Chapter 25:
“Jiabao’s mother, you go, and once you’re gone, don’t come back!”
The door of the Second Son’s Family creaked open.
This spectacle disrupted their thoughts…
Chen Shi was sobbing, with a bundle hanging on her arm, dragging a child with each hand, her eyes and nose all red…
It was unknown what great grievance she had suffered, but there were even scratch marks all over her face…
Li Lei knew just from the sound that he was furious!
Old Li Tou and Zhou Shi saw the situation and understood what was going on, their eyes flashing with a hint of smugness at each other.
Hehe, finally someone in this home stood up…
Chen Shi didn’t even pay attention to what Li Lei was saying and just walked away…
“Jiabao’s mother…”
Heart-wrenching…
“Please, don’t go. If you go, take me with you.”
“Get lost! Li family man, who wants to take you?”
“Mom… Jiayong hasn’t had enough fun yet!”
“Mom, the house in town is too small, I also want to play in the countryside!”
“Play what? Isn’t town fun enough?”
“In this home, besides a small rundown room, corn grits, endless work, what else is there…”
“Double Harvest is over too. If us mother and three kids don’t leave, are we staying to be bullied to death by your family?”
“She and Zhou Hanjuan as a couple teamed up to beat me. You didn’t protect me, that’s fine, but you came back and beat me without distinguishing right from wrong!”
“I don’t owe you anything! Think about your conscience—who have you relied on for food and drink all these years?”
Li Lei didn’t care, but Old Li Tou’s face turned blue then pale in the night, changing colors; he really wanted to cover her mouth…
“Worst case, we divorce. I came back with good intentions to help your family reap wheat, do farm work and housework, and couldn’t even get a bite of food.”
“The kids are going hungry too. Jiayong, Jiabao, let’s go. We’ll never come back. Your grandparents give rice, porridge, eggs, and meat every day; it’s not like they can’t afford to raise us.”
“If you think we’re wasting food rations, it’s just a mouthful of corn grits. This fulfills what the Old Li Family wants.”
“No, I was wrong. You can beat me however you want, Jiabao’s mother!”
Li Lei ran forward to block them…
“Beat you? I’d feel like I’d dirty my own hands beating you. Go plant yourself to get revenge for me—whoever beats me, you go beat them back for me!”
Li Lei coldly glanced at Xiao Zhou Shi and Li Daqiang!
Li Daqiang looked embarrassed and kept explaining: “Second Brother, it’s a misunderstanding, not what you think!”
“Hmph! Think? You don’t even deserve to think it. She’s my wife, and you’re just a countryside farmer—what are you thinking?”
Xiao Zhou Shi started rolling on the ground and throwing a tantrum again, howling…
Li Lei threatened,
“Remember this: I’m laying down the words here today—whoever beats my wife, I’m not done with them!”
Luo Zhi’er saw his stance and thought he was going to fight, but unexpectedly, he only used words and didn’t lift a hand…
Village Chief, Uncle Zhao, Uncle Li and the others exchanged dark looks—how was this another big drama?
Did Li Lei beat Chen Shi?
Or was there another story?
But when Li Lei approached, his appearance was too shocking…
Far worse than Chen Shi’s—his head of dry grass-like hair was scattered, and there seemed to be a few bald patches on top.
Especially that face—it was horrifying to look at, sending chills down the spine…
The gashes on his face weren’t like Xiao Zhou Shi’s or Chen Shi’s marks; those were blood grooves.
Blood grooves covered his face, with one sunken under his eye; on his neck and the parts covered by clothes, who knows if there were any?
In summer clothes that were thin, the exposed flesh was bruised purple and blue like it had been pinched… some cloth on the clothes stained with spots of blood…
Looking closely, there were fingernail marks on the skin, with bloody flesh inside the imprints…
His clothes were torn to just a few patches hanging on him…
The two uncles saw Chen Shi’s long sharp fingernails, their cloudy eyes shrinking, scalps tingling, hearts pounding in fear…
How much pain must this guy be in?
Li Depei muttered to himself, his tobacco pouch dropping to the ground, “Damn it, they’re all crazy, crazy! This is heaven-defying, heaven-defying!”
He regretted it to death; if he’d known his Lei kid was the one beaten, he would’ve rushed into the room no matter what to stop it.
Zhou Shi let out a few howls and rushed up to fight Chen Shi desperately.
She was probably more disappointed than heartbroken—Li Lei wasn’t just the one beaten, but shamelessly begging to be beaten…
“You Chen woman, you death-seeking little bitch, you dare scratch Lei kid?”
She charged headfirst at her, but before she could hit, her second son Li Lei pushed her away.
She fell flat on her face like a dog eating mud, landing in the manure pile next to the garden plot…
This was specially saved to bury in the field… she got it all over her…
Mostly pig shit, stinking badly…
When misfortune strikes, even drinking water clogs the teeth. As she struggled up, she bumped into the nearby urine bucket.
It was from the little kids’ nighttime pees; she usually didn’t dare pour it into the latrine…
Thinking to save it to water the garden plot veggies…
Sure enough, it poured all over her from head to toe, especially on her head…
She rubbed her eyes,
“Oh heavens, I… pfft, what sin did Zhou Meizhen commit to run into this bunch of jinxes!”
Li Lei coldly looked at her,
“Mom, Second Son’s Family matters don’t need your interference.”
“What?” Zhou Shi was stunned, shocked and at a loss, her butt pain and hand pain all washed away by that sentence…
Was this resenting her for meddling?
She jumped up,
“You’ve grown bold? Putting on airs with your mom? Truly an ungrateful wolf—Mom was doing this for your own good, and you haven’t even gotten the silver yet?”
Li Lei was stunned, his eyes flickering…
Chen Shi’s stepped-out foot shrank back…
“Mom, that’s not what I meant. I know how to handle things with Jiabao’s mother.”
“No matter what, I’m the head of the Second Son’s Family.”
“As head of the family, I need to act like one. This injury is what I deserved. Jiabao’s mother is weak; don’t make things hard for her…”
Zhou Shi felt a bit better inside, but for some reason, not fully.
Now she felt particularly uncomfortable—fine, she believed Lei kid had his own mind…
Moreover, this Chen Shi was different from Luo Zhi’er and Xiao Zhou Shi.
She not only had a maternal family that valued her; otherwise, who would help raise their kids and do work for Old Second…
Every month Old Second also gave her eighty coppers, and supposedly twenty were left for their family’s food…
But even so, her Old Li Family’s seed seemed like it was the Chen Family’s…
She glanced at Zhenzhu, standing stunned to one side, “Dead girl, come help Mom up!”
“Ah, Mom, I, my stomach hurts; I need to go to the latrine first, wait…”
“Hey, you…”
The person was already gone…
She had to climb up herself…
Old Li Tou felt upset inside—Lei kid with his healthy teeth and words, calling himself head of the family one after another, where did that leave him as the big boss?
The few who hadn’t planned to drink tea now looked at each other!
Eldest Son’s Family and Second Son’s Family— all four adults injured…
“Lei kid, what’s going on with you?”
Village Chief asked the question everyone wanted to know.
“Hehe, Uncle, no big deal. It’s just me and my wife having a little spat; my wife was just playing around with me!”
Playing around?
A little spat turning into this mess…
Chen Shi’s attacks were really too vicious!
Forget it; he was protecting his wife, so prying further would be pointless.
Since they were here, they planned to sit down for some tea before handling things and leaving!
They gathered everyone in the Li Family in the yard, brought out a table, stools, tea, and Li Zhengxin and the others sat down.
More and more people gathered outside the yard, seeing their embarrassed looks and whispering, murmuring.
Zhou Shi cursed toward the yard side a few times, “So late at night, not going home to sleep—why come to our house to watch the show?”
“Never seen the world?”
The people outside were spitting saliva, muttering words, “Mind your own business?” Quite noisy…
“Alright, everyone quiet down. This is just a bit of Old Li Family housework; if you want to watch, do it quietly.”
“Uh… Village Chief, can we keep them from getting involved?”
Old Li Tou looked around the yard…
“Depei, you’re being too distant. We’re all from one village; everyone’s concerned about your family situation. No harm; I’ve already told them to quiet down…”
“I’m afraid they’ll spread rumors…”
“You’re overthinking. Rumors break on their own when seen with one’s own eyes. If you don’t let them see tonight, tomorrow it’ll be gossip…”
“Uh… alright.”
Then several sharp gazes locked first on Xiao Zhou Shi:
“Daqiang’s wife, you tell us yourself—why did they beat you today?”
“Speak freely; we’ll back you up. But if you lie, you probably can’t stay in Zhao Li Village anymore—go wherever you want!”
Xiao Zhou Shi shivered, a bit scared!
Go back? Where could she go?
Zhou Shi came to her senses, stomped her foot, “Thunder-struck cheap slut, Old Li Family treated you well—dare spout nonsense, watch Mom tear your mouth apart!”
Li Zhengxin glanced at her, and she instantly shut up.
This Xiao Zhou Shi and Chen Shi had been here for years, and in their impression, they weren’t so innocent and pure. Today’s matter needed slow handling…
Xiao Zhou Shi glanced at Zhenzhu, took a deep breath,
“Village Chief, two ancestors, you’ve all seen it—Mom dares threaten and scare me in front of everyone. If you weren’t here, I’d get beaten again…”
The few nodded darkly—indeed so…
“They won’t let me speak, but either way no way out. I’ve thought it through; I must tell the truth…”
“My beating today was all because of their precious daughter, Zhenzhu!”
Old Li Tou’s forehead veins bulged; Zhou Shi put hands on hips and started cursing again:
“Shameless little whore, our Zhenzhu didn’t drink your blood or eat your flesh. You pick on the soft persimmon—why bully her? Why not just die…”
Zhenzhu covered her face and sobbed, “Eldest Sister-in-law, I always treated you like family, you’re going too far…”
“In front of so many people, just to ruin my reputation…”
Li Gui also sat to one side, expressionless, watching their performance!
Only when his mom stood up cursing did he cover his nose…
Xiao Zhou Shi didn’t mention Li Gui; he was not only this family’s glory but Zhao Li Village’s glory. Speaking of him would just show her own pettiness…
“This family can’t have both her and me.”
The few were curious—how had it reached this point?
“This completely irreconcilable?”
“Village Chief, you’ve seen it—where in the world does a sister-in-law beat her sister-in-law?”
“On this matter, Zhenzhu was indeed wrong. Rest assured, we’ll have your father-in-law educate her. If your father-in-law can’t, the elders of Zhao Li Village will step in—no letting one mouse dropping spoil the whole pot!”
Xiao Zhou Shi was delighted inside—indeed effective. Old Li Tou suddenly felt powerless…
“Then thanks to all you uncles and elders.”
“I, Zhou Hanjuan, since marrying into this Li Family, have labored hard, giving birth and raising kids, serving father-in-law, mother-in-law, and husband, and I claim nothing out of line.”
“Zhenzhu is not young anymore, lazing around all day, running outside until she’s had her fill before coming back—even her own clothes need Third Sister-in-law to wash them.”
“Meals need me to serve, and she still complains they’re not good! I say a few extra words, and she holds a grudge.”
“Reporting to mother-in-law, beating and scolding me is routine; today she even wanted to tie me up and lock me in the woodshed—what kind of thing is that…”
“Poor my few children—if I go into the woodshed without food or drink, I can endure a few days, but will they give my kids food?”
“Nonsense! Muqing Yunliang and Liuliu are Old Li Family’s seed—would we mistreat them?”
“Hmph! Day after day corn grits, corn paste—even when I’m there it’s hard to fill the belly; if I’m not, who knows…”
The few looked at the startlingly skinny kids—Eldest Son’s Family’s were filthy, all three kids skinny, Liuliu the skinniest.
Third Child’s Family’s Miaomiao wore clean clothes but was skinny; Second Brother’s Wife’s was okay…
“Is this true?”
The uncles and elders’ gazes swept over the other young wives’ faces.
Chen Shi’s eyes showed disdain…
Luo Zhi’er sat obediently to one side, with layers of fat around her waist; Miaomiao on her lap, she played with Miaomiao’s little fingers, looking silly…
“San Mao’s wife, is this true?”
Uncle Li said.
“Li Zuzu, parents are old, farm work at home is hard—I don’t mind washing a few extra clothes…”
Uncle Li, Uncle Zhao, Village Chief nodded—this fat girl was good; having this wife was Old Li Family’s fortune…
Old Li Tou wanted to scold her, but she hadn’t said much… and she seemed quite filial…
Among the crowd watching from the yard edge, Huaihua had also come, puzzled.
Was this Luo Zhi’er the same as the one who just stood hands-on-hips cursing her?
Her words made it clear…
Old Second was in town, so he hadn’t asked Chen Shi anyway; in short, none of the three daughters-in-law refuted…
Besides, everyone had eyes—Luo Zhi’er was often washing and scrubbing by the river, carrying water, washing veggies, etc…
Everyone near the eaves knew Old Li Family often quarreled over cooking and food…
The root cause was because of Zhenzhu…
“Too outrageous…”
That Uncle Zhao slapped the table,
“My daughter at five or six could cook for the whole family, needlework, housework no problem…”
“Your family’s Zhenzhu really a pearl? Other daughters aren’t human when they marry in—just your daughter is treasure?”
Zhou Shi shuddered in fear…
Old Li Tou felt ashamed, hating Xiao Zhou Shi for exposing his shame—what was fine behind closed doors had to be aired to outsiders?
This family had no harmony at all; a family needs to be united—did the other branches begrudge Zhenzhu doing well?
If Zhenzhu wasn’t good, what benefit to them?
“But Depei, your family’s crops look good; this year’s wheat big harvest—no need to skimp on corn grits every day, right?”
“Old Third hunts too, not short on meat. Your home looks prosperous; adults can go hungry, but little kids need nutrition…”
Li Fuquan said kindly.
“Hehe! Uncle, it’s not as she said. Our family sometimes makes cakes, occasionally fries eggs.”
Old Li Tou defended…
Xiao Zhou Shi and Chen Shi sneered—is that so? If any, it went into their precious one’s mouth!
“Heh, Li Zuzu, I’m puzzled too. Logically shouldn’t be like this—where’d the saved stuff go?”
Xiao Zhou Shi pressed relentlessly…
This was what the other branches wanted to know too.
“You little bitch, didn’t I say? Home food and drink, social obligations, yearly field seeds, Fifth Brother’s schooling—which doesn’t need silver?”
Li Gui felt a bit uncomfortable—why did his mom drag him in…
“Indeed, all that needs silver. Eldest Daughter-in-law, you don’t manage the house, so you don’t know how precious firewood and rice are…”
Uncle Zhao said.
“I know that, but I think with such thrift, impossible not a penny left, still in debt. I want to see the account book…”
“What account book? I said it’s all spent. We’re rural people, I don’t keep accounts—you woman, just know how to stir trouble!”
Zhou Shi jumped up.
Everyone knew now it was impossible to get Zhou Shi to produce an account book; she insisted the silver was spent—who could do anything?
“How about this: from now on, record every expense, so these kids have clarity! After all, they’re at marrying and starting families age; they don’t want to be in the dark…”
Village Chief said.
“Easy to say, I can’t read—impossible!”
Zhou Shi was dead set like a pig not fearing boiling water…
“If so, why not find a literate butler to keep accounts?”
“What? Dream on!”
“Then what?”
“How about letting Depei record it? Later if branches ask, there’s an explanation…”
“Cough… um, alright!”
Old Li Tou agreed. Zhou Shi wanted to speak, but Li Depei gave her a look—calm down…
Here pacified, Village Chief continued,
“You say they beat you, but why did you bite your man?”
“Misunderstanding! I was probably really a bit possessed then…”
Li Daqiang felt a touch moved, looking at his teary-eyed wife—turns out wife really wasn’t intentional…
“Mm, go on…”
“Village Chief, this is what I care most about today. Our Yunliang and Muqing are at school age. Yunliang should’ve gone two years ago, delayed a year, now Muqing delayed a year too.”
“Father-in-law said after selling this wheat, he’d send both to school. But when wheat’s sold, will he really let them go?”
“I’m anxious inside; want father-in-law to give a guarantee!”
