Pei Qin snorted coldly, looking disdainfully at Pei Wenbo and Lady Chen's group, "Stealing credit? Rascals?"
Lady Fang couldn't help but cry a river of tears.
Pei Wenbo's little face twisted in ugliness as he sat on the ground, kicking his legs and wailing, "It was me who found it! I found it! That wild bastard is lying! You all are the shameless ones, trying to steal my pigeon! I won't have it! I won't have it!"
Lady Chen also howled and scolded, urging her son Pei Wenbo to get up, "Er Lang, the ground is cold!"
Lady Zhu turned around and took a wicker stick from behind the door.
"You dare hit someone and try it!" Pei Qin glared furiously.
"You... His father, look! Look!" Lady Zhu, having been glared at, felt a chill in her heart and turned to find Old Pei.
Old Pei's face was stormy and livid with rage, and with a loud bang, he slapped the table, "Won't you just let there be peace! Is this ruckus ever going to end?!"
Pei Qin said with scorn, "Thinking that if I exchange those two acres for silver to fund your grandson's education, you will treat me better! Stop pretending to be fair and impartial when you actually don't consider us at all, constantly oppressing us! Otherwise, I'll turn your world upside down!"
"Qinqin!?" Lady Fang cried out, begging her to stop speaking. Without the Pei family, they really had nowhere to go, no way to survive!
"Big sister, have you gone mad!?" Si Ya said accusingly and irritably, pushing Pei Qin.
"Shut up!" Pei Qin turned her head and snapped at her.
Si Ya was startled by her rebuke and felt a strange surge of emotion within her. Yet swiftly, she grew even more annoyed and resentful. With things turning out this way, once she was married off to live the good life, what would become of the rest of them left at home? Could they even survive?
Lady Chen was so annoyed she was grinding her teeth, wishing she could tear Pei Qin to shreds.
Lady Zhu had a fierce gleam in her eyes, her face darkened with malice.
Old Pei's aged face turned from red to black to blue, with an expression so dark it seemed it could drip water. His piercing gaze clashed with Pei Qin's.
Pei Qin was not intimidated in the least, looking back at him with contempt and mockery, exerting a pressure befitting someone of higher status.
For a moment, Old Pei felt an oppressive force bearing down on him, glancing at Pei Wendong and then at Pei Wenbo and Lady Chen. After a while, he barked, "Enough of the noise! Eat! What's all the fuss about over such trivial matters? You're all grown up, yet can't see the bigger picture!"
The future of his eldest grandson was enough for him to want to brush this incident aside.
Lady Chen gnashed her teeth in hatred, but with Old Pei already having spoken, if they didn't marry Pei Qin off to Qian Dog, not to mention two acres of land for dowry, they feared even Dalang's family might not offer half an acre. For the sake of her eldest son, for two acres of land and twelve taels of silver, Lady Chen endured and patted her younger son on the back, signaling him to stop his fuss.
Pei Wenbo was unwilling and continued to cry.
Lady Zhu also understood what mattered most and brought the pigeon to Pei Wenbo, coaxing him warmly, "Grandma will roast this pigeon for you to eat! Er Lang, stop crying now, the ground is cold. Quick, get up, ahh!"
As soon as there was talk of roasting the pigeon for him, and with Lady Chen giving him meaningful looks, Pei Wenbo stopped crying.
Lady Zhu held the pigeon and cast a dark glance toward Lady Fang.
Lady Fang moved her lips, took the pigeon, and went to prepare it.
Pei Qin watched and grabbed a large bowl, reaching for the basket of buns.
Lady Zhu stretched out her hand and smacked it down on Pei Qin's hand, "Who let you take them without permission!"
Pei Qin dodged and looked at her coldly.
Ordinarily, the sisters Pei Qin weren't allowed to eat at the table, but they were still expected to serve all the steamed buns and food on the table, after which Lady Zhu would distribute them.
Lady Zhu felt puzzled internally, wondering why Da Ya was acting so brazen today of all days. She had been so quiet before but was now defying even her elders! Seeing her with San Ya and Si Ya, alongside Wendong, Lady Zhu took a bun for each of the three and gave one to San Ya and Si Ya, and one to Wendong. When it came to Pei Qin, she took a bun, broke it in half and gave her only one half, putting the other half back in the basket. Lady Fang? She got nothing.