Lin Fengxia was in a good mood. She picked some wild vegetables outside before heading home.
It was already late; a candle burned inside the house.
Not wanting to deal with that family, she walked toward the west room.
As she passed the main hall, Zhang Goudan’s wailing came from inside: “I’ve been beaten into this state?!”
“And you still want to let that bitch Lin Fengxia off?”
He kicked a stool and said viciously, “She must pay the price!”
“Mom, think of something!”
Zhang Landi also had a lump of anger in her chest.
The girl who used to stay silent all day had gone crazy these past days—if fewer people were around, she believed Lin Fengxia would really kill without hesitation.
A madwoman like that had to be married off quickly, or sooner or later she’d bring disaster to the family!
“Laohan!”
Zhang Landi put on a bitter face. “Has Fengxia really caught some madness?”
“If she keeps going like this, how can this family keep living?”
Lin Laohan held his greasy pipe between his teeth, eyes slightly narrowed, slowly looking at Zhang Goudan.
“Uncle Lin, why are you looking at me?”
“You’re not feeling sorry for Lin Fengxia, are you?!”
Zhang Landi twisted Zhang Goudan’s arm and shot him a look.
He screamed and rubbed his arm. “Mom, why’d you pinch me!”
“Talk less!” she snapped.
Lin Laohan kept silent; she couldn’t read his attitude.
After a while he asked, “Goudan, the bride price Wang Dazhuang brought—wasn’t it really stolen by you?”
Zhang Goudan immediately flared up. “Uncle, I already said it wasn’t me!”
“If I’d stolen it, I’d have gone to the county to enjoy myself—why would I stay here suffering?”
Lin Laohan puffed thoughtfully on his pipe.
Silence fell over the room.
Zhang Landi poured him a bowl of tea. “If you ask me, Lin Fengxia definitely took it.”
Though she had no evidence, she felt something was off.
Only Lin Fengxia had entered the room then—if she took it, where could she have hidden it?
Lin Laohan sipped tea. “If it was her, we’ll have to trick it out.”
Hearing the discussion, Lin Fengxia sneered softly.
She had just lifted her foot when footsteps sounded behind her.
Her body flashed aside, hiding behind the pile of firewood in the corner.
The person in the darkness walked toward the main hall.
Judging by the build, it looked like Wang Dazhuang.
He strode to the door and banged hard.
The discussion inside stopped instantly.
“Open up!” Wang Dazhuang shouted.
Soon Zhang Landi’s timid voice answered, “Coming, coming.”
Because the bride price had vanished, she felt guilty facing him.
The door opened a crack; she forced a flattering smile. “Dazhuang, why so late? Have you eaten?”
He shoved past her into the room, nearly knocking her over with his strength.
“When are you sending Lin Fengxia over?”
He had waited long enough.
The bride price was already delivered but there was still no definite answer.
Lin Laohan forced a smile, pulled out a stool and gestured politely. “Dazhuang, it’s not that we don’t want to send her.”
He sighed. “Fengxia’s gone mad—today she even tried to beat Goudan to death when no one was around!”
“We’re afraid if we send her, she might hurt you in a frenzy!”
Wang Dazhuang shouted, “You think I’m easy to fool?”
“Don’t think I don’t know—today Fengxia acted because Goudan had other intentions!”
He spat toward Zhang Goudan. “Trash. She’s your sister and my wife‑to‑be. If you dare think about her, I’ll beat you to death!”
Zhang Goudan hid behind Zhang Landi, not daring to retort.
Zhang Landi and Lin Laohan both changed expressions.
They had taken the bride price and couldn’t repay it, so they had to swallow the humiliation.
Silence returned.
Wang Dazhuang took out a packet of medicine and threw it onto the table.
“I specially got this from the livestock doctor—a pig aphrodisiac.”
“He said it’s extremely potent. Even pigs can’t handle it, let alone a person!”
“One packet and Lin Fengxia won’t know heaven from earth!”
Zhang Landi and Lin Laohan exchanged looks.
“This…”
Zhang Landi hesitated. “Dazhuang, it’s too strong. What if it harms her…”
He snapped back, “Fengxia is my woman. Even if she becomes an idiot, it’s none of your business!”
“By tomorrow night at the latest I must see her, or I’ll go to the village chief and say you swallowed my bride price!”
Lin Laohan quickly agreed, “Yes, yes—she’ll be delivered to you tomorrow.”
After Wang Dazhuang left, Lin Laohan sat back down.
He wasn’t easy to deal with. If they didn’t hand her over, he’d surely cause chaos.
Zhang Landi slapped her thigh. “That Lin Fengxia is a household wrecker!”
“If not for her, would we be humiliated like this?”
She picked up the medicine, gritting her teeth. “I’ll deal with her properly!”
After hearing everything, Lin Fengxia quietly returned to her room.
She had just sat down when a knock sounded.
Zhang Landi stood at the door holding tea.
Seeing Fengxia open it, guilt flashed across her face. “Fengxia, when did you get back?”
“You didn’t even say a word?”
Lin Fengxia wiped her hair. “Just now.”
Zhang Landi visibly relaxed.
She set down the hot tea. “Autumn’s here—drink some chrysanthemum tea to cool off.”
“I boiled it specially for you and added sugar. Sweet and tasty.”
Lin Fengxia didn’t even look at it. “Leave it.”
“Drink it first,” Zhang Landi urged. “I’ll take Wan’er out so she won’t bother you.”
Though she said so, she stared fixedly at the enamel bowl.
Lin Fengxia readily agreed, lifted the bowl—and her hand slipped, spilling the tea across the floor.
“You—!” Zhang Landi snapped. “Did you do that on purpose?!”
Lin Fengxia lay directly on the bed. “I’m sleepy. Get out.”
Her attitude completely enraged Zhang Landi. “I worked hard boiling tea for you and this is how you treat me?”
Lin Fengxia looked at her darkly. “Still making trouble?”
The chilling gaze blocked all her anger.
She cleaned up the bowl and left quickly.
Lin Fengxia finally slept peacefully.
She knew Zhang Landi wouldn’t give up.
Sure enough, early the next morning while she was combing her hair, Zhang Landi brought breakfast.
She even boiled two eggs and made soy milk.
“Fengxia, try some.”
Lin Fengxia said sarcastically, “Oh? Since when are you willing to give me good food?”
“Poisoned, maybe?”
Guilt flickered in Zhang Landi’s eyes but she forced calm. “How could it be?”
“We’re family—why would I poison you?”
She set down the eggs and soy milk. “You’ve been acting crazy lately. Your father and I are worried about your health. We neglected you before; now we want to make it up.”
“Why should family make things hard for family?”