Chapter 30: Sharpening Their Knives at the Second Sister-in-Law

As she was dozing off, a boisterous voice came from outside.

“Sister-in-law, I heard Táng’er bought many good things back from town today?” Before coming, Ma Zhaolan only heard it from the villagers. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she smelled the meat buns, her stomach rumbling.

Song Yuntang frowned, sat up, and looked out the window.

The cheerful Ma Zhaolan pushed aside Zhao Qiao’e, who opened the door, and went to the kitchen, acting as if it were her own home.

“These days, it’s not easy to eat good food. Father and Mother are old and their teeth aren’t good. These meat buns are soft and perfect for them. I’ll take some to show respect.”

She came at this time because the three adult men were out working.

Zhao Shi was soft and easy to manipulate; Liu Shi was pregnant; and Song Yuntang was aloof and didn’t care about these things, so she wouldn’t make a fuss.

Her family hadn’t had meat for a long time, and her grandson was crying. She didn’t expect the third son’s family to have money left to buy buns.

Zhao Qiao’e didn’t expect Ma Zhaolan to head straight for the kitchen. She quickly ran forward to stop her.

“Second Sister-in-law, Xiangyun is pregnant. We don’t have much to spare.”

Ma Zhaolan was taller and stronger than Zhao Qiao’e.  She pushed Zhao Shi aside and went into the kitchen, seeing the meat buns covered by a bamboo winnowing basket.

“Father and Mother raised you for so many years. What’s wrong with taking a few buns to show respect?”

Zhao Qiao’e was so angry that she stomped her foot.

“Second Sister-in-law, if you want to show respect to Father and Mother, you can buy them yourself. Why take ours?”

Ma Zhaolan sneered, her face twisted with malice. “What are you saying? We’re brothers and sisters; why be so formal?”

She didn’t bother choosing, directly scooping up the bowl of buns.  It seemed she intended to take all eight, their family’s planned dinner.

Zhao Shi, unable to physically stop her, could only cry, blocking the doorway.

“They say even brothers should settle accounts clearly, let alone after we’ve divided the family. Second Sister-in-law, coming to my house to snatch things like this is truly inappropriate.”

Having been given the day off, Zhuzi and Zhuangzi, brothers who were studying in their room, and Liu Shi, all came out. Seeing the commotion in the kitchen, they were both angry and indignant.

“Those buns were bought by Big Sister; Second Aunt can’t take them,” Zhuzi angrily declared.

Zhuangzi echoed, “Exactly, Second Aunt can’t take them.”

Ma Zhaolan glared at the two brothers, hands on her hips, scolding, “Little brats! You’re so young, yet you’re as unfilial as your mother! Your grandparents are eating gruel at home, while you’re enjoying delicious food here, without even taking care of the old couple.”

The sun was already setting.  Households had opened their gates. The village was usually quiet, and the commotion immediately attracted onlookers.

Villagers knew Ma Zhaolan’s character.

Seeing the scene through the gate, they guessed her intentions.

Their faces were full of disdain.

“She says it’s for the Song family’s elders, but it’ll end up in Song Lao’er’s family’s mouths.”

“This Ma Shi is shameless, actually running to her younger brother-in-law’s house to grab food!  A few buns aren’t that expensive; they could buy them if they gritted their teeth. Why steal?”

“Zhao Shi is also spineless. When there’s good food at home, she knows Ma Shi is fierce, so she shouldn’t let her in. Now the food’s been taken, with Ma Shi’s nature, she’ll definitely grab it.”

…

Ma Shi seemed to hear the whispers.

“Zhao Shi, don’t stop me. I still need to send buns to Father and Mother.”

Zhao Qiao’e clung to the kitchen doorframe, refusing to let go. “If you want to send them, we’ll do it ourselves. We only have these few buns; if you take them all, what will we eat?”

Ma Shi raised an eyebrow. “We’re brothers and sisters; why are you so stingy?”

Zhao Qiao’e felt a pain in her chest.

“Is this about stinginess?”

As the two were at an impasse, Song Yuntang calmly emerged from the house.  She walked to the kitchen, taking a chipped knife from a hanging basket under the eaves.

To everyone’s surprise, she wetted the knife with water from a ladle, then sharpened it against the edge of the water jar.

The scraping of metal against the jar made a harsh sound, making Ma Shi uneasy.

“Sister-in-law, please move. I’ll definitely deliver these buns to Father and Mother.”

Before Zhao Shi could speak, Song Yuntang’s light voice rang out by the water jar, “If you dare take even one bun today, this knife will see blood.”

Her words made Ma Shi’s eyelids twitch. She pointed at her, furious, “Song Yuntang, it’s just a few buns. Are you going to kill someone?”

Song Yuntang curled her lips. “Killing is boring. Death is too easy for you.”

“Losing an ear, a finger, or an eye… it’ll hurt, but you’ll remember the lesson. Isn’t that better?” She stood, holding the knife, walking towards the kitchen. “Second Aunt, I’m your niece. You won’t report me to the authorities, right?”

Then she added, “Even if you do, it’s fine. You committed robbery; I’m acting in self-defense. Everyone saw it; they’ll testify for me.”

She laughed.

Despite her beautiful face, her crazed expression looked demonic to Ma Shi.

“Don’t come near me!”

Terror-stricken, she took two steps back.

Ma Shi realized she had underestimated Song Yuntang. Since her suicide attempt, she seemed crazier each time.

Song Yuntang lightly pushed Zhao Shi aside, entering the kitchen. Zhao Shi, staring at the knife, was also terrified.

“Tang’er, don’t do anything rash.”

Though she knew Song Yuntang wasn’t reckless, she feared she might hurt herself.

Seeing Song Yuntang enter the kitchen, Ma Shi backed away again, holding the bowl. “Song Yuntang, you’ve gone mad!”

Song Yuntang smiled. “Second Aunt, don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”

Seeing Song Yuntang charge towards her with the knife, Ma Shi, terrified, put the bowl back on the stove, screaming and dodging.

“I don’t want the buns! I don’t want any! Don’t come near me!”

However, Song Yuntang didn’t listen, continuing the cat-and-mouse game to scare her.

“That won’t do. What if Aunt disobeys and comes to steal again? It’s better to cut off an ear today, a lesson learned, and she’ll be more restrained for a long time.”