"Nothing!"
Not even a speck of flour—Li Jianguo wouldn't give them even a single weed!
"Our family has nothing. I don't know what you're talking about!"
Old Lady Li hadn't expected this little bastard to dare talk back. Furious, she pulled a wooden stick from the stack of firewood and swung it at Li Jianguo.
Li Jianguo instinctively tried to dodge, but being small and short-legged in the cramped kitchen, he failed to avoid the blow. A sharp strike landed on his leg.
The pain made him grimace, tears instantly welling up in his eyes.
"You little bastard, how dare you run! I'll beat you to death!"
By the time she chased him out, Li Jianguo had already scrambled like a monkey to the courtyard gate and fled outside.
With her old legs, she couldn't possibly catch up. She gave up halfway through the chase.
After all, more important things were in the kitchen. Beating the child could wait!
"Grandma, I want steamed buns! Steamed buns!"
Old Lady Li immediately dropped the stick in her hand, her sharp, unkind face instantly softening with affection. "Alright, alright, my dear grandson, wait here. Grandma will find flour to make them for you!"
But unfortunately, after searching the entire kitchen, the only thing of any value was that pot of oil.
She placed the oil pot on the stove and turned toward the inner rooms. She wouldn't overlook a single corner.
That wretched woman must have hidden the good stuff somewhere.
Thinking of Wei Shulan's words—that she had earned a stack of cash—there must be plenty of money hidden in the house!
All of this was given by the third son, and what belonged to the third son belonged to her!
After searching around and finding nothing, her gaze fell on the easternmost room. The door was tightly shut, which immediately seemed suspicious.
She scoffed, a confident smile spreading across her face. She knew it—the valuables were definitely hidden inside.
Bang! The door shuddered under her pounding, dust raining down from above.
"It's bolted shut!" That meant someone was inside. Old Lady Li understood immediately. So that's where the other two little bastards were hiding!
"Open up! Open this door right now! I know you're in there. Open up!"
Inside, Li Jianjun shielded his younger sister behind him. Though terrified himself, he murmured words of comfort over and over.
"Don't be scared, Xiaohua, don't be scared. Your second brother is here. I'll protect you!"
Tears welled in Li Xiaohua's frightened eyes. Her small hands clutched tightly at her brother's clothes, her lips pressed together, not daring to make a sound.
Old Lady Li never imagined these little brats would dare defy her like this.
"Fine! I see you've grown wings and forgotten who's in charge! Do you really think having a stepmother means you have someone to rely on?"
Bang, bang, bang! She slammed the door again, her voice trembling with rage.
"Open this door! Hurry up and open it! Just wait till I get in—you'll regret it! I'll beat every one of you ungrateful wretches to death!"
Under the forceful blows, the door seemed fragile, as if it might collapse at any moment.
"Brother, I'm scared…"
Li Jianjun patted her back reassuringly, though his own hands trembled violently with fear.
"Don't be afraid!"
He pulled her toward the bed and urged her to hide underneath.
"Stay hidden. Don't make a sound. Don't be scared. It'll be alright!"
Xiaohua held his hand, tears streaming down her face. "Brother, don't leave!"
The door continued to thud under relentless pounding, each strike echoing in their hearts like a hammer blow.
They all knew that once the door gave way, a severe beating was inevitable. Their only hope was that the door could hold out a little longer…
Meanwhile, Shen Ning moved swiftly, beads of sweat dotting her forehead as she entered the village. She was mentally planning what delicious meal to prepare for the three children who had contributed so much when she spotted Li Jianguo sprinting frantically in the distance.
???
What could have happened to make him so panicked?
"Jianguo! Where are you going?"
Never before had Jianguo found his stepmother's voice so comforting.
He pivoted and rushed toward her.
When Shen Ning got a clear look at his face, she froze.
The usually prickly boy was teary-eyed, looking utterly pitiful.
"What's wrong? Who bullied you?"
The little one wiped his tears with his arm, his face full of urgency. "Niang Niang, Grandma is going to beat us to death! Jianjun and Xiaohua are still at home!"
"What!"
That vicious Old Lady Li had the audacity to come to their home to harm them!
"Go fetch the Village Chief. Tell him someone might die at our house," Shen Ning instructed Jianguo. Without another thought, she dashed toward their home.
From outside the courtyard, she could already hear the violent banging on the door, interspersed with Old Lady Li's shrill, venomous curses.
"Damn little brats! Think you can hide by not opening the door? Just wait—when I break this door down, I'll beat you dead!"
Shen Ning clenched her teeth, fury boiling within her.
Spotting the shoulder pole (Bin Bian Dan) leaning by the gate, she flung off her basket, charged in, and began swinging.
Thwack! The pole landed hard on the old woman's back as she was focused on pounding the door, making her yelp in pain.
Shen Ning showed no mercy, giving the old woman no chance to react as she struck again and again with all her might.
Still, she exercised some restraint, avoiding dangerous areas like the head.
After all, she had no desire to end up in jail.
"Damn thief, daring to rob my home! I'll beat you to death! Beat you dead, you thief! Beat you! Beat you!"
Inside the house, the siblings heard the commotion outside and recognized Niang Niang's voice. The fear that had gripped them finally began to dissipate.
"Little sister, stay hidden. I'm going out to help Niang Niang!"
Knowing she was too small to be of much help, Xiaohua obediently nodded and remained crouched under the bed.
When Li Jianjun opened the door, he saw Niang Niang wielding the shoulder pole with formidable strength, driving the old woman back into the courtyard.
Old Lady Li tried to flee, but Shen Ning used the pole to block her escape routes. In desperation, the old woman lunged—one hand grappling for the pole, the other clawing at Shen Ning.
Shen Ning was no fool. She released the pole, causing the old woman to stagger, then seized her hair and forced her head back.
She slapped the old woman hard across the face.
Old Lady Li fought back, twisting her neck and throwing punches wherever she could.
The two women brawled fiercely until Shen Ning, relying on her youth and strength, pinned the old woman beneath her and continued the assault.
When Zhao Fuquan arrived, he saw the two women scuffling like madwomen in the courtyard.
"Stop fighting! Stop it! Someone pull them apart! Hurry!"
The villagers who had come along to watch the commotion quickly stepped in to separate them, several people using considerable force to pull the two women apart.
Shen Ning's hair was disheveled, her clothes stained with mud, and a bloody scratch marked her cheek.
Old Lady Li on the other side fared even worse—a large clump of her hair had been torn out, her face was swollen and red, and her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.
Wiping her eyes, she immediately began wailing loudly.
"Oh dear, this old woman's life is over! They're trying to beat me to death! I can't go on living! They're killing me, killing me…"