“Mom, what’s wrong?”
Du Hong…
Earlier, she had just taken the chance to vent her anger on her daughter-in-law. That shameless Chunxing actually packed up and ran back to her parents’ house!
It infuriated her. Who dares to show attitude to their mother-in-law?
Chunxing had been married into the Zhao family for so many years, and she had never really disciplined this daughter-in-law.
She had been far too easygoing. Once her eldest son returned, she’d have to tell him: don’t go fetch that woman back—let her stay with her family!
Zhao Shizhong paid no attention to his wife’s expression—or perhaps he simply didn’t care.
“Hmph! She may have escaped quickly, but even if she hadn’t left, I would have sent her packing to her parents’ house today!
When the eldest comes back, you tell him: if he dares go pick her up, I’ll break his legs!”
Their thoughts coincided, and Du Hong nodded in agreement.
Zhao Shizhong waved at his son: “For now, don’t go causing trouble at the Su household. You can head out.”
Zhao Jianjun felt as if he’d been pardoned.
Meanwhile, Chunxing walked along the road leaving the village.
“Xing’er, where are you going?”
“I’m going back to my parents’ for a few days.”
“Was it the Zhao family that drove you out?”
“Looks like it. Chunxing accidentally told the truth earlier. I imagine nobody at the Zhao house likes her right now.”
Ignoring the chatter behind her, Chunxing continued walking. She wasn’t very clever, but she wasn’t foolish either.
Earlier, as soon as the onlookers had left, she timidly returned home, only to be verbally assaulted by her mother-in-law.
She realized that instead of waiting for her father-in-law to kick her out, it was better to leave on her own.
She had only been married into the Zhao family a few years. Her father-in-law had become the village captain, and she had borne two sons for the Zhao family. Everyone said she was lucky.
Her father-in-law had a good temper, and her mother-in-law used to be kind—she had truly fallen into a nest of blessings.
But reality? Before her father-in-law became captain, things weren’t so bad. Once he became captain, he increasingly looked down on her.
Her mother-in-law was the same. When her father-in-law wasn’t captain, she could lend a hand with chores. Since he became captain, her mother-in-law adopted the airs of a high-ranking lady, treating Chunxing like a housemaid.
From morning to night, she washed, cooked, cleaned, fed chickens and pigs, while her mother-in-law went out to chat or occasionally bossed her around.
Even at her parents’ house, she hadn’t been spoiled, but she had never worked this hard—not even during postpartum confinement after having her two sons.
Since the Zhao family treated her poorly, she might as well leave. Without her as the tireless servant, would the Zhao household still appear so peaceful?
Elsewhere, Xiaofang’s mother, now home, looked at the two hens in the coop and felt inexplicably pleased.
“What’s there to be happy about! Just two chickens! Let them have them. You’re going to stir up trouble and wait for the captain to give our family trouble!”
Old Sun sat on the doorstep with a tobacco pipe, frowning.
Xiaofang’s mother glanced at him, then returned her gaze to the chickens.
“Why shouldn’t I go? I’m going personally! I’ll make Zhao Shizhong know: I don’t care about others flattering him, and that punk even dares to fancy my Xiaofang? Let him see what he really is!”
Old Sun: “But don’t take it too far—you can’t go to their doorstep and shout.”
Xiaofang’s mother: “What’s wrong with blocking their door? I’m not going alone—Director Ge and Tiezhus’ wife are coming too.”
Old Sun tapped the doorstep with his pipe twice.
“Hey! You’re full of reason. Ge Hongxia and Zhang Lao San are village officials. Their sons are promising too. Zhao, as captain, wouldn’t dare confront them openly.
And Xu Tiezhus? He’s an old rival of the Zhao family. Don’t be fooled by his wife’s crying—she’s never been taken advantage of by Du Hong!
Xu Tiezhus is protected by connections, working under Zhang Lao San. Captain Zhao can’t just jump over Zhang to give him trouble!
So what makes you think you can challenge the captain’s household?”
Xiaofang’s mother’s smile faded; she straightened her face.
“Old Sun, you’re so timid outside but suddenly bold in front of me! What do we have? Look at me—when have I ever felt inferior to our own family?
You’re a master carpenter by inheritance. We don’t take orders from the captain for farming. Why should we fear him?
His son has eyes on our daughter. Zhao Shizhong only allows it because you have some status in the village.
Old Sun, don’t underestimate yourself. I see clearly how the villagers regard you. Zhao Shizhong might not dare touch you—maybe he would, but so what?
Worst case, we move to the county town. With your skills, we can survive anywhere!”
Seeing her fiery spirit, Old Sun conceded, then after a long pause continued:
“This is clearly suspicious. Even if the Zhao son is mischievous, he wouldn’t steal chickens and hide them at home. They were probably set up.”
Xiaofang’s mother snorted as if she already knew:
“You’re so smart—do you think Ge Hongxia or Tiezhus’ wife are fools? The Zhao son got targeted because their family offended too many people!
Turning this to our advantage is just going with the flow.”
She turned toward the house, muttering:
“The Zhao son’s no good. Xiaofang isn’t jumping into a fire. If there’s a chance, I’ll take it. Just riding the wave!”
On the winding path of Dongshan Village, Lin Qiao, having eaten a homegrown melon, was extremely pleased!
She had just gone into her space in a hidden spot. Crops were thriving—she calculated growth at roughly five times normal speed!
Soon, she wouldn’t worry about food, but she would have to worry about how to distribute the abundant harvest! In this era, free trade wasn’t allowed.
Now a major food producer, Lin Qiao felt she had enough capital to eat as much as she wanted and thought boldly: if she couldn’t sell it, she’d just give it away!
Skipping along toward home, dreaming of a bright future, she happened to meet Lin Heng, who was fetching water.
She was about to roll her eyes but remembered her mother said Lin Heng had helped their family before.
Halfway through the eye-roll, she forced it back and plastered a stiff smile.
Making small talk: “Comrade Lin, out for water?”
Lin Heng…
He had just heard about the big incident at Captain Zhao’s household. The whole village was talking!
Even if others didn’t know what happened, he inexplicably felt that the mastermind behind it was the cross-eyed girl in front of him.
A surge of complex emotions filled him. He had thought she looked trouble-making from the start—but this was huge!
It wasn’t just one blow:
Zhao Jianjun’s reputation was ruined.
He lost his position.
Zhao Shizhong tried to protect his son but got his own prestige damaged.
The Su family temporarily avoided Zhao Jianjun’s harassment.
Not only that, she had turned the Zhao and Zhang families completely against each other. Captain Zhao would never be able to dominate village meetings as he wished.
She had also crushed the marriage prospects between the Zhao and Sun families, leaving Zhao Shizhong one less strong ally.
He had heard that Zhao Jianjun’s cronies were beaten. If Lin Qiao did it, she had also driven a wedge between them and their leader.
This wasn’t just a triple win—this was multiple wins at once.
And were there unknown consequences behind it all?
He drew a sharp breath. The cross-eyed girl had acted ruthlessly!
He had no goodwill toward the Zhao family anyway and secretly laughed at how blindly they had offended this little troublemaker.
Lin Qiao waved her hand in front of Lin Heng, who stood frozen.
Why didn’t he react at all?
Could it be she misjudged him? Was he not a cool, aloof type—but a complete half-wit?