Wang Jiangang’s face darkened instantly. But to his credit, he had a shred of decency in him. Seeing how wronged Shen Youyou looked, he hesitated—then reached out with trembling chopsticks, picked up a piece of that dark, unidentifiable mess, and put it in his mouth.
“It’s… fine,” he said. “Just too much soy sauce, a bit salty. We’ll eat it as a side dish.”
Hearing him actually eat what she’d made—and seeing him stand up for her—Shen Youyou felt a great deal better.
Just as the old woman was about to launch into another tirade, Wang Jiangang waved a hand to cut her off.
“Enough, Mother. It’s only their first day of marriage—can’t you let it rest? Carry on like this and we’ll both be late for work!”
At least he had that one redeeming quality: he was diligent about his job.
Truth be told, he wasn’t doing it entirely for Shen Youyou’s sake. He just couldn’t bear another minute of his mother’s wailing—it was enough to drive anyone mad.
The family endured a thoroughly miserable meal together, and then Wang Jiangang and his brothers left for work.
Only the old woman and Shen Youyou remained at home. The third brother had taken his wife to the clinic for her checkup.
Shen Youyou had hoped to catch a little more sleep—but the old woman had been simmering with rage all morning. Now that her sons were gone, she was free to make Shen Youyou pay!
She set Shen Youyou to work: wiping tables, sweeping the floor, cleaning the windows, and then sending her out to feed the chickens in the yard.
Those chicks raised back in spring had grown plump and strong by now, being fattened up specially for slaughter at New Year’s. The old woman fussed over them every single day, terrified they would be anything less than prime and juicy.
“Go grab a handful of grain and feed them!” she ordered.
Then she simply turned around and went back inside to lie down, all the while looking utterly pleased with herself.
Shen Youyou was so furious she nearly tore the cleaning rag to shreds.
Wretched old hag! Why don’t you just drop dead?
It had never occurred to her that Shen Niannian had endured this kind of life day after day!
But then she told herself: One day I’ll live in a grand house, drive a fine car, and be a wealthy businesswoman. That thought was the only thing that kept her going.
She repeated a mantra to herself: Endure hardship now, reap reward later!
She went to the storehouse to fetch grain. There she spotted a sack of rice that had turned slightly reddish—clearly starting to spoil. Perfect for the chickens, she thought. She scooped up a half-basketful and scattered it for the birds.
Once that was done, figuring the old woman had likely fallen asleep, she slipped back inside to catch up on her sleep.
In her past life she had studied relentlessly to get into university—but in this life, she was destined to be a wealthy tycoon. Why bother slaving over books? In the end, hadn’t she still lost her job? There was simply no point in striving anymore.
But halfway through her nap, a bloodcurdling scream rang out from the yard.
“AAAAHHHH!!!!!”
An instant later, her bedroom door was kicked wide open.
Shen Youyou jolted awake. Before she could even scramble to her feet, the old woman was upon her, beating her furiously with a broom. Dust flew everywhere, the bristles catching in Shen Youyou’s hair—but the old woman paid it no mind. Eyes blazing with fury, she rained blow after blow down upon her like a woman possessed.
Shen Youyou’s hair was torn and tangled, great clumps ripped clean from her scalp. She shrieked in pain, tears streaming down her face.
And then her temper snapped.
Just as the old woman raised the broom to strike again, Shen Youyou wrenched it from her grasp—and fought back.
Within moments the two women were grappling, tearing at each other, rolling from the bedroom out into the yard. The old woman never stopped screaming.
“Murder!!! Help!!! Murder in broad daylight!!!”
“I’ll kill you!!! I’ll kill you with my own hands!!!”
The neighbors had already been listening in—everyone knew exactly what the Wang household was like; the old woman’s shrill scolding was a daily occurrence. But never had anyone heard her scream in such agony.
Curious faces appeared. People rushed over to see what had gone wrong. And when they saw the newlywed bride and her mother-in-law rolling about in the yard, tearing at each other’s hair and clothes, they were utterly stunned.
Some hurried forward to pull them apart; others ran straight to the scrap yard to fetch Wang Jiangang.
When Wang Jiangang finally came panting home, he found his mother’s face scratched and clawed all over. Shen Youyou was in no better state—her face bore two deep scratches, and her hair was a wild, ruined mess.
Wang Jiangang’s face was black as soot.
“What in the world are you two doing?” he roared. “I leave for work and this is how you behave? Can a man not even go to work in peace?!”
At the sight of her son, the old woman dissolved into heartrending sobs, sinking right down onto the ground. She was genuinely, dangerously enraged. She pointed a trembling finger at Shen Youyou.
“If I had known she was such a creature… I would never have agreed to this marriage!!! Not for anything!!!”
Every time she spoke, the scratches on her face stung, and she cried out in pain.
Shen Youyou was equally beside herself with grievance. Tears spilled fast down her cheeks.
“Your mother has been mad since the moment you left!” she wept. “She ordered me here and there, never letting me rest! When I finally lay down for a moment—she bursts in and starts beating me with a broom! Look at my hair! It hurts so much! Waaaaah…”
The moment she spoke those words, the old woman remembered the source of all her grief—and wailed even louder.
Mad?! the old woman shrieked. You shameless, heartless hussy!!! I asked you to do a little work—is that so much to ask of any daughter-in-law?! But you—you scheming, black-hearted witch—you deliberately poisoned my chickens!!! Every last one!!!
She gasped for breath, clutching her chest and sobbing so violently she could barely breathe.
Wang Jiangang’s heart sank. He rushed to the chicken coop—and there he saw it: all those plump, healthy birds, lying stiff and splay-legged on the ground, their skin turned a sickly dark purple. There was no mistaking it—they had been poisoned.
In those days, no household had money to spare. Meat coupons were scarce, and everyone looked forward to New Year’s—when those chickens would finally be slaughtered and enjoyed. All that precious meat… gone in a single morning!
He stood there heaving with rage, staring at the dead birds, then fixing Shen Youyou with a look of pure fury.
“How could you be so cruel?” he demanded. “My mother asked you to do a little work—and you killed all her chickens?!”
The neighbors crowded around, gazing in sorrow at the sight. They understood perfectly why the old woman had lost her mind. This would have driven anyone to fury. That was precious food—meat so rarely tasted all year! The way those birds had been cared for, fed and nurtured so tenderly… anyone could see how much love and effort had gone into raising them.
And on her very first day as a bride… every single one was dead.
Had they died any other way, the meat might still have been salvaged. But poisoned? Who would dare eat it? Their flesh was dark and discolored—who would risk sharing their fate?
Murmurs of disapproval rose from the crowd. Neighbors began pointing fingers, whispering and shaking their heads.
But Shen Youyou was stunned—and deeply wronged.
Poisoned them? When? I never did any such thing!
She rushed to the coop, staring in horror at the birds—once lively and bright, now lying cold and purple. She looked up and met Wang Jiangang’s blazing, furious gaze. Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
“It wasn’t me!” she cried. “I didn’t do it! I never poisoned them!”