-minded. Who would’ve thought she’s capable of tormenting her daughter-in-law and grandchildren?

If someone said Sun Daji’s wife was unreasonable and fierce, Yu Xiaolian could believe it.

But to say that about Sun Dalin’s wife, Yu Xiaolian was baffled. She was a short, dark-skinned, skinny woman.

She spoke slowly and softly, with no sign of being formidable.

Ah, you truly can’t judge a book by its cover!

It’s true what they say, some are wolves in sheep’s clothing, quietly scheming.

And Sun Manbo’s wife clearly feared her mother-in-law greatly, not just a little but a lot.

Even without any beatings or scoldings, just a single look from Sun Dalin’s wife was enough to make Sun Manbo’s wife tremble.

To have a daughter-in-law tormented like this, one can only imagine what kind of life Sun Manbo’s wife has led all these years.

The convoy had been stalled for a long time, and arguments broke out behind, leading both Sun Fourth Grandpa and Sun Fifth Grandpa to step out of their carriages.

Sun Fourth Grandpa asked Yu Xiaolian, "What’s going on? Why aren’t we moving?"

Yu Xiaolian started to complain, "Fourth Grandpa, you came at the right time. You need to discipline my third brother Manbo. He can’t just talk and hit the kids. I heard from Mancang Brother that he often hits the children too."

Sun Fourth Grandpa kicked Sun Manbo in the backside, intending to kick him a second time, but Sun Manbo dodged sideways, causing the kick to miss, and then Sun Fourth Grandpa lost his balance and fell over.

Sun Fourth Grandpa grumbled as he got up, chanting Sun Dalin’s name, "Dalin, are you going to deal with your son?

If you don’t, your family can stop following us."

As soon as Sun Dalin saw his father fall, he took out his tobacco pipe and struck Sun Manbo. "Your grandpa kicks you, and you dare dodge? Just try dodging another one..."

Sun Dalin thrashed Sun Manbo with the tobacco pipe, making him cry out.

"Go, stand in front of your grandpa, let him kick you all he wants. If you dare dodge again, you’re not my son."

Sun Manbo begrudgingly stood in front of Sun Fourth Grandpa, feeling indignant. What had he done? He only hit his eldest daughter once, what’s so terrible about that? A father can’t even discipline his own daughter?

Sun Fourth Grandpa picked up a cane from Sun Fourth Grandma and began beating Sun Manbo with it, deciding against kicking him.

When Sun Fourth Grandpa finally calmed down, he asked Sun Manbo why he kept hitting his children. "Why do you keep hitting the kids? Does your hand itch? If so, hit yourself."

Sun Manbo responded gruffly, "This child was speaking nonsense, saying bad things about her grandmother."

Sun Qiuxue shouted boldly, "I wasn’t talking nonsense. Grandma said anyone can ride the carriage, except the three of us."

Sun Manbo glared, "And you dare say so!"

Sun Fourth Grandpa struck Sun Manbo again with the cane, "What now? You won’t even let people speak?"

Sun Manbo remained silent, fearing more hits.

Sun Fourth Grandpa jabbed his oldest son with the cane, "Dalin, your father is seventy years old, and still managing your son. Could you be more mindful and properly discipline your son?

And your wife, why’s she still targeting Manbo’s wife? She was like this in the village, and now we’re fleeing from disaster, can you ease my burden? Do you want me to die en route? Are you trying to provoke me to death?"

Sun Dalin quickly replied, "Father, please don’t be angry, I’ll handle it, definitely.

Doesn’t Xiaolian want Dongxue and Qiuxue to ride in the carriage? Let them sit, let them sit!"

Yu Xiaolian shouted at Sun Dalin, "Uncle Dalin, if Third Brother Manbo hits the children again, then let them fend for themselves, don’t follow us anymore.

Our group must be harmonious and loving, no one is allowed to bully others. If I find out someone’s bullying and mistreating their daughter-in-law, using their position as a mother-in-law as leverage, then sorry, you’re out, don’t follow us anymore.

If someone is so cruel-hearted, I wouldn’t even waste food to feed them."