Chapter 171:
In the afternoon, Li Sanmao went to catch loaches, and Miaomiao carried the pliers and followed along.
Luo Zhi’er cleaned the stove and kitchen spotless, and scattered the flower seeds she bought while strolling around town yesterday in the garden plot.
Yesterday she mentioned to Ye Beiyao replacing termite mushroom oil with scallion oil, so now she didn’t need to go up the mountain to pick mushrooms, and thus had a bit of free time.
Besides the garden plot, she also scattered some flower seeds she liked along both sides of the road leading to their door, and covered them with soil.
She tidied up and redesigned the spot for baking bread, leveled the ground smooth, and planned to instruct Li Sanmao to build a thatched shed there with her when he returned in the afternoon.
The morning incident had naturally passed. Seeing him busy working around and stably in his emotions while trying to please her, even though she had treated him that way, he hadn’t lost his temper.
Actually, thinking about it, she had been a bit overly sensitive. But she was Li Xi’er, and even though it was a small matter, she couldn’t accept others making decisions about her affairs without going through her.
No boundary.
On the way catching loaches, Li Sanmao met many villagers and greeted them all enthusiastically!
He ran into Zhao Genshu. “Uncle, heading up the slope to work?”
Zhao Genshu said,
“San Mao is back? What are you off to do?”
“Taking Miaomiao to catch some loaches.”
“That stuff is tasty, hehe, changing up the young maid’s food.”
“Yeah!”
Eating loaches and bullfrogs had already become popular in town, and villagers in the village were also catching and eating them, so it was no longer anything unusual!
Some turned and went into their yards upon seeing him, some nodded on the surface, probably not wanting any involvement with someone who had been in prison!
Some were still the same as usual. They thought openly about it—after all, it was Li Lei who caused the trouble. They had watched Li Sanmao grow up from childhood and knew his character well.
Whenever there was any issue, he would pitch in without ever complaining.
Walking along, he ran into Li Daniu who was pushing a chicken cart and preparing to head out.
Li Shi sat on the chicken cart, moaning nonstop under a quilt with a patchwork quilt cover. “Da Niu, what are you standing there stunned for? Hurry up and go! Mom’s leg hurts so much I can’t stand it!”
Li Shi had been shouting all night, her throat hoarse from yelling. After breakfast, she insisted Li Daniu push her to the doctor in town to get checked.
The bugs on her leg had been killed, and the seven-day wind outbreak period had passed, but it kept oozing pus and stinking. For some reason, bowl-sized abscesses had also appeared on her buttocks and back, oozing pus and fluid.
The painkillers at home were all used up, and it really hurt too much.
Wherever she went along the road, pus flowed the whole way, stinking to high heaven, with flies buzzing around. Her bedroom already stank so badly no one could go in.
Next door, Old Zheng Woman’s family kept their gate tightly shut. The stench was so overwhelming they couldn’t breathe, and could only eat meals with the door closed.
Flies buzzed everywhere around the yard perimeter, and they didn’t dare hang food or clothing out to dry.
“Ouch, ouch! That damned Luo Zhi’er really killed this old lady! It’s all your fault, you useless brat—can’t even handle a wife handed to you on a platter.”
“Yes, yes, it’s all my fault, Mom. Are you feeling any better?”
Li Shi squinted slightly. Feeling better? Was she about to die? She hadn’t slept well last night and could barely keep her eyes open.
She was plotting in her mind how to go ask Luo Zhi’er for silver to see a doctor again!
But hearing her man Li Sanmao was back, she hadn’t dared let Da Niu or Er Niu go out these past few days.
Afraid they’d get caught and beaten—that wasn’t something to take lightly!
Li Daniu saw the man standing ahead, eyes gleaming with beast-like ferocity as he stared at him, as if ready to crush him in one grip!
Little Miaomiao proudly held Li Sanmao’s hand, glaring at him with eyes full of intense anger and hostility.
It scared him so much his face drained of color, and he shrieked “Ah! Ah!” like a possessed gorilla, turning to frantically push the chicken cart back toward his house.
He turned the corner too sharply and nearly flung Li Shi to the ground. Li Shi gripped the handrail tightly but still got spun dizzy. “What are you doing, Da Niu?”
“Are you crazy?”
“Mom, San Mao, Zhi’er’s man, is here for revenge!”
“What?”
Li Daniu thought Li Sanmao had come to make trouble for him, afraid Li Sanmao would beat him, kill him, cripple him, or ruin him!
Li Shi thought the same. Li Daniu pushed Li Shi like a madman racing toward their yard, and once there, dumped Li Shi in the yard.
The chicken cart crashed to the ground with a “thud,” accompanied by Li Shi’s cry of alarm!
He himself trembled as he ran to the main hall, unlocked the door, and bolted it shut.
He peered out through the crack toward the door.
Li Shi fell off the chicken cart, her leg piercing with pain. Seeing Da Niu run off, she could only shout, “Er Niu, Er Niu, where the hell are you? Hurry and help Mom up!”
It wasn’t surprising Da Niu ran so fast—this Li Sanmao was not to be trifled with; he could punch a big cat to death without even panting.
Li Erniu, the fool, along with Old Three, had been locked in the main hall by Mom and Big Brother. Hearing Mom’s shouts, he stuck out his long tongue, anxious to unbolt the door and go out.
“Don’t.”
Li Shi shouted for a long time with no one coming to help her up. She turned pale with anger. “Fine, you little brat—Mom really raised you three debt-collecting ghosts for nothing. Can’t even count on you to care for me in old age. Now you’ve cost me my life!”
She looked up and saw Li Sanmao holding Miaomiao’s hand as they approached their yard, standing at the yard entrance coldly watching her fallen on the ground, helpless as a chicken.
“You, you don’t come over.”
Li Shi shouted in terror.
Li Sanmao lifted his foot and slowly approached, standing over her, looking down.
“Li Sanmao, you little brat, what are you going to do?”
Just as she said that, Li Shi wet her pants, the fishy stench making Li Sanmao wrinkle his brow.
“Aunt Li, what are you guilty of? I heard you went strutting to Old Li Family’s doorway not long ago to make a fuss? I came specially to ask about it!”
“It has nothing to do with me, you heard wrong.”
Li Sanmao snorted coldly.
“I, Li Sanmao, don’t like hitting women, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let anyone bully my wife and daughter. I’ll remember this debt for now!”
“I dare not! I won’t dare again!!!”
She groveled on the ground, begging for mercy like a homeless dog.
“Hmph! I’m just here to tell you and Li Daniu that Luo Zhi’er is my Li Sanmao’s wife. The name Zhi’er isn’t for any fool or dolt to casually call. Whoever dares have crooked ideas about her, watch out—they’ll end up just like this!”
With that, he smashed the dilapidated, aged chicken cart behind her to pieces with one punch! “Remember! I’ll crush it to bits!”
The cart body shattered into pieces scattering everywhere, exploding all around with a huge crash as Li Daniu slumped behind the door.
Next door, Old Zheng Woman’s family gate suddenly opened, two heads poking out from behind the door.
Seeing it was Luo Zhi’er’s man Li Sanmao come for revenge, Zheng Da Niang’s eyes flickered. “Oh, oh, it’s San Mao? Hehe, you’re here? Hehe!”
“Aunt Zheng, sorry for the disturbance!”
“Hehe, no trouble at all. We were just eating breakfast. You carry on, I’ll head back in. I don’t know anything, hehe!”
The door slammed shut with a bang.
Li Sanmao picked up the wooden bucket and took Miaomiao away. Li Shi huddled on the ground, trembling and sobbing, extremely regretful.
Zheng Da Niang’s young daughter, Zhao Fengjiao, had a glint of admiration in her eyes, her eyeballs rolling.
“Mom, what is Big Brother San Mao off to do?”
“No idea. Carrying a wooden bucket with Miaomiao—probably off to catch frogs and loaches again to switch up her food!”
“You have to say, this couple really dotes on that little young maid Miaomiao!” Zheng Da Niang said.
In rural areas, who doesn’t favor boys over girls? Her own family did. She had been sidelined since childhood, not to mention her daughter Fengjiao who wasn’t favored by her mother-in-law, father-in-law, or the old man. But they were all gone now.
This Li Sanmao too—what was so great about that Luo Zhi’er?
Nearby, Zhao Fengjiao thought for a moment, spread her hands, and pushed the bowl onto the table. “Mom, I’m not eating anymore, I’m full. I’ll go gather pig feed for you today!”
“Yo, is the sun rising from the west? You could never get her to budge before, and today she’s volunteering!” Daughter-in-law Xu Caixia chimed in, holding little Bao.
“Mind your own business, hmph. Big Brother, keep your wife in check!”
Zhao Tiezhu stayed silent.
This Old Zheng Woman had sons and a daughter. Her old man died early, so she lived with the eldest family, and her still-young daughter stayed with her too.
The other two sons had also married. Next door, Li Shi had taken in a man, and that old man died early too—kind of kindred spirits in misfortune. But her children were all normal, while Li Shi’s were a mess!
Li Sanmao thought quite a bit along the way. Rural people say you see them everywhere when you look up or down, but when they bite, they don’t spit out the bone!
He felt he had never really understood his wife. Turns out she had a bit of a temper, and a big one at that.
Facing such wicked-minded people, it was normal for her to get angry, flare up, and change her temperament.
She must resent him.
Moreover, he had learned his lesson and must respect her.
Thinking of the fate of those who upset her, he couldn’t help but shake his head.
