Chapter 6: Driving Away the Eldest Aunt

As soon as Madam Jiang thought about the eggs, her anger flared even more. Their family was considered one of the wealthier households in Changliu Village. They had five or six hens in the backyard, and during springtime, they could collect five or six eggs daily. However, they were too frugal to eat them. Instead, they saved them up to sell at the county market for money.

Yet, this dirt-poor Zhou family, who barely had enough rice to cook, could actually afford to eat eggs?

She pointed at the bowl of eggs and barked fiercely, “Second Sister, where did you get these duck eggs? Did you steal them from my house?”

The two families were separated by only a single wall, built back when they split their household. Their courtyards were right next to each other.

Du Wanchun calmly explained, “Eldest Aunt, these are eggs laid by our own ducks.”

Madam Jiang, already fuming, shouted at her, “Who asked you? I was talking to your mother! Why are you answering?!”

Her loud outburst enraged Madam Zhou. She pulled Du Wanchun behind her protectively and snapped, “Jiang Qiujun, my daughter-in-law is not someone you have the right to scold!”

Madam Jiang narrowed her long eyes and curled her lips into a mocking smile. “She’s the younger generation. As her elder, why can’t I correct her?”

Madam Zhou refused to back down. “Don’t forget, you and my eldest brother severed ties with me long ago. The only reason we still let Wanchun call you Eldest Aunt today is out of respect for my brother. If you continue to act so rudely, don’t blame us for driving you out with a dung-stirring stick!”

Madam Jiang was momentarily stunned.

Back when her sister-in-law first returned from the capital with her children, she had been delicate and refined, just like a noble lady. But now, she had grown bold and unyielding. It seemed she had truly changed.

“Hmph! Since you said that, I won’t leave today!” Madam Jiang declared, folding her arms across her chest in defiance.

Madam Zhou was livid. Normally, she could tolerate Madam Jiang’s antics, but today was different—it was Wanchun’s first day in the house. How could she allow her to be humiliated like this?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Without hesitation, she turned and went to the latrine, pulling out an actual dung-stirring stick.

She waved it at Madam Jiang and shouted, “Get out! Get out of my house right now!”

Madam Jiang was horrified by the foul-smelling stick and immediately jumped up. “Chen Yue’e, put that thing down!”

But Madam Zhou, with a deep frown, lifted the stick higher as if ready to swing it at her.

Terrified, Madam Jiang turned on her heels and bolted.

Madam Zhou chased after her, stick in hand.

Madam Jiang ran forward as fast as she could. Perhaps because she was in a hurry, she accidentally tripped over a stone at the courtyard entrance.

With a loud thud, her greasy face landed directly in the mud.

“Ouch! My goodness!” Madam Jiang cried out in pain.

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Ruiyuan also came out. He was sitting in a chair with two wheels, slowly making his way over.

Seeing this, Madam Zhou immediately put away the dung-stirring stick and strode back to the latrine.

Zhou Ruiyuan, now in charge, narrowed his eyes and gave Zhou Zhao a meaningful look.

Zhou Zhao understood his brother’s intention right away. He quickly ran into the house, grabbed the broken duck eggshells from the kitchen, and chased after Madam Jiang.

By this time, Madam Jiang had already gotten up from the ground and left the courtyard.

Zhou Zhao caught up with her, holding the eggshells in his hands. “Eldest Aunt!”

Madam Jiang heard his voice and turned around.

Without hesitation, Zhou Zhao flung the eggshells directly at her face. “Eldest Aunt, take a good look! Are these chicken eggs or duck eggs?”

The bluish-green eggshells, still sticky with egg residue, smacked against her face with a sting.

Madam Jiang yelped and angrily cursed, “You little deaf brat, are you looking to die?!”

Zhou Zhao stood his ground, his young face full of pride as he laughed. “Eldest Aunt, you don’t have to call me deaf anymore. My ears are perfectly fine now!”

Madam Jiang was utterly stunned. She stood there in a daze for a long moment before stomping her feet in frustration and storming off back home.

From a distance, Du Wanchun watched the scene unfold and couldn’t help but laugh.

Her soft giggles, like wind chimes in September, were crisp and pleasant to the ears.

In that moment, it felt as if something in the old, worn-down house had changed.

Zhou Ruiyuan slowly lifted his gaze toward Du Wanchun. After a long silence, he finally asked, “Your name is Du Wanchun?”

Du Wanchun lowered her head slightly and smiled at him. “Yes.”

Zhou Ruiyuan glanced in the direction where Madam Jiang had disappeared, then said in a steady voice, “Wanchun, if anyone bullies you again in the future, just stand behind me.”

He extended his long, pale fingers and gently tapped his own legs before continuing, “Even if I can’t stand, I can still protect you.”

His voice was deep and steady, carrying a hint of refinement and elegance.

With the sunlight streaming in from outside, Du Wanchun finally noticed Zhou Ruiyuan’s broad frame. His shoulders were wide, his posture upright, and even though he appeared a little frail while sitting in the chair, she could tell that if he were able to stand, he would be a tall and imposing man.

She smiled and nodded. “Got it, husband.”

That single word—husband—made Zhou Ruiyuan’s heart race, and his ears unconsciously turned red.

Du Wanchun pushed his wheelchair gently and said, “Come on, husband, let’s go inside and eat.”

“Mm.” Zhou Ruiyuan responded softly.

He had already agreed to this marriage from the start. But now, after just this one meeting, he suddenly felt determined—he had to get better.

She had called herself a fool, yet she did not despise him for being crippled.

But she wasn’t a fool at all.

And if she wasn’t, then he couldn’t remain crippled either.

The pride that had been stripped away from Zhou Ruiyuan over the past three years seemed to return in that instant. He refused to be weaker than this little girl standing before him.