"Why have you all gone off-topic? Aren't we supposed to be talking about the two young ones breaking off their engagement?
I heard the reason. Seems like the Liu kid is about to go official, looking to marry someone from the city, so he called off the engagement!"
"What? The Liu kid is really going to become a city person, huh? Pretty impressive, bet his salary isn't small either!"
It doesn't matter how much, he's going to be eating public-grain.
Gets a paycheck and coupons every month, the Liu family is different now.
No wonder Liu Guohui wanted to call off the engagement."
The women chattered incessantly, envy written all over their faces.
As soon as Wu Chunhua opened her mouth, the atmosphere turned sour.
"Hmph! As far as I see it, it serves the Lin family's bitch right for being dumped.
With her nerdy look, which young guy would like her?
And her mom isn't any better.
Apart from being ugly, she's cheap trash that acts like she's never seen a man in her life.
Her daughter being dumped is just karma for snatching someone else's man..."
The moment Wu Chunhua's spiteful words came out, a bucket of dirty water splashed onto her face.
"... Scram!"
The one who threw the water was an old woman.
With half-white short hair, roughly over 1.7 meters tall, she stood much taller than the other women in the brigade.
Equally thin with bright eyes.
She looked fierce, and her anger was enough to make one's heart tremble.
This was Lin Tang's own grandmother—Zhao Shuzhen.
As soon as Wu Chunhua saw her, she froze completely.
Didn't even dare to remove the vegetable leaves on her head.
Her mouth moved, but she didn't dare utter a word in retort.
Next instant, she hastily tried to say something nice, "Zha... Aunt Zhao, we were just joking, don't be angry..."
"A joke with your mother! I beat you up and say it's a joke, does that work?
Whose joke you're cracking is none of my business, just don't joke about the Lin family, or I'll show you what's what!"
Zhao Shuzhen was furious.
With a glare, she silenced everyone present.
Her good granddaughter was dumped out of the blue and then slandered by others.
Did these people think Zhao Shuzhen couldn't wield a knife anymore?!
Wu Chunhua licked her dry lips and managed a stiff smile.
"I was talking nonsense, Auntie, don't be mad, it's all because my mouth has no filter, you're a generous person, please don't hold it against me..."
Saying this, she slapped her mouth sharply a few times.
A perfectly meek gesture.
She had no choice but to do it.
Everyone in these ten miles and eight villages knew that Zhao Shuzhen used to be a big bandit.
Chopped people like watermelons.
A woman stronger than any man, who wouldn't be afraid?
Zhao Shuzhen glanced at the others and snorted coldly.
Too lazy to speak any further, she went back home.
A few gossiping women felt a chill in their hearts and exchanged looks before quickly scurrying off to their own homes.
Man, that was terrifying!
How on earth does Aunt Zhao hear so well?
When Wu Chunhua came to her senses, everyone had scattered.
She felt aggrieved, seething with hate and annoyance.
Thinking of her own honest lump of a husband at home, who couldn't even stand up for her, her eyes were bloodshot with anger.
It's all Li Xiuli's fault!
If not for her, her own life wouldn't have turned out like this mess.
Feeling choked with resentment, Wu Chunhua went home and, seeing Wang Zhaodi leisurely feeding the chickens, lost her temper and began to scold.
"Can't you do things a bit quicker? Feeding the chickens so slowly, do you think you're herding cows?
Always causing me trouble, what use is a maid like you?
You can't even work properly, and you're ugly too, not sure if you can even get married in the future.
I just hope I don't end up getting no bride price and having to pay out instead..."
Wu Chunhua looked at Wang Zhaodi's dark, thin face and her slightly swollen body, and a surge of intense repulsion welled up inside her.
She was not bad-looking; back in her day, she was considered a village beauty.
Who knew that giving birth to a daughter would result in such a plaything-like appearance?
She really just inherited all of Wang Daniu's flaws!
So dark and short, not to mention how ugly.
Even though Wu Chunhua doesn't like Lin Tang, she can't bring herself to say anything bad about Lin Tang's looks.
Even if she says she's not good-looking, it's purely out of jealousy.
How on earth did Li Xiuli, that ugly woman, give birth to such a fair and beautiful daughter?
It's simply infuriating!
Wang Zhaodi was mercilessly mocked by her mother, and the sense of grievance in her heart was beyond words.
She didn't want to be this ugly either!
Wang Zhaodi was extremely distressed but didn't dare to talk back at all.
If she dared to say a word, her mother's broom would come flying at her.
-
Lin Tang returned to the courtyard with her nephew.
Hearing the scolding and beating from next door, the aunt and nephew looked at each other.
Goudan whispered, "Little auntie, grandma said the family next door is full of troublemakers, we normal folks should stay away from them.
When you see them, you should also keep your distance.
They only bully the timid and fear the brave, they can't bully my dad and the others, so they'll bully you."
He didn't quite understand what "troublemaker" meant.
But since grandma always said it, he passed the advice on to his little auntie.
He might be young, but he was clear-headed.
That dark-faced sister next door didn't like his little auntie.
Lin Tang bemoaned inwardly at how weak she must seem in her nephew's eyes.
Now even a child was starting to worry about her.
Shameful!
"I know, don't worry," she said.
After they had spoken for a bit, Li's mother came out from the house.
Seeing the firewood on Lin Tang's back, she quickly walked over and took it from her.
"Tangtang, you're still recovering, why did you go out?
Your brother went out to look for you, didn't you bump into him and Goudan?"
Lin Tang hadn't expected her mother to come back so soon and averted her eyes, smiling softly.
"I was just walking around the base of the mountain, I took a shortcut with Goudan, we must have gone a different way than my brother."
Li Xiuli could see that she was feeling guilty and gently tapped Lin Tang's forehead.
"You, alright, I won't say anything more, as long as you're fine.
Be careful these days, take Goudan with you wherever you go."
With that, she looked at Goudan.
"Goudan, your little auntie's head wound is still serious.
Stick with your little auntie for the next few days, don't let anyone bully her again.
If you do a good job, grandma will steam some eggs for you in a few days."
Goudan's eyes sparkled, and he puffed out his little chest.
"Grandma, don't worry, I'll definitely take good care of my little auntie," he declared.
Thinking about the steamed eggs he had eaten at noon, the young boy's mouth was overflowing with drool.
His skinny face was filled with longing.
Li Xiuli didn't notice, feeling the basket in her hands was a bit heavy.
"What's in this basket? Why does it feel a bit heavy?"
It was then that Goudan remembered that his little auntie had found some meat, his eyes and brows unable to hide his joy, he whispered excitedly:
"… Grandma, it's meat."
Could it be that grandma would let him eat an extra piece of meat?
Li's mother looked at him as if he were crazy.
Goodness gracious!
The grandson is driven mad by his craving for meat.
Meat, indeed?
She too wanted to eat meat, who doesn't these days?
But dreaming is faster.
Goudan, seeing his grandma's disbelief, became anxious and decided to let his actions do the talking.
"...Don't believe me? I'll show you."