“Yeah, exactly—Zhang Xin’s mother-in-law is right. I just saw her pass by here earlier.”
Auntie Justice No. 1 spoke up.
“Well, this really is eye-opening. Someone who always claims she doesn’t favor boys over girls—turns out she’s quite the two-faced schemer.”
Auntie No. 2, who had never gotten along with Li Ruhua, eagerly jumped in.
She had long disliked Li Ruhua—always putting on airs just because she had a couple more years of schooling.
She herself had even attended literacy classes—had she ever bragged about it?
At her age, still calling herself “Ruhua” (like a flower)—shameless!
Tch.
“What Dayan says makes sense. Didn’t Zhang Xin’s wife just say that out of her 32.5 yuan monthly salary, 20 yuan has to go to the family fund? And Zhang Xin still has to eat and live at his workplace.”
“Look at Old Wang’s eldest son in the east—he eats and lives at home and only hands over 15 yuan a month.”
“Exactly. I’ve seen that eldest grandson of theirs—big and well-fed, always eating with grease all over his mouth.”
“Then look at Zhang Xin’s daughter—so skinny you can see her bones. And when people asked about it, what did she say again?”
“She said the child takes after her maternal grandmother—naturally thin.”
Another auntie chimed in—she had been there at the time and had the most authority to speak.
“Right, right, I heard that too. I was puzzled. I’ve heard of kids taking after their parents, uncles, or grandparents—but taking after the grandmother on the mother’s side? That’s a first.”
“Besides, Zhang Xin’s wife doesn’t even resemble her mother. But it’s understandable—after all, that Zhang family’s youngest daughter had it even worse when she was little than Xiaofang.”
“Now that you mention it, I remember—Xiaomei, that girl… sigh, what a pitiful child.”
The old men and women didn’t care at all that the people involved were still present—they just gossiped openly.
Zhang Fugui, who considered himself the head of the household, saw that things were getting out of control. If they kept talking, who knew what rumors would spread by tomorrow.
He turned to his wife.
“Ahem… you shouldn’t jump to conclusions and accuse the second son’s wife like that. People in the village might misunderstand and think we mistreat our daughters-in-law.”
“Second daughter-in-law, this matter is your mother’s fault. You’ve always been an obedient child. When you get home, have your mother apologize to you.”
“A harmonious family brings prosperity. Don’t let Xiaoxin worry about home while he’s working—it wouldn’t be good if it affects his job.”
With that, Zhang Fugui lightly slapped both sides—trying to smooth things over and hastily concluded the matter.
Li Ruhua felt humiliated by her husband in public and blamed it all on her second daughter-in-law’s lack of tact.
Her face turned ashen as she shot Sun Xiumei a glare.
Just you wait—I’ll deal with you later.
She grabbed her eldest grandson and stormed off.
Sun Xiumei, holding Xiaofang’s hand, followed behind like a bullied daughter-in-law—clearly used to being treated this way by her in-laws.
Leaving the crowd to speculate endlessly…
..
Liu Guiying knew nothing about what had happened in Zhangjiazhuang. She had more important matters to attend to.
With Xiumei about to give birth, she couldn’t stir up too much trouble—but she could at least collect some “interest” first.
Otherwise, the anger she carried from her previous life would suffocate her if she didn’t vent it.
Just as dusk fell, Liu Guiying arrived at her doorstep.
As she was about to push the door open, she heard her daughter-in-law Wang Xiaofeng’s sarcastic voice from inside.
“Mom sure has it easy—always gossiping around. Said she went to second sister’s place, but it’s already dark and she’s still not back.”
“As the saying goes, better timing than being early—looks like she’s planning to come back just in time to eat a ready-made meal.”
Liu Guiying didn’t open the door.
Instead, she went straight to the woodpile by the entrance, rummaging around.
She was picking out something handy—something that would hurt properly when used to hit someone.
If she didn’t beat those two ungrateful brats today, then all those years people called her the “Iron Lady” would have been for nothing.
Inside, the eldest son’s voice could be heard scolding his younger brother.
“Jianguo, control your wife. How can she talk like that? Don’t you know how hard Mom worked all these years to raise us?”
As always, Sun Jianguo sided with his wife.
“Big brother, my wife didn’t say anything wrong. We just came back from my in-laws’ place and haven’t even eaten yet. We came here hoping for a hot meal.”
“Before, Mom always had food ready for us. But now the stove is cold…”
Liu Guiying gripped her carefully selected “weapon.”
She opened the door, closed it, and bolted it—all in one smooth motion.
Taking a deep breath, she turned and swung.
Swish—swish—swish!
The branch whipped through the air like a lash, coming alive in her hands, each strike aimed at Sun Jianguo.
“You shameless bastard! What sin did I commit in my past life to give birth to a beast like you!”
“You want a hot meal? There’s fresh stuff in the backyard for the dog—go eat that! Why don’t you choke to death, you worthless mutt!”
Caught off guard, Sun Jianguo yelped as he was whipped, jumping around the yard like a monkey.
“Mom, are you crazy?! Why are you hitting me?!”
“Ah! You old hag, what are you doing? Did you take the wrong medicine? You’re hitting your own son!”
Liu Guiying swung backhandedly, striking someone else.
“What are you screaming for? Didn’t you get hit too? If you love screaming so much, why don’t you go reserve a bed at Guang’en Hospital in the city? The patients there will scream with you till the end of time!”
“After I finish with this bastard, I’ll send him there with you!”
“You two deserve each other—one heartless, one cold-blooded. A perfect match!”
With that, she continued searching for her target—but after looking around, she couldn’t find him.
Looking up, she saw he had climbed onto the flat rooftop via a wooden ladder.
“Hah! Sun Jianguo, you coward—think you can hide up there?”
“When I was climbing ladders, you weren’t even born yet!”
“I pitied you for losing your father young. I never treated you poorly—I starved myself just to feed you. And this is how you repay me? Treating me like a servant?”
“Even a clay figure has some temper! Today I’ll grant your wish and send you to meet your dead father!”
Ptui, ptui!
She spat into her palms, rubbed them together, adjusted her pants, and prepared to climb up.
“Big brother! Big brother! Stop Mom! She’s gone crazy—she’s going to beat me to death!”
Sun Jianguo’s desperate cries snapped Sun Jianjun out of his shock.
It also woke Ma Lijuan from her stunned state.
The two rushed forward—one grabbing Liu Guiying’s waist, the other her legs—pulling her down from halfway up the ladder.
“Mom, calm down, calm down! It’s not that serious—it’s just one meal!”
“I’ll cook with Lijuan later. Don’t get so worked up—you’ll hurt yourself.”
“Yes, yes, Mom. I’ll cook. My mother came earlier to pick up Xiaobao—his uncle came back—that’s why we were late. Go rest first, we’ll call you when the food is ready.”
They supported Liu Guiying, trying to lead her back inside.
Standing there, her hands trembling, the surge of strength in her finally faded.
After all, she had only been back in this body for two days and still hadn’t fully adjusted.
Thinking of what her eldest son had just said, grief overwhelmed her.
Unable to hold it in any longer, she burst into loud sobs.