Sold immediately after wearing it? I took my family and fled the famine.

After Xu Yun left, the air in the main room seemed to be tightened by something, and no one spoke.

Granny Chen sat in the center of the main room, her eyes half-closed, her face calm, as if waiting for Chen Sumei and Chen Xiaoxiao to speak first.

Hu held the sleeping Tianci in her arms, gently patting the child's back. Her gaze shifted back and forth between Chen Sumei and Chen Xiaoxiao. She tried to speak several times, but the silence that filled the room held her back.

Chen Sumei sat to the left of Granny Chen, her body turned to the side, a handkerchief crumpled up in her handkerchief.

As soon as Xu Yun left, she became restless, as if she were the victim. She complained, "Grandma, look at what happened today. I feel so upset. How long have we been engaged? How could he do this in front of so many people... He doesn't care about himself, but he should care about Xiaoxiao too." Her words were soft and gentle, as if she were complaining, but also as if she was protesting for herself.

Granny Chen didn't speak, but her eyes darted around Chen Sumei's face, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Seeing that her grandmother didn't respond, Chen Sumei turned to Hu Shi and said, "Mother, say something. You didn't see how many people were gathered by the river today. Xiaoxiao is a young girl. If someone uses this to make a fuss about it, how will she ever be able to go out in public? As her older sister, I feel so sorry for her just thinking about it." The more she spoke, the more sincere she became, and her eyes actually reddened, making her look like she was about to cry.

"Stop talking." A voice suddenly rang out from the doorway, both light and harsh, like frost frozen on a stone in winter, ready to crumble at the slightest touch.

Chen Sumei was startled and turned her head. Chen Xiaoxiao was standing at the door of the main room, with her back to the night outside, her expression half-lit and half-shadowed.

She walked towards Chen Sumei step by step. Before Chen Sumei could react, Chen Xiaoxiao was already standing in front of her, raising her hand and slapping her down.

With a loud, crisp "snap," the silence in the room seemed to shatter.

Chen Sumei was completely stunned. She tilted her head, half her face burning. She instinctively covered her face, and it took her a while to recover. She abruptly stood up, her voice trembling, "You dare hit me? Chen Xiaoxiao, are you crazy?!"

Chen Xiaoxiao stood right in front of her, neither dodging nor flinching. Her right hand was still hanging at her side, her fingers trembling slightly, but her back was very straight, and her chin was raised.

She stared at Chen Sumei, her voice low but chilling: "You should know better than I why I hit you."

"Explain yourself!" Chen Sumei's voice was shrill and trembling, tears welling in her eyes. She covered her face, as if she had suffered a great injustice: "I argued with Xu Yun for so long today because of you, I was so afraid your reputation would be ruined, afraid the Xu family wouldn't take you seriously. And you, you turn around and slap me. Chen Xiaoxiao, do you have any conscience?!"

Chen Xiaoxiao didn't move, only looked at her, and suddenly smiled. The smile was extremely faint, like a thin layer of ice floating on a pond at night: "You'll argue for me? You'll fight for me?"

She slowly took a step forward, almost pressing herself right under Chen Sumei's nose: "Isn't it you who pushed me into the water today? What are you pretending to be a good person for?"

Chen Sumei's face turned pale instantly.

"Do you think I'm still that fool you used to sell out and still count the money for you?" Chen Xiaoxiao stared straight at her, speaking each word clearly and forcefully: "I shouldn't have gone with you this morning. You insisted on dragging me to the literary gathering, insisted on doing my hair and makeup, and insisted on taking me to the river."

"I didn't understand why you were so interested before, but now I understand. You saw Young Master Su this morning, didn't you? He's the one who saved you at last year's Lantern Festival, and you've never gotten over him. You dragged me there to find an excuse to get close to him. You took me to the riverbank because there are fewer people there, making it easier for you to make your move."

Chen Sumei opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but her throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and she couldn't make a sound.

"You pushed me into the water and then called for help. You knew Xu Yun would think it was you who fell into the water because the fabric of that dress was a gift from him. You knew he would go in. He carried me ashore, and you forced me to be his woman."

"You, on the other hand, while Xu Yun and I were being put on the spot by you, you washed yourself clean and can still fantasize about your Young Master Su. Sister, you've really got a good plan." Chen Xiaoxiao's speech became faster and faster.

Every word was sharp and distinct, like tiny knives stabbing at the most vulnerable spot: "Don't you find it disgusting? You have someone as sincere as Xu Yun who treats you so well, yet you're still eyeing what you don't have. Don't you even look in the mirror? Would someone like that even give you a second glance?"

Chen Sumei's face turned from white to pale, her chest heaving violently. Her nails dug deeply into her palms, as if she wanted to crush the last shred of her dignity in her hands. Suddenly, she didn't want to pretend anymore.

Xu Yun left, and Chen Xiaoxiao made it clear that there was no point in her continuing the act.

She lowered her hand from her face; the finger marks on half of her face were already visible. Ignoring them, she gritted her teeth and squeezed out each word, one by one: "Yes, I pushed you. So what? You know now? Go ahead and tell everyone! See who will believe you? Xu Yun hugged you, and you're innocent? Pah! You think you can clear your name?"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, her chest heaving, her eyes red as if they were about to bleed: "I just can't stand him. How could Xu Yun be worthy of me? I'm marrying him to save face for you all. Do you think I don't know what Mother is up to? She just wants me to get married quickly so that this house can have some peace and quiet."

"She only has eyes for Tianci. Since she came into my life, has she ever cared about me or shown me any concern? No! She can't wait for me to leave so she can focus on raising her precious son!"

"Sumei!" Madam Hu couldn't listen anymore. She took two steps forward with Tianci in her arms, her voice filled with anger and grievance: "What nonsense are you talking about? I can do whatever you want. Which eye of yours saw that I don't love you? It's you who are always picking and choosing, looking down on this and that. That's why I arranged for you to marry into the Xu family."

"What's wrong with the Xu family? They're honest people, they own a shop, and you don't have to toil in the fields. And yet, you turn around and bite me!"

"Stop pretending to be a good person!" Chen Sumei turned her head sharply, her voice so shrill it seemed to lift the roof off: "You keep saying you're doing this for my own good, but when have you ever put yourself first? If I weren't lucky enough to be born this way, you would have already given me away to some peasant."

"Do you think I don't know what you're afraid of? You're just afraid I'll get old and won't be able to get married, that I'll be a burden to you, and an eyesore! You're afraid I'll compete with Tianci for your affections. What do you take me for? A burden you'll get rid of if you can!"

She became increasingly incoherent, tears streaming down her face, her once pretty face now distorted beyond recognition. Hu Shi felt a tightness in her chest from her outburst, her hands trembling as she held Tianci.

The child was woken up and burst into tears. Mrs. Hu patted the child, too angry to speak.

Granny Chen sighed heavily: "Have you made enough of a scene?"

This sound, neither too loud nor too soft, acted like a stabilizing force, suppressing the raging fire that was about to engulf the room.

Chen Sumei seemed exhausted too. She stood there, her chest still heaving, tears still streaming down her face, but her voice was hoarse: "You don't need to chase me away. I'll leave the Chen family soon and won't be in any of your way."

After she finished speaking, she turned around and ran into her room.

The main room fell silent again. Tianci was still crying. Madam Hu patted him while her eyes were red and she whispered, "This girl, how did she become like this..."

Granny Chen glanced at her, then beckoned to Chen Xiaoxiao: "Xiaoxiao, come here."

Chen Xiaoxiao slowly walked over and squatted down at Granny Chen's feet.

Granny Chen reached out and gently touched the top of her head, saying, "I'm sorry you had to go through this today." Chen Xiaoxiao's tense body trembled slightly.

She lowered her head, buried her face in Granny Chen's knees, her shoulders trembling slightly. Hu Shi held Tianci, tears streaming down her face.