Chapter 16: What? Do you mind me talking too much? We’re all from the same village; shouldn’t we clear things up?

“You know, I overheard some of what you said! Niu San’s wife, it turns out you told Old Lady He that I didn’t give you the money for killing the pig!”

Niu Laosan’s wife was caught off guard, unable to look Shen Xuezhu in the eye for a moment.

Shen Xuezhu continued, “I remember Niu San’s wife telling me not to pay for the pig meat! But then you told Old Lady He that I didn’t give you the money!”

“Isn’t that a double standard? You say one thing to my face and another behind my back?”

“Besides, I’m not refusing to give you the money. When Niu San finished with the wild boar, he said he didn’t want the meat or the payment, and then he just left.”

“My little Li was crying at that time, so I went to comfort her. I figured we’re all from the same village, and I could give you the money later today.”

Niu Laosan’s wife had never been talked to like this, and she was furious.

She turned around and shouted, “What are you talking about? This is all a misunderstanding!”

“When you were at my house today, I politely said not to pay for the pig meat, and you didn’t insist on giving the money.”

“If you had clearly told me you wanted to pay, would I have gone and told Old Lady He you didn’t want to give us the money?”

“You said you would give it to us later, but how do I know if you really want to give it, or if you’re just putting it off?”

“Besides, how long is ‘later’? Will it be tonight, tomorrow, or the day after? Or will it keep getting delayed…”

Shen Xuezhu was clear-headed and her tone was strong, matching Niu Laosan’s wife’s sharp words. “What? Do you mind me talking too much? We’re all from the same village, shouldn’t we clear things up? We’ll keep seeing each other, after all!”

“These things can’t just be a misunderstanding! You think you can cover up your double standards by calling it a misunderstanding? Or are you feeling guilty and just calling it that?”

Niu Laosan’s wife couldn’t come up with a response. She just glared at Shen Xuezhu.

Old Lady He, who had been scolded earlier, felt pleased after hearing Shen Xuezhu’s words.

That Niu Laosan’s wife had come to yell at her earlier, giving her a hard time and a sour face—she had been holding onto that frustration.

Now, Shen Xuezhu had put Niu Laosan’s wife in her place.

At that moment, Zhang La’er’s wife came out of the kitchen with a bag of sweet potato flour and handed it to Shen Xuezhu.

“Xiao Mountain’s wife, you brought wild boar meat to our house, but we’re poor and don’t have anything to give in return.”

“This bag of sweet potato flour, please take it home with you.”

Shen Xuezhu knew that if she didn’t accept the sweet potato flour, Zhang La’er’s wife would feel too embarrassed to take the wild boar meat. So, she took the flour. “Thank you.”

She was about to continue what she had been saying. “Niu San’s wife, when you said at your house that you didn’t want the pig money, I actually wanted to insist on giving it to you.”

“Just then, I heard Niu San speak, so I didn’t say anything.”

“Before this, didn’t I tell you that Niu San and his family were fine either with taking some of the wild boar meat or with the market price for killing pigs? They could choose.”

“See, I already made everything clear from the start. But later, you acted polite and said you didn’t want the money for the pig.”

Was Shen Xuezhu really that smart, or had she just learned to speak more eloquently? Either way, her words were sharp and on point.

Since things had already gone this far, Niu Laosan’s wife didn’t feel like pretending anymore.

“Fine, I see you’re not going to give the money now. Since I’m here, just hand it over.”

“We’re from the same village, so I’m only asking for two hundred wen. Out there, others charge three hundred.”

Shen Xuezhu shook her head. “No, I can’t give you the money now! There are only Old Lady He and Zhang Er’s wife here to witness it. There are too few people. I’ll come to your house later.”

“You don’t want to pay, do you?” Niu Laosan’s wife sneered.