Old Man Hua's face was as dark as iron, his neck thick with anger as he yelled at Hua Lei, "Hurry up and carry your mother back inside!"
Hua Lei also raised his voice, his neck bulging, "My mother needs to see a doctor first!"
"Take her back first!"
"Get a doctor first!"
Grandfather and grandson were at a standoff. The crowd muttered about Hua Lei being unfilial and disobeying his elders, while those who knew the inside story explained that it was surely because they had no money.
Hearing this, Hua Yu cried out, "Grandfather, Grandmother, everything my parents earned was handed over to you. Please have mercy on us, give us a little something, don't let us lose our mother. Children without a mother are pitiful, children without a mother suffer so much… How could you let us lose our mother? May that wicked person be struck by lightning…"
Despite Hua Yu's usual fierceness, it was always directed at the children from other households. She had never openly defied the adults before. Because Old Man Hua cared about face, and Hua Changnian and Mrs. Wan were too oppressed to resist, no matter what happened, they never dared to make a scene in public. Even the children had to swallow their grievances. This was the first time Hua Yu had poured out her bitterness in front of outsiders. Being able to curse Mrs. Li to her face in public felt incredibly satisfying to her. She repeated all the phrases Mrs. Li usually used—heartless, rotten to the core, struck by lightning, die a horrible death, may heaven take her—cursing her thoroughly.
Mrs. Wan trembled even more. It's over, it's over, what will we do now? Closing her eyes, she felt a pair of hands gently stroking her arm and realized it was Hua Yun. Suddenly, her heart calmed down.
At worst, we'll leave.
Neither Mrs. Li nor the people behind her looked pleased. Everyone knew the child was cursing them to die horribly. But no one could step forward to scold her—Hua Yu’s words only mentioned "wicked people." Who would have the nerve to step forward and admit it was them?
The neighbor woman listened eagerly, wishing she could bring a stool and some melon seeds. She cheerfully asked Mrs. Li, "Old Woman Li, tell us, which family is lucky enough to marry your daughter?"
Mrs. Li gave her a cold glare, knowing this troublemaker couldn’t stand to see her family doing well. She’d be delighted if her younger daughter’s reputation was ruined and she ended up an old maid at home.
"Don’t listen to a child’s nonsense. The eldest daughter-in-law just had an accident…"
"Oh, come on, don’t think we’re blind. You can’t get such a big gash by yourself. We all know what’s going on here. Are you trying to force your eldest daughter-in-law to death, making her run into a wall?"
"Shut your filthy mouth, always wagging your tongue. Our Hua family is nothing but harmonious. Don’t think everyone is like you, tormenting your daughter-in-law every day. Get back to your own house, don’t stay here bothering us."
If word got out that she had forced her daughter-in-law to death, how would her precious grandsons ever find wives? Her eldest grandson was already fifteen this year.
The crowd laughed. Harmonious? Except for Hua Changnian’s family, maybe.
Hearing the constant mocking laughter, Old Man Hua couldn’t help but blush.
"Hua Lei, hurry back inside!"
"Get a doctor!"
The neighbor woman laughed again, doubling over with mirth. She truly wished nothing but misfortune for Old Woman Li.
"Hey, if she’s not betrothed yet, I’ll help you ask around the neighboring villages."
Mrs. Li nearly spat blood. This old hag was really trying to ruin Hua Changfang’s reputation. No, she had to find someone to take the blame.
Right now, Mrs. Li only cared about salvaging Hua Changfang’s reputation. She couldn’t care less about anyone else’s. She turned around, her gaze sliding coldly over her daughters-in-law, making them instinctively shrink back.
Finally, her eyes lingered on Mrs. Zhang. This daughter-in-law was the toughest and most capable fighter.
Mrs. Zhang felt a chill down her spine, an inexplicable sense of foreboding rising within her.
"You've all misunderstood. Our Fang'er wouldn't even dare to speak loudly, how could she possibly hit someone? It was just Mrs. Zhang joking around with her sister-in-law, but she got carried away and lost control—that's how the accident happened."
Mrs. Zhang felt a chill in her heart. If her mother-in-law said this, how could she ever hold her head up again? Her eldest son was about to start looking for a wife—if this got out, what decent girl would dare to marry into their family? She couldn't help but glare resentfully at Mrs. Li.
Mrs. Li shot her a cold, threatening look. As long as she offered a generous bride price, why worry about finding a good girl? If Mrs. Zhang dared not take the blame, she'd have to arrange her own son's marriage herself—Mrs. Li certainly wouldn't lift a finger to help.
Mrs. Zhang hung her head and, urged on by Mrs. Li, stepped forward, mumbling like a mosquito, "Sister-in-law, I was just joking with you. Why didn't you know to dodge?"
This infuriated the children, who bristled with anger.
Old Woman Cai curled her lip in disdain. "So you were joking with Hua Yun too?"
"That fool—" Mrs. Zhang lowered her voice again. "I was just trying to scare her. Who knew she wouldn't dodge either?"
Since she was already taking the blame for one thing, she might as well take it for two—that way, her mother-in-law would owe her more and favor the second branch of the family.
"You all heard it. This was all Mrs. Zhang fooling around—it has nothing to do with our Fang'er."
The crowd: "…" Do they really think we're blind?
Old Woman Cai spat in disgust, unwilling to give up. She glanced at the ground, her eyes shifting craftily.
"Oh, Old Woman Li, I see your eldest daughter-in-law is bleeding so much she might die. Why aren't you doing anything about it? Tsk tsk, what a vicious heart you have. Are you hoping your eldest daughter-in-law dies quickly, then you can torment the children to death, and even your eldest son won't come to a good end? How cruel! But then again, who would expect anything less from someone like you—"
"Shut up!" Mrs. Li was nearly driven mad with rage. Was this Old Woman Cai really determined to fight her to the bitter end?
"I wonder which family's mother-in-law enjoys eavesdropping on her daughter-in-law's private moments, disturbing a young couple's intimacy in the middle of the night. Pah! Aren't you afraid of cutting off your own lineage? Why not just tie your son to your waistband and sleep with him yourself, you shameless old hag!"
Old Woman Cai's face turned green with fury. She narrowed her eyes and lunged at Mrs. Li, the two women tearing at each other.
Hua Yun's face stiffened. This wouldn't do—Mrs. Wan was still losing blood. She had thought Old Woman Cai was a formidable fighter who could force Mrs. Li to back down, but who knew these two old women would start fighting as if no one else was around, completely forgetting about the injured person on the ground. Had they been itching for a fight all along?
She whispered to Hua Lei, saying something.
Hua Lei was also frantic with worry. Hearing his elder sister's words, he let out a loud cry, his face flushing red as he stared at Old Man Hua.
"Grandfather, tell us! Are you really like what Granny Cai said, wanting our whole family to die? If you just nod, the four of us will hang ourselves with a rope right in front of our house, so you can watch and feel satisfied. After all, my mother has been bleeding for so long—she won't survive. We don't want to live either. Which kind uncle, aunt, or elder would spare us a sturdy rope? We wouldn't want it to break halfway and upset our grandfather even more."
"You—you—you—" Old Man Hua trembled with rage, his hands shaking. He was not good with words and instinctively turned to Mrs. Li for help, but she was too engrossed in her fight with Old Woman Cai to hear what was happening.
The bystanders couldn't stand it any longer: "Exactly! Whether it was your daughter or your second daughter-in-law who did it, your eldest daughter-in-law has been lying there for so long. Look at all that blood gushing out—even a grown man couldn't endure that. Yet your family acts as if they don't see it. Is it really as Old Woman Cai said? Are you trying to drive the eldest branch of the family to their deaths?"
Someone sighed: "What kind of life has Hua Changnian's family been living? How can his father not feel any pity? Are they even related by blood?"
Old Man Hua's face flushed as red as a branding iron. He hurriedly called out to Hua Changguang: "You have no sense of urgency! Your wife injured your elder sister-in-law, yet you don't even know to quickly fetch a doctor. Go now!"
Hua Changguang was reluctant in his heart but had no choice. He shuffled slowly outward.
Hua Lei gritted his teeth: "Don't worry, Second Uncle. If anything happens to my mother, our whole family will hang ourselves at your doorstep. If Second Aunt can joke around, we can joke around too."
Hua Changguang rolled his eyes—he didn't believe it for a second.
"Mother, don't rush to leave. Wait for us. Once your son has killed everyone who harmed you, we'll go together."
As Hua Lei spoke, he stood up and charged toward Hua Changguang, his eyes filled with a murderous glare that seemed ready to devour him.
Despite his tall stature, Hua Changguang was a coward. Trembling, he stammered: "Don't come near me! It wasn't me who hit your mother."
"Didn't Grandmother say it was Second Aunt who did it?"
"You—" Hua Changguang understood Mrs. Li's hint. If he spoke up now, wouldn't it all be for nothing? Since his wife had already been smeared with blame, how could he not try to salvage some benefit?
"Second Uncle—"
"I'll go fetch a doctor for your mother right now."
"I'll go with you, in case Second Uncle doesn't know the way."
Hua Changguang had no choice but to agree. Seeing Hua Lei's expression, as if he were ready to fight to the death at any moment, he didn't dare delay any longer and ran off.
Old Man Hua told Hua Yun and the others to help Mrs. Wan back inside, but the three siblings naturally refused. Not only did they refuse to move, but they also blocked Old Man Hua from calling his daughters-in-law to carry her. Once they entered the courtyard and closed the gate, Mrs. Wan's fate would truly be uncertain.
Old Man Hua then urged everyone to return to their homes, but who paid him any mind? With such a juicy piece of gossip in the village and no pressing matters at home, how could they not stay to watch until they'd had their fill?
Old Woman Cai, supporting her aching back, returned home. Mrs. Li, panting heavily, stood back up, glaring at the three siblings as if they were her mortal enemies.
Hua Yun wasn't afraid of her. She had realized that Mrs. Li's weakness was Hua Changfang—a point that could be exploited.