"Oh heavens, I truly didn't steal her money! I've been wronged!" Suddenly remembering something, she hastily patted her pockets, "I didn't steal her money—I don't have a single cent on me!"
Did she think this would prove her innocence?
She had truly underestimated Shen Ning.
"Hah, if you hadn't failed to find it, if I hadn't returned quickly, would you have left my money alone? Probably only the roof beams would've been left untouched!"
Exactly!
The watching villagers' expressions grew even more peculiar—in any case, Zhu Darong couldn't escape the accusation of theft.
"Stop your damned nonsense! I didn't take your money! I didn't!"
"Mom, what are you making a scene about here!"
Li Bai squeezed through the doorway. He'd been working in the fields when someone suddenly came to tell him his mother and third sister-in-law were fighting. He'd grabbed his hoe and rushed over in a panic.
After listening outside for a moment, he heard that his mother had come to steal from third sister-in-law's money.
It occurred to him that this was exactly the kind of thing his mother would do.
Instantly, he felt utterly humiliated.
He hurried inside to stop his mother from further disgrace.
"Bai, you came just in time! I can't go on living! This wretched girl is framing me! I might as well die!"
Shen Ning refused to let it go, "I'm framing you? Then why did you come smashing my door? Breaking and ransacking—you weren't stealing, you were robbing!"
Zhu Darong gripped Li Bai's hand, so angry she could barely breathe.
"Bai, beat her to death! Tear that lying mouth of hers apart! She's trying to anger your old mother to death!"
"Enough!"
Zhao Fuquan's roar finally silenced the chaotic scene.
His gaze coldly swept over Li Bai and his mother, "Control your mother! How much further must this go? Do you want this to end up at the Public Security Bureau? Would that make you happy?"
Mention of the Public Security Bureau and eating reform-through-labor meals frightened everyone. Li Bai's face darkened.
He pulled his mother's arm, "Mom, say no more! Do you want to eat reform-through-labor meals?"
Zhu Darong's lips trembled twice, but ultimately she said nothing more.
Meanwhile, Zhao Fuquan also spoke to comfort Shen Ning, "Third daughter-in-law, don't be angry. Fortunately, nothing was lost, right? We're all from the same village, and besides, she's your mother-in-law. We see each other constantly—wouldn't it be bad if this became too ugly? I'll speak properly with your father-in-law and have him talk sense into your mother-in-law."
She knew this was the Village Chief preparing to smooth things over.
"If you still acknowledge me as your Second Grandpa, listen to me. Let's each take a step back. You've fought and cursed enough—let this matter be over, alright?"
Shen Ning didn't persist stubbornly, merely lowering her head to wipe her eyes, putting on a pitiful appearance.
As if she hadn't just been the one straddling Zhu Darong and beating her!
"Second Grandpa, how could I possibly contend with them? When their whole family gangs up against us orphans and widows, how could we possibly gain any advantage? We're lucky they haven't beaten us to death yet."
She whimpered and sobbed, forced to adopt a submissive posture, "Who made me marry a short-lived man! My fate is so bitter! Wuwuwu…"
Another round of weeping followed, truly enough to sadden listeners and bring tears to their eyes!
Zhao Fuquan felt utterly miserable inside—these people truly never gave him a day's peace.
Why did they have to provoke her when everything was fine!
"Third daughter-in-law, don't worry. Second Grandpa is in charge of this village. Your husband died for our country – he was a hero, a fine man! I'd like to see who dares bully the orphan of a martyr!"
"Yes, third daughter-in-law, your husband was a hero."
"Third daughter-in-law, try to see things differently. Life must go on after all."
"That's right, third daughter-in-law. As long as you're alive, things will eventually get better."
…
Amid the chorus of comfort, Shen Ning wisely gauged the appropriate extent of her reaction. She didn't continue crying endlessly, but skillfully maintained everyone's sympathy at just the right level.
"Thank you, uncles and aunties. Really, thank you. No matter what happens, I must properly raise the three children Third Brother left behind!"
"It's good that you can see things clearly, third daughter-in-law." After saying this, Zhao Fuquan turned a stern face toward the Li mother and son. "Li Bai, have a proper talk with your mother. She's already a grandmother – she should know what's appropriate and what's not! Isn't this shameful?"
Li Bai didn't dare refute even a word of the scolding, merely nodding in acknowledgment and promising such incidents wouldn't happen again.
Only then did today's farce come to an end.
As the crowd dispersed, Shen Ning didn't miss the fierce glare Li Bai shot her way.
First she'd beaten his wife, then his mother – the feud between them was already settled. There was no chance of a peaceful resolution now!
She began forming her own plans in her heart.
"Jianjun, Xiaohua, are either of you hurt?"
Li Jianjun shook his head honestly. "No, brother told me to take Xiaohua and hide in the house. She didn't manage to open the door."
Seeing the two younger ones unhurt made her breathe a sigh of relief.
That old woman was truly strong. Earlier, Shen Ning had only gained the upper hand by catching her off guard, and even then she'd suffered some injuries herself!
If those blows had landed on the children… she didn't dare imagine the consequences.
"Jianguo, go sit under the eaves and wait for me."
Entering the room, Shen Ning found Yunnan Baiyao Spray in the Points Mall.
With one click, she spent ten Points, feeling a slight pang of regret. Fortunately, she still had one hundred forty-one Points left.
"Roll up your pant leg. I'll apply some medicine for you."
Although Niang Niang had changed a lot and treated them much better than before, when he saw her take out the medicine, his little heart still felt as if warmed by a flowing stream.
Mumbling an "mm" in response, he rolled up his pant leg.
Meanwhile, Shen Ning was thinking she needed to buy the children several pairs of trousers. These were clearly adult-sized, made even larger so the children could wear them for several years as they grew.
The medicine sprayed cool on the skin bruised by the stick, while its strong odor made him wrinkle his nose.
"Alright, I'll spray more for you tonight."
Before he could thank her after she capped the medicine bottle, Shen Ning's expression turned much more serious.
"You shouldn't have opened the door for that old woman today. If the door breaks, it breaks – you're what's most important, understand? I told you to protect your younger siblings, but you need to protect yourself too!"
Although Niang Niang's tone was somewhat harsh, he knew she was worried about them. Hanging his head, he muttered "I understand" without daring to look at her.
Shen Ning swallowed the words she wanted to say, reflecting on whether her tone had been too harsh just now.
[Ding! Li Jianguo's Affection Points +20!]
Shen Ning: Sob What a sensible eldest son!
"But today you were all very brave. Jianguo, you protected your younger siblings, and Jianjun, you protected your sister. You are both real men, and you did wonderfully."
After praising them and making the two boys very happy, she didn't forget to add a warning.
"When I accused your grandmother of stealing money today, it was only as a last resort. If we didn't make a big deal out of it, they would come back to bully us again. But remember, neither their bullying behavior nor my exaggeration of her actions is right. You children shouldn't learn from either example."
The two boys nodded in a daze, while Xiaohua, with her small head and big eyes, also looked confused.
Then Shen Ning announced her decision.
"Jianguo, Jianjun, Xiaohua—I want to take you to live in town. Would you like to go with Niang Niang?"