Nearby, Xu Shi held her frightened children in her arms.
Seeing Old Madam Su being put on the spot secretly pleased her.
But why was Old Madam Su giving her meaningful looks?
Did she want her to act as a peacemaker?
Thinking about it, standing there watching the drama wasn’t exactly appropriate.
Besides, although Old Madam Su was sharp-tongued and didn’t treat her particularly well, she had always been good to Su Wangcai and the children.
So Xu Shi quickly stepped forward and played the role of the kind mediator.
“Xiu’e, calm down first. Mother usually treats the children well. Maybe there’s some misunderstanding. Put the knife down and let’s talk.”
Of course, Xu Shi had her own motives as well.
She had been studying medicine under Ye Xiu’e and hoped to someday replace her as the village barefoot doctor.
After all, Ye Xiu’e was a widow.
Surely she wouldn’t stay with the Su family forever.
One day she would remarry, and when that happened, Xu Shi hoped to take over her position.
However, instead of calming down, Ye Xiu’e turned and glared at her.
“A misunderstanding? Then tell me where those bruises on Wanwan came from!”
Xu Shi was immediately speechless.
She knew perfectly well that those injuries had indeed been caused by Old Madam Su.
A trace of resentment rose in her heart.
She had only just come back herself.
It wasn’t as if she had beaten the child.
Why was Ye Xiu’e directing her anger at her?
At that moment, Su Wanwan arrived at the kitchen doorway.
She was worried that Ye Xiu’e might become so emotional that she would actually do something reckless.
When Su Wangcai noticed her, he shot her a warning glare.
This little brat.
Her courage had certainly grown.
She actually dared to tell on them.
An idea suddenly came to him.
Stepping forward, he said,
“Xiu’e, my mother is right. Look, isn’t Wanwan fine now? That proves the method worked. Children can’t be spoiled too much. Getting beaten once in a while is good for their health.”
Only then did Ye Xiu’e realize Wanwan was standing nearby.
Afraid of frightening her daughter, she immediately tossed the cleaver aside.
She had only intended to scare Old Madam Su.
She had never planned to actually use it.
She wasn’t stupid.
If she truly harmed Old Madam Su, neither she nor her daughter would have a peaceful life afterward.
Walking over, she gently wrapped an arm around Wanwan, careful not to hurt her.
Ye Xiu’e didn’t believe a single word of Su Wangcai’s explanation.
She was educated.
She knew superstitious nonsense had no basis in reality.
Besides, she understood medicine herself.
“Fine then. Bring your children over here and let me beat them too. Since it’s so good for their health, surely you won’t mind.”
Su Wangcai: “…”
How could this woman always find the perfect comeback?
Su Wanwan nearly laughed.
She hadn’t expected her bargain mother to be such a fierce fighter.
But being protected so fiercely felt wonderful.
She was genuinely touched.
In her previous life, her grandmother had protected her in exactly the same way.
Her grandmother’s fiery temper was famous.
Eventually, nobody dared bully Su Wanwan anymore.
Xu Shi, however, was far from pleased.
She was already irritated, and now Ye Xiu’e wanted to hit her children?
That was absolutely unacceptable.
Her face darkened.
“Xiu’e, that’s going too far. We’re trying to calm things down, and now you’re targeting us too?
I never realized you were like a firecracker—set off at the slightest spark, without even considering whether people are trying to help.”
The moment she finished speaking, Ye Xiu’e turned and glared at her again.
Xu Shi stubbornly lifted her chin and returned the stare.
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Old Madam Su knew she was in the wrong and didn’t dare insert herself.
Trying to ease the tension, Su Wangcai forced a laugh.
“Xiu’e, you’re joking. Your Wanwan has weak health. Our children are perfectly healthy. They don’t need these old remedies.”
The second he said it, Ye Xiu’e’s expression became even darker.
The atmosphere grew even more awkward.
Xu Shi shot her husband a furious look.
“If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak at all.”
Embarrassed, Su Wangcai shut his mouth.
He had no desire to involve himself in the conflict between these women anymore.
Ye Xiu’e snorted coldly.
“Stop pretending to be good people.
After Wanwan’s father died, you used his compensation money to build a new house while my daughter and I were left living in this broken mud hut.
Every month, I hand over my ten-yuan subsidy to the family.
I never argued about any of that.
Wanwan is still young. I have to work in the fields and treat patients.
All I ever hoped was that you would look after her.
I thought that since she was part of the Su family, you wouldn’t mistreat her too badly.
Who would’ve thought you’d all be so vicious?
You joined forces to abuse my daughter and even threatened her not to tell me.
I swear, if I could tear open your chests and look inside, your hearts would be black!”
The villagers standing outside with their rice bowls could no longer remain silent.
They stopped eating and began criticizing the family.
“The mother and daughter already have such difficult lives. Exploiting them like this makes you no different from leeches sucking blood from a ditch.”
“Exactly! There’s hardly a decent person in the entire Su family. Only Youcai was honest and kind. What a shame good people never live long.”
“I told you Old Madam Su’s beatings would be discovered sooner or later. Xiu’e adores her daughter. Of course she’d fight back.”
“Old Madam Su really has no sense of shame. The family’s dirty laundry is being aired for the whole village to see, and she still doesn’t know when to stop.”
The comments drifted into the ears of the Su family.
Their faces alternated between red and pale.
Unable to endure the embarrassment any longer, Old Madam Su protested.
“When we used that money to build the house, we discussed it with you first.
Didn’t we agree that two hundred yuan would still belong to you, and we’d give it back whenever you needed it?
Why bring it up now and make a spectacle for everyone?
People will think I’ve mistreated you.”
She desperately tried to preserve the last scraps of her dignity.
But Ye Xiu’e wasn’t about to let her.
“Oh?
Since all the villagers are here and heard you say that, then I’ll take those two hundred yuan right now.
Go ahead and give it to me.
Don’t think about backing out.”
“This…”
Old Madam Su instantly fell silent.
There was no way she could produce that money now.
When Ye Xiu’e mentioned the two hundred yuan, Su Wangcai also felt guilty.
A while ago, he had managed to obtain a bicycle purchase voucher.
In those days, vouchers were even harder to get than bicycles themselves.
After much pleading, he convinced Old Madam Su to use the two hundred yuan to buy him a bicycle.
He had assumed Ye Xiu’e wouldn’t ask about that money for years.
Who knew she would suddenly bring it up today?
Watching Old Madam Su stammer helplessly and Su Wangcai avoid eye contact, Su Wanwan understood everything immediately.
The original owner had once overheard them arguing about two hundred yuan and a bicycle.
A few days later, a brand-new bicycle had appeared in the family.
Su Wangcai had proudly shown it off for days.
The original Su Wanwan hadn’t understood what was happening.
But Su Wanwan instantly connected the dots.
Still, she had only recently arrived in this world.
The original owner had never told her mother about what she overheard.
If she suddenly revealed everything now, it would seem far too suspicious.
The original Su Wanwan had been withdrawn and rarely spoke.
It would be strange if she suddenly exposed every secret.
Better to find opportunities later and slowly reveal the truth to Ye Xiu’e.
Seeing Old Madam Su hesitate, Ye Xiu’e’s heart began to race.
That money had been saved for her daughter.
Surely this family hadn’t spent it all?
Stepping forward, she demanded sharply,
“What do you mean, ‘this’?
Where’s the money?
Don’t tell me you’ve already spent it all!”
If they had only used a small portion, she could still accept it.
But if they had wasted the entire amount belonging to her and Wanwan, she would never agree.
Even if she had to take the matter all the way to the commune, she would be in the right.
No matter what, she would get that money back.
Old Madam Su panicked.
She had just publicly promised the money existed.
Now she couldn’t produce it.
The humiliation was about to become unbearable.