Chapter 235: Disown
Editor: Atlas Studios
Madam Fang-Liu was stunned. She did not expect Mu Yangling to be so direct.
Liu Daqian’s eyebrows twitched. He immediately went forward and said, “Third Sister, you’re not allowed to fool around anymore. Ah Ling sent the roe deer over because Ah Ting’s family went over and helped her for a few days…” It could be considered an explanation for Mu Yangling.
However, Mu Yangling said seriously, “This is only part of the reason. Great-aunt doesn’t know yet, right? My family is building a new house, so during this period of time, Uncle Ting brought the Liu clan’s uncles and cousins over to help me. He even personally went to the city to buy the needed stones, bricks, and wood. For the construction of my family’s house, they delayed many of their own matters. Aunt also brought Cousin Lang and Cousin Lun over to help me plow the land. I thought that they rarely got to eat meat during this period of time, so I took the time to go into the mountains and hunt a roe deer for them.”
“As for giving them all kinds of wild animals in the past, that’s because they’re my great-uncles and uncles. Our Mu family only has a few relatives in Xingzhou Prefecture, the Liu clan and the Ma clan. Of course, we have to interact with them more often.” Mu Yangling turned to smile at Liu Daqian and said, “My mother said that only by visiting each other from time to time we become closer. Otherwise, after a few years of not seeing each other, our relationship will fade in spite of the blood ties.”
The surrounding people nodded and said, “There’s a saying that distant relatives can’t compare to close neighbors. Don’t relatives have to visit each other from time to time to be close?”
Mu Yangling continued, “If Great-uncle and the others treat us well, we’ll naturally treat them well. As for you, to be honest, if not for the fact that I see you at Great-uncle’s house every New Year, I probably wouldn’t know that you’re my great-aunt.”
When everyone heard this, they looked at Madam Fang-Liu in surprise, shocked that they were so distant from each other despite living in the same village. It seemed that their relationship was really bad.
Mu Yangling said so much because she wanted to completely break off ties with this third great-aunt. She was not afraid of threats from Madam Fang-Liu. Life was sometimes boring. With her spicing things up, she would just treat it as watching a joke from time to time. However, this problem would become a source of disaster if it was left to fester. She did not want her relationship with the Liu clan to be affected because of this.
Therefore, Mu Yangling slowly explained, “My father only told me that we have an eldest Great-aunt who lives in the neighboring West Mountain Village, who’s been good to my grandmother since she was young. She even said that my grandmother and great-uncles were all raised by Eldest Great-aunt. She asked me to help Eldest Great-aunt if I had the ability in the future. My mother only asked me to hang out with my cousins from my great-uncles’ families. She never mentioned to me that I have a third great-aunt in the village.”
Mu Yangling looked at Madam Fang-Liu, who had an ugly expression on her face, and continued, “Third Great-aunt, my grandmother is your elder sister. Every year during the Qingming Festival, Great-uncle and the others will pay their respects to my grandparents. Many families in the village will even offer incense to them. I’ve remembered it in my heart, but I’ve never seen you or your sons offer incense to my grandparents. It was only later when I accidentally heard someone say that my great-grandparents gave birth to three daughters and two sons that I realized that you and my grandmother are biological sisters.”
“In the past, when I was in Nearhill Village, my family was weak. Whenever something happened, my two great-uncles and four uncles would come to help. However, I’ve never seen Third Great-aunt ask about us, let alone see your sons visit. I’m young and don’t know much, so I really don’t treat you as my great-aunt. To me, you’re just an elder in the village.”
Madam Fang-Liu pointed at Mu Yangling and only managed after a while, “What poor upbringing…”
Xiuhong stood up and spat at her. “Do you have a proper family upbringing then? My grandmother said that she didn’t expect to raise an ingrate.”
So angry that she rolled her eyes, Madam Fang-Liu jumped up and was about to hit her. “You uneducated thing. Did your grandmother teach you to talk to your great-aunt in this manner?”
Mu Yangling grabbed her hand and said calmly, “Actually, what Eldest Great-aunt said back then wasn’t entirely right. My father had already told me about what happened back then. I thought you knew very well why my grandparents didn’t acknowledge you as their relative.”
Liu Daqian’s expression had already changed drastically when Xiuhong spoke. At this moment, he couldn’t care less. He went forward and pulled the two children behind him. He shouted at Madam Fang-Liu, “Don’t you think it’s ugly? Go back!”
Madam Fang-Liu cried, “Big Brother, they’re all bullying me. Why don’t you speak up for me? Am I still your sister?”
“Third Great-aunt, I sent food to my great-uncle’s family because my heart aches for my cousins. It’s also because when my brother was born back then, my family was in trouble and couldn’t pay taxes. It was Eldest Great-uncle and Second Great-uncle who took out their own grains to help my father survive that disaster, despite having a hard time themselves. Then, they even set aside their pride to borrow fine rice to grind into rice paste for my brother to eat. I came over to help my great-uncles with the farm work because whenever something happened to my family, my uncles and aunts would also go over to help.” Mu Yangling looked straight at Madam Fang-Liu and said, “If you and your sons can be like my great-uncles and their sons, I will naturally treat you like how I treat them.”
Xiuhong continued, “It’s a pity that it’s too late. Now that you’re here, everyone knows what’s going on. Back then, you were raised by my grandmother. In the end, when my family was in trouble, you didn’t even bother to ask about us. When my family moved to Cousin’s house, you didn’t dare to show your face even though we were clearly in the same village. My cousin doesn’t acknowledge you as her great-aunt, so I won’t acknowledge you either. Great-uncle, let’s put it this way. From now on, we’ll only acknowledge you as our relatives. We don’t have the fortune of being relatives with the Fang family.”
Mu Yangling nodded. “That’s right.”
Liu Erqian pulled Liu Daqian back and said, “Big Brother, this is a matter between the Ma family, the Mu family, and the Fang family. Don’t interfere.”
Liu Daqian sighed and did not say anything. He gave Madam Liu-Zhao a look.
Madam Liu-Zhao quickly went forward to support the dejected Madam Fang-Liu and whispered, “Aunt, I’ll send you back…”
Coming back to her senses, Madam Fang-Liu pushed Madam Liu-Zhao away and ran away.
Mu Yangling supported Madam Liu-Zhao. “Aunt, are you alright?”
Madam Liu-Zhao took a deep breath and smiled. “I’m fine. Your third great-aunt is quite strong.”
Seeing that her face was a little pale, Mu Yangling asked worriedly, “But why do you look so pale?” Mu Yangling reached out to touch her forehead. She could sense that her forehead was cold, and cold sweat was breaking out on her forehead.
Mu Yangling felt that something was wrong, so she said to Eldest Great-uncle, “Eldest Great-uncle, Aunt Ting is not right. We have to get a doctor to take a look at her. Aunt, where did Third Great-aunt push you?”
Madam Liu-Zhao pointed at her chest and stomach and said, “Here and here.”
Second Great-aunt Liu quickly went forward to support her. After pondering for a moment, she leaned close to her ear and asked, “Is your period on time?”
Madam Liu-Zhao looked at her in a daze. Second Great-aunt Liu immediately knew the answer and couldn’t help but say anxiously, “Ah Ling, I’m afraid your Aunt Ting is pregnant. Hurry up and carry her back.” She scolded, “Darned her. Of all places, she had to push your stomach…”
Stunned, Mu Yangling immediately picked Madam Liu-Zhao up and ran home.