CHAPTER 152: CHAPTER 152: UNCLE’S REBELLION

But as soon as Uncle went to the fields and no one else was home, Mrs. Wang would start making trouble, finding all sorts of faults. One moment she wanted water, the next she needed the outhouse.

Then she would complain that the water was too hot or too cold, or find fault with Sun Jin’s service, using it as an excuse to discipline her.

This, however, was still somewhat bearable. Sun Jin knew she was pregnant and took extra care to protect her belly.

However, today, Mrs. Wang, irritable from her aching bottom, flew into a rage. When Sun Jin brought her medicine, Mrs. Wang suddenly slapped her. The force of the slap was so great that Sun Jin lost her balance, and her belly struck the nearby table.

The impact was significant, and her belly immediately began to throb with pain. She told Mrs. Wang that her stomach hurt and she wanted to rest.

But Mrs. Wang just scolded her for being pretentious and insisted that she immediately wash all the dirty clothes in the house.

Sun Jin was truly timid; bullied to such an extent, she still endured the discomfort and went to work.

Thus, when Uncle returned from working in the fields in the afternoon, he found Sun Jin pale-faced, swaying and on the verge of collapse as she walked.

He immediately showed his concern, but Mrs. Wang started cursing Sun Jin sarcastically, "Pretending, all you know is how to pretend! The moment my son comes back, you put on this act for me! I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you, you vixen, always trying to seduce men and drive a wedge between us mother and son!"

Mrs. Wang’s words were truly awful. But he wasn’t blind; he could see his wife was genuinely unwell.

So, ignoring his mother’s shrieking, he immediately had Sun Jin put down her work and go rest in their room, then he rushed off to Sun Village to find Sun Kang.

After examining her, Sun Kang concluded that Sun Jin was suffering from overwork combined with the blow to her abdomen, which had brought on signs of premature labor. If they had delayed any longer, the child might not have been saved.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chun instantly understood the reason. It must have been his mother!

Instantly, fire seemed to blaze in his eyes!

His heart was already brimming with fury. After sending Sun Kang off, he exploded at Mrs. Wang.

Not only did Mrs. Wang show no remorse, but she was also enraged that her son dared to defy her, yelling, "Didn’t the physician check her? Isn’t she fine? Besides, with that round belly, it’s obvious she’s carrying a money-losing daughter! If it’s gone, it’s gone! What are you yelling about? I’m your mother, you unfilial wretch! How dare you yell at your own mother!"

At that moment, Zhao Qiu completely lost all hope for his mother.

It’s all my fault, he thought. I was too considerate of our mother-son bond, too bound by filial piety. I kept compromising, too weak to stand up to my own mother. That’s why it took my wife so many years to conceive. And now, this precious child we finally have was almost harmed by Mrs. Wang.

So, Uncle resolved not to be weak any longer. Even if people would point fingers and curse him, he was determined to separate the families!

Then, ignoring Mrs. Wang’s screaming curses from behind him, he resolutely packed their things, carefully placed Sun Jin on a flatbed cart, and left that house.

This led to the scene Zhao Zhitong witnessed when she later arrived at the Zhao Family’s main house.

But if you ask me, Zhao Zhitong, they did the right thing separating!

Zhao Zhitong, small as she was, held a little broom, her lips pouted as she huffed angrily, "Bad grandma, hurting the baby sister! PTOOEY! You big bad person!"

Sun Mei couldn’t help but chuckle. "You little young girl, don’t just say whatever comes to mind when you’re outside. Otherwise, people will say you’re disrespecting your elders."

Zhao Zhitong turned her little head away and muttered, "She’s not my elder anyway. Hmph."

Sun Mei knew this little young girl was just letting off steam and wouldn’t actually speak recklessly outside, so she didn’t dwell on it. She took her little hand and went to her eldest brother’s courtyard.

At this time, Zhao Qiu was cleaning the kitchen.

Seeing Sun Mei arrive with Zhao Zhitong, he felt quite embarrassed. "Second Sister-in-law, why did you come over? I can manage on my own."

Sun Mei placed the food container she was carrying on the table. "Don’t be so formal with your Second Sister-in-law. Now that Eldest Brother and Elder Sister-in-law are away, I’m effectively your senior sister-in-law. It’s only right that I help take care of you both."

She glanced at the still-untidy kitchen and said, "Look, it’s so late, and you haven’t even started making dinner, have you? Stop busying yourself for now. Let your wife eat first. Adults can endure hunger, but we can’t let the little one in her belly go hungry."

Zhao Qiu scratched his head in embarrassment, nodding repeatedly. He quickly took the food to the bedroom for his wife.

He had already cleaned the bedroom. Sun Mei went in to comfort Sun Jin for a bit, then helped tidy up the kitchen.

The bedroom and kitchen were the most important; the rest could be sorted out later.

Zhao Zhitong stood by Sun Jin’s bed, her big eyes fixed on Sun Jin’s belly, full of curiosity. "Are my little brother or sister in there?"

Sun Jin had taken the fetus-stabilizing medicine and rested for a while, so some color had returned to her face. Hearing Zhao Zhitong’s words, a smile appeared. She gently patted her belly and nodded. "Yes, your little brother or sister is right in here."

"Wow!" Zhao Zhitong found it magical, her eyes sparkling. "Aunt, can I touch him or her?"

Sun Jin smiled and nodded. "Of course, go ahead and touch."

So Zhao Zhitong moved a little closer, extending her small hand to gently place it on the belly. Instantly, her eyes widened, her small mouth agape in surprise. She exclaimed joyfully, "Aunt, the baby is moving!"

Sun Jin smiled as she took a sip of the egg soup Uncle fed her, then said with a gentle laugh, "That means the baby really likes you, big sister."

Hearing the words "big sister," Zhao Zhitong was ecstatic. I’m going to be a big sister too!

Her small face drew close to Sun Jin’s belly, and she whispered to it, "Little baby, you have to be good, okay? When you come out, big sister will give you lots and lots of candy to eat."

As if it had heard Zhao Zhitong’s words, the belly moved again at just the right moment. Zhao Zhitong was instantly overcome with happiness.

After playing by Sun Jin’s bed for a while, Zhao Zhitong couldn’t sit still any longer. She grabbed her little broom and ran out to help Sun Mei clean.

By the time they finished tidying the kitchen, the sky had darkened. Sun Mei, seeing that Zhao Qiu and Sun Jin’s new home was bare and they had nothing, invited them to her place for breakfast the next morning before she left.

「 」

Mrs. Wang had assumed Zhao Qiu was just talking, trying to scare her, and wouldn’t actually go through with separating the families. However, this time, Zhao Qiu was dead set on it; no amount of persuasion from anyone was effective.

The matter escalated to the point where the entire street knew of Mrs. Wang’s depravity—how she had nearly caused her youngest daughter-in-law to lose the child in her womb. It became the talk among the neighbors.

All the neighbors were saying that Mrs. Wang was in the wrong.

Hearing the news relayed by Mrs. Zheng, Mrs. Wang was so furious her face turned ashen. However, the injury on her bottom hadn’t healed yet. Even if she wanted to come out and trade curses with people, she couldn’t even sit up.

Ultimately, due to Zhao Qiu’s insistence, he completely separated from the old residence and moved directly into his eldest brother’s courtyard. However, the share of the family property he received was pitifully small.