Chapter 49: A Fight Breaks Out

Aunt Zhao gave her a cold, scrutinizing glance. “I recognize you! You were one of the ones who helped Guo Nier move that time.”

“Aunt Zhao,” Guo Nier sounded a little impatient. “What’s wrong with my uncle and aunt helping me move?

“Am I not allowed to take my own things?”

Guo Nier’s uncle’s family bore the surname Hu. Seeing things heading south, Aunt Hu quickly stepped up and pulled Guo Nier behind her, smiling as she spoke to Aunt Zhao.

“Aunt Zhao, she’s just a kid, doesn’t know how to talk properly. Don’t take it to heart.

“Look at this—it’s freezing cold, and there’s not even a bit of firewood in the house. I don’t even know how our niece-in-law is managing to get by these days…”

“Oh?” Aunt Zhao curled her lips disdainfully. “Now you’re suddenly concerned about how Yingzi’s getting by? Have you already forgotten how you all emptied even the rat holes in her house back then?

“You left her with no way to survive, and you expect a young married woman like her to live well?”

“Aunt Zhao,” Aunt Hu stamped her feet and blew warm breath onto her hands. “Look, it’s bitter cold out here. Why don’t we stop standing around like fools and go into your house to sit a bit?

“Sigh, our village is terribly short on water—sometimes we can’t even get a drink for three days. Don’t even mention grain. It’s not easy that we’ve made it this far!

“I heard your family’s doing quite well. We’re not asking for much, just a drink of water. Surely you wouldn’t begrudge us that?”

“Hu family daughter-in-law,” Aunt Zhao snorted from her nose, “I don’t like what you’re implying! Just a while back, Lord Zhou of Qin County gave out rations.

“It was distributed per head. As long as you weren’t gorging yourselves, how could you have eaten it all already?

“And now you’re telling me you’ve got nothing left?”

After being snapped at repeatedly, Aunt Hu finally lost her composure. “Hey, Zhao family woman, what did I ever do to you? Why are you throwing barbs the moment you see me? I don’t remember tossing your kid into a well or anything, do you?”

“Is that a human mouth you’ve got?” Aunt Zhao’s eyes widened with fury. “If you can’t speak like a decent person, shut it! Don’t make me tear your mouth apart!”

Aunt Hu, thin and frail, was dressed poorly. Compared to Aunt Zhao, she looked like a chick staring at a hawk. Terrified, she backed away several steps. “Zhao family, can’t we talk things out? Don’t raise your hands! My husband will be here any minute!”

Aunt Zhao sneered and glanced at her sideways before spitting on the ground. “Peh! You’ve got the guts of a flea and still dare come cause trouble!”

She turned to walk away.

Thinking she’d scared her off, Aunt Hu stepped forward two more steps. “Well, why don’t you bring out my niece-in-law then? Don’t think we don’t know she’s in your house!

“What? Just because my nephew hasn’t returned in three years, you think she can become your daughter-in-law? Is your boy even grown yet?”

Aunt Zhao suddenly turned around and swept over like a gust of wind. Before Aunt Hu could react, she raised her leg and kicked her to the ground, then stepped over and sat on her belly, grabbed her by the neck, and slapped her twice across the face.

Aunt Hu’s face immediately swelled.

Aunt Zhao snarled, “What are you, a demon from a latrine? Just spewing crap with every breath! I’ll beat you to death, you foul-mouthed wretch!”

Guo Nier hadn’t had a good life at her uncle’s house these past two years—never had enough to eat, had to do chores and take care of children. At their worst, the Hu family even joked about boiling her and eating her.

Seeing her aunt get humiliated now, Guo Nier was celebrating in her heart like fireworks going off.

But when she met Aunt Hu’s vicious gaze, her heart sank—she was doomed. She’d definitely be beaten when they got home!

So she lowered her head and charged toward Aunt Zhao, shouting, “Don’t bully my aunt!”

With all the noise outside, Qin Ying had wanted to come out long ago, but Zhao Hu had held her back. Now even Zhao Hu couldn’t stand it anymore—he burst out of the house, landed a flying kick on Guo Nier’s waist, and knocked her to the ground.

Clutching her side, Guo Nier cried out in pain, “Ow, ow, ow!”

Zhao Hu spat at her. “What the hell are you!”

Seeing that Aunt Zhao had beaten Aunt Hu’s face into a pig’s head—and that her own hand was scratched—he hurried over to pull her up. “Ma, don’t bother talking to animals. Let’s just go back and warm up by the fire.”

Though Aunt Zhao had completely dominated the fight, her rage hadn’t quite dissipated. She got up and kicked Aunt Hu’s legs twice more, cursing, “Get lost! Don’t dirty the ground of our Tongshu Village!”

Aunt Hu waited until the mother and son had walked off a bit, then screamed at the top of her lungs: “Help! Everyone come see—Widow Zhao is bullying outsiders!

“Look! They’re even beating up kids! My Guo Nier is about to be killed!”

Guo Nier had been trembling as she tried to get up, but after hearing that, she flinched and fell back down.

Aunt Zhao nudged Zhao Hu and whispered, “Go back and tell your sister not to come out. I’ll handle things here.”

Zhao Hu nodded and ran off.

Sure enough, Aunt Hu’s shouting drew a bunch of villagers. Everyone looked annoyed. “What the hell? Making a ruckus during New Year’s? Talk about bad luck!”

Aunt Hu raised her swollen, unrecognizable face, gasping and crying, “Folks of Tongshu Village, take a look! Widow Zhao’s going to kill someone!”

The villagers came closer and couldn’t help but gape. Aunt Zhao really didn’t hold back.

But then—

A woman stepped forward and said coldly, “Who said Widow Zhao did it? Did anyone see it happen? Who the hell are you anyway? Got nothing better to do than stir up trouble in our village?

“You think you can bully Widow Zhao just because she’s got no man? We’re not going to stand by and watch!”

The other villagers quickly echoed in agreement.

Aunt Hu was stunned. She quickly pointed to the trembling Guo Nier lying on the ground. “My niece can testify! Widow Zhao hit me!”

“Pfft,” a villager laughed. “Didn’t you just say that’s your niece? Of course she’d take your side! Who’s gonna believe her?”

Aunt Zhao spread her hands and chuckled. “Sigh, during the New Year of all times—such a headache! I was just minding my own business at home, and these two come barging in making a scene.

“Thankfully our fellow villagers know what’s right, or else I’d never be able to clear my name!”

Someone twitched at the corner of their mouth—wasn’t that blood on the back of her hand from fighting?

Guo Nier crawled over to whisper to Aunt Hu, “Auntie, maybe we should go back…” This clearly wasn’t going to end well for them.

Suddenly, Aunt Hu shoved her aside. “My niece is from your Tongshu Village! She’s Guo Nier!

“What’s wrong with her coming back to see her sister-in-law? Why’s Widow Zhao stopping them from meeting?

“My niece-in-law is pretty and capable—who knows what dirty thoughts she’s had? Don’t forget, that boy of hers isn’t little anymore either!”