The rural doctor is busy with farming, and her abstinent husband can't bear it

Each of Zhao's blows was accompanied by a dull sound and a tremor in the air, but even such violence could not break the indestructible emotional bond between the mother and daughter.

Time seemed to stand still until Zhao's strength and anger were exhausted. She finally stopped, her heavy breathing mixed with the arrogance of a winner.

"Remember, behave yourself from now on! If you do it again, I'll show you how I'll deal with you!"

After saying this, Zhao threw the wooden stick away. The threatening words were like ice, piercing the fragile hearts of the mother and daughter.

They hugged each other, tears welling up in their eyes, but they dared not cry out loud, just because of the silent promise, to protect their two young sisters who were probably still sleeping soundly in their dreams.

Daya's shoulders trembled slightly, and tears finally slid down her cheeks. She asked softly, "Mom, when the village chief asked us why we didn't split up, why didn't you tell him the truth?"

These words were like a sharp blade, gently cutting the softest part of Xie Xinghua's heart, making her heart ache even more intensely.

Xie Xinghua's eyes looked into the distance through the blurred tears, her tone filled with unspeakable bitterness: "After the family is divided, how can mother feed you?"

She had asked herself this question repeatedly in countless silent nights, but the answer was always so cruel and helpless.

Daya's eyes were full of confusion and reluctance: "But if we split up, at least we can have a piece of land. You can stay at home to take care of dad, and my second and third sisters and I can go to the fields to help. It's better than being bullied day after day like this, right?"

Her voice was small, but it revealed her desire for a better life.

Xie Xinghua's tears fell like pearls from a broken string. Faced with her daughter's simple and direct questions, she felt mixed emotions, but she could not easily explain the complexity and helplessness of this world.

She knew that even if they really divided the family, what awaited them was just jumping from one fire pit into another. The land was barren, the harvest was meager, and money was even tighter. The family's food and clothing would become a problem.

On the other side, soft light sprinkled in the tidy room. Jiang Ziling took out a pair of carefully sewn cloth shoes from the sewing basket and gently placed them in front of Su Yu.

"Try this, I just finished it today."

His voice was gentle and expectant.

Su Yu took it with surprise. The delicate craftsmanship immediately attracted her attention. The stitching on the upper was delicate and even, the lines were smooth, and it was obviously sturdy and durable.

She put on the new shoes with great joy; they were the perfect size, with thick soles, and every step she took brought an indescribable sense of comfort.

"I never thought that a grown man like you could have such delicate craftsmanship. This pair of shoes is not only beautiful, but also practical. It's perfect!"

Su Yu's praise made Jiang Ziling's cheeks flush slightly. He replied shyly: "As long as you like it, A Yu."

Su Yu's joy was beyond words: "I like it very much, thank you, Ziling."

The new shoes not only warmed her feet, but also warmed her heart. She spun around the room briskly, and her happiness seemed to infect the entire space.

Xi'er, who was standing by, was not to be outdone. She jumped towards Jiang Ziling, her big watery eyes full of anticipation, as if silently asking, "Dad, where's my share?"

Jiang Ziling pinched her small nose lovingly, with a warm and doting smile: "Don't worry, Xier, Dad will make you a new pair soon."

This promise, like a ray of sunshine in winter, illuminates the little one's face and warms this simple yet loving home.

After hearing the answer, Xier showed a satisfied smile on her face, and her clear eyes sparkled with the innocence and happiness unique to children.

She turned lightly, her soft hair flying gently with her movement, coated with a faint golden glow under the afterglow of the setting sun.

With small steps and jumps, she once again set foot on the path to the backyard, where a group of lively chickens and ducks were waiting for their little owner, making bursts of joyful quacking and chirping, adding a bit of vitality and liveliness to the quiet farmyard.

Su Yu sat quietly beside a simple but clean wooden table, holding a plain porcelain cup in his hand, which contained clear water that had just been drawn from the well and was still slightly cool.

She took a sip, and the cool feeling seemed to moisten her throat instantly and also slightly calmed the worries in her heart.

Then, she turned her gaze gently to Jiang Ziling, her tone gentle but mixed with a barely perceptible worry, and asked slowly, her tone full of concern and consideration for him.

Jiang Ziling shook his head, and that action revealed a sense of relief, as if he had really put down the burden in his heart.

There was a gleam of light in his eyes and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. That smile contained anticipation for the future and acceptance of the current situation.

"No, I feel much more relaxed instead."

These words came out of his mouth naturally, simple yet full of meaning.

Su Yu felt slightly relieved when she heard this. She responded softly, her voice warm and firm, as if she was making a promise to herself and Jiang Ziling.

"That's good."

These three words are simple yet full of affection. They represent an acceptance of the current situation and an expectation for future life.

In her heart, a plan was quietly taking shape.

She imagined that when spring came and flowers bloomed, Jiang Ziling's leg injury would have healed, and they would go hand in hand into the lush forests, hunting and gathering precious medicinal herbs in exchange for a more stable source of livelihood, and eventually move away from this land full of complex emotional entanglements.

However, thinking of Jiang Ziling's deep feelings for his family, especially for his eldest brother, she couldn't help but feel a little hesitant.

It would be best if the first wife could break free from the constraints of the family elders and set up her own business. However, the reality is that even if she wants to, she lacks the strength, and she can only sigh inwardly.

The sigh from the bottom of Su Yu's heart was as light as a feather, yet heavy, full of helplessness towards life and longing for the future.

She was well aware of the principle that "a tree that is moved will die, but a person who moves will live", but she felt more understanding and sympathy for Xie Xinghua, a woman who shouldered the burden of the family and struggled in hardship day after day.

After all, in such an environment, any decision must be made with extreme caution.

After careful consideration, Su Yu realized that it was not fair to put all the blame on Xie Xinghua.

As the housewife of the family, Xie Xinghua not only has to take care of her long-ill husband, but also has to raise three young children alone. Under the heavy pressure of life, she has to be cautious in every step she makes, for fear that one wrong step will put the family's livelihood in dire straits.

This kind of hardship is hard to understand unless you have experienced it yourself.

Therefore, Su Yu silently made a wish, hoping that one day in the future, they would be able to turn things around.

However, all these plans and expectations are based on the complete recovery of Jiang Ziling's leg injury, and cannot be rushed or accelerated.