Thinking of her five sons at home, she planted her feet firmly, straightened her chest, and lifted her chin high.
“Just try hitting me…”
“…I’ve never seen such a brazen demand. Fine, I’ll try,” Xia Wanyue swung her whip again. She didn’t hit hard—she only meant to scare Sun Shuiniu.
Sun Shuiniu quickly dodged.
Her eyes darted around, and with a startled “ouch,” she dropped to the ground and began crying.
“Oh heavens! Oh Lord! Murder! This cursed girl, I only looked at her things and she’s trying to kill me! You little wretch, I’m telling you—if you have the guts, go ahead and kill me. Let’s see if the guards will catch you! Do you really think you can run rampant in this village? Just because others fear you doesn’t mean I, Sun Shuiniu, do! Who in this village dares mess with me? Do you really think I can’t deal with you?”
“Today, if you dare touch me, my weak body—you owe me for this cartload!”
That was pure, white rice!
Even though her husband Lao Zhou could earn money, and their five sons were excellent at farming, it was hard to compete when others were numerous. All the grain could be eaten up, and their own home had little left.
Every day, her family barely had thin porridge.
The porridge was so watery, you could see your reflection in it.
“Oh Lord! Help! My hand’s broken, my leg can’t move, my poor backside! Somebody, go call Lao Zhou! Tell him to bring the boys and come handle this! If he doesn’t come, I’ll be beaten to death!”
Sun Shuiniu had married Zhou Dachuan, the village carpenter, and together they had five sons.
She often relied on her many children to act arrogantly in the village, always trying to take advantage of others. She would walk across empty plots and steal a bit of grass if she wanted.
The villagers felt powerless against her because her five sons were all strong and intimidating. Plus, her husband, a lifelong carpenter, was skilled, strong, and often hired by villagers because his work was cheaper than in town.
A small, skinny girl ran off through the crowd while Sun Shuiniu remained on the ground, creating a scene.
Hearing her racket, Xia Wanyue felt a wave of annoyance—like nails on a chalkboard. She kicked at Sun Shuiniu with a sharp, forceful motion.
“Shut up!”
Sun Shuiniu rolled on the ground, already dirty, now muddied even more, her tear-streaked face streaked with dust, almost pitiful.
“Ouch! Go, go, go…”
The onlookers jumped back at the force of the kick. Those who had tried to stir trouble felt their hearts sink, realizing Xia Wanyue showed no mercy. They were inwardly grateful they had moved slowly—otherwise, they might have taken a kick too.
With little food at home, everyone was already hungry. One more injury could make someone sick for days, and there was no money for medicine.
At that moment, heavy footsteps approached, accompanied by angry shouts:
“Who’s the blind fool bullying my mother?”“Let me see…”“Move aside!”
Sun Shuiniu’s sons pushed through the crowd. Seeing their mother on the ground, clutching her chest and rolling, they shouted in alarm and lifted her up.
“Mother!”“Mother, are you alright?”“Mother, who hit you? Tell me—I’ll skin him alive!”“Mother, where does it hurt?”
Her five sons were dutiful and surrounded her, showing genuine concern.
After a while, Sun Shuiniu managed to catch her breath. She shakily raised a hand and pointed at Xia Wanyue.
“Sons! Why are you so late? I was almost beaten to death! It was her, this wretched woman! She nearly killed me! My heart… if you had come a moment later, I’d be dead.”
Sun Shuiniu clutched her chest and coughed.
The five brothers glared at Xia Wanyue with fury.
“You wretch! You dared hit my mother—I’ll skin you alive!”“Second, third, fourth, and fifth—move! Anyone who hits our mother today won’t leave unpunished!”
At the eldest brother’s command, the other three sprang up.
Originally holding Sun Shuiniu, the second and fourth sons also stood. With no one supporting her, Sun Shuiniu thudded to the ground.
“Oh my mother!”
The five brothers finally realized, and the eldest slapped the second and fourth on the shoulders.
“Are you two crazy? Hurry and lift Mother! Move her to the side.”
The second and fourth carefully placed Sun Shuiniu under a locust tree. Seeing the three older brothers preparing to attack, the two stood aside, folding their hands.
They thought, after all, it was just a woman—three brothers were more than enough.
“Go!”
At the eldest’s shout, the three rushed Xia Wanyue.
The onlookers gasped—they knew Xia Wanyue had met her match. Sun Shuiniu’s sons were not like the weaker Li family.
All five were tall and muscular, each blow capable of killing.
Watching Xia Wanyue about to be beaten, the crowd had mixed feelings: excitement, pity, and some covered their eyes.
Whack! Whack! Whack!
Screams and slaps rang out from the crowd.
The village chief, wiping sweat from his forehead, ran toward the scene. Hearing the screams, his heart leapt to his throat.
Before anyone could see clearly, Sun Shuiniu’s three sons flew across, faces and bodies covered in whip marks.
The crowd screamed and scattered, fearing they’d be crushed. Their frail bodies couldn’t take the impact.
“The village chief! The village chief is here!”
People in the back finally saw him and made way.
Breathless, the village chief gripped his chest, his voice angry:
“You… you… all… stop right now!”
His chest heaving, he yelled the last words. Xia Wanyue feared he might collapse from exhaustion.
Out of respect for him, Xia Wanyue put her whip away.
“Village Chief, you should rest!”“I’ll handle this matter…”
Then Xia Wanyue recounted what had happened, calmly, without exaggeration.
After hearing her, the village chief, already furious, trembled with rage.