Xie Sui hadn't spoken yet, but Xie Min was already unhappy. "Mom, you're really a mother. Look at the He family's faces. For your so-called dignity and reputation, are you still planning to make me go back?"
Mother Xie said cautiously, "I'm just worried about you. You're not upholding wifely virtues, and it will be a laughingstock if word gets out. If not for yourself, then for the children. Do you want them to be called bastards?"
Xie Sui comforted his mother, "It's not that bad. My second sister is just angry. You're overthinking it. Second sister isn't that kind of person. Besides, as long as our family prospers, no one will dare to criticize us. Do they want to die?
The truth is in the hands of the capable. If we say it is, it is; if we say it isn't, it isn't. Don't you worry about this. If anyone dares to gossip, your son will stand up for you!"
Xie Min said with disappointment, "You, as a mother, understand me less than your brother. You've always favored your brother since childhood. I know the family is struggling, and I've endured hardship after hardship. But now that Little Sui is successful and can earn money, and I can support my daughters, why should I still endure the He family's mistreatment?
Does he even deserve for my daughter to call him father?
If he wants to be a father, he needs to act like one. If he pushes me too far, I'll let my daughter take the Xie surname."
He Qing was already eight years old, at an age where she understood things vaguely. Hearing her say this, she immediately said, "Can I take the Xie surname? That would be great. I'm also part of Uncle's family, and I won't have to worry about going to Grandma's house anymore."
Xie Sui's heart stirred. Yes, it would be good to have his second sister move back. She could support herself anyway. He slapped his thigh and said, "Let's do it. I'll go find the village chief right now. Let's move Second Sister's household registration back. No, let's move it directly to the county town, make her a city person."
Xie Min hadn't thought of this. "Move to the county town? Is that possible?"
"Why not? The pickle factory is a state-owned enterprise, and the workers all have county town household registrations. You won't be the exception. If Elder Sister wants to move, it's no problem to move her too."
Xie Min was decisive. "Then let's move, and completely sever ties with the He family."
"Second Sister is so straightforward. I like Second Sister like this. It's decided. Tonight, let's prepare some wine and dishes and have a good drink."
Xie Min said, "I don't drink."
Xie Sui let out a cold laugh. "You don't drink? Who are you kidding? Do you think I don't know you got the supply and marketing cooperative director drunk when you were doing business? You're putting on an act!"
The Xie family inherited good drinking capacity. Xie Sui himself could drink a jin as an appetizer and two jin without falling. He was known for his drinking prowess at banquets, and Xie Min was the same. This was Hu Pan's complaint, and she was scared of how much she drank.
Why would Xie Min continue to pretend?
"Hehe, then I won't pretend anymore!"
"Everyone drinks. We won't stop until we're drunk."
Lin Wanwan was speechless. If everyone got drunk, who would do the work?
Mother Xie watched her children happily chatting, and suddenly shed tears. "I wonder how your third sister is doing? She's truly heartless. She left, and it's been several years with no news."
Xie Sui comforted her, "Mom, I'm already investigating Third Sister's situation. Don't worry, I'll find Third Sister next year and make her apologize to you. She's too unfilial, I'll scold her."
Mother Xie said, "Don't talk about her. Your third sister holds a grudge, I know. But girls grow up and get married; they become someone else's family. Can they be compared to the boys in the family?
Isn't this how every family goes through it? We did mistreat her, but there was no other way. If the family had been a bit wealthier, your father and I would have been willing to treat them equally."
In the end, it was all due to poverty.
Xie Sui felt guilty and also blamed himself for being ignorant in his early years and burdening the family.
The atmosphere became a bit somber when suddenly, with a "dong," it startled everyone. Outside, there was a commotion, and someone shouted, "Quick, the mule is spooked!"
Xie Sui immediately ran out to see. He found his own little cub holding incense, with remnants of firecrackers nearby. His face sank. "Did you set off firecrackers and spook the mule?"
Fortunately, the mule wasn't running towards him. A cold sweat broke out on Xie Sui's back. This little cub was truly asking for a beating!
Doudou was startled and suddenly burst into tears. "Daddy, you scared me! The mule was going to run into me, so I used firecrackers to scare it away."
So that's what happened. Xie Sui hugged Doudou and soothed him. "Daddy misunderstood you. You're saying the mule ran into you first?"
"Yes, it was so big, I was too scared."
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, Daddy is here."
Xie Sui's gaze turned grim. He hoped it was just an accident. However, it was the New Year, and the livestock were all resting. Whose mule would run around randomly?
This matter needed to be investigated; it couldn't be let go. If someone had an opinion of him, they could come to him, but to attack his child was too despicable.
He didn't tell Lin Wanwan about this, fearing she would worry.
That evening, he didn't drink with Xie Min. Instead, he took wine and meat to find the village chief and discussed the mule incident.
To Xie Sui's surprise, the mule belonged to Zhang Wenfeng, and it had even helped him earn his first sum of capital. It couldn't possibly be Zhang Wenfeng trying to harm him, could it?
The Zhang family didn't have the guts. Besides, they depended on Xie Sui for their livelihood. How could they smash their own rice bowl?
Someone was framing the Zhang family.
Xie Sui immediately thought of this. In his previous life, how many schemes and tricks could escape his eyes?
The next day, he went to ask Zhang Wenfeng if any guests had visited, or who would have been most convenient to target the mule. Sherlock Holmes Sui was online, and everyone was a suspect.
Zhang Wenfeng was taking care of the mule. It was listless after being spooked yesterday, its big eyes looking very innocent.
This mule was also Zhang's father's treasure. The old man cared about it the most. Now that the family was making money, they took even better care of the mule, feeding it high-quality feed.
Xie Sui examined the mule. It was a large animal that wasn't easily spooked and was very docile.
"Brother Xie, you're here. I don't know why my mule suddenly ran out yesterday. It startled me, and it almost hit someone."
"Yes, it almost hit my son."
Zhang Wenfeng didn't know this and was startled. "How is the child? No, Brother Xie, why didn't you say so earlier? Is the child alright?"
"He's fine. Did anyone visit your house yesterday?"
"No, my family doesn't interact much with the villagers. No one visits at this time; everyone is busy preparing New Year goods. Visitors usually come after the New Year."
Xie Sui looked around the mule pen. The earthen walls were enclosed with straw mats, a very dilapidated pen. As long as one lifted their foot, they could lift the straw mat and climb in.
However, it was unlikely to be stolen. Such a large animal couldn't be hidden on the street. This mule pen was just for shelter from the wind and rain, and no one in the village dared to steal large livestock.
Suddenly, he noticed a trace of a straw mat being lifted again, just enough for a person to squeeze through. This further confirmed that it was a premeditated act, not an accident.
He wandered around Zhang's house and found that a few households away was the home of the former village chief, Zhao Tiegang. Could he be retaliating against him?