“Hit me all you want! Am I only allowed to curse my family, but you can’t strike back? Say one more word and see if I don’t tear your mouth apart!”
Since her rebirth, Wang Guifen cared most about her daughter-in-law and her two little grandchildren.
Just now, hearing someone speak ill of her daughter-in-law and curse her grandchildren, she could not stand it at all.
Li Chunlan’s youngest brother, the brigade leader of Tanghe Village, was not afraid of Wang Guifen.
He covered his forehead and blurted out,
“Married a capitalist’s daughter-in-law? Then Wang Guifen should be childless!”
Wang Guifen stepped forward two paces and grabbed Li Chunlan’s hair, giving her two resounding slaps.
“Come on, say another word and see what happens.”
Li Chunlan’s head was buzzing from the blows.
Wang Guifen’s movements were so quick that no one around could stop her.
A few aunts who had joined Li Chunlan in speaking ill of Su Yi quickly stepped back, afraid of receiving a slap themselves.
Li Chunlan, clutching her face, struggled. “Wang Guifen, my husband’s brother is the brigade leader! How dare you touch me?”
Wang Guifen didn’t release her grip. “So what if he’s the brigade leader? Does that mean his family can curse others freely, spewing nonsense from their mouths?”
She slapped Li Chunlan two more times.
“Ahhh!” Li Chunlan screamed like a slaughtered pig.
“Mom!” Su Yi pulled on Wang Guifen, whispering, “The brigade leader is here.”
Wang Guifen spotted the brigade leader and his older brother rushing over.
“Don’t worry, daughter. We’re in the right. If Wang Jiadong dares to take sides unfairly, we’ll report it to the commune,” Wang Guifen said, pushing Li Chunlan aside.
“Mom, I’m not afraid. If Li Chunlan cries, you just pretend too,” Su Yi whispered, supporting her mother-in-law.
Wang Guifen smiled. “Smart girl. Don’t worry, your mom can handle this.”
At that moment, Li Chunlan banged her thighs and wailed,
“Jialiang, I can’t live anymore! Look at what Wang Guifen did to me!”
Jialiang was Li Chunlan’s husband; his younger brother Wang Jiadong was the brigade leader.
Wang Jialiang glanced at the bruise forming on his wife’s forehead and was about to confront Wang Guifen.
But Wang Guifen dramatically flopped to the ground herself. “I can’t live either! That wretched woman cursed my daughter-in-law, and I couldn’t even fight back. Is this justice?”
Her wailing was two or three times louder than Li Chunlan’s. Li Chunlan’s jaw dropped, stunned.
Su Yi, eyes reddened, stepped forward. “Brigade Leader, though my background was not good before, I am now married to Zhijun and part of Tanghe Village’s brigade. Policies have changed, yet Aunt Chunlan still brings up my past.” She raised her hand to wipe away tears.
“Although I may not be as strong as other women in the brigade, how can anyone say that Zhijun marrying me will make us childless?” Su Yi’s eyes were red. Mid-sentence, she turned toward the river, “Maybe it’s better if I just die.”
Wang Jiadong panicked. “Quick, stop her! Stop her!”
Wang Guifen was also shocked and jumped up. “Yi Yi!”
She grabbed Su Yi just in time. Su Yi winked at Wang Guifen, letting her understand.
“Wang Jiadong, how will you handle this? If you can’t, we’ll take it to the commune for a fair judgment.”
At the thought of going to the commune, Wang Jiadong hurried over to calm her. “Aunt Wang, please calm down, calm down.”
The Tanghe Brigade was aiming to be recognized as an advanced unit. If this incident spoiled their chance, it would be a huge loss of face for him.
Turning to Li Chunlan, he asked, “Is what Su Yi said true?”
Seeing his younger brother angry, Wang Jialiang, who had been trying to argue his wife’s point, fell silent.
Li Chunlan, her face swollen, stammered, “Brother-in-law, I…I didn’t mean it.”
“Not meaning it doesn’t give you the right to slander Comrade Su!” Wang Jiadong snapped.
“Jialiang, hurry and drag your wife back!”
Wang Jialiang pulled Li Chunlan back home, and she stomped unwillingly.
Once they left, Wang Jiadong smiled. “Aunt Wang, look, you’ve handled her. This time, in consideration of me, let’s call it done. You know, our brigade has a chance to be recognized as advanced this year. This is a collective achievement. It can’t just be ruined.”
Wang Guifen grumbled, “Brigade Leader, do you really think I’m usually a troublemaker?”
“I not only am not a troublemaker, I’ve earned our brigade much honor. If people hadn’t slandered me, I wouldn’t have acted. Yi Yi is my daughter-in-law. I haven’t died yet—how dare they speak against us? Let me be clear: if anyone tries to make trouble, I’m not a soft target. They’ll pay,” she declared.
The surrounding women glanced at each other.
“Isn’t Wang Guifen usually indifferent toward Su Yi? Why suddenly care? Has the sun risen from the west?”
“Su Yi is the most beautiful in the commune. If my son can marry her, I’d be happy too—even if she doesn’t do much work,” someone murmured.
“Don’t worry, Aunt Wang. After today, they won’t dare anymore,” Wang Jiadong reassured.
Wang Guifen picked up her straw hat from the ground and brushed off the dirt. “Fine. Since the brigade leader said so, I won’t pursue it. Thanks for coming all this way—go do your work.”
Wang Jiadong laughed and nodded. “You keep fishing. I’ll head back.”
By now, the fish in the river had long been caught. Thinking this, he shook his head and left.
Zhang Qian and Wang Qiulan were shocked. They had thought Wang Guifen would be reprimanded for hitting the brigade leader’s sister-in-law. But nothing happened.
Zhang Qian clutched her basket tightly. Wang Guifen and Su Yi were infuriatingly clever.
“Mom, if we’re suffering losses, do we just accept it?”
Wang Qiulan looked at Wang Guifen. “Why rush? Life is long. I’m sure she’ll slip up eventually. Let’s wait and see.”
Wang Ergou in the river was frightened, recalling how Wang Guifen had slapped him earlier, and quickly moved away.
Wang Meili was also stunned. It was her first time seeing Aunt Wang hit someone. If Li Chunlan had cursed her, she wouldn’t have dared retaliate. Wang Guifen was formidable.
Wang Guifen removed her shoes and waded into the river. “Yi Yi, stay on the bank. Don’t come down.”
“Okay,” Su Yi said, standing at the edge, holding a bucket.
“The fish are all gone—there’s not even a shadow of one. Guifen, don’t bother,” a woman said with a laugh.
“Yeah, look at Wang Ergou fishing so long and catching nothing,” another added.
Zhang Qian smirked, waiting to see Wang Guifen return empty-handed.
Wang Guifen bent over, ignoring them, eyes fixed on the river surface.