Li Ning felt a pang of heartache. He reached out and gently patted his sister’s dry, yellowing hair.
“Eat slowly. Don’t choke.”
Li San-Ya ate half, then left the other half for Li Ning.
“Brother, I’m full. You eat…”
“Eat a bit more.”
Better to get beaten later with a full stomach than to be beaten while starving.
Li San-Ya shook her head.
She really was full. Being hungry for so long had shrunk her stomach, and she couldn’t eat much anymore.
On top of that, the large bowl of thick porridge had already filled her to the brim.
Seeing that his sister truly couldn’t eat any more, Li Ning took the bowl from her hands and started eating.
It really smelled so good.
He sniffed hard, refusing to let the tears fall.
Father was gone. From now on, he was the man of the family. He had to protect Mother, his sister, and his little brother. He couldn’t cry like before anymore.
Watching the two sensible children, Xia Wanyue felt a sharp ache in her heart. Inwardly, she viciously cursed Old Madam Wang.
Outside in the courtyard, Madam Miao saw Xia Wanyue shut the door.
She tossed aside the broom in her hand and hurried toward Old Madam Wang’s room.
Before long, the sound of footsteps mixed with angry curses came straight toward Xia Wanyue’s room. The door was slammed loudly once again.
Smelling the fragrance of rice drifting from inside, Old Madam Wang’s eyes turned red with rage. She cursed loudly, as if the people inside the room were her mortal enemies rather than her own family.
“You damned little whore! You dare steal my grain! Get your ass out here right now, or I’ll beat you to death!”
“Heavens! Everyone come and see! Come judge this for yourselves! There’s a thief in our family! This little whore brought death to my son, and now she’s coming to harm me!”
“There’s barely any grain left in this household! She stole it all and fed it to herself and those little beasts!”
“Your father and I are still starving, yet she secretly ate it all! Because of her greedy mouth, my son went into the mountains to hunt for her, and that’s how he lost his life!”
“My son’s body isn’t even cold yet, and she’s already bullying this old woman of mine…”
Old Madam Wang’s wailing drew everyone out of their rooms. Even the neighbors next door craned their necks over the courtyard wall to watch the spectacle.
Old Man Li frowned deeply and asked in a low, displeased voice:
“What’s going on?”
Madam Miao lowered her head and tugged at her clothes, calling out softly.
“Father… second sister-in-law she—”
“Father, Second Sister-in-law stole the family’s grain,” Little Madam Li cut her off quickly.“Mother told her to cook this morning, but she cooked the food and carried it straight into her own room. None of us got a bite. A whole big pot of rice—she and those three ate it all. Now she’s locked the door and won’t let anyone in.”
The noise outside startled the two children inside. Li Ning was so frightened he nearly choked. Xia Wanyue quickly patted his back.
“Mother!”
The two children looked at Xia Wanyue in terror.
Like performing a magic trick, Xia Wanyue produced two small pastries and stuffed them into their hands.
She picked up another bowl of rice, scooped some into Li Ning’s bowl, and only then began eating herself.
The millet didn’t taste very good, but thinking that if she didn’t eat it, it would only benefit those people outside, Xia Wanyue clenched her teeth and swallowed it down.
No matter what, she had to fill her stomach first.
After finishing in just a few bites, she instructed the two children:
“Stay inside the room. No matter what happens later, don’t come out.”
“Mother!”
“Mother, don’t go…”
The two children grabbed her hands from either side, tears hanging on their faces, pitiful beyond words.
Xia Wanyue gently freed her hands and led them to the bed, lifting Li San-Ya onto it.
“Don’t be afraid. Be good and take care of your little brother. A-Ning, after Mother goes out, brace the door shut. Don’t open it for anyone except me.”
“Do you understand?”
“Mother… I understand!”
Li Ning wanted to say more, but when he met Xia Wanyue’s gaze, he swallowed his words and nodded.
Xia Wanyue gently patted his head.
She picked up a wooden stick from behind the door and handed it to Li Ning, then pushed the door open and walked out.
“You little slut, you finally decided to come out! Locking the door in broad daylight—people who don’t know better would think you were inside stealing men!”
“You glutton! I’ll beat you to death, you little bitch! Why are you so damn greedy? Were you a starving ghost in your past life?!”
Cursing nonstop, Old Madam Wang lunged forward, trying to scratch Xia Wanyue.
Xia Wanyue had just pulled the door shut when she saw Old Madam Wang charging at her. Instinctively, she lifted her leg and kicked out hard.
With a loud thud, Old Madam Wang was sent flying over a meter away, crashing onto the ground in the courtyard.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
Everyone froze, stunned, unable to react for a long moment.
Hiss—
The small courtyard filled with sharp intakes of breath, followed by a chorus of excited chatter.
The neighbors on the wall whispered among themselves.
“Good heavens! Is this really that doormat Yue Niang from Old Madam Wang’s family? She actually dared to hit her mother-in-law?”
“That kick looked painful…”
“The husband just died and she’s already beating her mother-in-law? Was Yue Niang pretending all along?”
“She deserved it. Old Madam Wang went too far on a daily basis. Even the most honest person would snap eventually.”
“No matter what, you can’t hit an elder—that’s unfilial!”
“Unfilial my ass! She was nearly driven to death. Old Madam Wang had it coming—three daughters-in-law and she only bullies one!”
…
Madam Miao shrank backward in fear.
T-This… she wouldn’t hit me too, right?She beat them, but she can’t beat me, can she?
Thinking of the complaint she had just made, and looking at her mother-in-law sprawled on the ground, Madam Miao felt pain just watching. She retreated step by step, her earlier arrogance extinguished in an instant.
“Oh heavens! Mother!”
Little Madam Li cried out and rushed over to help Old Madam Wang up.
“Mother! Are you alright? Where are you hurt? Does it hurt? Mother!”
“Shut up! I’m not dead yet! Are you wailing at a funeral?!”
Old Madam Wang snapped, her head pounding from the noise. The pain in her backside made her gasp repeatedly.
Little Madam Li kept winking frantically at her, but Old Madam Wang was in too much pain to care.
She raised her hand and slapped Little Madam Li across the face.
“What kind of face is that?! Why the hell are you blinking?! If you want to flirt, go do it with your man—why do it at me?! Aiya, it hurts so bad…”
Little Madam Li clutched her face, resentment flashing in her eyes as she glanced at Old Madam Wang.
You old hag—this slap, I’ll repay it sooner or later.
She shot a glance at Xia Wanyue, clenched her teeth, and leaned in to whisper something into Old Madam Wang’s ear.
Old Madam Wang’s eyes rolled.
“Aiyo—murder! Murder! A daughter-in-law is beating her mother-in-law! Help! Someone come quick!”
“Second Sister-in-law, how can you do this? This is unfilial! Second Uncle just passed away, and you already dare to hit your mother-in-law!”
“Aren’t you afraid heaven will strike you dead with lightning?!”
Little Madam Li fanned the flames nonstop, even pretending to wipe away a couple of tears.
Hmph.With Xia Wanyue acting this fierce today, she definitely wouldn’t let herself be bullied anymore. Might as well seize the chance now and drive her out.