They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 294 Harm
The Zeng family's mule cart entered the village and stopped in front of Yang Ming's house.

Yang Ming and his son Yang Xiaoan are currently hiring villagers to help Xu Zhichun clear land, so they are not at home. Only Zeng Xiaojuan and Qiao'er are there.

In early winter, during the off-season for farming, Zeng Xiaojuan had nothing else to do but sew winter clothes. Qiao'er was playing with the two cloth tigers that Xu Zhichun had given her. Tea was warming on the stove in the kitchen, and the sun was shining warmly in the yard. Several chickens clucked as they walked past the door.

Zeng Xiaojuan looked up and rubbed her slightly sore neck. Qiao'er called out "Mother" sweetly. She gently rubbed her daughter's head, and the mother and daughter smiled at each other, enjoying the peaceful moment.

Zeng Xiaojuan loves her current life; it's full of life, warm, down-to-earth, and makes her feel at ease.

However, upon hearing the noise outside the fenced yard and seeing the well-dressed Cuixiang and a middle-aged maid enter, Zeng Xiaojuan's expression immediately changed.

Why won't you let her go?
"Second miss."

The word "Second Miss" made Zeng Xiaojuan's heart sink even further.

Qiao'er sensed her mother's panic and nestled beside her, glaring at Cuixiang and the maid, Granny Zhu, with some hostility.

Cuixiang smiled faintly, "Madam is ill and has sent me to fetch the Second Miss to visit her. Please come in, Second Miss."

When her stepmother fell ill, her maternal family's mule cart arrived at her doorstep. As a daughter, Zeng Xiaojuan had no excuse to refuse.

She had no choice but to decline, saying, "You came too suddenly. I wasn't prepared at all. You should go first. I'll take care of things at home and go by myself in a bit."

She can go by herself, but she definitely won't take Qiao'er with her.

What if I can't take care of her and something happens to Qiao'er?
Xiao Yan is currently pregnant and unable to help take care of the baby, so she had no choice but to shamelessly ask Zhi Chun for help.

Cuixiang smiled and said, "Second Miss, please don't make things difficult for me. Madam told me to take you back, so how can I leave first? The Zeng family has everything, so you don't need to prepare anything. Take your niece with you and come with me quickly."

As she spoke, she reached out to pull Qiao'er.

The eyes that suddenly lifted and revealed a fierce light glared at Qiao'er, who screamed and flung her hands away, hiding behind her mother.

Zeng Xiaojuan was furious and shouted, "What do you want to do!"

Cuixiang smiled dismissively, "Why are you so nervous, Second Miss? What can I do? You're overthinking it."

“Qiao’er won’t go, I’ll go with you,”

"That won't do. Madam said that my niece should go too."

"I won't let Qiao'er go."

Zeng Xiaojuan refused decisively.

They dared to be so malicious towards her daughter even to her face; she couldn't even imagine what would happen to the Zeng family.

Granny Zhu grew impatient. "Does the Second Miss dare to disobey the Madam? Does the Second Miss intend to be unfilial? Why waste time arguing with her? Just take her away."

“Granny Zhu is right.”

Cuixiang and Granny Zhu both went up to try to pull Qiao'er away.

Zeng Xiaojuan quickly shielded her daughter, shouting, "Get out of here! Get out! What do you want to do!"

Qiao'er cried out in fright, "Bad people! Bad people! Don't come to my house!"

Zeng Xiaoyan rushed in, shouting, "Stop!"

Upon hearing that a mule cart had arrived at her second sister's house, she immediately suspected that the Zeng family was causing trouble again. Fearing that her second sister would suffer, she rushed over.

Zeng Xiaojuan was startled to see her arrive alone. She grabbed her hand and scolded, "What are you doing here? You—ah!" Granny Zhu pushed her hard, sending Zeng Xiaojuan towards Zeng Xiaoyan. Zeng Xiaojuan bumped into Zeng Xiaoyan involuntarily, and Cuixiang took the opportunity to trip Zeng Xiaoyan with her foot. The two sisters screamed and fell to the ground.

Cuixiang cried out in surprise, "Second Miss, why did you bump into Third Miss!"

Granny Zhu: "Oh dear, how could you be so careless!"

Qiao'er burst into tears and rushed over to help them up: "Mother, Mother! Auntie, waaaaah!"

Zeng Xiaoyan sat on the ground, her face pale, clutching her stomach and groaning in pain.

Zeng Xiaojuan was going crazy, hugging her and crying, "Xiaoyan! Xiaoyan!"

Cui Xiang curled her lips into a cold smile: "Second Miss, what are you standing there for? Go and call for help."

Zeng Xiaojuan shivered and looked up to glare angrily at Cuixiang.

Cui Xiang looked completely innocent: "Why are you looking at me like that, Second Miss? You were the one who bumped into Third Miss."

Zeng Xiaoyan stayed home to rest during her pregnancy. Apart from driving a mule cart to the city to deliver goods every morning, Liang Mingliang also did most of the work of herding cattle and mules. Sometimes he would go to visit Yang Ming and Yang Xiaoan. He didn't follow Zeng Xiaoyan around all day.

Zeng Xiaoyan disliked his clinginess, and besides, it wouldn't be good for her in-laws, sisters-in-law, uncles, and younger relatives to see him, so she didn't want him to be with her.

Upon hearing that someone had come to her second sister's house and that Liang Mingliang wasn't home, she rushed over alone.

Who could have imagined that Cuixiang and Granny Zhu would be so ruthless, plotting against the sisters the moment they met?

Aunt Liang was doing some housework in the kitchen when her youngest daughter-in-law hurriedly told her something and rushed out. Aunt Liang was worried, so she quickly finished her work and followed her.

How could she not know about the grudges and grievances between the Zeng family and her younger daughter-in-law? Her younger daughter-in-law also said that the Zeng family had probably sent someone to cause trouble for her sister, and if they saw her, nothing good would happen.

The youngest daughter-in-law has that same temper again. Although she is currently pregnant and knows to take care of herself, what if she causes trouble again when she sees the Zeng family?
Aunt Liang rushed over, and sure enough, her prediction came true.

Seeing her youngest daughter-in-law's pale face and limp body on the ground in pain, Aunt Liang felt a wave of dizziness. "Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan! Don't scare your mother!"

Zeng Xiaojuan was in tears, "It's my fault for hurting Xiaoyan, it's all my fault, I'm sorry, Auntie!"

Zeng Xiaoyan shook her head, gripping her sister's hand tightly, "Quickly go and invite Sister-in-law Zhichun, quickly invite her!"

Aunt Liang: "Quickly, call someone to help fetch a doctor!"

"Okay, I'll go right away."

Aunt Liang and Zeng Xiaojuan helped Zeng Xiaoyan up and helped her sit down on the recliner. Zeng Xiaojuan then hurriedly went out.

When they helped Zeng Xiaoyan up, Cuixiang and Granny Zhu tried to help, but neither of them had any kind words to say; they were all trying to instigate her.

"Aunt Liang has finally arrived. Our second young lady didn't mean to push the third young lady away. Please don't blame the second young lady, Aunt Liang."

"Yes, the second young lady already feels very bad. If you blame her further, she will be even more upset."

Zeng Xiaojuan was so angry and anxious that she didn't know what to say.

Zeng Xiaoyan was also furious. She glared at Cuixiang and Granny Zhu, anxious and wanting to say something, but her stomach hurt and she couldn't say anything.

Fortunately, Aunt Liang was a sensible person. Seeing this, she quickly patted Zeng Xiaoyan's hand gently to comfort her: "Don't worry, don't worry, calm down and relax. I know what kind of person Xiaojuan is. Don't worry, we can talk about it later. You two,"

Aunt Liang gave Cuixiang and the other girl a cold look: "Stop stirring things up. If anything happens to my Xiaoyan, you'll see if the Liang family will let you off the hook."