Chapter 13 – The Worthless Cousin

Shen Junmei: “……”

The meat wasn’t taken by her?

“Heh, if it wasn’t you who took it, then it must’ve been you stealing from our in-laws. Either way, it’s still your fault!”

Ruan Jiaojiao deliberately acted like she’d been exposed, lowering her head and stammering: “But, but…”

Seeing her like that, Shen Junmei grew smug, her confidence soaring. She pressed on:
“Hmph, it must’ve been you who stole from our in-laws! If not, then I, Shen Junmei, will kneel down and kowtow to you, calling you great-aunt!”

“No need for kowtows. Just eat your pig slop, that’ll do.”

“Fine! Wait… what?”

At that moment, Ruan Jiaojiao dropped her act. Her rosy lips curled into a sly, playful smile that made her look even cuter.

From the crowd, an old Grandma stepped forward—it was none other than the one who had given Ruan Jiaojiao chicken earlier after Jiaojiao had greeted her politely.

This old woman was over ninety, the eldest in Shanjiao Village. Despite her age, she was still spry enough to work and earn labor points.

Her surname was Xue, so everyone called her Grandma Xue.

In such a remote village, the older someone was, the more respect they commanded. People quickly made way for her—not just out of respect, but because whenever someone passed away, families asked Grandma Xue to wash and dress the body, recite scripture, and help send the deceased off in peace.

Grandma Xue’s life had been bitter. As a young girl she’d been made a concubine, then falsely accused of having an affair with a servant. She was thrown into a river to drown, but the current carried her to Shanjiao Village where she was rescued.

She had a hard life but survived, later marrying her rescuer and giving birth to a son. Misfortune struck again—her husband was killed by bandits, and her infant son was carried off by wolves.

She insisted on keeping her husband’s spirit company, living as a widow for more than sixty years in lonely hardship.

But after sixty years of vegetarian fasting and prayer, a miracle came—her son hadn’t been eaten by wolves. A kind soul had rescued him, and he later joined the army. Though he lost a leg in battle, he was sent home with generous compensation from the state.

Grandma Xue used some of that money to buy pork. Remembering Ruan Jiaojiao’s kindness in sharing chicken with her, she returned the favor by gifting Jiaojiao a piece of streaky pork.

When Grandma Xue explained, those who had blindly accused Ruan Jiaojiao felt their faces burn with shame.

So it was true—the young wife of the Fu family had really mended her ways. And Shen Junmei had slandered her!

“Little sister-in-law, go ahead and eat.”

By now, a mischievous child had brought over a basin of pig slop and placed it in front of Shen Junmei.

At this, not only Dabao but even Xiaobao burst into tears.

When they were little, Fu Ting had left the boys in Shen Junmei’s care while he was away. Though he had paid her for it, she had fed them pig slop! If they didn’t eat it, they would have gone hungry.

Even a tiger wouldn’t harm its cubs, yet Shen Junmei had treated her own nephews with such cruelty?

“Jiaojiao, look, we’re all family. What’s past is past, let’s not fight anymore, okay? Let’s shake hands and make peace, alright?”

Sensing things were going badly, Shen Junmei tried to change tactics, using moral blackmail.

She leaned close and whispered so only those nearby could hear:
“Jiaojiao, we’re both daughters-in-law of the Fu family. If we quarrel, outsiders will laugh at us. Don’t they say, ‘family shame shouldn’t be aired in public’…”

But Jiaojiao had no patience for her whining. She simply rolled her wrist, silently warning: Eat it, or I’ll make you.

Having already been frightened by Jiaojiao’s earlier blows, Shen Junmei dared not defy her. She lowered her head and began eating.

Even someone used to coarse grains and wild greens like Shen Junmei couldn’t bear the stench of pig slop. How much worse must it have been for Dabao and Xiaobao, who were barely a year old back then!

Ruan Jiaojiao’s heart hardened further. She felt no pity for Shen Junmei, only anger at how inhumanely the children had been treated.

Soon, Shen Junmei was crying as she ate, wailing as though she were the victim. But no one present was fooled. Everyone knew she had brought this on herself.

Her husband, Fu Jun, was away working in the city and couldn’t shield her. Her in-laws were busy with their own land.

Worse yet, her precious son turned on her, kicking and punching her for embarrassing him and dragging his reputation down too.

Just then, her eldest daughter, Zhaodi, ran out from next door. She crouched down and said: “Mom, climb on, I’ll carry you back.”

Shen Junmei finally found an outlet for her emotions. She climbed onto her daughter’s back, clawing and pinching her while cursing:
“Useless thing! Worthless! Can’t even give me and Golden Egg a good life!”

Poor Zhaodi had to carry her mother while also keeping an eye on her little brother, leading the troublesome pair back home.

“Shameless girl! Why are you running around outside? Girls should stay at home! Who taught you to go out seducing men like some people…”

Her scolding faded into the distance, but the gossip around them continued.

“That’s Zhaodi, isn’t it? She’s grown so much already. Developed pretty well too—her figure’s way better than her mother’s. She’ll definitely bear big healthy sons.”

“She’s fourteen now, the same age as my second boy—they were born the same day!”

“Perfect! What a match—why don’t you have your son propose?”

“Good heavens, just look at her mother and brother. Who would dare marry her? If you do, you’ll be stuck with a greedy mother-in-law and a useless brother-in-law for life. She’d be trapped supporting them forever!”

“You’re right. No matter how pretty or virtuous Zhaodi is, she’s not marriage material. No way.”

Ruan Jiaojiao stared after Zhaodi, lost in thought.

Dabao and Xiaobao had only suffered a few months under Shen Junmei’s care and already endured so much pain. But Zhaodi had lived under her mother’s tyranny for more than ten years—the psychological scars must run far deeper.

And since Shen Junmei was her own mother, the hurt she inflicted would only cut closer to the bone.

“Mommy,” Dabao tugged at Jiaojiao’s sleeve softly, “Sister Zhaodi is really kind. When Black Egg bullied us, she always stood up for us… she just didn’t dare hit him. She could only shield me and Xiaobao, taking the beatings for us…”

Xiaobao nodded eagerly: “Mommy, Sister Zhaodi is so good. Let’s have her come live with us. She can be my and brother’s wife, okay?”