Transmigrated Leftover Woman in Rural Style

Father Li kept his head down, his shoulders trembling unnaturally. From his usual tone and attitude, it wasn't hard to see the deep self-reproach in his heart. Li Xiaonuan felt sorry for this sentimental man and decided that she must resolve this issue today.

Seeing that everyone's emotions had calmed down a bit, Li Xiaonuan continued, "You all only saw my dad staying at home that day, but did you ask him why he didn't go to work? You know it was the busy farming season, where were there any able-bodied men who could stay idle?"

“Let me tell you, Xiaogang was sick that day, delirious with fever. My mother was also unwell at the time, so she couldn't take care of him at all. As for Xiaoyang and me, we were called by my fourth uncle to his in-laws' house to help harvest rice. You didn't know any of this, did you?”

"Don't ask me if my grandma was home, because Xiaoyang and I stayed at my fourth aunt's house until we heard the bad news about my grandfather. I guess my grandma was probably at my fourth uncle's house taking care of my fourth aunt who was pregnant with Xiaojun."

Upon hearing this, Fifth Uncle suddenly roared, his neck bulging, "Xiao Gang is sick! Why didn't Big Brother say so that morning?"

Father Li raised his sorrowful eyes and looked at Fifth Uncle, replying sadly, "Have you forgotten? That morning, you went to the city before dawn so that you could choose a suitable piece of jewelry for your future sister-in-law."

Father Li looked at his fourth uncle, who seemed hesitant to speak, and explained, "You've forgotten too? You had already moved to Laren Village with your younger siblings by then." Father Li said, gazing at the doorway, "I had promised Father the day before that I would go back to the mountains to attend the funeral in his place. But I didn't expect Xiao Gang to fall ill that very night."

“You all know that your sister-in-law was very unwell those few days. Mother wasn’t home either, and Father had no choice but to go back by himself. That day, I took Xiaogang to the city to see a doctor, who said he had chickenpox.”

“Your sister-in-law and I were terrified at the time, so we didn’t have time to tell you that Xiaogang was sick. Fortunately, Xiaogang pulled through after the pimples broke out. If you don’t believe me, look at Xiaogang; he still has pimple scars between his eyebrows and below his left ear.”

The old lady had never known such a secret, and asked Li's father in a sorrowful voice, "Why didn't you tell him when your father was in trouble?"

Father Li closed his eyes, filled with regret and pain, and answered in a trembling voice, "At that time, I didn't have a chance to say it, and I forgot to say it afterward. Thinking about it later, Father has already had an accident, and saying it now won't change anything."

Fifth Uncle choked up and called out, "Big Brother..." but couldn't say anything more.

Uncle Si slumped down on a stool to the side, his eyes like those of a ship adrift at sea, completely lost and directionless.

Li Xiaonuan believed that since the matter had been brought up, everything should be laid out on the table. Looking at the forgotten Li Shi on the ground, Li Xiaonuan said, "The matter goes far beyond Xiaogang's smallpox."

Seeing everyone looking at her, Li Xiaonuan continued, "The reason my mother wasn't feeling well those few days was because she was pregnant. It was just that she was still in the early stages and didn't realize it yet. It happened to be the busy farming season at that time, and she overworked herself, which made the pregnancy unstable and she could miscarry at any time."

“I overheard this by chance. At that time, my mother endured all kinds of discomfort and dragged her weak body to prepare for my grandfather's funeral. She was busy every day and still had to endure your criticism. So, after my grandfather's funeral, my mother miscarried and had a lot of bleeding.”

"Back then, you were all busy criticizing my father and mother. When you saw my mother lying on the bed, barely alive, you even rushed to accuse her of faking illness. If it weren't for Xiaogang crying and begging my mother not to die, she might have died on the spot."

Li Xiaonuan's words touched a raw nerve in Su Shi's heart. She could no longer hold back, covered her mouth, and ran out crying. Tang Shi and Mao Shi chased after her, calling out, "Sister-in-law..."

Upon hearing so much of the inside story, the old woman's carefully maintained composure snapped. Her once straight back instantly bent, and she clutched her chest, sobbing, "Eldest son, why didn't you tell your mother any of this? Why?"

Fifth Uncle knelt on the ground, pounding his fists on the ground, and asked, "Why didn't you tell us these things, brother? Why?"

Fourth Uncle remained seated in his chair, his hands haphazardly tugging at his hair.

It's not hard to see that this family actually understands the situation. They've just been running away from it all these years, avoiding the grief and pain brought on by their grandfather's accident. So, they've transferred that pain into hatred, projecting it onto Mr. and Mrs. Li, who have been silently enduring it all.

Now, as Li Xiaonuan peels away the layers of pain they've been hiding, they suddenly understand, and feel helpless. Faced with the past, which is completely contrary to what they thought it was, they feel both pain and regret.

Seeing that she had explained everything, Li Xiaonuan pressed down the last straw: "My mother's health was completely ruined because of that miscarriage. Although she survived, she can no longer give birth. Moreover, when it's windy or rainy, or when the seasons change, her lower back and abdomen will feel like they're being scraped by a knife."

"Xiaogang has always wanted a younger brother or sister, but he can't have one. So, he often goes to his uncles' houses because they have children younger than him. Aunt, do you remember what you said to Xiaogang when he came to your house during the Mid-Autumn Festival two years ago?"

“You said, ‘Xiaogang, don’t come to our house anymore. Our Xiaojun is going to study hard and become a top scholar, he can’t hang out with a hooligan like you.’ At that time, I was helping Xiaoyan carry firewood, and I remembered those words deeply. From then on, Xiaogang never wanted to go to his uncles’ houses again.”

Fourth Uncle put down his hand that was pulling hair, pointed at Li Shi who was kneeling indifferently on the ground, and asked, "Is what Xiao Nuan said true? Did you really say that to Xiao Gang back then?"

Li didn't answer her fourth uncle's question, but instead looked at Li Xiaonuan with resentment and asked in a hoarse voice, "So, you want your fourth uncle to divorce me?"

Li Xiaonuan slowly shook her head; her throat was very sore. She hadn't fully recovered from her previous typhoid fever, and after talking so much today, she felt she couldn't take it anymore. Seeing Li Xiaonuan clearing her throat and swallowing, Xiaoyang immediately poured her a bowl of water.

After drinking the water, Li Xiaonuan felt her sore throat lessen considerably. She then said to Li Shi, "Fourth Aunt, I never intended for Fourth Uncle to divorce you. I just want to ask you, what have we done to offend you so much that you hate us so much?"

Upon hearing this, Li looked at her father and said through gritted teeth, "I think it's better if you don't know about this."

Li Xiaonuan looked at her father, who looked at Li Shi openly, a strange glint in his eyes. Li Xiaonuan then said reassuredly, "Fourth Aunt, I think you should tell me. You've inexplicably wronged me twice, and I don't even know why. I'm so upset."