On the other side of the fence.
Liu Fengjiao and Sun-shi were in the kitchen busy making dinner.
Liu Fengjiao frowned and jabbed at the hearth pit with the fire poker.
She was annoyed — in all the years since she’d married into the Chen family, this was her first time entering the kitchen.
Before, the eldest and second branches took turns cooking and she only had to eat what was served. But today her mother-in-law actually said she must learn to stir-fry and cook, and from then on help Sun-shi in the kitchen.
She was not the type to do that kind of work — it felt deliberate harassment.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and she couldn’t help complaining.
“Second sister-in-law, don’t you think Mother is deliberately making life hard for us? She wants me to learn how to cook. I’ve never done this stuff — the sight of pots and bowls gives me a headache.”
Sun-shi rolled her eyes and snapped, “Fengjiao, don’t complain. Nobody is born to slave away. If it weren’t for your husband studying, would Mother have sold off Qing girl? If she hadn’t sold Qing girl, we wouldn’t be cutting ties and splitting the household now. All of this is because of your third branch — you just have to grit your teeth and endure it!”
Liu Fengjiao bristled at the taunt. “Don’t talk like that — it’s not like you don’t need to eat either.”
Sun-shi sneered, “Whatever. I never thought of selling someone’s daughter. Don’t act like everyone else is like your pair — treating your own daughters like treasures and then getting greedy about other people’s kids. I think splitting is right — better to keep money from ever being wasted on ungrateful wolves like your third branch.”
“You — you’re bullying me. I’ll tell Mother!” Liu Fengjiao threw the poker to the floor and stormed out of the kitchen.
Old Madam Chen was in the yard feeding the chickens.
Seeing the eldest son’s family bustling about, her hate burned and she ground her back teeth.
Her face went ashen as she cursed at the hens in the yard.
“You shameless lot — I won’t feed you. Let’s see how long you can hop about. Don’t think you’ll ever set foot in the Chen house again — starve, you ungrateful mongrels.”
Liu Fengjiao grew anxious.
If the eldest branch didn’t give in, her plan would be ruined.
She certainly didn’t want to be tied to the stove all day like Lin-shi and Sun-shi.
She stepped closer and said, frowning, “Mother, calm down. Don’t curse them. We’ve already written the severance. What about Butcher Li? The betrothal gift’s been taken — we can’t really take it back, can we?”
Old Madam Chen spat. “Take it back? Who said anything about returning it? The wedding day’s still ten days away — no rush. We’ll deal with it later.”
“Mother, this is urgent! Why aren’t you anxious? You could just scare them a bit — split the household and be done. Why cut ties too? If we cut ties, we’ll be neighbors like dogs and chickens, never speaking again. How will we ever marry off Qing girl? We’d be cutting off our own income!”
“Look at you all worked up. I’m no fool — I won’t move first unless I’m absolutely sure. Think about it: what can they do? A family of several people and only half a sack of rice bran — how many days can that last? I’m doing this to teach them a lesson. When they come crawling to beg me, I’ll make them suffer; if they dare refuse, I’ll disown them.” Old Madam Chen said it with deadly certainty, as if victory were guaranteed.
Liu Fengjiao still fretted. “Mother, you make sense, but what if they’re unscrupulous and secretly marry Qing girl off somewhere to get through the lean year? Then we’ll be embarrassed and have no remedy.”
“Don’t worry — they wouldn’t dare. If they did, we’ll ruin her reputation, spread filthy rumors, call her improper, and who’d want to marry a girl like that?” Old Madam Chen’s face turned vicious.
“Mother, that’s ruthless — they won’t escape your grip then!”
Just then Chen Ruolan shuffled out of the house, sleepy-eyed, yawning and stretching. “What are you all up to, making a racket so early? It’s annoying.”
Seeing her precious daughter awake, Liu Fengjiao pretended to glare. “Oh, my little lady — it’s already evening, not early morning. If you keep sleeping we’ll be in chaos. How can you still sleep?”
“Chaos? What chaos?” Chen Ruolan asked.
“Your eldest uncle’s been cut off — severed ties.”
“What? Severed ties?” Chen Ruolan’s almond eyes widened and she shouted, “Who came up with that dumb idea? Are they out of their minds? That’s basically trying to kill us. I’ll go make them pay!”
Old Madam Chen glared.
That granddaughter was reckless — always babbling nonsense without thinking.
Liu Fengjiao barely held back a laugh. “You silly girl, don’t talk nonsense. It was your grandmother who suggested cutting ties with your uncle.”
Chen Ruolan blushed and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, Grandma — I thought someone else was stirring trouble. Turns out you started it.”
“Ruolan, snap out of it and don’t blurt things.” Old Madam Chen waved her hand. If anyone else had said such things, she’d have beaten them half to death without pity — but it was her third branch’s child, so she restrained herself.
“Grandma, I’m hungry — I want something tasty.” At that moment a rich scent of meat wafted in and Chen Ruolan swallowed hard, greedy.
“Mmm, it smells so good. Grandma, did you stew meat?”
“What meat? It’s the white-eyed wolves next door stewing a young chicken.”
“What? They’re eating chicken?” Chen Ruolan glanced toward the chicken coop and immediately understood, stamping her foot with anger.
“Grandma, you’re getting more foolish with age. How could you give them the old hens? Now they’ll stew them and eat them, how will I get eggs later?”
“Don’t worry, Ruolan. In a few days your eldest uncle will be on his knees begging your grandma. Once that little white-eyed wolf is married off, I’ll buy you ten little chicks — you’ll never run out of eggs.”
“No! I want chicken now. I haven’t had meat in so long. Go get it back for me!”
Old Madam Chen looked helpless. “My little treasure, we’ve already cut ties with them. How can I beg them for food?”
“I don’t care. Whenever there was good food before, you always saved it for me. Today I want chicken!”
Liu Fengjiao watched her darling daughter drool and couldn’t ask Old Madam to embarrass herself. She tried to reason, “Ruolan, don’t act spoiled — you’re putting Grandma in an impossible position.”
Chen Ruolan slapped her lips, still craving. “No, I want something delicious today.”
“All right, all right, my precious granddaughter,” Old Madam Chen relented. “There are still a few eggs in Grandma’s cupboard. I’ll fry them for you to tide you over — is that good enough?”
Chen Ruolan pouted. “I want steamed egg custard too.”
“Fine, fine. Grandma promises. I’ll go fetch the eggs now.” Old Madam Chen turned and went back into the house.