Chapter 15: If You Want to Protect Your Man's Reputation, You Must Control the Narrative

Liu Chuxue could understand her thoughts: "Sister, it's not that we want to split the family; it's that Grandpa and Grandma are forcing our hand. If we don't split the family, what will happen to Dad's leg?"

Seeing her still wavering, she continued, "If I'm not mistaken, Eldest Aunt will start making a scene first thing tomorrow morning. Do you think we'll have any way to survive if we don't split the family?"

Noticing her eldest sister's face turn even paler, Liu Chuxue sighed. "Our branch didn't see a single cent of your dowry when you got married; instead, it benefited the First Branch, who used it to buy a wife for our eldest cousin. I don't want my own marriage to be manipulated and used by them as well."

As the two were talking, Mother Liu hurried over, clutching a small bundle. "Mom, did you bring all the important things?"

Mother Liu tightened her grip on the bundle and nodded slightly. In truth, their branch didn't have anything of great value; the bundle only contained a few of their best sets of clothes and the twenty-one yuan and thirty cents that Liu Shanliang had secretly saved from selling wild game at the black market.

This was Chuxue's suggestion. They had to take the family's valuables out tonight to avoid being put in a passive position when things blew up tomorrow.

Mother Liu had also realized it: her parents-in-law were dead set on ignoring her husband's leg injury, focusing solely on securing a job for Dongzi from the First Branch. Once they started loudly borrowing money in the village tomorrow morning, the rest of the Liu family would certainly be unwilling to shoulder the debt. It was likely, just as her second daughter analyzed, that they wouldn't even need to bring up the matter of splitting the family themselves.

Liu Xiaqiu glanced back toward the Liu family residence, feeling somewhat worried about her younger sister. "Mom, is Chunxiao settled?"

Mother Liu followed her gaze toward the Liu house. "When I left, I had already let her get on the heated brick bed to rest."

The mother and her two daughters walked quickly toward the outskirts of the village. Making such a grand effort so late at night was, naturally, part of Liu Chuxue's plan.

On the way, Liu Chuxue reviewed the situation with them once more, breaking down and explaining in detail exactly what would happen tomorrow. By the time they understood everything, they had reached the entrance of the health clinic.

Seeing that the light in the guardhouse was still on, Liu Chuxue gave her mother a meaningful look.

This was also a part of her plan. The old man guarding the gate was a native of their Liu Tree Village, stationed here to watch the clinic after being discharged from the military due to injuries.

As the three women approached, Mother Liu called out toward the room, "Seventh Uncle."

Liu Laoqi looked at the three of them. "Why are you coming back so late?"

Hearing the question and thinking of her heartless parents-in-law, Mother Liu's eyes instantly reddened. "I originally intended to go back and discuss going to the city to treat my husband's leg, but I didn't expect..."

She didn't hide a single thing from the Liu family. Her second daughter had instructed her long ago: if she wanted to save her husband's leg, she had to seize the moral high ground in public opinion. Although she didn't understand much, she knew her daughter wouldn't harm her.

The trip back to the village today was entirely to facilitate tomorrow's actions.

After listening, Liu Laoqi sighed. "Don't worry too much. Even if the family won't help, isn't there still the reservoir construction site? If all else fails, you can do as you said and borrow from the villagers; you'll find a way."

Having said that, he looked at the two sisters standing beside her. "You two sisters should try to persuade her. Make sure your mother doesn't get too anxious or worked up. There's always a way when you reach the end of the road."

The two sisters responded, "We understand, Seventh Grandfather."

After a few more pleasantries to ensure Liu Laoqi would remember them, they headed toward the wards.

As they approached the corridor outside the wards, Liu Chuxue whispered, "We've done everything we needed to do for today. Tomorrow morning, Mom, you go back to the village to see Grandpa and Grandma, and then make a big scene about borrowing money. Sister and I will go to the reservoir construction site to see if we can get them to pay us a lump sum upfront."

(End of Chapter)