By the time Zhu Yongwen stumbled through the courtyard gate, Fusheng had already expended tremendous effort, with Lansheng and Jusheng's help, to "support" Cao Sanqiao into a seat on the chair beneath the eaves.
At the foot of the steps, Lin Cui sat collapsed on the ground, her hair bun in disarray, sobbing uncontrollably into Meisheng's arms.
Cao Sanqiao's scolding showed no sign of letting up either.
That she allowed herself to be "supported" away by Fusheng was deliberate—she went along willingly. But her mouth never stopped, because she intended to shame Lin Cui, while simultaneously making her stance clear and drawing closer to Fusheng.
She had originally planned to continue her venomous tirade about Lin Cui's malicious schemes to sow discord, but when she looked up and caught sight of Zhu Yongwen's figure, her words took a turn mid-sentence, heading straight for the matter of Lin Cui beating Meisheng.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, they say the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother, but look at what you've done—does any of it make people want to revere you as such? The eldest girl is such a good child; I wish she were my own. And you? Black-hearted wretch! Whenever you're feeling out of sorts, you take that long bamboo switch and whip the eldest girl's legs!"
Cao Sanqiao watched Lin Cui, whose guilt was impossible to hide even with her head lowered, and let out a cold laugh:
"I'm not wrong to scold you, you know. How shrewd you are! Why not hit her somewhere else? You hit her legs—covered by her skirt and trousers, no one can see the marks! Rotten-hearted and rotten to the core, and you even secretly drink that fertility tonic, hoping for a son. I say you can't conceive because the Child-Giving Goddess sees you're unworthy of motherhood, so she dares not send you a child…"
Cao Sanqiao knew better than anyone what served her own interests.
Just now, she had been reinforcing the image of the good third aunt in Fusheng's heart.
Now she was going to lodge a complaint with the eldest brother-in-law in a roundabout way, telling Zhu Yongwen—I didn't deliberately hit or scold your wife; it's your wife who doesn't act like a human being.
And doing so relied entirely on her keen observation.
She had long noticed that Zhu Yongwen did indeed hold Lin Cui in his heart as his wife, and given their years of marriage, she carried no small weight there. But because they had only Meisheng as their sole child all these years, Zhu Yongwen doted on his daughter—and if one were to weigh the scales, his heart tipped toward his daughter.
Last New Year's Eve, when the men of the household were drinking and she went to deliver some appetizers, she had clearly overheard the eldest brother-in-law say:
"It's fine if we only have the eldest girl as a daughter. In the future, we'll have a son-in-law marry into the family. The girl has a soft temperament, so I can help keep her husband in check and make sure she isn't bullied."
Now she was the good aunt standing up for the eldest girl. This afternoon, when Meisheng went inside to speak with Lin Cui, she had deliberately paid close attention…
Even if it was she, Cao Sanqiao, who did the hitting tonight, it would surely be Lin Cui who suffered the consequences.
What Cao Sanqiao said was news to Fusheng and the others, and Fusheng finally understood what had been off about Meisheng that afternoon.
"Eldest sister…"
Fusheng instinctively wanted to offer a few words of concern.
Before she could finish, Zhu Yongwen, who had been frozen at the courtyard gate by Cao Sanqiao's words, moved.
Meisheng was a girl, already nine years old. As daughters grew older, they kept distance from their fathers, and Zhu Yongwen's relationship with his daughter had long since lost the closeness and complete openness of her early childhood.
Lin Cui was prone to red-rimmed eyes and had a somewhat stubborn temperament, but Meisheng was, after all, the only child she and he had—and by all appearances, their only hope for the future. That was why he felt at ease entrusting the care of their daughter entirely to her.
He thought that with the mother watching over her, nothing could go wrong.
All these years, he had believed there was no problem.
But from Third Sister-in-law's words…
"Mother-in-law, let Father…"
Zhu Yongwen saw that Lin Cui had half her body pressed against Meisheng, and happened to be pressing on Meisheng's leg as well. Meisheng's expression indeed seemed off, so he pulled Meisheng up from the ground in one motion.
He had meant to say he wanted to check if there were any injuries on his body, but suddenly remembered that Cao Sanqiao had said the injuries were on the legs, where outsiders wouldn't see them—and here in front of everyone…
"Second Mother, Third Mother," he looked at Lansheng and Fusheng, "please help First Uncle take your eldest sister into the house and check if she has any injuries on her body."
When Zhu Yongwen pulled Meisheng up, Lin Cui lost her support and immediately fell to the ground.
She had been furious at Zhu Yongwen's actions, but upon hearing his words, only panic remained.
"Mother-in-law!" Taking advantage of Meisheng still being nearby, Lin Cui grabbed hold of her clothes: "Mother-in-law, Mother hurts! Everyone in this household bullies Mother!"
This was her most commonly used trick, and because Meisheng was soft-hearted toward her, it worked especially well every time she used it.
Those who loved to meddle, like Granny Zhang, began to chime in at this point.
"Yes, Old Master Zhu, I can see your wife isn't treating her well!"
Hearing that someone who had been watching the commotion longer than her had spoken up, the eldest son of the Zhu family ran off to fetch people.
Yang Tieniang hadn't returned yet!
The drama inside was still missing its protagonist and couldn't move on to the next scene!
Granny Zhang not only chimed in but also urged the people around her to join in, her demeanor of wanting to stir up chaos being all too conspicuous.
In the past, when she stirred things up like this, there were always people who would echo her, but this time was different.
She nudged left, shoved right, yet no one around her followed suit. Instead, a chill rose up her own back.
Granny Zhang's heart began to flutter with unease. She quietly turned her head to look behind her and met eyes directly with Yang Tieniang, who had just rushed back.
Yang Tieniang, who had heard from Junsheng about the situation at home, was already simmering with anger in her stomach. When she returned and saw the crowd gathered at the door, her fury only grew stronger. Granny Zhang had walked straight into the line of fire.
"So fond of gossiping, no wonder your business is so poor!"
Yang Tieniang sneered, grabbed Granny Zhang by the collar, shoved her aside, and shot her a fierce glare before stepping through the courtyard gate.
Granny Zhang was no longer just flustered now.
Her heart was pounding like a drum.
The Zhu family's courtyard gate closed before her eyes, cutting off the view of the nosy neighbors.
"Granny Zhang, since you're not afraid of the Tiger Rakshasa, why don't you push her open?"
Some onlookers began egging Granny Zhang on.
"Get the hell out of here!"
Yang Tieniang's gaze was terrifying, and Lin Cui was someone she had instigated—she didn't have the guts to do something that could cost her life!
Hunching over as she hurried toward her own home, Granny Zhang's steps were swift indeed.
Meanwhile, inside the Zhu family courtyard, it was a different scene altogether.
The stall business was doing well, so only Yang Tieniang had returned; she had left Junsheng there to assist Hu Xiangdi.
Her expression was as dark as iron. From the moment she stepped into the courtyard, an unprecedented silence fell over the entire yard.
Lin Cui dared not cry or speak. Cao Sanqiao dared not curse and even rose from her stool.
Even Zhu Yongwen stood ramrod straight.
"Where were we?" Yang Tieniang strode to the very center, yanking the sweat cloth from her waist and wiping it across her neck and face. "Why did you all stop talking?"
Her voice was perfectly steady, with little rise or fall. Her tone wasn't particularly deep, yet it inexplicably made one's heart tremble.
Cao Sanqiao was already five months pregnant. She was naturally petite, but the baby had been growing well, making her belly stick out prominently.
Yang Tieniang glanced over, furrowed her brow, and raised her hand: "Sit down. Do you not know how big your belly is by now?"
Knowing this daughter-in-law was a sharp, stubborn sort who would climb any ladder handed to her, and also knowing she wouldn't make a fuss without reason, Yang Tieniang temporarily set aside the matter of her shouting.
The moment Cao Sanqiao saw Yang Tieniang, she had quieted down. Now told to sit, she cradled her belly and sat, not forgetting to pull her daughter Jusheng in front of her as a shield.
It was simply an eyesore.
Yang Tieniang shot her a glare.
"Second Aunt, Third Aunt," seeing Lansheng and Fusheng flanking Meisheng on either side, Yang Tieniang asked again: "Why are you pulling at your eldest sister?"
She hadn't heard much when she returned, hence the question. And knowing the eldest aunt's temperament, she didn't bother asking her directly.
Lansheng was quick-tongued and warm-hearted: "Third Aunt said First Aunt beat Eldest Sister. First Uncle asked us to check if Eldest Sister has any injuries on her legs."
Since she had already said it, Fusheng had nothing to add and simply nodded.
The courtyard gate was shut tight, and the only one still clinging to the wall was the oblivious Liu Sisao. Yang Tieniang gave Lansheng a look.
Lansheng looked left, then right, pulled out the bamboo pole used for hanging laundry, and went to pry her off.
Hu Xiangdi was generous when it came to feeding her children, so the Second Branch's kids were all sturdier. Though Lansheng was a few months younger than Meisheng, she had long since shot up like a sprout.
With the laundry pole in hand, it didn't look out of place at all.
Liu Sisao had fought with Hu Xiangdi a few days prior—old grudges and new grievances combined—so Lansheng didn't hold back in the slightest.
Fusheng glanced over once, then looked away, reaching out to take Meisheng's arm.
Her mother-in-law was bound to make a move next, so she'd better steady her eldest sister.
Sure enough, once Liu Sisao vanished from the wall, leaving only cursing from the other side, Yang Tieniang swiftly bent down and rolled up Meisheng's pant leg.
The summer trousers had loose openings, easy to roll up, and with Fusheng holding her, Meisheng couldn't dodge even if she tried.
Under the lantern hanging in the courtyard and the exceptionally bright moonlight, the strikingly visible red marks on Meisheng's calf fell into everyone's view.
Besides the fresh, bruising red marks, there were also old traces that hadn't fully faded on Meisheng's calf.
And this was only the calf.
Yang Tieniang looked at the timid expression on Meisheng's face, then reached out and pinched her thigh.
"Hiss…"
The intake of breath was cut off halfway, but everyone understood there were other injuries on her leg.
A gaze sharp as a blade fell on Lin Cui—two of them.
Yang Tieniang stared at Lin Cui's disheveled hair and uninjured face, watching her expression shift, before speaking after a long moment:
"You're doing just fine, aren't you."
This was no compliment. Every word was bitten off heavily, landing on Lin Cui's heart like an awl, making her tremble.
Lin Cui shrank her neck, glanced at Zhu Yongwen, and seeing his face dark as water with lips pressed into a thin line, she cautiously looked at Yang Tieniang, trying to defend herself:
"It's… it's because the eldest aunt wouldn't listen, so I… I only gave her a minor lesson…"
Her voice lacked any conviction.
“Grandmother, you’re not listening…” Yang Tieniang laughed in exasperation, then shot a sharp glance at Zhu Yongwen. “Meisheng is the first grandchild of our Zhu family—our eldest granddaughter. You know how delighted your father and I were when she was born. Your wife hasn’t been back to visit her family in a long time either. Tomorrow, you will personally escort her home for a visit, and let her stay with her family for a good while!”
With that, she didn’t spare them another glance. She tugged Meisheng along toward the main hall, and as she passed Cao Sanqiao, she cast her half a glance.
“You come in as well!”