No wonder the Xia family had been so gentle today... even their tantrums had stayed within bounds.

That brand-new, heavy-duty bicycle had stunned them into restraint.

They had always bullied Liu Fen and never cared whether Xia Xiaolan lived or died, simply because no one had stood up for the mother and daughter. Liu Yong had tried, once... but back then he was so poor his pockets jingled with nothing but air.

He had no authority, no confidence to speak hard words.

Now it was different.

He was willing to shield Xia Xiaolan and her mother, this time he had the means to do so. Faced with him, those difficult Xia women had no choice but to back down a little.

Old Madam Xia said nothing. Xia Dajun would be back in a couple of days.

Once he returned, Liu Fen would obediently beg for forgiveness. As for Xia Xiaolan? She could go wherever she pleased. A disgrace who’d ruined the family’s reputation, a worn-out shoe. If Liu Fen left with her, so much the better. A woman who couldn’t bear a son was useless anyway, just in time to find Xia Dajun a new wife.

The Xia family wasn’t wealthy, but hadn’t they produced a golden phoenix? With a college student in the family, who would worry about finding a new bride for Xia Dajun?

Having thought it through, Old Madam Xia no longer cared about the ragged clothes Xia Xiaolan was carrying out. Watching the three of them leave, she muttered coldly,

“Once you step out that door, don’t think about coming back.”

Only after Liu Yong, the living embodiment of death—had gone did the others dare to come out.

“Mom, you’re really just letting them leave like that?” asked the third son’s wife, already thinking about dragging Liu Fen back to work.

Old Madam Xia smugly explained her plan. Wang Jingui immediately chimed in with flattery.

“Then the new second sister-in-law better be capable!”

Zhang Cui, the eldest daughter-in-law, was displeased. Her daughter getting into college was her achievement. Did that mean she now had to manage the entire Xia family, even Xia Dajun’s remarriage?

Zhang Cui had little presence in the household, but she was the sharpest of the three sisters-in-law.

Liu Fen was like an old yellow ox—worked the hardest, received the least gratitude.

Wang Jingui was a firecracker—quick to ignite, but never hit the mark with her flattery.

With just a few words, Zhang Cui deftly changed the subject.

“I wonder if Ziyu has arrived at school yet. That child didn’t even send a telegram.”

“Telegrams cost money.” Old Madam Xia snapped.

“She’s saving. If the family weren’t so poor, we could’ve given her more spending money!”

The wrinkles between her brows were deep enough to trap flies.

Wang Jingui curled her lips inwardly. With all the family savings tucked away, and they still couldn’t spare telegram money?

Thinking of her precious granddaughter suffering in Beijing, Old Madam Xia felt increasingly uneasy. In the next breath, she made another decision.

“When the three brothers finish reinforcing the riverbank, send all their wages straight to Ziyu!”

Zhang Cui made a token attempt to refuse, but Old Madam Xia insisted. In the end, she accepted her mother-in-law’s kindness on her daughter’s behalf.

Same surname, different fates.

Xia Xiaolan had smashed her head and couldn’t even afford to go to the hospital—yet the Xia family’s money flowed freely for her cousin Xia Ziyu’s use.

Had Xia Xiaolan been there to hear this, she might have come to blows with Old Madam Xia on the spot.

The Xia family didn’t care about Xia Xiaolan.

But someone did.

At the very least, Liu Yong’s heart ached for her.

“How can anyone live in a place like this?” he said angrily.

“Xiaolan, you should’ve brought your mom to me last night!”

The Xia family was heartless beyond measure. If they hadn’t pushed her to the brink, Xia Xiaolan who had never been able to endure hardship would never have ended up living in this dilapidated shack by the river.

Liu Yong ground his teeth, his disgust for the Xia family reaching its peak.

“Hurry up, pack your things. You’re coming home with me.”

Liu Fen hesitated. “What about when Dajun comes back?”

Liu Yong was furious—furious at her weakness.

“If you want to protect Xia Dajun at every turn, I won’t stop you. He *is* your husband. But he’s also Xiaolan’s father. Has he ever fulfilled his responsibility as one? Even *I* have heard about what happened to Xiaolan. Is he deaf?”

He paced back and forth, seething.

Xia Xiaolan shook her head at her uncle, signaling him to stop.

Years of habit were hard to break. Liu Fen had already shown rare backbone by leaving the Xia household with her daughter.

“Uncle.”

Xia Xiaolan said softly, “I want to do a little business. Do you think it’s possible?”

As she packed, she explained her plan to resell eggs.

She genuinely felt her uncle was a rare clear-headed man. Open, practical, not shackled by ignorance or outdated thinking.

Liu Yong didn’t comment immediately. He pulled out a pack of Daqianmen, lit a cigarette, and smoked half of it before speaking.

“I’ll be honest with you. Wanting to earn money is a good thing—it shows you’ve grown up. But this business isn’t suitable.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t interrupt him.

In her previous life, she’d climbed to the position of senior executive not just because she worked hard, but because she never assumed she was smarter than everyone else.

The 1980s might be backward, but there were still plenty of sharp minds around.

Underestimating people would only lead to a hard fall.

“Go on.” she said calmly.

“I’m listening.”

Seeing her genuine maturity, Liu Yong grinned.

“If I’m wrong, don’t get mad. I’m just offering advice. The profit is small, the labor is heavy, and it might even bring trouble. Why not switch to something easier?”

Selling eggs meant early mornings and late nights.

Transport was troublesome. Buying eggs was troublesome. Eggs were fragile and didn’t store well. What if they didn’t sell right away?

And Xia Xiaolan’s face was… too eye-catching.

Liu Yong didn’t feel comfortable letting her travel village to village collecting eggs. This kind of backbreaking work suited men, not a young girl... especially not one this beautiful.

She had thought of all this already.

After the initial excitement, she’d realized how much trouble this face could bring.

True beauty rarely survives poverty. In the old days, a stunning girl from a poor household would be offered up to the powerful. Only wealthy families, with gates and guards, could keep such beauty safe.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t have that luxury.

All she could do was buy a pair of scissors for self-defense.

Liu Yong was speaking plain truth. Xia Xiaolan smiled bitterly.

“My capital is limited. This egg business is the only way I can feed myself and my mother for now. I didn’t bring her out of the Xia household just to let her starve or live in fear.”

“Other people give birth to golden phoenixes. Did my mother give birth to a debt collector instead?”

“I’ll make sure she lives well one day… Uncle, I used to be so immature. I made you all worry.”

Liu Yong felt his nose sting.

Liu Fen broke down immediately, crying as she protested,

“Who says you’re a debt collector? It doesn’t matter how Mom lives! As long as you live well!”

The three of them were on the verge of embracing and crying together.

Taking advantage of the moment, Xia Xiaolan laid bare her heart—letting her loved ones know she truly intended to turn over a new leaf and start again .

Seeing her resolve, Liu Yong finally stopped opposing her.

“If you’re set on doing this, you’ll need at least several dozen yuan to start. How much are you short? Uncle will make it up for you.”

How much was she short?

Xia Xiaolan had six yuan to her name.

For once, President Xia felt genuinely embarrassed.

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I might just do the same on Chinese New Year!

Comment: Mass Update for Chinese New Year!

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