Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Sister-in-law’s Younger Brother

A woman at the bustling market stopped her sister-in-law, talking a mile a minute and sending spittle flying everywhere.

An Ning couldn’t help but take a step back. She even thought to herself, ’Compared to this woman, Lin Cuihua is the picture of serenity.’

"Gui Fen’er, wait a second! Your younger brother is here too."

"I’ll go get him for you. Just wait!"

The look in the woman’s eyes suggested she was more interested in watching a show than in offering any real help.

Her sister-in-law, Gao Guifen, forcefully pulled her arm free. "No, thanks," she said impatiently. "I have no desire to see him."

"Mom, let’s go."

Lin Cuihua had been waiting for Gao Guifen to say something. She grabbed her, and they turned to leave at once.

"Hurry, An Ning!"

"Coming!"

An Ning caught up to the two. The woman behind them shouted after them anxiously, then turned back in a panic to find the man.

"What’s the big rush!"

The woman stomped her foot, spun around, spat on the ground, and left.

Meanwhile, Lin Cuihua was pulling Gao Guifen along as she spoke.

"I don’t mean to overstep, but your family... they’re really a bad lot. Especially that younger brother of yours."

"Mom, I know. I want nothing to do with them." Gao Guifen spoke from the heart. She hated, no, despised that family.

Lin Cuihua nodded and didn’t say anything more.

’No matter how bad they were, it was still Gao Guifen’s family. What she had just said was already pushing it.’

The three of them continued to wander through the market. An Ning didn’t know the details of the conflict between her sister-in-law and her family, and she didn’t ask.

After browsing for a while longer, Lin Cuihua sent An Ning to find the village’s oxcart. She was to save them two spots, as the crowd was making it slow for them to walk.

"Okay!"

An Ning wove through the crowd at a run, heading for the oxcart.

Not long after An Ning left, the woman from before returned, this time with a man whose hair was slicked back with grease.

"Quick, isn’t that your sister over there!"

The woman’s desire to watch the drama unfold was blatant. Finding her way blocked, Gao Guifen immediately swore at her.

"Li Dahua, what the hell is wrong with you!"

"What kind of way is that to talk? I’m just trying to help you and your brother get together. Some people just can’t recognize a favor when they see one."

Li Dahua shot her a look, then stood to the side with a pout, ready to enjoy the show.

Lin Cuihua grasped Gao Guifen’s wrist and stepped protectively in front of her. "You’re her younger brother," she said to the man. "What do you want? If you have no business here, get out of the way."

Gao Guangzong completely ignored Lin Cuihua. He glanced around before letting out a sneer.

"So, An Guoqing isn’t here."

The words were spoken with great satisfaction.

And it was true. Gao Guangzong was afraid of An Guoqing. He couldn’t count the number of times An Guoqing had beaten him; the man fought with the intent to kill.

"Gao Guangzong! If you dare lay a single finger on me, An Guoqing will beat you to death."

Gao Guifen straightened her back, refusing to let him see her fear.

Gao Guangzong was her age; they were fraternal twins.

But they had never gotten along, even as children. Gao Guangzong had always been well-fed, growing big and strong, while Gao Guifen was nothing more than his plaything—a punching bag.

Gao Guangzong was the only son in the Gao family. His three older sisters all slaved away to support him.

But Gao Guifen was different. She refused to submit.

Every fight she had with Gao Guangzong was an act of defiance. Even when their parents beat her after each clash, Gao Guifen remained defiant.

But the long-standing trauma of his abuse still made her stomach churn with fear.

Hearing An Guoqing’s name, Gao Guangzong’s expression twisted into a snarl. He kicked out, his foot connecting squarely with Gao Guifen’s stomach.

"Don’t you fucking try to scare me!"

"I’m telling you, Gao Guifen, I’m getting married. You’re going to get one thousand yuan ready for my bride price."

"I know the An family has been making money with their business!"

"If you don’t give it to me, I’ll have Mom and Dad bring a coffin to your doorstep and wail!"

Gao Guangzong was gloating, his expression one of utter disdain.

"Aaargh—my stomach—"

Gao Guifen felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, followed by a terrifying sensation of something flowing out. Her period was late—very late. Her eyes wide with terror, she grabbed onto Lin Cuihua.

"Mom—my stomach..."

"I’m here, I’m right here. Don’t move. Don’t you move."

As a mother of several children herself, Lin Cuihua understood in an instant.

Her eldest son and his wife had been trying for a child for years. When Gao Guifen was a girl, Gao Guangzong had pushed her into a hole in the ice, damaging her body and making it incredibly difficult for her to conceive.

’If she was finally pregnant...’

Lin Cuihua shot Gao Guangzong a murderous glare, then screamed at the top of her lungs, "An Ning—!"

Far away, An Ning, who had been waiting by the oxcart, leaped down and plunged back into the crowd.

"Mom! Sister-in-law! What’s wrong?"

An Ning knelt on the ground and extended her spiritual power. Her pupils dilated.

’There was a life inside her sister-in-law’s womb.’

"Don’t be scared, Sister-in-law. It’s okay. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you."

An Ning’s spiritual power formed a barrier, instantly wrapping around her sister-in-law’s womb to stanch the internal bleeding.

"Mom, we need to get to the hospital."

An Ning lifted her sister-in-law into her arms. As she turned to leave, the man blocked her path.

"So you’re An Ning. Quite the looker, aren’t you..."

"Daughter, get him!"

At Lin Cuihua’s command, An Ning lashed out with a kick that sent Gao Guangzong flying into a nearby ditch.

"Gao Guangzong, you just wait! This isn’t over!"

Lin Cuihua had no time to waste on Gao Guangzong. She led An Ning toward the oxcart.

The cart driver knew a life was at stake, so he immediately set off with the three of them, heading straight for the hospital.

Several people from their village who were also at the market started running back to give the An family the news.

The market wasn’t too far from town, and when they arrived at the hospital entrance, An Ning rushed inside, still carrying her sister-in-law.

Lin Cuihua tried to pay the driver, but he waved her off. "Worry about it later! Just go!"

"Right, right!"

Lin Cuihua hurried in after them. By then, Gao Guifen was already on an examination bed, being checked by a doctor.

"Mom, you stay here with her. I’ll go take care of the paperwork."

"Okay, okay."

Lin Cuihua went into the room, and An Ning ran off to handle the admissions process.

When she returned after finishing the paperwork, she saw that the color had returned to Lin Cuihua’s face. Her sister-in-law was wiping away tears, but she no longer looked as terrified as before.

"How is she? Is she okay?"

"She’s fine, she’s fine. She just needs to go home and rest up."

Lin Cuihua wiped away a tear as she spoke. It hadn’t been easy, not at all.

An Ning stepped forward to ask the doctor for the details.

"She shouldn’t be moved for now. She needs to stay in the hospital for a couple of days, and we need to build up her nutrition. Her constitution is also very ’cold,’ especially in her womb, which is why she’s had trouble conceiving. It would be best to supplement her diet with things like ginseng and deer antler to strengthen her. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for her to carry this baby to term."

An Ning noted it all down. She went out again to complete the paperwork for the hospital stay, and upon returning, she carried Gao Guifen into her assigned room.

"Mom, you and Sister-in-law wait here. I’m going home to get some things."

"Alright. Listen, you need to bring millet, eggs, brown sugar, ginger, and dates. And we’ll need pots, bowls, and all that, too."

"Okay, I’ve got it."

Lin Cuihua rattled off a long list of items. Once An Ning had committed it to memory, she headed out.

Just as she reached the hospital entrance, she saw An Guoqing riding up on his bicycle.

"Little Sis!"

"She’s okay! Our sister-in-law is pregnant!"