"You damned scoundrels! How dare you kill my chicken?" Jiang Qianshi shrieked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, rushing forward with a shrill voice. She shoved Zhao Shi who was squatting on the ground, pointing at the chicken feathers scattered everywhere while trembling with distress.
"This was my laying hen meant to nourish Jinbao and Tongbao with its eggs! You heartless wretches, have you grown bold enough to challenge tigers? Who gave you the nerve to touch my belongings!"
She ranted with flying spittle, her eyes like poisoned daggers fixed piercingly on Zhao Shi.
The other Jiang family members saw the fully plucked hen but didn't step forward, though their eyes gleamed at the sight of the old hen.
It had been so long since they'd last eaten meat…
Zhao Shi, long oppressed by Jiang Qianshi, had mustered desperate courage yesterday to protect her family and dared to pick up a knife in resistance. But once that burst of determination faded, facing Jiang Qianshi's ferocious expression again, her inherent timidity surged back like tidal waves.
Staring into Jiang Qianshi's venomous eyes, it took her a long moment to squeeze out:
"Mother… the chicken was bought by Da Ni, it wasn't your laying hen…"
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, the end trembling with barely perceptible fear.
But no sooner had these words left her mouth than Jiang Qianshi spat viciously near her feet, making Zhao Shi instinctively shrink back.
"You cheap slut dare talk back? If it's not my chicken, did it fall from the sky? I think you've gone mad with poverty, even daring to steal chickens!"
As she spoke, she lunged at Zhao Shi, her sharp nails nearly scratching Zhao Shi's face.
Jiang Liuli reacted swiftly, seizing her wrist with such force that Jiang Qianshi howled in pain:
"Grandma, wouldn't it be simpler to check the chicken coop to see if it's your hen? Must you always pick fights? Do you need me to teach you another lesson?"
"Let go! Let go! You damned little slut, you're going to break my wrist!" Jiang Qianshi cursed while struggling to free her hand. But Jiang Liuli's grip was immensely strong – the more she struggled, the more her wrist hurt.
The pain made her grimace and bare her teeth…
Seeing this, Jiang Laotou's face darkened. He thumped his cane heavily on the ground:
"Da Ni! Let go! She's your grandmother, not some stray dog you can beat as you please! Have you no humanity left?"
Jiang Liuli released Jiang Qianshi's arm and chuckled lightly: "I didn't hit her, don't falsely accuse me! She was attacking my mother, I was merely stopping her!"
"Merely stopping me? You nearly crushed my old bones, and you call that merely stopping? I think you did it on purpose! You're wishing for my death!"
Jiang Qianshi rubbed her reddened wrist, then threw herself on the ground in a tantrum,
"Oh, this poor old woman's fate! To raise such an ungrateful granddaughter! Who dares lay hands on her own grandmother! What meaning is left in my life! I might as well die!"
While wailing, she stole glances at Jiang Laotou from the corner of her eyes, waiting for him to uphold her cause.
Her crying agitated Jiang Laotou, who pointed angrily at Jiang Liuli:
"Look what you've done! See what state you've reduced your grandmother to! Apologize to her at once!"
"Apologize?" Jiang Liuli sounded as if she'd heard a joke,
"Grandpa, Grandma first falsely accused us of stealing chickens, then tried to hit my mother. Was I wrong to intervene? Should we have just endured your bullying like we used to, without fighting back?"
"Hmph! When elders discipline the young, even if they're wrong, the young must accept it without defiance!"
Old Man Jiang's murky eyes were filled with utter conviction as his cane struck the ground heavily, raising a cloud of dust.
Jiang Liuli smiled and nodded. "Mother! Please go inside. Sister-in-law and I will stew the chicken here."
She had been wrong—why bother reasoning with unreasonable people?
She would stand guard here and see who dared lay a finger on anyone from their second branch…
Seeing Jiang Liuli ignore him, Old Man Jiang said no more. He had already checked—their chickens were still in the coop. Since this wasn't one of theirs, they could just wait to eat.
Jiang Qianshi wanted to continue scolding, but Old Man Jiang snapped: "Enough! If it's not one of your two chickens, why keep yelling? We've worked all day—go rest. When the meal's ready, we'll eat!"
He walked to the water vat, scooped water into a wooden basin, washed his hands and feet, then entered the house. The thought of eating chicken tonight filled him with delight, making his steps noticeably lighter.
Scolded by her husband, Jiang Qianshi deflated like a punctured ball but couldn't swallow her resentment. She shot Jiang Liuli a vicious glare before finally entering the house.
The other Jiang family members, knowing meat awaited them tonight, wore smiles and ceased their bickering, retreating indoors to wait.
The old hen took three hours to stew until tender. Meanwhile, the Jiang children gathered nearby, drawn by the aroma, mouths watering but afraid to approach Jiang Liuli.
The second branch's children were equally tempted but remained in place. Jiang Moshu had explained this chicken belonged to their branch—if they ate now, the other branches' children would demand shares, inevitably leading to another fight.
Though they weren't afraid with their aunt present, avoiding trouble was wiser. Better to wait until the chicken was done and eaten indoors—then if a fight happened, it would just be one scuffle!
Convinced by this logic, they waited patiently, eyes fixed on the simmering pot.
The adults too grew restless as rich chicken fragrance seeped through door cracks. Jiang Qianshi paced indoors, craning her neck toward the courtyard while muttering: "Why isn't it done yet…"
"Impatient woman! Longer stewing means tender meat!" Old Man Jiang retorted, though his own mouth watered so much he nearly choked mid-sentence.
Wu Shi, Jiang Jinbao's wife, finally slipped out to the kitchen doorway. She saw Jiang Liuli scattering spring onions into the broth, golden oil swirls dancing on the surface as fragrance wafted toward her.
"Da Ni! Is the chicken ready? Wonderful, bring it to the main hall—let's eat!" Wu Shi swallowed saliva, eyes glued to the bubbling stew, itching to snatch a drumstick.
She knew drumsticks went to her husband and brother-in-law, wings to her in-laws—but any piece of chicken would satisfy her.
Jiang Liuli languidly replaced the lid without even glancing up. "What are you talking about, Aunt? You didn't think this chicken was for everyone, did you?"
"Ah? What do you mean?" Wu Shi felt a sinking premonition.
Jiang Liuli lifted the pot lid and slammed it shut with a crisp clang. "I bought this chicken, so naturally it's for our Second Branch to eat. If Aunt wants some, go buy your own."
Wu Shi's face instantly flushed the color of liver. "You… you insolent girl! How can you be so unreasonable! We're family—why distinguish between yours and mine…"
"Family? Heh… Aunt, when you put away all the food after your meal this morning, why didn't you remember we're family then?"
As she spoke, Jiang Liuli picked up the chicken dish and headed toward the Second Branch's room, leaving Wu Shi standing there fuming helplessly.
"Stop right there!" Jiang Qianshi suddenly rushed out from inside and blocked Jiang Liuli's path. "You ungrateful wretch! How dare you take it away before your elders have eaten?"