Chapter 6

“Just after giving birth, how can you stand outside in the wind? Go back in and lie down,” Grandma Cheng said sharply.

She shot a glare at Madam Cheng. The more she looked at this daughter-in-law, the less she liked her—a short-sighted woman who only cared about immediate profit, hopelessly biased, unable to see the bigger picture. Among her three sons, she only cared about the youngest. The eldest was treated like a workhorse, the second like a money-making machine—everything to pave the way for the third. She didn’t just fail to keep things fair; she practically smashed the bowl that should’ve held even water.

“Mother… she hit the eldest daughter-in-law, and even struck our in-law. We can’t just let this slide. The Huang family is waiting for an explanation!” Madam Cheng fumed at having her authority crushed again. She was a mother-in-law herself now, yet still had to bow her head to her own mother-in-law. It was humiliating.

“Grandmother, it’s true I hit them,” Shu Yue stepped forward, speaking directly to the old lady. “But I had a reason. I want to invite the village head to come and settle this openly. May I?”

“What can’t be resolved within the family? Must you make a spectacle of it before the village head? Aren’t you ashamed?” Father Cheng spoke up. Normally he ignored household disputes, hiding away to smoke, but since the old lady had come, he couldn’t stay silent. Besides, dragging in the village head over some “small matter” would only make them a laughingstock.

“Yes, Second Sister-in-law,” Huang Fang added quickly, “you hit people, so you’re clearly in the wrong. As your elder sister-in-law, I’m only asking you to apologize to me and my mother at home—is that really too much? Why must you bring in the village head? Are you trying to ruin the family’s reputation?”

“I—” Shu Yue began.

“Then call him,” Grandma Cheng interrupted firmly. “If there’s injustice, let the village head settle it. What’s wrong with that? Jing’an, go fetch him.”

Shu Yue still wanted to explain, but the old lady had already decided. Father and Mother Cheng tried to object, but one stern look from her silenced them. They could only watch as Third Son Cheng Jing’an went out to summon the village head.

“These are freshly boiled eggs. Eat two first,” Grandma Cheng said, handing Shu Yue a few eggs.

Shu Yue wanted to refuse, but her stomach growled loudly. She hadn’t eaten in a long time—Huang Fang’s mother hadn’t let her eat before labor, and afterward she’d fainted and slept, with no one caring whether she was hungry or not. Poor girl, Shu Yue thought bitterly—she had brought a child into the Cheng family, yet no one even asked if she was in pain or starving.

Looking at the eggs, tears welled up in her eyes.

“Eat them. You should really have red-sugar eggs, but this will have to do. I’ll go check on the baby,” Grandma Cheng said, tucking the eggs into Shu Yue’s hands.

They were originally meant for Huang Fang—boy or girl, the old lady simply felt adding a new life to the family was a blessing worth celebrating. But seeing Shu Yue’s pale face, the way she looked at the eggs, and hearing her stomach growl told the old lady everything she needed to know. This was all Madam Cheng’s doing—treating a daughter-in-law who had just given birth with cruelty instead of care. What kind of mother-in-law behaves like that?

Grandma Cheng walked straight into Shu Yue’s room. The two women quietly looked at the newborn together, ignoring the others outside.

The village head hurried over. When Shu Yue was married into the Cheng family, he thought she’d have a decent life, especially since her family had done him a favor. But now the trouble had reached his door. Judging by Cheng Jing’an’s anxious face when he came to fetch him, this was no small quarrel. The village head didn’t waste a minute, fearing the situation would escalate further if he delayed.

“What’s going on here? Why am I being called?” he asked as soon as he stepped inside. The Chengs all stood together, silent but clearly tense.

“Uncle Village Head, I invited you,” Shu Yue said plainly. “I want to split from the family and live separately. I’ve already discussed it with Grandmother—she’s willing to let me move into the old house with her. I’ll take care of her in her old age, and from now on I won’t meddle with anyone else in this family.”

“What nonsense are you talking?” Madam Cheng sneered. “Jingchuan isn’t even home, and you’re talking about moving out. What’s your real motive? Don’t think I don’t know—you’re lonely with my son away, aren’t you? You just want—”

“Shut your mouth! What are you saying in front of the village head?” Father Cheng barked, cutting her off. If Shu Yue were accused of improper behavior while her husband was away, it would disgrace not only Second Son Jingchuan but the entire Cheng family. Such thoughts could be kept private, but never spoken aloud.

“Second Daughter-in-law, you just gave birth. Now is not the time to discuss dividing the household,” Father Cheng declared. “There’s no need to trouble the village head. I don’t agree.”

Of course he didn’t. His second son Jingchuan was in the army and sent home twenty-five yuan each month—ten for his parents, fifteen for Shu Yue. But all of it arrived through Father Cheng’s hands, and he never gave Shu Yue a single cent.