PWE – Chapter 19 I fell in love with you at first sight

Xu Meifeng’s hands trembled uncontrollably, her heart in a panic.

What did Xiao Wange mean by that? Did it mean she knew about that matter? But how could she possibly know?

That matter was only known to her and the old man, and they would never reveal it. So how did she find out?

Could it be that Xiao Wange was lying? Was she deliberately saying this to scare her?

Clenching her fingers tightly, she forced down her inner panic and spoke, scolding:
“Xiao Wange, you shameless bitch, shut up! Hongteng is my son, my son born after ten months of pregnancy! I almost died giving birth to him, I nearly bled to death. The child I gave birth to with so much effort, and now you dare to sow discord and say he’s not my son! Xiao Wange, you are despicable and scheming, utterly shameless!”

Turning to Zhan Hongteng, she continued:
“Hongteng, don’t listen to her nonsense. She just wants to create conflict in our family, wants to make our home chaotic, this vile woman…”

“Hongteng, haven’t you noticed something? Auntie and Uncle look completely ordinary, and their children—Zhan Hongda, Zhan Hongjun, and Zhan Hongxin—also look completely ordinary. Even their grandson Zhan Xiaoxiao… doesn’t look good. But you, you are handsome and striking. Logically, with the family genes like this, you should look ordinary too. So why are you so good-looking? Hongteng, don’t you feel something is off?”

Xiao Wange cut off Xu Meifeng’s words and turned to Hongteng, smiling brightly.

Hongteng furrowed his brow, a ripple of unease stirring in his heart.

He looked at his mother and then his brothers. Seeing their ordinary faces, a string in his mind snapped.

Xu Meifeng, noticing Hongteng staring at her and her third son, tensed. She clenched her hands and quickly said:
“Hongteng, you’re an exception in our family. When you were born, your father and I were thrilled by your handsome face. We were overjoyed to finally have a good-looking son. Hongteng, you are truly my and your father’s biological son, don’t listen to her nonsense!”

She wanted to take Hongteng and Hongjun home, not wanting to linger there longer. Continuing the argument might cause unexpected consequences.

But…

Xiao Wange wasn’t going to let her have her way.

Xiao Wange fixed her gaze on Hongteng and said:
“You were doing very well in school, right? I heard you often ranked first in the entire school. The principal and teachers had high hopes for you. If you hadn’t dropped out, you would now be at a prestigious university, with a bright future ahead. But Auntie made you drop out. In your senior year, she claimed the family couldn’t pay your tuition and made you leave school. Your teacher wanted to help and offered to pay for your tuition, but Auntie refused. She went to your school, making a scene, until the school had no choice but to let you leave. That’s why you ended up doing odd jobs.”

Hongteng clenched his hands tightly, uncontrollably recalling the pain of being forced to drop out.

“Xiao Wange, stop talking! Shut up!” Xu Meifeng’s panic worsened. She shouted, grabbing Hongteng’s arm to take him home: “Come on, let’s go home, don’t listen to her nonsense!”

Hongteng lowered his eyes, his body tense, lips tightly pressed, silent. His dark expression betrayed his inner pain.

“She forced you to drop out, denied you an education, while her useless third son stayed in school. Hongteng, don’t you feel the difference in how she treated you and Hongjun?” Xiao Wange’s calm, taunting words cut deep into Hongteng’s heart, making him stagger.

And what Xiao Wange said next made him even more unsettled:
“Oh, of course, she treated Hongda and Hongxin well. At least they could laze around at home, while you… had to go out and work. She said Hongda and Hongxin were weak, that they couldn’t endure hardship outside. Only you were strong enough to earn money. But who in the village doesn’t know how strong Hongda and Hongxin are? They’re stronger than oxen. What’s wrong with them?”

These were things he had heard in the village. But they were true—Xu Meifeng’s family constantly pressured Hongteng; everyone in Danshui Village knew it, even the five-year-olds.

Hongteng’s brow furrowed tightly; it felt as if his chest was being cut open, blood pouring from the wound.

He had known all this, had once resented his mother for being unfair. But she would always cite her near-death experience giving birth to him, saying she risked her life to have him.

Whenever she said that, he felt ashamed, like an unfilial son.

So he always compromised, leaving with a defeated expression.

Recalling all the unfair treatment now, he felt as if he were in an ice cellar, chilled to the bone, extremely uncomfortable.

“Xiao Wange, do you believe I’ll tear your mouth apart? Shameless bitch, can’t you speak without sowing discord?” Xu Meifeng panicked, wanting to interrupt Xiao Wange, but Xiao Wange’s relentless words left her no chance.

Seeing Hongteng’s ugly expression, Xu Meifeng grew increasingly anxious.

She was indeed harsh with Hongteng, unreasonably so, but he wasn’t her biological son. She couldn’t be affectionate with him.

Yet now, the family depended on Hongteng. If he left, they would starve.

She mustn’t let Hongteng believe Xiao Wange or suspect anything. If he did, he would leave.

“Hongteng, you really are my biological son… when you were born…” Xu Meifeng tried to bring up her difficult birth again.

Xiao Wange looked at her coldly:
“Auntie, I heard that medical techniques in the provincial city are advanced. Big hospitals can do paternity tests, to see if two people are actually related. Auntie, since you insist Hongteng is your biological son, would you dare to go to a provincial hospital and get tested?”

She wasn’t sure if paternity tests existed in this era, but it was effective to scare Xu Meifeng.

Xu Meifeng paled, palms sweating, heart racing like weeds growing uncontrollably. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself:
“Why should I waste money on a test? Go to the provincial city? Do you think I have unlimited money? I…”

“I’ll pay for it,” Xiao Wange said lightly, glancing at her: “I’ll cover the cost. How about that?”

Xu Meifeng was momentarily speechless.

Her son Hongjun reacted quickly, yelling:
“Who wants your money? You think having money makes you great? Isn’t it Ze Yan who earned that money? If he knew you were wasting it, he wouldn’t forgive you! You spoiled woman!”

Xiao Wange smiled, unbothered.

She turned to Hongteng: “You’re smart. You should understand what they’re implying. They’re afraid. Hongteng, maybe you should really think about some things. Your life is long, and if you stay trapped in their house being mistreated, your life will be ruined.”

Hongteng was a righteous man; seeing him mistreated, she couldn’t stand idly by.

“Xiao Wange, you shameless…” Xu Meifeng finally found her voice to scold, but Hongteng picked up his bag and walked away, voice low and unreadable:
“Let’s go home.”

Seeing Hongteng turn away, Xu Meifeng was stunned, quickly following: “Yes, yes, let’s go home.”

Hongjun glared at Xiao Wange, huffing, then ran after his brother: “Second brother, I’ll help with your bag.”

Hongteng side-stepped, refusing the help.
“No need,” he said coldly.

Hongjun thought: “…Second brother listened to Xiao Wange? That shameless girl, how can she be so hateful?”

Xu Meifeng’s heart sank seeing Hongteng’s reaction. Could he really be suspicious now?

Xiao Wange looked back at them, then held Xiao Zhaozhao’s hand and entered the courtyard.

Xiao Zhaozhao looked at his mother, furrowed his brows:
“Mom, isn’t Second Uncle born to Auntie?”

Even though young, he understood some things. If not Auntie, then who?

“Yes,” Xiao Wange nodded seriously.

The child understood her meaning, showing his intelligence. With such a smart child, she didn’t need to hide things.

“Wow, Second Uncle isn’t born to Auntie? So he doesn’t have to go back to Auntie’s house? They’re not nice to him, I don’t want him to go.” Xiao Zhaozhao tilted his head seriously.

Xiao Wange smiled, patting his head:
“When he figures it out, he won’t go back. Let’s wait a little longer.”

The truth would always surface. That Hongteng wasn’t Xu Meifeng’s son would be revealed, sooner or later.

Xiao Zhaozhao bit his lip: “I hope Second Uncle realizes soon.”

Xiao Wange led him to the main hall, unlocking the door:
“Yes, let’s go inside and have the snacks Sister Jinzhu gave us.”

At the word “snacks,” Xiao Zhaozhao’s eyes lit up.

He eagerly nodded: “Yes, let’s eat! Sister Jinzhu’s snacks look so tasty

, like meat!”

Xiao Wange laughed:
“You little glutton, you love meat so much? Then tonight, we’ll eat all meat.”

The takeaway from the restaurant was mostly meat dishes; the house already had vegetables.

Xiao Zhaozhao was thrilled, rubbing his hands: “I can’t wait for tonight, then we’ll eat meat!”

Xiao Wange chuckled; the child was indeed a little foodie.

Eating meat like this daily should help him gain strength quickly.

She hoped that before the child got stronger, Zhan Zeyan wouldn’t return. Otherwise, seeing such a weak child, he might get angry and even consider divorce.

She clearly didn’t want a divorce now. She didn’t want to leave her child.

…

That evening, Xiao Wange reheated all the meat dishes, filling the house with a rich aroma.

They ate happily, while Xu Meifeng’s family had bland porridge and pickles.

The porridge was watery, the pickles overly salty, unappetizing.

Zhan Hongjun, back home once a week, was disappointed at the poor meal.

Zhan Xiaoxiao threw down his chopsticks: “I won’t eat this awful porridge and pickles! I want meat! Give me meat!”

Xu Meifeng scowled, already in a bad mood, now worsened by her grandson.

She snapped at him: “There’s no meat! Stop fussing, eat your meal!”

“I want meat!” Zhan Xiaoxiao protested, turning on his chair, glaring at Hongteng: “Second Uncle, why didn’t you bring meat? You always did before!”

Hongteng tightened his chopsticks, took a sip of porridge, and looked at Zhan Xiaoxiao:
“I didn’t earn much this time. The money I made has to pay your Third Uncle’s school fees, so…”

“You’re useless! You can’t even earn money for meat! You’re trash!”

The words changed everyone’s expressions.

Xu Meifeng held her breath, glancing at Hongteng.

“If he gets angry now… it will only make things worse. Let him walk,” she thought.

Zhan Hongteng left the hall, smiling bitterly at his family.

Were these really his family? Would real family treat him this way?

Perhaps not. Perhaps he should investigate, as Xiao Wange suggested.

Once doubt is planted in the heart, it grows uncontrollably. That seed had been sown in Hongteng.

…

The next day, Xiao Wange and Zhaozhao woke naturally, made breakfast, while Shi Jinzhu came to the village with a mother and daughter.

Shi Jinzhu carried gifts; the mother and daughter also carried items, looking exhausted.

“Jinzhu, is this Xiao the Comrade really living in this village? We can’t make a mistake,” Zhao Guixiang asked, worried.

Zhao Guixiang was He Xiaokui’s mother, who worked with Xiao Wange before.

He Xiaokui walked beside her mother, pale and restless.

Shi Jinzhu smiled at Zhao Guixiang:
“Don’t worry, she lives here. She told me herself.”

Zhao Guixiang nodded.
“How far to her house?”

Shi Jinzhu shook her head: “I don’t know. Let’s ask a villager.”

A familiar villager appeared.

The villager smiled at Shi Jinzhu: “Jinzhu! What brings you here?”

“Xu Aunt, I’m looking for someone,” Shi Jinzhu smiled politely.

The villager was Xu Meifeng.

Xu Meifeng grabbed Shi Jinzhu’s hand, warmly: “Who are you looking for? I know everyone here, I’ll take you.”

Xu Meifeng recognized Shi Jinzhu because her son Hongjun was classmates with her.

She tried to carry the gifts: “Let me help, you’ll get tired.”

Shi Jinzhu declined: “I can manage. Just guide me.”

She added: “I’m looking for a comrade named Xiao Wange. Do you know her?”

Xu Meifeng stiffened, surprised.

Shi Jinzhu repeated: “I’m looking for Xiao Wange, do you know her?”

Xu Meifeng’s anger flared: “Why are you looking for her? She’s not a good person; don’t be fooled.”

Shi Jinzhu’s face darkened:
“What do you mean? How is she not a good person?”

Xu Meifeng quickly explained: “She abused her stepson, took all my money, even beat my family almost to death!”

But…

A cold voice cut in: “Auntie, this morning I think I just heard you speaking ill of me?”

Xu Meifeng froze, turning to see Xiao Wange approaching, lips curved in a cold, mocking smile.

Shi Jinzhu smiled seeing her.

Xu Meifeng’s expression stiffened.

Xiao Wange said to Xu Meifeng:
“You said I stole your money? Where would I get your family’s money? Your lazy family has only one working member. Where would the money come from?”

Xu Meifeng’s face turned pale. She wanted to say the money was borrowed from her parents, but Xiao Wange scoffed:
“Your eldest son stole my money, I only took it back. And now you accuse me of stealing? Auntie, have some shame! Seeing you so shameless makes me embarrassed!”

Shi Jinzhu was shocked: “Her family stole from you? How could they?”

Xu Meifeng tried to explain: “It’s not like that, don’t listen to her.”

Shi Jinzhu glared seriously: “My parents can tell people well. You really aren’t a good person. Auntie Xu, you need some dignity!”

Xu Meifeng: “…”