Qiao Suiman followed Zhou Shuifen back home. Just as they stepped out of the crowd, Chen Xuesheng approached from the side and asked, “Xiao Man, what happened? Did Aunt Lin hit you?”
Earlier, someone went to the Chen family to buy vegetable seeds. His mother told him to pack them up, but by the time he finished, she was gone, leaving only the aunt who bought the seeds outside the courtyard gate. After handing over the seeds, he closed the gate and went to see what was happening. As soon as he got close to the crowd, he heard people talking about how Lin Xiuhua had gone to the Qiao family to cause trouble, and now he was seething with anger.
“Why are you crying? Did she hurt you? That bitch is too much!”
Qiao Suiman sniffled, his voice still shaky from crying. “I’m fine. My brother got hit, and his head’s bleeding. She even tried to hit Qin Yu-ge, but my brother shoved her away.” His voice wasn’t too loud, but it was just enough for the onlookers behind them to hear.
“That bitch!” Zhou Shuifen cursed.
When the three of them got back to the Qiao residence, they saw some broken dishes strewn across the floor and a mess of tables and chairs in the main room. It was easy to imagine what had happened.
Qiao Suiman straightened the furniture and picked up the broken porcelain pieces. He said to Zhou Shuifen, “Aunt Shuifen, I’m really fine. You should go back and take care of your own work. Uncle Ping will be home soon for dinner.”
“It’s not urgent. That wretched woman definitely had ill intentions when she proposed that match for you. If your brother hadn’t lashed out this time, people would think your family is easy to bully.”
“Yeah, I know.” Qiao Suiman paused, then added, “She was talking about her nephew from her maiden family[mfn]娘家 – refers to a married woman’s natal family or parents/siblings she was born into, as opposed to her husband’s family[/mfn], that Lin fellow from Hexi Village.”
Chen Xuesheng cursed as his eyes grew wide. “Shameless! Her nephew is a good-for-nothing who spends his days gambling, drinking, and beating people. Everyone in the nearby villages knows that. How dare she bring it up? No wonder Ruifeng-ge and Qin Yu-ge were so furious. Your father was—”
Seeing that Chen Xuesheng was speaking recklessly, Zhou Shuifen cut in, “That black-hearted wretch! She’s so eager to please her maiden family that she’d use you as a bargaining chip. Isn’t that just tormenting you? Utterly shameless!”
Zhou Shuifen was also furious. Lin Xiuhua treated her nephew like a golden treasure, but did she really expect others to do the same?
“My brother would never agree. I bet she didn’t even mention this to Uncle Wang. She’ll be in trouble when she gets back.” Qiao Suiman said softly, “She deserves to be taught a lesson.”
Old Wang never liked the Lin family to begin with. Now that things had escalated, and considering how Lin Xiuhua had always badmouthed their family behind their backs, they have every right to settle the score.
Considering the time, Chen Ping would probably be home soon. Seeing that Qiao Suiman already calmed down, Zhou Shuifen told Chen Xuesheng to stay and keep him company while she went home to cook.
“Are you sure she didn’t hit you?” Chen Xuesheng still doubted.
“She really didn’t. She just cursed at me a bit, same as before. It’s nothing.” Qiao Suiman replied, tossing the broken porcelain pieces away.
“Then why were you crying so hard earlier? I thought you were just putting on a brave face.”
“With so many people watching, of course I had to cry a little. Otherwise, how would outsiders know I’d been wronged? Then all that cursing would’ve been for nothing.”
Qiao Suiman sighed. Though his tears were mostly an act, he was deeply troubled by the marriage issue. His brother’s kindness was one thing, but staying unmarried indefinitely wasn’t good either. Once his brother and brother-in-law had children, expenses would only increase. He couldn’t keep burdening them forever.
He didn’t voice these thoughts to Chen Xuesheng. Sharing them would only spread the worry, and Qiao Suiman was already frustrated enough. He didn’t want to dwell on it.
“I know you are clever. Now, no matter how much Aunt Lin badmouths your family, no one will believe her. Going to your house to make a scene and then slandering you behind your back? Tsk, how despicable.”
Chen Xuesheng chuckled, looking even happier than Qiao Suiman. “The Wang family is distantly related to Wang Qi’s family. She’s always telling Wang Qi’s parents that I’m incompetent and can’t manage a household. Pah! As if she’s any better. She just funnels everything back to her own family[mfn]natal or maiden family[/mfn]!”
“She’s always spouting nonsense and making up things out of thin air. Uncle and Aunt Wang won’t listen to her. Besides, no matter what you’re like, Wang Qi-ge only wants to marry you.”
Qiao Suiman let out a light laugh and blinked teasingly at Chen Xuesheng.
His own marriage prospects were bleak, but he was genuinely happy for his best friend who had grown up with Wang Qi and shared mutual affection.
“You’re mocking me! There’s nothing strange about him liking me. I’m amazing, after all. I will find you a match too, then we’ll see if you still dare to tease me.”
With that, Chen Xuesheng reached out to tickle Qiao Suiman’s waist. Qiao Suiman was extremely ticklish, and today was no exception.
“Ah! I was wrong! Please, have mercy and spare this lowly one! Don’t—don’t tickle me anymore, it’s too much!”
“Hmph, no running! Let me teach you a lesson. See if you’ll still laugh at me!”
Their playful scuffle filled the Qiao courtyard with laughter. Zhou Shuifen, who’s been cooking next door, heard them and smiled to herself. “Those two kids.”
—
Meanwhile, at the Wang household.
Li Yue, the daughter-in-law, had cooked dinner. Several people at home were already eating, but there was no sign of her mother-in-law.
About an hour ago, she only mentioned she was heading out, but declined to say where. Li Yue grumbled to herself. Li Yue grumbled to herself. It was time for dinner and she still hadn’t come back. She would complain again if the food ran short.
“Sister-in-law, where’s my Mother? She’s not at the table, yet you’ve already started eating? How laughable.”
Wang Ling’er walked to the table leisurely and sat down, picking up a pair of chopsticks. She raised an eyebrow and shot Li Yue a mocking glance.
Li Yue was used to this. She narrowed her eyes slightly as she saw that neither her father-in-law Wang Qing nor her husband Wang Ming’er had spoken out. She set down her chopsticks calmly and stared straight at Wang Ling’er. “I’m not as lucky as you. I have to finish eating quickly and go to the field to work. Unlike you, who can’t carry a thing and can’t even lift a finger. Anyone would think you’re a young miss from town.”
“You… you’re just a peasant woman. Of course, you wouldn’t know these rules. It’s only because Mother is kind that she doesn’t make you follow the rules, yet you’ve grown shameless!”
“Oh? If you’re so well-versed in rules, why were you sent back? Could it be that the wealthy families in town don’t care for such rules? What a shame. You finally climbed onto a high branch and became a phoenix, only to turn back into a sparrow. It must be hard to adjust.”
Li Yue finished with a light laugh, her tone dripping with sarcasm, then picked up her chopsticks again to eat, watching Wang Linger out of the corner of her eye.
Sure enough, Wang Lin’ger slammed the table and furiously stood up. “You bitch! No matter what, I’m still better than you. How dare you eat at the same table as me? Get out! Get out! I’ll tell my brother to divorce you right now!”
“Tsk. You were just a concubine, yet you act like you were the main wife. You didn’t even have a proper title. How shameless.”
Wang Ling’er was nothing but a paper tiger. She had caught the young master’s eye with her tantrums and tears, but the moment the real wife lifted a finger, she was tossed out. And now she had the nerve to act high and mighty?
Li Yue then turned her gaze to Wang Ming’er beside her and said with a low laugh, “Divorce me? Would you dare? If you divorce me, do you think you’ll ever find another wife?”
“I never said anything like that. Why ask me?” Wang Ming’er sounded indifferent, as if he were numb to such quarrels.
Wang Ling’er, however, gritted her teeth. “Wang Ming’er, you spineless coward! Letting a woman walk all over you, are you even a man? How can you let her talk to me like this? You should beat her until she learns her place!”
With that, she rolled up her sleeves and raised her hand to slap Li Yue across the face.
“Enough!” Wang Qing, who had stayed silent until now, slammed the table and roared, “If you want to fight, do it somewhere else. Otherwise, don’t blame me for throwing you all out!”
“Father!” Wang Ling’er froze, then stomped her foot in frustration.
“Shut up! Do you think you’re some great figure? Since you’re back, work properly and stop embarrassing me. I’m already the laughingstock of the village!”
Wang Qing was fed up. Wang Linger’s stint as a rich man’s concubine had already caused enough gossip. People said he’d sold his daughter for money, that he was greedy beyond reason.
Fine, let them talk. At least when Wang Linger was a concubine, she could bring some silver home.
But after being sent back, she still acted like a spoiled young miss, spending money recklessly. The silver she earned was nearly gone, and she constantly picked fights, making life miserable for everyone.
Wang Ling’er’s face turned purple with rage. “Father! You… you’re scolding me too?”
Her nails dug into her palms as she raised her voice. “I brought home so much silver, and you didn’t hesitate to show off in front of others before! And now that I’m no longer useful, you think I’m an embarrassment?”
“Shout louder! Let the whole village know you were thrown back like trash! See if you still have any face left!”
“You didn’t call me shameless when I was sending money home! Now you’re saying I’m shameless? What kind of father are you?”
“You’re asking for a beating!” Wang Qing was obsessed with saving face. Though Wang Ling’er wasn’t wrong, he would never admit it.
Already exhausted from a morning of labor, he couldn’t stand the constant arguing during mealtime. His face darkened as he grabbed Wang Linger’s sleeve and dragged her aside.
Wang Ming’er called out after seeing this, “Father, just ignore her. She still thinks she’s a concubine. Let’s finish eating. We still have work in the fields.”
Seizing the chance to back down, Wang Qing only said coldly to Wang Lin’ger, “You’re not eating. Get back to your room, and don’t let me see you.”
“Fine! I don’t want to eat anyway!” Wang Ling’er clenched the hem of her clothes. Both she and Wang Ming’er had been beaten by Wang Qing before. Furious but afraid, she turned and stormed back to her room to vent her anger.
With the troublemaker gone, Li Yue finally felt some peace. She said, “Father, don’t be angry. That’s just how she is because Mother spoiled her. Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
“Then why did you provoke her? So noisy.” Wang Qing snapped.
This daughter-in-law was not a pushover either. Unfortunately, she had a relative who worked as a yayi[mfn]衙役 – a yamen runner, a low-ranking officer in ancient Chinese local government, bailiffs[/mfn]in the town. Offending her wasn’t an option, so he redirected his anger toward Lin Xiuhua. “That damned woman! Who knows where she’s gone off to? If I find out she’s taken anything from this house to the Lins again, I’ll break her legs!”
Just as he finished speaking, a noisy crowd gathered outside the courtyard gate.
“Heavens! They’re trying to kill me! There’s no justice in this world! May lightning strike those wretched creatures! Ming’er, Ming’er, come save your mother!”
Lin Xiuhua was being dragged to the Wang family’s front gate, shrieking at the top of her lungs without pause.
“Wang family, enough already! You caused a scene at someone else’s home, and now you’re still shouting like this?”
“She’s shouting like someone is bullying her. If we hadn’t seen it ourselves, we’d probably have believed her lies.”
“Hah! With her temper, who could possibly bully her? You’re lucky if you don’t get dragged into her mess!”
“Exactly. Hey, Old Wang, come out! You’ve really messed up this time.”
The family went out in confusion. Lin Xiuhua’s hair and clothes were disheveled, and Qin Yu and Qiao Ruifeng didn’t look much better. Qiao Ruifeng’s head was also still stained with blood, which is a frightening sight.
“Husband! My son! They’re trying to kill me!”
Seeing her family, Lin Xiuhua immediately shook off Qin Yu and rushed to Wang Ming’er’s side, clutching his sleeve. Pointing at Qiao Ruifeng and Qin Yu, she wailed to Wang Qing, “Husband, these two cursed brutes dared to hit me! They’re bullying our family!”
