In the courtyard, Jiang Zhuang stood stiff-necked confronting Wang Shi, his small face flushed crimson. Jiang Moshu shielded the trembling Jiang Tao behind him, adopting a protective stance. Xiao Qiang stood to the side clutching a stone, whimpering "I'm hungry" through muffled sobs.
When Wang Shi saw Jiang Liuli emerge, her bluster instantly deflated, though she still forced herself to protest: "You… what are you doing out here? Mother said no food for you!"
Jiang Liuli couldn't be bothered to respond. She walked to the kitchen, lifted the pot lid, and revealed a pot of cornmeal porridge mixed with some wilted wild vegetables. In a chipped ceramic bowl nearby sat half a portion of dark, unappetizing pickles.
Jiang Liuli casually picked up a wooden basin and began scooping the cornmeal porridge, calling for the children to bring bowls and chopsticks to Liu Shi's room as she worked.
When Wang Shi saw Jiang Liuli ladling out a full basin of cornmeal porridge, she immediately began shrieking: "Oh heavens! Mother! The second branch is stealing all our food! We'll have nothing to eat! Everyone come quick!"
Food being the paramount necessity, the Jiang family already practiced strict frugality to support Jiang Tongbao's studies, with only two meals per day. After today's numerous incidents, those two meals had been reduced to one. Already starving, everyone rushed out upon hearing the second branch was taking their food.
"Put that food down! You unfilial brutes who beat your elders still want to eat? Go eat dirt!" Jiang Qianshi cursed while grabbing a broom from the corner and swinging it at Jiang Liuli.
Without even turning her head, Jiang Liuli steadily held the basin full of porridge with one hand while precisely catching the broom handle with the other, giving a light push—
"Oof!" Jiang Qianshi stumbled and fell hard on her backside.
After falling, Jiang Qianshi began hurling insults, but Jiang Liuli couldn't even spare her a glance!
"Grandma!Jiang Jinbao's son Jiang Xiaoniu hurriedly rushed over and helped up Jiang Qianshi who was collapsed on the ground.
Jiang Daniu spotted a rust-covered shovel leaning against the wall, grabbed it, and charged at Jiang Liuli. The shovel head gleamed coldly in the sunlight, cutting through the air with a whoosh.
"Well now—" Jiang Liuli raised an eyebrow, a cold smile curling her lips as she passed the wooden basin behind her. Zhao Shi hurriedly caught it.
Jiang Liuli's gaze turned icy. As Jiang Daniu charged forward, she kicked him flying.
Jiang Daniu landed with a "thud," the shovel flying from his hands and scraping across the ground with a piercing screech. Clutching his stomach as he curled on the ground, pain beading cold sweat on his forehead, he couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long while.
Jiang Liuli looked down at him mockingly, saying leisurely:
"Starved to madness? Is food more precious to you than your parents and grandparents?"
"Yesterday when I beat your father and grandmother, you weren't this brave. What, today at the sight of food you've grown the courage to fight for your life?"
Every word from Jiang Liuli's mouth felt like a red-hot brand searing Jiang Daniu's face.
After being kicked by Jiang Liuli last night, he had truly experienced her strength and had been too cowardly to step forward then. When Jiang Yinzhu brought thugs today to seek revenge, he and Jiang Xiaoniu had hidden aside, not daring to make a sound.
Yet now he had tried to fight Jiang Liuli to the death over food. If no one mentioned it, it might have been forgotten, but having it pointed out made it seem like food truly meant more to him than his own family.
"Jiang Dani, what nonsense are you spouting? When Grandma was knocked unconscious by you yesterday and Dad had his leg injured by you, I was the one who rushed forward! Don't you dare spread lies!"
Jiang Dani glanced at the grandmother who usually doted on him most, and seeing the disappointment on her face, he quickly tried to make amends.
"Oh! I believe you!" Jiang Liuli said the words, but the mockery in her tone was evident.
Jiang Dani was so enraged he felt smoke coming from his seven orifices, yet he had no recourse but to shut his mouth and say nothing more.
"Jiang Dani, well done! You've even learned to sow discord! But do you think you can drive a wedge between my elder brother and our grandmother?"
Like Jiang Dani, Jiang Xiaoniu had previously been terrified out of his wits by Jiang Dani and had shrunk back, not daring to step forward.
Jiang Liuli's words indirectly targeted him as well.
"Hah, sow discord? I don't have time for that! I'm hungry and need to eat! Is there anyone else who wants to step up? If so, hurry up. After the fight, I can finally eat!"
As Jiang Liuli spoke, she took a step forward, and the remaining members of the Jiang family instinctively retreated.
Seeing their cowardly demeanor, Jiang Liuli sneered coldly and turned to go back inside.
Just then, the previously silent Jiang Laotou suddenly spoke:
"Stop right there!"
Jiang Liuli paused mid-step and slowly turned around. "Does Grandfather have any further instructions?"
Jiang Laotou trembled with rage, his beard quivering. "You… are you rebelling?"
Jiang Liuli scoffed. "Rebelling? Grandfather, you jest. Is it rebellion for our second branch to eat a few mouthfuls of the grain we planted ourselves? Then what do you call all these years of you eating the grain we grew? Robbery?"
"What do you mean, we eat the grain you planted?!"
"The land is mine! The house is mine! You live in my house and eat the grain produced from my land! You must do whatever I say! If I say you don't eat, you don't eat! Otherwise…"
Jiang Laotou trailed off. He wanted to tell them to get out of the Jiang family, as he had in the past.
But now, the second branch had money. If they left the Jiang family, they would surely take the money with them, so he couldn't drive them out.
Yet, if he didn't drive them out, there was nothing left to threaten the second branch with…
"Otherwise what? If Grandfather feels you're the one supporting us, then let's divide the household… We'd welcome it…"
Jiang Liuli said with a smile.
"Divide the household? Impossible! Put that idea out of your mind!" Jiang Laotou hastily retorted.
"Oh! Then we'll have to trouble Grandfather and Grandmother to continue 'supporting' us!"
With that, Jiang Liuli turned and left, leaving Jiang Laotou stomping his feet in helpless fury.
Jiang Qianshi sat on the ground, slapping her thighs and wailing, "Heavens above! Open your eyes and see this unfilial beast! Take her away, please…"
"Father! Are we just going to stand by and watch the second branch take our food away?"
Wu Shi, Jiang Jinbao's wife, glared at the retreating backs of the second branch, her face full of resentment.
"What else can we do if we don't let them take it? Why don't you go snatch it back!"
Jiang Laotou flung these words at her and stormed into the house, slamming the door with a loud "thud" that made Wu Shi shudder.
Jiang Qianshi continued to sit on the ground, crying and wailing, provoking an angry roar from the already irritated Jiang Laotou.
"What are you crying for? Cry again and I'll slap you dead!"
After that, the world fell silent…