Zhang Xiaoying glared coldly at Madam Lin.
Madam Lin immediately shut up.
Zhang Xiaoying looked around and scoffed, "What are you staring at? When you haven't even sorted out your own messy affairs, you come to my house to act like some high and mighty official? If you really want to play the good Samaritan, why don't you scrape together some silver and give it to the Eldest of the Xu Family for a doctor?"
No sooner had she spoken than the villagers ran off as if in flight, no longer interested in watching the drama unfold.
What a joke, who would dare provoke the Xu Family's old lady, who was akin to a ruffian? Whoever got involved with her was bound to lose a layer of skin.
The Xu Family quieted down.
Zhang Xiaoying stared at Xu Qinglin and asked, "Still want to die?"
Xu Qinglin had been impulsive out of sheer desperation, but now that the rush had passed, he reverted back to his meek and timid self. How could he dare to contradict Zhang Xiaoying?
He stood with his head bowed, saying nothing.
Zhang Xiaoying snorted coldly, "What a disgraceful sight, aren't you going to come in quickly?"
With that, Zhang Xiaoying turned and walked into the house.
Xu Changsheng shook his head and followed her back inside.
Madam Lin rolled her eyes and hurried after them.
Seeing this, Madam Liang whispered to Xu Qinglin, "You misunderstood Mother; she gave me fifty wen."
Xu Qinglin's eyes widened, "Really?"
"Shh," Madam Liang signaled him to be silent, "Let's go back first, and you should sincerely apologize to Mother."
Remembering the reaction she had seen from her mother-in-law earlier in the room, Madam Liang hesitated for a moment but ultimately kept it to herself.
Zhang Xiaoying, who had sat down in the main hall, heard every word of the conversation between Madam Liang and Xu Qinglin.
It wasn't that she wanted to listen, but with her excellent hearing, she had no choice.
Once her sons had all entered, Zhang Xiaoying finally spoke, "Eldest, you've caused such a stir that the whole village is laughing at the Xu Family. Are you satisfied now? Since you think it's unfair, I'll make the decision to divide the household today, to spare any further accusations of me being an unfair old woman!"
"No!"
The instant Zhang Xiaoying stopped speaking, Xu Changsheng immediately objected.
"If we really split up the family, that would be the real joke in the village. Mother, you're still here; how can we possibly divide the family?" Xu Changsheng said urgently. If they split the family, who would work and make money to support his son's education?
It didn't matter to him how much Xu Qinglin made a fuss, but splitting the family was out of the question!
Zhang Xiaoying glanced at Xu Changsheng and remained silent.
Madam Lin wiped away a tear, "Wencong has worked himself to death studying for the sake of whom? If he becomes successful, won't everyone benefit? Now you're acting as if Wencong's schooling has nothing to do with the Xu Family. If we split up, would he have the face to go to school? Mother, you are cutting off Wencong's future..."
"Enough!" Zhang Xiaoying couldn't stand Madam Lin's overly fake performance, her anger rising at the sight. She looked at the First Branch's family, their clothes patched and re-patched, while the Second Branch? Although not dressed much better, at least their clothes had no patches.
Living off the hard-earned money of the First Branch as if it were their due right, exploiting them without a second thought.
Although Xu Qinglin and his brothers were not her own children, the person in charge of this house was her, and she would no longer allow such things to happen!
"Will this ever end? Do you want to drive me, this old woman, to death before you're satisfied?" Zhang Xiaoying's words were sharp and fierce, "Either we split the family or you shut your mouths. Wencong has grown up; he doesn't need you both waiting on him in town. From now on, you two will stay in the village and work!"
"Mother..."
Xu Changsheng was alarmed.
"What, I have to serve you all, do I? I'll lay it out now, either we split up the family, or you listen to me obediently. Otherwise, let this old woman die to stop bothering your eyes!"
"Mom, what nonsense are you talking about? I realize my mistake and I'll never let greed cloud my judgment again." Xu Qinglin immediately knelt down, repeatedly kowtowing.
"Enough, who are you putting on this show for now? The whole village knows that this old woman is forcing you all to your deaths." Zhang Xiaoying didn't give Xu Qinglin any pleasant looks, and then she cooly turned her gaze to Xu Yunfei, who was quietly trying to sneak out to avoid the old mother's fury.
"Where do you think you are going?" Zhang Xiaoying asked ominously.
Upon hearing this, Xu Yunfei shivered, "Mom, I—I just have some things to discuss with Daniu."
"If you dare step half a foot outside this door today, I'll break your legs so you'll lie in bed for the rest of your life."
"Mom…"
"People from Second Branch, what time is it now? Why aren't you cooking yet? Do you expect me to do it for you?" Zhang Xiaoying didn't even glance at Xu Yunfei but spoke to Xu Changsheng and his wife, "After eating, Second Brother will go to the fields with Big Brother; Fourth, you go cut grass for the pigs."
"Mom, it's always Big Sister-in-law who..."
"If she doesn't cook, will you starve? Is there a rule about who should cook? Can't you see she's unsettled the baby? Our ancestors said that her baby is a boy. If anything happens to it, can you bear the responsibility?"
Madam Lin had never seen Zhang Xiaoying look so fierce, as if she could eat someone alive. All her grievances and reluctance didn't dare show themselves.
She finally understood; the old hag must've hit her head and gone crazy. If she said anything now and the old hag seriously divided up the family, how could she and her husband ever afford Wencong's education?
Madam Lin, with a bellyful of anger, headed to the kitchen.
"You go lie down on the bed, don't stand here pissing around; those who don't know might think this old woman is too harsh on you!" Zhang Xiaoying impatiently said to Mrs. Liang, then instructed Xu Qinglin, "Go catch a chicken and slaughter it. Make it nice; I need to burn some papers at your father's grave later."
"Mom, does that mean we get to eat chicken?" Xu Yunfei swallowed his saliva, his eyes gleaming, "I want two chicken legs…"
"You won't even get the chicken's butt, isn't Big Brother going? Do you need me to hit you before you move?" Zhang Xiaoying tapped her cane forcefully.
Even though Xu Qinglin had many unanswered questions, he didn't dare to ask them now.
Only Mrs. Liang was thinking about Zhang Xiaoying's earlier reaction.
In a low voice, she told Xu Qinglin about what she had seen earlier.
Xu Qinglin was stunned, "Could it be that when Mom fainted, Dad and the ancestors all manifested?"
Otherwise, why would his mom change her nature and decide to slaughter the chickens she regarded as treasures?
"Let's not anger Mom during this time. I'm going to lie down. Head of the family, you better get to work," Mrs. Liang urged.
Xu Changsheng also heard Mrs. Liang's words and looked at her with suspicion, "Big Sister-in-law, some things should not be said lightly!"
"If there's a single lie in what I said, may my child and I never die a good death!" Mrs. Liang mustered the courage to retort to Xu Changsheng.
For a moment, Xu Changsheng was at a loss for words.
He remembered what Zhang Xiaoying had said earlier: "Our ancestors said that her child is a boy."
Could it be that Mother really did bump into something evil and see a ghost? How else could he explain her behavior right now? And now she's about to kill chickens to burn papers at the grave of their dead father... Xu Changsheng thought to himself.
Xu Changsheng didn't dare say anything more and hurried off to work.
Xu Qinglin and his brothers, having grown up as traditional farmers, also didn't dare to suspect their own mother could be possessed by lonely ghosts or wayward spirits, seeing as her tone and everything else seemed no different from usual. At most, they suspected she had seen something when she had passed out.
Zhang Xiaoying was well aware of the noises outside but had no time to concern herself with them.
The original owner of the body had died from hitting her head, and ever since Zhang Xiaoying had woken up, her head had been killing her.
She bolted the door and took out a set of silver needles from her space.