24
Breaking In
Gu Wenshu and the others returned home at half past six. After unloading the items tied to the back of the bicycle, Li Xiuran went to return it.
As soon as he left, Gu Wenshu noticed a little boy peeking into the yard from outside.
Xiao Ni’er’s eyes lit up when she saw the boy, and she toddled toward him with outstretched arms: “Gou Sheng Gege, Gou Sheng Gege, hug hug!”
Seeing this, Gou Sheng, who was outside the yard, worried that Xiao Ni’er might fall. Without concern for the adults present, he hurried forward and scooped her into his arms: “Xiao Ni’er, don’t run—you might fall.”
Xiao Ni’er giggled delightedly and, like presenting a treasure, took out the candy given by Tang Bo from her pocket and offered it to Gou Sheng Gege: “Eat, Gou Sheng Gege, eat candy.”
Sanbao also ran over, holding a few pieces of White Rabbit Creamy Candy in his hand: “Gou Sheng Gege, for you.”
Gou Sheng set Xiao Ni’er down and quickly stepped back, waving his hands: “No, Dad said we can’t take things from others. You’re little kids—you eat the candy. I’m grown up now; I don’t need candy.”
After speaking, he ruffled Xiao Ni’er’s head with a mature air.
Watching this scene, Gu Wenshu felt grateful for Gou Sheng’s protectiveness toward the children.
Yet her heart ached bitterly—he was still a child himself, yet he had to act like a little adult to guard the siblings.
She grabbed a handful of White Rabbit Creamy Candy from the bag and walked over to Gou Sheng: “If you won’t take the candy from Sanbao and Xiao Ni’er, then take it from Shenshen.”
She crouched down to meet the little adult’s gaze, her eyes sincere and a smile on her lips: “Before, Shenshen was wrong to hit Sanbao, Xiao Ni’er, and even you. From now on, Shenshen won’t do that anymore. You don’t have to believe me right away—just watch, okay?”
She could tell the child was highly wary; he had tensed up as she approached and even flashed a fierce little glare.
Not expecting the boy to trust her immediately, she simply stuffed the White Rabbit Creamy Candy into his pocket and asked with a smile, “Have you eaten yet?”
Gou Sheng retreated two steps, intending to take the candy out of his pocket.
Seeing this, Gu Wenshu quickly said, “If you take it out, don’t come play with Sanbao and Xiao Ni’er anymore.”
The little boy’s hand froze. He glared fiercely at Gu Wenshu, thinking this woman was truly wicked—daring to forbid him from playing with Sanbao and Xiao Ni’er.
Gu Wenshu chuckled at his helpless expression: “Xiu Ran Shushu bought a lot of White Rabbit Creamy Candy, so don’t worry that your little brother and sister will have none after giving some to you.”
Xiao Ni’er and Sanbao nodded in unison: “Lots and lots.”
Hearing this, the little boy finally nodded: “This morning, I saw Grandma Dabao and Dabao’s mother come and take your two chickens. Dabao’s uncle was carrying a bag behind them.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Wenshu turned and headed toward the chicken coop behind the house.
Discovering that the two big hens were indeed missing, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and she was shrouded in gloom.
She went back inside to check again. The Zheng Ting appeared normal, but the rooms were somewhat messy.
Clearly, someone had rummaged through them. She sneered, stepped forward, and deliberately messed up both her room and Li Xiuran’s room, even tearing the old clothes of the original owner and the children and throwing them on the floor.
Then she went to the kitchen and found that the cured meat, rice, and flour were all gone. She suddenly laughed: “They’ve really dug their own graves.”
I will make you understand that greed comes with a price.
She walked out of the yard and said to the little boy, “Stay here and help Shenshen look after Sanbao and Xiao Ni’er. Shenshen will be back soon.”
The little boy nodded repeatedly. Even if she hadn’t said anything, he would have helped take care of Sanbao and Xiao Ni’er.
Seeing his agreement, Gu Wenshu patted his shoulder. “Wait for Shenshen to come back and make you something delicious.”
After saying this, she headed out the gate.
Along the way, her face was dark and stormy, radiating an aura that suggested she was not to be trifled with.
Her space contained many, many eggs, as well as frozen chicken, so she wasn’t particularly heartbroken over the two hens.
But she refused to let the Lao Zhai group benefit from it.
She’d rather feed good food to dogs than give it to those worse-than-animals scum.
As she marched angrily toward Lao Zhai, many people noticed her, and those with a strong curiosity for drama followed along.
When Gu Wenshu reached Lao Zhai, the courtyard gate was already closed, and the aroma of chicken soup wafted from inside.
Furious, she kicked the gate open with a loud bang, startling the family who were eating inside.
Hearing their cheerful chatter and laughter only fueled her rage. She went to the backyard and saw their two hens still in the coop, confirming that her own two hens had been the ones eaten.
As she stepped out, Chen Hongzhen and Granny Li followed her. Granny Li angrily snapped, “What are you doing here? You’re not welcome in my house. Get lost!”
Gu Wenshu sneered. “To be so self-righteous after doing such a shameful deed—impressive, truly.”
With that, she pushed past Granny Li and Chen Hongzhen and strode into the Zheng Ting.
Well, well.
Even Li Mingyue and Li Mingjiang were home. This time, the whole family was truly gathered.
Seeing the chicken soup and meat in their bowls and the Li Family men glaring at her, she coldly laughed. “Enjoying the chicken you stole from my house?”
Li Mingjiang frowned, studying this third sister-in-law before him. She seemed different from before—back then, even when he had tried to enter her room with ill intentions, she never dared to speak to the family like this.
Was it because Third Brother had returned, making her feel she had support now?
The delicate and charming Li Mingyue frowned, casting a disgusted look at her third sister-in-law. Coldly, she said, “Third Sister-in-law, you’re talking nonsense. What do you mean, stealing your chicken? This is a chicken we bought from the county town.”
The Li Family members chimed in, all claiming the chicken was bought by Li Mingyue from the county town.
Old Mr. Li said sternly, “Third Daughter-in-Law, you’ve already moved out. Don’t act so impulsively or go too far. Otherwise, don’t expect our help if you run into trouble later.”
Was that a threat?
Gu Wenshu paid no mind to Old Mr. Li’s words. Listening to their denials, one after another, all trying to claim the hen wasn’t taken from her house, she let out a cold laugh. She stepped forward and flipped the entire table over. Instantly, the food, bowls, and dishes scattered across the floor, some even splattering onto them.
Chaos erupted in the room, and several children burst into tears.
Li Mingyue, seeing her new clothes stained, turned pale and shouted, “Gu Wenshu, you lunatic! You’ve ruined my clothes!”
With that, she lunged at Gu Wenshu, ready to brawl.
Gu Wenshu pinned the person against the wall with a swift motion. She glared fiercely at the Li Brothers who were about to step in and assist, declaring sharply, “Witnesses saw A Niang and Eldest Sister-in-Law leaving my house this morning carrying two chickens, while Li Mingjiang followed behind you all with a sack of goods. Yet you still stubbornly deny it!”
“Not only did you steal my chickens, but you also took all the rice, flour, and cured meat from my kitchen.” Her gaze swept over the crowd. “Every room in my house has been turned upside down—mine and the children’s clothes were torn to shreds and thrown on the floor.”
As she spoke, Gu Wenshu’s eyes reddened with anguish. “Forget the food and clothes, but you even took the 1,500 yuan we had hidden at home.”
“That was our family’s entire savings—including the money for Xiuran’s medical treatment and medicine. You’re trying to drive us to our graves.”
Hearing this, the onlookers erupted in an uproar.
They began condemning the Li Family from Lao Zhai, accusing them of crossing the line and leaving the third branch with no means to survive.