The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 65: Furious to the Point of Vomiting Blood

As Xu Zhizhi listened to his design ideas, a vivid image formed in her mind: a small garden in the center of the courtyard house, with a rockery, flowing water, a pavilion, and a pond full of blooming lotus flowers…

The more Xu Zhizhi thought about it, the more excited she became. Lotus flowers in the Great Sheng Dynasty were also called “lotus,” and from Xiao Jingheng’s tone, it seemed he could get his hands on some.

She looked at Xiao Jingheng with admiration and said:

“Once the lotus pond is dug, you’ll be in charge of planting the lotus. The rockery, flowing water, and pavilion will all be your responsibility.”

Xiao Jingheng gazed at his little wife, her eyes curved into crescents, her smile radiant, and her voice soft yet filled with excitement. It was like a gentle breeze brushing past his heart, making it flutter~

His mood was better than ever, and he replied in a husky voice:

“Sure, I’ll take care of all the flowers in the garden, and I’ll build the rockery too.”

Xiao Jingheng was growing fond of this kind of life. The two of them discussed and planned their future together. At some point, they had started holding hands, pointing here and there with their free hands.

One was as radiant as the moon, the other as gentle as a spring breeze. The workers couldn’t help but glance over at the pair, who looked like gods descended from heaven…

Meanwhile, Third Aunt Xu dragged her youngest daughter home and immediately asked:

“When did you become like this? How dare you scheme against your aunt? Who gave you the courage?”

Xu Honghua replied confidently, “Didn’t you say that Uncle doesn’t care for her anymore and wants to divorce her?”

“What? What did you say?”

Third Aunt Xu was so angry that her internal organs seemed to ache!

She looked at this daughter, whom she had doted on since childhood, pouring all her love and effort into raising her.

She had always thought her daughter was gentle and kind, but now she suddenly realized that this little girl was cold and selfish…

Third Aunt Xu felt a mix of emotions!

She thought of Xu Zhizhi, the eldest daughter of the Xu family and the first grandchild. When her mother-in-law was alive, she had adored the girl like a precious gem. The little girl was as delicate and lovely as a porcelain doll.

Back then, her mother-in-law always said that Zhizhi looked like her, showing her special favor. Xu Dahu was only two months younger than Zhizhi, and everyone thought her mother-in-law would dote on the grandson.

But to everyone’s surprise, while her mother-in-law loved Dahu, it was nothing compared to her love for Zhizhi. Her father-in-law always followed her mother-in-law’s preferences.

Her father-in-law said that her mother-in-law was the daughter of a wealthy family, but she had lost her memory and ended up in their village.

Her mother-in-law was beautiful, and of the three Xu brothers, only Xu Dagen took after her. According to the villagers, he had looked like a doll from a New Year’s painting when he was young.

But as he grew up, the harsh rural life had worn away his original handsomeness.

Third Aunt Xu had never seen her eldest brother as a child and thought the villagers were exaggerating. Xu Daniu and Xiao Wu, raised by her sister-in-law, had become so thin they were almost unrecognizable.

But recently, seeing Xiao Wu’s appearance, she had to believe it. He really did look like a doll from a New Year’s painting.

Unfortunately, after her mother-in-law passed away, her father-in-law followed soon after.

Her sister-in-law had turned her daughter into a rough, wild child, tanned and skinny from hard labor, seemingly good for nothing…

The once beautiful eight-year-old girl, who had looked like a fairy, had been turned into a muddy monkey by her sister-in-law.

Third Aunt Xu secretly despised her sister-in-law and vowed to raise her own daughter the way her mother-in-law would have wanted.

Her eldest daughter was obedient and sensible, but the family still needed someone to do the work. Back then, when her mother-in-law was alive and the family hadn’t split up, she had assigned the chores to Second Brother’s daughter, Chunhua, and her own daughter, Lanhua.

After her parents-in-law passed away and the three brothers divided the family property, she decided that since her eldest daughter was already working in the fields, she might as well let her do all the work.

And so, her youngest daughter was spared from any farm work, and even household chores like cooking and feeding the chickens were gradually taken over by others.

She poured all her energy into raising this youngest daughter, hoping to cultivate her into an elegant and dignified woman, living a happy life like her mother-in-law.

Third Aunt Xu admired her mother-in-law more than anyone else. Her father-in-law had doted on her mother-in-law, obeying her every word.

Their three sons were capable and filial, and the family lived in harmony.

(In this remote, war-torn area, simply surviving without starving was considered an achievement.)

Third Aunt Xu’s lifelong goal was to become a woman like her mother-in-law, respected and loved by her children.

Her mother-in-law’s husband, sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law all obeyed her and treated her with reverence.

Third Aunt Xu hoped that by raising her youngest daughter to be outstanding, she would marry into a good family—not necessarily wealthy, but one where she would be cherished and live a comfortable life, just like her mother-in-law.

But now? How had things turned out like this? Xu Zhizhi, the eldest daughter of the Xu family, was becoming more and more like her mother-in-law, while her own daughter? At such a young age, she was already scheming and deceitful!

How could she face this?

Suppressing her anger, she patiently lectured:

“Do you know why you’ve had such a good life, able to learn embroidery and even read and write? It’s because your father earns money by working with your uncle! Do you know how much your father and Second Uncle respect your uncle?”

Xu Honghua stubbornly retorted, “That’s Uncle, not that stupid woman. Now that Uncle doesn’t care for her anymore, I’m going to step on her a few times!”

Third Aunt Xu, still relatively young, felt like she was having a heart attack!

“Is this what you’ve learned from studying? Have all the lessons your teacher taught you gone to the dogs? No wonder even Xiao Wu, a six-year-old, said I’ve been fooled by you! He said you’re vicious. Have you been bullying him behind my back?”

Xu Honghua said dismissively, “I only pinched him a few times. He’s so clever, always hiding from me. I haven’t even managed to pinch him much.”

“What? You… you’re going to be the death of me!”

Third Aunt Xu was so furious that stars danced before her eyes.

“You still refuse to repent, even now! And I’ve always been so proud of you, placing all my hopes on you!”

Xu Honghua, seeing her mother so angry, was puzzled. What was the big deal? She hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Mom, why are you so angry? I’ll soon make you proud. Once I steal that handsome man from my cousin, you’ll be able to show off all over the village…”

“Pfft—” Third Aunt Xu spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Mom, what’s wrong? Why are you vomiting blood out of nowhere?” Xu Lanhua rushed forward to support her mother.

She had hurriedly eaten lunch and brought food back for her mother and sister. As soon as she entered the room, she saw her mother spitting out a mouthful of blood.

“Honghua, go get Dad! Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Don’t call your father. I’m vomiting blood because of your sister!”

“Then we must tell Dad and call a doctor. What if something serious happens?”

Xu Lanhua understood. She had often been so angry with her sister that she tasted blood in her throat, but she had always suppressed it. For her mother to actually vomit blood, she must have been furious beyond words!

“I didn’t say anything wrong. How is this my fault?”

Third Aunt Xu closed her eyes, suppressing the metallic taste rising in her throat.

She truly loved this daughter to the core, which was why she had been driven to the point of vomiting blood. Most people, when angry, would vent their frustration by hitting someone.

But she couldn’t bring herself to hit her daughter, so she had internalized her anger, injuring herself in the process!

(End of Chapter)