Chapter 42: I’ll Take Charge

As noon approached and the sun climbed higher, Zeng Guangjin was already exhausted and about to collapse.

Dong Yun wiped the sweat from her forehead and urged her daughter to seek shade under a tree. Then she turned to her mother-in-law and said, “Mother, it’s time to go back and prepare lunch.”

She genuinely wanted to go back to cook, as it would give her a chance to rest. However, with the elders at home, it wouldn’t be proper for her, a younger family member, to leave the work and go. Besides, her mother-in-law was stingy and would definitely not approve of her leaving to cook. Not wanting to argue, she only offered a gentle reminder.

If the meal were being prepared at her own small courtyard, she wouldn’t even bother consulting her mother-in-law.

Seeing how quickly and efficiently Dagen and his family worked, Zeng’s mother-in-law wished they could continue without a break, hoping to finish harvesting their rice as soon as possible. But upon hearing her daughter-in-law mention cooking and noticing the sun’s position, she reluctantly put away her sickle and prepared to head back.

Before leaving, she called out to Zeng Guangjin, who was at the edge of the field, his face flushed red from the sun. “Second son, come back with me and take a rest. Let them keep working. You’re a scholar and not fit for this kind of hard labor.”

Dagen and his wife seemed accustomed to such treatment and said nothing, while Pear Blossom turned her head slightly, squinting at Zeng Guangjin.

Having rarely done farm work, Zeng Guangjin’s back was already aching terribly after just a morning’s work. He was itching to lie down for a whole day. But seeing everyone looking at him—especially his sister-in-law with her expressionless face—his heart skipped a beat. He quickly responded to his mother, “I’m not tired, Mother. I’ll keep working with everyone. You go back and cook; I’m starving.” Only then did the others withdraw their gazes and continue working.

Mrs. Zeng stomped her foot, muttered something under her breath, and left with Fubao.

About half an hour later, she returned with a basket, calling everyone over to the edge of the field for lunch.

Dong Yun looked at the simple basket, frowned, and said, “The sun is so scorching. Why don’t we go back to eat? Everyone has worked hard all morning and should take a rest.”

Mrs. Zeng impatiently replied, “It’s the busy farming season. We need to take advantage of the good weather to cut, dry, and store the grain. Where’s the time to rest? Hurry up and eat so you can get back to work.”

Dagen and the others exchanged awkward glances. Dong Yun was visibly displeased. After working all morning, it was excusable for one’s own family to eat like this, but to treat helpers this way—having them eat in the fields and then expecting them to continue working—was an act of stinginess few could tolerate.

She put down her sickle, walked over, and lifted the lid of the bamboo basket. Inside were five bowls, a pair of chopsticks, a plate of stir-fried string beans, and a pot holding half a pot of porridge.

Her pretty face instantly turned cold. “Five bowls? Mother-in-law, is my husband’s younger brother and yourself not eating?” Mrs. Zeng glanced at her. “I already ate at home. As for your brother-in-law, he’ll go back home to eat later.”

Dong Yun clenched her teeth, her expression emotionless. “After working hard all morning, all you offer is plain porridge and vegetables? How can anyone work through the afternoon on such meager food?” Mrs. Zeng, already annoyed with her daughter-in-law’s critical attitude, raised her voice, “What’s wrong with porridge? In this scorching heat, everyone’s throat is dry. If they eat dry rice, won’t they choke? You’re so delicate you can’t even drink porridge?”

This time, Dong Yun’s usual submissive demeanor disappeared, her tone carrying a hint of anger. “I can drink porridge, but look at the food you’ve prepared! Stir-fried beans? After working so hard to harvest such a large field, all you offer is beans? Can’t there at least be one dish with meat? Do you really think such bland food is acceptable?”

Mrs. Zeng was furious and began scolding, “You know our family’s situation. Your brother-in-law’s schooling depends on these few acres of land. Where am I supposed to find meat for you? How did I end up with such a wasteful daughter-in-law? I might as well have let my eldest son die out there instead of coming back to annoy me—”Hearing this, Dong Yun’s eyes turned icy. “A few days ago, I gave you thirty taels of silver. Meat costs only fifteen wen a pound. And yet, you’re unwilling to spare a few coins? Truly eye-opening!”

Dagen and his wife, listening to the argument between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, felt uneasy. Mrs. Zeng was clearly treating them differently because they owed Dong Yun a favor and were always submissive. The old woman didn’t even regard them as equals.

Fearing that Dong Yun might be berated further, Mrs. Xiong quickly stepped forward and tugged at her sleeve, saying, “Sister-in-law, there’s food at home. We’ll go back to eat and come back to work afterward.”

At this, Mrs. Zeng’s face darkened. Who invites people to help but lets them return home to eat? If the villagers found out, they’d gossip about her endlessly. Moreover, who knew when they’d return in the afternoon?

She immediately turned her anger back to Dong Yun, scolding, “You wretched woman! Why are you making such a fuss? I kindly brought food to serve them. What’s wrong with that? If it weren’t for our family, who knows where Pear Blossom and Xinghua would have been sold off to? All I asked was for them to help harvest some rice. It’s not like I’m working them to death. What’s your problem?”

Nearby, the little girl Fubao seemed to understand the dispute. She tugged at Mrs. Zeng’s pants and said, “There’s meat at home. Chicken. It’s tasty. Give some to Pear Blossom.”

Dagen and his family immediately turned their backs and pretended to focus on harvesting rice, acting as though they hadn’t heard.

Dong Yun was even angrier now. She had assumed her mother-in-law was just stingy, offering only porridge and vegetables, but it turned out there was chicken at home. Yet the chicken wasn’t for everyone—it was reserved for her mother-in-law and her precious son.

Just as Dong Yun was about to explode, a crisp slap echoed, followed by Fubao’s wailing.

Mrs. Zeng slapped the child while scolding, “You little brat! What nonsense are you spouting? Where’s the meat? If there was meat, wouldn’t I have brought it? At your age, you already know how to lie? I’ll beat the lies out of you!”

Pear Blossom, standing nearby, quickly picked up the crying child and shielded her in her arms. The second slap landed on Pear Blossom’s back instead.“What are you hiding for? Who said you could carry a child from the Zeng family? Are you out of your mind? Stop meddling! Put her down, or I’ll beat her to death!”

“Enough!”

Dong Yun’s patience finally snapped. She pulled Pear Blossom and Fubao behind her, stepped forward, and glared at Mrs. Zeng. Her almond-shaped eyes locked on the older woman, filled with cold anger. “I dare you to try hitting them again!”

Mrs. Zeng was startled. She had never seen her daughter-in-law like this. Dong Yun’s cold gaze was sharp like knives, and her aura was so intimidating that it felt as though a single step closer would end in bloodshed.

She recalled how, when Dong Yun first came to the family, she seemed distant and unapproachable. However, no matter how much she scolded her, Dong Yun never talked back, let alone resisted. Over time, Mrs. Zeng grew bolder, berating her at will.

But now, faced with Dong Yun’s icy demeanor, Mrs. Zeng suddenly remembered the chill Dong Yun had carried when she first arrived. Her gaze, as cold and lifeless as if she were staring at a corpse, sent shivers down her spine.

Mrs. Zeng was nothing more than a rural housewife. When had she ever been confronted by such a piercing aura? Under the blazing sun, Dong Yun seemed to exude a chilling cold that turned the surroundings into an icy abyss.

“She’s my granddaughter. Can’t I discipline her?” Mrs. Zeng avoided Dong Yun’s gaze but still tried to argue.

“You can’t!” Dong Yun said coldly. “If you dare lay another finger on her, don’t blame me for disregarding Dayou’s face. Also, listen carefully—Pear Blossom was saved by me, and the money used was mine. Don’t use my goodwill as an excuse for your reckless behavior. They owe you nothing. If you can’t cook, then don’t. I’ll go back and cook myself. I won’t take even a grain of your rice or a drop of your oil!”

“You—you—you’ve really gone too far!” Mrs. Zeng fumed, her face turning ashen. “Since you married Dayou, you are a daughter-in-law of the Zeng family. What they owe you, they owe the Zeng family. I can order them around however I like!”

Dong Yun let out a cold laugh. “Dayou is Dayou, and I am myself. If you can’t stand my daughter and me, I’ll go to the yamen to register as an independent household. After that, your house, your fields, your land—I’ll have nothing to do with them. We’d be better off without being tied to you.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Zeng shrieked, “Dream on! No splitting! Dayou’s child carries the Zeng family bloodline. Want to separate? Not a chance!” Dong Yun’s lips curled into a playful smile.

She knew very well that her mother-in-law would never agree to a separation. “Fine, if you don’t want to split, then I’ll take charge of this household. When I speak, you will keep quiet. Otherwise, I’ll find my own way to separate!”

Mrs. Zeng was truly panicked now. She couldn’t let such a capable daughter-in-law leave. Dong Yun was young, literate, and clearly very competent. And with her looks, getting someone to help her would be as easy as lifting a finger.

Others might not know, but Mrs. Zeng was well aware. The family could still afford to support the second son only because Dong Yun had secretly provided financial aid. The last time she gave thirty taels, who knew how much more she might have given behind the scenes? Mrs. Zeng was old and couldn’t work much longer. As long as the family wasn’t split, she could keep relying on her daughter-in-law to support her second son’s education.

Thinking of this, she suppressed her anger and softened her tone. “Fine, you can take charge. Hmph, but don’t think running this household is as easy as you imagine.”

Dong Yun ignored her, turning to Dagen and his wife. “Uncle Gen, Aunt Xiufang, I’m so sorry for letting you witness such a scene. It’s just that we’re short-handed, which is why we asked for your help. I didn’t expect things to turn out like this. Now that the thirty taels of silver have been repaid, our families are even. You have your own rice harvest to tend to. After today, we’ll manage the rest ourselves.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Zeng panicked and screeched, “We agreed you’d help us finish first before moving on to their field!”

Dong Yun cut her off. “With the watery gruel you’re serving as hospitality, you still have the nerve to ask them to finish everything for you? If you insist on having the final say, then don’t count me in!”

Mrs. Zeng was so choked up she couldn’t respond, her face alternating between green and white. Zeng Guangjin stood there, utterly ashamed, his face flushed as he kept his head down, occasionally stealing glances at Dong Yun.

Dong Yun turned to Dagen and the others. “Why don’t you rest for a bit with me? I’ll go home now and prepare a proper meal.”

However, having been treated so poorly by Mrs. Zeng, Dagen’s family likely didn’t want to step foot in the Zeng household.

Sure enough, Mrs. Xiong waved her hand repeatedly to refuse. Zeng Guangjin quickly said, “If no one wants to go back, Sister-in-law, there’s no need to trouble yourself. We have some meat at home; I’ll bring it over.” With that, he set down his sickle and hurried back home.

Only then did Dong Yun’s expression soften slightly. She turned to Mrs. Zeng and said, “I’ll cook dinner tonight in the small courtyard on the west side.”Mrs. Zeng’s face burned with embarrassment. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she stomped her foot and stormed back home.

Dagen and his wife exchanged glances, about to speak when Pear Blossom came over with a cheerful smile, holding Fubao. She squeezed between them, gave Dong Yun a thumbs-up, and said, “Sister Dong, you’re amazing!”

Dong Yun smiled faintly. She had never wanted to take the lead like this. She simply wished to live quietly and keep a low profile. As long as her mother-in-law remained a buffer, no one would pay much attention to her. So long as the older woman didn’t cross the line, life could still be peaceful.But this time, it had gone too far.

Zeng Guangjin soon returned with the remaining meat, hastily apologizing for his mother’s behavior. Despite his education in the classics, he still had some conscience and sense of shame, bowing repeatedly to express his regret.

Mrs. Xiong laughed. “It’s fine. With so few people in your household, helping each other is only right. It doesn’t matter if our harvest is delayed by a few days.”

Dong Yun said, “Auntie, you’re kind, but we can’t take advantage of that. Besides, we managed to finish last year’s harvest on our own.”

Seeing Dong Yun’s insistence, Dagen glanced at his wife, thought for a moment, and said, “We’ll help for one more day tomorrow. After that, we’ll go tend to our field. If we finish early, we can come back and help again.”

Mrs. Xiong agreed, and Zeng Guangjin let out a sigh of relief. If they had only helped for one day, the family would still be overburdened. But with another day’s help, thanks to Pear Blossom and Dagen’s efficiency, they could save quite a bit of effort. He was fuming at his mother in his heart.

But what shocked him the most was Dong Yun’s newfound authority. Ordinary rural women wouldn’t have her kind of presence. She had completely subdued his mother, leaving even him too intimidated to utter a word.