They say the timid fear the aggressive, and the aggressive fear the reckless.
This Old Madam is simply shameless.
Mother Tang was no pushover, but she cared about her reputation.
The people in the Agricultural University Compound were simple folk, but that didn't mean they didn't gossip or have their own little schemes.
"Aunt, Grandma's temper isn't very good. Hurry and persuade her; if this continues, it won't look good." Tang Erni reached out to pull Mother Tang's arm, making it seem like she cared deeply for Mother Tang.
Watching this scene, and then looking at Tang Erni, Tang Ruanruan honestly wanted to laugh.
Such tactics were truly too low-class.
"Shut up!"
Mother Tang's voice wasn't loud, but it made Tang Erni tremble.
She was still too young, thinking she could manipulate Mother Tang with her reputation, but she forgot that Mother Tang wasn't like those women in the Village.
Liu Cuilan saw that her cheap daughter-in-law wasn't afraid and cried out even louder, trying to attract a Leader to put this woman in an impossible situation.
Compared to Mother Tang, Tang Ruanruan was largely ignored by the Old Madam.
"Stepmother Grandmother, isn't your request a bit excessive? My father is currently following the state's Arrangement to support construction. He just left, and you immediately want my mother to arrange jobs for you? What do you take my mother for? Even people from the Compound wouldn't dare ask so casually."
Tang Ruanruan's voice was pleasant, and she was usually pampered, never showing stage fright. Even now, in front of the neighbors watching the commotion, she spoke clearly and logically.
No matter how many schemes Tang Erni had, they were useless against Tang Ruanruan.
Liu Cuilan scrambled up from the ground, pointing her finger at Tang Ruanruan and cursing, "You good-for-nothing girl, what right do you have to talk here? I'm telling you, I am your Grandma, your mother's Mother-in-law! Whatever I tell her to do, she must do."
Tang Ruanruan sidestepped the poking finger; its nail was black and yellow, looking quite creepy.
The surrounding people who heard the noise were whispering amongst themselves, saying all sorts of things.
The world is chaotic right now; one cannot trust the Human Heart.
Mother Tang didn't want to be more Embarrassing, so she pulled Liu Cuilan inside to talk.
"Oh dear, this old woman wouldn't dare go in. You city folk bully an old woman like me. I married into the Tang Family, yet I never serve my Mother-in-law. There's no Wife like that in this world."
Liu Cuilan's face was full of calculation; she had practiced these words for a long time, aiming them at this most promising cheap daughter-in-law.
Mother Tang's face was ashen; she disdained arguing with such a person, but she was, after all, the elder.
Tang Erni was in high spirits, feeling triumphant seeing the usually aloof Aunt forced to figure out something for her own job.
Her smile hadn't fully settled when a voice emerged from outside the crowd.
"I truly didn't know when Ruan Ruan's mother became your daughter-in-law? You think you're worthy? That old bastard Tang Qingshan treats you like a treasure because he's willing to fawn over a Widow's stinking feet, but don't come here to disgust our Ruan Ruan. I, the legitimate Mother-in-law, am not dead yet. Who the hell are you? Get lost for this old lady!"
This domineering roar instantly energized Tang Ruanruan, who pushed through the crowd and saw a familiar figure.
"Grandma!!!"
Tang Ruanruan hugged her Grandma's Arm with both hands, her eyes full of filial affection; this was the real grandmother and granddaughter relationship.
Grandma's mood brightened considerably upon seeing Tang Ruanruan's radiant smile.
This Granddaughter was the apple of her eye.
Ever since she got a Divorce from the Old Man, she had lived alone on the suburban Farm, close to her younger son's family. She would visit occasionally; living outside the Village was more comfortable anyway.
If she hadn't heard her son had gone out of town today and worried about her Granddaughter, she wouldn't have come over to check, never expecting to run into this scene.
When Liu Cuilan saw it was Ma Dajiao, she immediately backed down.
At this moment, she wouldn't have been so timid facing anyone else, but Ma Dajiao was different.
"Ruan Ruan, you go stand by your mother first, and watch how Grandma deals with this shameless old hag."
Ma Dajiao had always been a straightforward person. If she hadn't discovered her own man was involved with a Widow back then, she wouldn't have decisively gone to the Village Cadre, gotten the Divorce papers immediately, and then left the Village with her younger son—a move that surprised many.
She grabbed Liu Cuilan's collar and pulled the woman in front of her.
"Do you think it's still ten years ago? You could rely on those seductive tricks to get people to look at you twice? Too bad you're old now; those tricks are simply not enough to impress city folk."
Ma Dajiao glanced at the pale-faced Tang Erni beside her.
"I underestimated you, you little girl, scheming against my Granddaughter. Setting aside the fact that you aren't even Tang Family blood, even if you were, if you want your son and daughter-in-law to handle things for you, Tang Qingshan, that old Bastard, should be the one to say it. What do you two think you are? Acting like Da Tou?"
Liu Cuilan struggled. Although she was significantly younger than Ma Dajiao, she was no match for her. After all, one spent her days doing farm work, while the other only knew how to scheme.
"Ma Dajiao, you couldn't keep your own man in line. Now Tang Qingshan is my man. You're the one acting like Da Tou, not me. Let go of this old lady."
The two women, both over fifty, started fighting directly.
Mother Tang felt awkward watching but didn't know how to intervene.
Everyone else only offered verbal persuasion; no one dared to actually step in.
It was Tang Ruanruan, however, who acted. In her previous life, she could have gone to her father's hometown for re-education, but she was schemed against by this Stepmother Grandmother and sent to the neighboring Village instead, which is why she was so isolated and helpless when she died.
When calculated, there was indeed hatred involved.
So Tang Ruanruan took action. She wasn't helping her Grandma Hitting People; instead, she grabbed Liu Cuilan's waist, acting like an immovable weight.
Ma Dajiao understood immediately when her Granddaughter helped.
The Granddaughter couldn't hit Liu Cuilan, as people would gossip, but she wasn't afraid to help.
The result was that Liu Cuilan suffered terribly, getting slapped repeatedly by Ma Dajiao, her face quickly swelling up.
Tang Erni also tried to help, but Mother Tang held her wrist tightly. Not letting her go up to help at this moment was the greatest help she could offer.
The farce only stopped when the Women's Director arrived.
Seeing that things had mostly settled, Tang Ruanruan whispered into her Grandma's ear, "Grandma, pretend to faint!"
Ma Dajiao and Tang Ruanruan had excellent chemistry; she immediately understood her Granddaughter's plan. As Liu Cuilan was Complaining to the Women's Director, Ma Dajiao clutched her chest and swayed precariously.
"Grandma, Grandma!!! Mom, Grandma's angina is acting up! Hurry and take Grandma to the Hospital!!!"
Tang Ruanruan supported Ma Dajiao and shouted at Mother Tang. Mother Tang couldn't tell if it was real or fake, but she immediately rushed inside to find the Heart-saving pill and stuffed it into her Mother-in-law's mouth before carrying her out.
Tang Ruanruan pointed at Liu Cuilan and roared, "If anything happens to my Grandma, my father and Uncle will never let this go! Even if Grandfather protects you, it will be useless!"
It's so hard to write these kinds of entangled plots. I'm the type of person who prefers physical action over Talking, and writing this kind of plot gives me a headache every time. I stayed up all night and only managed this much.
The Male Lead will appear in the next chapter. I still prefer writing sweet interactions.