Seeing the Shen family panic like frightened quails, Shen Baizhi was very satisfied. As expected, no matter the situation, sufficient strength could solve all problems.
She suddenly raised the hand holding the wooden stick and pointed it forward. The Shen family took a step back in fear, and only then did she smile lightly and say:
“Now that I’m married, thanks to you all, I married quite well!”
“You all know what kind of life Susu and I had at home. I don’t need to say it. From now on, anyone who dares to bully Susu while I’m away—today is an example. Remember it clearly!”
“And don’t try to use filial piety to morally manipulate me. From now on, I’ll be completely shameless. If I’m unhappy, I’ll make you unhappy too!”
“By the way, remember this: if I hear any rumors outside, I’ll also be in a bad mood. When that happens… well, you know…”
The old Shen patriarch could no longer endure being threatened by his own granddaughter. Losing the dignity of the head of the family, he stepped forward angrily and shouted:
“Shen Baizhi! The family supported you through all these years of schooling, and this is all you’ve learned? Now you even dare to lay hands on your elders!”
Shen Baizhi snorted coldly.
“Schooling? My family supported me through middle school not because I was good at studying, but so that I could help Shen Baiwei get a spot in the county high school. Isn’t that right? Didn’t she go to high school using my grades?”
Hearing this, the old man didn’t feel guilty at all. Instead, he spoke with righteous certainty:
“If it weren’t for your little abilities, do you think you could have finished middle school?”
“Also, I see that with your rebellious nature, marrying someone is our family’s way of apologizing to the Lin family. Tomorrow, I’ll have your father and eldest uncle go cancel the engagement. From then on, you’ll stay at home. When you change your ways, then we’ll find you another husband.”
In his mind, Shen Baizhi’s strength was surely innate. She just hadn’t dared to show it before. Now that she was married and felt she had backing, she could go against her family. He wanted her to know that after a woman marries, her natal family should be most important.
They could arrange a good marriage for her, but they could also make her life unbearable in her husband’s home so she would divorce and return to her family.
Shen Baizhi casually tapped the wooden stick on the ground, making a loud bang bang, and then spoke lightly:
“Sure, do as you please. I’m actually quite fond of this home. Just return the Lin family’s three hundred yuan betrothal gift and the meat, grain, and other goods bought through their connections. After that, I’ll stay here at home and spend time with everyone!”
The old man’s face darkened further. Even trying to divorce her couldn’t control her—could it be that a little girl had actually gotten the upper hand?
Glancing at the sky, Shen Baizhi noticed it was already dark. Someone was waiting for her at the back mountain to feed, so she casually tossed the wooden stick aside.
“All right, a married daughter can’t stay overnight at her natal home. I’ll leave for now and come back tomorrow. You should eat early too!”
“By the way, Susu and I have cooked for the family for many years. Isn’t it time for someone else to take over?”
Turning to the main gate, she pulled the doors open with both hands. The lock fell off effortlessly. The Shen family had tried multiple times to escape through the door but couldn’t open it. Yet she pulled it open easily.
Shen Baizhi clapped her hands, glanced back at the people in the courtyard, smiled, and then strode away.
Not two steps later, several neighbors’ aunts stopped her.
“Baizhi, what just happened at your house? We heard quite a commotion!”
Shen Baizhi casually lied:
“Oh, nothing. Yesterday my mother-in-law taught me a set of massage techniques. I learned them and just wanted to massage my family a bit. They’re all elders, working hard in the fields every day. It’s only right that I show my filial piety!”
The aunts stiffened. Were they trying to fool them as if she were a child? That wailing and screaming—could that really have been from massage?
Still, Shen Baizhi had always been well-liked in the village. And today, the Shen family’s discriminatory wedding banquet had offended many families who had come for lunch. So the aunts only forced a stiff smile and said:
“Oh! Mass… massage! Baizhi, you’re really filial!”
…
After leaving the village, Shen Baizhi quietly returned to the place where the Shen family stored grain. She didn’t leave a single grain and took everything away. Her grandparents had money and could buy more tomorrow—they wouldn’t starve.
After finishing this, she took a small path to the back mountain, walking to the pond where she had saved Jiang Yanli yesterday. Looking at the water, she suddenly had an idea: if she wanted to farm in the space, would she need to water it?
Thinking this, she began drawing water from the pond using her consciousness. Sure enough, a grid in the space turned transparent, showing water inside, while the pond’s water level slowly dropped.
After a while, Shen Baizhi’s stomach growled. She glanced toward the cave, thinking the injured man should eat something nutritious. It was also a perfect opportunity to test the space kitchen.
She entered the space and explored. The kitchen was incredibly versatile. As long as the proper tools were present, any food ingredient could be sent into the space with her mind, and she could imagine the final form. The product would appear exactly as she envisioned.
No chopping or preparation needed. She sorted the large portion of pork she had collected yesterday into ribs, fat, lean meat, and pork belly.
She made some braised ribs from a portion of the ribs, cooked lean meat porridge with a bit of lean meat and rice, and heated yesterday’s white buns. She put everything into a basket, and in less than ten minutes, a sumptuous dinner was ready!
She truly loved this function—she would never have to enter a kitchen again in her life!
Humming a little tune, she walked cheerfully toward the cave.
Jiang Yanli, sitting in the cave with a serious face, relaxed his furrowed brow at the sound of her steps. Did this girl have any sense of safety? She always moved through the mountains after dark. But hearing the lightness of her steps, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. She must be in a good mood today.
As soon as Shen Baizhi stepped into the cave, she saw him by the fire. Under the light, he looked even more handsome. Although it wasn’t a lamp, he looked equally stunning in the firelight.
“I’m back. You must be hungry. Look what I brought!”
She strode to Jiang Yanli, lifting the white cloth covering the basket.
He glanced at the food. It looked delicious: the braised ribs glistened, the lean meat porridge was soft, and the aroma in the air confirmed it would taste amazing.
But he was more concerned about her condition. She had brought so much food yesterday without getting scolded by her family. And today, she brought even better dishes.
“You seem to be in a good mood today.”
“Actually, the food from this morning was enough. You didn’t need to come all the way here tonight with more food.”