The Zhang Family’s Old Woman’s shrill shouts soon echoed at the Village Chief’s doorstep.
The Village Chief swung the door open with a darkened face, scolding irritably, “Should’ve listened to your daughter-in-law last night and given you a few acupuncture needles to clear your head! Instead of working in the fields early in the morning, what kind of pig-footed, sheep-epilepsy fit are you throwing at my door?”
“I’m here to take my new daughter-in-law home!” The old woman forced a smile. “Today’s an auspicious day for the Dongfang!”
Before the Village Chief could respond, Meng Xizhou leaned out the window, glancing at the crimson sun just risen in the east. “Dongfang? Even my sister and brother-in-law know it’s only appropriate at night. Mother-in-law, aren’t you… a bit too impatient?”
Another direct jab at her sore spot!
The old woman saw red, whirling toward the Village Chief in agitation. “Village Chief! Don’t be fooled by this wretched girl! She’s cunning—just pretending to be a doctor to hide in your house! What woman can learn medicine? How scandalous!”
Before she finished, a small head popped up from the window—the Village Chief’s previously half-dead son. “Grandma’s lying! Sister isn’t a fraud!”
He was really saved?! The old woman stared, dumbfounded.
The Village Chief snorted coldly. “Zhang Family’s Old Woman, your ancestors’ graves must’ve been cursed for eight generations to finally marry in such a divine healer! Instead of honoring and cherishing her, you dare point fingers and insult her? You’re truly despicable!”
The old woman’s face flushed and paled in turns, so mortified she wished to vanish into the ground, yet her hatred for Meng Xizhou festered venomously.
Seeing the timing was ripe, Meng Xizhou interceded gently, “Village Chief, please don’t speak of Mother-in-law that way. Though she’s foolish and mean, shameless and arrogant, ignorant and foul-mouthed… she is still my mother-in-law after all!”
This was clearly insulting her in disguise!
The old woman’s face twisted in rage. “You little harlot, think you’re clever with words? Just wait till I—”
“Enough!” the Village Chief cut her off impatiently. “Weren’t you rushing for an auspicious hour? Hurry up and take her away!”
Swallowing her venomous curses, the old woman grudgingly led Meng Xizhou back.
The moment they reached the Zhang house, the old woman shoved Meng Xizhou into Zhang Zhi’s sour-smelling room, slamming the door shut with a clang. “Take off your clothes! Serve your husband properly! Once you’re on your husband’s bed, remember his family’s grace! Try any tricks, and I’ll skin you alive!”
In the dim, gloomy room, Meng Xizhou scanned the dilapidated wooden shack that had been her hellish prison in her past life, her gaze settling on Zhang Zhi—a chubby, large-headed figure lying on the bed, a string of clear snot dribbling from his mouth.
His unnaturally dark eyes turned toward her, devoid of any childlike innocence, instead locking onto her like a predator fixated on its prey.
In the cramped, enclosed space, a dangerous aura instantly permeated the air.
Yet Meng Xizhou slowly curved her lips into a smile.
The show had begun.
“Help! Help!”
“What are you screaming about?” the old woman yelled toward the room. “Whatever your husband gives you, you bear it. Crying and wailing—you have no sense of propriety!”
“Mother-in-law, open the door quickly! My husband… he’s dying!”
“What?!” At those words, the old woman rushed into the room.
There on the bed, Zhang Zhi’s entire head was flushed red as if steaming, his body naked, his hand clutching his privates, convulsing uncontrollably.
Zhang Family’s Old Woman felt a surge of blood rushing to her head. She turned and demanded of Meng Xizhou, “You wretched woman, what have you done to my Zhi’er?!”
Meng Xizhou’s eyes welled with tears. “I’ve been wronged, Mother! It was my husband who insisted on taking the medicine stored in the cabinet…”
The old woman had secretly prepared that particular medicine to prevent her son from losing face in front of his new wife, but having never used it, she had completely forgotten about it. In her previous life, Meng Xizhou had stumbled upon it by chance and finally understood…
“How much did he take? How much did he eat?” The old woman was utterly panicked. Meng Xizhou shook the empty cloth medicine pouch in her hand—not a speck of powder remained.
Of course, she had fed him all of it—why save it for the New Year?
Behind them, Zhang Zhi convulsed more violently, white foam from his mouth spreading all over the bed.
The old woman’s legs trembled uncontrollably. Only then did she remember that Meng Xizhou was a physician. She grabbed her by the collar and shouted, “What are you standing there for? Save Zhi’er now!”
Meng Xizhou looked troubled. “In this situation… there’s only one way left.”
“Stop beating around the bush and spit it out!”
“…Sever his root of sin!”
Upon hearing Meng Xizhou’s reply, the old woman could no longer hold herself up and collapsed completely.
“No… no! I still need to help Zhi’er raise sons…” she murmured.
Meng Xizhou gave her no chance to escape. She picked up a sickle from the corner and handed it to the old woman.
“If you hesitate any longer, he’ll lose his life. Hurry up, Mother!”
The old woman’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. Her hand trembled as she reached out, but she couldn’t grip the blade firmly.
Resigned, she closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and said, “You do it. Be gentle—you must be gentle!”
Meng Xizhou picked up the sickle. Seeing the old woman’s pained expression, a wave of satisfaction washed over her.
Does it hurt? This is only the beginning.
Meng Xizhou looked at the blade in her hand, a cold smile curling on her lips, and brought it down with force!
Zhang Zhi let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.
The old woman frantically wrapped the severed flesh in cloth, while Meng Xizhou went outside and casually plucked some weeds.
When she returned, she found the old woman clutching the unconscious Zhang Zhi and wailing.
“What’s all the crying for? You’ll cry away all your good fortune!” Meng Xizhou taunted cheerfully.
The old woman turned and glared at her viciously. “You beast! I ought to throw your mouth into the cesspool and let it stew—see if you can still make a sound then!”
Meng Xizhou waved the weeds in her hand. “Well, then keep crying. If we don’t stop the bleeding soon, you’ll be wailing at his funeral.”
The old woman’s face flushed with a mix of colors, but she had no choice but to step aside resentfully.
As Meng Xizhou tossed the herbs onto the wound, the old woman hissed darkly, “If Zhi’er doesn’t survive, don’t think you’ll live either.”
Meng Xizhou dug at her ear indifferently, completely unbothered.
The Zhang family had three sons but could only afford one wife, so the brothers had to share her. The old woman would never dare to kill her.
Speaking of which, the eldest Zhang son, Zhang Cheng, should be returning soon, shouldn’t he?
Zhang Cheng was a human trafficker—the very one who had taken on the Hou Manor’s dirty work, abducting her and bringing her to Xiaohe Village. Month after month, he reported back to the Hou Manor, detailing every bit of the inhuman torment she endured to her dear mother!
He was the most difficult to deal with in the Zhang family. In her past life, if not for his constant vigilance and the traps he set, Meng Xizhou would have long escaped back to the capital!
I wonder what expression he’ll have when he returns to learn that his sister and brother-in-law have died, and his second brother has been castrated.
I’m really looking forward to it.