Afternoon, Xishui Village.
Normally, this was the time when the villagers of Xishui Village would head to the village’s CBD—the Bagua Center—to sunbathe and gossip. But today, the sunning ground was completely empty.
Pang Sao, dressed in a floral-patterned cotton jacket, had just finished lunch and carried her small stool over, only to find no one there. She hurriedly chased after a woman who was walking briskly ahead.
“Zhang Sao? Where has everyone gone?”
Zhang Sao turned around, and seeing it was her gossip buddy Pang Sao, she quickly grabbed her hand. “They’re all at Wang Fugui’s place! Haven’t you heard? Zhou Guafu’s chicken went missing, and she’s insisting Wang Fugui’s wife stole it. They’re arguing it out at Wang Fugui’s house right now. Everyone’s gone to watch the show!”
Pang Sao’s interest was immediately piqued. “Is… you-know-who there too?”
Zhang Sao nodded. “Definitely. Even if she wasn’t, the villagers would have invited her over.”
The two exchanged a look. Pang Sao grew even more excited and quickened her pace. “Then let’s hurry! If we’re late, we’ll miss it!”
…
Wang Fugui’s house was already surrounded by villagers, three layers deep both inside and out.
Zhou Guafu stood with her hands on her hips, trading insults with Wang Fugui’s wife. But strangely, a table was placed between the two of them, laden with melon seeds, pastries, and other snacks.
Among the crowd of onlookers, many of the elders were standing, yet a young woman was seated at the table. She looked to be in her early twenties and was currently cracking melon seeds while listening to the two women curse each other out.
“Zhao Guihua, you shameless wench! You’re the one who stole my chicken! Give it back!”
Zhao Guihua, who was Wang Fugui’s wife, clutched a large rooster tightly to her chest and retorted, “You’re the shameless one! This is clearly my chicken, how did it become yours? Go on, call it. See if it answers you!”
Zhou Guafu was panting with rage. She reached out to snatch it, making “tsst-tsst-tsst” sounds with her mouth, trying to get the rooster’s attention.
The two women each grabbed one of the rooster’s wings, neither willing to let go. However, the rooster, pained by their grip, suddenly let out three loud “cluck-cluck-clucks.” With a flap of its wings, it escaped their grasp, shedding a single feather that drifted down and landed right on the head of the young woman cracking melon seeds.
The scene fell silent for a moment. Even Zhao Guihua and Zhou Guafu, who had been in the middle of their argument, stopped. On closer inspection, one would notice that everyone was secretly pricking up their ears.
You Xiaoxia, the young woman who had been cracking melon seeds, plucked the feather from her head and twirled it in her hand.
[Sigh, this chicken is clearly Zhou Guafu’s. How can Wang Fugui’s wife twist the truth and insist it’s hers!]
“Oh…” A wave of understanding washed over the crowd. The case was solved; the chicken belonged to Zhou Guafu!
Zhou Guafu was even more triumphant, slamming her hand on the table. “Zhao Guihua, what else do you have to say for yourself!”
Zhao Guihua was flustered for only a second before immediately regaining her composure. “What? What did you say? I don’t understand. I said this chicken is mine, so it’s mine. Otherwise, why would it run straight to my house? Unless you can produce some evidence!”
If Zhou Guafu could have produced evidence, the two of them wouldn’t have been arguing up a storm just now!
She turned to stare at You Xiaoxia. “Erni, you tell us, whose chicken is this?”
However, You Xiaoxia just waved her hand. “You invited me here to eat melon seeds, not to be your judge. Besides, I don’t have that kind of ability!”
The crowd: You’re so modest.
Sure enough, just as You Xiaoxia’s voice fell, she asked her system in her mind: [Lao Liu, why on earth does Zhou Guafu’s chicken keep running to Zhao Guihua’s house?]
System: [Host, don’t worry, let me check! Ah, I found it! Host, look quickly!]
Everyone on the scene held their breath, listening to the voice that had appeared in their minds.
You Xiaoxia scanned the information the system presented, her eyes gradually widening. [Oh my god, so that’s how it is. I can’t believe Wang Fugui actually…]
The gossiping crowd: Actually what? Hurry up and say it!
Just as the villagers of Xishui Village were anxiously waiting for the gossip, a luxury sedan was driving down the muddy path leading to the village.
It had rained the day before, and the roads in Xishui Village had not yet been repaired, leaving them muddy everywhere. As the wheels rolled over, they immediately splashed up specks of mud, and the once gleaming car body instantly lost some of its luster.
In the back seat, Song Xiangchen glanced out the car window with disgust, his face full of displeasure. “Wasn’t it enough for you two to come pick her up yourselves? Why did you have to drag me along!”
Mrs. Song, Mo Pingxin, was already feeling apprehensive. Hearing her younger son’s impatience, she snapped, “That’s your biological sister. You haven’t seen her in over a decade. Will making one trip kill you!”
This was their first time meeting their biological daughter. It wasn’t convenient for their adopted daughter to come, so it was just her and her husband. If their eldest son hadn’t been away on a business trip, she would never have dragged her younger son along just to add to their numbers!
Song Xiangchen pouted and muttered under his breath, “I only have one sister. She’s just a country bumpkin. Don’t even think about making me call her ‘sister’!”
Mo Pingxin’s anger flared. Just then, Song Ankang, who was driving, spoke up. “Alright, both of you stop arguing. Song Xiangchen, apologize to your mother!”
Song Xiangchen was most afraid of his stern, unsmiling father. He immediately and obediently apologized to Mo Pingxin.
But Mo Pingxin had no mind to deal with her younger son. Her thoughts were entirely focused on the daughter she was about to meet.
What kind of expression should she wear to face the biological daughter who had been switched at birth and she hadn’t seen since?
The car entered the village and slowed down. Song Ankang stepped on the brake. “Let’s find someone and ask for directions.”
Mo Pingxin nodded. Seeing two middle-aged women hurrying along ahead, she quickly had her husband stop the car and got out to ask for directions.
“Hello, may I ask where You Xiaoxia’s house is?”
Zhang Sao and Pang Sao turned around at the same time. Seeing a well-dressed woman who was clearly not from their village, their expressions immediately became wary.
Mo Pingxin quickly put on a friendly smile. “I’m looking for You Xiaoxia. Do you know where she lives?”
Zhang Sao came to her senses. “You Xiaoxia? Don’t know her.”
But Pang Sao suddenly said, “Oh, oh, her surname is You. Are you looking for You Erni?”
There was only one family with the surname You in Xishui Village. It had to be her.
Mo Pingxin nodded hurriedly. “Yes, yes, You Erni. Where does she live?”
Zhang Sao and Pang Sao exchanged a look. “We happen to be heading there. You can come with us.”
Mo Pingxin quickly thanked them and waved at the car not far behind, signaling her husband to follow. She didn’t get back in the car, instead walking ahead with Pang Sao and Zhang Sao.
After a short walk and a turn, she saw a large crowd gathered at the entrance of a house up ahead.
Zhang Sao and Pang Sao were both excited and annoyed. “Aiya, so many people. We must be late. Quick, quick!”
As they spoke, they broke into a trot, not forgetting to call back to Mrs. Song, “Erni is inside. You can come over yourself!”
Hearing this, Mo Pingxin hurried to follow. However, the moment she stepped into the range of the doorway, a voice suddenly appeared in her mind.
You Xiaoxia: [So Wang Fugui is having an affair with Zhou Guafu. Every night after Zhao Guihua falls asleep, Wang Fugui sneaks out to fool around with Zhou Guafu. Over time, even Zhou Guafu’s chicken has gotten familiar with Wang Fugui. Last night, when Wang Fugui was heading home after his tryst with Zhou Guafu, the chicken thought Wang Fugui was its owner too and followed him…]
The onlooking villagers: Ewww… so that’s what happened!
Mo Pingxin: …Where is that voice coming from? Is there something wrong with my head?
“Heavens, so Wang Fugui is having an affair with Zhou Guafu!”
“How long have they been fooling around? Even the chicken recognizes him!”
“I never thought Zhou Guafu was that kind of person!”
“That Wang Fugui is no good either!”
“Sigh, poor Zhao Guihua, such a good woman!”
Having gotten a huge piece of gossip, the villagers stomped their feet in excitement. But afraid that You Erni would notice something was amiss, they all restrained themselves and communicated with their eyes.
The moment You Erni’s inner voice faded, Zhao Guihua charged forward. “Aha, you shameless widow! How dare you seduce my husband! See if I don’t beat you to death!”
Zhou Guafu was also a fiery woman, and the two instantly began to scuffle.
“Pah! You can’t control your own man, and you blame me? Look at you, with your broad back and thick waist, legs thicker than a man’s. Not a trace of femininity. Serves you right your man goes out to cheat!”
Zhao Guihua was thoroughly enraged. “I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
With a clatter and a bang, the table was overturned. Fortunately, You Xiaoxia was quick-witted and nimble-fingered. She had grabbed a handful of melon seeds before the table flipped and was now squatting to the side, cracking seeds while watching the fight.
[Lao Liu, they were just fighting over the rooster a second ago. How did they suddenly start fighting each other?]
Lao Liu: [Maybe Zhao Guihua already knew about this. The rooster was just the trigger!]
You Erni nodded, then suddenly: [Oh my god, Lao Liu, you were right. It turns out Zhao Guihua already knew about Wang Fugui and Zhou Guafu’s affair!]