Meng Yao pushed Mrs. Li away and rushed towards Song Xiu'er.
Fortunately, she managed to grab Song Xiu'er's wrist. The hairpin only pierced the skin and did not cause more severe harm.
Meng Yao sighed in relief, "Xiu'er, let go. I know you are hurting inside, but no matter how painful, you shouldn't joke with your own life."
Song Xiu'er, instead of letting go, struggled even harder. Afraid of hurting her further during the pull, Meng Yao held the hairpin with her other hand.
A person bent on death has extraordinary strength. Song Xiu'er not only broke free from Meng Yao's restraint, but the hairpin also grazed Meng Yao's hand, leaving a gaping wound, bloody and torn.
Perhaps startled by the sight of the wound, Song Xiu'er was momentarily dumbfounded.
Meng Yao took the opportunity to snatch the hairpin away and threw it where Song Xiu'er couldn't reach.
Zhao Dajiang ran in, panting, followed closely by an equally breathless doctor.
Seeing the shocking wound on Meng Yao's hand, Zhao Dajiang shouted, "Mother, what happened? Who hurt you? I'll make them pay!"
His wife was tormented by her original family, Zhao Dajiang was indifferent.
His wife was kicked to death by her mother-in-law, Zhao Dajiang was indifferent.
Their unborn child was gone, Zhao Dajiang was indifferent.
Meng Yao had a wound on her hand, Zhao Dajiang was furious.
The way this son was raised is truly inexplicable.
Meng Yao felt very stifled; she didn't want to pay attention to this 'filial' son at all.
"Doctor Li, quickly take a look at our Xiu'er." Meng Yao called the doctor.
Doctor Li glanced at the wound on Meng Yao's hand, also puzzled that Mrs. Meng didn't care about her own injury, but instead asked him to check on Mrs. Song first. This was unusual.
Although puzzled, Doctor Li didn't show it and did as Meng Yao instructed, checking on Song Xiu'er.
Speaking of which, living in the same village, it was the first time he felt Song Xiu'er's pulse.
The child couldn't be saved; Doctor Li wasn't surprised since when Zhao Dajiang had sought him, he gestured how much blood had been lost. Given the shallow months and large blood loss, not even immortals could have saved it.
What surprised Doctor Li was the deficiency in Song Xiu'er's body.
Such a person, even being pregnant, couldn't sustain it.
Simply put, there wasn't enough nutrition for her own body, let alone the child.
To put it even simpler, she was chronically underfed.
Zhou Country has had good weather in recent years, and common people's lives weren't hard; though they couldn't have white rice every meal, filling their stomachs wasn't a problem.
Meng Yao knew about Song Xiu'er's severe malnutrition condition.
Seeing Doctor Li's peculiar expression, she knew he also figured it out.
Song Xiu'er married into the Zhao Family last autumn; the original family wasn't the best, but they didn't short Song Xiu'er on food.
Of course, while they enjoyed good food, Song Xiu'er had less quality, but never in quantity.
"Doctor Li, is Xiu'er alright?" Meng Yao asked.
"Sister Zhao, I usually don't meddle in other families' businesses, but today I must say something! It's hard for you to raise four children alone, and it was difficult to get Dajiang a wife. It's understandable if you can't treat Mrs. Song like your own daughter, no one can blame you, but you should at least let her eat enough! Just look at her body; even if her stomach wasn't kicked today, the child wouldn't survive!" Doctor Li got angrier as he spoke, and his voice gradually raised.
Earlier, when Zhao Dajiang hurriedly dragged Doctor Li back home, some followed out of concern for the Zhao Family's situation, hoping to lend a hand.
As a result, they heard such explosive news.
The eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhao Family was pregnant, but the child was kicked away.
Mrs. Zhao tormented her daughter-in-law, not giving her enough food; even if the child wasn't kicked away, Song's body was so deficient it couldn't sustain a child.
"You Meng, how dare you torture my Xiu'er like this. I must have been blind to marry Xiu'er into your family!" Mrs. Li shouted while pointing at Meng Yao's nose and cursing, pulling Song Xiu'er, "Xiu'er, let's go. Your mother will take you home. If that old hag wants to divorce you, let her. Once you're divorced, I'll find you a good family."
The rage on her face could make one believe she was a loving mother if Meng Yao didn't know Mrs. Li's true nature.
Originally dazed, Song Xiu'er's body trembled violently, shouting, "I won't go back, I won't go back."
Why is the daughter scared like this when her mother comes to defend her?
The onlookers were baffled.
Meng Yao, however, understood it very well.
If Mrs. Li could cruelly kick Song Xiu'er in front of her, one could only imagine how miserable Song Xiu'er's life was in the Song Family.
"Why are you so lowly? This old hag torments you, yet you still cling to her?" Mrs. Li pinched Song Xiu'er.
"Mrs. Li, do you think I'm dead to let you throw dirt on my name like this? How the child of Xiu'er was lost, others might not know, but don't you know? Folks, my poor grandson was kicked away by his cruel grandmother!" Meng Yao wiped her tears.
She wasn't faking her tears; she took the opportunity to shed real tears.
"Bah, didn't you hear what Doctor Li said? Even if not kicked, the child wouldn't survive," Mrs. Li spat.
"Saying that, I must discuss with you carefully. Doctor Li pointed out that Xiu'er couldn't get enough to eat, practically starved into this state! While I can't claim to have done everything well, in terms of meals, Xiu'er, say it yourself, was the portion I gave you sufficient? Enough to fill your stomach?" Meng Yao asked.
"My Xiu'er was constantly tormented by you, so of course, she'd agree to whatever you said!" Mrs. Li retorted indignantly.
"Gods are watching above. I, Meng Yao, swear before everyone today; I might lack in other areas, but since Xiu'er entered our home, I have not stinted her on food. If there's any falsehood, may I be struck by lightning, dying a terrible death." Meng Yao, with tear-stained face, spoke firmly.
Swearing such oaths could indeed frighten people.
At least, to these ancient people, Meng Yao's words seemed trustworthy.
Panic flashed in Mrs. Li's eyes; she understood better than anyone else why her daughter was underfed.
Although she believed a girl didn't deserve to eat her fill in the first place.
"Many swear oaths, does Heaven manage to oversee all of them?" Mrs. Li stiffened her neck, "Meng, stop acting for everyone."
She finished and went to pull Song Xiu'er, urging her to leave.
Song Xiu'er was full of resistance, unwilling to return.
From as long as she could remember, the past half-year at the Zhao Family was the happiest time of her life.
Though her mother-in-law always picked on her and complained to Brother Jiang, her mother-in-law didn't beat her.
Moreover, her mother-in-law dearly loved her daughter.
Though it wasn't her being loved, seeing her mother-in-law treat Xiaohua well made her feel less hopeless.
Not all mothers called their daughters burdens all the time.
Also, Brother Jiang, when not instigated by her mother-in-law, was kind to her, at least never treated her as harshly as her brothers did.