Chapter 3: A Furious Confrontation

Early the next morning, before dawn, Cui Yulan was already bustling about in the kitchen, a clatter of pots and pans filling the air. Anticipating a major confrontation, she added half a bowl of corn flour to the pot, making the corn and sweet potato porridge even thicker.

“Wake up and eat!” Cui Yulan called out from the yard, holding a small bowl of pickled green beans, her voice carrying across the courtyard.

Hearing her, Wen Wan quickly emerged from her room, straightened her clothes, and opened the door.

“Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Sister-in-law…” she greeted each family member with a smile.

“Xiaowan, come eat,” Cui Yulan said cheerfully.

Wen Wan stepped forward and took a large bowl. “Mom, your sweet potato porridge smells so good.”

This wasn’t false flattery; the pure aroma of corn flour filled the air.

“Hahaha… If you like it, eat more. I made a lot today,” Cui Yulan said, handing Wen Wan a boiled egg.

Wen Wan took it, pausing for a moment. Seeing everyone else eating from their large bowls, a warm feeling filled her heart. She remembered how kind her family had been to the original Wen Wan.

After graduating from middle school, Wen Wan had gone on to high school, a decision supported by her parents. This had caused gossip in the village, with people saying her parents were foolish. They argued that raising a daughter was only to marry her off, and paying for her high school education was a waste of money.

“Sister-in-law, let’s share this,” Wen Wan skillfully peeled the egg, splitting it in two and placing half in Tian Xiaochao’s bowl.

Tian Xiaochao looked up, startled. Seeing her sister-in-law’s calm and cheerful demeanor, her heart softened.

Cui Yulan felt a pang of sympathy, emphasizing, “Xiaochao, this egg is for Xiaowan to nourish herself. She’s sharing it with you, remember her kindness.”

“Mom, I know Xiaowan is a good girl,” Tian Xiaochao nodded readily. “I remember all her kindness.”

When she first learned she was marrying Wen Jianguo, she had been apprehensive. She’d heard that the Wen family doted on their daughter and worried about getting along with her sister-in-law. But after getting to know her, she found her sister-in-law to be kind and beautiful. Even after more than half a year of marriage without a pregnancy, the gossips in the village had started to talk, but it was her sister-in-law who defended her.

Wen Wan thought, So that’s it. Mom is a master manipulator. The whole family dotes on the original Wen Wan, and Mom deserves the most credit.

After breakfast, Tian Xiaochao stayed home, while Wen Dafu and the others, along with Wen Wan, rushed towards Liu Xiaoling’s house.

On the way, they encountered familiar neighbors who saw the family carrying tools.

“Dafu, what are you doing?” Wen Hu asked, squatting by the fence, eating porridge from his bowl.

Wen Jianguo, filled with anger, hefted his hoe. “Hu Ye, Liu Xiaoling committed murder. We’re going to settle the score today.”

Hearing the word “murder,” everyone was shocked. Wen Hu put down his bowl and, along with his sons, followed Wen Dafu and the others towards Liu Xiaoling’s house.

The Liu family had pushed the Wen family too far. Did they think the Wens were defenseless? Did they think the other Wens were dead?

Along the way, Cui Yulan recounted yesterday’s events in detail.

“Liu Xiaoling, get out here!” Cui Yulan shouted angrily, banging on Liu Xiaoling’s gate.

Inside the house, the Liu family looked at Liu Xiaoling, unsure what was happening.

Even though Liu Xiaoling had lived for over fifty years in her past life, being stared at by so many people made her nervous. Her eyes darted around, unable to meet anyone’s gaze. She sat motionless with her bowl.

“Xiaoling, open the door quickly! Didn’t you hear me?” Liu Fugui said impatiently.

He despised his second son’s daughter, who he felt was always clinging to the Wen family girl, bringing shame to the Liu family.

Ding Guihua, seeing this, said with a forced smile, “Dad, Xiaoling fell into the river yesterday and isn’t feeling well.”

Then, she went to the door, her heart sinking as she saw the crowd outside. She didn’t dare open the door.

Cui Yulan didn’t care. With a malicious sneer, she said, “Ding Guihua, are there no men in your Liu family? You’re all cowards! You little bitch who dares to do it but not own up to it, get out here…”

The Liu family’s faces changed, and they rushed out of the house.

“Cui Yulan, you shrew! What are you doing at our house so early in the morning?” Liu’s grandmother shouted, her eyes filled with anger and resentment. She pushed Ding Guihua aside and opened the door.

Cui Yulan was delighted. She raised her arm. “Dafu, smash up the Liu family’s house! We have to find the murderer!”

“What are you doing?” Liu’s grandmother was pushed aside and yelled, “Stop! You’re asking for trouble!”

The other Liu family members were confused and tried to stop them, but they were no match for the dozen or so Wens.

“Help… Robbers!” Liu’s grandmother cried, wailing, “It’s not fair… The Wens are bullying honest people!”

Cui Yulan ignored her, scanning the courtyard. She slipped into the main room and saw Liu Xiaoling inside.

“You little bitch, you dare to do bad things and hide in the house?” Cui Yulan grabbed Liu Xiaoling’s hair and dragged her out.

Liu Xiaoling was shocked by the sudden attack and struggled fiercely. “Get off me, you crazy woman, let go!”

In the modern era, fights were rare, and Liu Xiaoling, enraged, started cursing.

Wen Wan saw Cui Yulan drag Liu Xiaoling out and happily joined in, pulling hair, pinching flesh, targeting wherever it hurt.

“Stop it!” a loud, angry voice boomed.

Liu Qingliang, the village head, rushed to Liu’s house after receiving a message.

In a few minutes, Liu’s courtyard was in ruins.

Liu Qingliang’s temples throbbed with anger. He pointed at the wreckage and roared at Wen Dafu and the others, “What are you doing?”

“Village head, you can’t be biased. Liu Xiaoling pushed my family into the river. What are we going to do about it?” Wen Wan spoke first, seizing the initiative.

“What pushed into the river? She fell in herself, and our Xiaoling fell in trying to save her,” Ding Guihua argued, her voice strained.