Chapter 96 : Abuse of Martyrs’ Families

He Lilan was enjoying her meal, her face shiny with oil, while He Zhengdong sat outside the door, swallowing hard in frustration.

He was angry, expecting them to call him for dinner. But as he waited and waited, they began to clean up the dishes.

He Zhengdong’s face turned red with anger. How unfair! His new sister-in-law was indeed a bad person!

Xu Lihua was paying attention to what was happening in the south house, hoping to hear some commotion. After listening for a long time and hearing nothing, she couldn’t help but come out to see.

As soon as she looked, she spotted He Zhengdong sitting by the door.

Her eyes rolled as a thought struck her, and she called out, “Zhengdong, why are you sitting here? Aren’t you going in to eat? Oh dear, your new sister-in-law wouldn’t deny you food on her first day here, would she? That’s just too pitiful!”

He Zhengdong stood up awkwardly. “Aunt, it’s not…”

“You haven’t eaten, have you?”

“Not yet.”

Xu Lihua became even more convinced that Jiang Yu was mistreating him. “How can your sister-in-law be like this? It’s only the first day she’s here, and she’s only thinking about herself, not letting you eat. Is she planning to send you back to the countryside? Jiang Yu is really heartless, mistreating the widow of a martyr, this can’t just be ignored!”

There was never a shortage of onlookers in the courtyard, and soon a crowd gathered.

“Old Xu, who are you talking about? Who’s mistreating the martyr’s widow?” Sun’s mother was the first to speak up.

Xu Lihua held onto He Zhengdong’s arm, not letting him leave. “Look, Jiang Yu kicked this child out and wouldn’t even let him eat. It’s just the first day, and she’s already mistreating him. It looks like these two kids are in for a hard time.”

Lin Hongxia chimed in, “I can’t believe it. Jiang Yu is really something else. Zhengdong is still just a child, how can he not eat?”

Zeng Chang, who had always looked up to Sun’s mother, didn’t speak because she didn’t.

But Zhao Qing stepped forward “We still have a bun at home, why not bring it over for him?”

Sun’s mother shot her a glare, thinking it was unnecessary.

He Zhengdong glanced at his unwashed hands, now dirty, and suddenly understood why Jiang Yu insisted he wash them earlier.

He hid his hands behind his back, too embarrassed to accept anyone’s bun with his filthy hands.

“No, thanks,” He Zhengdong quickly shook his head.

Just then, Old Master Duan walked in from outside.

“What’s going on? Why are so many people gathered here?”

“Old Master Duan, you came at just the right time, you need to handle this! Jiang Yu is truly something else, she’s mistreating this child and won’t even let him eat,” Xu Lihua said eagerly.

He Zhengdong’s face twisted in embarrassment, now the whole courtyard would know he hadn’t washed his hands before eating.

Old Master Duan shot her a look. “Some things shouldn’t be said lightly, you can’t just label someone without proof. What if you wrong someone? You’ll face the consequences.”

Xu Lihua pushed He Zhengdong forward. “I’m not wronging her, just ask Zhengdong if Jiang Yu is not letting him eat!”

Old Master Duan scanned the area, and He Zhengdong’s face flushed red, for the first time, he hated Aunt Xu for meddling.

“Zhengdong, tell us…”

“Why are so many people gathered here? What happened?” Jiang Yu walked out with a smile, her gaze falling on He Zhengdong.

Old Master Duan said directly, “Xiao Jiang, you’re just in time. Aunt Xu says you’re mistreating the this child and wants an explanation.”

“Mistreating?” Jiang Yu found it amusing. She had just arrived and hadn’t even been here a day, so how could she be labeled like this?

“Lilan!” she called out.

He Lilan ran out immediately, her heart fully won over by the fried sauce noodles.

“Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Yu smiled and patted her head. “Aunt Xu says I’m mistreating you all.”

He Lilan opened her mouth and let out a loud belch.

Embarrassed, she covered her mouth. “I ate too much. My sister-in-law hasn’t mistreated us, we had fried sauce noodles for dinner, made by my big brother and sister-in-law, with lots of pork belly! It was so delicious!”

The delicious aroma had reached everyone in the courtyard.

Hearing He Lilan describe it, Zhao Qing gulped, she hadn’t had meat since marrying into the Sun family!

Xu Lihua shouted, “So why do you all get to eat, while Zhengdong is starving?”

He Lilan raised her hands. “Because my brother didn’t wash his hands! My sister-in-law told him to wash, but he wouldn’t. She said if he didn’t wash, he couldn’t eat. He didn’t want to eat.”

With her words, everyone’s eyes turned to He Zhengdong’s hands.

Tong Fang’s son, Tong Yuan, who was only six, couldn’t hold back. “Brother Zhengdong just played with dog poop at the courtyard door! I saw it, he didn’t wash his hands, they’re dirty!”

Xu Lihua’s face changed drastically as she looked down at her clothes, where He Zhengdong’s dirty hands had grabbed her skirt.

“Ugh! Let go of me!” She recoiled in disgust.

He Zhengdong’s face flushed, he looked down at his hands, feeling embarrassed.

Even a boy his age had some pride.

Jiang Yu chuckled. “Aunt Xu, why are you running away? You just wronged me, don’t you need to apologize?”

Old Master Duan said sternly, “Yes, you should apologize! Xiao Jiang was clearly looking out for the kids. By shouting like this, you’re ruining her reputation!”

Xu Lihua’s face turned pale, she didn’t apologize and instead blamed He Zhengdong. “It’s not my fault, it’s your fault for not explaining clearly! I asked you if you hadn’t eaten, and you said you hadn’t!”

He Zhengdong was already annoyed and retorted loudly, “I really haven’t eaten! I didn’t say anything wrong!”

“Xu Lihua, what do you really want? You’re always the one causing trouble in the courtyard. Do you want to ruin our unity and harmony?” Old Master Duan shouted angrily.

He was the oldest and most respected person in the courtyard, and everyone basically followed his lead.

Xu Lihua had no choice but to come back and reluctantly apologize to Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu smiled generously. “It’s all a misunderstanding, as long as we clear it up, that’s fine. Aunt, please don’t do this next time. Zhengdong, go wash your hands, if you don’t eat soon, your noodles will get cold.”

That was her way of giving He Zhengdong a way out, and he immediately ran inside to wash his hands.

He Lilan followed closely behind, handing him soap.

“Bro, use the soap it’ll be clean.”

He Zhengdong glared at her secretly. “Traitor! Collaborator!”

He Lilan huffed. “Sister-in-law isn’t our enemy, I’m not a traitor! I had no idea you were playing with dog poop otherwise, I wouldn’t have followed you!”

He Zhengdong’s face turned red. “I only poked it with a stick, I didn’t touch it with my hands!”

As soon as he finished speaking, they heard Xu Lihua’s furious shout “Damn it, who got dog poop on my window?”

He Lilan blinked. “Bro, was that you?”

He Zhengdong muttered, “It wasn’t me! I just poked the poop, it flew up and got on her window!”