Lu Minggui couldn’t help but sneer. Did Hu Cuihua really think she wouldn’t understand her indirect scolding?
All the talk about greed and gluttony—wasn’t that just about what happened that afternoon?
Erfen had obviously been gossiping in her presence, recounting the afternoon’s events.
But since Lu Minggui dared to let her second daughter-in-law and Manman have a bit of a treat, she had no intention of hiding it.
This household had been built bit by bit through her hard work—so what if they ate a few eggs?
If it weren’t for long-term planning, she might have eaten the three hens in the yard herself!
“Eldest branch, who are you making a scene for in the yard?”
“If you dislike me, this old woman, so much that you don’t want to live here anymore… then split the family!”
The words “split the family” made Hu Cuihua freeze.
After all these years of good life, she hadn’t even thought about splitting the household.
Why did the old lady suddenly bring it up?
At just the right moment, Song Dazhi, who had been hiding in the house, stepped out:
“Mother, oh, why talk about splitting the family?”
“They say, while father and mother are alive, don’t split the household. Father is gone, but mother is still here!”
“This family can’t do without you! And I’m the eldest son—if we split, you’d still live with me!”
“Live with you?” Lu Minggui sneered. “Afraid I won’t survive long enough?”
“Even if I live alone, I won’t stay with a heartless family like yours!”
Song Dazhi, seeing his mother’s anger rise, quickly pushed Hu Cuihua forward.
“Mother, what are you saying? Did Cuihua say something wrong?”
“Don’t you know her? She speaks directly but has no ill intentions.”
“Cuihua, apologize to mother!”
Hu Cuihua froze. Apologize to the old lady? For what?
She had only spoken a few sour words—was it worth taking seriously?
But Lu Minggui’s cold gaze swept over her, clearly waiting for the apology.
Song Dazhi frantically signaled her: “Hurry up!”
Hu Cuihua’s anger, pent up all day from running ten li for Shen Juye and preparing dinner, boiled over. Even her husband sided with this old lady!
She gritted her teeth: “Mother, be reasonable!”
“Erfen is my own child! Can’t I say a few words to her?”
“Tell me, can’t I even discipline my own children?”
“I just said a few things and you talk about splitting the family? Isn’t that unreasonable?”
Lu Minggui’s face remained cold: “You take care of your children. I don’t interfere. But I repeat, if you dislike this old woman, then split the family!”
“Go where you want, teach the kids how you like! But if you want to stay here, shut your mouth!”
“If I hear any more filthy words from you, I’ll tear your mouth open!”
Her icy words silenced Hu Cuihua. Swallowing her resentment, she watched the old lady filter the decoction and carry it to Shen Juye’s room.
She glared sharply at Song Dazhi.
“Juye, come, drink the medicine first.”
Lu Minggui set down the medicine bowl and helped Shen Juye sit up.
Shen Juye dared not let her mother-in-law serve her. She struggled to get up.
“Mother, I can do it myself.”
She took the bowl and drank the brown medicine in one go.
Lu Minggui said nothing further. After Shen Juye finished, Manman went to wash dishes, and Lu Minggui stepped outside to discard the herb residue.
In Yongfeng Village, people usually threw used herbs onto the main road to the east. Foot traffic would disperse the bad energies.
By the time she returned, night had fully fallen.
Back inside, the eldest branch was just sitting in the main room preparing to eat.
Hu Cuihua must have just finished cooking.
Song Dazhi quickly got up: “Mother, dinner is ready. Let’s eat.”
“The second branch has already received a large bowl of porridge.”
But Lu Minggui wasn’t hungry. The afternoon’s egg soup and black wheat buns still filled her.
She shook her head at the eldest branch: “You eat.”
Then she turned and returned to her room.
Hu Cuihua, feeding Yinbao a black wheat bun, didn’t stop her mother-in-law from leaving.
Once Lu Minggui closed her door, Hu Cuihua muttered to Song Dazhi:
“After eating a treat this afternoon, she doesn’t even care about this stuff now.”
“I told you, don’t bother asking her!”
“When she enjoys something, does she think of you?”
Song Dazhi gave her a sharp look: “Shut up. Do you really want to split the family?”
“Split it! What’s the big deal?” Hu Cuihua shot back, unafraid.
“Hmph! Split, and you’ll regret it!”
The eldest branch ate, washed, and finally returned to their room to light the lamp.
Even lying down, Hu Cuihua fumed:
“What in the world got into your mother today?”
“Just woke up, slapped me, and scolded me!”
“She must be crazy.”
Song Dazhi added: “Not only that! She also grabbed my money pouch!”
Hu Cuihua was shocked: “She took your money pouch?”
“Yes. Blame yourself,” Song Dazhi grumbled. “You told me to steal her money to buy meat!”
“Now the meat’s gone and I’ve only gotten myself in trouble!”
“Didn’t you see her tantrum? She wanted the whole village to know I stole her money!”
“I had no choice but to hand her the pouch.”
“Luckily, there were just over a hundred coins. The bulk is still with you.”
Hu Cuihua sat up immediately: “No, I’m going to get it back!”
“That was our savings!”
Song Dazhi urged her: “Don’t even think about it. Mother seems to have lost her mind today.”
“Maybe she’ll calm down in a few days.”
Hu Cuihua’s face twisted in dissatisfaction: “Why did that old woman suddenly turn like this?”
“Could it be because your second brother died?”
“If you ask me, it’s good he died. The magistrate will have to give us compensation!”
Song Dazhi hummed: “He was just a conscripted soldier. At most, they’ll give three sheng of rice.”
“That’s if the officials don’t embezzle some.”
Hu Cuihua pouted: “Only three sheng? That’s too little. Dahe’s death wasn’t worth it!”
“If you ask me, at least ten taels of silver! Such a waste.”