Outside the east wing room, Wen Xiannan leaned casually against the doorframe. Her younger sister-in-law, Tian Chunhua, leaned against the opposite wall. The two of them took turns mocking the eldest daughter-in-law, Jiang Lian, inside the room.
“Big sister-in-law, you really have some nerve, huh? You even dare push Mother?” Tian Chunhua cracked sunflower seeds as she spoke, glancing sideways at Jiang Lian, who was staring blankly at her baby in her arms. “Mother may be letting it slide now, but when your eldest comes home…” She deliberately dragged out the words. “You know how hot-tempered he is.”
Wen Xiannan took over, sneering: “If you ask me, you should deal with this ‘worthless thing’ now, and then go apologize to Mother. Otherwise, when Big Brother comes home…!” She shuddered dramatically.
Tian Chunhua spat out a seed shell and mockingly agreed: “Exactly. Luckily it’s the busy farming season and the men are out in the fields. Otherwise…”
She gave Jiang Lian a meaningful glance. Both women laughed wickedly.
Jiang Lian sat stiffly on the edge of the bed. The infant in her arms was sleeping soundly. She listened to the harsh laughter outside and unconsciously clenched the child’s swaddling cloth tighter.
“Can’t even give birth to a son and still so defiant. Think you’re something special, huh?”
Tian Chunhua pursed her lips, looking at Jiang Lian’s beautiful face despite her exhaustion, and felt a pang of jealousy. “Pretty as a flower, but just giving birth to useless girls.”
Jiang Lian lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting shadows over her pale face. She knew that when her husband returned, she would face a severe beating—but this time… she gently stroked her daughter’s wrinkled little face, determination flashing in her murky eyes.
The two women’s laughter outside grew even sharper, but Jiang Lian seemed not to hear it. She remained silent, holding her child closer.
Thinking about her mother-in-law trying to drown her newborn second daughter, her heart ached as if twisted by a knife.
It was her own fault she couldn’t bear a son. But the child was born, and that was a life! If her mother-in-law wanted a grandson, she could keep trying—eventually, she would have a son…
Remembering her mother-in-law’s ruthlessness in almost drowning her second daughter, Jiang Lian felt chills run through her body. She silently vowed: even if her husband beat her to death, no one would lay a finger on her daughter!
Glancing at the gloating sisters-in-law and younger sister-in-law at the door, she knew that when her husband returned, they would exaggerate everything in their report.
Her gaze darkened with resignation as she thought about her husband.
Wen Xiannan leaned against the doorframe of the main room, arms crossed, eyes scornfully sweeping over the eldest daughter-in-law:
“Big sister-in-law, people should have some self-awareness. One daughter after another—what honor do they bring our family? And now you even dare touch Mother. Truly shameless. When Big Brother comes home, I’ll make sure he teaches you a lesson.”
Jiang Lian originally planned to pretend she didn’t hear, but when the younger sister-in-law insulted her daughter, she could no longer hold back: “Xiannan, if Xiaocao and the second daughter are worthless, then what does that make you?”
“You!” Wen Xiannan clearly didn’t expect the usually submissive eldest daughter-in-law to talk back.
She immediately lifted her chin in defiance: “Am I the same as you? I’m going to marry into the wealthy Yuanwai household and become a concubine. In the future, I’ll wear gold, drink wine, and live in luxury. Don’t compare me to the likes of you lowly women.”
Tian Chunhua quickly joined in: “Exactly! Honestly, our little sister here is too beautiful to waste as a servant. She could be a proper wife in a high-class household!” She winked and added: “I think she’d even make a perfect match as the main wife for some rich young master!”
She linked arms with Wen Xiannan affectionately: “Don’t forget about your second sister-in-law when the time comes. You and I get along so well. When you rise to fame, remember to help her out too.”
Tian Chunhua knew full well that Wen Xiannan had been spoiled by her mother and had high expectations. She liked to dream of being a wealthy lady and marrying into a rich family. Marrying a well-off peasant household would already be a blessing for her.
But Tian Chunhua was clever and would never ruin the fantasy. She just kept praising Wen Xiannan, knowing that by doing so, she might benefit later.
Compared to Jiang Lian’s silent suffering, this flattery made Wen Xiannan feel much better. “Don’t worry, second sister-in-law. When I marry well, you’ll get your share. As for certain people…” She gave Jiang Lian a pointed glance, “…don’t even think about benefiting. No way!”
Both women looked at Jiang Lian, who was quietly cradling her child.
But Jiang Lian ignored them, skillfully unbuttoning her blouse to feed her crying baby.
“Tch, just a girl, spoiling herself like that.” Wen Xiannan grabbed Tian Chunhua’s hand. “Second sister-in-law, when you have a big fat boy next, let’s see how she stands in this family then.”
“That won’t be so soon. Yaozu is only three months old,” Tian Chunhua said shyly. She had only been married a little over a year, and a faint blush appeared on her face.
“Mother says your looks show you’re destined for many children. Mother has a good eye; I’m sure you’ll give us a son next,” Wen Xiannan said.
Tian Chunhua’s heart soared, but she said carefully: “Mother is indeed sharp-eyed. I just need to take care of my body so the pregnancy goes smoothly.”
Wen Xiannan remembered being contradicted by Jiang Lian earlier and felt her anger rise again. She pounded her chest:
“No problem. When Mother comes out, I’ll have her steam a special egg custard just for you tonight. When you give birth to a son, make sure to let Big Sister-in-law know her place! She dared call me worthless; I’ll show her who’s really the burden of this family!”
“Of course, don’t worry, little sister. Second sister-in-law will…” Tian Chunhua hadn’t finished speaking when the main room door suddenly creaked open.
Ye Wen pushed the door open and saw her youngest daughter, Wen Xiannan, standing proudly at the doorway, and her second daughter-in-law, Tian Chunhua, standing beside her with a calculating look. The sight made her temples throb.
After sorting through the memories and the system-provided plot, Ye Wen realized she had transmigrated to the exact day the original owner was about to drown Jiang Lian’s newborn second daughter!
According to the original plot, the original owner would drown the innocent baby, driving Jiang Lian insane and causing her to push the original owner.
When Wen Xiangdong returned, Jiang Lian would be severely beaten under the instigation of the original owner and Wen Xiannan.
Having witnessed her daughter’s death, Jiang Lian would become mentally unstable, often wandering off. To prevent this, the eldest son would chain her up at home. She would only find relief when she died during childbirth with the third child.
Seeing this, Ye Wen looked at the two girls before her with increasing complexity.
Both were girls—why torment each other like this?
The household’s division of labor was clear: men worked outside, women inside. But in reality:
The second son shirked work, leaving the fields to the eldest; Jiang Lian handled cooking, laundry, feeding the chickens, and all chores; Wen Xiannan and Tian Chunhua did nothing but snack on sunflower seeds.
The entire household relied solely on the eldest son and his wife.
Yet these two women were ungrateful and bullied Jiang Lian at every turn. Now they were even trying to provoke the eldest son to beat her. Truly shameless!
“Mother, you’re out~” Wen Xiannan greeted eagerly as she saw her mother open the door.
“Mother,” Tian Chunhua also called out, feigning respect.
Ye Wen looked at a girl about junior high age and another about high school age calling her “Mother” and twitched at the corners of her eyes.
She was only in her twenties! She had joked online about wanting to “become a mother without pain,” and now, suddenly, she not only had children but grandchildren as well.
Especially this “cheap daughter,” only twelve years old, proudly talking about becoming a concubine for a wealthy man—it made Ye Wen’s head throb.
“Ding, reform progress visual function activated.”
With the system notification, Ye Wen was surprised to see white numbers appear above the two girls’ heads: Wen Xiannan 48, Tian Chunhua 10.
Curious, she waved her hand in front of the numbers, but her fingers passed right through them.
“Mother, are you okay?” Wen Xiannan asked, noticing her mother’s strange behavior, her tone genuinely concerned.
Ye Wen glanced at the numbers above her daughter’s head, then at the cold, unfeeling eyes of Tian Chunhua, and began to strategize.
This girl had been spoiled but at least showed some concern for her mother—she could be corrected. But the second daughter-in-law…
Calmly, Ye Wen pushed Wen Xiannan’s hand away: “Your eldest brother will be home soon. Let’s prepare dinner first.”