12dz Chapter 2 Even the in-laws were beaten
Chapter 2 Even the in-laws were beaten
"Sister, I'm done washing up, you should go wash up now."
Lin Xi came out of the house and sniffed her newly changed clothes, but there was a strange smell about them.
There was no soap or anything like that at home, so he couldn't get clean at all. But in this unfamiliar era, being able to take a bath was already a great comfort to him, who had transmigrated from the apocalypse.
In the post-apocalyptic world, resources were scarce and zombies roamed the outside world, forcing them to become "homebodies".
After storing electricity with solar panels each day, he watches food videos and practices cutting air with a cleaver on a cutting board.
His best friend, Gao Mengli, likes to watch videos about the making of various condiments, cosmetics such as lipsticks, blushes, and skincare products, or soaps. He admires her for her exceptional hands-on skills.
Even more frightening is that she has become obsessed with farming and wilderness survival channels, watching them with great interest every day.
In their world, they could only stay at home and couldn't go out at all. They could only watch and not do anything; even if they had recipes, it was useless. They couldn't grow land, and there were no crops. They could only go out periodically to find supplies.
A zombie apocalypse has occurred, causing a sharp decline in the population, leaving fewer than two million people worldwide.
In his opinion, he would rather spend that time watching videos of his ancestors making food to "quench his thirst by looking at plums."
Lin Xi looked around at this dilapidated "home". Actually, his best friend was right. Traveling from the apocalypse to a peaceful era was already a blessing from heaven for them. It was like a pie falling from the sky, the best thing ever!
Da Niu poked his head out from the straw shed, peeking fearfully at Lin Xi standing in the yard.
Lin Xi felt a burning gaze on her body, and when she turned her head, she saw Da Niu's head sticking out.
This is their "cheap son"—Da Niu.
He composed himself and waved to him in a friendly manner, but to Da Niu, this gesture seemed like a summoning of a ghost.
He was startled. Oh no, could it be that his father was going to settle scores later?
Aunt Lin Xi called out with a smile, "Da Niu, come here."
Da Niu shuddered. Every time, his father would first show his meager "fatherly love" and then send him to "steal" something.
However, his grandparents taught him not to do anything despicable like "stealing chickens and dogs," and he didn't want to become like his parents.
So every time his father heard him refuse, he would beat him up.
He touched the bruises on his hands, feeling terrified. He looked at Lin Xi as if he were a "demon," and just one glance at his "smile" would give him nightmares for several nights in a row.
"Father, I was wrong, please don't hit me anymore. I shouldn't have asked where the money was at Mother's house..."
Da Niu cried out at the top of his lungs and immediately ran over and knelt in front of him, hoping to awaken the few remaining traces of "fatherly love" in his father's heart.
Lin Xi was stunned by his shout, leaving him speechless and frozen in shock.
He just wanted to know what was going on with this family, but who could tell him what was going on? Is this kid trying to scam someone?
"What happened?"
Gao Mengli had just finished wiping herself when she heard a commotion in the yard. Judging from the voice, it was her "son".
She quickly put on her clothes and came out, only to see this scene.
"Mother, I was wrong, I was wrong, please forgive me."
Da Niu crawled on his knees to Gao Mengli's side, crying with tears and snot streaming down his face. He looked utterly miserable.
Gao Mengli looked at Lin Xi with a questioning gaze.
Gao Mengli: What happened?
Lin Xi: I don't know either.
Neither of them knew anything, and they stared at each other blankly.
Seeing the exchange of glances between the two, Da Niu thought to himself, "Oh no, his parents are probably plotting something nasty. I, Da Niu, am doomed today."
"Hey, you two, try hitting Da Niu again."
Just then, an old woman from the neighboring yard ran over carrying a wooden stick, stood at the gate, and angrily pointed the stick at the two of them.
Lin Xi was so frightened by the fierce-looking old woman that she ran behind Gao Mengli and whispered, "Sister, who is she? She's so fierce."
Gao Mengli looked at the old woman and was about to go over and explain that she did not intend to hit the child.
The old woman saw her walking towards her and screamed in fright. She dropped her wooden stick and ran back to the yard next door, making sure to close the gate behind her.
A gust of wind blew by, leaving only the two people in the messy yard, and Da Niu wailing on the ground.
Gao Mengli looked at the wooden stick that had been thrown on the ground, and then at the tightly closed door next door.
What happened? How could they just run away?
She walked over and picked up the stick, just as the gate to the neighboring yard opened again, and everyone in the neighboring yard who was home came out at once.
She recognized the old man; he was the thin, frail old man who had asked someone to help her earlier.
Beside him followed a young woman with a dark complexion and slightly sunken cheeks. Her clothes were simple, with a few patches on her faded white clothes, but they were clean and tidy.
The old woman next to me had gray hair, her face covered with deep and shallow wrinkles, her eyes slightly sunken, her gaze somewhat cloudy, her lips dry and wrinkled.
And there were three little kids peeking out from the entrance to her yard.
The three little figures looked at Gao Mengli and Lin Xi with resentment. They were too small to speak out, and could only vent their anger.
The old man took a half step forward and spoke first, "Elder brother, you two are really becoming more and more outrageous. Even tigers don't eat their cubs. Da Niu is your own son, how can you abuse him like this every day?"
Faced with the old man's challenge, Gao Mengli looked surprised, but she also grasped the important information from his words.
The old man and the old woman are the original owner's parents-in-law, and the young woman next to them should be the original owner's sister-in-law.
Also, the original owner and her husband abused their son every day? What's going on?
She looked down at Da Niu's clothes, which were obviously much smaller than his, and saw that his exposed arm was covered in bruises. Her pupils contracted slightly.
What a terrible thing! What kind of awful parents are they?
Gao Mengli took two steps forward, wanting to learn more.
To her surprise, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law took two steps back in fear, and although her father-in-law saw that she did not move, his legs were trembling slightly as he stood there.
Gao Mengli was startled. Could it be that the original owner of this body also beat her in-laws? And her sisters-in-law?
Seriously? Is this world some kind of magic? A daughter-in-law hitting her in-laws? This woman is so fierce!
"What do you want to do? Just stand there and don't move."
Her father-in-law, trying to appear calm, shouted out.
Gao Mengli stood there, stunned, unsure of what to do. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain something, but felt that any words at this moment would sound like sophistry.
She gestured to Lin Xi, "Come here quickly, you're my dear father and mother."
Lin Xi shook his head when he saw his father's serious expression.
No, he wouldn't go; he was afraid.
There was a tense atmosphere in the air, like a taut string that could break at any time.
Da Niu knelt to one side, watching all this timidly, his small body trembling slightly.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi looked at Da Niu with heartache; this child had really suffered.
After a moment, Gao Mengli took a deep breath and slowly said, "Father, Mother, I...we know we were wrong before. We are not the same people we used to be. We have decided to turn over a new leaf and live a good life."
Yes, she's not the original owner anymore; she's Gao Mengli. You can't generalize like that.
Lin Xi quickly chimed in, nodding in agreement.
Her sister-in-law and mother-in-law still looked unconvinced, their eyes filled with vigilance and defensiveness.
Gao Mengli's father-in-law frowned, scrutinizing the two of them, trying to determine the truthfulness of her words.
Could this be a delaying tactic, waiting for them to leave before attacking Da Niu again?
We absolutely must not fall for their wicked scheme.