Font Size:
Not far from the old Tan family’s house, on a mountain path, Old Man Chen and Aunt Chen were supporting Chen Shian, preparing to head home.
“Old man, why hasn’t Shian gotten better yet?” Aunt Chen asked, concern evident in her voice.
Old Man Chen, growing impatient, responded, “Didn’t Dr. Li say it’s nothing serious? He’s just caught a chill. He just needs to rest well and take a few doses of medicine, and he’ll be fine.”
Aunt Chen’s face remained full of worry. “But… but Shian’s complexion just doesn’t look right.”
Old Man Chen shot her an irritated glance. “Don’t speak such ominous words! Hurry up! If we don’t move quickly, with this heavy snow, even if there’s no problem, the cold will cause one!”
Aunt Chen immediately fell silent and quickened her pace, supporting Chen Shian as they made their way home.
By the time they arrived at their house, they were greeted by a pleasant aroma wafting through the air.
After settling Chen Shian down to rest, Aunt Chen furrowed her brow and asked her eldest daughter-in-law, Sun Shi, “Where is that smell coming from?”
Sun Shi, with a look of impatience, glanced at the house next door. “The old Tan family is making soy sauce.”
Aunt Chen was somewhat angered by her dismissive attitude but didn’t dare to express it.
She had hoped that after returning to Fengping Village, her eldest daughter-in-law would settle down, but to her surprise, she remained the same as before. Now that she was pregnant, Aunt Chen felt it would be unwise to offend her.
Sun Shi didn’t show much concern for the sickly Chen Shian, her expression more one of disdain. “A grown man, no skills, but he sure knows how to bully children.”
Aunt Chen was confused. “What? What are you talking about?”
Sun Shi glanced at the house next door and continued, “Your good son has a grudge against the second son of the Tan family. He even went so far as to fight with a few kids. Not only that, but he lost his footing and fell into the pond. He’s really disgraced the entire family’s ancestors.”
Aunt Chen’s expression darkened immediately, a look of displeasure crossing her face. “How do you know this?”
Sun Shi slammed the bowl she held onto the table. “How do I know? In broad daylight, someone naturally saw it.”
Aunt Chen was furious. “Speak properly! Don’t just throw things around!”
Sun Shi was as stubborn as a mule, responding only to softness. Her temper flared even more when Aunt Chen raised her voice. “I did throw the bowl! What’s it to you? Who do you think you are, talking to me like that!”
Suddenly, Old Man Chen turned sharply and bellowed with a harsh tone. “Eldest daughter-in-law! How dare you talk to your mother-in-law like that? No respect, no decency!”
Sun Shi, faced with both Aunt Chen and Old Man Chen scolding her, grew even more enraged. She directly grabbed the bowls from the cabinet, stormed out to the courtyard, and began smashing them, one by one, while shouting, “Neighbors! Come and judge for yourselves! This Old Chen family is full of scoundrels! I’m pregnant, and yet they dared to insult me right to my face! Neighbors, help me out here!”
Inside the house, Old Tan and Wan Chunmei heard the sound of breaking dishes and cries from outside. They weren’t sure what had happened. Quickly, they pulled back the curtain and peered out. They saw Sun Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Chen family, smashing bowls at the front door. Her small, pitiful figure looked both aggrieved and vulnerable.
Wan Chunmei quickly lowered the curtain and said, “Heavenly Father, this Chen family’s eldest daughter-in-law really is fiery-tempered. Looks like she’s not someone easy to deal with!”
Old Tan turned back to tidy up the things on the stove. “I saw something similar when I was at the county. Old Chen’s family is in for trouble.”
Wan Chunmei came over, packing the remaining condiments into a jar and sealing it. She patted the lid. “In a few days, it will be ready to eat.”
Old Tan glanced at Tan Erqian in the inner room. “When will Erqian return?”