“Dashan, go untie the rope.”

Cheng Wanwan spoke coldly.

Old Madam Cheng immediately retorted, “No! These two little bastards must be taught a lesson. Let’s see if they dare steal from our Cheng family again!”

Zhao Dashan stood still, unsure whom to listen to.

Cheng Wanwan shot him a sharp glance. “What? My words don’t count anymore?”

Zhao Dashan immediately walked over to the big locust tree, hurriedly untied the rope, and helped his two younger brothers sit on the ground.

“Spoiling a child is like harming them! If you keep coddling them like this, these two brats will cause a major disaster sooner or later!” Old Madam Cheng spoke like someone who had seen it all. “If you ask me, they should be tied to the tree and starved for a few days and nights. That’ll straighten them out!”

Cheng Wanwan’s voice remained icy. “These are my sons. I will discipline them myself. It’s not up to outsiders to interfere.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Cheng frowned. Why does this second daughter seem… different?

From the doorway of the main hall, Cheng’s eldest sister-in-law sneered, “Second Sister, Mother is your own mother. How can she be an outsider? That kind of talk will break her heart.”

Cheng Wanwan smirked coldly. “From the moment my eldest brother smashed my head open yesterday, I stopped being part of the Cheng family.” Her lips curled into a chilling smile. “All this fuss over a single hen, demanding two taels of silver in compensation. I’ve never seen a family that scams their own married daughter like this!”

Old Madam Cheng’s expression hardened. “That hen alone isn’t worth two taels of silver, but it lays eggs. Over ten years, its eggs could easily be worth that much!”

“Fine,” Cheng Wanwan sneered. “Let’s say it is worth two taels. Forget all the old accounts—let’s talk about just last year. When Dashan’s father died in battle, the government granted us a twenty-tael pension. My eldest brother borrowed all of it. Even after deducting the hen’s cost, you still owe me eighteen taels. When does the Cheng family plan to pay me back?”

At these words, Cheng’s eldest sister-in-law exploded. “That twenty taels was your gift to the Cheng family! When did you say it was a loan?”

Cheng Wanwan laughed. “Debt must be repaid. It’s the way of the world. I don’t mind taking this to the magistrate. But I wonder—will Cheng Zhao agree to let his family be publicly humiliated over a mere twenty taels?”

Cheng Zhao was the family’s scholar—the most educated person in Chengjia Village.

He was already a tongsheng (a qualified candidate for higher imperial exams) and had a good chance of becoming a xiucai (a government-recognized scholar).

The original Cheng Wanwan had believed in her nephew’s future so much that she poured everything into supporting her family, hoping to benefit from his success.

But instead of receiving gratitude, she had been beaten to death over a chicken.

Because Cheng Zhao was a scholar, the Cheng family valued their reputation immensely.

If this dispute ended up in court, Cheng Zhao’s image at the academy would be ruined.

Old Madam Cheng would never allow that.

“Second Sister, are you crazy?” Cheng’s eldest sister-in-law was in disbelief. “If you dare go to court, Cheng Zhao will never acknowledge you again!”

Cheng Wanwan sneered. “Whether he does or not, I don’t care. I only have one question—when will you return my eighteen taels?”

“You shameless, worthless girl! How dare you come here demanding money? Who gave you the nerve?” Old Madam Cheng flew into a rage.

She grabbed a wooden stick and swung it at Cheng Wanwan. “You wretched girl! You dare defy your own mother? I’ll beat you to death!”

Zhao Dashan rushed forward in fury, shielding Cheng Wanwan.

Cheng Wanwan dodged the stick and spoke icily. “Since you insist on making this ugly, then we’ll settle it in court. Dashan, Er’gou, San’niu—we’re going to town to file a case!”

She turned on her heel and strode toward the gate with unwavering determination.

Old Madam Cheng was so furious she nearly collapsed.

Raising daughters is truly a loss—this one is even dragging her own family to court!

Is there no justice left in the world?

Cheng’s eldest sister-in-law rushed out in panic.

If this went to court, her son’s reputation—her greatest source of pride—would be ruined.

She gritted her teeth and whispered to Old Madam Cheng, “Mother, I think Second Sister is still upset from yesterday’s incident. She’s just acting out of anger. If she really goes to town and files a case, we’ll be humiliated. It’s only eighteen taels—just agree for now. Once she calms down, this matter will fade. And even if she doesn’t let it go, when Cheng Zhao becomes an official, will we even care about such a small amount?”

Once my son becomes an official, I’ll make sure that wretched woman never benefits from it!

Old Madam Cheng understood immediately. She huffed in frustration but finally conceded. “Fine. Once Cheng Zhao passes the exams, the Cheng family will repay every coin.”

Cheng Wanwan’s smile widened.

She turned to Cheng’s second sister-in-law, who had been quietly watching the drama unfold. “Second Sister-in-law, when Eldest Sister-in-law gets her hands on some silver, come to Dahe Village and tell me. Just for delivering the message, I’ll split the eighteen taels with you.”

Cheng’s second sister-in-law looked shocked. “Are you serious?”

“Of course,” Cheng Wanwan replied with a smile. “If I don’t pay up, you can go to court and sue me.”

Cheng’s second sister-in-law had long resented the eldest sister-in-law, who always flaunted her son’s scholarly achievements.

Now that Cheng Wanwan had set them against each other, their household would be in constant turmoil.

With that, Cheng Wanwan turned to leave—when a familiar scent stopped her.

Chicken soup.

She strode inside without hesitation.

This time, there was an air of authority around her—completely different from the timid woman she once was.

The Cheng family stared blankly as she stormed into the house and emerged holding a steaming pot of chicken soup.

She handed it straight to her two younger sons. “Drink up.”

Cheng’s eldest sister-in-law screamed. “What are you doing?! That was for Cheng Zhao!”

“You demanded two taels for this hen, didn’t you?” Cheng Wanwan blinked innocently. “Since I’ve already paid, this chicken soup belongs to my Zhao family now.”

Zhao Er’gou and Zhao San’niu were starving.

They gulped down the soup eagerly, grabbed a drumstick each, and tore into it.

They even handed a chicken wing to Zhao Dashan, who quietly tucked the other half of the chicken into his sleeve—he would bring it home for Hui Niang to recover.

Old Madam Cheng nearly fainted from rage.

She had tried to scam two taels but ended up owing eighteen instead.

And the chicken soup meant for her beloved grandson had gone straight into those little brats’ stomachs.

“You useless wretch! Don’t ever come back!” Old Madam Cheng shrieked. “You’ve severed ties with your family—don’t expect us to help if you get bullied in the future!”

Cheng Wanwan couldn’t care less.

As she turned to leave, her eyes landed on the silver hairpin in Old Madam Cheng’s bun.

Before anyone could react, she strode over and yanked it out.

“This… this was a gift from Dashan’s father,” she murmured, twirling it in her fingers. “I thought I lost it, but it turns out the Cheng family stole it. Well, it’s time to return it to its rightful owner.”

The word “stole” sent Old Madam Cheng into a fit of rage.

She gasped, her vision darkened, and with a final furious glare—she fainted on the spot.