Chapter 4: Revenge, Stirring Up Trouble 

In the evening, the Shen family returned home. They didn’t smell the aroma of food and were puzzled while secretly cursing Yu Meijuan. 

Old Lady Shen had three sons: Shen Jianguo, Shen Jianjun, and Shen Jianmin. Their wives were Yu Meijuan, Tian Cuihua, and Li Meili, respectively. There was also a daughter, Shen Lihua, who was already married. 

Among the grandchildren were Shen Zihan from the eldest son’s family, Shen Daqiang and Shen Erzhuang from the second son’s family, and Shen Xiaopang and Shen Fenfang from the youngest son’s family. 

With more than ten members in the family, old and young, none were diligent; they were all lazy and cunning. In November, with little work to do in the fields, people stayed home doing housework, while the Shens either visited others or played cards and gambled. 

The Shen family had never had the awareness to do housework since they had the old workhorse, Yu Meijuan, and Shen Zihan. 

“Big sister-in-law, why aren’t you cooking yet? We’re all hungry,” Tian Cuihua said. Upon entering the kitchen, she found the stove cold. Was Yu Meijuan planning a rebellion today by not even cooking? 

The mother and daughter were amused by these people’s entitled remarks. Indeed, in the past, they would dutifully prepare meals and wait for the family to return to eat, then be responsible for washing pots and dishes, feeding chickens and pigs, and even washing the whole family’s clothes. 

To make things easier for her daughter, Yu Meijuan’s only option was to work harder herself so that her daughter could have a little time to do her homework. 

So when they heard such familiar voices today, they exchanged glances and ignored them. Wasn’t it nice to sit inside by the fire? Arguing with people was exhausting, and they didn’t want to expend that energy right now. 

“Big sister-in-law, are you deaf? Didn’t you hear me speaking?” Tian Cuihua was displeased when she didn’t get a response from Yu Meijuan and continued shouting loudly. 

“Why give them face when they don’t want it?” Shen Zihan said to her mother. 

Sure enough, the shouts from outside grew louder, and more people joined in. 

Yu Meijuan stepped outside, but no one paid her any attention. Tian Cuihua thought to herself that she expected Yu Meijuan to be more assertive, but after hiding for half a day, she still had to come out and work. 

She arrogantly pointed her finger at Yu Meijuan’s nose and shouted, “You lazy woman, how can you not have dinner ready at this hour? Are you trying to starve the whole family?” 

Yu Meijuan stepped forward, grabbed Tian Cuihua’s finger that was pointing at her, and twisted it hard. A pained scream escaped Tian Cuihua’s lips. 

Tian Cuihua grimaced in pain and yelled, “You fox spirit, how dare you break my finger?” 

Suddenly, several slaps echoed as Tian Cuihua’s face received a few hits. 

Yu Meijuan had long wanted to hit this shrew, and now she finally got to try it out. It felt surprisingly satisfying. 

She rubbed her slightly sore hand and coldly stared at the shocked Tian Cuihua. 

When Shen Jianjun saw his wife being hit, he rushed forward, ready to retaliate against Yu Meijuan. 

But Shen Zihan would not allow anyone to bully her mother. With a swift movement, she stepped forward and kicked Shen Jianjun to the ground.

It’s ridiculous. When Shen Zihan ran out of the mountains in her previous life, she realized how important physical strength was for women.

Once she had money, she started learning self-defense, reaching a level comparable to professional athletes. She could easily handle several ordinary people.

The Shen family was stunned by the scene before them. Was this really the same mother and daughter? Hadn’t they always been at their mercy? When did they become so formidable? They were curious about the changes in the mother and daughter, but for the first time, they also felt afraid.

“How dare you hit me? I’m your second uncle,” Shen Jianjun said angrily as he got up and glared at Shen Zihan.

“You’ve already been hit, so what does it matter now? Tch. At this moment, you call yourself my second uncle? When you were bullying me, why weren’t you my second uncle then? When you made me work, why weren’t you my second uncle? Having a second uncle like you is simply an insult to me,” Shen Zihan spat at him.

“Are you two trying to rebel? Did I give you too much face? Yu Meijuan, why don’t you hurry up and cook? Look at how messy Shen Zihan’s courtyard is; are you blind? Hurry up and clean it!”

Hearing the commotion outside, Old Lady Shen instinctively began to scold and order Yu Meijuan and her daughter around.

“What are you doing? Has the entire Shen family died out? Do we have to do all the work? I’m telling you, from now on, if anyone in the Shen family wants to work, they can do it. We mother and daughter won’t do it anymore.”

Yu Meijuan shouted at Old Lady Shen, unafraid of being overheard. The Shen family had driven her crazy, so she decided to show them her madness.

Shen Zihan secretly gave her mother a thumbs up.

“You—you’re really insane,” Old Lady Shen said, feeling anxious as she observed Yu Meijuan’s attitude. Did Yu Meijuan know something?

Let her be proud for a few days; she would find a chance to deal with her later.

Her squinty eyes widening, she pointed at her other two daughters-in-law and said, “Are you two dead? Just waiting to starve while not cooking?”

Reluctantly, the two went to the kitchen to prepare the meal.

The others, witnessing this scene, did not dare to provoke Yu Meijuan and her daughter; they all returned to their own rooms.

The mother and daughter returned to their room. While Yu Meijuan was thinking about what they would eat, Shen Zihan suddenly had a piece of bread and a box of milk in her hands.

“Mom, eat this.” Yu Meijuan took what her daughter handed her.

“This is bread and milk?” she said in surprise.

“Mom, how do you know everything?” Shen Zihan looked at her mother with a teasing gaze.

“Tch, do you think your mom is an old fool? Don’t forget, I’m a wealthy young lady,” Yu Meijuan said proudly, taking a bite of bread and a sip of milk.

“Not bad, it’s been a long time since I had this taste.”

Shen Zihan grew fonder of her mom; she was so savvy that she didn’t even ask where the food came from. Shen Zihan thought it would be nice for them to have a big meal together.

So, she took out a large piece of braised beef for her mother.

Her mother’s eyes widened in surprise. She savored the braised beef without asking any questions.

Seeing her mother’s expression made Shen Zihan feel extremely happy.

After they had a hearty meal, Shen Zihan winked at her mom, “Their food must be ready, so we…”

Understanding her daughter’s meaning immediately, Yu Meijuan quickly pushed the door open, with Shen Zihan following closely behind.

As they opened the main door, the Shen family, except for Shen Jianguo and the mother and daughter, were sitting neatly around the table eating.

“Mom, do they not plan to let us eat?” Shen Zihan asked hesitantly.

“It seems so. We can’t stay in this Shen family any longer; they’re trying to starve us to death,” Yu Meijuan said as she turned to walk outside.

“Come back! Who said there’s no food left for you? Sit down and eat,” Old Lady Shen said through gritted teeth.

Hearing Old Lady Shen speak, the two squeezed in next to her and sat down.

“This is for you.” Yu Meijuan saw that there were steamed buns on the table. She took two, one for her daughter and one for herself.

“What are you doing taking buns? Can you even eat those? Put them down,” Old Lady Shen said, glaring at the buns in their hands.

“Aren’t they all eating? Is it just us mother and daughter who aren’t allowed to have buns?” Shen Zihan said while looking at everyone’s buns. It seemed that no one disagreed with her words. They thought to themselves, isn’t that the truth? You just realized it.

“Mind your own business! I said put them down! You two worthless things, it’s already generous enough for you to have sweet potatoes; how dare you think about steamed buns.”

Old Lady Shen’s vicious words came out again, and the mother and daughter were waiting for her to say this.

Suddenly, Yu Meijuan stood up and flipped the table over, scattering the food everywhere.

“I’m letting you eat, you bastards! Do you have no shame? Do you know where the money comes from that allows you to live until now?

In those years, your family was so poor that you couldn’t even make a sound. It was my money that supported your whole family, but how did you treat me? How did you treat my daughter?

We did the dirtiest and hardest work while you spent my money.

Are you now thinking that once you’ve scammed all my money, I’ll be of no use, and then you’ll find some excuse to throw us mother and daughter far away?”

Yu Meijuan’s words shocked the Shen family. Tian Cuihua shouted, “Don’t flatter yourself! You’re just a poor educated youth; where did you get all that money?”

“Exactly! Your life was saved by your eldest brother. After he married you, you still aren’t grateful. Have you lost your conscience?”