"If there’s an issue, let’s talk about the issue, Zhizhi and Manman are not your biological granddaughters. What good does it do you to curse them like this? Besides, my daughter has never done anything wrong. Your malicious words are pointless and only curse the one who actually commits misdeeds,"
Lady Zhang wasn’t one to curse in the streets, nor would she use foul or venomous language. This often resulted in a disadvantage in quarrels, losing the edge in ferocity. However, ard with righteousness and confidence, the words she blurted out in anger carried significant weight.
Her words sounded different to Lady Zhou, however. From Lady Zhou’s perspective, Lady Zhang was clearly accusing her and Lian Xiuxiu of wrongdoing and cursing them. This was utterly unacceptable. Lady Zhang, as a daughter-in-law, had such a bad conscience as to dare to curse her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
"You conscienceless wretch, aren’t you afraid of being fried in oil? You even dare to curse ,"
Lady Zhou cursed incessantly, neither Lady Zhang, Lian Zhizhi, nor Lian Manman wanting to engage in a shouting match with her.
"Mother, go visit our neighbors and talk about what just happened, let everyone judge the situation for us," Lian Manman advised Lady Zhang.
"Right, since there’s no reasoning at ho, I’ll go and talk about it outside," Lady Zhang said as she started to head out.
"Stop right there, co back here!" Lady Zhou hastily intercepted her. It didn’t matter much at ho where she was the authority, but she was well aware that she couldn’t control what people outside would say. She knew this incident, if spread, would tarnish both Lian Xiuxiu’s and her own reputations.
Lian Xiuxiu was the sa age and even a bit older than Lian Zhizhi, and stood higher in the family hierarchy. But now, while soone actively sought Lian Zhizhi as a bride, there had yet to be a marriage proposal for Lian Xiuxiu. Fifteen or sixteen was the pri age for such discussions, and they couldn’t afford to stain Lian Xiuxiu’s reputation any further.
Seeing Lady Zhou trying to stop Lady Zhang, Lian Manman understood that Lady Zhou was well aware of what was right and wrong. To put it bluntly, Lady Zhou was just abusing her seniority, insisting she was right even when she wasn’t.
"Oh, Sister-in-law Xiu E, why aren’t you resting inside?" Lian Manman pivoted on the spot upon noticing Zhao Xiue and Lady He nearby, then said, "I just saw Uncle Zhao in town. He asked if you were well and said he was planning to visit you."
Lady Zhou got distracted by Lian Manman’s sudden interjection and turned her head to see Lady He and Zhao Xiue standing beside her.
Lady Zhou and Zhao Xiue were enemies. One could only imagine how Zhao Xiue must have felt watching the quarrel involving Lady Zhou and Lady Zhang.
Observing Zhao Xiue and Lady He, Lady Zhou grew increasingly certain that they both seed... far too pleased. In her anger, she had given Zhao Xiue an opportunity to relish the drama!
Lady Zhang and her daughters were no longer the sa as before; they had grown bolder. If Lady Zhou continued to berate them, Lady Zhang would certainly talk to the villagers, and Zhao Xiue would enjoy the spectacle. With this in mind, Lady Zhou imdiately dropped the idea of continuing the confrontation.
"What are you two dawdling here for, not cooking? Are you waiting for to coddle you both like deities?" Lady Zhou scolded Lady He and Zhao Xiue.
Lady He and Zhao Xiue had been enjoying the scene, but were taken aback when Lady Zhou suddenly turned on them.
Lady Zhou proceeded to pull Lian Xiuxiu into the house.
Lady Zhang, Lian Zhizhi, and Lian Manman also turned to head back inside.
"Mother, Manman splashed water all over for no reason," Lian Xiuxiu complained, grabbing hold of Lady Zhou, unwilling to let the matter drop just like that.
Lady Zhou, held back by Lian Xiuxiu, glanced around and noticed soone entering through the gate. A thought struck her and she instantly changed her tactic, throwing herself at Lady Zhang and wailing, "What sins have I committed in my past lives to neither birth a good son nor marry into a good family? In front of others you act like saints, but behind their backs you bully to death. You want to fight, don’t you? Go ahead, beat to death, why don’t you?"
The situation had seed resolved, so why was Lady Zhou launching a counterattack? Startled, Lady Zhang quickly retreated indoors with Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman.
"Mother, what’s going on? Why are you doing this?" A man rushed over, embracing Lady Zhou.
The newcor was none other than Lian Shouxin, with Wu Lang and Xiao Qi also following, though the two children didn’t approach Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhou and instead hurried over to Lady Zhang and her daughters.
"Father, what’s going on here? Eh? Why is my sister’s clothes all wet?"
"You still acknowledge as your mother? You heartless brute, look at how your sisters have been bullied by them! You just stand by them watching your mother and little sister being tornted to death..." Lady Zhou ranted, pounding on Lian Shouxin.
With Lian Shouxin’s arrival, particularly pleased and feeling more supported was Lady Zhou.
"Mother, what exactly happened? Over the years, the children’s mother hasn’t been that kind of person," Lian Shouxin said, also noting that both Lian Xiuxiu and Lian Zhizhi were soaking wet, realizing sothing must have happened.
"Father," to prevent Lady Zhou from distorting the truth, Lian Manman quickly relayed the events to Lian Shouxin.
But Lian Manman forgot one thing: with her children and grandchildren, Lady Zhou never cared about right and wrong. Filial piety was the ultimate virtue, and all other matters were negligible in comparison. A grand sense of filial duty overshadowed everything else in the Lian Family Courtyard.
"What are you saying, that I’m falsely accusing her?" Lady Zhou exploded, "You ungrateful wretch, after I took care of you, feeding and nursing you for three years... The milk money... Paying for your dicine..."
Lady Zhou rambled on, and Lian Shouxin’s face grew redder and redder.
***...**
First update, seeking support. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welco to vote for it at qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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