Wang Dahua stumbled into the house holding the iron box, her knuckles whitening from the grip. Trembling, she lifted the lid.
Inside, it was completely empty—she could even see her own reflection.
“The money? I saved that for most of my life!”
Her sharp cries pierced the roof, her voice laced with the despair of someone on the brink of death.
“That was the money our whole family lived on!”
The brigade leader saw the situation and frowned—who knew where Wang Dahua kept the money?
Had it really been lost?
He turned and rushed back to the brigade courtyard. The moment he arrived, he said, “Village Head, bad news—Wang Dahua says her house was robbed.”
Zhang Shengli didn’t believe it, and neither did the others.
How could something so coincidental happen?
In the corner, Shen Nian lowered her eyes, a cold smirk tugging at her lips.
This money had always belonged to the original owner. Stealing it was disgraceful, but in this harsh, impoverished place, if she wanted to survive, she had to use whatever means necessary.
Before Zhang Shengli could speak, Old Man Liu slammed the table and jumped up, spittle flying everywhere.
“What? The money’s gone? I think the Shen family is deliberately defaulting. That money must be returned today, or I’ll die right here!”
Shen Nian’s fingers clenched just as the sound of a cane thumping harshly outside reached them, accompanied by chaotic footsteps.
It was her grandmother, Huaifa.
Huaifa, bound feet and all, was followed by Wang Dahua and a few timid grandchildren, sweeping into the room like a black wind.
Not even sixty, Huaifa’s back was bent like a drawn bow, yet her cane stood straight. Her triangular eyes blazed, fixed directly on Shen Nian.
She lunged forward, her gnarled, tree-branch-like hand aimed straight at Shen Nian’s face.
“You bastard daughter of a bitch! Married and still wetting the bed, bringing shame on the Shen family! I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
Li Hong turned pale in fright.
The Shen family was rotten to the core.
Shen Nian felt a surge of fire in her chest.
This old woman, bound feet rotting her brain, sexist and violent?
She almost forgot—she was supposed to be a “madwoman” now.
Shen Nian suddenly sprang up, chest out, hands on hips, and shoved Huaifa aside with her shoulder.
The old lady staggered back two steps. If Shen Dafu hadn’t caught her, she would have collapsed into a heap.
“Bad person! Hit the bad person!”
She grabbed her tangled braid, swinging it wildly like a windmill.
“That’s enough!”
Zhang Shengli pounded the table, pointing at Wang Dahua.
Judging by Old Man Liu’s stance, the money had to be returned.
If this wasn’t settled, people would continue mocking them in the village.
“Either hand over the money, or write an IOU to Old Man Liu!”
Wang Dahua’s face turned as pale as paper, her resentful gaze drilling into Shen Nian.
If it weren’t for this madwoman causing chaos, it wouldn’t have come to this.
Shen Dafu, however, fanned the flames.
“Village Head, if the money’s gone, how can we return it? Why not let Old Man Liu take this madwoman as payment?”
Huaifa immediately chimed in, pointing her cane at Old Man Liu’s nose.
“A daughter once married is out of the Shen family’s hands. She’s no longer related to them. You’re her man now—take her away.”
Old Man Liu trembled with anger at these shameless people and suddenly shouted, “Fine! You won’t return the money, huh? I’m going to the commune police station right now!”
The moment he said “police station,” Shen Dafu immediately fell silent, shrinking back.
These days, which farmer wasn’t afraid of someone in uniform?
Zhang Shengli frowned tightly.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Nian lunged forward, clutching Old Man Liu’s arm and hiding behind him, wailing, “I’m going with you! They hit me! I’m scared!”
Old Man Liu nearly lost his soul in fright.
This madwoman wanted to go home with him?
He shoved Shen Nian with surprising force.
She crashed into the wall, her forehead thudding hard and instantly swelling into a blue bump.
She touched her forehead, tears spilling like broken pearls, her cries tearing at the heart.
Old Man Liu’s anger rose further. His gaze fell on a hoe by the wall; he grabbed it, blade pointed at Huaifa.
“No one leaves until the money’s returned today!”
Hearing the hoe handle creak under his grip, Shen Nian quietly stifled her cries.
The provocation had worked!
Zhang Shengli, sweating profusely, suddenly brightened.
“Old Man Liu, in the Shen family backyard there’s a 100-kilogram black pig and a few hens. Sold by year-end, they could be worth 150–160 yuan. Why not use the pig as collateral?”
“No way!” Wang Dahua lunged forward like a madwoman, slapping her thighs and crying.
“That pig is the whole family’s hope! My son’s counting on those eggs for nourishment!”
“Either collateral or cash,” Zhang Shengli shouted louder than her.
The village secretary from Old Man Liu’s village signaled to him. The Shen family had no shame—if they didn’t take something tangible today, they wouldn’t get the money back later.
Old Man Liu gritted his teeth and nodded. “Fine! Let’s do it! From today, I’m officially breaking the engagement with this madwoman—she’s no longer my wife. And don’t think of bothering me again.”
Zhang Shengli quickly wrote up the document, pressing the red fingerprints of Shen Dafu and Old Man Liu onto it.
The crowd stormed to Shen Dafu’s house. Old Man Liu put a rope on the pig and grabbed two laying hens, tucking them under his arms as he left.
Wang Dahua watched the pig being led away, whimpering in pain, and lunged to grab a hen.
Old Man Liu turned and kicked her in the calf, letting out a cold snort.
“Cause more trouble and I’ll take you home for my wife. You may not give birth, but you can still sleep there.”
Wang Dahua wished she could tear his mouth apart.
Filthy bastard!
Zhang Shengli glanced at Shen Nian and told Shen Dafu, “From now on, tie up this mad girl. Don’t let her out to scare the kids.”
The villagers, having had their fill of entertainment, laughed and dispersed.
Shen Lan stamped her feet crying—her dowry was gone, and the family’s mainstay had been taken away.
Once the crowd left, the Shen family’s faces immediately twisted into ugliness.
Huaifa was so angry her cane nearly stabbed into the ground.
“Shen Dafu, starve this madwoman out! With her causing this chaos today, how will Lanlan ever marry? How will your son ever get a wife?”
Shen Nian slowly rose, brushing the dirt from her clothes.
Good. If she didn’t leave now, her cover would be blown.
She lifted her gaze, and the madness in her eyes had vanished, replaced by a sharp, icy glare.
Huaifa was stunned, forgetting to hurl any more insults.
“Who cares about staying in this lousy place?”
Shen Nian raised her chin, her pride and defiance impossible to hide.
She clapped her hands, swung her braid, and made to leave.
The Shen family was dumbfounded.
This madwoman suddenly acting normal?
“I’ll find you a husband’s family to support you. If you don’t like it, once you step out this door, starve to death, little bitch—don’t come looking for us.”
The villagers had seen enough of their family’s foolishness over the years. If she truly starved in the village, the whole family would be mocked.
A gleam of viciousness flashed in Huaifa’s eyes. She decided that if she had to, she might as well push her into the river under the cover of night and end her life.
But this plan couldn’t be known by anyone else.
“If I starve, it’s because of you. You’re all bad people.”
Shen Nian gritted her teeth. Shen Lan’s face was full of resentment.
“If it weren’t for you, madwoman, I wouldn’t be pointed at and mocked. Hurry up and die.”
Shen Nian thought of her previous life—she had never been so wronged. Now that her goal was achieved, she refused to let anyone ride roughshod over her.
“Want to die? Do it yourself. I’m not dying.”
She coldly glared at Shen Lan, then turned to leave.
Shen Dafu’s chest burned with anger. Looking around, he picked up a stick and strode toward her menacingly.
“You worthless brat! Get out of here!”