Chapter 147: Salvaging Memories (Part 2)
Over and over again, a gentle force enveloped Xu Xue.
Liu Sanniang finally saw the accident that happened to Xu Xue ten days ago. Xu Xue pushed a cart of fish into the city. On the way, she encountered a carriage. The carriage moved very slowly, and there was a coughing sound coming out of the carriage from time to time.
She took a look and knew that this was Zhang Tianyou’s grandmother’s carriage. Xu Xue walked quickly and overtook the carriage. At this moment, a voice came from the carriage. “Is it Xue?”
A strange voice made Xu Xue stop. She knew that it was Zhang Tianyou. Zhang Tianyou was born with a congenital deficiency and was two years older than her. She had heard that he was an invalid. People often bet on when he would die.
Growing up, Zhang Tianyou had no friends. Everyone knew that there was such a person, but few had seen him. Xu Xue had only seen him a few times and had never spoken to him. Zhang Tianyou actually called her name, which surprised Xu Xue.
She replied. “It’s me. Are you Brother Zhang?”
“Cough, cough, cough. Yes.”
Zhang Tianyou replied as he coughed.
Zhang Tianyou opened the small window curtain of the carriage and looked at Xu Xue pushing the fish cart. The girl was not beautiful, and there were some spots on her face, but the more he looked at her, the more he liked her.
Zhang Tianyou smiled at Xu Xue. “You must be tired from pushing the cart. Tie the cart to the carriage. Come with us.”
Xu Xue smiled. “No need. I’m used to it. I’m very strong. Brother Zhang, I’ll leave first.”
Xu Xue pushed the fish cart and walked very quickly. Soon, she left the slow carriage behind but could feel Zhang Tianyou’s gaze on her.
Xu Xue quickened her pace and quickly walked out of Zhang Tianyou’s sight. For some reason, she felt very uneasy.
Zhang Tianyou was seriously ill all year round. His skin was so pale that it was a little scary. He was very thin and did not look good at all. Moreover, his gaze made her feel uncomfortable.
After Xu Xue sold the fish, she left the city and was about to go home when Zhang Tianyou’s grandma called her. “Xue, come on up. Let’s go back together.”
Xu Xue felt her entire body stiffen. She looked into Miao Zhen’s eyes and could not reject her. However, her heart was in turmoil. She would rather walk back herself.
However, her legs did not seem to listen to her anymore and she got into the carriage.
Xu Xue opened her eyes with a start. A sharp pain came from the depths of her mind. She looked at Liu Sanniang and could not help but feel disgusted. Liu Sanniang grabbed her hand, making her feel even more in pain. Xu Xue began to struggle.
“Let go of me. Let go of me.”
Xu Xue wanted to pull her hand out of Liu Sanniang’s grip, but no matter how hard she tried, Liu Sanniang seemed to have an iron grip, locking her hand in place.
Xu Xue felt extremely uncomfortable and struggled violently. “Sanniang, let go of me. Don’t grab my hand. I’m going to die. I feel terrible.”
Liu Sanniang opened her eyes and looked at Xu Xue. She did not let go. Xu Xue should have been poisoned after she got into the carriage. This memory was sealed, and if Liu Sanniang wanted to break the seal, Xu Xue would feel worse than death, which was why she struggled.
Xu Xue looked at Liu Sanniang with blood-shot eyes, as if she wanted to kill her.
Liu Sanniang said calmly, “Xu Xue, remember. Remember it.”
Liu Sanniang’s strength was gentle as she comforted Xu Xue. She gradually calmed down and forcefully broke the memory seal. To Xu Xue, it was undoubtedly a feeling worse than death. However, if she didn’t remember it, she would be someone else’s puppet for the rest of her life.
Xu Xue looked at Liu Sanniang. Her expression was unpredictable. One moment, it was hatred, the next moment, it was pleading, and the moment after, it was pain.
She seemed to be alternating between extreme cold and hot, suffering.
She struggled. Liu Sanniang did not look to be strong, but her grip was tight, so much so that Xu Xue couldn’t move her hand even an inch.
No matter how Xu Xue struggled and cried, Liu Sanniang did not stop.
Xu Xue felt like there was a knife stirring in her mind. She couldn’t help but wail. “Kill me, kill me. Father, save me, save me…”
Mr. Xu watched from the side with tears streaming down his face. Seeing his daughter in such pain, he stretched out his hand and was about to comfort her when Chu Yan, who was motionless at the side, reached out to stop him. Chu Yan did not say anything, but the coldness in his eyes made one’s heart tremble.
Mr. Xu explained. “I-I just want to comfort my daughter.”
Chu Yan said calmly, “Not now.”
The few words were non-negotiable.
An hour passed.
Xu Xue cried until her tears dried up and her voice was hoarse but Liu Sanniang did not let go of her.
Liu Sanniang’s strength was increasing, completely removing the power that had sealed Xu Xue’s memories. Xu Xue gradually calmed down.
Liu Sanniang said slowly, “Xu Xue, remember it.”
Xu Xue’s entire body was drenched in sweat. She did not even have the strength to move. Her mind felt like it was being twisted by a knife, and she was in extreme pain. If she had a knife in her hand now, she would rather kill herself than suffer such torture.
But gradually, she felt as if a warm power was repairing her internal injury. The pain disappeared and was replaced by comfort. The warmth spread out to every part of her body.
Her expression calmed. Soon, she revealed a terrified look.
Xu Xue remembered that when she got into the carriage, she saw Zhang Tianyou smiling at her. Zhang Tianyou said, “Xue, I like you. Marry me and be my wife, will you?”
Xu Xue’s body stiffened. She shook her head desperately and said with difficulty, “No, I-I’m already engaged.”
Zhang Tianyou stopped smiling and his expression turned cold. “But if I like you, you have to marry me. I’ll become whoever you like.”
Xu Xue felt goosebumps all over her body. She looked at Miao Zhen and begged. “Granny Miao, please persuade Brother Zhang. I really can’t marry him.”
Miao Zhen looked at Xu Xue with a dark expression. “My grandson likes you. You should consider yourself lucky. How dare you reject him?”
“I know. You just dislike Tianyou because he’s weak. It’s okay. After you get married, I guarantee that he will get better and be very healthy. You can have children and grow old together. I’m still waiting to have a great-grandson.”
Miao Zhen looked at Xu Xue coldly, then looked at Zhang Tianyou and said gently, “Tianyou, I will satisfy you. Since you like Xu Xue, she will be your wife.”