Chapter 9 – Beat Her to Death

Seeing that Wei Dong wouldn’t be staying home much longer, Chen Caiqi had already started helping them pack. The family’s pickled vegetables and newly made clothes all needed to be brought along.

Wei Miaomiao came to ask Lian Yuqing if she had anything to pack.

Of course she did.

She was following Wei Dong to the military base, and in a few months, they would get divorced. There was no point in leaving anything behind, so she needed to take everything with her.

Lian Yuqing and Wei Miaomiao packed two suitcases full of necessities. As for the rest, Lian Yuqing asked Wei Miaomiao to help mail them to the military base.

They were still short on quite a few things, and Wei Miaomiao suggested they go to the market today.

Lian Yuqing’s eyes lit up. She ran over to Wei Dong and stretched out her hand. “Give me money, I need to buy things.”

Afraid he wouldn’t believe her, she even mentioned Wei Miaomiao as backup.

Wei Dong gave her 20 yuan and gave Wei Miaomiao 10 yuan.

Holding the 20 yuan, Lian Yuqing pouted. She actually had to hold out her hands and ask for money, and only got a measly 20 yuan! How the tables had turned.

What she didn’t know was that 20 yuan was equivalent to many people’s monthly salary.

Wei Miaomiao asked, “Big Brother, do you want to come with us?”

Lian Yuqing grabbed her arm. “No need for him. Just us girls.”

Wei Dong continued packing, and Lian Yuqing pulled Wei Miaomiao out the door.

Lian Yuqing had been at the Wei household for a while now, and she liked Wei Miaomiao the most—simple, kind-hearted. She heard the original host used to scold her a lot, but the girl didn’t seem to hold any grudges. Lian Yuqing enjoyed teasing her—just a couple of words and she’d blush.

Her second favorite was Wei Ximin. He didn’t treat her like a daughter-in-law, but more like a daughter. No matter what the original host did, he never got angry.

Bringing Wei Miaomiao out was the right move. She knew where to find affordable, good-quality stuff, and which items didn’t require ration coupons.

They came back fully loaded. Lian Yuqing’s soft hands were red and sore from carrying everything.

Wei Miaomiao hesitated. Her sister-in-law had spent all of the 20 yuan, and if Chen Caiqi found out, she’d definitely scold them for being wasteful.

Normally, Chen Caiqi didn’t let her or second brother take any of big brother’s money, since Wei Dong earned it through hard labor. Today was an exception because she figured her sister-in-law didn’t have enough to spend. But now…

Encouraged by Lian Yuqing, she herself had ended up buying two hair ties and a pair of shoes.

“Big Sister-in-law, when we get home, I’ll give the money back to Big Brother.”

Lian Yuqing, gasping for breath, regretted not bringing Wei Dong along. As annoying as he was, at least he had the strength. “Why give it back?”

“We shouldn’t spend Big Brother’s money.”

Lian Yuqing felt Miaomiao had been too well-behaved—so much so it was a little abnormal. “He’s your actual big brother! What’s the big deal about spending a little money? If he’s got the cash, you should ask him for a sewing machine or a bicycle.”

When she turned eighteen, she had shamelessly asked her cousin for a seaside villa—just so she could host a BBQ for her friends.

Forget it. No point dreaming of that extravagant life now. Just thinking about it hurt her soul.

Wei Miaomiao blushed. How could she possibly ask her big brother for a sewing machine? But at the same time, she was happy—her sister-in-law was so kind, nothing like other women who were overly calculating.

She had a girlfriend whose sister-in-law nearly tore the roof off the house just because her husband bought her a pair of shoes.

“You’re still young and as pretty as a flower. You should doll yourself up more.”

“You’re the prettiest, Big Sister-in-law.”

The topic shifted.

“By the way, Miaomiao,” Lian Yuqing asked, “have you ever dated anyone?”

Wei Miaomiao blushed furiously. “No.”

“That’s such a shame. Listen to me—date as many guys as you want, but don’t get married too early.”

Still stunned by her bold advice, Wei Miaomiao hadn’t had time to react when suddenly someone charged at them. The impact made Lian Yuqing drop all her things.

He Xiaoshan stomped on everything that hit the ground, her voice venomous: “You little vixen! This is all your fault! Why don’t you just go die?!”

All the things she’d shamelessly asked Wei Dong for had just been ruined. If she didn’t beat He Xiaoshan to death today, she’d be a coward, not a Lian.

Lifting her skirt, Lian Yuqing charged forward, yanked He Xiaoshan’s braids hard enough to make her grimace, and shoved her to the ground.

Lian Yuqing was fierce. Her moves were swift and ruthless. She sat on He Xiaoshan’s upper body and slapped her across the face—hard.

But He Xiaoshan did farm work; she was much stronger than Lian Yuqing. Although stunned at first, after a few tries, she managed to shove Lian Yuqing off and started fighting back.

Wei Miaomiao watched in panic as the two wrestled, quickly stepping in to break them up.

Since Lian Yuqing was her sister-in-law, she naturally took her side and tried to pull He Xiaoshan away. Taking advantage of the distraction, Lian Yuqing kicked He Xiaoshan several more times.

They weren’t far from the village, and soon people came over to separate them.

He Xiaoshan was in a pitiful state—her face and neck scratched and bleeding, body aching all over, her clothes a total mess after rolling around in the dirt.

Of course, Lian Yuqing wasn’t much better—hair a mess, and her right cheek scratched.

Wei Dong arrived to find them still struggling to keep fighting.

“Lian Yuqing,” he barked.

Wei Miaomiao stood protectively in front of her sister-in-law, frightened. “Brother…”

“What’s going on now?”

Lian Yuqing glared at him, her eyes full of hatred. She shook off Wei Miaomiao’s hand, and as she passed by Wei Dong, whispered so only he could hear: “Disgusting pair.”

He Xiaoshan screamed, “You vixen, don’t run! I’ll kill you!”

But Lian Yuqing was already walking away.

Wei Dong’s temples throbbed. He turned to look at the hysterical girl. “He Xiaoshan, watch your mouth. Lian Yuqing is my wife.”

He Xiaoshan looked aggrieved. “I got beat up like this, and you’re still defending her?!”

The villagers watching: “…Who else would he defend if not his wife?”

Wei Miaomiao took her sister-in-law’s side and explained everything to Wei Dong.

Realizing he had wrongly blamed Lian Yuqing, he felt a pang of guilt. They had just started getting along again, and now… who knew how messy things would get once they got home.

He Xiaoshan said, “Brother Dongzi, you saw that letter—Lian Yuqing clearly—”

She didn’t finish. The cold, piercing look in Wei Dong’s eyes was terrifying. It felt like if she said one more word, he’d strangle her.

She burst into tears and ran off.

“Big Brother, this time you really misunderstood Big Sister-in-law,” Wei Miaomiao said. “It’s all He Xiaoshan’s fault—she went too far. That’s why Big Sister-in-law fought back.” She squatted down to gather the damaged items, heart aching.

It was a complete mess—her face cream spilled and ruined with dirt. Another bag had been full of fruit.

“She specially bought those for us to eat. They were heavy, but she carried them all herself.”

Wei Dong said, “Miaomiao, you go home first.”

“Huh?”

Lian Yuqing sat on a chair in the main hall, and when she saw only Wei Miaomiao come back, she asked quickly, “Where’s Wei Dong?”

“He said he had something to do. He’ll be back later.”

Lian Yuqing cursed, “Adulterous couple! Scumbag! Country bumpkin! Blind idiot…” The pain from her scratched face made her hiss, “Tch—!”

“Big Sister-in-law, don’t get worked up. Let me help you apply some medicine,” Wei Miaomiao said, putting her things down and running over.