“So he just—snap!” The woman made a chopping motion.
“Exactly! Bai Renyi would rather cut his own flesh than slaughter a goat. Honestly, I’m quite moved.” The woman blinked rapidly, squeezing out a tear.
“That man is too ruthless. We’d better stay far away if we ever cross paths with him!”
“Who did you hear this from? I don’t think the Bai family would resort to cutting their own flesh no matter how poor they are. How disgusting!”
“I heard it from Zhang Cuihua. She said she passed by the Bai residence last night and saw Bai Renyi cutting flesh from his own leg with her own eyes. The scene was absolutely bloody!”
Just as the gossipers were heatedly discussing, a sinister voice suddenly interrupted: “Heh, who’s wagging their tongues behind others’ backs? Aren’t you afraid of having them ripped out?”
The gossipy women were startled. Turning around, they saw it was Auntie Li!
Auntie Li used to be the gossip ringleader, but after all four men in her family were crushed to death by rocks, she became mentally unstable. She’d wander around all day with a creepy smile, her face more terrifying than a ghost’s.
Seeing it was Auntie Li, the gossipers scattered in panic. None wanted to provoke this madwoman and risk having nightmares.
Li Zhenzhu happened to pass by the large rock while carrying a basket of fish to her mother’s house, overhearing the women gossiping about her family. She heard clearly that the rumor originated from Zhang Cuihua.
Furious, she was about to confront Zhang Cuihua directly when she reconsidered—if her sister-in-law discovered the fish in the basket, it would be disastrous. So she headed to her mother’s house first.
Xu Cui was in the courtyard berating Li Qiang for being stupid and useless when she saw her sister-in-law enter with a basket.
“Oh, little sister bringing goodies to your mother’s house?” Xu Cui hurried over, reaching to peek inside the basket.
Li Zhenzhu quickly shielded it: “Sister-in-law, this is for mother. Step aside!”
Still holding a grudge from last time when she asked for fish but only received some flatbread, Xu Cui sneered sarcastically: “Step aside? Li Zhenzhu, have you forgotten? This is my house! I decide whether you can enter or must get out!”
Li Qiang mumbled nearby: “Cui’er, that’s enough!”
“Get lost, you coward! This doesn’t concern you!” Xu Cui glared fiercely at her husband.
Li Qiang immediately fell silent.
Li Zhenzhu couldn’t stand her sister-in-law’s behavior and couldn’t be bothered arguing. She shoved Xu Cui aside and headed straight to her mother’s room.
Having not eaten a full meal for days, Xu Cui easily fell to the ground from the push.
“Murder!” Xu Cui wailed dryly, slapping her thighs while sitting on the ground.
Hearing her daughter-in-law’s cries from inside and seeing her daughter enter with a basket, Zhenzhu’s mother complained: “What did you do to upset her again? Can’t you let me have some peace!”
Li Zhenzhu retorted angrily: “Mother, you’re blaming me without even asking who started it!”
She lifted the white cloth covering the basket, revealing a full bowl of stewed fish, and said irritably, “My mother-in-law sent this. Eat it quickly before Xu Cui sees it!”
Zhenzhu’s mother’s eyes lit up at the sight of the fish. “Oh, your in-laws are so generous! While others are starving, your family still has fish to eat! Where did this fish come from?”
“Just eat it. Why ask so many questions?” Li Zhenzhu firmly remembered her mother-in-law’s instructions.Zhenzhu’s mother stuffed a piece of fatty fish into her mouth. “Delicious, absolutely delicious! My daughter is the most filial. It’s been years since I last ate fish.”
“Mother, you mustn’t tell anyone that I brought you fish!”
“Don’t worry, if I didn’t understand such matters, I’d have lived all these years in vain!”
“Enjoy your meal, I have matters to attend to and must leave now!”
“Alright, take care on the road. I won’t see you out!”
Li Zhenzhu, preoccupied with settling scores with Zhang Cuihua, hurried back to her husband’s home.
Little did she know that the moment she left, her mother stopped eating the fish and called out loudly: “Qiangzi, Cuier, come in quickly! I’ve got something delicious for you!”
Upon hearing this, Xu Cui immediately scrambled up from the ground and dashed into the room, with Li Qiang following close behind.
Sharp-eyed Xu Cui spotted the bowl of fish by her mother-in-law’s bedside the moment she entered, her eyes gleaming with greed.
“My goodness, is this fish from my sister-in-law?” Xu Cui said as she pounced on the bowl.
“Zhenzhu brought it. Take your time eating!” Zhenzhu’s mother, seeing her daughter-in-law’s ravenous expression, feared she might choke on fish bones.
The couple completely ignored whether the old woman was hungry or had eaten, devouring the entire bowl of fish in an instant.
After finishing, Xu Cui wiped her mouth and demanded: “Mother, this little bit of fish isn’t enough to fill the gaps between my teeth! Bring out the rest!”
“What rest? There is no more. This is all there was.”
“Don’t lie to me! Your daughter only brought you one bowl? You must have hidden the rest!”
“Really, this is all she brought.”
“I don’t believe you! Don’t think you can hide food and eat it secretly! I’m the one who’ll bear your family’s heir – bring it out for me now!”
“Truly, there was only one bowl.”
“Fine, won’t bring it out? Then don’t blame me for what happens next.”
With that, Xu Cui began ransacking the room.
Zhenzhu’s mother coughed in anger. “Qiangzi, why are you just standing there like a useless man? Control your wife!”
“Mother, I can’t control her.” Li Qiang was always practical.
After searching extensively and finding nothing, Xu Cui pointed at Zhenzhu’s mother’s nose and scolded: “You wretched old woman! If I find out you’ve been eating alone, just see how I’ll deal with you!”
Zhenzhu’s mother felt a pain in her chest from anger, but she could do nothing about Xu Cui – after all, the Li family was counting on her to continue their lineage!
After returning home, Li Zhenzhu reported the gossip she’d heard at the village entrance to Cui Shi. “Mother, I’m just letting you know – I’m going to confront that gossipmonger right now. Just see if I don’t beat her to death!”
As she spoke, Li Zhenzhu rolled up her sleeves, revealing sturdy forearms.
Cui Shi thought that although her third daughter-in-law hated evil intensely, her methods were rather brutish – was this any way for a woman to behave?
She complained to her youngest son nearby: “Laosan, won’t you control your wife?”
Bai Laosan pretended not to hear, whistling as he sauntered out. After all, spoiling one’s wife was a Bai family tradition!
Cui Shi: “…” How infuriating! He forgets his mother the moment he gets a wife!
Bai Renyi was also furious after hearing the story. Hadn’t they just dealt with Zhang Cuihua recently? Was she asking for trouble again already?
He scooped up the little dumpling in his arms. “Precious, daddy’s taking you to confront Zhang Cuihua!”
“Father, I’ll be your bodyguard!” Li Zhenzhu, seeing she had an ally, became even more enthusiastic.
Cui Shi scolded lightly: “At your age, why are you joining in the children’s nonsense? Wouldn’t it be simpler to pretend you didn’t hear?”
“Mother, if we pretend not to hear this time, she’ll only become worse next time! I can’t swallow this insult!”When Wu Keng heard his mother say she was going to Zhang Cuihua’s house to fight, his fierce energy surged. “Mother, I’m coming too!”
The first, second, third, and fourth pits all clamored to go! The Bai family was just this united—whatever they did, they did together!
The team instantly expanded.
“Mother, we’re all going. Are you coming?” Li Zhenzhu asked.