"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Weixin hurriedly ran over, looking very anxious.
Madam Wang and Madam Liu were also extremely anxious as they asked, "How did you end up falling over? Is the child alright?"
When Young Madam Wang saw that everyone had arrived, she looked at Wunian with an upset expression and said, "Little Sister, I was kind enough to ask you to have your lunch first. Even if you don't appreciate it, you didn't have to push me over?! How did I offend you?"
This was great. Everyone turned to look at Wunian. Madam Wang even went forward and slapped her, sending her flying. One could imagine how much strength Madam Wang had used.
The thin and innocent Wunian was beaten to the ground. She felt as though there were flying insects buzzing in her head.
Young Madam Wang became anxious. Not because she was feeling sorry for Wunian. Rather she was worried that Madam Wang would scar Wunian's face and she would not be able to sell the girl for a good price.
She hurriedly said, "Grandma, don't hit Little Sister. I don't think she did it on purpose. If you're angry, just starve her for a few meals!"
Yuelan and Yuehong happened to see what had happened. They were already a little displeased when they heard their cousin-in-law maligning Wunian. Now that their cousin-in-law said this, they felt that she was really vicious.
If Wunian didn't have any food and had to continue doing so many chores, how could her body take it! However, they didn't dare to speak up, and Madam Ma wouldn't let them interfere either. Therefore, seeing the chaos, Madam Ma brought the children back to the north wing.
On the other hand, Madam Liu walked forward and kicked Wunian's thigh. She roared, "You b*tch. If anything happens to my grandson, I won't let you off. How can a few meals be enough? I'll starve you for at least three days."
Wunian lay on the ground without a chance to refute. She kept crying and repeatedly said, "It's not me, it's not me."
Tian Weixin carried Young Madam Wang in his arms, and Madam Wang and Madam Liu followed them back to Weixin's residence. Tian Zhuangzhu sat at the door and knocked on the threshold with his pipe. "Why are you still lying there! Hurry up and wash the dishes. When the dishes are done, go and collect the hogweed. As for your punishment, we'll go with what your eldest aunt decided, you're not allowed to eat for three days."
Wunian wiped her tears and got up. She washed the dishes and took a large vegetable basket to the field to collect hogweed.
"Three batches of pigs in the pigpen have come and gone. When will I be free?" Wunian thought.
She had not eaten breakfast since she woke up early in the morning to do the chores. Now, she did not even have lunch. The summer weather was hot, and Wunian carried a large vegetable basket as she walked along the ridge. She was lightheaded and her footsteps were unsteady. Many villagers who were in the fields early in the day asked when they saw her, "Wunian, what's wrong? Did you get a heat stroke?"
Wunian tried to be strong and told them that she was fine, and pushed herself to collect a basket of hogweed.
On her return journey, Wunian finally couldn't take it anymore and rolled into the ditch with the basket of hogweed that weighed more than her. It was by coincidence that the village chief, Tian Zheng, was passing by with a hoe and happened to spot Wunian rolling into the ditch.
Tian Zheng shouted, "Young lass Wunian, young lass Wunian, what's wrong?"
He lifted Wunian, but she was unconscious. A few villagers who were working nearby ran over. Someone suggested sending her home! She might be suffering from heatstroke, for it was a hot day, even adults could not withstand such heat, let alone a child.
Village Chief Tian Zheng felt that this was likely, so he carried Wunian back to the village.
When the group arrived at Tian Zhuangzhu's house with Wunian, they saw the women of the household sitting under a big tree outside the kitchen and chatting happily!
Village Chief Tian Zheng was not impressed and said solemnly, "Zhuang Zhu's family, what kind of family are you? You adults are resting at home in the shade and letting a child go out to work under the sun. As elders, don't you feel guilty?!"
Madam Wang stood up and said, "Yo! The village chief is here! What's wrong with our young lass?"
Madam Liu also said hypocritically, "What's wrong with the girl? Come, give her to me!"
The village chief said as he handed Wunian over to Madam Liu, "She was found unconscious in the ditch. If I hadn't passed by there, no one would have known even if she died!"
Madam Liu cursed silently, "You damned b*tch, do you think that just because you fainted in front of the village chief, you can have the village chief backing you up? Hmph, I always mean what I say."
She put on a concerned expression and exclaimed, "Aiyo! What's wrong? Wunian, Wunian." She turned around and said to the village chief, "I'll carry Wunian into the house to rest."
Madam Wang was also a cunning old fox. She said to the village chief and the villagers, "Aiya! This child is filial. When her sister left, she told the girl to be filial to us. The girl was told to rest at home for a while, but she wouldn't listen."