Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 9 - 9 9 Its Clear We Are Separated

Ge Liutao’s complexion drained of color instantly. Her grip slackened, and the towel she was holding tumbled to the floor.

Though many years had passed since Chiang Xiao last encountered that voice, hearing it now brought back a wave of agonizingly familiar pain.

The intruder was Ho Laidi from the Old Chiang Family. She was the elder sister-in-law to Chiang Songhai and the mother-in-law of Song Xiyun.

Among everyone in the two Chiang households, she was the person Ge Liutao dreaded facing the most.

Having married into the Chiang Family several years before Ge Liutao, Ho Laidi was a formidable eldest daughter-in-law. She was highly capable, managing both the fields and the home with ease. Her influence within the family was cemented when she produced a son within her first year of marriage.

Because Ge Liutao was naturally gentle and timid, she had been constantly dominated by Ho Laidi back when the Chiang Family lived as one unit. Despite being sisters-in-law, Ho Laidi had spent years treating Ge Liutao more like a servant than a relative.

Years ago, Chiang Xiao’s uncle, Deng Qingjiang, had been left abandoned at the Chiang Family’s gates. Old Master Chiang, moved by a sudden spark of pity and fearing the infant would freeze, decided to take the boy in.

Ho Laidi, who already had a son of her own, refused to adopt the foundling under any circumstances. Instead, she bullied Chiang Songhai and Ge Liutao into taking responsibility for him.

Later, when Ge Liutao only gave birth to a daughter—Chiang Xiao’s mother—Ho Laidi relentlessly mocked her with cruel remarks about her failure to produce a male heir. This constant psychological pressure left Ge Liutao terrified whenever Ho Laidi appeared.

Unable to witness his wife's suffering any longer, Chiang Songhai eventually forced a family separation. This led to the creation of the "Old Chiang Family" and their own smaller household.

Originally, they were one large family. During the division of assets, Ho Laidi had been aggressive and argumentative, arrogantly forcing them to accept a few dilapidated houses and a courtyard that was barely a third the size of the original estate.

Ho Laidi rarely visited, but her presence alone was enough to make Ge Liutao feel as though she were suffocating.

“What are we going to do? Xiyun actually went and told your sister-in-law about calling for the Fairy!” Ge Liutao exclaimed, falling into an immediate panic.

Chiang Xiao struggled to sit upright and asked, “Grandma, do you also believe that a ghost has possessed me?”

She recalled her earlier state of confusion upon waking; she must have said something strange that terrified her grandmother.

In those moments of delirium, she truly believed she had passed away, which led her to mutter those dark thoughts aloud.

Standing near the doorway, Chiang Songhai knit his brows and said, “Little, don’t speak such nonsense. You are our family’s Little. How could we possibly fail to recognize our own granddaughter?”

Even though she was a granddaughter from a different branch, they loved her no less than if she were their own biological child.

“I’ll go out and deal with your sister-in-law. You stay here and get some more rest, child,” Chiang Songhai said as he pushed past the curtain and stepped outside.

Ge Liutao nodded frantically. She reached out to gently touch the girl's forehead and whispered, “You are our Little.”

Resting her head on her grandmother’s shoulder, Chiang Xiao said softly, “Grandma, you don't need to fear her. Our families have already been separated; she has no right to cross the threshold of our home.”

She knew she had to recover her strength quickly. She needed to prepare her body for the battles ahead!

As if responding to her newfound resolve, her stomach let out a loud growl.

“Grandma, I’m hungry.”

Ge Liutao blinked in surprise, startled that the girl was thinking of food at a time like this.

“Alright, I’ll go and stir-fry a few dishes and bring them to you in a moment.” If Guiying and Song Xiyun hadn't caused such a scene, the family would have finished their meal long ago.

Ge Liutao hurried out of the room.

Chiang Xiao intended to follow her to overhear Ho Laidi’s schemes, but as she tried to stand, a wave of dizziness forced her back onto the bed.

She tried to brace herself with her hand, but her arm lacked strength. It gave way, causing her to fall forward and slap her own fingers against the mattress.

In that instant, a vital memory flashed through her mind.

Good heavens, she had almost forgotten the most crucial detail!

The pen—had it followed her back through time?