Forced to marry a disabled man in the countryside? I'll repay you tenfold!

Liu Shuqing strode in, took out a kraft paper envelope from his pocket, and handed it to Su Wanqing: "Here, this is the payment for the last batch of oyster mushrooms. According to our agreement, this is your share, 37 yuan. Count it."

Su Wanqing didn't stand on ceremony, took the envelope, and felt its thickness. "Thank you very much, Secretary Liu!"

"Don't mention it, you deserve it." Liu Shuqing waved his hand and took out a small cloth bag from another pocket. "And this, my master instructed me to do this. The troupe has already designated those few acres of experimental fields. These are lavender seeds, they're very precious, they were specially approved from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Tomorrow, a technician will be sent over to guide the sowing."

Su Wanqing solemnly accepted the seed packet. "Don't worry, Secretary Liu, I will definitely handle this matter well and live up to the trust of the organization and Director Li."

"That's good! Come on, since we have some free time now, shall I take you to get acquainted with the place?" Liu Shuqing suggested.

Chen Xiuer, who was holding and gently coaxing the child, immediately said sensibly, "Dr. Su, Secretary Liu, you can go ahead and do your work. I'll keep an eye on the planting site."

She stayed at the planting site until very late yesterday before returning home. Surprisingly, her usually grumbling mother-in-law was unusually quiet yesterday. Her husband, Zhao Shupi, on the other hand, was all smiles and ingratiating words last night, hinting at his desire to be intimate with her, and coaxed her for quite a while.

But Chen Xiuer knew in her heart that the man hadn't suddenly changed his mind. He just saw that she could now earn eight work points a day plus subsidies, making her an important source of income for the family and giving her value.

Therefore, women still need to be able to stand on their own two feet, and have their own value and confidence.

Otherwise, she'd end up like Qiaocui, the wife of Er Mazi next door. She received two hundred yuan as a bride price, which was practically equivalent to being sold to Er Mazi's family. Over the years, she's had four children, and she does all the work—housework, fields, cooking—she's so busy she doesn't even have time to hang herself. At night, she has to serve her husband, and being beaten and scolded is commonplace; she never even gets a decent meal.

Her mother-in-law would constantly say things like, "Two hundred yuan can buy a donkey that can pull a millstone. How much more valuable are you than a donkey? You think you can serve livestock on the table? Dream on! We only leave you a sip of soup because the Wang family is kind!"

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 20 ...

"Let me tell you, from the moment your parents took that two hundred yuan, you belonged to the Wang family! Beating and scolding you was to teach you how to be a good animal! What, you still want to go back to your parents' home? Fine, make your parents return that two hundred yuan, with interest! If they can't, you'll obediently serve as a slave in this house until you die!"

Chen Xiuer felt that demanding a high bride price was like selling her daughter, and that she wouldn't have a good life in her husband's family, so she didn't ask for a bride price. And what happened? Ha, her husband's family thought she wasn't good enough for him!

Chen Xiuer shook her head, dismissing these chaotic thoughts. She figured that since the mushrooms at the cultivation site needed to be watched over at all times, she might as well move in and live there.

Firstly, she could legitimately distance herself from her husband and mother-in-law, avoiding daily visits to see their disapproving looks and dealing with her husband's ulterior motives—wanting to sleep together? He'd better hold back! Secondly, she could enjoy some peace and quiet. Living here with her child, she could concentrate on her work and slowly accumulate work points and money. In about six months, once she had saved enough money and materials, perhaps she could apply for a plot of land, build a small brick house, and completely escape Zhao Shupi and his mean-spirited mother!

Hearing Xiuer say that, Su Wanqing smiled and nodded, "Okay, then Xiuer will have to work hard here. Secretary Liu, let's go check on the experimental field now. I'll get the land ready in the next couple of days."

Just then, there was a loud banging on the door.

Immediately afterwards, the door was pushed open, and several people rushed in, led by a panicked Zhao Shupi.

Chen Xiuer frowned, a surge of anger rising within her: What's wrong with this man now? What's he doing barging into the planting site in broad daylight?

Before she could even utter a curse, Zhao Shupi's voice trembled as he said, "Is Dr. Su here?! Something terrible has happened! Er Mazi's whole family has collapsed! They're foaming at the mouth, convulsing violently, and they look like they're about to die! Quick! Go save them!"

Upon seeing Liu Shuqing, the others seemed to have found their pillar of support and began chattering excitedly:

"Secretary Liu! You're here too! Perfect timing! Someone's died!"

"Yes, yes! Almost the entire Er Mazi family, young and old, more than a dozen people, were lying down! The scene was terrifying!"

"I bet it was that old hag Qiaocui who poisoned the whole family! Otherwise, how come she's the only one still alive?"

"Don't talk nonsense! We don't even know what's going on yet! I think Qiaocui is terrified too!"

Liu Shuqing's expression changed drastically. "Stop arguing! What happened? How did this whole family suddenly collapse? What did they eat? Where are they?!" He quickly made a decision, "You guys, go and keep an eye on Er Mazi's wife first, don't let her run around! Saving lives is the priority, we'll talk about the rest later!"

Su Wanqing had already put down what she was holding. "Where is he? At the clinic?"

"We carried you to the clinic! But there was no one there, so we rushed here to find you!" a man said urgently.

"Let's go!" Without saying a word, Su Wanqing followed the others and rushed outside.

Holding her child, Chen Xiuer stared blankly as the group of people rushed out again. The baby behind her was startled by the sudden noise and burst into tears. She quickly hugged the child tightly and gently comforted him. After everyone had left, she turned around and bolted the door, breastfeeding her child while lost in thought.

Yesterday, my mother-in-law was still talking about how everyone praises Er Mazi's wife. She's good at both childbearing and working, keeps the house tidy, and doesn't neglect the work in the fields—she's earned it all through hard work!

The mother-in-law even envied Er Mazi's daughter-in-law, saying that if she disobeyed, she could be beaten and become obedient and hardworking? Two hundred yuan in dowry could buy a slave or servant?

And what happened? Today, that "good daughter-in-law" has brought the whole family to their knees?

Chen Xiuer let out a cold laugh.

Anyone would be pushed to their limit after being bullied like that, right? Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Do those men really think that a few beatings will make a woman obedient and submissive forever?

·

Liu Shuqing was so anxious that he was sweating profusely, and he ran as fast as he could!

Su Wanqing followed the messenger, running all the way. Suddenly, an entire family had been poisoned...

Sigh, she's a medic, and there's hardly anyone around. At most, she gets some minor cuts and bruises treated. I never expected such a big one to come here!