“Dad! How can you side with that damned girl! I refuse to believe I can’t handle her!”
Yuan Mingzhu tried to rush forward, but a single threatening glance from Yuan Dewang stopped her.
Although she was aggressive, she still feared her father and could only glare furiously at Lin Qiao from her spot.
At this moment, Lin Qiao was unusually obedient. She carefully removed her mourning clothes, folded them neatly, and, with a tinge of reluctance, touched the fabric one last time before offering them to Yuan Dewang:
“Old Master, please keep this safe—you’ll definitely find a use for it in the future.”
Yuan Dewang’s temples throbbed, but he still reached out and took the clothes. His voice carried a hint of anger:
“Now can you speak? What exactly happened to Liu Xiangyang?”
“Nothing serious—just a broken arm. He went to the county hospital. Probably four or five days, and he can be discharged.”
Lin Qiao wasn’t a doctor, but after all her experience in the past world, she could tell at a glance that it wasn’t anything serious.
Yuan Dewang finally relaxed. “Good, just four or five days… that’s still manageable.”
Then he straightened his face. “You’re married now—why are you running back to your mother’s house? You dared come in mourning clothes without checking first—do you have any respect for your elders at all?”
Yuan, as village captain, commanded great respect; one glare from him, and few dared defy it.
Lin Qiao blinked innocently. “Old Master, what are you saying? I respect my stepmother so much that I rushed back to mourn her right after my wedding!”
Yuan Mingzhu finally saw her chance. Furious, she pointed at Lin Qiao and yelled, “You little slut! I’m not dead yet!”
Lin Qiao quickly corrected herself. Bowing three times toward Yuan Mingzhu, she said, “Stepmother, I truly didn’t know you were alive! How about this—next time you die, I won’t wear mourning clothes. That way we’re even, alright?”
Yuan Dewang looked at the girl with some doubt. Lin Qiao had come to the Yuan household with Lin Juncai at age ten, essentially growing up under his watch. How could a simple wedding change her so drastically?
Seeing her bow and the red mole at the nape of her neck, he chuckled to himself—he really was getting old, imagining all sorts of things.
Yet there was nothing he could do with this cunning girl. He’d thought she’d be easy to handle, but now, freshly married, she was showing her true colors.
An elder couldn’t just strike a young girl. And judging by Lin Qiao’s speed earlier, he wasn’t sure he could catch her anyway. Frustrated, he tossed the mourning clothes and muttered:
“Useless wood—can’t carve it!”
Seeing Yuan Dewang retreat into the main house, Yuan Mingzhu’s eyes turned red. “You little brat! If I don’t beat you today, my name isn’t Yuan!”
She grabbed the yard broom from the corner and swung at Lin Qiao.
Lin Qiao ran while shouting back, “Why are you so unreasonable! Haven’t I already apologized?”
Seeing Yuan Mingzhu refuse to relent, Lin Qiao got fired up too and turned to yell back while holding her waist:
“Hmph! If I let you hit me today, I’ll have Dad call you ‘Mother’!”
Lin Juncai, standing by unsure how to mediate, turned green. This stubborn girl was impossible! She was going to ruin her father.
Outside the Yuan third brother’s door, Wang Caixia leaned against the frame, cracking sunflower seeds and watching the chaos next door.
Tsk tsk! Lin Qiao had really hidden her abilities well! Look at that boldness—nothing like the timid girl who couldn’t even fight back before.
Not only was she secretly pleased to see her sister-in-law fail, she recalled how much she’d suffered from her when she first married into the family. If not for Yuan Mingyao’s support, who knew how much more she would have endured?
Even now, she harbored resentment. Her father-in-law pampered this younger daughter, letting an already married girl stay at home and even taking in a son-in-law through marriage. The old Yuan family had no shortage of sons or grandsons.
Why should one daughter-in-law hold the family line? Several children had been born, all girls—when did the family ever need a daughter to carry on the family line?
Yet her father favored the younger daughter, giving the household’s good things not only to his grandson but also to the detestable Yuan Mingzhu.
Qian Dingxiang, peeking through the window, smirked inwardly. She married in early, when the mother-in-law’s health was poor and most household chores fell on her as the daughter-in-law.
Yuan Mingzhu, capable of working, was too lazy and always played, making her act like a servant to Qian Dingxiang. Her father-in-law’s favoritism made the younger daughter act like a mistress. Their men dared not disobey, only advising her to endure.
Years passed like this.
She’d hoped life would improve after the third daughter-in-law married in, but Wang Caixia was sly, charming her third brother to speak in her favor. The household work still fell on her.
Finally, the sister-in-law married, yet often quarreled and returned home for short stays, even committing shameful acts of stealing husbands!
Because of her, the old Yuan family had been humiliated countless times, and her father-in-law ignored it all, even bringing her back home.
Embarrassing!
If Lin Juncai hadn’t brought a capable step-grandchild, their house would have been filthy. Lin Qiao had just married, yet dirty clothes were scattered at the door, no one to wash them. She even spotted Lin Juncai’s underwear—if Yuan Mingzhu dared make her wash it, she’d fight to the end.
By now, Yuan Mingzhu had grown tired chasing. Remembering her pregnancy, she dared not pursue with full force. She collapsed on the ground, crying and complaining:
“Lin Juncai, you useless man! You just watch your daughter bully me!”
Lin Juncai wanted to help, but even he couldn’t catch Lin Qiao’s speed. He shivered, recalling how Lin Qiao had used him as a shield earlier—he’d been beaten mercilessly by his wife!
Hearing Yuan Mingzhu call him, he had no choice but to go over and steady her.
Turning red-eyed, he scolded Lin Qiao: “She’s your mother! Even if you don’t care about her, think about the baby in her belly—that’s your own brother! If anything happened to them, how would I live as a father?”
Tsk tsk. If he didn’t become an actor, it’d be a waste. Look at those red eyes, the slightly reproachful expression—perfectly done.
His wife fell for that every time.
Yuan Mingzhu stopped being angry at him, glanced at him with concern, and then turned with her father to glare at Lin Qiao.
Lin Juncai’s tricks were obvious: either pressure her with filial piety or play the emotion card.
But Lin Qiao had no feelings for him.
“Dad, you’re so handsome! Stepmother’s already old and faded—you could find a young, beautiful one! And what brother? I bet this one’s another girl!”
“You’re talking nonsense! The village elders said my belly is pointed—this one’s definitely a boy!”
Before Lin Juncai could speak, Yuan Mingzhu scowled. That little brat was clearly here just to annoy her.
Lin Juncai hurried to reassure her: “Mingzhu, don’t listen to her. Since I built a family with you, I’m devoted to you—no second thoughts!”
No matter what Lin Qiao thought, Yuan Mingzhu was reassured by his words.
She glared at Lin Qiao. “Stop trying to stir trouble! Jun Cai and I are fine! This time, I’ll definitely give your father a son!”
Lin Qiao was baffled. “Even if you have a son, isn’t he still part of the Yuan family? What does he have to do with my father? Oh—borrowing someone else’s seed?”