Chapter 29

Chen Erzhuang clenched his fists, but when he saw Bai Jiaojiao, he gritted his teeth and acted as if he hadn’t seen anything, choosing instead to just stare at her face.

But he hadn’t even looked for a second before unexpectedly locking eyes with those sinister, sharp eyes again—this time, laced with killing intent.

Chen Erzhuang shuddered, cold sweat covering his forehead.

Yet when he looked again, Xiao Zhou was smiling faintly, as if it had all been his imagination.

Xiao’s father, the softest-hearted of those present, wasn’t stupid either. He said coldly, “Eat and go. It’s not safe traveling at night.”

Aunt Xiao protested, unwilling to give in, “We eat this, and what about you all?”

“No need to worry about that. This was made especially for you. Our family is generous. Even if we go hungry, we’ll make sure you eat well,” Bai Jiaojiao said sweetly, sticking close to Xiao Zhou’s arm.

Xiao Zhou rubbed her head. “My wife is amazing. She even went out of her way to cook for them. I’m almost jealous of them.”

The three members of the Chen family: “…” Then should we give it to you instead?

Chen Tiedan tried a bite and immediately gagged. “How can anything taste this awful!”

Aunt Xiao also turned pale after tasting it. “Bai Jiaojiao, you did this on purpose, didn’t you? Even pig slop tastes better!”

Bai Jiaojiao blinked innocently. “Auntie, I know you’ve got a grudge against me, but our family already used the best ingredients we had to treat you. And you’re still complaining? Isn’t that going too far?”

“This is what you call the best?” Aunt Xiao ladled up a spoonful of soup filled with nothing but leafy greens, utterly disbelieving.

Bai Jiaojiao buried her face in Xiao Zhou’s chest and sobbed. “Ah Zhou, I think Auntie came here today just to show us up.

I really thought they realized their mistake and wanted to make peace, so I went out of my way to cook a meal for them.
But they look down on my cooking—they clearly still hold grudges.”

Xiao Zhou gently lifted her chin to confirm she was fake crying before speaking calmly, “Then I’ll throw them out.”

How dare they scorn the food his wife personally cooked—who do they think they are?

Xiao’s father, hearing his daughter-in-law cry, also felt heartache. “Then we won’t consider them family anymore. We’ll say it clearly today.”

“Dad, we can’t keep tolerating this. Tomorrow, I’ll report everything that happened today to the clan elders,” Bai Jiaojiao added, fueling the fire. “I worked hard to make that food, and we didn’t even eat it ourselves. How dare they criticize it!”

If tonight’s events spread through Bai Jiaojiao’s mouth, their reputation would be ruined for sure.

Aunt Xiao’s eyes widened—how had a few words turned the situation into this?

Chen Erzhuang, irritated, raised his hand and slapped her.

“What kind of attitude is that? We’re here to apologize!”

Xiao’s father frowned but didn’t interfere—it was their family matter after all.

Aunt Xiao, now bearing a fresh handprint on her cheek, looked pitiful as she forced down a few mouthfuls of soup despite wanting to throw up.

“It’s delicious. I’ll finish it. Everything I said earlier was nonsense.”

“But your husband and son… still seem to have issues with our family,” Bai Jiaojiao said, glancing at the two who still wouldn’t touch their food, looking sad.

Chen Erzhuang still didn’t want to drink it, but refusing would mean rejecting reconciliation, making the whole visit pointless.

“It was just too hot earlier. It’s fine now—I’ll drink it,” he said, forcing it down.

Chen Tiedan resisted, but his father smacked him on the head. “Drink it! Or I’ll beat you!”

Faced with this threat, he could only sulkily take a sip.

Bai Jiaojiao smiled and served them more. “This was made according to your three appetites. Drink up—no need to hold back.”

The three of them: “…” They thought one bowl would be enough?!

Xiao’s mother, curious, took a sip too, but Xiao’s father quickly stopped her.

He had tasted it—it was incredibly bad. His daughter-in-law was ruthless. He didn’t want his wife to suffer.

Xiao Zhou, on the other hand, secretly poured himself a bowl. Bai Jiaojiao tried to stop him, but he had already drunk it and even praised it.

“It’s really good, sweetheart.”

Everyone else: “…” Almost believed you.

After finally finishing the pot of soup, the three Chen family members looked as pale as the vegetables in it. Aunt Xiao forced a smile, trying to act gracious.

“We’ve finished. Let’s put this behind us, shall we?”

Bai Jiaojiao pouted. “Wow, Auntie, thick-skinned much? We kindly let you eat, and you not only complain, but also bring no gift. I’ve never seen anyone so shameless.”

Aunt Xiao didn’t expect Bai Jiaojiao to keep attacking even after the soup was drunk—who was the real shrew here?

She looked at Xiao Zhengguo (Xiao’s father) again, wiping away tears.

“Brother Zhengguo, look at the woman your son married. Our family is poor. That’s why we needed your help. If I had money to buy gifts, I would have.”

Xiao’s father looked slightly sympathetic, but Bai Jiaojiao coldly reminded him, “Dad, don’t forget—they called Mom a whore…”

Xiao’s father’s face darkened instantly.

“Leave. If you come again, I’ll report to the clan that we’re cutting ties.”

That was the end—no more room for negotiation.

“You dog-raised bastard, Xiao Zhengguo! My wife slept with you so many times, and now you act like nothing happened?!”

Chen Erzhuang, fuming, swung a punch at him, but Xiao’s father caught it and hit back.

“I never touched your wife! What the hell are you saying?”

“Then why do you give so much to her every year? She’s not even your cousin by blood!”

“Stop fighting!” Aunt Xiao rushed forward to break them up but got kicked aside by her husband.

Bai Jiaojiao was about to intervene, but Xiao Zhou stopped her and calmly said, “No need. That loser can’t beat Dad.”

He didn’t even want to waste his energy.

And he was right. Xiao Zhou took after his father, only better. But Xiao’s father was already a strong man—always the top laborer in their village. Chen Erzhuang wasn’t even close.

A few moves later, he had him pinned.

Even Xiao’s father, normally even-tempered, had reached his limit.

“I never had feelings for your wife. If I hadn’t seen her and her kid with nothing to wear, I wouldn’t have helped. You think something’s up? Say it to my face! I have a clear conscience and only love my wife. I’ve stood by her all these years.

If you suspect me, watch your own wife—don’t go smearing me!”

Chen Erzhuang glared, but he couldn’t win. He got up from the ground, humiliated.

“You just wait!”

The Chen family scurried away.

Bai Jiaojiao blinked. “That’s a first—seeing someone slap himself with a green hat (get cuckolded).”

Xiao’s father looked grim. “I’ll talk to the clan head tomorrow. I should’ve stopped helping them earlier.”

Instead, he’d spread a stupid rumor. Fortunately, everyone knew he stayed home with his wife and rarely went to Chen’s village—there shouldn’t be misunderstandings.

Bai Jiaojiao saw that her father-in-law felt guilty but didn’t comfort him. Some lessons had to be learned the hard way.

She brought out the real dishes she’d hidden in the kitchen. Xiao Zhou cleaned the table and even wiped it down thoroughly.

Before they ate, Bai Jiaojiao pulled him aside for a private talk.

“Don’t you go suspecting me like Chen Erzhuang did. Got it?” she warned, her tone harsh.

Xiao Zhou nodded. “Of course I trust you.”

He didn’t trust other men—but no matter what, his wife was his.

“That’s more like it!” Bai Jiaojiao deliberately pinched his face hard, leaving a red mark. Xiao Zhou lowered his gaze and let her play with his face, his heart racing.

His wife was being so forward—she must really like him.

Bai Jiaojiao didn’t know what he was thinking. She just felt proud of herself for thinking ahead.

Originally, she’d planned to splash the scum outside with slander, but Xiao Zhou feared another incident, so they switched roles.

Luckily, her cooking delivered, letting her vent and also maintain her “fierce woman” image in front of Xiao Zhou.

That’s right—whenever she scolded people, she never hid it from him. She wanted him to see:

She wasn’t some “good woman.” She was bad, bossy, and even talked harshly to him in private.

If he ended up hating her, so be it—they could return to how things were.

That’s what she told herself. But in her heart, there was a faint ache.

The way she acted in front of Xiao Zhou—was never truly herself.

After telling Xiao Yueyue a bedtime story, she lay down with her eyes closed.

“Jiaojiao, are you upset again?” Xiao Zhou had a sharp instinct for her emotions.

Bai Jiaojiao pressed her lips together. Must he be this attentive?

She wasn’t a saint. He was handsome, incredibly kind to her, and the coolest guy she’d ever imagined from a novel.

It was hard—so hard—not to fall for him.

But if she gave him her heart, and one day he got his memories back and turned cold and heartless…

Then what would she do?