Following closely behind her were villagers, eager to witness the spectacle.
The tale of Xu Dahai and Yun Tinglu had spread like wildfire, and everyone was curious. They wanted to see if Xu Fubao, the girl who narrowly escaped death and was said to be blessed with future fortune, was living well.
They were also keen to find out if Xu Dahai, a poor hunter, had truly bought a grand courtyard. Most of all, they wanted to confirm if Yun Tinglu had really married Xu Dahai and borne him three sons.
And, of course, everyone was eager to see whether the famed beauty of the village, Yun Tinglu, was still as stunning as ever.
"Xu Dahai, get out here! No wonder you didn't oppose splitting the family! You had silver hidden away! Hand it over!" Grandma Xu stormed into the courtyard, shouting at the top of her lungs.
Once inside, she saw the bright, spacious house and the clean, expansive courtyard. Her fury only grew.
This courtyard on the west side of the village had originally been built by a wealthy man as a summer retreat. After he moved to the capital, the courtyard had remained vacant, with no one daring to enter or live there.
Now, seeing such a fine property in Xu Dahai's hands, purchased for a mere ten taels of silver, Grandma Xu's heart bled.
How could that lowly son of hers possibly live in such a grand place? A house like this was meant for her and her precious son and daughter!
The villagers thought the same. How could a dirt-poor man like Xu Dahai deserve to live here?
Hearing the commotion, Yun Tinglu stepped out with the four children. Upon seeing Grandma Xu, she smiled mockingly. "Well, well, isn't it Ma Ju Hua? Here to scrounge off us again?"
Ma Ju Hua?
Grandma Xu's fury surged. How dare someone address her by name so brazenly! And it was none other than Yun Tinglu, the very woman she had once driven away!
Who did she think she was?
"Get out of my son's house! I'm the one in charge here!" Grandma Xu seethed, ready to grab a stick and drive them all out.
But Yun Tinglu wasn't the least bit intimidated. "Oh, Ma Ju Hua, stop pretending. Your geese are dead, your pig's dead too. You insisted on splitting the family so Xu Dahai wouldn't share in the meat. And now there's an official document with the village chief stating you can't interfere in Xu Dahai's affairs. If you do, Xu Dahai has every right to report you to the authorities."
Xu Fubao stood beside Yun Tinglu, her tiny hand pointing in accusation. "My mother's right! You're just jealous that Daddy has a new house and want to take advantage of him! At your age, your face is thicker than a city wall—shameless!"
Yun Tinglu glanced down at the little girl, finding her fierce expression utterly adorable.
"Xu Fubao! What mother? Don't forget, your real mother is Song Xiangyu, not this woman!" Xu Junming stood with his hands on his hips, pointing at Xu Fubao.
Grandma Xu was on the verge of exploding, having never been so humiliated in her life.
"This is none of your business, you duck-billed brat!" Xu Fubao deliberately called him by his nickname, making him burst into tears on the spot.
He threw himself to the ground, wailing and thrashing about. "Ahhh! Grandma! The mute girl insulted me! Punish her, hit her, beat her!"
Seeing her beloved grandson cry, Grandma Xu grabbed a stick, ready to strike Xu Fubao.
"Stop crying and shut your mouth! If you keep this up, I'll go to the authorities and have you, your grandma, and your mother thrown in jail!" Yun Tinglu's roar silenced Xu Junming immediately.
The boy had never seen such a terrifying woman before. He scrambled to his feet and ran home without another word.
Xu Fubao, thoroughly impressed, gave Yun Tinglu a thumbs-up. "Mother, that was awesome!"
Yun Tinglu patted her on the head, returning the gesture. "Fubao, you're pretty awesome too!"
The mother-daughter duo began a mutual admiration session, neither paying any attention to Grandma Xu.
Grandma Xu, unable to bear the humiliation, mimicked her grandson, plopping onto the ground and wailing, "Oh, there's no justice in the world! My own son has deceived his poor mother! I can't live like this anymore!"
Unfazed, Yun Tinglu sat on a stone bench, holding Xu Fubao in her arms. Together, they watched Grandma Xu's performance, as if listening to an opera, completely engrossed.
The onlookers were left speechless. Yun Tinglu, it seemed, was still the same as ever—beautiful and fierce, even more so than before. And the way she dealt with Grandma Xu? Flawless.
After wailing for what felt like an eternity, Grandma Xu's throat was sore from crying.
"Yun Tinglu, I'm telling you now—you have to leave the Xu family! I've said before that I won't allow you into this household, and you'll never be allowed in! Xu Dahai is my son, so his property is mine. Get out of my house!" Grandma Xu finally stopped crying, laying out her demands clearly.
Only then did Yun Tinglu rise, setting Xu Fubao down.
"Ma Ju Hua, do you think the laws of Beilu Nation are a joke? That you can do whatever you please?" Yun Tinglu stepped forward.
Xu Fubao followed, taking the opportunity to add, "You can dream all you want. Dreams have everything."
Yun Tinglu continued, "Xu Dahai and I are legally married, registered with the village chief. This is my home, and I'm the one in charge here. If you don't leave, I'll report you to the authorities."
Xu Fubao chimed in again, "At your age, you've probably never seen the inside of a jail cell. You should take a look—it's quite the experience."
The mother-daughter duo played off each other perfectly, their serious tone unnerving Grandma Xu.
"You… you're lying! This is my son's house! You don't have the final say!" Though she tried to stand her ground, her voice trembled with fear.
"Go ahead, try me," Yun Tinglu said, stepping even closer.
Xu Fubao clenched her little fists and added, "You used to hit me and bully me because I couldn't speak. Now that I'm fine, if you don't leave, I'll hit you back!"
Facing Yun Tinglu's fierce gaze and Xu Fubao's fiery resolve, Grandma Xu felt like she was staring at ghosts!
Panicking, she scrambled to her feet and ran toward the gate, screaming, "Help! Ghosts! There are ghosts!"
The villagers hadn't even processed what had happened. Grandma Xu's pig-like squeals echoed through the village as she fled.
"All right, show's over. Everyone, head home. And if anyone dares cause trouble in the future, don't hesitate to find me. I've got some connections with the officials, and if anyone fancies a trip to jail, just let me know!" Yun Tinglu declared boldly, like a heroine from the tales.
The villagers: …
Yup, Yun Tinglu was still as fierce and stunning as ever.
And it seemed she treated Xu Fubao well too. That little girl was finally going to have a good life.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the crowd dispersed.
Once everyone had left, Xu Fubao sat on the stone bench, crossing her little legs. "Mother, you're amazing! They're all scared of you!"
Yun Tinglu smiled. "Such sweet words. What would you like to eat? Mother will make it for you."
Xu Fubao looked up at the clear blue sky. "I'd like eggs—wild eggs if possible. Fried would be delicious!"