Shen Xing was so excited that he looked like a lapdog, immediately crawling before Feng Xinyao: “I’ll help sister-in-law, and sister-in-law helps me.”
As he spoke, Shen Xing reached for Feng Xinyao’s sash, but she seized the opportunity to grab his wrist.
Shen Xing’s eyes lit up, and he clicked his tongue: “I didn’t expect sister-in-law to be so knowledgeable, even without having served a man before.”
He was about to lean into Feng Xinyao when he saw her other hand quickly grab on as well. Just as he was marveling at the thrill, he heard a loud “bang” at the back of his head.
“Damn woman!”
Shen Xing was furious, and Feng Xinyao was somewhat panicked too. Her whole body was weak now, and after the rock strike, Shen Xing wasn’t knocked down—instead, he only grew angrier.
“Since sister-in-law insists on playing rough, I’ll oblige you then.”
With that, Shen Xing tore off his sash and moved to bind Feng Xinyao’s hands…
“Don’t you dare bully our stepmother.”
The children understood now—their stepmother had been feigning compliance earlier, actually waiting for Shen Xing to get close before delivering a fatal blow. But she had missed.
Shen Yu ignored everything else, picked up the stick from the ground, and charged forward again, striking Shen Xing several times with all his might, preventing him from successfully binding Feng Xinyao.
Feng Xinyao also seized the moment—when Shen Xing rose to go after the children, the rock in her hand flew straight toward the man’s most vulnerable spot below.
“Ah!”
A miserable scream rang out as Shen Xing clutched his lower abdomen and collapsed to the ground. As he writhed in pain, he still tried to strike at Feng Xinyao, but how could she give him that chance? She struck the same spot again.
“Ahhh, you damn… ah.”
Shen Xing was in too much pain to even curse, collapsing completely and rolling on the ground.
Shen Yu stood guard beside Shen Xing with the wooden stick, afraid he might recover and counterattack.
Meanwhile, the two little girls gathered around Feng Xinyao.
“Jiaojiao will blow on it for stepmother.”
Shen Jiaojiao’s little head leaned in, softly and adorably offering her comfort.
Shen Yueyue also hesitated before stepping forward—she wanted to blow on it for their stepmother too.
Feng Xinyao curled her lips and quickly ruffled both children’s heads, then took the wooden stick from Shen Yu’s hand: “Go fetch people. Tell them Shen the Second has barged in and is trying to kill someone.”
Hearing this, a hint of resolve appeared on Shen Yu’s young face, and he turned to head down the mountain.
Shen Xing knew what he had done was disgraceful. Ignoring the pain, he scrambled and crawled, fleeing out of the courtyard.
“We can’t let him get away.”
After saying this, Shen Yu clenched his fists and wanted to chase after him, but Feng Xinyao pulled him back.
Feng Xinyao said: “No need to chase. Help me inside first.”
Her earlier words had been precisely to force Shen Xing to flee on his own.
“Stepmother, he bullied you. We can’t let him off.”
Shen Yu watched Shen Xing’s retreating figure, his eyes full of resentment.
But Feng Xinyao insisted: “A gentleman’s revenge is never too late—ten years is fine. Let’s go inside first.”
She had been drugged, and she didn’t know what the effects would look like when they hit. If it struck just as the villagers arrived, she herself would be dragged into the whirlpool of gossip.
She’d keep this debt on the books for that bastard—there would always be a chance to settle it.
Though Shen Yu didn’t understand her decision, he obediently helped her inside. As they passed the kitchen, Feng Xinyao pointed to the wooden stump by the wall: “Help me over there to sit. You kids go inside and sleep.”
Afraid the children would refuse, Feng Xinyao added: “There’s no firewood left in the stove pit. I’ll add some.”
Shen Yu looked at her, seeming to ponder for a moment before saying: “Alright.”
He led the two little girls, who also wore concerned looks, into the inner room.
Children’s worries always fade quickly, and the two little girls fell asleep on the kang before long.
Meanwhile, Shen Yu got up and walked to the kitchen, where he saw Feng Xinyao leaning against the cold wall, her cheeks flushed as if she had a high fever, and her palm seemed to be seeping blood.
He knew his stepmother’s condition just now was off—she must be sick and afraid they would worry, so she refused to say anything.
Shen Yu hurried over: “Stepmother, what’s wrong with you?”
Hearing the child’s voice, Feng Xinyao slowly opened her eyes.
“Stepmother… should I go find Doctor Li?”
“No need, you go inside.”
The powder Feng Xinyao had inhaled wasn’t much, but it was still tormenting her, and fearing she might lose composure in front of the children, her tone turned a bit stern.
Hearing this, Shen Yu’s small face tightened—not because of Feng Xinyao’s attitude, but because he realized that in a critical moment, he didn’t know how to help this person who had rescued the three siblings.
Seeing Shen Yu refuse to leave, Feng Xinyao frowned, clenched the sharp gravel in her palm, and regained her composure, speaking softly: “I’ve been poisoned, but you don’t need to worry. If I endure through tonight, the poison can be resolved.”
“So that’s why Stepmother didn’t argue with Second Uncle today?”
If it came to a confrontation, such a weakened stepmother would naturally be no match for those villains of the Shen family.
Hearing this, Feng Xinyao’s lips curled up slightly. Shen Yu was truly a clever child.
“Go to sleep for now.”
After saying this, Feng Xinyao continued to rest with her eyes closed.
Though Shen Yu was young, judging by Feng Xinyao’s condition, he knew she wasn’t lying to him. His stepmother seemed to understand this poison, and he didn’t want to cause her more trouble, so he got up and returned to the inner room.
…
That night, Feng Xinyao used pain to suppress the poison’s effects, enduring until the sky outside was faintly light before supporting herself against the wall to stand. She then heard light footsteps from the inner room.
She looked up and met Shen Yu’s dark, bright eyes.
“Didn’t sleep all night?”
Shen Yu didn’t confirm or deny, only asking: “Is Stepmother better?”
“I’m better.”
Hearing this, Shen Yu’s tense little face relaxed for a moment, and he stepped forward: “I’ll heat up some food. Stepmother, go back to the room and sleep a bit more.”
Mentioning food reminded Feng Xinyao of her plan for today.
She waved at Shen Yu: “Go wake up Jiaojiao and Yueyue. We need to make a trip to the county town.”
After splitting from the family, this courtyard had nothing. The children could only cover themselves with ragged clothes at night, their clothes were dirty and shiny, and they had no spare cotton-padded clothes. Today, she needed to go to the county town to buy some.
“We’re going too?” Shen Yu was a bit surprised.
Feng Xinyao nodded, not noticing anything off in Shen Yu’s mood, and said: “To buy you clothes. This is my first time being a mother, and I can’t judge sizes well, so you all should come try them on.”
“We’re buying clothes?”
Shen Yu tugged at his dark, grimy clothes and said: “I have clothes. No need to buy any.”
They had already caused their stepmother so much trouble—how could they spend her money?
Father had also said that a man who spends a woman’s money is the most useless.
“Your clothes are practically stiff as iron. Three adorable children dressed all dirty—people will only say that I, as your stepmother, am mistreating you.”
Feng Xinyao saw through Shen Yu’s intentions and directly dispelled his concerns.
Shen Yu blinked his thick-browed, big-eyed face, a little doubtful whether it was really as his stepmother said.
If they dressed poorly, would it also cause trouble for their stepmother?
“Why, you still don’t believe me?”
Feng Xinyao countered, her expression turning serious.
Shen Yu shook his head. “I believe her.”
She should be different from Grandmother, right? Taking them into town wasn’t to find a buyer…