Chapter 23: Seeking Justice

Grandma Wang watched coldly as Madam Zhang tearfully recounted Wang Qing’er’s “atrocities,” her wrinkled face full of gloom.

Madam Zhang dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief while sneaking glances at Grandma Wang’s expression. Seeing that she was pursing her lips but not about to explode, Madam Zhang felt uneasy. She pulled Fuquan forward, “Mother, you must take a good look. This is your eldest grandson. What if his face is scarred?”

As she spoke, she secretly pinched his arm where Grandma Wang couldn’t see. Fuquan cried out in pain, “Grandma, it hurts!”

Wang Qing’er, always straightforward, couldn’t stand the act. She clenched her fists and was about to step forward, but Wang Yuan’er held her back and shook her head.

Wang Qing’er, full of indignation, trusted her elder sister and held back, glaring at them with all her might.

Wang Yuan’er wasn’t one to swallow her anger, but it wasn’t their turn to speak yet. She knew her grandmother’s temper—stubborn and intolerant of defiance but reasonable in important matters.

“Eldest daughter-in-law, what do you have to say?” Grandma Wang looked at Madam Liang.

Madam Liang’s face was still pale, her expression sorrowful. It was unclear if it was Madam Zhang’s words or her own life’s bitterness. Hearing Grandma Wang’s question, she seemed lost.

Seeing her like this, Grandma Wang’s face darkened further. She had never been fond of this daughter-in-law. Despite being a scholar’s daughter, what use was it? She was weak and incapable. Now that the eldest son was gone, how would the first household rise?

“Mother, the children were just playing,” Madam Liang said with a forced smile, twisting her fingers nervously.

“Sister-in-law, you make it sound so simple. Fuquan is the eldest grandson of the Wang family, the one to carry on the family line. What if his face is scarred?” Zhang Shi snorted.

“Exactly. If I can’t find a good wife and have sons, don’t blame me, Grandma,” Fuquan said arrogantly, chin raised.

Wang Yuan’er found it amusing. Such a young brat talking about finding a wife—this was Madam Zhang’s teaching. No wonder he ended up in brothels in his previous life.

Thinking of this, Wang Yuan’er showed a hint of mockery, which Grandma Wang noticed.

“Yuan’er, what’s that look on your face?” Grandma Wang glared at her.

“Grandma, since Second Aunt brought it up, I must seek justice too. How can a thief be in the right?” Wang Yuan’er pointed at Fuquan. “People say a family thief is hard to guard against. I never thought our Wang family would have one. Today, it’s stealing eggs; tomorrow, it could be stealing land deeds.”

“I didn’t steal anything,” Fuquan retorted.

“Taking without asking is stealing,” Wang Qing’er stepped forward. “We didn’t even eat those tea eggs, but you stole and ate three. If I hadn’t caught you, you’d have eaten them all.”

“It’s just a few eggs. Is it worth…” Madam Zhang began to defend her son.

“Shut up,” Grandma Wang snapped, her eyes sharp. She glared at Fuquan, “Did you steal them?” Her gaze was like a knife.

Fuquan swallowed, glanced at his mother, and stammered, “I… I only ate three.”

Grandma Wang pursed her lips, got off the kang, and scanned the room. She grabbed a stick from beside the bed and struck Fuquan’s hand, “I’ll teach you to be greedy and steal. You disgraceful child, today I’ll teach you how to behave.”

Chapter 24: Madam Liang’s Intentions

The incident of Fuquan stealing eggs was settled with Madam Zhang paying ten wen as compensation, but because Fuquan received a good beating from Grandma Wang, the second and first households held a grudge against each other from then on.

“Ten wen is still too cheap for them,” Wang Qing’er said, counting the ten coins in her hand.

“You’d dive into a pile of money if you could,” Wang Yuan’er teased, poking her forehead.

Wang Qing’er pretended to be in pain, handed the money to Wang Yuan’er, and was about to go out when she suddenly bumped into the corner of a stool, this time clutching her leg in real pain.

“What happened?” Wang Yuan’er and Madam Liang were startled, quickly helping her to sit on the kang. They rolled up her pant leg to see several bruises on her fair calf.

Madam Liang was stunned, “How did this happen?”

Wang Yuan’er, remembering Fuquan’s actions earlier, said, “This must be from Fuquan kicking her.”

Madam Liang fell silent.

Wang Qing’er, however, nonchalantly said, “Mom, it doesn’t hurt at all. Fuquan is just a paper tiger; he can’t hurt me. I scratched him harder.”

“How can it not hurt?” Madam Liang sniffled, her voice heavy with emotion. She took a bottle of medicinal oil from the cabinet and was about to apply it when Wang Yuan’er snatched it away.

“Mom, this oil is for promoting blood circulation and removing bruises. You can’t touch it,” Wang Yuan’er said, glancing at her mother’s swollen belly and sighing inwardly. She poured the oil into her hand and gently massaged it onto Wang Qing’er’s bruises.

“Ouch, Eldest Sister, it hurts. Be gentle,” Wang Qing’er winced.

Wang Yuan’er slapped her hand, “Didn’t you say it didn’t hurt? Will you still fight with him? Girls shouldn’t be fighting like boys. It’s embarrassing.”

“If he dares to steal our eggs again, I’ll beat him up,” Wang Qing’er said, clenching her fists and wincing in pain.

Madam Liang felt comforted and saddened by her daughters’ banter, “It’s my fault for being useless.”

Wang Yuan’er paused, saying nothing. Wang Qing’er, unable to sit still, said she was going out to play and ran off.

“Mom, why do you fear Second Aunt? As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wang family, you don’t need to always yield to her, especially when we’re in the right,” Wang Yuan’er said, putting the oil bottle away and sitting beside her mother.

Madam Liang gave a bitter smile and said, “Yuan’er, a woman without a son, even as the eldest daughter-in-law, can’t stand tall. I don’t mind yielding, but Fuquan is the eldest grandson of the Wang family. I’m afraid you’ll suffer if you go against him.”

Wang Yuan’er lowered her head and muttered, “It’s because we haven’t split the family. If we did, we’d be our own household, in charge of ourselves, and wouldn’t have to fear anyone or worry about being schemed against.”

Madam Liang’s heart skipped a beat. She held her daughter’s hand and said, “Talking about splitting the family is easier said than done. Remember, a son is crucial for a woman. It’s your foundation. No matter what, when you marry, you must have a son first. I don’t want you to suffer as I have.”

Wang Yuan’er wanted to argue but felt powerless. She understood her mother’s heartfelt advice.

In this male-dominated society, everyone knew how important a son was to a woman. Even a fool was still a male, like Landlord Li’s fool son in her previous life.