Chapter 23 : Tit for tat

Han Zhenmin was stunned by her words. He hadn’t been home for just a few days, and now this woman dared to lecture him and even suggest he shouldn’t go to school. It was outrageous!  

Pointing at Su Xieqiu’s nose, he snapped angrily, “Who do you think you are? How dare you tell me I can’t go to school? Since when do you have a say in this family?”  

“Why not? I, your sister-in-law, work every day to support you, and I can’t even say a word in this household?”  

Seeing his face turn blue with anger, Su Xieqiu held back her laughter and continued, pretending to be disappointed in him.  

“You’re already 18 years old and still haven’t graduated high school. People your age are out in the fields earning work points, but you’re still freeloading at home. Don’t you feel any shame? And how can you eat so much?”  

Though Han Zhenmin was clever in some ways, he was still just 18. Being scolded so directly made him lose his composure.  

“What’s wrong with being 18 and in high school?” he shouted angrily. “There are people in my class who are 20! And besides, I’m spending my parents’ money. What does that have to do with you?”  

“How does it not?” she retorted. “We haven’t split the household yet. The work points your eldest brother and I earn are all managed by our parents-in-law.”  

She began ticking off expenses on her fingers. “Everything you eat, everything you use, even your tuition, all come from us. Your brother and I scrimp and save to provide for you, and now you say it has nothing to do with us? How ungrateful can you be? What happened to everything you supposedly learned in school?”  

Hearing her twist the facts, Han Zhenmin’s face turned livid. “Do you even have any shame? Han Zhenyu is nothing but a lazy scoundrel who spends most of the year fooling around. The two cents you earn every day aren’t even enough to feed yourself! And now you have the audacity to claim you’re supporting me? You’re shameless!”  

At his insult to Han Zhenyu, Su Xieqiu was about to retort when she noticed a few children and elderly women standing nearby, watching the drama unfold.  

Her eyes glinted as an idea struck her. She slapped her thigh and began wailing theatrically, imitating Yang Lanhua’s usual antics.  

“How could you say something so heartless?” she cried out. “For you to go to school, my husband was forced to leave and beg for money! Meanwhile, I’m at home taking care of everything, yet you call me shameless?  

“My poor husband! He’s so obedient, but your mother slanders him everywhere, calling him a lazy scoundrel and a gangster. You all treat him like this because you think he has no one to rely on. You’re all ungrateful wolves with such vicious hearts!”  

Her outburst left Han Zhenmin fuming. Seeing her twist the facts so dramatically, he felt like he might explode. In his rage, he raised his hand, ready to hit her.  

But before he could, Su Xieqiu gave him a cold smile and said softly, “If you dare lay a hand on me, I’ll show up at your school tomorrow and make a scene. If you don’t believe me, try it.”  

Her threat made him freeze. After a moment of hesitation, he lowered his hand.  

Looking at the defiant woman before him, he felt like he was seeing a stranger. This was not the timid, quiet person he used to know. What had happened to her in the past two weeks?  

Han Zhenmin glared at her for a moment, then snorted coldly and wheeled his bicycle into the yard.  

Watching his retreating back, Su Xieqiu smirked in disdain before turning to go back inside for her nap.  

Meanwhile, Han Zhenmin had returned home to eat. Hungry, hot, and thirsty, he went to the backyard to wash his face and cool down, only to find the water tank completely empty.  

Frustrated, he headed to the kitchen, but the water vat there was also dry. Furious, he kicked the vat, sending a dull thud echoing through the room.  

Finally, he stormed into his parents’ bedroom, hoping to find something, but it was empty too.  

Standing in the main room, he seethed. Every time he’d come home in the past, someone, anyone would immediately prepare food and drink for him. But now, there was nothing. Not even water.

Even if no one was home, I’ve never felt as parched as I do now, Han Zhenmin thought, frustrated.

He wanted to order Su Xieqiu to fetch water and cook for him, but recalling their earlier argument, he abandoned the idea.

After resting in the main room for a while, he grabbed a wooden bucket and headed out to fetch water himself. He had no choice, his throat was so dry it felt like it was burning.  

Meanwhile, Su Xieqiu lay comfortably on the kang, legs crossed, humming a tune leisurely. She felt more relaxed than ever before.  

Thinking back to her previous life, she had always been composed, maintaining a dignified image whether at school or work.  

Especially at the office, no matter how severe the conflicts with colleagues, she would always present a calm facade, saying one thing in front of them and another behind their backs, never confronting anyone directly.  

Now, free from societal constraints, she acted out her frustrations without holding back. If someone upset her, she retaliated openly and unapologetically. She let go of her carefully cultivated demeanor, and the freedom of it was invigorating.  

Waving a palm-leaf fan lazily, Su Xieqiu resolved to conserve her energy and take a good nap.  

She knew that killing the chicken today would surely provoke Yang Lanhua. There was bound to be another confrontation that evening, and Su Xieqiu hoped it would escalate into something significant. She wanted to use the opportunity to push for dividing the family property.  

Han Zhenmin returned with a full bucket of water and immediately gulped it down with a ladle, not bothering to boil it first.  

After drinking half the bucket of cold water, his thirst was quenched, and his irritable mood began to subside.  

He stood there for a while, glaring at the rooms belonging to Su Xieqiu and Han Zhenyu. Then, mounting his bicycle, he pedaled southward.  

Earlier, he had questioned a neighbor’s child, who revealed that Han Zhenyu was back.  

So that’s why that woman dared to act so arrogantly today, she had Han Zhenyu backing her up.  

With a grim smile, Han Zhenmin pedaled faster.  

In the field, Han Meili was sitting on the ground resting when she spotted him. Surprised, she called out, “Third Brother, you’re back?”  

Han Zhenmin nodded, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Little Sister, why are you here working in the fields? Why isn’t anyone at home? And what’s going on with Su Xieqiu?”  

In the past, Han Meili rarely worked in the fields. She usually stayed home, handling chores like cooking and laundry.  

Yang Lanhua had always insisted that girls had only a few carefree years before marriage and that they should enjoy them while they lasted.  

But today, she hadn’t dared to leave Han Meili at home, fearing that Su Xieqiu might lash out and beat her again.  

When Han Meili heard her third brother mention Su Xieqiu, her anger flared. She couldn’t wait to vent her frustrations.  

“Third Brother, that woman is insufferable now! She doesn’t do any work, steals the fine grains and eggs we saved for you, and even beat me and Second Sister-in-law yesterday. She’s been talking back to our parents, too!”  

As Han Zhenmin listened, his expression grew darker. But as his anger cooled, suspicion crept in.  

Something didn’t add up. Su Xieqiu, who had always been timid and submissive, suddenly acting so boldly?  

He didn’t think she had the courage to stir up so much trouble on her own.  

Could it be Han Zhenyu behind all this? But if so, what was his motive?