So, she whispered, "Think of a way to get Juhua and Changling to run into each other..."
She refused to say any more. ’You can figure out the rest yourself,’ she thought. ’If you co up with a plan, you’ll get a good daughter-in-law for nothing, and it’ll be worth the effort. If you can’t, I can’t say anything else, or I’ll end up in another fight with the Yang Family.’
She watched Granny Hua sink into deep thought, a secret hope blooming within her. ’If she really figures out a way, the Zheng Family will be utterly disgraced.’ The thought made her heart leap with glee.
She would never forget the scene that autumn at the edge of the village. During her argunt with the Yang Family, Juhua had stared at her coldly and whispered in her ear, "Your daughter was the one who ca looking for my brother." If that ugly girl were discovered to be involved with Li Changliang, just what kind of look would be on the faces of the Yang Family then?
Little Shitou, perched atop the wall, was shocked and furious. He had been studying for more than a year and was much more worldly-wise now. Of course he understood what Liu’er’s mother ant by "run into each other." After all, hadn’t Brother Qingmu and Sister Liu’er "run into each other" just like that that year?
’Those two damned won,’ he fud. ’I’m going to teach them a lesson!’
Granny Hua frowned and puzzled over it for a mont before asking Liu’er’s mother imploringly, "I can’t think of any good ideas. Juhua barely ever leaves her house, and she hardly ever crosses paths with my Changling. What are we supposed to do? Liu’er’s mother, we’ve known each other for decades. Please, help think of sothing. I’ll be sure to rember this favor."
Liu’er’s mother sneered inwardly. ’What a joke. What kind of friendship is there between us?’
She put on a laugh. "I was just making a suggestion. Did you really think I had so brilliant plan? Like you said, Juhua never goes out, so how could the two of them possibly et? Sigh, I’d like to help, but I just can’t think of a good way. You’ll have to puzzle it out yourself. If you co up with sothing, it’s not just about getting a good daughter-in-law. You’d be doing Juhua a favor, too—no one would ever be able to say she can’t find a husband."
Granny Hua sighed, rubbing her hands together in the sunlight. "Sigh! We’ll see," she said helplessly. "Things are about to get busy at ho. We have to build a house and help my son get married! Even if I did think of a plan, I wouldn’t have the ti to act on it."
Liu’er’s mother flattered her, "What’s there to worry about? You’re blessed with such good fortune, who can compare? You’re getting a wonderful daughter-in-law without even having to lift a finger."
Those words were just what Granny Hua wanted to hear. She was so pleased her eyes narrowed to slits, and she began a stream of humble protests, saying things about how izi was getting the short end of the stick.
Seeing the two of them start to chatter about unrelated matters, Little Shitou stopped listening and quietly slipped down from the wall.
Gou Dan imdiately rushed over, his face full of glee. He started to speak, but Little Shitou held up a hand to stop him. Shi Tou bent over to rub his numb legs and shook out his feet. Then he grabbed Gou Dan, and the two of them crept a good distance into Lin Zi before finally stopping, confident they were far from the courtyard wall.
The two of them ducked behind a large willow tree. "So?" Gou Dan asked impatiently. "What did that old hag say about my sister?"
The boy already saw Granny Hua as his sister izi’s mortal enemy. He assud she was plotting how she would tornt izi in the future—he’d heard plenty of stories about wicked mothers-in-law, though of course, he’d heard just as many about wicked daughters-in-law. But how could he ever think izi was the bad one? If soone had to be wicked, it was definitely going to be izi’s mother-in-law.
Little Shitou wasn’t as reckless as Gou Dan. He watched him for a mont and thought, ’It’s better not to tell him about this. He can’t keep his mouth shut, and if word gets out, it’ll be bad for Sister Juhua.’
So he frowned at Gou Dan and said, "That woman was complaining about your mother. She said your sister is already causing the family to have to split its property, even before she’s married. And she said that splitting is one thing, but they aren’t even doing it yet, and now she has to go to all the trouble of building another house..."
Gou Dan flew into a rage. His eyes bulged as he bellowed, "If they don’t build a house, where is my sister supposed to live? That damn hag..."
His voice bood as he got angry, and Little Shitou quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. He peeked out from behind the tree toward the Sun Family’s house and listened intently. Hearing nothing, he turned back and scolded, "Can’t you keep your voice down? You’re as brainless as that hag."
Gou Dan was not happy about being compared to Granny Hua. He puffed out his cheeks and pouted, refusing to speak.
Little Shitou gave him a sidelong glance. "Those two won are really obnoxious. We should think of a way to teach them a lesson. You dare?"
Gou Dan was overjoyed, his anger instantly forgotten. He had assud Little Shitou would say it was grown-ups’ business and they shouldn’t get involved, telling him to just go ho and talk to his mother. He never imagined he’d actually be willing to help teach that woman a lesson.
He craned his neck excitedly, his eyes wide and his eyebrows raised. "Why wouldn’t I dare? I was worried you wouldn’t want to help! So tell , what’s the plan?"
Little Shitou was worried that if Gou Dan told his mother, she’d run off to confront Granny Hua and blow their cover. So he warned him, "Don’t you tell your mom about this. It’ll only make her angry for no reason. We can teach them a lesson ourselves, and that’ll be that. Liu’er’s mother isn’t any good either. She was egging her on, so we need to give her a taste of her own dicine, too."
Gou Dan nodded eagerly. ’Mom’s always saying I’m a troublemaker and up to no good,’ he thought. ’This ti, I won’t let the grown-ups worry one bit. I’ll get so justice for my sister all by myself.’
He asked, "Deal. So what’s the plan?"
Little Shitou shot him an annoyed glare. "What’s the plan? Can’t you use your own brain for once instead of just asking ? It’s one thing that you don’t like to study, but if you can’t even think of a prank to pull on soone, you’re just pathetic. And to think you have a reputation for being a troublemaker! Isn’t pulling pranks exactly what troublemakers do?"
Gou Dan looked embarrassed. "Okay, I’ll think really hard," he said with a sheepish grin. He then furrowed his brow and began to think intently.
Little Shitou’s own eyes were darting back and forth. ’Now what kind of plan should we co up with?’ he wondered.
Suddenly, Gou Dan clapped his hands and laughed. "I know! We’ll put so manure in her cooking pot and dig up so earthworms to throw on her bed."
(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to co to qidian to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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