"May I ask who this is?" Su Wanwan asked with a smile.
Wu Sanniang glanced at her, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Oh, I'm Changfeng's third aunt. So you're Changfeng's new wife? I heard from my Chanyue about you. I never expected you to be such a pretty one."
Zhou Chanyue, following behind Wu Sanniang, curled her lip. "Mother, appearances can be deceiving. I've seen plenty of women like her who are after who-knows-what. You mustn't let your guard down."
Someone else picked up the conversation with Su Wanwan. Pei's Eldest Aunt, happy to watch the drama unfold, chimed in from the side, "Wu Sanniang, what do you mean by that? You haven't visited once since Changfeng fell ill. Every time you come, it's just to ask for money. What? Are you unhappy now that we've found Changfeng a good wife?"
When it came to escalating conflicts, Pei's Eldest Aunt had a knack.
Wu Sanniang spat in disdain. "As if you're so noble yourself."
"So, Third Aunt, what brings you here today?" Su Wanwan rotated her wrist, appearing unperturbed. "Have you eaten? Why not join us for lunch?"
She smiled warmly, and coupled with her exceptionally lovely face, she gave off an utterly harmless impression. Wu Sanniang decided Su Wanwan was a soft target and began putting on airs as an elder. "Fine then. Since you're sincerely inviting me, I'll reluctantly stay for a meal."
Pei's Eldest Aunt had no intention of watching the two get along so harmoniously. She started picking a fight. "Wu Sanniang, why are you really here? Just say it straight. Stop with all this fake, pretentious nonsense every day."
"I'm Changfeng's third aunt. Isn't it proper for me to visit him?" Wu Sanniang retorted irritably. "Besides, you went and married Changfeng off without a word to me. I didn't even get to see her. I don't approve of this match!"
"What does your disapproval matter?" Even though Pei's Eldest Aunt hated Su Wanwan, she didn't want Wu Sanniang to get her way. The grudge between her and Wu Sanniang was far greater than the one with Su Wanwan. "You're nothing! Our Pei family isn't yours to decide for!"
Su Wanwan immediately understood the situation. So this third aunt was also here to break up her and Pei Changfeng. But it seemed there was quite some history between Pei's Eldest Aunt and Wu Sanniang too.
She smiled, trying to smooth things over. "Eldest Aunt, Third Aunt, please don't argue. We're all family, after all. There's no need to quarrel over such a small matter."
"Who's family with her?" Pei's Eldest Aunt and Wu Sanniang spoke almost in unison.
Wu Sanniang shot Su Wanwan a glare. "What are you still standing there for? Go cook!"
"Alright, I'll go right away."
Su Wanwan entered the kitchen with no intention of preparing a meal for Wu Sanniang. She cut off a piece of meat, planning to stir-fry some sliced meat for herself.
Pei's Eldest Aunt watched, displeased. She considered everything Su Wanwan ate and used now as her own property. How could she allow Su Wanwan to cook meat for Wu Sanniang?
She made a show of trying to shoo Wu Sanniang out, and the two began tussling.
Su Wanwan wasn't in a hurry. Only after she had eaten her fill did she walk over. Taking a gourd ladle, she whacked Wu Sanniang on the head with it. "Third Aunt, why are you hitting my Eldest Aunt? If you really want money from our family, just say so. Why resort to violence?"
Wu Sanniang was nearly knocked out by the ladle blow. Her eyes widened in shock. "What nonsense are you spouting! When did I ever want your family's money?"
Although this was the truth, Wu Sanniang would absolutely never admit it.
Pei's Eldest Aunt also began to make a scene. "You, Wu Sanniang, are nothing but a troublemaker! When our Changfeng was unwell, you never came to visit even once. Now that you see the couple living well, you come to stir up trouble. There's no justice in this world!"
It was lunchtime, and the people of Peijia Village, hearing the commotion, gathered around.
"What's going on now?"
"It seems something has happened at Pei Changfeng's house again. Why does his family have so many troubles?"
"Could it be that Su Wanwan is fighting with Changfeng's eldest aunt again? Come on, let's go take a look."
Seeing the crowd growing larger, Wu Sanniang sensed trouble. She tried to leave but was held back by Su Wanwan, who clung to her leg.
Su Wanwan began to cry. "Auntie, please stop scolding me. That meat was saved for Changfeng to nourish his health. If you really want to eat it, I'll cut some for you, but please don't say such things anymore!"
Unable to free her leg, Wu Sanniang exclaimed in shock, "What did I say to you?"
Su Wanwan sobbed tearfully. "You said I don't look like a girl from a decent family, that you don't approve of my marriage to Changfeng, and that you want to take him away. But since I've already married Changfeng, I am his person. If you take him away, I won't live either!"
Zhou Chanyue quickly explained to the onlookers, "My mother never said those things! Su Wanwan is making it all up!"
"Wanwan!" Pei's Eldest Aunt also began to cry. "You were the one I took a liking to at first sight. How could I not know what kind of person you are? This Wu Sanniang has no conscience—she just can't stand to see you two living well!"
Pei's Eldest Aunt's acting skills were explosive. As soon as she wailed, Wu Sanniang lost her chance to speak and was nearly drowned in the villagers' scornful remarks.
"Pei Changfeng has been ill for so long, and it seems his third aunt never visited."
"Who is that standing next to Wu Sanniang? I feel like I saw her a few days ago."
"Pei Changfeng's third aunt lives in town and should have money. How could she be so heartless?"
"After all, Pei Changfeng and his eldest uncle's family are the real relatives. Blood is thicker than water, and only his eldest uncle's family helps when something happens."
With everyone chiming in, even Wu Sanniang's thick skin couldn't withstand it. She tried to pull Zhou Chanyue away, but Zhou Chanyue stood up and said pitifully, "My cousin never wanted to marry Su Wanwan!"
The crowd fell silent for a moment.
"Who is she?"
"What does she mean by that?"
"Does she know who Pei Changfeng wanted to marry?"
Su Wanwan also wiped her tears and stood up, looking as if she had been deeply wronged. "Then, Miss Zhou, please tell us, who did my Changfeng want to marry?"
"Certainly not you," Zhou Chanyue felt aggrieved. She and her cousin had grown up together, and if not for his sudden accident, she should have married him. "You took advantage of the situation!"
Good, very good. Su Wanwan's hands began to itch. If she weren't pretending to be pitiful, she would have kicked Zhou Chanyue again.
"So, Miss Zhou, are you saying I stole your destined marriage?" As she spoke, Su Wanwan's tears fell like rain, looking utterly pitiful.
Although the town was some distance from Peijia Village, Wu Sanniang glared at her daughter. "What nonsense are you talking?"
Zhou Chanyue pursed her lips and said nothing, feeling deeply wronged. If only her cousin could wake up, she would still be willing to marry him.
"Alright!" Pei's Eldest Aunt began to shout, "I always wondered why you kept hanging around our Changfeng's door for no reason. So you had such intentions! Let me tell you, give it up. Our family only recognizes Wanwan as our daughter-in-law!"
"So it's unrequited love."
"This Su Wanwan is so pitiful. Pei Changfeng hasn't even woken up yet, and wildflowers are already knocking on the door."
"Pei's Eldest Aunt is reliable after all. Family is family."
Zhou Chanyue was scolded until her face flushed red and her neck thickened, then she was dragged away by Wu Sanniang.
Once they finally escaped the crowd, Wu Sanniang pointed at Zhou Chanyue's head and gave her a stern lecture. "Let me tell you, you'd better give up on this idea sooner rather than later. Your father has already found a match for you. If you keep running outside like this again, I'll beat you to death!"
Zhou Chanyue's eyes reddened, but Wu Sanniang continued talking to herself, "No, I must find a way to get my hands on Pei Changfeng's monthly subsidy. I absolutely cannot let those bastards take advantage."
After Wu Sanniang left, the crowd gradually dispersed. Pei's Eldest Aunt remembered how Su Wanwan had knocked Wu Sanniang on the head earlier, so she twisted Pei Yaozu's ear and left, planning to find another opportunity to act later.
With everyone gone, Su Wanwan closed the courtyard gate, feeling somewhat unsatisfied. She still wanted to give Zhou Chanyue a few knocks on the head.
Returning to the house, she saw Pei Changfeng lying crookedly on the bed and gasped. Could someone have sneaked in during the chaos earlier?
She straightened Pei Changfeng and said with annoyance, "That so-called third aunt of yours is no good either. They're all after your money. Only I genuinely care for you. Even in this state, I'm still taking care of you with all my heart. If you wake up and try to rekindle anything with that Zhou Chanyue, I'll chop you up!"
As she spoke, Su Wanwan waved her hands a few times, mimicking the motion of chopping him. "I'll chop you into pieces and feed you to the dogs!"
She meant every word, vowing to show no mercy to any heartless man.
That night, the cicadas outside were noisy, and Su Wanwan couldn't sleep at all. She decided not to wait any longer and resolved to go to town the next day to hire a doctor to treat Pei Changfeng.
The house had been fumigated with mugwort, so there weren't many mosquitoes, but it was unbearably hot and stuffy.
Su Wanwan got up and lit a lamp, then began counting her silver. It was still the same four taels, no matter how many times she counted.
Four taels of silver might sound like a lot—enough for an ordinary family to live on for over a year—but in a pharmacy, it wouldn't last long. She needed to carefully plan how to use it.
Su Wanwan sat on a chair, her smooth back only covered by a thin strap, sighing as she fanned herself.
The cattail-leaf fan was already missing two notches. The room was dim, devoid of any brightness, yet Su Wanwan was soft and graceful. Her presence was like the moon falling from the sky, landing right in Pei Changfeng's heart.
After roughly calculating her future expenses, Su Wanwan put away the fan and prepared to sleep. As she turned around, she met a pair of cold, ink-black eyes.