Chapter 31: Not of the Same Family, Not Under the Same Roof

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Not of the Same Family, Not Under the Same Roof

The faces of the Zhiqing turned pale. They were just young intellectuals; how could they have such authority!

"Xu Linlin, apologize." Xiao Heng said with a stern face to Xu Linlin.

"Why should I..." The words were not yet out of her mouth when Xu Linlin was met with the angry gaze of all the Zhiqing.

"Tomorrow, I will speak with the village head to revoke her teaching position. Does that suffice?" Xiao Heng turned to Fu Xiaoxiao, proactively suggesting.

"Look at her face, does it seem like she will so easily agree?" Fu Xiaoxiao eyed Xu Linlin, who wore an expression of defiance, as if wanting to ’kill’ her.

If looks could kill, she reckoned she’d be ’killed’ a thousand times over.

"Whether she agrees or not, she must agree." Xiao Heng nodded, decisively sealing Xu Linlin’s fate.

"Alright." Seeing Xiao Heng’s attitude, Fu Xiaoxiao retracted her sharp claws.

"Fu, it’s settled, let’s get going! Let’s not disturb their meal." The four aunts watching the drama stepped forward at the right time, cheerfully escorting Fu Xiaoxiao out of the Zhiqing site.

Just as Fu Xiaoxiao followed the aunts out of the Zhiqing site, a sharp scream suddenly erupted from inside.

"She has no evidence at all, how can it be determined that it’s my fault just because of what she said? I refuse to accept this." Xu Linlin gritted her teeth. The job she had fought so hard for, why should she lose it because of one word from Fu Xiaoxiao?

"It’s not just her, several people already!" Xiao Heng’s icy voice echoed. "The village head had mentioned this to me before: several villagers reported that during class, you deliberately punished students, hit their palms, made them stand, maliciously insulted them, calling them garbage, pig brains, saying they’d never succeed in life. Are you saying none of this is true?"

"They purposely framed me! They were being disruptive and not paying attention in class, shouldn’t I discipline them? I did nothing wrong!" Xu Linlin retorted through clenched teeth. "Furthermore, Zhao Qing also hits palms, so why blame it all on me."

"You don’t even know what you did wrong!" Seeing Xu Linlin’s inability to realize her mistakes, Xiao Heng no longer wished to waste his breath. "Wu Shucheng, you will substitute for her class tomorrow; I will go consult with the village head."

"No! I do not agree! You can’t do this to me!" Xu Linlin grabbed Xiao Heng’s hand, desperate.

"Let go!" Xiao Heng’s face darkened.

"Are you all trying to drive me to my death? Then I’ll just show you by dying." Xu Linlin said obstinately, causing a scene between life and death.

Leaning against the wall listening in, Fu Xiaoxiao, alongside Aunt Wang and others, cracked sunflower seeds enthusiastically.

"I told you so! That Xu Zhiqing always resorts to this tactic — crying, creating a fuss, threatening suicide to force others into submission." Aunt Wang chuckled disdainfully while nibbling on sunflower seeds.

"That’s why the village head doesn’t want to interfere! Xu Linlin inherited this trick from Old Li’s family!" Aunt Zhang shook her head disapprovingly.

"Do you think they will give in to her?" Aunt Zhang seemed quite curious.

The four glanced over at Aunt Zhang, shrugging in unison.

Not hearing a peep from inside, uncertain if Xu Linlin had been subdued, and with no more sounds coming from within, Fu Xiaoxiao and the aunts prepared to leave.

The aunts shook out their numb legs, quickly helping each one out, while Fu Xiaoxiao and the others emerged from the bushes, only to run into Xiao Heng coming out.

"..." Caught red-handed, the five exchanged glances.

"What if I said we came in to fetch something, would you believe it?" Fu Xiaoxiao awkwardly scratched her nose, giggling.

Xiao Heng’s eyes swept over Fu Xiaoxiao. She was strikingly beautiful, with long, flowing black hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, a soft oval face, delicate features, a hint of spiritual energy between her brows, bright and clear, with tiny stars hidden in the depths of her eyes. Her vibrant, ruddy lips resembling spring’s luscious cherries, her corners slightly upturned with an innate playfulness, adding to her charm.

"...Hmm." Xiao Heng nodded, as if he believed her.

"Ahem, we won’t disturb you any further. We’ll be off now." Fu Xiaoxiao gently pushed the four aunts to quickly ’escape.’

Aunt Wang and the others watched, glancing back to see Xiao Heng still standing there, staring in the direction they left.

They knew he wasn’t looking at them, those old folks, but at Fu Xiaoxiao. The four exchanged knowing glances, their eyes filled with amusement.

Watching others fall in love is always more interesting.

Back at the school, Fu Xiaoxiao saw Lu Chen and Lu Lin having fun with Niuwa and the others.

The children were playing Eagle Catching Chicks, with Lu Lin as the mother hen protecting the children behind her, Lu Chen at the very back, and Niuwa as the eagle, trying every angle to catch Lu Chen, only to be blocked by Lu Lin every time.

Niuwa was relentless, maneuvering at crafty angles, determined to catch Lu Chen.

Lu Chen, the target, was not frightened in the least; instead, he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

Fu Xiaoxiao didn’t hurry Lu Chen to leave, leaning against the wall, watching them play, and chatted with Aunt Wang and others.

"Girl, those two aren’t your biological children, are they?" Aunt Wang glanced at Fu Xiaoxiao’s slim waist, asserting.

"Can you actually tell?" Fu Xiaoxiao looked at her own waist, curious.

How could they see at a glance that she hadn’t given birth? Do they have X-ray vision?

"Hahaha, isn’t it obvious to anyone with eyes? Who has a waist like that after having two kids?" Aunt Zhang laughed heartily, patting Fu Xiaoxiao.

"I’m indeed not their birth mother. They were adopted by my husband; their birth mother was coaxed back home and remarried." Fu Xiaoxiao nodded, not hiding the fact.

"Their mother must be weak-willed, and her family’s no good! Fooled her back home, only to sell her off again!" Aunt Zhang frowned, well-acquainted with such situations from their generation.

"The poor kids had no one to take care of them, wandering the streets for a while until my husband learned of their plight and decided to adopt them." Fu Xiaoxiao explained slowly.

"Oh dear! That’s truly pitiful!" Aunt Wang, who couldn’t bear to hear such stories, lamented. Kids this age wandering around, how could they survive! There’s nothing but wolves outside...

"So why did you marry in just to be a stepmom? If you were my daughter, I’d never let you marry to become a stepmom! Being a stepmother is no easy task..." Aunt Zhang scrutinized Fu Xiaoxiao, surprised that with her conditions, she ended up as a stepmother, not like young brides couldn’t find someone decent to marry.

Fu Xiaoxiao nodded. Isn’t that right?

Given her conditions, she could have had her pick of husbands, but unfortunately, the original owner did not have that luxury of time.

"Well, it’s because... I found out I wasn’t their biological child either before leaving the home." Fu Xiaoxiao recounted how she had been treated in the Fu Family, making the four aunts gaze at her like a ’poor little cabbage.’