Chapter 8: The Old Hag’s Nemesis

Old Madam Lu was used to beating children. Her sons had grown up with it and didn’t think it was wrong, so now that she beat her grandchildren, both Lu Dage and Lu Lu Zhengheng also felt it was only natural. Their wives, Lu Dasao and Lu Ersao, they didn’t dare to speak up.

As the matriarch of the family, Old Madam Lu ruled with an iron fist. Whoever she ordered to be beaten was beaten, and no one ever questioned her authority. For instance, if Lu Zhengze angered her, she would order Old Man Lu to beat their son. If the daughters-in-law displeased her, she would order her sons to beat their wives. And when her grandchildren crossed her, she would strike them without hesitation, fearing no one.

Lin Wan and Lu Zhengting had just entered the courtyard when they saw the old lady dragging Mingliang by the ear and beating him with a fire poker.

Although Lu Mingliang was still young, he stubbornly refused to beg for mercy. He kept mumbling, “I’m still hungry! Still hungry! You’re mean! You’re mean!”

Old Madam Lu twisted his face, threatening to hang him from the scale hook.

Lu Zhengting moved to intervene, but Lin Wan acted even faster. She rushed forward and snatched Mingliang away. “Is bullying children all you know how to do?”

Lin Wan finally understood: this old hag specialized in bullying children. When they were small, she beat them herself; when they grew older, she made their father do it; and when they married, she ordered her sons to beat their wives. How could you be so vicious, you old witch?!

Old Madam Lu dropped her grandson and turned a cold face on Lin Wan, who had returned empty-handed without cutting grass or gathering firewood. “Hitting my grandson is none of your concern. Wait until you’ve lived long enough to become a mother-in-law yourself before you speak.”

“Children are the blossoms of our nation, little soldiers of the great leaders. How could you beat them at will?” Lin Wan refused to let her have her way. Did she really think she could brush it off by saying, “He’s my child, I’ll beat him if I want”?

Seeing Old Madam Lu’s eyes roll back in anger, she pressed on, “Beat them again, and you’ll regret it. Just wait until they grow up… and you grow old!”

Lu Mingliang chimed in, “When I grow up, I won’t give you any food either! If you’re hungry, drink cold water! If you say you’re hungry, I’ll slap you and call you a liar with a belly full of shit!”

Despite being only five or six years old, Lu Mingliang’s sharp tongue was remarkably agile, especially when arguing with the old women. Even beatings couldn’t stop him from talking back—his verbal sparring skills had been honed to a razor’s edge.

Suddenly feeling at a disadvantage, Old Madam Lu erupted in a fit of self-pitying rage. “Third Son!” she wailed. “Are you just going to stand there and watch your wife bully your own mother?”

Through their recent clashes, Lu Zhengting had realized Lin Wan was Old Madam Lu’s nemesis. He didn’t interfere, busy scooping water into a basin with his back turned, oblivious to the scene behind him.

Lin Wan stuck her tongue out at Old Madam Lu. “Ehhh~ Can’t hear you, you grumpy monkey!”

Lu Mingliang chimed in, “Ehhh~ Can’t hear you, you grumpy monkey!”

Old Madam Lu nearly burst with fury and raised her stick again to hit him, but with Lin Wan there, she couldn’t land a blow.

Lin Wan ignored her and called Lu Mingliang over to wash his hands before going inside to eat with Lu Zhengting.

She first brought out the egg. At the sight of it, Old Madam Lu immediately jumped up, accusing Lin Wan of stealing an egg to eat. Lin Wan rolled her eyes. “This was a gift from Eldest Brother’s family to their new sister-in-law. Do you think everyone is as mean-spirited as you?”

Of course she knew Lu Zhengting had bought it, but if she said so, the old woman would only make a bigger fuss.

She split the egg among Lu Mingliang, Gua’er, and Qian’er.

Lu Bao’er, feeling wronged, cried out, “Third Aunt, why didn’t you give me any?”

Lin Wan said calmly, “Your grandma will give you some. You don’t need mine.”

At home, Lu Bao’er and Lu Mingshan always had eggs to eat, while the other children—even little Lu Mingrui—never got any. Besides, since Lu Zhengting had given her the egg, she could share it with whomever she pleased. No one had the right to demand equal distribution.

Lu Bao’er pouted and whined to Old Madam, tears welling in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Lu Mingliang ate happily, and though Gua’er and Qian’er were hesitant, they couldn’t resist the temptation. They nibbled the egg bit by bit, savoring the taste. Third Aunt is wonderful! She’s pretty, gentle, and generous. Unlike Grandma, who hoards eggs, she shares them with us.

Seeing their pitiful expressions, Lin Wan declared loudly, “If I were in charge, every child would get an egg every day!”

Lu Mingliang and the others’ eyes lit up. When will Third Aunt be in charge?

Old Madam Lu snapped, “Dream on! You? Head of the house? First live long enough to become a mother-in-law.”

Lin Wan sneered. As if becoming an old mother-in-law were some great accomplishment. She ignored her and sat down to eat her porridge.

Old Madam Lu suddenly snatched the basket of cornbread. “No work, no dry food! Stick to thin porridge.”

She even grabbed the coarse bun from Lu Zhengting’s hand. “Eat, eat, eat! All you do is eat. What a waste! Raising you was just raising a thankless wolf!”

Lin Wan slapped the table. “Haven’t you had enough? I’ve warned you—Lu Zhengting is my man. Whoever insults him insults me. Do you think I won’t fight you with my life?”

Lu Zhengting hadn’t even heard what Old Madam Lu said, but he never stopped glancing at Lin Wan, unwilling to miss a word she spoke.

And when she said that, looking ready to risk everything for him, his heart skipped a beat.

“Insult him? I’ll beat him too! He’s my son. I’ll do whatever I please with him!” Old Madam Lu grabbed a rolling pin from the stove and swung it—not at her son, but at Lin Wan.

Lu Zhengting raised his arm to shield Lin Wan, the rolling pin striking his arm with a sickening thud. He remained silent, his brow furrowing tightly. If that blow had landed on Lin Wan, she wouldn’t have been able to withstand it.

Old Madam Lu was enraged that her son dared to protect his wife. In her world, sons obeyed their mothers and beat their wives—never defied her for a woman’s sake! She continued to strike Lu Zhengting, but with a swift twist of his wrist, he disarmed her and tossed the rolling pin onto the table.

Just as Old Madam Lu was about to explode, Lin Wan downed her porridge in one gulp and hurled the bowl straight at her. “Do you think I won’t fight you just because I haven’t yet?”

Old Madam Lu dodged quickly, the bowl landing in the straw by the stove without breaking.

She dared to beat her son, but when it came to a brawl with Lin Wan, she lost her nerve, clutching the bread basket and fleeing into the east room.

Lu Zhengting handed Lin Wan the cornbread roll he was holding. He was used to his mother’s tantrums and ignored them completely, continuing to eat and go about his business as usual.

Lin Wan refused the roll and lowered her head to examine his arm. Lu Zhengting shook his head, indicating he was fine and wouldn’t let her look.

She pressed her hand against his shoulder.

Lu Zhengting understood her meaning perfectly. She was reassuring him, telling him to focus on eating and not interfere if she fought with his mother.

Before he could react, Lin Wan had already charged into the east room.

With the old man and sons away, Old Madam Lu was no match for Lin Wan. Terrified, she backed away. “Wh-what are you doing? You dare lay hands on me?”

Lin Wan sneered at her cowardice, snatched back the bread basket, and slammed it onto the table. Boldly, she called out to the children, “Whoever’s still hungry, come eat!”

“Yay! Third Aunt, you’re the best!” Lu Mingliang immediately leaned over the table, grabbed a coarse roll, and stuffed his cheeks full, grinning at Lu Zhengting. “Third Uncle!”

Lu Zhengting looked at him.

“Hehe, it’d be great if Third Aunt were in charge,” Lu Mingliang said.

Lu Zhengting smiled faintly.

“Third Uncle, you’re really good-looking,” the boy added.

Old Madam Lu wanted to snatch the basket back, but at the sight of Lin Wan’s fierce stance, she feared getting hit and rushed outside instead, determined to fetch her husband and the village cadres to discipline her unfilial son and insolent daughter-in-law.

Lu Mingliang cheered, “Third Aunt, you’re amazing! Even Grandma’s afraid of you, hahaha!”

Lu Bao’er snapped, “Little brat, what nonsense are you spouting? I’ll tell Dad to beat you!”

He grinned, “Well, she’s just an old hag anyway.”

Lu Bao’er, the eldest granddaughter, was doted on by her grandparents and always on their side. Mimicking Old Lady Lu, she picked up the firewood stick and tried to hit her own brother.

But Lin Wan snatched it away and scolded, “You’re already copying your grandma at this age? Do you want to grow up to be an old witch too?”

Frightened by her fierce tone, Lu Bao’er burst into tears and ran off.

Lu Mingliang laughed triumphantly, “All the annoying ones are gone!”