Wang Ying cared extremely about reputation, and she didn't want everyone to know that she abused her younger daughter, so all her oppression was done secretly.
In her previous life, the original never let anyone know Wang Ying's true nature until her death.
Then today, she'd help the original expose this venomous facade of a loving mother!
A cold glint quickly flashed in Nianyang's eyes. She shrank her neck, looking terrified, biting her lower lip hard, with tears welling up in her eyes, "Mom, did I say something wrong? Aren't the slap marks on my face from you? Didn't you force me to do laundry last night? In the heavy rain last night, you locked me in the yard and wouldn't let me in, I was soaked through, kept saying I was cold, and you didn't care. Finally, you carried me inside only after I fainted."
"I know, you don't want me to continue studying, want me to drop out and work the fields at home, save money for my sister to study. How can you be so biased between both your daughters? From childhood to now, anything good in the house goes to my sister. I've never even had a bite of an egg. Mom, I can endure all of this. I just want to study. As long as you let me continue, I'll do whatever you say. And even if you beat me afterward, I promise never to cry out and let the neighbors hear and damage your reputation!"
"You!" Wang Ying was speechless, a mouthful of blood stuck in her throat, unable to go up or down. This damned brat had learned to complain after a fever. Was she trying to ruin the reputation of the Gu Family!
Hearing Nianyang's words, the neighbors' worldviews were turned upside down. They couldn't believe that Wang Ying treated her younger daughter like this in secret. According to the second Gu girl, Wang Ying often beat her and didn't allow her to cry out loud for reputation's sake?
Who would have thought that Wang Ying was so vicious, even stepmothers wouldn't do such things!
Just then Gu Yuandao, Gu's father, happened to return from work, and everyone immediately started speaking out.
"Uncle Gu, you're finally back. Who runs your house? Your wife made the second girl have a fever to stop her from taking exams and studying!"
"Look at the slap marks on your youngest daughter's face. Nianyang is a young lady now, and she's burning with a fever, yet your wife can still strike her. Aren't you afraid of ruining your second girl's face?"
"The second girl and your eldest are both daughters, but usually you're doting over the eldest. How can you be so harsh on the younger one? Your partiality is boundless!"
Gu Yuandao's face turned bright red, "Everyone misunderstood. How could we possibly abuse our younger daughter? Our family has always treated everyone equally!"
While speaking, he covertly glared at Wang Ying. What's with this woman? Didn't she usually hide when hitting and scolding the younger daughter? How come today it's known to everyone? How can he hold his head up if it spreads?
"Dad, please persuade Mom to let me continue studying, okay? If you don't want to spend money on me, I'll even agree to cut half my food each day, do more chores, and serve you like a horse and cow."
To Gu Yuandao, in the original's memory, he was very indifferent, never concerned about the original. He would neither join in nor prevent Wang Ying from abusing her. But, he cared about face even more than Wang Ying, working at a township farm factory.
Nianyang publicly accusing Wang Ying, surely Gu Yuandao wouldn't ignore it!
Neighbors were even more supportive, helping Nianyang speak out passionately.
"Uncle Gu, your family is too unwise. She's your own daughter, and these days it's so hard to get into college, who forces someone to drop out?"
"We're not in a famine. You're working at a factory; surely your salary is forty to fifty yuan a month? It shouldn't be that you can't afford for your daughter to study. Just the other day, I saw your wife buying three new dresses for your eldest!"
"You call it equal treatment? Why don't you see your wife make your eldest drop out? Your second girl lives such a hard life, and you're unaware? Look how thin she is. How can you let your wife squander your little girl?"
Gu Yuandao was so ashamed he couldn't lift his head, wishing a hole would open up for him to hide in. He couldn't help but resent why his youngest daughter acted up today; typically, she was sensible, swallowing her grievances. How could she expose her mother in front of so many people?
"Yangyang, you're speaking nonsense. How could your mom not want you to study? You misunderstood her. Come home with Dad quickly."
Gu Yuandao said as he tried to pull Nianyang into the house. He couldn't bear this embarrassment, and he had to take her home immediately and lock the door to handle it privately. No way could family matters be publicized!
Nianyang stepped back, her voice choked, "I won't go home. If I return with you, not only will you not let me study, you'll beat me and won't even feed me. I'm not afraid of beatings or hunger. I've gotten used to hunger. I'm just afraid I'll never get to school again!"
"You wicked girl, when did I not feed you?" Wang Ying cursed angrily. This jinx was acting bravely at noon, but now was playing the pitiful card for sympathy.
Just then, Gu Youlan, who had just finished her exams and heard the story, hurriedly walked over to Nianyang with an altered complexion, holding her hand, "Yangyang, what are you doing? How could Mom and Dad possibly not let you continue studying?"