Tempted by the meat, Niannian immediately swallowed her saliva. “Sister-in-law, if I say it, you won’t hit me, right?”
Yang Tiehua patted her chest in assurance. “I won’t.”
Just as Niannian was about to speak, An’an pulled her back. “I’ll go first. You… can you stop taking off my pants to look at my… little brother in the future?”
After saying that, Fu An’an hurriedly shut his eyes, bracing himself for a beating.
Yang Tiehua felt as if something shot straight to the top of her head, as though she might faint at any moment.
Was it still too late for her to take back her words?
Closing her eyes, she said, “Continue. An’an will get a piece of meat later.”
Seeing that Sister-in-law hadn’t hit her second brother, Niannian’s eyes lit up, and she quickly chimed in, “Sister-in-law, can you stop fighting with Big Brother at night? Big Brother has already fixed your bed several times. I’m worried if it breaks again, you might fall.”
At this moment, Yang Tiehua only wanted to find a crack in the ground and disappear. Why had she thought it was a good idea to let two children list her faults?
She picked up the ladle and scooped several chunks of meat into their worn bamboo tubes.
“Eat, eat quickly. Everyone, eat.”
Just as she was about to serve Fu Ziheng, Niannian’s next words completely broke her composure.
“Wow, thank you, Sister-in-law! There are six pieces here, so I’ll keep going and say five more things you did wrong.”
“Sister-in-law, don’t sneak peeks at Brother Daniu next door when he bathes anymore. He’s not as good-looking as my Big Brother.”
“Sister-in-law, the nights are quite cold now. Can you let Big Brother wear clothes when he sleeps?”
“Sister-in-law—”
“Stop! Haha, no more. Hurry and eat while it’s hot.”
Yang Tiehua quickly stuffed a piece of meat into Niannian’s mouth, then filled a bamboo tube for Mother Fu. When Mother Fu saw the meat, she was startled and quickly pushed it back. “Xiaohua, Mom doesn’t eat meat. You should eat.”
Yang Tiehua raised her voice. “Mom, if I tell you to eat, then eat. Today, everyone has to listen to me.”
Hearing this, Mother Fu didn’t dare refuse, and the others remained silent, quietly eating the meat and white rice from their bamboo tubes.
Yang Tiehua finally let out a sigh of relief. At critical moments, the original owner’s domineering persona still worked.
As Niannian ate, she suddenly burst into tears and threw herself into Yang Tiehua’s arms. “Sister-in-law, thank you. Niannian finally gets to eat meat. From now on, if you tell me to go east, I won’t go west.”
Holding the child in her arms, Yang Tiehua’s heart softened completely. This child was really easy to appease.
After everything the original owner had done to them, just a few pieces of meat were enough to win her over?
Just as she was about to speak, the sound of gongs and suona horns rang out from outside, lively and loud.
Then came a booming voice, “Family of Fu, Old Shen has come to fetch the bride!”
Fetch the bride?
Yang Tiehua’s eyes widened as she was the first to step outside. Fu Ziheng followed, supported by Mother Fu.
A crowd had already gathered in the courtyard.
A matchmaker walked in, leading a man with a large red flower pinned to his chest, his face resembling that of a toad.
“Tiehua, your father-in-law has come to take your mother-in-law,” said Matchmaker Wang with a smile.
“What? Take… my mother-in-law?” Yang Tiehua’s pupils shrank.
Fu Ziheng grabbed Yang Tiehua. “Yang Tiehua, so all your kindness just now was for this, wasn’t it? I’m telling you, my mother will never marry him!”
An’an stepped in front of Mother Fu. “I knew this woman couldn’t be that kind-hearted. So that meal just now was a last supper! If you dare marry my mother to this man, you’ll have to step over my body first!”
Niannian’s eyes reddened as she also stood in front of Mother Fu, her tear-filled gaze full of disappointment. “Sister-in-law, why did you lie to us? Niannian can eat once every two days. Can you please not make Mom marry?”
“As long as you don’t make Mom marry, I can eat once every three days.” An’an dropped to his knees with a thud in front of Yang Tiehua.
Niannian followed, kneeling and crying pitifully.
Yang Tiehua’s heart ached. She quickly helped them up. “Get up. I never said your mother would be married off.”
Niannian suddenly looked up, her voice hoarse. “Sister-in-law, you… you mean it?”
Yang Tiehua nodded, stepping in front of the whole family and spreading her arms. “As long as I, Yang Tiehua, am here today, no one is taking my mother-in-law away!”
Yang Tiehua was already tall at 172 cm. Though not fat, her broad frame made her look like a mother hen shielding her chicks as she stood in front of the two children and the frail Mother Fu.
Matchmaker Wang’s smile vanished as she grew anxious. “Yang Tiehua, you already accepted Old Shen’s 800 yuan betrothal gift. Now you’re saying she won’t marry? How can you do business like this?”
Hearing this, Yang Tiehua’s head buzzed.
What?
Eight hundred?
Has the original owner gone mad?
Selling off her own mother-in-law and even taking the bride price?
No, that couldn’t be.
“You’re lying. When did I ever take your betrothal gift?” Yang Tiehua decided to deny it outright.
After all, the original owner had always been unreasonable.
Old Shen, with his toad-like face, snorted and took out a piece of paper. “This is proof! You signed it yourself!”
Seeing the crooked signature on the paper, Yang Tiehua nearly fainted.
This Yang Tiehua must have truly been insane to dare do anything.
“I’ll return the bride price. My mother-in-law is not getting married!” At this point, returning the money was the only option.
“You think you can just return it? I don’t agree! I’m taking this wife today!” Old Shen snapped, rushing forward to grab Mother Fu and drag her away.
Fu Ziheng’s leg was injured, so he couldn’t stop him. The two children were easily shoved to the ground.
Panicking, Yang Tiehua rushed into the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and ran out. “Let go of my mother-in-law right now, or I’ll chop you to death, you toad!”
The blade flashed, and Old Shen fell backward onto the ground in fright. “Y-you’re crazy! If you dare touch me, I’ll have you executed!”
“If you dare touch my mother-in-law, you won’t even live to eat a bullet!” Yang Tiehua advanced step by step, gripping the cleaver.
Old Shen was terrified out of his wits. “Ah! Stay away, you madwoman! Stay away! I won’t marry, I won’t marry!”
A foul smell suddenly spread through the air. Yang Tiehua covered her nose and stepped back, shielding Mother Fu behind her. “Get lost. The 800 yuan will be returned within three days. If you dare target my mother-in-law again, I’ll kill you!”
She waved the cleaver threateningly.
Old Shen scrambled away with the matchmaker, fleeing in panic.
The neighbors who had gathered to watch were stunned, whispering among themselves.
“Has Yang Tiehua changed her personality today?”
“I saw her secretly give money to Li Daniu the other day.”
“Could she be planning to sell her mother-in-law again? Take the money and elope with Li Daniu?”
Hearing these words, Yang Tiehua’s heart sank. She suddenly turned to look at Fu Ziheng.
Fu Ziheng’s gaze was icy, his entire body radiating anger, as if he wanted to devour her alive.