Chapter 23

When Mianhua lifted her head, she saw Liu Hongyan’s sharp, caustic face with her brows raised high. In her hand, she was holding the egg cake that she had snatched away from Mianhua.

Mianhua’s eyes were filled with tears: “The egg cake was given to me by Third Aunt.”

Liu Hongyan, hearing Mianhua’s words, wasn’t surprised at all. The money and grain of the Father Lu family were controlled by the old lady, and everything the family needed, including food, had to pass through her hands.

Whenever there was anything good in the house, it was always reserved for her father-in-law and the two older grandsons of the Lu family. When would it ever be Mianhua’s turn to eat?

Moreover, the old lady was usually very stingy. She never bought things like egg cakes or snacks. The only person in the entire Father Lu family who could afford such precious treats and would give them to Mianhua was that fool Jiang Chunzao!

Since Jiang Chunzao had split from the family, she had become even more foolish. She had this delicious egg cake and didn’t give it to her family’s woodhead to eat, yet she had the nerve to give it to Mianhua, that unlucky girl?

Liu Hongyan scoffed coldly, casting a sideways glance at Mianhua, who was wiping her tears with her hand: “This egg cake is really good. Second Aunt is still pregnant. Mianhua, this egg cake is for your little brother, so Second Aunt is going to eat it on his behalf.”

With that, Liu Hongyan started to take a bite of the egg cake.

Mianhua, who was focused on saving the egg cake for her parents, saw that Liu Hongyan was about to eat it. She immediately began crying and reached out to grab it: “No, this egg cake was given to me by Third Aunt because she saw I was hungry and didn’t have enough to eat. I’m saving it to give to my parents, not for you!”

When Sister-in-law Lu heard Mianhua talking about being hungry and wanting to save the egg cake for her parents, her eyes immediately reddened. She jumped up and grabbed Liu Hongyan’s arm, snatching the egg cake from her hand: “This is the egg cake Third Brother’s wife gave to Mianhua, not for you! If you want one, go buy your own!”

Sister-in-law Lu’s eyes were as red as a rabbit’s, glaring at Liu Hongyan.

Liu Hongyan felt a twinge of guilt for a moment, but then remembered that she was pregnant with the Father Lu family’s eldest grandson. What couldn’t she eat? She hopped over to Mother Lu and started complaining loudly: “Mother! Look at what your daughter-in-law is doing!”

“I’m carrying the Father Lu family’s eldest grandson, and all I want is to eat Mianhua’s piece of egg cake, yet my sister-in-law treats it as if I want to take everything from her!”

Mother Lu, seeing that her usually obedient and quiet eldest daughter-in-law was now making a scene in front of the villagers, embarrassing her in front of the whole village, felt her anger rise immediately. She glared with her droopy, triangular eyes and shouted angrily:

“Oldest child, what do you think you’re doing! It’s just one egg cake. If the second daughter-in-law wants to eat it, just give it to her. Mianhua is just an unlucky girl; what right does she have to eat such a good thing?”

Upon hearing her mother-in-law’s words, which implied that Mianhua was nothing but a burden, Sister-in-law Lu’s heart ached.

She remembered how her daughter had worked like a mule in the Father Lu family since she was little, doing hard labor. Her small hands, still not even ten years old, were as rough as bark.

Her eyes welled up with tears, and without saying a word, she just held Mianhua, who was still crying, and wiped her tears.

Mother Lu, seeing that her eldest daughter-in-law was not obeying her, grew even angrier. She angrily threw the cornmeal bun in her hand to the ground and yelled at the stunned Lu Dashan: “Rebellion! This is rebellion! Oldest son, is this the wife you’ve married? She doesn’t even listen to her own mother-in-law!”

Lu Ershan, who was nearby, also chimed in thoughtlessly: “This is truly unfilial of Big Sister today.”

The commotion from the loud Lu family quickly attracted the attention of the villagers nearby. Father Lu, seeing that everyone was looking at him with amusement, felt his old face turn as dark as a pot lid. He also thought his eldest daughter-in-law shouldn’t be making a scene in front of the whole village.

Lu Dashan, who usually obeyed his mother’s every word, felt his face turn red as he heard his mother’s shouts and saw the villagers’ gazes. He quickly went over to apologize to the family: “What are you doing?! Why stir up trouble and make your parents angry? Go apologize to them now, and Mianhua, give the egg cake your Third Aunt gave you to your Second Aunt. She’s carrying your little brother. How can you be so thoughtless!”

Mianhua, who had been clutching the egg cake like a treasure, froze upon hearing Lu Dashan’s words. Her face looked blank, and tears began falling from her eyes, one by one.

Seeing Mianhua’s tears, Lu Dashan turned away awkwardly, his gaze flickering. Liu Hongyan, smug and arms crossed, was waiting for Mianhua to bring her the egg cake. When she saw that Mianhua was not coming, she grew impatient and reached out to grab it herself.

Just as Liu Hongyan reached out her hand, she was forcefully shoved away by Eldest Sister-in-law Lu. Lu Dashan, seeing this, was furious: “What do you think you’re doing?”

What was she doing?!

Eldest Sister-in-law Lu sneered coldly, glaring with bloodshot eyes, and shouted loudly: “What do you mean, ‘What am I doing?’ Lu Dashan, I want to ask you what you’re doing! Since I married into the Lu family, all the work around here has been mine—washing clothes, cooking meals, even if your parents needed to pee at night, I’m the one who has to empty the chamber pot!

When I first came here, the two younger brothers were still unmarried. You said that as the eldest daughter-in-law, it was my duty to work harder and show respect to your parents. Fine, I accepted that—I’m the eldest daughter-in-law, it’s my responsibility. But then, Liu Hongyan came into the family, and Third Aunt also moved in. Yet, I’m still the only one doing all the work!

Third Aunt has already split from the family and has a whole family to take care of, so I didn’t complain. But why is it that Liu Hongyan, a healthy woman, doesn’t do any work?

You have Mianhua, a girl not even ten years old, working like a mule in this house, just because she’s shameless enough, or because she can lay eggs!

What’s the deal? Just because she’s pregnant, does that make her special? Does the whole family have to pamper her? I even gave the Father Lu family their eldest grandson, but why don’t I see your parents pampering me like that!

Who isn’t raised by their parents? I gave birth to Mianhua and raised her to this age. I didn’t raise her to be Liu Hongyan’s servant. If you don’t love your daughter, I will!”

Eldest Sister-in-law Lu’s words hit like fists, one after another, making Lu Dashan’s face flush with embarrassment and anger.

Hearing this, Mother Lu, who had been silent, suddenly thought of her precious eldest grandson, Xue Dong. Her beloved Xue Dong was the child of the Oldest son’s family, and for his sake, she couldn’t let the Old Lu family lose face.

Meanwhile, Liu Hongyan hadn’t realized that Mother Lu’s opinion had shifted. Hearing Sister-in-law Lu expose her flaws in front of the villagers, Liu Hongyan was furious. She jumped up, ready to attack Sister-in-law Lu.

“How dare you, Xu Meilan! You’re ruining my reputation—watch me fight you!”

Just as Liu Hongyan leaped forward, Lu Lin, who had heard the commotion, stepped forward to hold her back. Liu Hongyan, seeing Lu Lin blocking her, was enraged and tried to push him aside, but before she could, Sister-in-law Lu slapped her hard across the face.

Liu Hongyan, who had never been hit by a woman since marrying into the Father Lu family, was stunned. The slap left her face burning, and she covered her cheek, cursing: “Chen Meilan, you bitch! How dare you hit me!”

“That slap was for you.”

Chen Meilan said coldly, slowly wiping her hands.

Liu Hongyan, nearly beside herself with rage, rushed over to grab Lu Ershan and shouted:

“Lu Ershan, you useless coward, are you just going to stand there and watch your wife get slapped?”

Lu Ershan was a man who only picked on the weak and feared the strong. He didn’t dare to provoke the tall and imposing Lu Lin, and seeing Jiang Chunzao behind him, guarding Xiao Shitou and Xiao Moli, he grumbled angrily and rolled up his sleeves.

“This is all caused by Third Aunt, that troublemaker. Third Brother, your wife is the one causing trouble in the family, and today, I’ll teach her a lesson for you!”

As Lu Ershan spoke, he moved toward Jiang Chunzao with the intent to strike. But Lu Lin’s face darkened, and he reached out to pin Lu Ershan against the tree trunk. Lu Ershan’s face was pressed against the rough bark, unable to move. Just as he was about to curse, he heard Lu Lin’s low voice in his ear: “You dare?”

Lu Ershan looked up to see the cold, beast-like gleam in Lu Lin’s dark eyes. He shuddered, remembering how hard and cold Lu Lin’s fists were. Immediately, he tried to soften his tone: “Third Brother, I’m just joking! Don’t take it seriously. It’s all my wife’s fault—she’s the one causing all the trouble. Just let me go, and I’ll show you how to deal with this troublemaker!”

Liu Hongyan stood there, speechless, as the scene unfolded.

Nearby, the villagers couldn’t help but laugh at Lu Ershan’s pathetic display.

“Lu Ershan is such a joke!”

“Lu Ershan has always been a coward. Didn’t you see how Lu Lin only used one hand to pin him to the tree? He couldn’t even move.”

“Raising a son like that is truly embarrassing.”

The laughter of the villagers around them made the faces of the Lu family members change.

Just as Mother Lu was about to raise her hand to scold, she suddenly heard the loud shout of the village captain.

“What’s going on here?! What’s going on?! Everyone, settle down, or I’ll deduct your work points!”

Mother Lu, who had been cursing just moments ago, immediately fell silent.

—

The commotion at the Old Lu family came to an abrupt end thanks to the timely intervention of the village captain. However, once the Lu family returned home and closed the door, the chaos continued inside.

Liu Hongyan, still holding her pregnant belly, caused a ruckus in the courtyard. Chen Meilan, no longer keeping quiet, started yelling right back at her.

Mother Lu, furious and hopping around in the yard, was ignored by everyone. For the next few days, while the wheat harvest was happening, the entire village was gossiping about the OldLu family’s troubles.

Jiang Chunzao had been working in the fields with the others, and she kept overhearing a group of village women gossiping about the Lu family’s affairs whenever they were near her.

Unable to bear the constant chatter, Jiang Chunzao finally went home one evening and complained to Lu Lin.

After listening to her, Lu Lin fell silent for a moment.

The next day, he took the initiative to ask for leave for his wife, telling the village captain that she had been out in the sun all day at the wheat field and was feeling unwell.

Upon hearing this, the village captain waved his hand and told Jiang Chunzao to take the day off to rest at home.

Jiang Chunzao was more than happy to enjoy some peace and quiet, and she spent the day making delicious food for the children.

When the village women tried to find Jiang Chunzao again to gossip about the OldLu family, they couldn’t find her anywhere.