"How can I bring her? Da Sheng's family has a sick father, and they've spent a lot of money to treat him. It's good enough that he doesn't mind that I'm divorced, and I'm supposed to bring my daughter too? How am I supposed to live my life afterwards?"
Hearing her constantly talk about herself, and only treating her daughter as a burden, Xia Weiliang suddenly had nothing more to say. Chen Zhi had her difficulties, and no rule stated that a mother must dedicate her entire life to her children.
As the three of them were talking, a sharp voice rang out.
"Who are you people? What are you doing in front of my house?"
The three turned around and saw an old woman with white hair, carrying a hoe, approaching them.
Upon seeing her, Chen Zhi immediately whispered, "My mother-in-law is back. You should leave quickly."
Shen Xia Shǔ quickly greeted the old woman, "Aunt Qian, you're back." Then she said to the other two, "Sister Xia, Sister Shang, let's go back first."
Noticing that the old woman seemed difficult to deal with, Chen Zhi was also very afraid of her. Xia Weiliang and Shang Rong Rong didn't want to cause trouble for anyone, so they turned to leave.
Unexpectedly, Aunt Qian called out to stop them, "Don't go!"
Shen Xia Shǔ cried out, "Oh no," and turned back with a苦苦 face, "Aunt Qian, who are these two people..."
"I know why you're here! Aren't you here to ask us to acknowledge that girl? Let me tell you, forget it! She's not part of our Liu family's lineage, so why should we raise a freeloader? " She then glanced sideways at Chen Zhi, "It's already enough to support one! And now you want to support another? What are you thinking?"
Chen Zhi lowered her head, her face flushing with shame.
She hadn't expected her mother-in-law to be so fierce, and Chen Zhi was extremely afraid of her. Xia Weiliang knew they had been rash this time. She said, "I'm sorry for the intrusion," and then pulled Shang Rong Rong away.
From behind, the old woman's scolding could still be heard, "Go home! Have you cooked the meal yet, or are you just standing here chatting?"
"I was just about to, and they arrived..."
"Couldn't you have just not opened the door when they arrived? That reporter last time already stirred up a hornet's nest. Are you intentionally trying to make our Liu family miserable?"
"Mom, I didn't..."
The door slammed shut.
Xia Weiliang turned to look. She could guess that these words were meant for them to hear.
"Xiao Shǔ, is her mother-in-law really that formidable?"
"Formidable is an understatement!" Shen Xia Shǔ clicked her tongue twice. "In our Liu Village, there are only two women you can't mess with. One is this Aunt Qian!"
Shang Rong Rong asked curiously, "You said two?"
"Ah, the other one is my sister."
Xia Weiliang could also tell that Shen Chun Hua's ferocity was probably on par with Aunt Qian's.
"Alas, it's my fault for not telling you some things in advance," Shen Xia Shǔ said. "This Aunt Qian is distantly related to my family, so I have to call her Aunt Qian. My aunt, when she was young, was famous. If anything displeased her in her husband's home, she would grab a rolling pin and chase her husband down the street. That scene... tsk tsk, I was deeply shocked even as a child..."
Xia Weiliang listened with envy, "Auntie has lived the life that we women dream of."
Shang Rong Rong also nodded, "Yes, she's a role model."
Shen Xia Shǔ sighed again, "But if she becomes a mother-in-law with this temper, what girl would dare to marry into her family? This is also why my uncle has never gotten married."
Xia Weiliang said, "Chen Zhi should know this too. There's no need to insist on marrying into her family!"
"Aunt Chen Zhi, that person, is mainly too indecisive. After divorcing her husband, she always felt like she couldn't hold her head up in the village. When someone proposed a marriage for Liu Da Sheng, she agreed without much consideration. After marrying, she was bossed around by Aunt Qian every day, and if anything was slightly wrong, she would be scolded. The neighbors could all hear it, and they were all glad they didn't end up with such a mother-in-law!"
He continued, "Because of Mei Mei, my sister has come to mediate several times, but it was all in vain. As long as Aunt Qian is in charge, there's no room for negotiation."
Xia Weiliang frowned as she listened, "Then Mei Mei can only live her life alone?"
Thinking of the little girl in the video who cooked, slept, and went to school alone, she felt uneasy.
Shang Rong Rong asked, "What about adoption?"
Shen Xia Shǔ shook her head, "She was awarded to her mother, so she's not considered an orphan, and doesn't qualify for adoption. Besides, few people want to adopt children this old. Before, a family in the village proposed to bring Xiao Mei Mei to live with them. They didn't need any adoption procedures; the two families just needed to sign an agreement."
Xia Weiliang quickly said, "Isn't that good?"
She thought it must be kind-hearted people who sympathized with the little girl.
"It was quite good, but her mother absolutely refused to sign, which made my sister so angry that she went to their house to scold them."
Shang Rong Rong also frowned, "Don't even mention your sister, I'm already furious just listening to it."
Xia Weiliang didn't understand, "Why? If they don't raise her, they won't let others help?"
"Alas, after the fact, I heard my brother-in-law's analysis. Given my aunt's personality, how could she be so resolute? It's all because her mother-in-law cares about appearances, afraid that after the child is taken away, their family will be infamously known for abandoning their child. That's why she forbade my aunt from agreeing."
Xia Weiliang clenched her fists in anger, "For the sake of that superficial reputation, they would rather abuse a child like this?"
How old was Mei Mei at the time? A ten-year-old child!
Children of this age were usually doted on by their parents, yet she had to start living independently, without care, without attention, facing loneliness alone.
She then remembered the crying she had heard earlier. She was so reluctant, yet Chen Zhi still left.
Shen Xia Shǔ said, "After that, no one dared to interfere in their family's affairs anymore. They didn't want to provoke Aunt Qian again. Clearly, it was a good deed, but it brought them trouble. Who wouldn't be unhappy with that?"
Xia Weiliang nodded gently, "Chen Zhi's life isn't easy either."
Shang Rong Rong said coldly, "She chose her own path. Who can she blame for getting hurt?"
This response was very much like Shang Rong Rong. Xia Weiliang quietly looked at Shen Xia Shǔ, who immediately understood and whispered, "The camera isn't on..."
Only then did she feel relieved.
But Shang Rong Rong didn't care, "It doesn't matter if it's on. I'm not here to follow a script and recite lines."
Shen Xia Shǔ was extremely excited to hear this. She was indeed his favorite idol, so charismatic!
Since she thought this way, what was there to wait for?
Xia Weiliang motioned for him to set up the camera and turn it on to continue filming.
As Director Huang had said, the variety show they were making was not just for entertainment, but also to provide food for thought for the audience. "Authenticity" was the essence of the program.
As they walked, Xia Weiliang suddenly stopped. Shang Rong Rong looked at her, and Shen Xia Shǔ's camera also zoomed in.
"I'm going to make her give up custody."