Pampered by the Toughest Man After Divorce
Chapter 1306 - 1128 Xiao’ai, Dabao, Xiaobei

Chapter 1306: Chapter 1128 Xiao’ai, Dabao, Xiaobei

Now, Axiang couldn’t even force a smile. When she saw Xia Dabao, she just nodded and numbly spread the fish grass.

"Axiang," Xia Dabao called out to her, "have you eaten yet?"

She was intentionally trying to start a conversation with Axiang.

Axiang just shook her head, "Not yet. And you, Abao?"

"I haven’t either. I’m about to cook," Xia Dabao said, but after speaking, she again didn’t know what to say to Axiang.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward, fortunately Axiang was focused on spreading the fish grass and looked as if she was heavy with thoughts.

So, Xia Dabao couldn’t help but ask, "Axiang, have you been doing alright lately?"

Axiang looked up and asked, "What do you mean... doing alright?"

"..." Xia Dabao was somewhat at a loss for words, then said, "Naturally, I’m asking if life has been treating you well?"

"Life?" Asking only made things worse, as Axiang suddenly looked like she was about to cry. She shook her head again, "I don’t know."

Across the pond, Axiang spoke in such a low voice that Xia Dabao had to pay close attention to understand what she was saying.

In fact, there was no need to ask; Axiang’s days were undoubtedly getting tougher by the day.

No sooner had she responded to Xia Dabao, that Auntie Zhao came out.

As soon as Auntie Zhao emerged, she started bellowing, "You lazy thing, taking forever to spread some fish grass. No need to cook or light the fire? Always so slow in whatever you do. Have you forgotten that you came here to work? Do you think you’re still the pampered young lady from before?"

Auntie Zhao’s words were extremely harsh, but Axiang didn’t argue back, probably used to it by now. She merely finished spreading the fish grass in her basket, then blankly got up, most likely heading back to cook.

Xia Dabao couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache.

Perhaps the issues she had with Tian Xiaobei paled in comparison with what Axiang was going through; Axiang was bullied by her in-laws, and didn’t have anyone in her own family to confide in. Her grandmother was old and turned a blind eye to everything, while Widow Chen didn’t consider her feelings at all.

Xia Dabao felt that she was far more fortunate than Axiang.

Sighing, she finished spreading the fish grass, picked up her basket intending to leave, but she couldn’t let go of the thought of Axiang across the way, wondering what kind of treatment she was receiving at their house.

After Auntie Zhao had left and no one was paying any attention to her, Xia Dabao slowly crawled along the corner of the wall over to the other side of the pond. With a leap, she landed steadily behind the house of Auntie Zhao.

Then she quietly climbed up the wall and observed what was happening inside.

Axiang was back in the courtyard. Inside, Zhao Datu was idly picking at the mud on his feet, probably just back from the fields. When he saw Axiang approaching, he gave her a glare and rudely said, "Bring me a cup of water. I’m dying of thirst."

Axiang set down her basket and silently turned to get the water. Datu, finding her too slow, shouted again, "What’s with the dawdling, did you lose your soul or something?"

Axiang said nothing in response, but Auntie Zhao who followed shouted, "Exactly, she’s been like this lately, distracted, like she’s possessed. She used to work hard when she first arrived, now she’s just unmanageable. I tell you, a daughter-in-law like this needs a beating."

As Axiang was pouring tea, she paused slightly upon hearing Auntie Zhao’s words, but she quickly brought the tea to Datu. Without looking at Datu again, she waited for him to take the cup before turning to leave.

Upon drinking, Datu was scalded and couldn’t help but get angry, "Ouch, are you trying to scald me to death?"