Xu Zhichun thought to herself, ten or eight of them—if she said it aloud, it would scare you all to death.
Of course it could not be spoken.
She kept silent, Zhang’s eyes rolled so hard they nearly turned to the heavens, while Bai showed a trace of mockery: not speaking? Then it must be that she earned too little and was embarrassed to say.
Uncle Liang clearly thought the same and generously said: “If you’re embarrassed to say, we won’t ask. If you love to fuss, then go ahead. Leave those six mu of paddy fields to us to manage. After all, you spend your days digging ghost taro and running to the county town—how could you have time to tend the fields? They’ll just go to waste. Hand them over to us, and at harvest you’ll still get some grain. Otherwise, aren’t you afraid of ending up with nothing at all?”
"Although Minglang is no longer here, doesn’t Mingxuan still need to live his life? The household cannot simply let you mess around as you please."
"Although the families have split, we are still elders. If you do something wrong, we will intervene. Otherwise, people won’t just say you are young and ignorant, making a mess—they will say we, as elders, don’t understand our responsibilities."
"Exactly!"
Six mu of fine paddy fields—if the two families split them, each would get three mu, without even planting, yet still harvest in autumn. How could there be such a cheap deal?
"Since the families have split, I will manage my own fields, and there is no need for others to worry."
Uncle Liang did not wait for Xu Zhichun to finish before he shouted angrily: “What nonsense are you spouting! Is this how you speak to your elders? Now that Minglang is gone, no one can keep you in line, is that it? A woman with a sharp tongue and no sense of rules—having a daughter‑in‑law like you in the Liang family is truly disgraceful!”
Zhang said: “Why bother talking to her? A fool who can’t tell right from wrong. This matter is settled—we can’t just watch her ruin good farmland. Tomorrow we’ll go to the fields to tend them, and when autumn comes, we’ll harvest. Why pay her any mind? I don’t believe it—if we’ve tended the fields, who else would the harvest belong to but us? Who would dare say it’s improper?”
Bai laughed and said: “Xu, you’re a widow—how can you be so ungrateful? You should know a widow’s life is hard. In the future, you’ll be asking us for help often. If you completely offend your own family, what good will come of it? Don’t be so shortsighted.”
Second Uncle Liang also cast her a look of disgust: “She doesn’t understand, let’s not bother with her. This matter is settled, let’s go.”
Zhang said: “Right! From today, this field has nothing to do with you. Don’t go to the fields when you have nothing to do—if you damage the seedlings, I won’t let you off.”
The four of them talked among themselves, and in this way “settled” the matter, without taking Xu Zhichun seriously at all.
Xu Zhichun was furious, and a chill spread through her heart.
With no support and no one to rely on, even standing straight and tall is useless.
Besides, this is a “family matter.” Who would be willing to meddle in another family’s affairs or speak a few fair words? Even if they were willing, they would have no standing to intervene.
Xu Zhichun felt relieved that Liang Lizheng was an upright man, and since her family’s daughter‑in‑law was a business partner with Lizheng’s household, this gave her some confidence.
“Mingxuan, go to Uncle Lizheng’s house and invite him over. I want to see—if someone is trying to forcibly seize our family’s fertile fields, will Uncle Lizheng allow such a bully to corrupt the village’s customs?”
“Don’t you dare go!”
“Who are you calling a bully?”
“You wretched girl, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Our family’s business—why are you making a scene outside? Isn’t it shameful? Reporting your elders, do you even have the face for that?”
Zhang, flustered, hurriedly blocked Liang Mingxuan.
Liang Mingxuan looked calmly at Zhang: “Aunt, you may stop me for a moment, but you cannot stop me for a lifetime.”
Zhang was taken aback, then flew into a rage: “You ungrateful brat! That sister‑in‑law of yours is nothing but a curse, ruining our family’s fertile fields. We’re doing this for your own good—don’t you understand?”
Xu Zhichun rushed into the kitchen like a gust of wind, and when she came out again, both hands gripped a gleaming kitchen knife, her eyes fierce.
Startled, Zhang cried out “Ah!” and involuntarily stepped back: “Xu, what are you trying to do!”
Elder Uncle Liang suddenly stood up: “Xu, do you still see your elders in your eyes?”
Xu Zhichun let out a harsh laugh: “You think you deserve to be called elders? I’ll make it clear today—our family’s fields, I will not give to anyone. Whoever dares to seize them by force is cutting off the livelihood of me and my brother-in-law. Don’t blame me for being ruthless! If Uncle Lizheng rules and you refuse to accept it, then I’ll go to the magistrate’s office to file a complaint.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“What should I be afraid of? If I’m bullied to death by you, I’ll still have to swallow humiliation. Better to storm into the magistrate’s office—even if I die, I’ll die with dignity!”
“You—you’re utterly mad! We were acting out of good intentions—”
“Whether it’s good intentions or not, you know it in your own hearts! The land deed is in my hands—this is my family’s property. No matter how much you talk, it’s useless. If you truly push me, we’ll meet in court. I want to see whether the magistrate believes the nonsense from your mouths or the deed in my hands.”
Bai sighed softly, looking at Xu Zhichun as if at a wayward junior: “Child, your temper is far too strong. We’re doing this for your own good—why can’t you understand? If you insist on being stubborn yourself, so be it, but don’t lead Mingxuan astray. Mingxuan is a son of the Liang family, and you have no right to act recklessly with him.”
Liang Mingxuan said nothing, only glanced at his elder sister‑in‑law.
His gaze was clear, filled with trust.
Seeing her younger brother‑in‑law’s trusting gaze, Xu Zhichun felt a warmth in her heart. Her courage remained firm as she scowled and sneered: “Yes, I’m exactly the one who doesn’t recognize your so‑called kindness. So stop wasting your efforts—can you leave now?”
Zhang, as if seizing on a huge weakness, accused Liang Mingxuan: “Mingxuan, look, just look—your sister‑in‑law is nothing but a shameless troublemaker. She’s trying to corrupt you, did you hear that?”
Liang Mingxuan: “...”
“Aunt, no one can lead me astray. If you don’t believe it, just wait a few years and see.”
Zhang: “...”
A few years later? By then even daylilies will have gone cold.
This child’s words are so infuriating!
Xu Zhichun almost couldn’t hold back her laughter—her younger brother‑in‑law was truly remarkable, and her heartfelt care for him was not in vain.
“Eh? This is—”
Just then, Aunt Zhu'er arrived, carrying a steaming big bowl. A wave of meaty fragrance drifted through, and Zhang and the others couldn’t help but all turn their eyes toward it.
Wow, a big bowl of braised pig’s trotters stewed together with peanuts—looking tender and soft, the broth rich and milky white, garnished with bright green cilantro and scallions.
Amazing! The aroma just keeps getting richer and more irresistible!
Zhang couldn’t help but greedily sniff hard, then swallowed her saliva.
The Liang family elders joining forces to pressure their widowed nephew’s wife—if word got out, it would hardly be a good thing. Beyond their greed, the four of them also felt a twinge of unease.
Elder Liang shot Xu Zhichun a warning look: “Xu, what are you doing with that kitchen knife? Put it back at once.”
Xu Zhichun lifted the knife in her hand with a light hum: “I’ll put it down when it’s time. Uncle, do you have anything else to say?”
The four of them secretly harbored resentment.
Even if there’s something, there’s no way to say it now.
Moreover, Xu Zhichun’s reckless defiance truly frightened the four of them, so for the time being they dared not act rashly.
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