"If we can't find them, so be it. I'll raise Brother Xuan myself. If people think badly of me because of these things, they probably aren't good people either."
Su Muqing thought, she didn't want to get married in ancient times. Weren't there enough examples on TV? Being suppressed by her mother-in-law was one thing, but men could also have multiple wives and concubines.
Confined to the house all day, having to give birth to children desperately to secure their position. Those who could earn money had to support their husbands, concubines, and the entire family! Outsiders would still accuse you of not settling down, of not being a good wife for not staying home to assist her husband and educate their children!
Su Muqing shivered unconsciously, stunned by the recalled TV plots!
How much water had gotten into her head to push herself into such a fiery pit? She had space and the experience of two lifetimes. Wouldn't it be more satisfying to earn money later and live a carefree life with her younger brother? Why bother serving others and being a subsidized nanny!
"Mom, you've scared Muqing so much. Didn't you see it just now? Su Cuixia was clearly the one causing trouble. What does it have to do with Muqing? Why are you always talking about her!"
Madam Wang rolled her eyes at her daughter. She freed one hand and flicked her daughter's forehead! "You know nothing. You're like a crazy girl all day! Mom is doing this for her own good. If it weren't for the famine, they wouldn't be like this. Muqing has fallen out with them, and there's still a long road ahead. What if there's any danger..."
"Auntie, thank you for thinking so much about me. I've kept everything you've done for me in my heart. Truly! But I'm grown up now and can clearly see whether they are forced by circumstances or it's their true nature. I know you want us to get along peacefully. You hope that my brother and I will have family elders to rely on, and you hope they can provide some help to us on the road ahead. But for my brother and me, they are not our support, but a great danger!"
Madam Wang fell silent after hearing Su Muqing's words. That was true! If the people of the old Su family didn't stab her in the back, it would be good.
Su Cuiping suddenly thought of something and pulled Su Muqing to a halt. She then walked around her, as if trying to figure her out completely.
"Muqing, I suddenly realized your words are so glib! When you were scolding them just now, I felt like you had transformed into someone else. I almost didn't recognize you."
Hearing her daughter's words, Madam Wang finally realized something was amiss. She had that feeling this morning and also felt that this girl seemed to have changed. So, she also turned to look at her.
Su Muqing's heart skipped a beat! Then, under their suspicious gazes, she showed a wry smile. Her eyes reddened, and she said with a look of desolation.
"Is this what you call glib talk? I just don't want to be bullied by them anymore! Anyone can say unpleasant things. You didn't think I was glib before because they bullied me, and I didn't retort to avoid making things difficult for my parents. But you saw how they treated us? If I still fought back and let them bully me, my brother and I wouldn't know how long we could live... My father's death taught me a lot. I must stand up for myself because I have no one to rely on. I can't let Brother Xuan have no one to rely on either!"
Looking at Su Muqing's tearful smile, Madam Wang felt a pang in her heart. This child was too sensible, so sensible it made one's heart ache.
Su Cuiping also looked at her with red eyes, feeling so pitiful. At least she still had her parents and brother to rely on.
At this moment, mother and daughter both thought, in unison, that they must help Su Muqing more in the future. Their earlier suspicions were all cast to the nine heavens at this moment.
She was already pitiful enough. Let the child off!
Meanwhile, Su Muqing, the former actress who had successfully played the victim, was thinking in her heart, "Was I too much today? Have they seen through me?"
Given the original host's temper and personality, she wouldn't have uttered such rebellious words. The original host's principle was that parents were always right, one should not talk back to elders, and not be disobedient or unfilial.
For a village girl like her, her personality, disposition, and conduct from childhood were all focal points for the groom's family when they inspected her. If a girl had a bad reputation, not only would she not find a good marriage, but her family would also be shamed.
One must know that in ancient times, under the constraints of feudal etiquette, women were very harsh. There were plenty of injustices.
Often, many things, though not the girl's fault, would lead to the girl having to die to prove her innocence under the pressure of gossip. Otherwise, the whole family would be unable to hold their heads up!
Therefore, Su Li Shi had taught the original host from childhood the "Female Precepts" and "Female Virtues," the "Three Obediences and Four Virtues." The original host had always been demure, not even speaking in a loud voice. Su Muqing and her were poles apart.
Su Muqing had a lively and cheerful personality since childhood, and the family atmosphere was very harmonious. Those mundane affairs, trivial matters, conspiracies, and intrigues were basically seen on TV and in novels.
She believed in equality for all. Respect me one foot, and I'll respect you one foot. Filial piety towards elders, but absolutely not blind filial piety! Respect only those who are worthy of respect...
If she were to be as timid and hesitant as the original host, not daring to speak up when bullied, being held in their hands and slaughtered! It would be better to kill her outright.
In any case, she couldn't do it. She firmly believed that as long as her will was firm enough, even the most malicious gossip couldn't harm her. Not to mention forcing her to die to prove her innocence. She, a five-good youth raised under the national flag, could be forced to death by a few words from others? Impossible, no way!
Actress Su decided. She would just be herself from now on.
Having figured it out, she no longer dwelled on it. Let them be suspicious! Who had proof? Besides, they were struggling to get enough to eat, and who knew when they might lose their lives. Who had so much free time to care about the changes in an outsider?
"Alright, alright! Let's not talk about these bothersome things anymore. Look at Brother Xuan, he's asleep again. Doesn't he look like a piglet? Let's hurry inside too. After a rest, we have to prepare dinner. Your uncle said we have to set off as soon as the sun goes down today. We should bake plenty of bran cakes to take with us." Madam Wang saw that they had reached the ruined temple. Thinking that the people from the old Su family were also inside, she changed the subject.
Su Muqing, who was about to enter the ruined temple, stopped abruptly upon hearing the words "prepare dinner." She turned and ran outside.
As she ran, she said, "Auntie, you go in first. I just saw someone I know. I'll go say hello. I'll be right back."
By the time Madam Wang turned her head, she had already run far away. She could only call out, "Where are you going? Don't run too far. Come back soon."
Su Muqing ran and looked back. Seeing Madam Wang enter the ruined temple with the baby, she made a sharp turn and ran in another direction.
She remembered that not far from the ruined temple, there was a large haystack. She wanted to get some meat from there and then say it was given to her by the lady who had saved her yesterday.
Thanks to the omnipotent kind lady!